Review after test driving a 2013 WRB BRZ and 2014 Forester in Okinawa, Japan…

[2013GTRNate]

I promised a review of the differences between the GT-R and the BRZ in an earlier post so here it goes.

Other than the steering wheel being RHD vs LHD, there are very few differences between the USDM and JDM BRZs albeit our Limited comes much better equipped without paying extra for options, yes the JDM versions are more expensive.

DRIVING IMPRESSION: Driving the BRZ provided a euphoric feeling. I am a former 280Z and 300ZX TT owner and this car felt like what the Zs were supposed to feel like. After all of those years of feeling like there was something missing with my both of Zs and now I know why. This car provides the driver with total control and a feeling of being at one with the car. This car feels just as connected with the road as my GT-R only in a different way. The GT-R uses BRUTE force to dominate the ground into submission whereas the BRZ owns the road by using 110% of each tires traction. I love the Go-Kart handling and connected feeling it had with the road. I will say that after driving the GT-R with the 545HP available the 200HP of the BRZ did feel a bit underpowered but the chassis balance in the BRZ is superb. My wife and two kids fit perfectly into the BRZ, even though I am 74 inches tall.

***One complaint - That noisy engine sound tube has to go. I mean seriously it was right in my F'ing ear.***

Other than that the BRZ gets the seal of approval from both me and the Wife. Albeit she was a little annoyed by the engine sound tube. This car will be my DD and keep miles off of my 2013 GT-R.

I was concerned about the significant difference between driving a larger vehicle and then transitioning into the BRZ. After a test drive in the 2014 Forester XT the BRZ felt natural and it wasn't hard to adjust between the two.

On a side note the 2014 Forester XT with the new CVT transmission and 260HP/260TQ was awesome to drive. It is a little bigger than the outgoing 2013 model but the handling didn't suffer for it, in fact it actually handles better and the improved power was very nice. It looks like the wife will be trading in that Honda Fit and getting a 2014 Forester XT.

Thanks for reading guys! I will join the BRZ family in 2014… :happy0180:

-Nate

[BRZnut]

Thanks for the review..my wife may be trading her honda crv in for the 2014 Forester when it arrives in the States.

[2013GTRNate]

Originally Posted by BRZnut

Thanks for the review..my wife may be trading her honda crv in for the 2014 Forester when it arrives in the States.

She will love it! :happy0180:

-Nate

[OmarGC]

How long have u been in Oki? I left less a little over a year ago.

[2013GTRNate]

Originally Posted by OmarGC

How long have u been in Oki? I left less a little over a year ago.

I have been in Okinawa for about 13 Months now… It is a beautiful place to live.

-Nate

[OmarGC]

Originally Posted by 2013GTRNate

I have been in Okinawa for about 13 Months now… It is a beautiful place to live.

-Nate

Most definitely, miss it big time.

[industrial]

Nice review. The BRZ would probably be a great car for Okinawa. Small and nimble with traction control. I really miss that place. Lived there oh...15 years ago when I was a young lad wrapping silvias around trees when it rained. Those things and the slick coral roads out there... Hard lessons! At least that taught me to love subaru's awd with my first wrx. Good times!

[illmatic]

Great review. How are the roads in Okinawa? I find the road noise (from our poorly kept roads and highways) over power the engine sound tube noise. I think the FA20 DIT will finally modernize Subaru's line up. I can't wait for the WRX, STi, and Legacy to be released with the FA20 DIT in the US.

[2013GTRNate]

Originally Posted by industrial

Nice review. The BRZ would probably be a great car for Okinawa. Small and nimble with traction control. I really miss that place. Lived there oh...15 years ago when I was a young lad wrapping silvias around trees when it rained. Those things and the slick coral roads out there... Hard lessons! At least that taught me to love subaru's awd with my first wrx. Good times!

I agree the BRZ would be a great DD for Okinawa! I have plans to buy one upon my return to the States in the coming months. It still is the same here as far as the roads and the rain. I live near an Industrial area that becomes a drift location late at night. Currently I am driving a Subaru B4 Blitzen which has the Twin Turbo version of the Boxer-4 engine and AWD. It is very nice for Okinawa's unpredictable weather and hauling kids around when I am not working.

-Nate :happy0180:

[ICantAffordAnLFA]

I like the look of the next turbo forester too.

We can hope it will be available in 6mt, but I expect not in the uk.

[Turbowned]

As a Subaru salesperson, I cannot wait for the new Forester to get here! The current one is so.... plain. Even the current XT is only so-so.

[2013GTRNate]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

As a Subaru salesperson, I cannot wait for the new Forester to get here! The current one is so.... plain. Even the current XT is only so-so.

I agree, this iteration is going to breed some life back into the Forester. I wish that engine were in the BRZ, lol… I cannot believe that I am saying this but it is well matched with the CVT too…

-Nate

[Turbowned]

Hey, I would take a CVT over a traditional torque converter auto just about any day. Just not over a good ol' row-your-own manual