Subaru BRZ with $10k in mods or Ford Focus RS?

[guybo]

Yeah, I was going to get into trouble with that Gen. I don't really care that the engine screams and the car runs out of breath in the triple digit speeds. That keeps me OUT of the triple digit speeds.

Oddly enough when I got into the eventual accident with my Gen, I was going maybe 15 MPH. I was not impressed at how easily that car's roof just crumpled and the front end got so messed up from that tree branch at 15 MPH when all 4 wheels locked up- ABS my ass. I got scared off Hyundai.

[~el~jefe~]

Fords are hunks of shit. And much worse, if possible, is their customer service. Deny all lemon laws and major issues. Minor fixes for years with their shitboxes of joy.

I would guess the higher end ford mustang GT has a better chance of being built correctly, the one that revs to 8200 rpm. Some care and quality control used.

[mbrooksatl]

Wow, I was gone for a couple of weeks and forgot to check my thread here, and realized how many responses you guys gave me. Incredible.

I think I'm going the used FR-S/BRZ route like many of you suggested. Awesome involvement and help y'all. Really. I'll hopefully start participating more often with a new BRZ soon!

[dejahboi]

You can ask @BigFatFlip . He went from the BRZ to the RS

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by mbrooksatl

Wow, I was gone for a couple of weeks and forgot to check my thread here, and realized how many responses you guys gave me. Incredible.

I think I'm going the used FR-S/BRZ route like many of you suggested. Awesome involvement and help y'all. Really. I'll hopefully start participating more often with a new BRZ soon!

Originally Posted by dejahboi

You can ask @BigFatFlip . He went from the BRZ to the RS

Wow...I'm super late to the party lol. Well, I don't think I can add much to what has already been said, but coming from a moderately modded BRZ (supercharged, coil overs, etc) and now an RS owner, I think I have a slightly more unique perspective.

-Try to drive both cars. Both are extremely fun cars, both are very practical for what they are, but they are apples and oranges, light and nimble vs heavy and fast, only you can decide which you like better.
-I had to travel out of state to get my RS below MSRP in Dec/Jan, but If you are still looking, they can now be had for MSRP or below. Guess the dealers realized the party is over and are now staring at these sitting on the lot. Also, quite a few '16s are already on the used market for even more savings, but still expect to pay ~$36k+ which is STI money.
-Which ever you end up with, don't mod it immediately. Drive it for a few months and let it dictate what you need from it. I was very surprised how much fun I had with my BRZ after going back to stock. What can I say, #stockisbest

I don't really know your goals or financial situation, but this is what I would do if I were in your shoes: Buy a mint condition used BRZ with the $10k and drive it for 6 mos before modding it. Buy better tires down the line, maybe camber plates and rear LCAs and an alignment, then use what's left for track days and food...at least that's what I'm planning on doing 2-3 years from now lol.

[86Zed]

To each their own - having owned an FR-S for 50K miles and test driven a Focus RS, they are vastly different vehicles. The FR-S is so light, driver focused and sports car feeling. The Focus RS, it's a hot hatch with a Ford interior that makes the FRS/BRZ inside look amazing.

Unfortunately the RS did not win me over, best of luck in your search. Be careful not to modify yourself out of class! The FRS/BRZ is deserving of proper brakes, coilovers, wider/better tires and perhaps an exhaust and tune. Keep your tweaks focused to your driving purposes and don't touch the FI route - if you like that, go factory boosted RS.

[fatoni]

at that price there is a camaro ss that is effing amazing

[synchromesh]

Originally Posted by fatoni

at that price there is a camaro ss that is effing amazing

New or used, I would agree. I never really thought there was anything wrong with driving a fast car slow.


Swapping the 305's with some 235's would be chintzy but whatever.

[exE36M3]

For $10k?... Used 90's E36 M3. It's a pretty bulletproof car. Retired mine at 237k miles. Total track days and autocrosses... about an easy 1000 miles worth... and done at 100K+ miles plus. Super cheap to maintain and repair. You'll understand why people rave about German engineering the first time you work on the car.

In the BRZ until the price of the BMW M2 drops a bit and it's quirks are documented online.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by exE36M3

For $10k?... Used 90's E36 M3. It's a pretty bulletproof car. Retired mine at 237k miles. Total track days and autocrosses... about an easy 1000 miles worth... and done at 100K+ miles plus. Super cheap to maintain and repair. You'll understand why people rave about German engineering the first time you work on the car.

In the BRZ until the price of the BMW M2 drops a bit and it's quirks are documented online.

nah. the answer is always miata

http://www.trackhq.com/forums/f377/%...demo-nb2-9637/

http://www.trackhq.com/forums/f377/9...-racecar-9712/

[exE36M3]

Originally Posted by fatoni

nah. the answer is always miata

http://www.trackhq.com/forums/f377/%...demo-nb2-9637/

http://www.trackhq.com/forums/f377/9...-racecar-9712/

Ha! My car before the M3 was a Miata (Supercharged, then turbo'd, then engine swapped). I'd still be in the Miata BUT, I need the back seat.

[r_rated]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

What AT?

Astronaut Trim

[glamcem]

Besides all the financial nonsense (Sticker price and dealer markups) and the competitive advantage of all the cars that can be had for that kind of money, Focus RS would still be an awful choice even if it was priced at say $30k.

A sports car is not a sports car if the camber is not adjustable, or Front biased / on demand AWD system, awful dampers and drive shaft

I seriously considered that car as I had three Turbo-AWD cars in the past ( a couple STIs and an Evo) and always loved them but it didn't live up to the hype. I would definitely go with an Evo X instead even it was designed more than 10 years ago it's still light years ahead of the Focus RS for the above reasons.

Watch this :
[ame="http://youtu.be/owBCy5g4a9w"]http://youtu.be/owBCy5g4a9w[/ame]

[r_rated]

R32/GTi > Focus all day, any day. For less.