How wonderful is it to drive??

[Pickles]

As a prospective buyer over here in the UK, I've been following the forum for a couple of months now to read feedback from you lucky owners over the Pond;(there are very few cars in ownership here as yet).
What I've noticed is that there are not many posts which exult in the qualities of the BRZ/86 as a driver's car, but many which highlight annoying noises from various sources and other (largely cosmetic) issues.
It could be that I've missed the rejoicing type of threads, or that it's just in the nature of things that people mainly post when there's a problem and not when they're happy with their car.
Any comments guys?

[Hamza7]

I don't own one but I get a ride in them often, for the money they are waay worth it. It's like a tone downed version of the S2000 and if my Top Gear UK is correct. You guys love the S2000.

Speaking of Top Gear, I hear the August magazine issue has a feature on these cars so I would check that out. Clarkson highly rates this car but says it's ugly

Of course the best way to find out would be to pop over to your local dealer and go for a "spirited test drive"

[Reflex]

It's definitely not the fastest car, but I don't mind it. I'm not using it to race anyway. My previous car was a 1998 Honda Civic and that car wasn't fast either. The difference in handling between the two, however, is enormous! You have to test drive one yourself to see

[ngabdala]

I just picked mine up yesterday so my first impressions are it is perfection. It has plenty of power for me. It's so much fun and lives up to the hype. I'm in love with this car

[industrial]

It's a fun car. Very tossable and confidence inspiring. I like the sounds the engine makes, even if it took a little getting used to. I chose this car over many more powerful and expensive cars because it was supposed to be fun to drive day to day. It has not let me down.

[Zaggeron]

I got mine last Saturday. It's my new DD. It started its commuting duties on Monday. So far it's a pleasure to drive. I've got a more powerful sports car so I wasn't interested in it being extremely fast.

Things I like about it so far.

I love the shifter and clutch (though the release point is a bit different than my other cars so I'm still getting used to it). The shifting is notchy, but in a good way. The throws are pleasantly short but it gets into its gears easily.

The weight. My previous DD was a Mazda 3 Sedan. This is about 200 pounds lighter and I can tell. It is very nimble and eager to turn in.

Even though I'm still in the break-in period and not taking it above 4k, the engine makes a very nice growl when its starts to gain revs under load. I've never had a boxer engine before so I can't compare it to others, but it certainly is much more pleasant sounding than the inline 4 in my previous DD.

The seats are comfortable and supportive and the seating position is surprisingly upright -- sort of in between how I sit in my Z and how I sat in my Mazda 3.

Economy: Granted I'm still in break-in, but I'm getting over 30 MPG with the 6MT with the A/C running during my commute which is about 10 miles highway and 6 miles city each way. This is close to 2MPG better than my 5 year old Mazda 3 was getting doing the same commute with the A/C on.

Things I don't like so far (minor in my opinion)

The navigation system is unintuitive to use

There is only one information display (above and beyond MPH and RPM) and you have to choose between displaying ODO, TRIPA, TRIPB, and the other functions like AVG MPG, outside temp, etc.

[SLEEPER WRX]

Words do a feeble job of expressing the experience

This car is all about feeling

Here's some words anyways, balance, poise, solidity, fluidity, turn-in, rotation, smoothness

I could go on and on, but you will only know this when you experience it.

[ill86]

It's great..buy as many as you can! .....

Better yet.. Go and drive one and form your own opinion.

[drifter]

While I have so much fun jamming in the crazy turns, I find myself at times getting frustrated at the lack of power, especially passing or accelerating on hills. Being that my last car was a slow '91 Celica, I thought this would like fly. It does in turns, but it doesn't in straight-aways. My personal feeling is it could use more power. I didn't buy it for racing reasons so I will keep it for the good gas milage compared to my 6 cyl truck and handling.

My opinion? If you want a car that looks good and handles great with great gas milage, buy.

If you want a car thats fast, don't buy.

(people will point out turbos and other mods to add which I'm looking at, but all that extra cost puts you in the 370Z class with 322 HP stock.)

[russv]

Originally Posted by Pickles

As a prospective buyer over here in the UK, I've been following the forum for a couple of months now to read feedback from you lucky owners over the Pond;(there are very few cars in ownership here as yet).
What I've noticed is that there are not many posts which exult in the qualities of the BRZ/86 as a driver's car, but many which highlight annoying noises from various sources and other (largely cosmetic) issues.
It could be that I've missed the rejoicing type of threads, or that it's just in the nature of things that people mainly post when there's a problem and not when they're happy with their car.
Any comments guys?

I would think the car would be perfect in the UK, great handling and enough power to keep you out of trouble. I love mine.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Pickles

As a prospective buyer over here in the UK, I've been following the forum for a couple of months now to read feedback from you lucky owners over the Pond;(there are very few cars in ownership here as yet).
What I've noticed is that there are not many posts which exult in the qualities of the BRZ/86 as a driver's car, but many which highlight annoying noises from various sources and other (largely cosmetic) issues.
It could be that I've missed the rejoicing type of threads, or that it's just in the nature of things that people mainly post when there's a problem and not when they're happy with their car.
Any comments guys?

the reason why the "problems" are being mass talked about is because we KNOW toyota and subaru come here for answers, everything the car was and is was in part reliant on this forum alone...

second most of us that have the car are here a lot less often than before we took delivery

the car is fantastic, especially after the tires are broken in. very little body roll, and it does what it's told

thing i love about this car is the limits are a decent way out there, the car can be thrashed without loosing grip, and the car will teach you how to drive more properly because if you make a big mistake it will bite your head off, small mistakes, the car is a lot more lenient and lets you play around in the "safe zone" thats on the edge of the limits... i love it!!!

all i can say is buy one!!!

[ngabdala]

The price might put you in the Z class but that's about it. A Z is much less pracical, tons of blindspots, noisy, cramped for us tall guys with longer legs, poor gas mileage, worse handling, less fun, too heavy.

Originally Posted by drifter

While I have so much fun jamming in the crazy turns, I find myself at times getting frustrated at the lack of power, especially passing or accelerating on hills. Being that my last car was a slow '91 Celica, I thought this would like fly. It does in turns, but it doesn't in straight-aways. My personal feeling is it could use more power. I didn't buy it for racing reasons so I will keep it for the good gas milage compared to my 6 cyl truck and handling.

My opinion? If you want a car that looks good and handles great with great gas milage, buy.

If you want a car thats fast, don't buy.

(people will point out turbos and other mods to add which I'm looking at, but all that extra cost puts you in the 370Z class with 322 HP stock.)

[Justin.b]

The car is fantastic to drive. I smile the entire time I'm behind the wheel of the thing. There could be wind noise and a roof leaking on me and I'd still be having a blast.

If I point out some slight shortcomings of the vehicle, it's never going to be anything that even approaches the level of making the car not fun.

-Justin

[Zaggeron]

Originally Posted by ngabdala

The price might put you in the Z class but that's about it. A Z is much less pracical, tons of blindspots, noisy, cramped for us tall guys with longer legs, poor gas mileage, worse handling, less fun, too heavy.

I've got both a 370z and a BRZ. While the BRZ is great fun and will make me a fine DD, as a performance sports car, the Z is in another class.

I don't find my Z noisier than the BRZ -- well with the top down it is, but that doesn't count. The seats are about the same comfort wise, but the Z's interior materials and design is better hands down -- I don't find it cramped and I'm about 5'11 180 lbs. The BRZ has great low speed maneuverability, but it doesn't inspire confidence in high speed corners like my Z does.

I love my BRZ, but my Z is much faster and much funner to drive fast.