Evo/Celica driver thinking of a FR-S/BRZ

[comic0guy]

Originally Posted by WWEVOX

Here's $0.02

I have the same 10 EVO X and just added the FRS to mix in October.

Your observations about the clutch and shifter are the same as mine. What I can add, is that after driving both for about two months now, I find that the FRS is more fun to drive. I got used to the light clutch quickly, the shifter feels great, and there is less roll than even the EVO.

Granted, I love them both. The Evo is fast. The FRS is fun. I don't have a lot of trunk space in either but apart from an Ikea run, I haven't had much issue.

I got the SSS package on the Evo so I'm attached to the HID's, so I picked up the JDM version during my last Japan trip. They're pricey though.

Ultimately, I don't think you will be disappointed. I drive a lot of cars because of my job, and I've had the most fun in the FRS (considering price).

This is great to hear, really appreciate it. I've heard from Celica and Evo owners (my exact models) and this definitely tells me the clutch won't be a problem, just a learning process. So what's pricey for JDM HIDs, if I may ask? feel free to PM. Also very glad to hear Evo is fast and the FR-S is fun. This is what I'm looking to get out of it. I've always felt a small, well-handling car is what I like most. One reason I got the Evo is that it can be considered one of the best handling cars under 50K, with enough power of course. But being a heavier car always reminds me of a nice lightweight car would be fun, but in a different way.

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere

Coming from a car with HIDs I'd actaully say the projectors leave a lot to be desired, but I couldn't get a BR-Z without a huge mark-up so here we are.

So I guess it wasn't enough to hold you back, no regrets? Any plans to upgrade? For me, if I change something I want to do it right and make it last, which for me would mean getting an OEM projector from Toyota, but I know it won't be cheap.

I can usually wait stuff out, so I may try some Subaru dealerships and see what they say. But at least from initial looks, its much easier to find a FR-S in my area.

Originally Posted by Ingen

I sort of did, but given the incentives I could get on the FRS (MSRP with a short order time, and $1000 off the purchase price for being a recent college grad) I chose the FR-S.

Now, I have never had HID lights myself. However, my previous vehicle was a 2006 Tacoma, well-known for having damn bright headlights that A) shine for miles and B) Blind the piss out of everyone else.

I personally find the halogen projectors to be more effective than those lights at doing what they need to do, which is lighting my path. The cutoff is sharp, the beam width is perfectly fine, and I can definitely see everything I need to.

Keep in mind that at this time there are no fog lights available for the FR-S, and some people are saying that the connectors are not taped off in the wiring harness. But there is a good set of brake cooling ducts in development to take up that space, and the high-beams + projectors do just fine.

In my opinion, the BRZ is not worth it. The navigation isn't anywhere near as good as your smart phone, the heated seats aren't very powerful (rumor), the seats in the FR-S are super comfy, and if you aren't going to have passengers then you don't need the dual-zone climate control!

My only gripe is the lack of heated side mirrors. That said, I drive to work so early that there's normally nobody behind me to not see

Yea the headlights are the only thing pulling me towards the BRZ, everything else doesn't matter really.

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by comic0guy

So I guess it wasn't enough to hold you back, no regrets? Any plans to upgrade? For me, if I change something I want to do it right and make it last, which for me would mean getting an OEM projector from Toyota, but I know it won't be cheap.

No and no, I wanted the car enough (and didn't want the $2.5-5K mark-up BRZs are pulling locally). I'm going to try different upgraded bulbs in the stock projectors first before I spend more money on the lights. Personally I would just do something aftermarket for a fraction of the cost of BRZ or GT-86 lights.

[norcal_brz]

I sold my 04 evo 8 and bought a brz. The brz is a way funner car to drive than my old evo 8. The only thing that's different is obviously the power. But like you said it will still get-up. At first, it was hard getting used to since they are both different cars but overall i think i like my brz way better than my evo

[raul]

@comic0guy

The lack of HIDs isn't a big issue. Many people are afraid of installing their own HIDs and such, but I did it myself and it wasn't hard at all. Once you actually do it, you realize how simple it actually is.

[comic0guy]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I definitely think I will get an FR-S at some point, unless i can haggle the Subaru folks to a reasonable level. Now the next question is what to do with my Celica. I can't just give her up, I'm too attached to the old lady. The only option I can stomach is rebuilding her into a rally car, which me and my friend have discussed. Only if I had a garage to store it/do the work in.