What other car did you consider before deciding on the BRZ?

[G_Ride]

The only other car I considered was the FRS, but some of the extra features and eventually the front end of the BRZ swayed me towards the BRZ.

[lionbacker54]

i am surprised by how similar the cars we all looked at were. i thought i was kind of crazy for being torn by such disparate cars as the challenger and BRZ, but seems a lot of us had similar quandaries.

for me, it came down to the BRZ and the BMW 335. the BMW was a much more practical car, since i could still do kid hauling and use it in the snow. i almost bought it too. what changed my mind was an autocross event. in talking with the guys there, they pointed out that you really want one car for track and autocross, and another car for your daily driving. that way, if something breaks down, you're not stuck on Monday morning without transportation.

after that, it was easy. instead of trying to get a car that could do everything, i just decided to keep the good old reliable volvo as the winter DD, and focused on a second car for summer DD and the occaisonal track or autocross.

[TheseColorsDontRun]

My shortlist consisted of:
- Focus ST
- BRZ
- Mustang GT

I replaced a Golf TDI, and didn't really want another FWD hatch, so the ST was out. I really really miss my 06 GTO, so that's what made me go rear drive, and up until I test drove the BRZ I was 99% sure the Mustang GT would be my next car. I drove it, fell in love with the power. Dealers are clearing out the 13 Stangs to make room for the 14s, steeply discounting them. I could have gotten a GT Premium ($37k) for about $30k. Insurance and gas bills would have been considerable, especially coming from a 45mpg Golf. Last Tuesday, on a whim, I went and drove a BRZ. I fell for it. I fell HARD. The dealership was trying to move it off the lot, sticker was $28.8k, I drove it off the lot for $26k. I am happy.

[Sciby]

Was looking at (new) anything around the $35k (Australian) mark, sport(y), preferably not a gas guzzler (petrol is excruciatingly expensive down here) and relatively practical:

The short list:

• Opel Astra GTC
• Veloster Turbo
• BRZ/86
• Focus ST

Focus was off the list straight away because they're over $40k in Australia. The Astra GTC looks great, but it feels like a big heavy lump - and its dash looks ugly and you sit low, but the dash and door panels are rather high. Weird car. (That's probably why Opel are pulling out of Australia, due to poor sales)

I'd always liked the Velosters as they're pretty well equipped and they're odd looking, yet pretty nice cars. Unfortunately for it, I testdrove an 86 GT first (they didn't have any GTS's in stock) and fell in love within two blocks. A week later, I testdrove a BRZ and cemented the love.

I went and testdrove the Veloster Turbo anyway - 5 year factory warranty + 5 year dealer warranty + 2k off + 'free' premium paint (stormtrooper white, gotta love that name) + free mats, etc = very very tempting deal... but it felt numb to drive. I felt like I was driving the colour 'gray', if it's possible to drive a colour around... the steering was like it wasn't connected to anything, and everything felt 'anxious' about the car. Its ride wasn't great, it handled okay but nothing even approaching the 86, etc.

I realise they're two different cars in terms of chassis design goals, but it's marketed as a sports car.

In the end, I've ordered a rally blue BRZ. Lots of people are getting that blue, but let's face it - if you order a Subaru sports car and you don't get it in World Rally blue... it's like ordering a Ferrari in anything but Ferrari Rosso. You just don't do it.

[scheetz]

New Gulf R
Used V8 M3
CPO S5
New V6 Mustang
Used Cayman

Test-drove the BRZ between the M3 and the S5. It took me over a year to decide and went back to the BRZ. Couldn’t justify the added cost of some of the others. Best decision I ever made.

[zc06_kisstherain]

WRX, WRX STI, S2K

[Kwisak]

I looked at a few and test drove a FIAT Abarth, Doge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, VW GTI, and Ford Focus ST.
The Mustang was terrible in almost every way
The Focus was actually nice and would be my 3rd choice
THe Abarth was my 2nd choice tied with the GTI.
I like the challenger as a kid but the new one was terrible when i looked at the interior and worse when i test drove it, however was the only one that could actually fit people in the back easily.
The Camaro was just as bad as the mustang with terrible driving experience and cheap interior.
I went with the BRZ for best looking interior and amazing driving experience, also my wife has a Abarth so i can drive it when i want lol

[WRXGuy1]

Originally Posted by YMAA

Only other car I seriously considered was a 5-door WRX - the car that I've wanted for pretty much as long as I've ever wanted a sporty car. No other cars in my ~30k price range were any real competition in my eyes.

However, I took a long look at how I use my vehicle and ~95% of the time I'm hauling myself and a backpack on a highway to work and back. Strictly in terms of fuel economy the BRZ wins.

Also, from everything I've read on both cars (I haven't actually driven a WRX so I haven't experienced this firsthand) the WRX really doesn't handle as well as the BRZ. From this I determined that it's possible to make the BRZ as fast as the WRX but the WRX will never handle as well as the BRZ. I will miss the AWD but the consensus is that with a good set of winter tires the BRZ handles just fine in the snow...and I'd need winter tires on the WRX anyway since it too comes with summer tires.

If Subaru were releasing the 2015 model with the rumored changes (2.0L engine, shedding ~200lbs, and a new body style) and updating the interior to one befitting this decade, I probably would have gone for the WRX over the BRZ. I feel that Subaru has learned a lot from their work on the 86 and a great deal of that will translate over to the WRX's future models, but for right now the BRZ just makes the WRX look old, and I tend to keep vehicles for a very long time. I want to start with something that feels as new as possible.

Would I be happy with the WRX? Absolutely, I'm sure of it. But my gut tells me the BRZ is the car for me, and when it arrives in the next few weeks I won't care about anything else.

Unfortunately the BRZ is horrible in the winter, even with snow tires. I made it through last winter in NH, but any slight incline that I had to stop on I couldn't get it going again without backing up and getting a running start, or just flooring it and moving inch by inch.

Before I got my BRZ I test drove a MazdaSpeed3, Gen Coupe 2.0T and 3.6, Mustang (V6), and ultimately decided on the BRZ.

[ThisIsChrisKim]

Originally Posted by Jawnathin

Nice list. I just came from an MS3, which is a great car on its own. If I didn't come from a turbo hot hatch already, I might have gone with the ST instead.

I really really really like that ST. I had the opportunity to drive a few on an autocross course and I liked it more than my MS3. It's my favorite FWD car out.

My buddy is in the market for a newer Civic Si, I'm trying really really hard to get him into an ST, but hes a Honda fanboy, so I'm not having much luck. Its a nice car though.

I'm a slight Mazda fan boy, so even though I'd come from another 3, I wanted another one. It kind of stings I didn't wait until the 3 hit the market, but I love the BRZ so much it doesn't really matter. I actually love hot hatches a lot. So no MS3 option at launch (maybe another year or two?) meant had no qualms about the BRZ. The ST was good, but I couldn't get over the artificial feeling steering. I couldn't kick the fact the steering was just odd on that car. Loved the power, though. It was really fast. In any gear.

The new Civic Si was okay when I drove it. The suspension is far too soft and the steering is lifeless, as well. But the transmission is typical Honda. Smooth and snicks into each gear. Great shifter and clutch. And the standard rearview camera was nice. No HID was a big bummer for me, though.

[Grimlock]

My short list was: BRZ, Boss 302, and the 1-Series

[txeng86]

I agree, lots of us seem to have had similar backups

-- s2000 if reasonably proced
-- Focus ST if lower cost and not fwd
-- BMW if cheaper out of warrenty costs
-- used porsche 911 if better up-keep cost
-- Challengers / Mustang if it werent so "tankish"

[Turbowned]

Nissan 370Z
Lotus Elise
Mazda MX-5
Honda S2000
Porsche Cayman
Audi A4
Subaru WRX

Drove all those. Also considered an BMW M3 E46, 2003 Audi RS 6 and just dumping $30k into my Datsun 240Z over 5 years. I'm completely satisfied with my decision; I still want to lease an A4 for a DD, though.

[meeskee2]

I was between a WRX or BRZ. Went for the less practical. I love the BRZ!

[WolfpackS2k]

Cars I thought about but didn't test drive:

• new Mustang GT - too big, heavy and horrible interior (rode in a friend's and couldn't imagine driving something like it)
• used BMW 135i - just too ugly, not for me (and nevermind the turbo problems)
• used RX8 - horrible gas mileage, no way
• used 996 911 - decided they were just too old, and slightly above the price I wanted to pay for a car already 8-9 years old.
• new Genesis 2.0T or 3.8 - too big and heavy, plus lackluster magazine reviews about their handling, steering and shifter

Cars I test drove:

• new WRX 5 door (originally wanted a used WRX STI but good luck finding one in good shape for the price I wanted. Also wanted a used WRX, but made much more sense to buy new). The handling (or lack thereof) the 5 speed (instead of 6) and the low rent interior turned me off
• used Cayman S - Almost bought one, but trading in my current car (at the time) was a problem and before I could work it out the car in question sold. Test drove a second one, and something didn't seem quite right, plus the color combo (green/dark green) was just awful. After that decided I should buy something more practical for where I am in my life
• BRZ - Loved the way it handles (very much like a Cayman S) and all the interior space. Didn't like the weak engine but figured it was something I could deal with, or improve on with more money.

So voila, BRZ it was.