My quick non-driving review of BRZ Limited

[stockysnail]

Just letting everyone know my observations after I checked out and sat in a US spec BRZ limited for quite a while that was sitting at the dealer.

No steering wheel controls on the actual wheel. Cruise control is on a stalk. The light settings on the other stalk for the lights is (off, auto, running light, and on positions). The fancy dual climate control buttons felt very cheap and plastic-ish and the whole dash area of the buttons moved when I pushed one button down. The mini's toggles buttons are far superior feeling. The three dials for the temp setting, etc felt good though but won't be pressed nearly as much as the toggle 'looking' switches for defrost, etc.

The front black bumper looking thing (actually looks more like rubbery carbon fiber) is actually just apart of the front fiberglass/plastic with some rubbery feeling stuff. When I pushed on it the whole front area, even the not black part moved. I assumed it was just the front bumper area showing past the front area. I guess the fake front bumper looking thing is only for show to cover up the actual front bumper.

The shifter, clutch, brake, and gas pedals felt perfect even for heel/toe. Steering position and wheel felt very good (has tilt and telescope).

The limited seats felt very good. The dash area isn't super hard plastic but a slightly spongy plastic if you know what I mean (same type as in my VW R32). Back seats only fold down by pulling two nylon pull straps in the trunk (not convenient, as do the front seats when rear passengers want to exit a door as the strap is near the bottom. Never seen Nylon straps like that for seats. Kind of cool but a little impractical as they could get caught on something or get damaged (wear or stuff getting caught). Back seats are useless for non-kids unless the front seats are moved up, which could be done by the front passenger as long as they aren't obese to have a moderately comfortable person in back and front on the passenger side. I wouldn't ride for more than an hour like that. I can see fitting four wheels in the back when the seats are folded down, but looks like it would be a very snug fit.

Also the side exterior fake vent things near the mirrors felt cheap and looked tacky up close. FR-S ones looked much better.

After sitting in the limited I don't think all the extras are worth $3295 more compared to the FR-S, although heated seats will be missed when I get the FR-S, so I will see about adding them if I truly do miss them after the fact. Overall it seems like a great drivers car for just under $25k (FR-S) but seeming just a wee bit much for $29k (BRZ) considering the feel of the extras the BRZ has (not quite worth it in my opinion) and I was all gun ho about the BRZ limited differences and extras, but now I'm changing my mind to FR-S. Plus the FR-S has 2yrs of free maintenance and Subaru doesn't, which makes an even better deal as I don't have to buy those extra parts (with labor for some people).

To repeat others that have posted this (USD$): FRS invoice 22990 MSRP 24200 BRZ Premium invoice 24327 MSRP 25495 BRZ Limited invoice 26112 MSRP 27495 then add destination of 750 to all of those.

Here's what some of you may think of my review or of my opinions :fawkdance: , :rl: , , or perhaps some nice thoughts like :HeadBang: or :dancingcool:

[armythug]

Sounds like a nice honest review to me.

[Wait4BRZ_STI?]

Originally Posted by stockysnail

After sitting in the limited I don't think all the extras are worth $3295 more compared to the FR-S, although heated seats will be missed when I get the FR-S, so I will see about adding them if I truly do miss them after the fact. Overall it seems like a great drivers car for just under $25k (FR-S) but seeming just a wee bit much for $29k (BRZ) considering the feel of the extras the BRZ has (not quite worth it in my opinion) and I was all gun ho about the BRZ limited differences and extras, but now I'm changing my mind to FR-S. Plus the FR-S has 2yrs of free maintenance and Subaru doesn't, which makes an even better deal as I don't have to buy those extra parts (with labor for some people).

I was on the same boat. But now I have decided to stick with BRZ premium. The price delta of BRZ-P vs FRS is $1400. I think that is the money well spent on (1) HID, (2) LED DRL + eyebrows, (3) and a touch-screen radio + GPS. These three features will make BRZ look much more "modern" 5 years from now.

(Although I do like the styling of FRS a bit better.)

[MmmHamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Wait4BRZ_STI?

I was on the same boat. But now I have decided to stick with BRZ premium. The price delta of BRZ-P vs FRS is $1400. I think that is the money well spent on (1) HID, (2) LED DRL + eyebrows, (3) and a touch-screen radio + GPS. These three features will make BRZ look much more "modern" 5 years from now.

(Although I do like the styling of FRS a bit better.)

U.S.S. Sameboat as well. I'm reasonably familiar with headlight retrofits, and I know you'd spend almost as much retrofitting a well built custom pair and they still wouldn't be OEM quality. I definitely wanted HID's and I personally love the DRL's on the BRZ. It's the best take off of BMW's angel eyes I've seen. I am so glad they aren't led strips. They are getting ridiculously played out nowadays and were never good looking to begin with IMO. Touchsceeen media/navi is a nice bonus even if it will end up dated in several years.

[tripjammer]

Originally Posted by MmmHamSandwich

U.S.S. Sameboat as well. I'm reasonably familiar with headlight retrofits, and I know you'd spend almost as much retrofitting a well built custom pair and they still wouldn't be OEM quality. I definitely wanted HID's and I personally love the DRL's on the BRZ. It's the best take off of BMW's angel eyes I've seen. I am so glad they aren't led strips. They are getting ridiculously played out nowadays and were never good looking to begin with IMO. Touchsceeen media/navi is a nice bonus even if it will end up dated in several years.

LED daytime running lights are always better looking that old halogen DRL's.
I wish the FR-S had HIDS and LED DRL's that really all I want that it does not have. Retrofitting is going to be crazy expensive.

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by MmmHamSandwich

I am so glad they aren't led strips. They are getting ridiculously played out nowadays and were never good looking to begin with IMO.

That's not what all my customers say!



Then again, Audi made them popular and then Lexus/Mercedes/Kia/everyone else decided to graft them onto their cars.

[hNt]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

That's not what all my customers say!



Then again, Audi made them popular and then Lexus/Mercedes/Kia/everyone else decided to graft them onto their cars.

Yea but Audi's the only one that did them right. All the copies look like ish

[MmmHamSandwich]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

That's not what all my customers say!

Then again, Audi made them popular and then Lexus/Mercedes/Kia/everyone else decided to graft them onto their cars.

I was lucky enough to see a pre/early or something release R8 out in the wild and the first time I saw the LED's it was cool, but mostly because I was excited to see an R8 I think.

Now it has definitely gotten ridiculous. Maybe it is just unfortunate that so many other makers are jumping on the bandwagon and spoiled it for Audi. I guess BMW was very lucky the same thing didn't happen to their angel eyes. Audis definitely look the best, but I just personally prefer a more solid looking light.

Originally Posted by hNt

Yea but Audi's the only one that did them right. All the copies look like ish

I loathe the JDM 86's.

Originally Posted by tripjammer

LED daytime running lights are always better looking that old halogen DRL's.
I wish the FR-S had HIDS and LED DRL's that really all I want that it does not have. Retrofitting is going to be crazy expensive.

No doubt about the halogens looking worse. I was just always under the impression the BRZ had a CCFL type system, but if not, it is trying to mimic the look since all the media I have seen definitely did not allow you to see individual diodes. Makes it more angel eye-esque. Looks good and is unique. I just love it

[dookie11]

Dear OP,

You have made my day with this review. Now I'm in an even tighter predicament lol. I have deposits for BRZ Limited and FR-S, and if I switched to BRZ Premium, well, you know what that means in terms of additional waiting. Yuppo: MORE WAITING. Tougher choice now. BRZ Premium sounds so good just from reading the few posts on this thread.

Also, LOL'd at "USS Sameboat" :P :P

[csaba]

I don't think the back seat meant to be used by people, that's fine with me
About the dash I like it softer than hard so I won't complain,
Also I agree the FR-S is a better deal!

[tripjammer]

Originally Posted by hNt

Yea but Audi's the only one that did them right. All the copies look like ish

Actually lexus is doing it right on their new cars like the New GS.

[tripjammer]

Originally Posted by MmmHamSandwich

I was lucky enough to see a pre/early or something release R8 out in the wild and the first time I saw the LED's it was cool, but mostly because I was excited to see an R8 I think.

Now it has definitely gotten ridiculous. Maybe it is just unfortunate that so many other makers are jumping on the bandwagon and spoiled it for Audi. I guess BMW was very lucky the same thing didn't happen to their angel eyes. Audis definitely look the best, but I just personally prefer a more solid looking light.



I loathe the JDM 86's.

No doubt about the halogens looking worse. I was just always under the impression the BRZ had a CCFL type system, but if not, it is trying to mimic the look since all the media I have seen definitely did not allow you to see individual diodes. Makes it more angel eye-esque. Looks good and is unique. I just love it

I believe they are CCFL, but those are not the DRLS right? What is that led strip above the fog lights? Thats got to be DRLS.

I think the JDM 86 HIDS with the integrated LED DRLS are simple and too the point. Almost elegant. Way better than the cheap looking FR-S headlights.

[MmmHamSandwich]

Originally Posted by tripjammer

I believe they are CCFL, but those are not the DRLS right? What is that led strip above the fog lights? Thats got to be DRLS.

I think the JDM 86 HIDS with the integrated LED DRLS are simple and too the point. Almost elegant. Way better than the cheap looking FR-S headlights.

I thought the CCFL lights were the DRL's as I've seen many BRZ's without the led strip.

Edit: Upon further review it looks like you are right! The LED array seems to be added just for USDM models as a safety feature. All the JDM pictures I have seen seem to be without it.

Not so sure I like it, they look ok when off, but I think they will compete with and overpower the awesome looking CCFL's when on. I don't want anything to distract from them!

Hopefully the non foglight premiums will have fog area grills that look like below, which actually makes the DRL housing look like it belongs. I have seen many pictures where the car seems to have normal foglight housing with a blatant "fog light should have gone here" circle. That is how it is on my Civic and it's stupid.


Credit to dark for posting this picture.

As far as the JDM 86 headlights, we will have to agree to disagree. While the BRZ has one of my favorite headlights anywhere, I'd take the FR-S headlights over the JDM version.

[FLHC]

I feel like this is the first we've heard of the small nuances like this. I'll have to make sure to check them out when I see it on saturday.