Test drove BRZ, a few observations/questions

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by mkiv808

Totally disagree. I test drove a C6 and liked it on test drive, was 100% sure I'd love it and wound up hating it.

I hear you.

I recall talking to a fellow about his new Boxster, which he loved, and he was telling us about his 'Vette that he'd traded in, which he did not love. He said his 'Vette spent more time on a flatbed than in his driveway. He was probably exaggerating.

Still... Despite never having owned a 'Vette, that new Stingray looks very appealing. I'm just not sure where I could "exercise" it.

[Ganthrithor]

It takes me a few months of living with and becoming comfortable with a car to really know whether I like it or not. I don't think you can really tell from a quick test-drive. Luckily if you pick a car you don't like you can always sell it and move on.

[mkiv808]

My Vettes were extremely reliable actually. The LSX engine will go forever with proper maintenance. The C6 was just too soft. The C5Z was much more enjoyable.

[Alan]

There are very few cars that make no compromises and generally excel across the board. Most of those are too expensive for this discussion. Having driven BMWs exclusively for the 12 years up to getting my Chevy Tahoe and soon thereafter BRZ, I am thrilled with the BRZ. (I still have my 2008 M5).

You forget about the power/throttle response issues very quickly. The car is simply fun to drive - even at legal speeds. New tires make a world of difference. I put Hankook RS3s on and the car is alive. Better feel, more weight, ample grip. I couldn't get on the track last summer (my first summer with the car) but plan to this year.

Yes, the BRZ feels dirt slow after I am in the M5. But I only drive that one day a week usually and this winter put in climate controlled storage for January through March. The BRZ, despite being on Blizzaks, fills the gap--especially in this horrible winter we are having.

One day, I expect the BRZ and M5 to be replaced by a GT3. But thats a good ways off. Until then, I'm pretty happy. Cheap, fun and with a warranty is pretty hard to come by -- I'd say the BRZ/FR-S is the only option.

Warranty is important - mine is up on the M5 this June and it SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. The car only has 42K but things are expensive on non-VW German toys.

OP, you sound a lot like me in car preferences. If I were you, I'd get the BRZ and, as you suggest, save, invest, build your house until you are ready for the new Cayman. Heck, you might have the BRZ completely paid off by then and get to keep both!

[BadMoon]

Originally Posted by ???

For NA, you can EASILY gain 20whp or more from a full exhaust, drop-in filter, and a tune. That's a good way to safely increase power and or economy. I recommend a turbo kit or vortech supercharger kit. That can almost double the power at the wheels pretty easily and safely. And believe me, in such a light car, you will notice even the slightest engine mod. You said you drove the brz. The FR-S has an even tighter, sportier suspension without sacrificing ride quality. It also comes with a carbon dash instead of the aluminum and it's cheaper. I personally think the frs looks better too, but a brz with a drop and wheels would look really good. You can wrap the dash trim in carbon fiber, colored carbon fiber, alcantara, etc. as for tires, any performance tire, ESPECIALLY the pilot super sports, will completely change the car. This car comes with some of the very worst tires ever made. They are the same tires on the Prius. They have a long life but they are just terrible on a sports car. You can't modify the suspension too much with those tires because they don't have enough grip. There is also a guy on here who has a thread called my interior redesign. He did some pretty awesome mods to his brz. Check it out. Basically, for about 35k, you can have a good looking car with better grip and steering feel than a cayman and any other car comparable to that, 300whp on a 2700lb car, some of the best aerodynamics (cd is .27) for a production car, a good looking car, a very custom interior, a warranty that WILL NOT be voided by these mods, etc. (the tune can always be reset if u hav to take it to the dealer and erases any traces if it. Also, a dealer has to PROVE that your mods caused the problem. If not, it is illegal for them to void your warranty. That was a law passed by congress in the '70's.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I really don't know where to begin here other than

[???]

Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[???]

A k&n drop in filter has been tested and showed an inscrease of 5whp (not on a dynopak and that was a competitor not k&n.) depending on your set up a catback alone could be 7whp. Then add front pipe over pipe and header to the mix. You are already over 20whp more. Add a tune. Even if it's a conservative tune, you can easily gain 20whp. Anyways I. Basing this off of the same dyno. These cars can baseline anywhere from 154whp to around 170whp because people use different dynos, the conditions are different, and these factory ecu's are known to be "bi-polar" according to tuners.

Everything hi said about tires is true and comparing the steeringn feel of the car to a cayman was what Matt Farrah from DRIVE said about the brz.

Vortech kits have been known to make over 300 whp

You can wrap any cars interior with vinyl or alcantara

The warranty thing: it's the law

The car is light. Go check the specs

The car is aerodynamic. Go check the specs and compare to other cars

U will notice a 10whp increase in an frs but probably not in a 4000lb car

25k(car)+ 10k (upgrades)=35k. Any questions?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk