BRZ for me...Maybe?

[Mag]

Hey guys I am in the market for new car to fill a DD fun role and am looking seriously at the BRZ. I just prefer the look of it to the FRS no hard feelings FRS owners.

I followed the 86/BRZ etc through development and was stoked. When it came out with 200Hp my excitement kinda faded I felt like we would eventually get an STi 250 HP+ version but it seems thats not in the cards. And I kinda forgot about it until I saw one on a car lot the other day.

Anyways my first cars were BMW E30 3 series and M3 that I drove the wheels off of until they were wore out and the other was totaled when I hit a deer. I then bought a heavily modified 450+ HP LS SS Camaro that I got on the cheap.

I still have the SS but to be honest it is a terrible daily it rides terrible (its slammed) horrid MPG I hate the build quality to no end. Cant clear a speed bump or a pothole barely etc. And I really bought it cause I was seduced by the power and I got it super cheap. That being said 1200$ tire replacements and not being a drivers car has taken the fun out of it for me. It just isnt any fun until you are going way to fast for any public roads. I also ride bikes so once you realize how fast some cheap bikes are it makes thinking you are fast in a car laughable. Its also a slush box which detaches you even more IMHO.

Anyways I took the BRZ out for a test drive today for about 30 mins and was very impressed with the handling and the dynamics of the car its just FUN to drive without going 140MPH+ lol. My only real complaint is there seems to be NO TORQUE on the stock engine or tune. Will a tune exhaust and intake cure some of this? I have no problem with the power up high but down low its very lacking to me. I dont expect it to be a V8 but it was like almost hard to get off the line with out huge revs and slipping the clutch a bit. Might just have been a really grabby new clutch.

I mean can you get another 50hp with boltons?

I guess my questions are how reliable have yours been? My SS even with the mods has been bullet proof. I read about a problem with the tranny from 5-6 downshift? And the strange idle thing?

I have never bought a new car in my life because I dont like most new cars they are numb to drive or weigh 4000LBS and the prices make my head spin.

Any info would be great I have been reading alot of threads here lurking. Also looking at all the amazing aftermarket parts you can put on these cars to really make them yours.

Thanks for any help!

[Bobblehead]

If you want a fast and torque-y car, the FRS/BRZ isn't for you. You might be able to get 50 horsepower with just bolt-ons, but it'll require a lot of work and E85.

If you have another $10k to throw at it for a good and reliable turbo kit and tune, sure. Go for it.

I really like my car, but it's not for everyone. You might be more at home with a Genesis Coupe, 350Z/370Z, or even a Mustang. Those all have more power and torque and are closer to the BMW's that you used to drive.

[BRZ Stefan]

Car is really fun to drive automatic or standard. Standard being more engaging. I drive an automatic and don't regret it. You should change your tires immediately however seeing as these Prius tires just don't do the car justice.

Haven't heard to many people having issues with reliability but, I have read 2-3 cases of blown engines. That can be from a number of reasons, parts, driver inflicted, etc. One of which however was during the scheduled maintenance at the dealer. Someone went full mental and poured transmission oil into the engine. After a few miles or so driving the car back home, boom.

Also read a lot of stuff about people complaining about the clutch after a few thousand miles, don't know much about it.

The idle sound, aka "crickets", is due the factory fuel pump. Plenty of people have had the pumps replaced with the newer ones by the dealer but the sound comes back after a few hundred miles. It's louder in colder whether too. I've noticed because lately since it's been colder than usual here in Los Angeles. You get used to it, trust me. There is apparently a rattling noise in the car too coming from the back seat/trunk area. I haven't personally heard anything of that sort.

A drop in filter can help definitely help increase throttle response. Upgraded the exhaust system will help with air flow but, as far as I know you'd have to get forced induction and a tune to get any major increases in torque.
Also with that, you'll hit that magic number of around 240 hp which is really what this car should have.

Hope to see you in one soon!

[Speed2th]

What do you expect from the 2.0l 4 cylinder ? You should look into turbo cars like wrx or gti if you want torque

[Mag]

Ya I am not looking for massive torque from the BRZ but I was more wondering if some mods help just a little on the bottom end at all. Or if you always pretty much have to be up in the revs with these cars.

What is the normal rev range you guys drive these cars at?

Have some friends with GTIs I wouldnt buy a FWD car so its out of the running. I did drive a 370Z aswell and its got plenty of power but again it seems to lose some of the charm and direct feel the BRZ offers that I love.

[funwheeldrive]

Have you thought about something AWD since you want a DD and you live where it snows?

[Mag]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Have you thought about something AWD since you want a DD and you live where it snows?

It snows very rarely here so its not a big deal. I wanted to try a STi WRX but dealership didnt have one at all. And you really start talking big $ and I prefer RWD.

[BRZ Stefan]

Originally Posted by Mag

Ya I am not looking for massive torque from the BRZ but I was more wondering if some mods help just a little on the bottom end at all. Or if you always pretty much have to be up in the revs with these cars.

What is the normal rev range you guys drive these cars at?

Have some friends with GTIs I wouldnt buy a FWD car so its out of the running. I did drive a 370Z aswell and its got plenty of power but again it seems to lose some of the charm and direct feel the BRZ offers that I love.

3,500-4,000revs on the highway.
2,500-3,500revs in the city.

I've pretty much substituted the sound level of my car for more torque.
The louder it is the faster it sounds.

Insurance will also be higher on the WRX. Maybe a Genesis but they're heavier and not as agile.

[Mag]

Maybe the one I drove was screwy haha IDK. The FRS I drove aswell didnt seem as bad on the low end of the rev range.

What is the deal with the STI teases with this car? Will we ever see a real STI version? I saw that one at the auto show but then nothing ever came of it. I guess they are just not wanting to threaten the WRX STI with the BRZ? IDK.

[BRZ Stefan]

Originally Posted by Mag

Maybe the one I drove was screwy haha IDK. The FRS I drove aswell didnt seem as bad on the low end.

What is the deal with the STI teases with this car? Will we ever see a real STI version? I saw that one at the auto show but then nothing ever came of it.

That's just me I guess.

"Subaru typically introduces its high volume models (e.g. Forester and Outback) on a five-year product cycle. Lower volume models can be six years, which would put an all-new BRZ arriving as a 2018 or 2019 model."
-http://www.planetsubaru.com/2016-subaru-brz.htm


Till then, I doubt you'll see any factory increase in power. Maybe 2017 to push sales before releasing a new model.

[Mag]

Originally Posted by BRZ Stefan

That's just me I guess.

"Subaru typically introduces its high volume models (e.g. Forester and Outback) on a five-year product cycle. Lower volume models can be six years, which would put an all-new BRZ arriving as a 2018 or 2019 model."
-http://www.planetsubaru.com/2016-subaru-brz.htm


Till then, I doubt you'll see any factory increase in power. Maybe 2017 to push sales before releasing a new model.

So get happy and start slapping mods on .

It is an amazing platform seeing what is going in in Japan with the aftermarket its almost limitless.

One side of me wants to sell it to myself as a low cost DD that is fun to drive. But the other side wants to do something crazy to it and mod it out like nuts.

[BRZ Stefan]

Originally Posted by Mag

So get happy and start slapping mods on .

It is an amazing platform seeing what is going in in Japan with the aftermarket its almost limitless.

One side of me wants to sell it to myself as a low cost DD that is fun to drive. But the other side wants to do something crazy to it and mod it out like nuts.

I went in knowing that I'd never do a tune, or get a turbo, or make it a wide-body or anything like that. Hence why I got an automatic in the first place. However the mods I have done just make the car so much more of what I wanted in the first place. Louder/deeper exhaust, better quality tires for grip, etc. I forgot to mention before, but this car has possibly the worst blind spots ever. Aftermarket Rexspeed wide mirrors however are amazing.

I feel like you really want a BRZ and reasons you're disputing you're choice is the things that have disputed to death by now. Everyone knows it's "underpowered, blah blah." What I hate is people are so quick to forget that this car has won so many awards. It's a wonderful, light, agile, car that gets great MPG and that's what it was made to be.

[Mag]

Originally Posted by BRZ Stefan

I went in knowing that I'd never do a tune, or get a turbo, or make it a wide-body or anything like that. Hence why I got an automatic in the first place. However the mods I have done just make the car so much more of what I wanted in the first place. Louder/deeper exhaust, better quality tires for grip, etc. I forgot to mention before, but this car has possibly the worst blind spots ever. Aftermarket Rexspeed wide mirrors however are amazing.

I feel like you really want a BRZ and reasons you're disputing you're choice is the things that have disputed to death by now. Everyone knows it's "underpowered, blah blah." What I hate is people are so quick to forget that this car has won so many awards. It's a wonderful, light, agile, car that gets great MPG and that's what it was made to be.

Ya you are right. I am just one of those obnoxious people that has to research everything to death and go through the motions haha.

And I am not wanting to be one of the whiny complain about the HP people either its a crazy fun car to drive regardless of HP.

Has it been pretty reliable? As for wheels and stuff everything I read says it has prius size rims and tires on it. Will it fit a decent size rim with out the crazy wide body stuff? I guess I didnt look under the car to see how much clearance there was.

[BRZ Stefan]

Originally Posted by Mag

Ya you are right. I am just one of those obnoxious people that has to research ever thing to death and go through the motions haha.

And I am not wanting to be one of the whiny complain about the HP people either its a crazy fun car to drive regardless of HP.

Has it been pretty reliable? As for wheels and stuff everything I read says it has Prius size rims and tires on it. Will it fit a decent size rim with out the crazy wide body stuff? I guess I didnt look under the car to see how much clearance there was.

I have had no problems whatsoever and I'm approaching 6,000miles besides the "crickets."

Depends on the offset really. It'll fit 9.75 inch wide rims running 245 tires with +20 offset. That's a lot of poke but, it's what I'm looking to do with a 1 inch drop on Hotchkis Springs. You can also buy some $100 spacers too if anything. Most people run 225-235 tires on 8+ inch wide rims with +35 to +48 offset. This tool will help you.