Where All the Interior Trim on the BRZ Was Stolen From

"Gatsby's Ghost" (Gatsbysghost) 04/22/2014 at 20:13 • Filed to: None

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The FR-S/BRZ/GT86, with its entirely new engine and platform, costs a mere $25,000-$27,000 in the United States (though, Fun Fact: in the UK, prices START at the equivalent of about $42,000. Yeah. Be glad you live in America. Unless you don't, in which case...sorry.). One of the reasons that the car is so cheap is that Toyota and Subaru clearly spent almost nothing tightened their belts on interior trim. They were able to do this because they had a big parts bin full of vents and switches to use. As a result, the interior of the Toyobaru is a really weird hybrid of the usual switchgear you find in a normal Toyota/Scion or Subaru.

In case you haven't noticed, I've been !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! a little !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with posts about my new BRZ. So, on tonight's episode of Gatsby's Ghost Overthinks Everything, I've decided to show you every part on the BRZ that was clearly borrowed from another of the parent companies' cars. (Just watch as zero people recommend this, the dreariest post in Oppo history). If you find anything I've missed, feel free to let me know in the comments!

Alright, so one of the first things that occurred to me is the vents, which are clearly borrowed from a Scion xB or tC. Here you can see the dashboard of the xB:

And here you can see the side vents on a GT86:

Next up, the clock. This will be familiar to anyone who's driven a Toyota product made in about the last 20 years. Here's a modern-ish iteration of the clock as seen on the dashboard of a Scion tC:

...aaaaand here's the BRZ's clock. The buttons are on opposite sides, but it's the same vintage LCD unit:

Some Toyota engineer is probably still pulling in massive royalties on those little square "H" and "M" buttons, because I swear they've been in every Toyota I've ever sat in.

Next up is the window-control switches on the door, the side-mirror adjustment knob, and the inside door handle and manual door lock switch. All of these are standard Subaru switchgear; here's the door control panel on an Impreza:

And here's the door on an FR-S, and a zoom on the controls:

The indicators/high-beam stalk, windshield wiper stalk, and cruise-control stalk are all classic Toyota ; there's an identical setup on the 2001 4Runner my dad owns. So here's something dreadful (I think it's a 2007 tC) with the same control stalks—though I hope you'll understand it's a bit dicey trying to find a picture online that actually focuses on the control stalks:

And here's a look at my very own BRZ. Hopefully you can at least see that same weird little square cruise control stalk sticking out on the right side:

The cabin light-dimming knobs are absolutely from a Subaru WRX/STI. Look at those two knobs, over to the left of the steering wheel under the vent:

...and here again, on the BRZ, in the same place:

In the above, as well as the following pictures, you can also see that the E-brake lever placement, and probably the lever itself, are borrowed directly from the Subaru WRX/STI.

And, finally, here's the most only exciting borrow of them all: while the transmission itself is a Toyota-supplied Aisin box from one of their Lexus IS models (or some such thing), the knob itself is borrowed from Subaru 's WRX STI:

Though the font is different on the BRZ's shifter, you can see that it's got the same four leather pieces sewn up on the sides, the same gray is-it-metal-or-isn't-it ring, and the same clear top:

Bonus fun fact about this transmission: An earlier version of the BRZ's Aisin gearbox was licensed by Honda, then heavily modified and fitted to the S2000. The S2k's gearbox is the closest thing the world has to an objectively perfect shifter. The 86's shifter isn't as good as the one on the S2k, but the throws are beautifully short and notchy. There's at least a little bit of family resemblance there. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , actually. h/t !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ! My bad.

For those of you who made it to the end: Did I miss anything?

For those of you who skipped to the end hoping to find an interesting punchline: You missed everything.

PushToStart > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 20:25

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Those A/C knobs on the Scion are Toyota parts dating back quite a few years. Here they are on a 2009 Corolla. You can also see them in the xB you pictured above as well.

Gatsby's Ghost > PushToStart 04/22/2014 at 20:25

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Thanks, good catch!

PushToStart > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 20:28

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I'm pretty sure they were also on the BRZ but they arent pictured in the shots you posted. maybe they replaced them in a later model year.

Gatsby's Ghost > PushToStart 04/22/2014 at 20:31

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They are indeed standard on the BRZ's lower level trim ("Premium," which, by the way, why is the one called "Premium" the lower level trim?):

Dunnik > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 20:34

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This is all to the good. All this recycled switch gear keeps costs down, making it more affordable. Long term should be cheaper too, since it shares parts with so many of its siblings.

Gatsby's Ghost > Dunnik 04/22/2014 at 20:36

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Oh, totally agree. I'm not complaining or anything, I just thought it would be fun to go on a borrowed switchgear hunt, and maybe illuminate the wacky hybrid nature of the cabin along the way!

Dunnik > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 20:43

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Absolutely, good read, good pics.

deekster_caddy > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 21:20

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Wow, that clock? Welcome to 1986!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 21:31

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compare the steering wheel to a wrx. The only part I'm unsure about IA the bottom spoke. The rest looks the same.

samssun > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 21:35

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Attributing "best gearbox in the world" to small, underpowered cars is silly. The throws are easy because it never has to deal with more than 150 lbs-ft of torque, so all the parts are smaller and lighter. The clutch feels great because it's made out of tissue paper. A transmission designed for 3x the torque necessarily has to be bigger, heavier, and less "snick-snick"-y.

Gatsby's Ghost > samssun 04/22/2014 at 21:45

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Fair enough; that's a great point, actually. I'll backpedal a bit and say, for the record, that the S2k's transmission is widely acclaimed for having a great "feel," and my personal experience agrees with the acclaim. But of course, you're right: in terms of—ahem, "objective"—engineering greatness, we should probably look to the likes of the latest Shelby GT500's manual transmission, at least for starters.

But, on the other hand, if we're looking at the "best gearbox in the world" in terms of the sheer power output it can handle, then aren't we pretty much doomed to let that title fall to an automatic? The Veyron's gearbox, for instance, or whatever electronic, seven-clutch demon swaps the cogs in the Koenigsegg One:1?

My point being, if you are the sort of person who would choose a manual for the sensation it gives you in driving—even knowing that it will make you slower than picking the same car with a DCT—then shouldn't the transmission "feel," rather than the sheer amount of power it can handle, be the guiding star for what makes a transmission great? If so, then I think the S2000 really is at the top of the heap.

Gatsby's Ghost > PushToStart 04/22/2014 at 21:50

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Er, oops, here's an actual pic:

Burrito de EJ25 > deekster_caddy 04/22/2014 at 22:01

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I actually really dig the way that looks.

samssun > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 22:16

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I wasn't advocating that "best" gearbox should mean "strongest", just that building a light/easy clutch/gearbox which'll never see 200 lbs-ft doesn't seem like a huge accomplishment. They should feel that way, they're scaled down versions of "real" drivetrains.

I'd be more impressed by meeting the competing demands of being able to handle real power, while still having good shift feel. The T-56's replacement, the TR-6060, feels pretty slick while also rated for 6-700 lbs-ft, and is found in the GT500, CTS-V, C6, and I believe recent Vipers.

Gatsby's Ghost > samssun 04/22/2014 at 22:37

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Yeah, and that really is an important balance (i.e., the balance between power and finesse) to take into account when we talk about things like "the objectively greatest [automotive thing] in the world." Personally, I feel like the trick isn't so much making a light clutch (though that's nice) as it is making a progressive clutch—and the shift linkage itself also has a lot to do with the equation. The S2000 has a ridiculously short throw which is fluid but also positive. Anyway, you're right about one thing: it's a lot more of an accomplishment to give a transmission great feel when it also has to worry about ripping itself to pieces with its own torque.

At the heart of this conversation is one of the great debates in the motoring world: which is the more impressive engineering achievement (and/or the better recipe for a driver's car): lightweight, low-powered simplicity? Or the one-two punch of more power and handling capability than most people can reasonably handle?

I think there are great arguments to be made for both. I love me some Corvette, and I think the C7 and the Viper collectively embody the latter philosophy as well as any modern car; the Miata (or GT86) is probably most representative of the former. We may have to agree to disagree where this debate runs into the question of transmissions, but I do think you make a very persuasive point!

92LX302 > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 23:44

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My favorite manual shifter to date is in the '13-'14 GT500. Short, precise, clunky but still light.

Vicente Esteve > Gatsby's Ghost 04/22/2014 at 23:58

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That Hazard lights button TOTALLY comes out of a 2001 E-Class

Who says the BRZ/FR-S interior isn't made of Quality materials

J.D > Gatsby's Ghost 04/23/2014 at 07:29

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Actually, the S2000 does not have an Aisin. CCommon misconception!

"Honda engineers designed an entirely new close-ratio, 6-speed manual transmission for the S2000. A limited-slip differential was chosen to ensure continuous application of power to the rear wheels, especially when cornering. The transmission and entire drivetrain are designed to be highly rigid and as compact and lightweight as possible, making the vehicle more responsive to driver input and increasing the driver's enjoyment and feel for the car. "

http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/10…

Gatsby's Ghost > J.D 04/23/2014 at 08:16

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Wow, that is...thorough! Corrected in the OP. Thanks!

Grinch77 > Gatsby's Ghost 04/27/2014 at 14:09

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another thing to ad is the window switches actually come from Nissan. If you pull them out there is a Nissan logo on the bottom of them.

intheDeedtheGlory > Gatsby's Ghost 04/27/2014 at 18:46

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It's a sub-$30,000 car that is built for "performance or driving, or handling or something)" from brands that have always been either utilitarian (Subaru) or economical (Scion). Standardizing switches that work the same way regardless saves our asses all kinda money. Every mass production car manufacturer in the world does this, you could probably spot some BMW 5 series parts in a Rolls if you really tried (see the ENGINE). I know we would all like every car in the world to be bespoke, but then we would all have to save for Koenigsegg's.

Gatsby's Ghost > intheDeedtheGlory 04/27/2014 at 20:51

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Oh, yeah, totally. I'm not complaining at all! I just thought it would be fun to go on a borrowed switchgear hunt, and maybe illuminate the wacky hybrid nature of the cabin along the way!

intheDeedtheGlory > Gatsby's Ghost 04/28/2014 at 01:30

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I just reread my post and realized it came off as douchey, I just meant yea part sharing is rampant and could be a necessary evil! It is interesting how some of the parts intermingle from the two different companies though, I suppose the co-developement led to the ability to use the most cost effective parts from either side of the isle.

On another note, this reminded me of when my dad bought a brand new Navigator back in the early 2000's. I don't remember the year but it was still based on the 90's era platform (the bublier one, sorry I don't know my Ford chassis codes) and he was so pumped that it was big and luxurious, and gas was really cheap.....the only thing I noticed was that the interior door mold was identical to the Expedition in the back seat. I was like...uhh dad CHEAPPP BROOOOO, but I was ten and he told me to shut the hell up. It has left a bad taste in my mouth for "up sharing" of parts to the luxury branch of companies ever since. We should do one of these for that type of situation...like a "look at all the Malibu parts on your Escalade" edition.

Stupidru > Gatsby's Ghost 05/08/2014 at 09:39

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The tires totally come from a Prius

J.D > Gatsby's Ghost 06/21/2014 at 16:32

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Kind of late reply here, but no problem !