Project BRZ: The First 18 Months

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54) 09/03/2015 at 17:18 • Filed to: subaru brz

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It’s been 18 months since I purchased !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It’s been as fun a car as I expected, plus I’ve had some unexpected adventures with it, both good and bad. Here’s a review of my progress so far.

Read the full article on Right Foot Down or continue below

In The Beginning

Due to expensive inspection issues with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I was forced to replace it sooner than I’d planned. I managed to snag the last World Rally Blue 2014 Subaru BRZ in New England in March 2014. The car had 54 miles on it, most of them from the transfer from another dealer. I’ve run car #54 in autocross for years (long before the ex-cop car became Car 54, Where Are You ), so I took this as a very good sign.

With a brand new car and a warranty to preserve, I planned to leave it stock for as long as I could. It’s a great car for the enthusiast right off the showroom floor. I took it to a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! autocross at the old Brunswick (Maine) Naval Air Station, hoping to co-drive it with a friend on his autocross tires. Sadly, my wheel studs weren’t long enough to bolt his wheels on safely, so we ran on my stock Michelin Primacy HP “Prius tires” instead. These tires are the only parts of the car in showroom condition that have disappointed me. With all of the electronic nannies turned off I could tell that the BRZ was an excellent handling car, but the tires seriously held it back from reaching its full capabilities. The fact that another driver in a stock class Scion FR-S on good tires beat me by several seconds also drove this home. But I couldn’t justify changing tires just yet when these still had most of their life left to them.

The Game Has Changed

One morning on my way to work last August, a pickup truck ran a stop sign in front of me. I braked hard and managed to miss it. The BMW X5 behind me also braked hard and swerved, but hit the right rear corner of my car. No one was hurt, but both cars had to get towed away. It was touch and go between the insurance company and the body shop as to whether they would total or repair the BRZ, just six months after I bought it. In the end they decided to repair it. After a bit over a month I got the car back, as good as new.

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I had intended to keep the car factory original for as long as possible, but at this point it would never be factory original again thanks to the accident. This didn’t exactly open the floodgates, as I still have no wish to make any warranty voiding modifications, but it did certainly start at least a bit of a trickle. I swapped out the Prius tires for snow tires before winter, which I had already planned on doing. But I also decided to Plastidip my wheels gold, to complete the Subaru rally look with the World Rally Blue paint. It’s an innocent enough mod and completely reversible, and the dip would actually protect the factory finish through the winter. At least, that’s how I justified it, beyond just looking cool. I also installed a ham radio in the car, both so I could talk with other hams during my daily commute, and for communications work at stage rallies. It did pain me to ruin the car’s clean lines by adding an extra antenna to the trunk lid, but that’s the price of communications.

But once you start making simple changes, it’s a slippery slope. In the middle of winter, a guy on the 86 Owners of New England Facebook group posted a set of OZ Racing Ultraleggera wheels for sale – gold, of course. I knew for a fact they’d fit my car because the seller also had them on a BRZ. I knew it was easier to swap wheels between winter and summer than to get tires swapped back and forth on the same set of wheels. It was an excellent deal and I had the money, so I went for it. The wheels came with some worn out Dunlops that had clearly seen hard autocross use, which I replaced with Michelin Pilot Super Sports an inch wider than the stock tires. When spring finally came to New England and I put them on the car, the transformation was amazing. The car finally felt like a sure footed sports car rather than Ryan Tuerck’s FR-S drift machine that’s always sideways. It’s so good that the TPMS light being on constantly doesn’t bother me, because I’m too cheap to get more tire pressure sensors.

Track Night Bro

Earlier this year I began reading about the SCCA’s new !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! program. I did a lot of track events 10-15 years ago, but they’d gone out of my price range for the most part, especially when adding in the cost of a hotel the night before when the closest tracks are two hours away from home. But now, Thompson Speedway just over the Connecticut border is barely more than an hour from home, and the new !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is about the same distance as well. Thompson was on the list of tracks where Track Night would be running, and their prices were what I paid way back when for a bit of track time. Since I could easily drive there and back the day of the event, it was more affordable to me than ever. My car is basically the Little Tykes My First Track Car , so I signed up and figured I’d see what it could do, and how rusty I was at driving on a track.

I was quite sure that my new Pilot Super Sports were up for the task. The other generally weak area is the brakes. This goes for all cars, not just mine. There’s nothing actually bad about stock brakes. They’re good and safe for street driving, after all. But street driving doesn’t, or at least shouldn’t, involve frequent hard stops from triple digit speeds. An average track session involves a great deal of this, and stock brakes on all but the highest performance cars aren’t designed to handle it. So well before its scheduled service interval I changed out the original brake fluid for ATE Type 200, which I’ve used for years (along with the dearly departed Super Blue, which would have matched my car better).

I also researched !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and found that stock brake pads do not hold up well to track temperatures. After consulting with forum vendor !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I bought a set of Winmax W5 pads for the front and rear. Their braking power is only slightly better than stock, which is a compliment for the stock pads and not a criticism of the Winmax pads. But they’re made to work at high temperatures while still providing decent braking when cold. They squeak and dust like crazy, so I switch back to stock pads when I’m not going to the track for a while. But if you’re willing to put up with the noise and dust they’re perfectly streetable. I’ll generally put them on the weekend before a Track Night, and switch back to stock the weekend after.

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I figured I’d do a Track Night or two out of the four that were originally scheduled for Thompson Speedway. But then !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was kind enough to invite me to their first event at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! so I could write about this new track, which is already making !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! because of its awesomeness. Fortunately, the car was already set up to handle this. Two consecutive long days of hard lapping on a track with 190 of elevation change is much more strenuous than three shorter sessions at Thompson. Though my brake pedal was a little bit squishy by the end of the weekend, the brakes themselves held up fine, and I am amazed that the Winmax pads still have most of their life ahead of them. At over $200 per set they were far more expensive than the EBC Greenstuff pads I used on my Miata back in the day, but I’m going to get my money’s worth out of them with as many track days as I’ll get out of them. A quick bleed got my brake fluid back up to snuff afterward, so I don’t quite need a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! yet.

Other Mods

I never really cared for the sound the BRZ makes. Starting up, it sounds like my ex-wife’s 1996 Impreza L. But thanks to its equal length headers, it doesn’t make that distinctive Subaru burble, which to me is the sound a rally car should make (yes, I realize there are rally cars other than Subarus). The stock exhaust is very quiet, which is good for an economy car but not for a sports car. I like being able to hear the engine tone and judge my shifting based on it, rather than looking at the tachometer. I was lucky enough to snag a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! axleback exhaust from an 86ONE member who just traded in his FR-S. I installed it in my parking lot under the cover of darkness so my nosy neighbor wouldn’t rat me out for wrenching on my car again. Even under those difficult conditions, it was a simple bolt-on install. All of the welds are high quality and holding up well after a year or two under the previous owner’s care. It makes a nice sporty tone, but quieter than I expected. This isn’t a bad thing at all. I like to hear my exhaust, not go deaf from it. The tips also fill up the oversized openings in the back bumper much better than the stock ones. I haven’t dynoed my car, but being at the exit point of an otherwise stock exhaust, I expect absolutely no performance gains whatsoever. I got it for the sound, not for power.

Yet another 86ONE member sold me a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! flasher module. This replaces the stock flasher relay and adds a few functions, namely the ability to simply tap the signal stalk once and have it automatically flash 3, 4, or 5 times. This lets you signal a lane change without keeping your fingers off the steering wheel, holding the lever the whole time. It also lets you reduce your hazard flash to half speed, and have alternating flashers, wig-wag style (I figured this might be neat if the BRZ ever sees rally course car duty). My particular module is too old to offer arrival and departure lighting or directional park lights, but that’s OK. The one-touch lane change signal has already been very convenient on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

I’ve never been a fan of “Altezza” style tail lights. They were all the rage a while back, and practically every modified Japanese car (and even some German and American ones) had red lenses surrounded by chrome and clear plastic. More cars started coming with this styling from the factory, including my BRZ. I considered buying some aftermarket LED units, but rather than spend hundreds of dollars on them, I spend $10 on a can of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Back in the day, the “import tuners” would use different colors of this paint to tint their lights so dark that almost no light would shine through. I couldn’t believe that now I was using this paint to change my tail lights back to red. But I did, and I’m satisfied with the result. It does fade after months of exposure in the sun, so be prepared to touch it up from time to time, especially on top where the sun beats down. A light enough coat will still allow your turn signal to appear amber when illuminated, if, like me, you like a different color signal for clarity. Otherwise, a few more coats will make it shine red regardless of what color the bulb is.

The one and only warranty repair I’ve needed so far was when one of my two horn tones stopped working. The BRZ’s stock horn is OK but kind of weak, so I took it upon myself to upgrade to a pair of Hella Supertone horns. Only then did I see that the warranty repair job was nothing more than the horn wire wrapped, not even crimped, to a loose fitting spade connector that didn’t fit the factory horn very well. No wonder it was still intermittent. But no big deal – I replaced the wiring, doing a better job than the dealer technician did, and the horns, and now they sound great and get more attention when someone wanders into my lane while I’m already there.

I also added a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ball ball to my dashboard. I’ve been using this mounting system on my motorcycles for years, as well as for small video cameras to get interesting angles at autocrosses. Normally I use this with an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for my phone so I can use Waze while I’m driving, but I can also use it with my GoPro or any other accessory I’ve added a Ram Mount ball to.

Speaking of cameras, I also went in on an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and added a BeatSonic backup camera and wiring harness. This kit supplies a small camera that replaces one of your rear license plate bolts, plus a wiring harness and instructions for wiring it into a Subaru BRZ or Scion FR-S. The BRZ has the upper hand here because its factory head unit is already equipped to handle a backup camera, despite one not being available on the BRZ from the factory. Rear visibility, especially when backing up, isn’t the greatest in this car, but now I can back into my parking space and never hit my motorcycle that usually shares it.

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Future Plans

I’m happy with the car the way it is now, but I can never resist tinkering. I’m still within my warranty period (hopefully Subaru hasn’t revoked it after reading this), and I still don’t intend to make any changes that would void it. That said, a tune is at the top of the list once that expires. The BRZ/FR-S has an infamous torque dip between 3,000-4,000 RPM, which you can feel as a dead spot as you accelerate through the middle of the rev range. There are various tuning options out there, from the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to a custom tune from a reputable technician. I’m not sure which option I’ll go with yet, but considering the mileage left in my warranty I have some time to decide.

Unlike the stock module, the TapTurn flasher is compatible with LED bulbs, which means I can now plug some in anytime I want. I find their instant on/off nature more eye catching than incandescent bulbs, so I’ll switch over to LEDs at some point when I get around to it. It’s also a classy touch that more upscale cars than mine have.

Last winter, my other half bumped an ice bank at a Boston Chapter BMW CCA IceCross event, which cracked part of my front bumper and damaged my fender liner. She alternated between feeling guilty about the damage, and proud that she drove hard enough to cause it, not to mention that the spin happened after crossing the finish line and turning in a good time. It’s not too visible from the outside. Various adhesives (none of which have been a permanent fix) and painter’s tape have held it together well enough this year, but eventually she wants to replace the broken parts. I may take the opportunity to eliminate the stock front license plate holder, and get a removable aftermarket one instead.

As I said, I miss the Subaru burble from the stock equal length headers. I’m pondering eventually adding some unequal length headers to bring it back. These are fairly expensive, so I may or may not follow through on this.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but that doesn’t mean that more would be unwelcome. Turbo and supercharger options are available, and I think a supercharger is more in line with my everyday needs. Though you can get more boost and more power out of a turbo, there’s no lag with a supercharger. It’s like having a bigger motor under the hood instead of a boosted one. These are fairly expensive, so this may be a pipe dream for me, but I can dream, right?

Of course, the ultimate plan, once the car has been well used on the street, depreciated, and been replaced as my daily driver, is to turn it into a dedicated fun car. One plan is to continue down the path I’ve started, and optimize it for the track. This would mean tire and suspension upgrades to remove the compromises currently made for street driving, adding power, and probably bigger brakes, too.

The other plan would be to turn it into a rally car. It wouldn’t be as gonzo as the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that Chris Duplessis drives, but a well balanced rear wheel drive rally car can be a ton of fun, as my friends at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! have shown with their BMW E36 M3. I love driving sideways in the dirt, and though my experience behind the wheel of course opening and sweep vehicles isn’t practice for competition, I’ve had the experience of stage rallies at a reduced yet still quick speed down the stages. My other half and I make a great driver/co-driver team, and we have enough friends in the rally community to help us make it happen. Best of all, it’s already World Rally Blue, which is the correct color for a Subaru rally car.

Whatever I end up doing, you can read all about it !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Follow @justinhughes54

Future next gen S2000 owner > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 17:40

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How can my car depreciate before its first oil change?

Policy-Man > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 17:40

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Very different experience from my first 18 months with my FRS
- Full header back exhaust
- Eibach springs
- New wheels and tires
- ECUtek engine reflash tune
- Retrofitted headlights to bi-xenon HID
- Painted tails (just like you)
- Tap turn (Did you know this product is made in Canada? YAY!)
- Full LEDS all around
- Various JDM parts
- Custom built OEM fog light kit (they did not offer this for the first 2 years after all)
- JPMcoachworks interior upgrade
- Antenna replacement, etc

The car really is built for tuners and those who want to have some fun with their car. It is amazing what I have done to my car since it has launched (turbo, brembos up front, lip kit, new tail lights, etc.)

I hope you continue to experiment with the car. It is quite fun!

wiffleballtony > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 17:44

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Great write up.

Skamanda > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 17:51

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Bear in mind, if you switch to UEL headers you’re going to lose some power. EL headers are one of the best “bang for the buck” performance upgrades you can do on NA Subarus. Not sure what the BRZ exhaust looks like, but if it’s got one, you might want to consider a resonator delete before that, to see if that helps your sound out any.

CalBearsFan99 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 17:54

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1” wider tires on the same wheels?

Skamanda > Policy-Man 09/03/2015 at 17:54

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Do you know if TWE or Delta or anyone does cams for the 86 twins? They have them for most of the other Boxers, but I haven’t seen anything (admittedly I haven’t looked, since I don’t own one) for the BRZ/FR-S when I’ve been browsing their sites looking for EJ251 upgrades...

Phunkydiabetic > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/03/2015 at 17:54

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Drive it off the lot....

Justin Hughes > wiffleballtony 09/03/2015 at 17:54

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Thanks!

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 17:56

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Thompson racing fabrication up here in Michigan is building a rally BRZ...

Justin Hughes > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/03/2015 at 17:56

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I think I’d had two oil changes before this happened. The very first one is at an earlier interval after break-in.

But, yeah, what you said. I’d already planned to keep the car long term (unusual for me), but this really clinched it because of the drop in resale value.

Chasaboo > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 17:56

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I loved my BRZ until it got wiped out by a pick up truck driving hillbilly. Shocking I know.

Justin Hughes > Chasaboo 09/03/2015 at 17:58

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Ugh! It happens far too often.

Justin Hughes > CalBearsFan99 09/03/2015 at 18:00

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No, on the OZs. They’re 1” wider than stock, and I went from the stock 215/45/17 to 235/45/17. Slightly taller than stock, but that’s the size that was available. It fits just fine.

SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 18:04

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Read each and every word. I cannot fit into the FR-S or the BRZ but I love them. Glad you are enjoying it and great write up!

CalBearsFan99 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 18:05

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Ahh, got it, I must have misread.

yitznewton > Policy-Man 09/03/2015 at 18:18

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How’d you like the tune?

Harlard > Chasaboo 09/03/2015 at 18:25

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Had to crush my 13 second daily 940 Turbo because of a drunk hillbilly in a lifter Ram with a bullbar. What a coincidence.

Justin Hughes > SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo 09/03/2015 at 18:33

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Thanks!

CaptainStu > Policy-Man 09/03/2015 at 18:36

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What kind of turbo did you go with? Any drawbacks? Mileage?

The Spaceman > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 18:39

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RAM mounts are the greatest invention since the cheeseburger. Configurable, widely supported by electronics manufacturers, and cheap. I have one with an X-Grip for Waze, and a second for my Zumo. On my Yamaha, of course.

C-5M Load Smasher > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 18:57

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My wife is trading in her 03 Celica for one. It will be an auto, I’m sorry, but we plan to do wheels and tires and exhaust almost immediately. I want her to come to the track with me and really learn how to wring it out.

None > Chasaboo 09/03/2015 at 19:00

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I hope neither of you guys were hurt. Comfort in the fact that it got great safety ratings, like most Subies do. But I am constantly on alert when driving mine. Its a lot like riding a motorcycle in that no one sees you.

Justin Hughes > C-5M Load Smasher 09/03/2015 at 19:00

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Hey, at least you’ll have paddle shifters! My other half has trouble driving my car because it’s a stick. It’s too notchy for her and it hurts her shoulder to shift it. Otherwise I’d be putting her behind the wheel at Track Night. The auto accelerates more slowly than the stick due to higher gearing, but even with a stick I point by plenty of cars anyway. Fortunately, handling is the same, so she should still have a blast with it!

C-5M Load Smasher > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 19:01

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She gets enough speeding tickets as it is, slower is better. We eventually want to turbo it like her celica is. She loves turbos.

None > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 19:04

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I am glad you mentioned tha you have had almost zero problems with it warranty wise. I have had mine over a year now and have not had a single issue with mine, and yet Consumer Reports has given this car very unfavorable reliability ratings, which I am going to call bullshit on. Saying you don’t like the SAT/NAV interface does not make a car unreliable.

C-5M Load Smasher > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 19:09

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Also, damn you for linking Nameless Performance. I'm now planning on spending wayyyy more than I originally wanted too.

B_dol > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 19:25

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Get an OFT tune, you will not regret it . Been focusing on driving and enjoying the car for now (1 year sans additional mods! brake pads/fluids to come soon).

Mr Clutch > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 19:25

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Thank you for your post, you are the person I need to talk too. I am in the process of selling my R32. With the money I get plus some other funds I am going to put a 75% down payment on a BRZ, I am waiting for the Hyper blue BRZ. If things go better than I expected I will get a hyper blue STI but I am not holding my breath on that, 25k loans are a lot 430 compared to 180 a month for the BRZ.

My question is how fun is it, I don’t know if you have ever driven an R32 to compare the both. Is the lack of power that bad, I don’t think it matters because the car weighs 2700 pounds. And I can always throw in a supercharger at a later date if I want more power. How is the build quality, I only got to sit in one at my local dealer this past week only for a few minuets it seems nice materials feel nice to the touch(unfortunately that used example had an auto box yuck) . Is it reliable any common problems, the only one I see is there is no physical key to put in the ignition. Call me old fashioned I like to turn a key to start my car.

I am already planning on getting Grazio & Co smoked tail lights and intec fender vent turn signals as soon as I make the down payment. In the spring I will get a custom exhuast built and Tein coilovers then after that rims.

I really hate giving up my R32 but after 8 years it’s time to go.

Goober1911 > Skamanda 09/03/2015 at 19:29

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I’m not an expert on the 86 twins, but I’ve read that an UEL header (along with a tune) will fill the infamous torque dip.

6SPD_soul, post pending > Policy-Man 09/03/2015 at 19:58

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I don’t totally get the rationale behind keeping a car stock for the sake of preserving a warranty. You’re missing out on what could be a much better car while subconsciously betting that something major is going to break while the car is still basically an infant. Then again I’ve never owned a car with a warranty, but I also do all my own work anyway.

As an aside, how’s the Eibach suspension setup? Is that literally just springs or springs and dampers? I’ve got Eibach suspension on an SVT Focus and I’m less than pleased with it.

6SPD_soul, post pending > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 20:01

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Oh, fuck the warranty. Make the car better first and foremost.

Justin Hughes > None 09/03/2015 at 20:23

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I’ve switched to using Waze instead of the built in NAV because Waze is just better. But the stereo is great, and I’ve never once had an issue with my phone connecting by Bluetooth or the USB input when I actually plug it in. People may complain about the crickets (high pitched chattering from the high pressure fuel pump), but that’s an annoyance, not a defect in my book.

ElanaR > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 20:24

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I.O.U. one new front bumper. Now it is public and I have to do it

Justin Hughes > C-5M Load Smasher 09/03/2015 at 20:25

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Their stuff is expensive, but it’s high quality work. I think if you can afford it, it’s worth every penny.

Justin Hughes > Mr Clutch 09/03/2015 at 20:37

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Fun. Lots of fun. I haven’t driven an R32, but being a heavier FWD-based car, you’ll probably love the BRZ’s well balanced handling. Cornering is its strong point, and being able to use a lot of throttle without instantly reaching go-directly-to-jail speed (unless you’re in Virginia) is a good time. I would call the power adequate. Not a ton, but it sure beats the 1.6 Miatas I used to have. Overall the build quality is quite good. They certainly cut corners in places to keep the costs down, but they do it in places like the sun visors and the hard plastic arm rests for the back seat - places you don’t really care if they’re cheap.

The BRZ Premium, which is what I have, has a physical key, but is missing the more upscale items like auto climate control, leather seats, heated seats, and some exterior trim like fog lights and the spoiler. It’s been very reliable for me. The only issue I’ve had is the one horn failing like I mentioned.

Justin Hughes > ElanaR 09/03/2015 at 20:39

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I’m sure we’ll make it happen one way or another.

TheOnelectronic > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 21:10

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I think I replaced my stereo by like the fifth day. It’s pretty decent, but it’s got a lot of really weird sound characteristics and the navigation is truly awful. Got a Pioneer unit with Android Auto (still basically looks stock) and it’s made an amazing difference. The head unit puts out enough power to properly drive the speakers, now, and those weird peaky highs are gone. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about backwards-baseball-cap “sound quality” of booming muddled bass and ear-splitting treble, I’m talking about the troublesome task of trying to get faithful recreation in an environment as noisy and unoptimized as a car. Also, you end up with actually functional navigation (albeit through your phone, and only Gmaps for now.)

I normally hate aftermarket units because they look so... juvenile both externally and software wise, but this one is minimal enough that there isn’t much for them to get wrong, and Google’s UI is much more pleasant.

The only issue is that the stock unit is just slightly wider than a standard 2-DIN, so it needs a couple of spacers to cover the gaps.

It’s not a big priority for some people, but for me, good music is an essential part of a good drive, so it was pretty requisite.

The only things I “lost” are I can’t use the factory mic without annoying wiring (And it’s not very good anyway) and I didn’t want a superfluous antenna on my roof so I didn’t add the XM module either. The AUX/USB port in front of the shifter was popped out to make room for the mic and USB cables from the head unit, but hopefully at some point in the future I can re-integrate it. I like to keep cable spaghetti to a minimum.

So that’s my slightly off-topic rant about the BRZ’s stereo.

Dave > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 21:49

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I’m really glad you enjoy your car. With a slew of mods, one gets close to base Z money. Would you go with the Z if you did it again?

random001 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 21:49

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Needs moar STi wing!!

Slant6 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 21:50

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Aye Saab wagon

Mr Clutch > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 21:52

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Thank you for the response it was helpful, right now I am going through separation anxiety. I don’t want to let go but I need too, VW’s are not long term cars I need to go before she starts costing a lot of money to fix As far as backseats I would do this if I had the money to piss away.

None > Mr Clutch 09/03/2015 at 21:52

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Read the comparison between the two that Doug DeMuro wrote here on Jalopnik. I have the Limited version. The Hyper Blue additionally has the new larger Satnav, backup camera, And generous amounts of Hyper Blue stitching inside. It has more than enough power that is actually useable.

Baskingshark > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 21:59

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So I am due to get a new car this year and I have my heart set on a 16 oceanic blue FRS. Mostly because I prefer the nose and interior of the FRS over the BRZ. This pretty much settles it! Great write up!

Justin Hughes > Dave 09/03/2015 at 21:59

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I’d have to try a current Z to know for sure. I suspect not, because the Z is heavier and not quite as good in the turns (not that it’s bad, either). Though I do like the hatchback, and power is certainly not an issue in the Z. Honestly, if I was choosing again today, a WRX would be the top contender.

Justin Hughes > random001 09/03/2015 at 22:02

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Ha! A funny thing I learned from the Scion rep at the New England International Auto Show is that the car was designed for best aerodynamics with no wing at all. Of course, the marketing people insist on having a wing available because they make cars look faster, but it actually hurts the aero. I can’t tell if this is absolutely true or not, but this guy definitely knew his stuff about other areas of the FR-S, so I’d say it’s at least plausible.

Justin Hughes > Slant6 09/03/2015 at 22:03

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Somebody always notices that 9-5 wagon in the background! Seriously!

Mr Clutch > None 09/03/2015 at 22:04

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You do know I have an VW MK4 R32, I wish I had a Skyline R32 I would never give that up. I can’t wait to go to the dealer and put my deposit down, I am getting the limited also. Definitely has enough power, although I think most cars from Asia invite you to put more power when you want. They give you a lower priced car that have engines that can handle more power without breaking.

Justin Hughes > Mr Clutch 09/03/2015 at 22:05

0

Glad to help! That’s pretty. Does the “seat back” still fold down? Extending the cargo space that way is a critical feature for me.

WhiskeyGolf > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 22:05

0

Speedometer change at all? I suspect the 1% or whatever isn’t really noticeable

random001 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 22:07

0

Yeah, for the crappy knock off FRS. BRZ needs moar wing!

Justin Hughes > Baskingshark 09/03/2015 at 22:08

0

Thanks - glad to help! I think my perfect front end would be the FR-S nose (no grey mustache) with the BRZ’s lights, including the LED DRLs. Sometimes the sun glares off my silver dashboard trim, making me wish for the darker FR-S panels, but overall I prefer the BRZ interior. To each their own - that’s why both are available!

None > Mr Clutch 09/03/2015 at 22:10

0

Should have guessed that, sorry. All I can tell you is that I have a WRX as well and prefer the power delivery and driveability of the BRZ to it. The WRX is more versatile, but does not feel as satisfying to me.

Justin Hughes > WhiskeyGolf 09/03/2015 at 22:13

0

There’s some difference. According to tire-size-conversion.com, an indicated 60mph is actually 62.7. That’s not enough difference to make or break getting a ticket. If I cared more, I could run a GPS speedometer on my phone that would be more accurate.

According to the same calculator, an indicated 90mph is actually 94. I hadn’t considered this difference when estimating my triple digit top speeds on various road courses, but the error is greater the faster you go. So my indicated 102 top speed last night might really be 107!

Justin Hughes > random001 09/03/2015 at 22:14

1

Here you go!

Mr Clutch > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 22:18

1

Here is a link check it out, it does not look like if folds down maybe pop the top part off.

http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/seibon-carbon-…

I will post picks when I get my car, I am so excited. Once again thank you.

IDer2 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 22:27

2

Mine is just breaking 10 months and while I never intended to autocross/track/race/modify it because all of these options aren’t available easily at where I live, I do intend to drive it hard when I can. I just completed a solo road trip in August with it (with lots of photos) while carrying a mountain bike and camera gears and thought I will share: cowingaround.blogspot.tw

Also, just one week after I got back, my car got hit by a speeding scooter. The damage isn’t nearly as extensive as yours (mine looked painful, yours look absolutely excruciating) . In fact, I am about to go to the dealership to see if they’ve done it right. Fingers crossed!

Baskingshark > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 22:35

1

Yeah I like the seats better in the Limited BRZ and the dash and gauges in the FRS. My plan is to get it off the lot with some TRD stuff installed (exhaust, lowering Springs, and sway bars) so I can include that stuff in the financing and then get some wheels and tires and call it a day.

Then I am thinking it probably needs a lip and the diffuser completes the back; and the Tapturn mod is really cool too. Haha it is a slippery slope and I don't even have the car yet!

fuddbutter > Policy-Man 09/03/2015 at 22:44

0

Mine is different again...

Kinda over spending money on it, latest changes have been the solid mounts, trying to fix problems from it being so low..

http://imgur.com/a/v1P6J

Interior
Alcantera dash hood.
We Are Likewise “The Deathgrip” shif knob and “Rod Stewart” extension
AVO Throttle Controller
CDT splits (with the rest of the stereo gathering dust)
In.Focus gear stick boot
Custom painted dash panels.

Engine/Bay
Perrin LWP
Grimmspeed strut brace
Airraid intake
Raceseng cam plate (yet to install)
OFT tune
Tanabe cat back
Clear fuse box lid
Gas struts

Suspension
D2 coilovers
Power by max LCA’s
Hardrace Toe arms
Power By Max solid diff mounts

Exterior
APR Carbon Canards
S-Works Carbon Mo’ cover
Whistler KR-1 (18x9.5)
Valenti Tails
Raceseng number plate relocator
Rocket Bunny V3 carbon wing
(Airflow Dynamics side skirts to be installed)

mtonelli91 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 22:47

1

I rented a FR-S to do a Track Night in America in Northern California. The ambient temperature was around 106 degrees. I have no idea what the track temp was. After 3 hard 20 minute sessions (hey, it wasn’t my car), the brakes never faded and the tires held up surprisingly well. It was an automatic (it was a rental after all) and I intended to use the paddle shifters. After I put it in Sport Mode, the car transformed and the transmission suddenly knew what I was expecting of it. I never had to use the paddles. It took it right up to redline every time and even downshifted when it was supposed to and held it in the lower gear for longer, sweeping turns. I was thoroughly impressed and now I want a BRZ for a weekend track day car.

Coupe Of Joe > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 22:56

0

fucking miatas

Justin Hughes > mtonelli91 09/03/2015 at 23:05

0

Nice! Good to know the automatic comes alive when you switch from “Normal Cruise” to “Pursuit.”

Justin Hughes > Coupe Of Joe 09/03/2015 at 23:06

1

I give props to this guy. He drove on the frozen lake with the top down all day.

sound312 > Justin Hughes 09/03/2015 at 23:26

1

No joke my single best mod is the grimmspeed master cylinder brace. Brake feel AND as unbelievable as it might be.... shift feel is so so much smoother...how or why? I have no idea, but trust me IT’S TRUE!! I had to ask other people to drive my car. It just doesn’t make sense that the brace would have any impact on the clutch system....but whatever best 90 bucks I’ve ever spent! Lol

Bobloblawlobslawbomb > Skamanda 09/03/2015 at 23:55

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Not true at all and I don’t get where you are getting that from. The gains from the UEL headers I just put in my FR-S with a proper tune from the best tuner in the PNW shows gains way higher than any EL header can provide.

Dolby109 > 6SPD_soul, post pending 09/04/2015 at 00:02

4

Conversely I completely don’t get buying a new car if you want to mod it out of the warranty.

If you’re going to have a car without a warranty why would you waste the $5k+ premium on a brand new car? Older cars have a better established aftermarket, and are more well proven (or at least known what problem areas are).

Dolby109 > B_dol 09/04/2015 at 00:04

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I’m pretty sure if something major goes wrong he would very much regret not having a warranty for something like 15hp extra.

pasghetticode > Phunkydiabetic 09/04/2015 at 00:13

0

I think someone missed the joke.

Justin Hughes > sound312 09/04/2015 at 00:20

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I’ll check that out!

B_dol > Dolby109 09/04/2015 at 00:41

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Thanks for that.

His car is already lightly modded (aftermarket axleback, brakes, track days), doing so without a tune is a waste of $. Gain throttle response, an improved torque curve and ohh yes, a ~10% bump in HP (small engine, big gain).

This isn’t cranking up the boost on stock internals, its a mild tune aimed at better utilizing modifications installed on the car engineered by folks with a long history of subaru engine knowledge.

Sean > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 02:05

1

How on earth does a plastic bumper, a tailight assembly, and a boot lid classify as “totalled”???

I did worse to the front end of my Impreza and there was no question of it getting fixed. It was never a write off in any measure

chaboud > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 02:43

1

More critically, this makes your gears all a bit taller and ever-so-slightly lifts the car. All the more reason for more mods!

Echo51 > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 04:17

0

I wish the tap-turn wasn’t manufacturer specific, but actually was just a normal replacement relay. the wig-wag style blinking sounds hella cool :D

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 08:08

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I’m about 18 months in on mine, too. I’m becoming increasingly convinced that mine is cursed. I just had my second accident in as many months after never being in an accident apart from the week after I turned 16 and was trying to test my mad drifting skillz in my dad’s Suzuki Esteem.

Sonikku > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 08:16

0

How easy was it to run the cable for the backup cam? I’ve been thinking that for mine (they are really cheap) but does it involve ripping up carpet, etc?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Chasaboo 09/04/2015 at 08:27

0

I’m wondering if these cars are cursed. I’ve been in one accident in my life which was doing something stupid a week after getting my license and now I’ve been in two in as many months while being careful in my BRZ.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > C-5M Load Smasher 09/04/2015 at 08:28

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Nameless is worth every penny. Seriously, you’d be hard pressed to find a better constructed exhaust. It’s way higher quality than OEM.

HiMyNameIsJayAgain > Policy-Man 09/04/2015 at 09:10

0

- ECUtek engine reflash tune

What did the tune do for you overall?

I was under the impression that there really weren’t any power gains in tuning the Subaru N/A engines.

FerdinandPorsche'sBumperMountedTurbo > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 09:10

0

if there were car gods they would’ve protected your brz from being rear-ended by an asshat in an x5. By the way was the x5 atleast a v8 or entry-level straight 6?

doubleshotpower > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 09:19

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So you are honestly saying that your insurance company ALMOST considered your NEW CAR a total write-off because of that small rear corner hit?

C’mon.......

doubleshotpower > 6SPD_soul, post pending 09/04/2015 at 09:21

0

Low quality ‘JDM’ parts do not make your car better. And yes, almost all of them are crap plastic.

Skamanda > Bobloblawlobslawbomb 09/04/2015 at 10:04

0

From the NASIOC NA power white paper , and the dozens of other threads on NASIOC and rs25.com about building NA Subaru motors.

Did you have a dyno with both the EL and UEL headers, tuned? A proper tune will provide better gains than a header, no matter what type it is. Enough people (including those using their NA Subarus for stage rally) say the EL header provides more horsepower, that I’d be surprised if you didn’t see more power with EL than UEL. That said, I’m just taking the words of hundreds of people who’ve done it for granted. I haven’t tested any of this myself...

My “bang for the buck” remark was because you can get a cheap replica (or used) EL header off eBay for less than $200, where a proper dyno tune is going to cost you quite a bit more (and really, is kind of pointless without adding all the upgrades you’re going to do, because you’ll need it re-tuned afterwards anyways).

Skamanda > Goober1911 09/04/2015 at 10:07

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A good tune by itself will fill that dip. There’s a great white paper on NASIOC about bulding power in NA motors that has some info on UEL vs. EL headers, but there are dozens of other threads there and on rs25.com that cover the subject. Every one of them says the EL headers will provide more power than UEL ones, and that UEL headers are basically for when you want the Subaru rumble (because the EL headers don’t provide it anywhere near as much).

Justin Hughes > Sean 09/04/2015 at 10:23

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The right rear corner of the body was crunched too. Another angle:

The trunk lid was actually barely damaged - it was the quarter panel that crunched. I actually managed to open and shut the trunk to get some things out of it before the car got towed. They had to cut out and replace a whole bunch of sheet metal on that corner of the car, and did a great job. The only visible sign is when I removed the right tail light to tint it, I could see that the welds were hand made, not robot welds like the undamaged left side.

Justin Hughes > Echo51 09/04/2015 at 10:25

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It is! Just be careful using it on the street, or you might attract some unwanted attention...

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 09/04/2015 at 10:26

0

Oh no! Sorry to hear it. How bad is it this time?

Justin Hughes > Sonikku 09/04/2015 at 10:36

1

The hardest part for me was getting the cable through the license plate bolt hole, believe it or not. The bolt on the camera is larger than stock, and though the plastic can be drilled or reamed out to accommodate it, I didn’t make it big enough before ruining a plug in the middle of the wire. I managed to splice the individual wires together and it works fine, but I either need to unsplice wires to remove my license plate, or cut the plate out from around the camera/bolt.

Full instructions are available for the BRZ and FR-S . I ran the cable underneath trim panels all the way from the trunk to the dashboard. I had to pop a few fasteners and trim pieces, but no special tools or major disassembly. The BRZ is a little easier because there’s a padded trim panel on the underside of the trunk lid that the FR-S doesn’t have to tuck the cable under, but a few zip ties will keep it out of the way on an FR-S. The wiring procedure is also slightly different for each model because of the different head units.

dave1827 > 6SPD_soul, post pending 09/04/2015 at 10:36

0

When you bring your truck in to the dealer with a damaged front spindle at 30k miles because road salt and sand that got in the boot and ground/rusted it away, and it isn’t covered because the tear in the boot happened while replacing upgrading the front shocks, you’ll understand.

Justin Hughes > FerdinandPorsche'sBumperMountedTurbo 09/04/2015 at 10:38

1

I don’t know - I didn’t look that closely. The BRZ actually took the hit much better than the X5 did, despite weighing half as much. His left front corner shattered. The driver’s door jammed shut. All the air bags went off. The immobilizer kicked in, so he couldn’t drive out of the middle of the intersection like I did. And I’ll bet the X5 cost much more to repair than my car.

Justin Hughes > doubleshotpower 09/04/2015 at 10:42

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See my reply here . The whole quarter panel got crunched and had to be replaced. That, and there was some consideration of the extra depreciation I got the moment that X5 mangled my bodywork. Apparently many people wouldn’t want a car that had been repaired that extensively while it was still new.

jamisparker > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 10:49

1

Have you checked your speedometer against a GPS yet? Speedometers usually indicate too high by a few % from the factory so nobody tries to sue them for causing them to get a speeding ticket. You might have actually made your speedo more accurate rather than less.

jamisparker > SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo 09/04/2015 at 10:50

1

Find yourself a 944. They fit just about anybody!

Justin Hughes > jamisparker 09/04/2015 at 10:55

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I did but not in a long time, and I can’t remember how they matched up. It was pretty close, just like you explained.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 11:21

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Not too bad. It looks worse, but is actually less damage. It’s pretty much just the bumper cover and hood. The bumper itself has a smallish ding on it and will probably be replaced.

sethulrich > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 11:24

1

Crawford Performance billet power blocks are one of the best bang-for-the-buck mods and really help with reducing the torque dip. A tune will really help get the most out of them though.

Justin Hughes > sethulrich 09/04/2015 at 11:39

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19hp, 15 lb-ft? Really? You have my attention. Thanks for the tip!

Justin Hughes > Justin Hughes 09/04/2015 at 11:47

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OK, MotoIQ tested these and achieved lower numbers than Crawford’s claims, but the numbers they achieved, particularly at lower revs, are still significant. Sounds worth doing at some point!

C-5M Load Smasher > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 09/04/2015 at 12:12

1

Yeah when we get it, I'm ordering the full system with the high flow catalytic converter. A good set of wheels and coilovers and it will become an awesome autocross machine.

SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo > jamisparker 09/04/2015 at 12:26

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There is a Turbo one around. I’ve got some great pictures of it. It looks great but man, it is small. I’m 6’6” and I know it won’t work. I towered over it. I’d love on though.

William Byrd > ElanaR 09/04/2015 at 12:36

1

Ohhh now all those Facebook likes make sense. :)

Thanks for supporting his habit and letting him write about it.

jamisparker > SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo 09/04/2015 at 12:42

1

The interior has a lot more height than you’d expect. Greenhouses used to be a lot taller, just look at how much more glass a 944 has compared to a BRZ. If you want a car like that, at least give it a shot. The 944 is known to be the sports car for tall people, especially ones with no sunroof, though I admit that 6’ 6” might push even that.