Living With A Subaru BRZ

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
01/04/2015 at 14:02 • Filed to: Subaru BRZ

There have already been eleventy zillion reviews of the Toyobaru twins, all saying that it's the second coming of the affordable lightweight sports coupe. We know how it !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for a day trip, but what's it like to live with this car every day? How does it work in the real world?

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Practicality

It's a sports car, not a minivan, so I'm going to cut it a lot of slack here. If I needed a practical sporty car in this price range, a Fiesta ST or Mini Cooper S would've been a better choice. But I decided I could live with the BRZ's limited space on a daily basis. After all, with the back seat folded down, my 70" Hoyt Pro Medalist recurve bow fits entirely behind the front seats at a bit of an angle, along with my quiver, feast gear basket, a cloak in case it gets cold, and a change of modern clothes so I don't need to wear my medieval garb out to dinner after the SCA archery tournament. Hey, these things matter to me. In fact, as long as I don't have to bring my canvas wall tent, I can pack two people and gear for a weekend getaway if I'm careful. (Other people, packing for more traditional vacations than medieval re-enactment events, should have enough space for a comparable amount of luggage and equipment.) This, more than anything, is why I can no longer have a Miata as my only car. I've owned three of them, but I've always had access to another car if I needed more practicality. I don't need a lot of cargo space, but I need more than a Miata has. I know it's sacrilege, but Miata is no longer the answer for me.

Fold up the back seat, and the trunk is still a reasonable size for this type of car. My grocery shopping fits with no problem. The biggest problem is that the trunk is not very tall. Full paper grocery bags won't fit, forcing you to repack everything after the helpful Trader Joe's checkout clerk bagged it all efficiently for you, just to make it fit. You'll have to use the back seat, with its own limited access, save the world with reusable bags, or destroy the planet with plastic bags to avoid this inconvenience.

Speaking of the back seat, it's best to think of it as a package shelf that you can legally place a small human being across, rather than an actual seat. I'm six feet tall, and though the driver's seat isn't quite as far back as it can go – !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! – there isn't enough room for even my snow brush between the seats, never mind a passenger's legs. I have fit two other people in the car with me, but even my girlfriend's seven year old son couldn't sit properly behind her without sitting sideways, which isn't comfortable with the deep contours of the back seat. The only alternative would be to cut off his legs just above the knee, which would probably annoy my girlfriend and stain my upholstery. It's best to just think of the BRZ as a two seater, despite the existence of seat belts in the back.

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Comfort and visibility

The front seats, however, are excellent. They're not as bolstered as the Fiesta ST's Recaros, but they're better than most cars, and strike a good compromise between support and comfort. They could use some adjustable lumbar support, but I've driven all day in them on various types of roads and felt fine afterward. There isn't a ton of space in the front - there are knee pads available for the center console and door speaker enclosures for wider people who find themselves rubbing them - but I get in and out of a BRZ like a regular car, rather than like putting on a tight glove as I do in a Miata.

Ride quality is a bit rough on the pothole filled roads of Massachusetts. The trade-off is the excellent handling that the stiff suspension provides. On a smooth twisty road, it's a dream. Unfortunately, the town I live in has been demolishing literally every road to my house this year and patching them poorly, so I find myself bouncing and cursing every time I come and go from home. This isn't the BRZ's fault in particular. Any car I'm interested in would have a fairly firm, sporty suspension, and would have exactly the same problem.

As far as visibility is concerned, you can see ahead and to the sides quite well, though there is one curve on my daily commute where I have to lean toward the center of the car to look around the thick A-pillar. I absolutely love the front fender bulges, which not only look cool but also tell me exactly where the front wheels are. The BRZ comes with standard HID headlights, which light up the road quite well at night. When I was shopping for the car, the salesman told me that I wouldn't need the fog lights included in the Limited package because the standard headlights were just that good. I wasn't sure I believed him. Most cars I've owned have needed upgrades in the lighting department. But in this case, I think he was absolutely right.

To the rear, the mirrors work OK, but the C-pillars are very thick. Backing up is tricky, because I can't see where the back of the car is. The car could really use a backup camera, but it isn't available with one from the factory, not even as an option. This is strange, because the infotainment system is already set up to support one. I bought a plug and play !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! from BeatSonic, and now the screen automatically displays the view behind me when I shift into reverse.

Commuting

The BRZ handles my daily grind rather well. I take mostly back roads through the Metrowest Boston area. Traffic is the primary challenge for me. Normally I'm stuck in traffic going at or below the speed limit, ruining my fun. A Chevy Aveo could sit in traffic as well as this car. (Yes, I drove an Aveo recently. Please don't hold that against me.)

The car doesn't come to life on slow, traffic filled back roads like I commute on. I mean, it works perfectly, and doesn't do anything wrong, but it isn't particularly fun to drive at 2/10ths, merely competent. I find a Miata with the top down fun to drive at any speed. But the standard infotainment system works well to keep me, well, infotained by a wide variety of sources (AM/FM/XM, CD, and anything connected to auxiliary, USB, or Bluetooth), while waiting for the long line of cars ahead of me to force their way into the endless line of cars on the main drag that aren't letting them in.

When it's my turn to force myself into that line, I don't find the BRZ underpowered at all. It gets itself from a stop to the 35mph speed limit (or the 27mph speed of traffic) very quickly, but only if I turn off traction control first. Otherwise, if the car detects even the slightest bit of wheelspin, it applies the brakes and kills the power, leaving me stopped in the middle of the busy intersection I was trying to scoot across. Fortunately, I know where all of these intersections are, so I can hold down the traction control button for five seconds as I approach them, go through, and turn traction control back on again after achieving orbital insertion. I'm running snow tires for winter right now, but the stock Michelin Primacy HP "Prius tires" had just as bad wet and dry pavement traction. I'm looking forward to putting some decently grippy tires on in the spring and seeing if that helps.

Road tripping

I've done a few weekend getaways with my girlfriend in the BRZ, and for two people it works great. When you need to put a bunch of miles behind you, it does quite well on the highway. It's stable at speeds well beyond the posted limits, not affected by wind gusts, and sixth gear keeps the gas mileage reasonable. It's rated up to 34mpg on the highway, but my lead foot can't seem to do better than 28. The best range I've gotten on a tank is around 250 miles. Edmunds has done !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in their long term test car.

A couple of my weekend trips last year were trips that I'd planned to do on my motorcycle, but due to mechanical problems with the bike we punted to the BRZ instead. One of the aspects of traveling outside the People's Republik of Massachusetts I enjoy most is getting to the quiet back roads of Vermont or upstate New York, where the speed limits are civilized enough to let me really enjoy the roads at legal speeds that would earn me a hefty ticket on a similar road back home. I'd hoped to take my bike on these trips, but the BRZ was still lots of fun. I wasn't left feeling unsatisfied as I would have in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It's also much more convenient to hop in a car and go than put on a helmet and all that riding gear, or to just chuck a suitcase in the trunk instead of trying to Tetris everything you need for a weekend into your saddlebags.

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Winter driving

Some people think of a lightweight rear wheel drive sports car as the absolute worst car you can drive in slippery conditions. They're wrong. A set of decent snow tires is absolutely necessary, if nothing else than to rid the BRZ of its summer "performance" tires (and I use that word loosely). Once you do that, the qualities that make it such a fun, awesomely handling car carry right over to snow covered roads. I wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on this specific topic, but suffice it to say that with a clue, the proper tires and traction control turned off, you can dependably get where you're going, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , or both, as much as you want.

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Attention

It's certainly not !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but the BRZ does get a fair bit of attention wherever you go. My girlfriend often tells me when she notices people in passing cars staring at it. Since I have a World Rally Blue BRZ rather than an FR-S, I'm apparently part of the Subaru gang. I get frequent waves, thumbs up, or nods of approval from WRX and STi drivers. This amuses me greatly, because an STi costs whole lot more than my BRZ, and will absolutely trounce me in every performance contest you can think of except possibly handling. But it doesn't matter. They think the car is cool, and they tell me so.

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The attention doesn't stop when you stop, either. It doesn't happen all the time, but from time to time someone in a parking lot will compliment the car, or start talking to me about how much they love their Outback. At gas stations, these conversations can go on for a while, but the somewhat small 13.2 gallon gas tank can help you cut them short if you want. People who don't know the BRZ always seem to think it's more powerful than it is because it looks fast, and that it has all wheel drive because it's a Subaru. I doubt my FR-S cousins get that, though they're probably mistaken for front wheel drive because of the tC.

All in all, it's actually a rather nice amount of attention for me. The car gets noticed, appreciated, and talked about, even by non-enthusiasts, which is kind of fun. But unlike a Ferrari, it doesn't happen constantly, so it's still a bit of a novelty when someone thinks my affordable sports car is pretty darn cool.

Conclusion

In their !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , Road & Track found that when they had access to more than one car, they often ended up not choosing the BRZ, and honestly, I can see why. My daily commute would be easier in an econobubble of some kind with an automatic. I still have a soft spot for Miatas, and the older ones are even simpler and more basic than the BRZ, not to mention convertibles. Last year, my girlfriend and I left my BRZ at home and loaded up her Jeep Liberty with all of our SCA gear to go to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

If you don't need to carry a lot of people or cargo, you can definitely live with a BRZ every day as your only car. It does all the jobs I need – daily driver, errand runner, limited cargo hauler – as well as the jobs I want, like back road carver, occasional autocross toy, and, eventually, occasional track car. It's one car to rule them all.

DISCUSSION (100)

Forgetful > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 14:53

Kinja'd!!!

I hope you have a big trunk... because I'm puttin' my bike in it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 14:58

Nice review. But because you drove an Aveo I can't take you seriously.

TDogg > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 15:05

Nice review! I love the BRZ - especially in that blue. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Yiss.

Sounds like it has about as much back seat space as my 97 Eclipse did, though. Sadly, I will need real person space. :(

Justin Hughes > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 15:06

I didn't think a bike would fit. Now I'll have to try it! Did you remove both wheels, or just the front?

Justin Hughes > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
01/04/2015 at 15:07

Nobody should take me TOO seriously.

Forgetful > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 15:16

The wheels and handlebar had to come off, but it fit, and then some. This was taken two days after I bought the car when I drove my brother to Whistler. http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/fr-s-first-roa…

Justin Hughes > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 15:20

That looks like a fun trip on some nice roads! My girlfriend's originally from Montreal, and I'm hoping she can show me some fun roads north of the border this year.

E92M3 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 15:24

Jackson Racing has solved it's only flaw. 300hp with their supercharger kit, some better tires, and suddenly it's a different car.

Justin Hughes > E92M3
01/04/2015 at 15:27

Better tires are happening in the spring. In fact, I've already lined up a second set of wheels to buy for them next weekend. As for the supercharger, that's tempting when the warranty is up...

Chaparral2F > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 17:54

I love the fact that Toyota/Subaru are willing to make a smallish, compact sport oriented car in this day of leviathans with ever increasing size and weight. The BRZ looks like such a fun car and of course, having it in Rally Blue makes it even better!

Griffin > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 17:58

What the hell is wrong with you?! Real adults don't just stand there watching as someone else bags their groceries!

Also, get some reusable grocery bags dude, it's 2015.

Legibby > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:01

For some reason all I feel like doing after reading this packing up my wife and my dog, dressing up in a Medeival squire's uniform, and going sword fighting.

JDIGGS > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:02

I just come back to the conclusion that if you are actually a car and driving enthusiast and you can afford such car you best be driving it. Why? Because we only have a limited amount of time on this earth, What do you want to spend your time in? Commuting and hitting traffic in a harder to drive car sucks, but without that awesome car to drive sometimes whats the point of slogging through all that traffic? for what?

Also the brz is incredible easy to drive, like a camry. I think people should learn not to haul around so much shit and not be so fat!

Also if you don't put the rear seats down to see there is far more space than cars with only a trunk (2 people vs 4 in a wrx) the brz has far far more room.

Also I don't get it because no grocery bag is packed to the top? Otherwise everything would be smashed? Also the grocery bag is not a rigid piece?

I've never seen this and the fact you bothered to mention it scares me heavily.

Sir HoonsAlot > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:02

I doubt the backseats are that bad

All Motor Is Best Motor > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 18:05

That was a very funny movie.

brzedr1 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:05

Only 250 miles per tank?

Which grade of fuel do you use?

Doctor-G-and-the-wagen > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:07

Kinja'd!!!

I had to drive an Aveo too, once.

CaptainStu > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:09

Ironically if Subaru didn't make the base WRX, the BRZ would be a no-brainer. But there's just so much value in the WRX that when I finally kill my current 14 yr old one I don't think I could justify not getting another, especially since they're only around $2000 more than in '01.

Forgetful > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:09

There should be some good stuff up there. Just remember that the speed limit signs are in km/h, so don't freak out when you see this

Kinja'd!!!

6shelBfan6 > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 18:14

Nice! I recently purchased a bike on CL and brought it home in my hardtop NB Miata. I drove the hour home with the fork between my legs, the bars around the back of my head, and the back end sticking out of the passenger window. I'm sure it was pretty comical to see going down the road! Made it home without dying too!

LTIROCKS > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:15

I've driven two of them. The only truly good thing I can say is that the car's well balanced, with nice turn-in and some available life throttle over-steer. Driving them was reminiscent of the earlier Gen III Z28 Camaros (a good thing).

Anyone who describes these seats as "excellent" needs to sit in a new GTI.

A 2000 Honda S2000 offered better performance and refinement, and was also quicker. That was 15 model years ago now.

Also, the BRZ's dash and interior (including the seats) are pretty low rent compared to an S2000, and the BRZ's various buzzes and rattles are unacceptable - to me, anyway.

LTIROCKS > TDogg
01/04/2015 at 18:16

Have you ever driven one?

There's not much to like, other than the nicely balanced chassis. Everything else has a very low rent feel to it - including the engine.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 18:21

I think Curt and possibly other makers have a light-duty, 1.25" hitch receiver for these cars now, into which you can insert bike carriers (plus or minus all the arguments about whether and how to carry bikes in that manner...) Supposedly it's a no-drill but not completely trivial DIY installation. I haven't seen one installed and am not sure how elegantly they solve the backup/center-brake lights problem.

jkm7680 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:21

Living with those wheels would be the hardest part for me personally.

Cyanide > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:30

I owned a BRZ for a year. In that span of time, my wife and my 5-year old all fit in the car, along with trips from NYC to Tenneesee with a trunk full of suitcases (with room to spare) and various other neighboring states with zero problems.

The Tail of the Dragon was an amazing drive to do in a BRZ.

Highway passing was also no problem with a full car. I love that little car. We traded it for an STi (I'm a previous owner of an Evo 8) and we plan on getting another BRZ soon again.

kyoo > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:32

i want to want this car but i just don't... the looks are just off putting.. overall shape seems somewhat similar to the cayman, which i'm also not crazy about.. s2k or rx7 are much better looking cars

Justin Hughes > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 18:34

Oh yes, I'm familiar. I took a week long motorcycle trip to Cape Breton Island a couple of years ago to ride the Cabot Trail. I wrote about it on my bike blog .

Another nice thing about at least the U.S. spec car - there's a handy button on the dashboard to convert the digital speedometer from MPH to km/h.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 18:37

Can u put a hitch on it? I put one on the WRX and it makes it sooo much easier.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:38

I'll give a thumbs up to a BRZ. I've had them govern to me from other BRZ too

B_dol > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:41

Great and accurate review, although I have to disagree on the MPG. I just completed a 1000 mile road trip in the FR-S and managed 30-33mpg overall with an average speed between 75-85mph (in a tuned car no less).

You must have a leadfoot! I tend to get 27-28 around town (stop n go) and 30 highway.

Kinja'd!!!

Justin Hughes > brzedr1
01/04/2015 at 18:42

Premium, as recommended. I also don't run the tank down to E. I've stretched it to 300 before, I think.

Justin Hughes > jkm7680
01/04/2015 at 18:43

I Plastidipped mine gold to go with the World Rally Blue.

TheEd83 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:45

There is only one thing you need to know about the BRZ, and Mr. Regular summed it up perfectly:

shemale porn addiction

Kenny Baese > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:45

Shout out to a fellow SCA archer!

I had been considering the Scion version of the Toyobaru for my next car, but the cargo capacity of the new GTI won me over specifically for its ability to do most SCA travel without breaking a sweat. Plus, the ride quality is good and smooth over bumpy winter and post winter roads.

My wife is planning on getting an SQ5 in the next couple of months, so we will have something a little bigger and more comfortable the next time we our way out to Pennsic from over here in Artemesia, but my GTI is able to make basically any trip that doesn't require our tent and a week's worth of garb easily and with better fuel econ.

Justin Hughes > JDIGGS
01/04/2015 at 18:45

I've had to unpack the tops of paper grocery bags and scatter their contents around the trunk so that I could close the lid and squish the empty tops of the bags a little. It's not a big deal, just something to keep in mind. The trunk height is shorter than a WRX, but a whole lot better than a Miata. Then again, so is my Honda Pacific Coast 800 motorcycle...

jkm7680 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:46

Awesome! Any pics of them like that?

Justin Hughes > Sir HoonsAlot
01/04/2015 at 18:47

Two shorter people can sit properly one behind the other. But if one of them has long legs, there's no room for the legs of the other person.

Fast kiwi > Sir HoonsAlot
01/04/2015 at 18:47

I understand the love for Ana.

Canadmos > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 18:51

Nice job on stuffing a Status into your trunk. I'm surprised the fork fit in there haha.

brzedr1 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:52

I manage to eke out 100 miles per quarter tank, but I know we have different commutes.

Bless you for commuting in MA.

Justin Hughes > LTIROCKS
01/04/2015 at 18:53

I have sat in better seats - the Fiesta ST's Recaros, for example. But for "the cheap seats," these are pretty good.

The S2000 makes more power, is more refined, and is a convertible. It's really too bad Honda stopped making them.

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:54

After all, with the back seat folded down, my 70" Hoyt Pro Medalist recurve bow fits entirely behind the front seats at a bit of an angle, along with my quiver, feast gear basket, a cloak in case it gets cold, and a change of modern clothes so I don't need to wear my medieval garb out to dinner after the SCA archery tournament.

You put this blurb in there but you don't show said equipment in the car, nor pose next to the car in garb? I call shenanigans!

Dake > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 18:55

Good review. I passed my two year anniversary with my FR-S back in October and can honestly say I haven't regretted it yet - though the few times I get stuck in very heavy traffic can be a bit of a downer; fortunately, that doesn't happen often. I am also surprised I still get noticed from time to time on the road or in a parking lot somewhere.

I've done a fifteen plus hour road trip and numerous four+ hour runs and arrived feeling fine with 32- 34 mpg averages. Around town I'm usually steady around 30 mpg. I've AutoX'd a dozen or so times and had a blast. I'm at the point now where I feel like I'm doing about as well as possible on the Primacy tires, so I'm hoping to maybe get something better this year.

I have to chuckle at the apparent disconnect between the Scion crowd and the BRZ crowd. Lots of Scion guys re-badge to be Toyotas, but the Scooby gang seem perfectly satsified.

I still love this car whatever it's called. I love the way it looks, drives and rides and I consider myself fortunate that things worked out for me to be able to own one (it's certainly the nicest thing I own besides my house). I bought it with the intention of keeping it at least ten years and I see no reason to change my mind.

Justin Hughes > Kenny Baese
01/04/2015 at 18:57

No shit, there I was at the Pennsic war, when I saw a black Scion FR-S with roof racks and large wooden tent poles pull into troll. I had to go ask the guy how he did it! They're clamp-on racks, and the did ding his paint a bit, but they work.

The GTI is a very sensible choice. I see a lot of Honda Fits and Subaru wagons of various types here. My archery mentor has a Honda Element, which I always thought was ugly, but is now how we usually go to events together.

Greetings from the Shire of Quintavia in the East Kingdom!

Justin Hughes > CaptainStu
01/04/2015 at 18:59

I got my BRZ when I did because my ex-cop car wouldn't pass inspection without some very expensive work. This was in March 2014. There were absolutely no WRXs available. The 2015s weren't out yet, and the dealers have cleared out the 2014s in anticipation. Otherwise I definitely would've seriously considered both of them - especially a WRX wagon.

Justin Hughes > Griffin
01/04/2015 at 19:01

I do bag my own groceries, unless a clerk starts doing it while I'm still paying.

I don't normally get paper bags, but I did to take the picture so I could make the point. Save the planet, and all that.

chris209 > LTIROCKS
01/04/2015 at 19:01

The s2000 was also more expensive, so a better interior and refinement are expected.

soundman98 > brzedr1
01/04/2015 at 19:03

premium fuel only. otherwise the motor makes unhappy noises.

Chasaboo > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:03

This is probably the best car made in the last 10 years. It's the modern equivalent of the original Mustang.

Justin Hughes > brzedr1
01/04/2015 at 19:05

Commuting in MA has already taken its toll once.

Kinja'd!!!

I hadn't even had it six months yet. Fortunately, my insurance and body shop took good care of me. It looks as good as new and not a penny out of my pocket.

mtdrift > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:05

Kinja'd!!!

Trader Joe's? Where's your reusable shopping bags, bro? Don't you even environment, bro?

Joseph Shaul > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:05

My father owns an FR-S. He's an art professor who folds down the rear seats to easily carry student portfolios, and drives through Wisconsin snow 365 days a year on all-seasons. Between the traction control and the limited-slip diff, it's better than any he had in the 70s, 80s, or 90s - most of which were front wheel drive.

Justin Hughes > The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending)
01/04/2015 at 19:06

It's winter. My camping gear is all stowed away. But once next season starts I'll have to do as you suggest. I'll even pose with the car in my Scottish persona, wearing a kilt.

ThatAHole123 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:07

Cool car, but needs a bit more oomph. Save up some cashola and put some turbos on that baby, you know she deserves it!

Justin Hughes > mtdrift
01/04/2015 at 19:08

I was making a point for demonstration purposes. Also, that was Stop & Shop, not Trader Joe's.

Justin Hughes > ThatAHole123
01/04/2015 at 19:09

That Jackson Racing supercharger that E92M3 suggested is tempting. There are others out there, too. Once I'm out of warranty I'll ponder my wallet and options...

brzedr1 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:10

jeez!

Glad you were made whole.

Justin Hughes > Dake
01/04/2015 at 19:11

That's pretty much the same as how I feel about my car!

Scott Satellite > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:11

Too bad this car wasn't purely a Suburu product. The Toyota lineage is just mental baggage (as in "go fun yourself") that turns you off on a car you'd otherwise be alot more excited about.

Justin Hughes > B_dol
01/04/2015 at 19:12

The car usually tells me it's getting 28mpg average, same as you. I think I managed 30 on a long highway trip once. But you're right - I do have a lead foot.

satalac > Sir HoonsAlot
01/04/2015 at 19:14

Go to your local Subaru or Scion dealer. You'll see how absolutely worthless the back seats are. I'm 6'2 and there is not a single person with legs that could fit in the seat behind me. I really wish they had just said screw it and made it a package shelf.

soundman98 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:14

nice article.

i love my brz. it is my sole transportation as well. and i really wouldn't have it any other way. i came from a convertible with a sub box in the trunk, so even the tiny space in this trunk is leaps and bounds above what i'm used to.. actually my biggest complaint about the car is the size of the gas tank..

tomo > Forgetful
01/04/2015 at 19:14

specialized status!!! my first real bike, cant believe i sold it. shred on!

ThatAHole123 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:14

big fan of superchargers, have one on each of my cars. I love the fact that the power is totally linear. Warranties are made to be voided, in the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, "do it now!" LoL! But seriously I void warranties on everything. I overclock pc's and add induction to cars.

Justin Hughes > brzedr1
01/04/2015 at 19:15

I fared much better than the BMW X5 that hit me. Yes, the car weighing twice as much lost the fight!

Justin Hughes > ThatAHole123
01/04/2015 at 19:20

I actually have a t-shirt that says "I void warranties."

brzedr1 > soundman98
01/04/2015 at 19:21

No wonder mine sounds so happy!

ThatAHole123 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:26

where do I get one of these?

StalePhish > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:27

Kinja'd!!!

The blue just looks so amazing. I was at Applebees yesterday and there was a silver BRZ parked outside the window, and I couldn't stop looking at it. I'd love to get a BRZ, but I already have a somewhat impractical second car (G8 GT, mostly impractical because it chugs gas rather than sips it), and I think the 2017 Tesla Model 3 might be a better choice for a commuter.

Justin Hughes > ThatAHole123
01/04/2015 at 19:27

I wish I knew - it was an impulse buy from a vendor at an event I was at a couple of years ago.

Have Jeep, will travel. > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:29

Do you know what the % split is FRS to BRZ? I heard it was something like 1 BRZ to 4 FRSs sold.

I think its a fantastic car. My problem is, coming from BMWs, the car while equally nimble feels way down on power. If they offered some sort of "competition package" with a turbo, better seats and some other chassis refinements a lot more buyers would come.....

brzedr1 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:30

The driver probably thought your car was two parking spots..

HG_Pennypacker > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:32

Unbelievable car for $25K. As the article points out, it's a more practical Miata (feels a little faster to me as well).

Justin Hughes > StalePhish
01/04/2015 at 19:32

I love the color. It's pretty. Also, because rally.

Kinja'd!!!

If I needed a fuel sipping commuter I'd look up an original Honda Insight, the two seater kind. Or a Honda CRX HF, if I could find one that hadn't been modified or rusted back into the earth.

socialblasphemy > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:34

About a year ago when I was shopping for a new car I stopped by a local Subaru dealer to test drive a WRX, ended up test driving a BRZ too, it was a fun little car and I was seriously considering it an option but the price the dealer was asking was over msrp by 4k due to the high demand at the time. I just couldn't justify the price for the performance and having to live with such a small car day to day. I ended up finding a very low mileage 2011 335i 6spd coupe for significantly less than the BRZ. Maybe it doesn't fit the lightweight part in 'lightweight coupe', but for a DD, I have no regrets.

Justin Hughes > Have Jeep, will travel.
01/04/2015 at 19:36

I've heard both 5:1 and 10:1 as the Toyota/Subaru ratio. I'm not sure which is actually correct, but I do know there are way more Toyotas and Scions than Subarus.

Everyone says the car needs more power. I don't think it needs it, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. I think coming from BMWs, you feel it more because you're used to the low end grunt of a straight 6, and this engine is pretty lacking in torque. It's like going from a 330i to an older Civic DX.

Big Russ > B_dol
01/04/2015 at 19:37

Why cant they just sell them like this?

Justin Hughes > socialblasphemy
01/04/2015 at 19:38

As you can tell, I love my BRZ, but I think you made the right choice!

GrauGeist > JDIGGS
01/04/2015 at 19:38

This is why I DD a BMW E60, relatively light with good handling balance. When it gives up the ghost, I'll probably downsize it to a slightly smaller & lighter 3er, as we have the large hauler as our 2nd vehicle for big trips, etc. It's a bit troublesome that the BRZ can't really seat people in the back seat, because that's kind of the car I was targeting. Oh, well.

IcemanMP4 > Sir HoonsAlot
01/04/2015 at 19:39

They are. I test drove an FR-S a few weeks ago and there was maybe 3 inches between the back of my seat and the front of the rear seat when I adjusted it for driving. To paint the picture a little more clearly: I'm 5'7" and sit up on the wheel pretty aggressively. Luckily I have no children (and no intention of having any), so I am fine with a parcel shelf.

soundman98 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:39

i'm on my 2nd brz.. the first was totaled a block away from my house 3 months after getting it because some chick didn't want to obey her stop sign at full speed.. not posting the pics because it still hurts to see.. on the plus side, it took a saturn out of this world at the same time, so there's that..

at that time, i asked myself if there was anything i'd change— should i get the tacoma i still want, or is the brz THE car of all cars that i'd want to drive.. bought the second brz, and haven't regretted it since.

Crossed > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:40

Finally read my owner's manual. They actually recommend 94 with premium (91) as a in case you can't get 94.

GrauGeist > Cyanide
01/04/2015 at 19:41

The Tail of the Dragon was an amazing drive to do in a BRZ.

OMG. Is there a write up of this run?

SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:42

I envy you. A good friend of mine went the FR-S route. He is a tall guy, 6'1" but me being 6'6" he gave me the opportunity to answer my question. The car is a bit too small for me. But they are beautiful cars and loads of fun. 2 other friends have a Focus and Fiesta ST. Honestly neither was a wrong answer for a fun car. Good article!

Justin Hughes > Scott Satellite
01/04/2015 at 19:42

I don't think the Toyota lineage is a bad thing. I'm hoping some of Toyota's quality has rubbed off. *cough* *EJ25 head gaskets* *cough* Toyota has also made some fun, quick cars in the past.

GrauGeist > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:43

Great review, thanks. I'm very seriously considering one when it's time to replace my 5er.

Justin Hughes > SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo
01/04/2015 at 19:44

Thank you! I guess we've found the Toyobaru height limit, then.

mtdrift > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:45

Demonstration point taken.

IcemanMP4 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:46

Coming from a daily driven E46 330i, the lack of torque is very noticeable. That said, I didn't think it was as bad as people make it out to be, and I was stuck test driving an automatic.

acbc32 > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 19:58

I had a BRZ for about a year. It was great as my daily driver. I came to it from a stripped out 1996 Miata built for autocross. It was pretty neat to have all the bells and whistles and comforts of a car designed and built within the past five years. My fun weekend car is a Lotus Exige, even more stripped out than my Miata and obviously a different beast entirely. So for me, the BRZ was a luxurious sports car relatively speaking. And one that I could toss my girlfriend's bike in the trunk. I miss it.

patd67 > Cyanide
01/04/2015 at 19:59

I owned a BRZ for about a year as well before going back to an STi. Fun car but the lack of torque was a buzz kill around town.

SoichiroFerdinandandEnzo > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 20:03

Definitely 6'4"-6'5". I could drive the car, but it would be extremely unsafe. The wheel and pedals aren't really going to be under my control because of the angle. But I can easily ride along. And the car is just a playful, and joyous little guy. And I agree, the car looks best in blue. But his burnt orange isn't too bad.

Eddie Brannan > ThatAHole123
01/04/2015 at 20:04

https://www.google.com/search?q=i+voi…

dogisbadob > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 20:06

Kinja'd!!!

ready to pounce down and grab you!

dogisbadob > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 20:08

Kinja'd!!!

Raid!

Justin Hughes > acbc32
01/04/2015 at 20:10

That's kind of where I'm coming from. My Miatas were all 1.6s, so I'm appreciating not only the modern comfort and features, but 200hp is WAY more than the 116 my Miatas had!

Justin Hughes > dogisbadob
01/04/2015 at 20:11

Actually, Rain-X. Gotta keep that windshield clean and self clearing.

dogisbadob > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 20:11

Kinja'd!!!

this one is bigger than the other two

dogisbadob > Justin Hughes
01/04/2015 at 20:13

Too bad no hatchback, and no sunroof either :(

Good review though.

Justin Hughes > dogisbadob
01/04/2015 at 20:14