Test Drove a BRZ

"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
05/26/2019 at 16:10 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3, BRZ

Saturday, after doing much domestic stuff, then hanging out a bit in the afternoon, I decided to do something car related. So I went and test drove a Subaru BRZ (and also explored the inside of a new Corvette).

In 2015, as I was assessing what should be my next car ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ) I test drove a Scion FRS. I don’t think that I got it above 40 mph on crowded local roads, but even with that it felt underpowered.

However, so many people love to autocross the car (and I intend to continue to autocross) I felt that I should give it another chance, this time in the Subaru flavor. I’m sure anyone who is interested in hearing about these cars already has by now, but below is my take.

I actually test drove a very dirty silver example, but I would have to have the red (no grayscale cars!)

In short, I really like the BRZ version: rear-wheel drive with limited slip diff, nice suspension, great seats, gearbox and clutch felt fine, interior finish is pretty liveable particularly for the price . . .

But I just am not a fan of the engine. I am spoiled for torque in my GTI at 2,000 RPM, while in the BRZ the engine doesn’t feel responsive under 5,000 RPM. [Edit: I should be clear that I would be unlikely to modify a car engine because of autocross class impacts .]

And above 5,000 RPM, this engine is LOUD. Also, I don’t particularly like the sound.

It’s a shame, because I’d be willing to make compromises regarding space, etc., to get the rear-wheel drive and terrific handling if it weren’t for the engine. I should still probably borrow one at an autocross event just to remove my tiny amount of lingering doubt.

Smol opening, but can fit a spare set of wheels with the rear seat down

Lovely seats, and, hey! frameless windows like the Integra that I once owned

I could live with this, I think - better materials than the FRS

I came home and explained to my wife that I think that the BRZ is off the list of possible future cars, to which she replied, “But you aren’t shopping for a new car, ARE YOU.” (No, that punctuation is correct, it was not a question.)

Chrome wheels would have to be replaced, and I’d actually try to find another example anyway because BLACK.

I also told her that I sat in a new C7 Corvette at the dealer next door, since they had a 2014 that was almost reasonably priced, but that I didn’t think that it would work as a daily driver, which was good news as far as she was concerned.

The key problem is that I’m not sure that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! could see out of the passenger seat, and yet he is big enough that there’s not quite enough room for him under the hatch, unlike a C5 (I don’t really like the look of the C6, although it might work). I’m ignoring the low fuel economy, very little interior storage, massive tires that will be used up quickly, etc., because that beautiful LT1 sound makes all that unimportant. It IS a bit flashy for my preferences.

This is how I started my holiday weekend: Caught up on chores and looked at cars that I don’t really need. Good times.

DISCUSSION (17)

WRXforScience > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 16:19

The BRZ won’t feel fun unless you’re at an autox, trackday, or on a mountain/curvy road for a fun drive. I’m su rprised yo u thought it wa s loud, did it have the ‘performance’ exhaust (that one isn’t great)?

Tareim - V8 powered > WRXforScience
05/26/2019 at 16:22

probably still had the sound tube open, would definitely plug/remove it

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > WRXforScience
05/26/2019 at 16:26

I don’t think it was one of the added options, but maybe it was part of the standard equipment? (I didn’t take a picture of the window sticker, just stared at it for a bit.)

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Tareim - V8 powered
05/26/2019 at 16:27

Oh, is that a thing on these? If I can fix that, it might be back as a possibility, although there is still the responsiveness issue.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 16:35

Responsiveness can be somewhat fixed with a tune. One of the big issues is the “torque dip” that happens in low RPMs. That’s also a contributor to low RPM response. The fix for that is an equal length header with tuned length runners.

My thought is its a bit of a confused car. The engine is hamstrung from making good power, though 100HP/L isn't bad, but why not go for 110-120. But then it would be a high strung little buzzer like a Honda F20. Yet their sacrifices that limit power dont actually make it much more drivable. Its a weird engine in an otherwise great car. If you're willing to throw a bit of money at it you could do the above mentioned header and tune and some other odds n ends and youd have a fun, if somewhat high strung driver. If you want around town grunt, get that Corvette.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 16:37

You can not only fix it, it’s the world easiest mod . Take the cover off the 12V socket in the glovebox, push it over the little tube that sticks through the firewall by the clutch pedal, job done. It still doesn’t make it a quiet car though, just kills the open-throttle induction roar.

I invested a day in stripping the interior of mine and fitting Dynamat and MLV - they left most of the sound deadening out to save weight. M ade a huge difference.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/26/2019 at 16:42

I understand that there are forced induction kits, also, but I should be clear that I would be unlikely to modify a car engine because of autocross class impacts.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 17:21

I was close to buying a Mazda RX8 but the lack of torque really turned me off. I expected something at least as responsive as the Datsun Z I had but it was a real let down until you hit 6k, then it was just okay. The whole time I drove the RX8 I was thinking how much better it would be with the 2.3l turbo engine. And a brz with a 2.0 turbo is probably the answer.

ixD9 > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 18:31

I made the opposite move, from a 2013 Scion FR-S to a 2019 Volkswagen GTI Rabbit Edition. My reasoning was due to the engine recall debacle and not wanting to fight the dealer should something happen to it after the recall. The FR-S is an entirely different animal that would be hard to understand coming from a torquey turbo. Whereas the GTI is happy to be tossed about at any RPM, the FR-S has to be driven hard in order for it to come alive. Once you keep that engine on the boil, the chassis will rotate readily and let you place the car exactly where you want it around a corner, adjusting with the throttle. It's a blast, but you'll never discover that if you drive it like you would a GTI. I miss it sometimes but the GTI is such an incredible little hatch that I probably wouldn't go back for a DD. For a track/autox toy though, I'll definitely be looking to get one on the used market someday.

jminer > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 18:43

My wife had the same response recently when I talked about what I might want to replace my sportwagen with.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 18:54

The power delivery’s really just the nature of small high-performance NA engines: they need to be revved. That doesn’t suit the driving habits of anyone c oming from a modern turbo engine or a big V8. Having spent the first part of my driving life in cammy little things, it’s never bothered me at all - this is very much an “old school” car to drive . I t’ s simply a matter of going back to old habits and changing down 3 gears where I otherwise might have dropped one . North of 5k rpm you still have another 2500 useful rpms to play with, whereas in a Golf there’s really no point in goi ng beyond 4500 - it starts to run out of puff not far beyo nd there.

The big ge st problem with the engine, IMO, is that it doesn’t sound great at high revs, which SHOULD be the reward for an engi ne of this type. Y ou won’t rev it out just for the pleasure of do ing so like you might in a VTEC Honda or 4AGE Toyota . That can, however, be fixed with a catback, which I assume won’t run afoul of most autocross regs since it doesn’t affect power noticeably.

10001010 > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 20:12

I’ve had my BRZ for about 6 mos now and you really never get used to the power issue. Compared to my previous WRX the torque is noticably lacking. Every time I hit the torque dip I spend a second wondering if the clutch is slipping or the engine is misfiring before remembering. That said, it handles like nobody’s business and I love the styling and size. It just needs more torque, and T-tops, and a rear hatch...

Decay buys too many beaters > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2019 at 20:51

The motors come alive with an un equal length header. The close coupled cat on the factory equal length header robs torque in the midrange via poor scavenging . A decent aftermarket UEL header (i hate the noise, but it’s actually the best performing header type on an fa20), and a tune makes it a lot more drivable. It also ends up being the recipe for any decent STX build.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
05/27/2019 at 07:20

I always enjoyed winding up my Integra and making noise from that engine , but that was a long time ago and apparently my expectations have changed.

Maybe one of the autocross prepped ones will have a catback and the firewall plug and sound better.

Tareim - V8 powered > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/27/2019 at 07:57

yeah, there is a little tube that goes into the footwell (drivers on rhd, passenger for lhd) you can block it with the 12v plug cover or just remove the pipe from the intake in the engine bay, certainly quietens it down in the interior

HammerheadFistpunch > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/27/2019 at 15:31

Now imagine that engine but at 5000 feet. I was very underwhelmed to say the least. I love NA and I don’t mind wringing out a motor, but I never wanted to with this motor.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
05/28/2019 at 11:37

That makes sense. And I wasn’t necessarily suggesting FI, just that it’s a different animal than your GTI. I saw in another comment that you owned an Integra, so you’re no stranger to high winding NA cars.

Like I said, it’s just a weird engine. It doesn’t really behave like a fun, high winding, responsive engine like your Integra. But it doesn’t have a lot of grunt behind it either. It’s like it’s not sure what it wants to do.