What Do You Want To Know About The Subaru BRZ?

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
04/08/2015 at 15:13 • Filed to: ama

Inspired by Damon Lavrinc's AMA about the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! he's currently lounging around in (and the fact that he actually answered !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), I decided to do the same thing from the back seat of my BRZ.

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My back is not being massaged. My toes are almost touching the dashboard, wrapped around either side of the front passenger seat. There are no pillows, no buttons, no screens, no ashtray, no Swedish Fish, and no Coke. I don't think there would be enough room back here for a Swedish Fish, because there's certainly not enough room for me!

So, yeah. Whatever. Ask away!

DISCUSSION (63)

Kate's Dirty Sister > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:16

How slow is it ?

7:07 > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:20

can you buckle the left rear passenger belt into the front right passenger seat? asking for a friend

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:20

Does it do sick jumps?

Justin Hughes > Kate's Dirty Sister
04/08/2015 at 15:20

According to zeroto60times.com , 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, 1/4 mile in 14.6. In the real world, it's plenty fast enough for daily driving. I suppose I may find it a bit slow on the track, but coming from a fleet of 116hp Miatas, this feels like a rocket.

Coty > Kate's Dirty Sister
04/08/2015 at 15:20

#cold

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:20

Can you hear the crickets from there?

djmt1 > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:21

Would you ever paint it gold with blue wheels?

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 15:23

It'll never jump as well as a Jeep Compass .

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 15:23

As a matter of fact, I can!

Justin Hughes > djmt1
04/08/2015 at 15:24

Probably not. Paint is expensive.

Kate's Dirty Sister > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:24

This seems a bit enthusiastic as most road tests results are 2 seconds off your time (100 km/h ~ 60 MPH)

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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:25

Have you ever met someone who can fit in just one of the back seats?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:25

That's a very optimistic number. It's probably over 7.

Justin Hughes > Kate's Dirty Sister
04/08/2015 at 15:27

I'll have to try it myself sometime and let you know.

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 15:28

No. Not even my girlfriend's 7 year old can.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:29

Wow. I've squeezed a person back there once with their feet on one side and ass on the other, but figured little kids would be able to.

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 15:29

That's just the first number I found on the internet. I'll have to test it myself sometime and find out for sure - keeping in mind that my Michelin Pilot Super Sports are going to give a slightly better number than stock.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:30

Yeah, those stock tires are some of the worst pieces of rubber I've ever had on a car.

Luken10 > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:35

Are you able to successfully induce power oversteer? I drove an auto for a while and was unable to get it sideways unless I flicked it hard.

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 15:38

I guess if you have two short people sitting one in front of the other it could work.

Justin Hughes > Luken10
04/08/2015 at 15:39

I can, but I have a manual so I can abuse use the clutch to help with that.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:43

Did you add the center console armrest that's available in Europe and only Europe so that the center storage compartment area doesn't look unfinished?

Moxy > Kate's Dirty Sister
04/08/2015 at 15:47

Not trying to be an asshole but, don't you drive a Focus ST? Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great car and all, but your criticizing the BRZ for not having enough power when you only have around 50 more and your car is around 800 lbs heavier?

You're calling it slow when, realistically, we're talking about 1/2 - 1 second difference in 0 - 60?

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 15:50

No, I didn't. I like a good arm rest, but I'd rather spend a couple hundred bucks on track pads.

Kate's Dirty Sister > Moxy
04/08/2015 at 15:51

It's more like two, which is more like the difference between an ST and a normal Focus, so it's actually quite a lot. As for the weight, the generous amount of torque the 2.0T is producing is a very good form of mitigation.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 15:55

I haven't been able to overheat my setup with stainless lines, good fluid, and the Ferodo DS2500s. They're very streetable (not too noisy), and are lasting way longer than I was expecting. You will never have clean wheels again, however. For me, the armrest was worth it. It completed the interior since it's an actual OEM part from Toyota. This is what it looks like like:

Kinja'd!!!

Jonathan Harper > Kate's Dirty Sister
04/08/2015 at 15:58

hahah

Moxy > Kate's Dirty Sister
04/08/2015 at 16:01

2 feels like a stretch considering most of the road tests I've seen put it at about 6 seconds flat. I agree on the torque, though. It definitely makes the ST feel much lighter than what it is.

Still though, calling the guy's ride slow seems unfair considering it's not far behind your own.

Moxy > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 16:08

You need to send me the link to where you got that armrest right now, dammit!

Justin Hughes > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 16:08

Nice! I like it. Are the cupholders still accessible? Because without my travel mug of coffee I will murder someone on my morning commute.

I'm doing a Track Night In America next month, and I know better than to try and run stock brake pads for that. Still debating which pads to get. Thanks for the feedback on yours!

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

Kinja'd!!!

Good. Wheels. Yes.

Justin Hughes > MIATAAAA
04/08/2015 at 16:11

Thanks! The One True Color for a WRB car.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
04/08/2015 at 16:11

Psshh, we got 5 of us in one while at an ice racing event!

Kinja'd!!!

Disclaimer: Do not actually drive the car with this many people in the car. lol

I've actually seen a few people fit in the back seats (including myself), but not comfortably. I'm 5'8", but pretty skinny.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 16:15

Do you regret not choosing the immensely better and more racecar-y (stiffer spring rates and less weight) FR-S, and deciding on the BRZ for your bourgeois pig luxury laden BRZ? ;)

Also, I'm jealous that you did this with your BRZ before I did it with my FR-S. haha

Nobi > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 16:16

How is it as a DD? Fuel mileage? Long drive comfort? Road/highway manners?
I drove a FR-S with some stickier tires installed, and while it was a hoot in the corners, it was a tad sluggish in a straight line. I was a fan of the seats and loved the feel of the shifter, but the rest of the car was just kind of meh to me.

Justin Hughes > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
04/08/2015 at 16:29

I don't remember the numbers, but I think the BRZ has stiffer front and softer rear spring rates than the FR-S. That's why it had more tendency toward understeer. No, I don't regret it. I got a lower price than the FR-S, and got a better equipped car. Also, World Rally Blue!

Go ahead and do one for your FR-S. I recommend not climbing into the back seat. Ever.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 16:36

Lol I'm just givin' ya a hard time. :)

You're right about the spring rates. Although I think the FR-S has a bigger difference between its front and rear rates. No matter though, I'm getting the TRD lowering springs this week. haha

I do really like WRB, and likely would have gotten it if there was a similar blue for the FR-S. Something like the Voodoo Blue that's offered on the xB's.

Kinja'd!!!

But I have genuinely fallen in love with the color of my Firestorm FR-S. :)

Ah, I may do one as well. I'm going to give it a little time though, since the cars are just so similar. Maybe next week sometime.

Justin Hughes > Nobi
04/08/2015 at 16:38

DD: The suspension is a bit stiff for my comfort on crappy Massachusetts roads. Other than that, it works great.

Fuel mileage: I average about 27mpg. Could be better, could be worse. Definitely better than my old P71.

Long drive comfort: Decent. My girlfriend needs to take breaks from time to time because of the seats, but that happens for her in many cars.

Road/highway manners: Great. On the stock Prius tires, traction/stability control is way too quick to kick in, and pretty much brings the car to a stop when I'm trying to accelerate into a small gap in traffic. But with sticky tires it's wonderful. It's as though it was programmed for sticky tires, and then they slapped those Prius tires on and ruined it. I find it has enough power for regular street driving. And obviously a hoot in the corners.

Dsscats > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 16:53

That website is one of the least accurate.

Steve in Manhattan > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 17:20

What made you go Subaru instead of Toyota?

AUDACIA > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 17:22

A bit late...anyway: Are you Toyobaru drivers developing a certain comunity-thing? I mean somthing like...greeting each other when meeting in traffic with a headlight flash or whatever?

Justin Hughes > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
04/08/2015 at 17:42

Kinja'd!!!

Justin Hughes > 7:07
04/08/2015 at 17:45

I'll have to check. I suspect the belt may not be long enough, but I could be wrong.

Justin Hughes > Steve in Manhattan
04/08/2015 at 17:49

Good question! I managed to get a lower price on the BRZ than the no-haggle FR-S, despite the BRZ having a higher MSRP.

Justin Hughes > AUDACIA
04/08/2015 at 17:51

We usually wave at each other. I've even been followed into a parking lot by an FR-S driver who wanted to talk cars. Interestingly, I've gotten just as many waves from WRXs.

Steve in Manhattan > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 18:07

I gravitate towards the Subie for no reason I can identify. Maybe it's that I've had two Toyotas (Camry wagon 5M, Longbed HiLux 4x4) and it would be time for something new.

Steve in Manhattan > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 18:15

I wonder if the car would pull a Camry - I'm in those taxis all the time, and in the rear seat the female seatbelt ends for the right rear and middle rear seats are an inch from each other. However, you can't put the RR male end into the MR female end - it won't accept it. For no good reason - the belt would do its job in either case, as far as I can tell.

Kate's Dirty Sister > Moxy
04/08/2015 at 18:20

It's not unfair.

It's not because I own a Focus ST that I think it's the best car in the world. I'm fairly critical toward my own ride, I expect the same from others.

The Focus ST is a factory tuned compact FWD car, it's great for what it is, but comes with awful torque steer, lousy fuel economy and a far from ideal driving position. It's a compromise of a car.

The BRZ is a full fledge sports car that is unfortunately about as fast as a Corolla. It shouldn't.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
04/08/2015 at 19:01

That's nothing, we got 7 people into my 1988 Toyota Celica once (and yes, it was the AWD turbo version, because obviously)

feather-throttle-not-hair > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 19:04

My main concern with the twins is the electronic power steering. You mentioned you come from Miataville, how does the steering feel compare? Do you ever, even occasionally find yourself wishing it had a hydraulic setup instead?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 19:13

No, the cupholder's gone. I just use the ones in the door.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Moxy
04/08/2015 at 19:16

I got it from ebay. Part number pz435-10340-00.

Ryan A. > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 19:46

Have you noticed that the crickets go away (or are quieter) if you use Shell gas?

Justin Hughes > Steve in Manhattan
04/08/2015 at 19:48

The belt is just barely too short to reach the front passenger buckle. But it will go into the right rear buckle.

Ryan A. > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 19:53

Have a look at the Carsmo armrest ( http://www.carsmodesign.com/fr-s-brz-armre… ). I have one and I really like it.

Ryan A. > 7:07
04/08/2015 at 19:55

Is that to disable the buzzer? If so you can get seatbelt blanks on eBay (about $2) to keep one plugged in, or you can disable the buzzer with the Carista app if you have an OBDII connector.

Justin Hughes > feather-throttle-not-hair
04/08/2015 at 19:56

I do prefer hydraulic steering, but for electric it really isn't bad at all. I once had a rental Elantra, and I got more feedback through my Logitech steering wheel in iRacing than I did through that car. The BRZ isn't like that at all. Nothing can replace a direct connection, but for electric steering it's pretty good.

Justin Hughes > Ryan A.
04/08/2015 at 20:00

Actually, I haven't. There have been less crickets during colder weather, but it doesn't seem to make any difference what brand gas I use.

Ryan A. > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 20:05

I've been using Shell exclusively after finding a comment that suggested that it helped. I can't tell if it was placebo or not. I didn't take the weather into consideration.

Steve in Manhattan > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 20:07

There you go - Subaru designed the belts.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > feather-throttle-not-hair
04/08/2015 at 20:13

I want an AllTrac so bad!

Rico > Justin Hughes
04/08/2015 at 22:58

At times I wonder if the location of a person, reviewer, auto journalist has a lot of effect on the review of a vehicle. You mentioned the roads in your area are crappy, as they are for me in NY but if we were let's say in Vegas which doesn't see much precipitation and never freezing temperatures the roads would be a lot better and therefore make the car much more enjoyable.

Justin Hughes > Rico
04/09/2015 at 10:02

That's possible. I recall reading some Ann Arbor, MI based publications commenting that their roads aren't too good, which factors into their ride quality judgements. But if you fly to Dubai and take a Bentley on a 200mph test drive on new pavement through an open desert, of course the ride is going to feel amazing. I'll bet my car would feel similarly.

So now somebody just needs to fly me and my car to Dubai to test this theory - at least at whatever maximum speed my car stops accelerating.