BRZ at the dealer down the road

I was just at the Subie dealer picking up a part for my Forester, and they have a sweet blue BRZ sitting there.

They said they got two, a silver automatic and this one. The silver one didn't last a day, somebody traded in a Lotus on it. The other one has been there a week.

I'd have thought that they would be flying off the lots. There is no silly dealer markup on this one, either.

I hope they sell it soon, I want a strong used car base!

I also want to see if those seats will fit in my Forester. Really, really, really nice.

Brett_Murphy wrote: I was just at the Subie dealer picking up a part for my Forester, and they have a sweet blue BRZ sitting there. They said they got two, a silver automatic and this one. The silver one didn't last a day, somebody traded in a Lotus on it. The other one has been there a week. I'd have thought that they would be flying off the lots. There is no silly dealer markup on this one, either. I hope they sell it soon, I want a strong used car base! I also want to see if those seats will fit in my Forester. Really, really, really nice.

They ARE flying off the lots. The BRZ and FRS are the #1 and #2 fastest selling cars in the US right now. That doesn't mean they have the most volume (as they only have supply for 16,000 total this year), but they're spending the least amount of time on the lot before they're snatched up.

automatics? they should only send over manuals trans' for the first 6 months.....

Yeah, there was one on the local Toyota lot here last night that I went and drooled over (quick enough to not attract the vultures, err salesmen); red FR-S with the 6-speed. No idea how long it had been sitting there, though.

Seeing it in person really cemented how much I want one of these cars. Not really sure how I'm gonna afford one until the 5 is paid off, though (and that's 3 years out )

What is a BRZ? FRS? Is this something new that snuck onto the market?

miatame wrote: What is a BRZ? FRS? Is this something new that snuck onto the market?

Apparently you've been living under a rock since 2009?

RWD, direct injected flat four, Subaru/Toyota joint engineering, being hailed as one of the best driver's cars in a LONG time, finally released after two initial concepts and three years of hee-hawing.

"The new Subaru BRZ and Toyota Scion FR-S sports cars are nice little cars and everything, but after driving the Toyota all I kept thinking is that if you're going to go this route I'd get a clean used Honda S2000 all day long and be a lot happier. Somebody's gotta say it."

-- Dr. Bryan

In reply to nderwater:

Who is this "Dr. Bryan" and where shall I send my mail bom...er... "Thank you" letter

nderwater wrote: "The new Subaru BRZ and Toyota Scion FR-S sports cars are nice little cars and everything, but after driving the Toyota all I kept thinking is that if you're going to go this route I'd get a clean used Honda S2000 all day long and be a lot happier. Somebody's gotta say it." -- Dr. Bryan

While that's true, (and trust me I LOVE S2000s). I find that it would be somewhat cumbersome to live with an S2000. Especially if your over 6' tall and aren't a huge fan of convertibles. But yes, that route would be cheaper and yield more power. Both are great choices, I just fit better in an frs. It's what sold me on mine.

I've only got 450 miles on mine, maybe I should do a short review video. I've driven S2000s a lot so I guess I can compare for those who havent driven either car.

In reply to singleslammer:

Dr. Bud E. Bryan at autoextremist.com who writes the Road Kill column.

I have been calling both the local subaru and toyota dealership a couple of times a week and i drive by about once a week to check and haven't gotten to see one there yet. Not that I am buying one anytime soon but I have been waiting so long for this damn car...

Did see a white one going to opposite way down the highway...it was gorgeous for the few seconds I saw it!

I saw a red FRS on the street today. My first "in the flesh" and, uh, I want it. Really bad.

I'm trying to like them, but I'm afraid it'd be a hard sell over a C5.

It depends on what you want in a car. Performance for dollar you will never beat used, especially like a used vette.

But what is more your style miata or vette? A vette will never have that svelte lightweight nimble feel

I think the FRS even with its hatch and token back seat is a lot more day to day livable than an s2k or a C5 then again for that reason I might go CTS-V over the vette ;p

There's no denying that the 'vette is a faster, much higher performance car. But that's not the point. The FT86 twins are about what I'll call "appropriate performance" for public roads. With even a stock Corvette, you really can't push it on the street without getting extralegal. It's why I actually prefer driving my stock-motored 5.0 to the 32v Cobra I had; with the Cobra I could never really get on it, but with the 5.0 I can mash the gas and not worry about Johnny Law getting too awful interested in my doin's.

tl;dr; slow car fast vs fast car slow.

cxhb wrote: I've only got 450 miles on mine, maybe I should do a short review video. I've driven S2000s a lot so I guess I can compare for those who havent driven either car.

This has my vote

An S2000 is a great car, but it isn't anywhere near as practical as the 86 twins.

Have kids in babyseats?---- no S2000

Want to fit a spare set of wheels and tires for track use---- fit in 86 twins, need a trailer with S2000

Want to run to Home Depot to get home supplies?---- better shop light with the S2000

Want the car to get out of it's own way without hitting 7K RPM?----- 86 twins

I have nothing but love for the S2000, but a practical car it ain't. The BRZ / FR-S twins are extremely usable, everyday machines. The S2000 is not.

There's really very little point comparing a new car to a used car. Pretty much any new car will hold up badly when you start with the "yeah, but I could get a three year old _____ for that money and it's a way better car." Three years from now you'll be able to say that about the FRS.

FWIW,

Both the British mags EVO and CAR have tested the BRZ in "group tests" against other RWD cars, for example the Porsche Cayman and 370Z, and have found the BRZ a bit underwhelming...until you factor in the price.

In CAR's test, they felt that if the BRZ REALLY is different from the FRS, and the FRS production cars are EXACTLY like the prototype cars they have tested...they prefer the FRS.

CAR also mentioned that keeping the BRZ moving briskly will require quite a bit of "rowing of the gearshift" (CAR tested a "stick" and EVO tested an auto), but that it had a good gearbox/shifter feel and moving the shifter a lot would not be a chore.

Randy Pobst prefers the BRZ, the FRS is setup more skittish and nervous and results in more drama but slower laptimes in their best sportscar for under 30k test

Plus currently their is no arguing that porsche caymans and 370z's come with better tires stock

integraguy wrote: FWIW, Both the British mags EVO and CAR have tested the BRZ in "group tests" against other RWD cars, for example the Porsche Cayman and 370Z, and have found the BRZ a bit underwhelming...until you factor in the price. In CAR's test, they felt that if the BRZ REALLY is different from the FRS, and the FRS production cars are EXACTLY like the prototype cars they have tested...they prefer the FRS. CAR also mentioned that keeping the BRZ moving briskly will require quite a bit of "rowing of the gearshift" (CAR tested a "stick" and EVO tested an auto), but that it had a good gearbox/shifter feel and moving the shifter a lot would not be a chore.

Have to agree on the 6 speed comment.

I have never been convinced that a 6 speed box is a good thing. The FRS has done nothing to change my mind. If anything, it is an argument for an automatic.

A few weeks after delivery, I am still intrigued everytime I get in the car. The FRS is not the immediate perfect fit that the Miata was back in 1990. There are things with the FRS that actually annoy me. As someone who keeps cars around for 10 years, I wonder how this will play out?

In reply to NOHOME:

On the classic celica forums, Joel from Toysport fame has the same conclusion, that the automatic version would be the better choice as it's so good.

I saw my first one in the wild last week, it was white and a Scion, the looks didn't do much for me. Wasn't ugly, but wasn't anything that got my heart rate up but I'd still take one if it drives anything like everyone is saying. Alas I'm not in the market for a new car.

Why isn't this thread titled "Used Lotus at the dealer down the road"?

Joe Gearin wrote: An S2000 is a great car, but it isn't anywhere near as practical as the 86 twins. Have kids in babyseats?---- no S2000 Want to fit a spare set of wheels and tires for track use---- fit in 86 twins, need a trailer with S2000 Want to run to Home Depot to get home supplies?---- better shop light with the S2000 Want the car to get out of it's own way without hitting 7K RPM?----- 86 twins I have nothing but love for the S2000, but a practical car it ain't. The BRZ / FR-S twins are extremely usable, everyday machines. The S2000 is not.

I bought my s2000 and my V70r for several thousand dollars less than the price of an FRS/BRZ. I am feeling exceptionally smart lately.

Josh wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: An S2000 is a great car, but it isn't anywhere near as practical as the 86 twins. Have kids in babyseats?---- no S2000 Want to fit a spare set of wheels and tires for track use---- fit in 86 twins, need a trailer with S2000 Want to run to Home Depot to get home supplies?---- better shop light with the S2000 Want the car to get out of it's own way without hitting 7K RPM?----- 86 twins I have nothing but love for the S2000, but a practical car it ain't. The BRZ / FR-S twins are extremely usable, everyday machines. The S2000 is not.

I bought my s2000 and my V70r for several thousand dollars less than the price of an FRS/BRZ. I am feeling exceptionally smart lately.

I bought my MSM and my MX6 and my XJ for several thousand dollars less than the price of an S2000 + V70R. I'm feeling genius level and i have ALL the horsepower and fasts.