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AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) PowerDork
10/29/23 7:55 a.m.

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

So all the GR greatness can't undo enough Corolla.  Last year I had a Corolla as a rental and I'm still positive it's a car for people that hate cars.  

octavious
octavious Dork
10/29/23 8:14 a.m.

Just a thought, what about selling the  BMW? I didn't really see that  mentioned anywhere in your thread. 
 

And if you like sedans what about the new Acura Integra? They had the Type S come out if you need the special version. We got my wife a regular Integra with the manual this year and I'm a huge fan of it. 

LanEvo
LanEvo GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/29/23 9:42 a.m.

If you want an AWD Turbo rally special in your life ... do yourself a favor and get a second or third generation lancer evolution. I've driven and owned a bunch of these kinds of cars over the years, and Evos are still the best. Now that the Evo V and VI are old enough to import, it's a no-brainer.

I drove an Evo V RS and Evo VI TME years ago and nothing else comes close. The third gen (Evo VII-IX) isn't far off, but the second gen is magic. 

roninsoldier83
roninsoldier83 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/29/23 10:32 a.m.
octavious said:

Just a thought, what about selling the  BMW? I didn't really see that  mentioned anywhere in your thread. 
 

And if you like sedans what about the new Acura Integra? They had the Type S come out if you need the special version. We got my wife a regular Integra with the manual this year and I'm a huge fan of it. 

On the street, the BMW is probably my favorite car to drive. I haven't had the BMW as long as the others, but as long as it's not snowing, the BMW is typically the car I grab the keys to first. Especially if I'm going on a longer drive- it's by far the most comfortable and easiest car to drive that I own and since I bought a worn out specimen that I nursed back to health, I don't mind if the car gets the occasional ding or scratch. It also doesn't hurt that N52 motors are dirt cheap and readily available- so the idea of modding the car if desired is of little consequence. 

I like the new Integra. However, I've already owned an FK8 Type R that hurt my knee to drive... I know that the new FL5 Civic (and subsequent Integra) is just a refreshed version of the FK8. I can't imagine that they've changed the ergonomics much since they're on the same platform. I'm not opposed to driving one, but I'm concerned that I'm going to run into the exact same problem- that it would end up hurting my right knee to drive. I like the idea of the Integra Type S, but I might have a hard time justifying the $50k price tag. I could wrap my head around the $40k price tag for the GR Corolla, but $50k is pushing it when I'm not trying to have a car payment (other than my mortgage, I've been debt free for a long time and prefer it- hoping to downsize and get rid of my mortgage here in a few years when our older kids move out). 

roninsoldier83
roninsoldier83 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/29/23 10:36 a.m.
LanEvo said:

If you want an AWD Turbo rally special in your life ... do yourself a favor and get a second or third generation lancer evolution. I've driven and owned a bunch of these kinds of cars over the years, and Evos are still the best. Now that the Evo V and VI are old enough to import, it's a no-brainer.

I drove an Evo V RS and Evo VI TME years ago and nothing else comes close. The third gen (Evo VII-IX) isn't far off, but the second gen is magic. 

I've owned 37 cars in my life but never an Evo. I've almost bought an Evo on several occasions- I agree, they're a blast to drive! Hard to find examples that aren't molested. It's been a long time since I've driven an older Evo. If I can find an older Evo locally, it's definitely worth my time to take one for a spin. 

docwyte
docwyte UltimaDork
10/29/23 3:56 p.m.

I've driven Evo 8/9 and they're supremely fun cars to drive.  Edgy feeling, not sure I'd want to DD one where I had freeway slogs to do.  Sadly now it's hard to find a good one and they're all crazy expensive, even the beat up ones.

roninsoldier83
roninsoldier83 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/29/23 5:12 p.m.

In reply to docwyte :

Those are all valid points, likely reasons why I never bought one. I do think they're fun cars though. 

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/29/23 5:29 p.m.

I used to own an Evo X that I used as a daily, and other than the seating position not working that well for me thanks to my iffy knees, it was a much more civilized car than the earlier ones.

The earlier ones are more fun IMHO, though...

Thanks for your thoughts on the GRorolla, it's one of those cars that look like they're fun on paper but maybe not so much in reality. But maybe that's why they seem to already hit the used market (and not the fake used market like a dealer our here who's asking at least $15k over MSRP for one that looks awfully like it's got test drive miles on it.

roninsoldier83
roninsoldier83 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/29/23 10:04 p.m.

I had another idea that is a bit wild. It involves a new GR86:

 

After watching Everyday Driver's review of the GR86, they drove it through Utah winters with snow tires on it and it looked like a blast! They seemingly loved it! 

I think the GR86 would solve the issue I'm having with the S2000: I know for a fact I would drive it a LOT more than an S2000. I would absolutely throw a set of snow tires on it and drive it year round, while keeping something with more ground clearance and 4WD/AWD for the deep, heavy snows. 

The GR86 is similar to the S2000 in quite a few regards: pretty much identical power/weight ratio, just at quick (according to tests, maybe just a tick or 2 quicker). Quite a bit more power than the older 2.0L models (dynos are showing 40-50whp and ~40wtq more than the older motors). Great seats and seating position (never caused me a bit of knee pain when test driving the old ones). I would 100% take it in inclement weather- with snow tires I think it would be hilarious lol. Far more usable than the S2000- the trunk is useful and there's a back seat if absolutely needed. The idea of no maintenance for years and a warranty is also very appealing after my last couple of years of constant wrenching. They have a long-ish wheelbase (101 inches), which, I would assume they would be fairly decent on the freeway? I know they have quite a bit of wind noise, but not nearly as much as an S2000. 

I likely would't track the GR86, but I'm 100% sure I would take it to the occasional autoX. 

I think my time with the S2000 is over- I'm no longer treating it like a car, but am treating it more like a collectors item. However, I am having a hard time with the idea of replacing something as special as the S2000 with more of a normal people carrier like the Maverick, no matter how much I like it... the GR86 presents an interesting place for me emotionally: it's not quite as special as the S2000, but it's certainly more special than a normal people mover. It's still a bit niche and interesting. I wouldn't feel like selling the S2000 for something like a GR86 was a specialty downgrade, if that makes sense? 

I drove the old ones a few times and could never get over how lifeless the motor felt- especially at our elevation (5200 ft). The new car solves that and instead of having a huge torque dip, they seemingly have quite a bit of mid-range (more than the S2000). 

But this does create another problem: if I buy a GR86, I'm not really sure I would use my BMW 128i much, as they're both very similar. I feel like the GR86 is somewhere in between an S2000 and a 128i: same curb weight as the S2000 (both 2800 lbs vs the 3200 lbs 128i). Wheelbase in between the 2- S2000= 94.5", GR86= 101.4" and 128i= 104.7". It's just a bit quicker than both of them. Torque is in the middle of both of them. The back seat is a bit smaller than the 128i's, but neither are what I would call "usable". I could see my 128i's current duties being passed along to the GR86.  

Which led me to another idea: 

-Sell S2000. 
-Buy GR86. 
-Likely sell BMW 128i. 
-Don't spend the money I was planning on spending on 128i mods (3.73 gears, tune, LSD, rear subframe bushings, shocks- maybe springs, etc). 
-Sell the Xterra. 
-Use the money from selling the 128i and Xterra, plus the money I wouldn't be spending on 128i mods, to damn near be able to pay for a new Ford Maverick. 

I might end up with a very small car payment, for a short amount of time going this route, but with dropping an extra car from my monthly insurance bill, it would be pretty negligible in the grand scheme of things. Paying for 2 sets of tags would be pricey, but the lack of any real maintenance/repair costs for the next few years sounds very appealing. 

I'm seriously out of control right now and so is my wife lol. I talked to her about it and she thinks this is the best crazy car idea I've had in a while now lol. 

LanEvo
LanEvo GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/30/23 7:12 a.m.

In reply to docwyte :

Evos are one of the few cars that offer a genuinely distinctive (even unique) driving experience. It feels like they're "up on their toes" yet the grip is there. Even though they feel a little darty and the rear is mobile, they never feel out of control. You can rotate them to almost any degree you choose and then pull yourself back out of it.

They have great steering feel and good shifters. For me, the ergonomics are perfect for the first 3 generations (I've owned one or two examples of each gen). I've also found them to be reliable and robust ... unless you're doing 4-wheel-spinning drag launches on tarmac.

I haven't driven the GR Corolla, but I've spent time with Subarus, the Focus RS, and others. If you're into the AWD Rally Special, you really should try an Evo.

(Hint: the Lancer is called Carisma in some markets. You can find LHD versions of second-gen Evos if you look a bit)

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
10/30/23 7:29 a.m.

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

This makes the most sense to me. 

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) PowerDork
10/30/23 8:25 a.m.

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

I recently drove a new BRZ.  They are incredible cars.  I too loved the seating position and ergos.  You are right the feel from the driver's seat is a lot like an S2K or Miata but in coupe form.  They are brilliant cars.  I too may have one someday.  

docwyte
docwyte UltimaDork
10/30/23 9:51 a.m.

In reply to LanEvo :

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Evo's.  I came close to buying an Evo 9 MR twice and I should've done it, both times. 

Tim, I really liked the interior of the Evo X, but they killed the trunk space in that generation, you literally couldn't carry anything.  The 8/9's trunk's were 2-3 times larger.

SpeedAddict502
SpeedAddict502 New Reader
10/30/23 2:45 p.m.

So funny you dropped the GR as well.

I was on a list for a GR Corolla Circuit at my local dealer at MSRP for my wifes new daily.  It finally came in and both of us just did not like it.  Pretty cool car, but so many shortcomings.

Traded it in on a brand new FL5 Civic Type R and couldnt be happier.

BLRB
BLRB GRM+ Memberand New Reader
10/30/23 4:07 p.m.

I think you should keep the S2000 if you are getting a dedicated DD with the Maverick.  I had a gen 2 BRZ and it is a fun car, but the S2000 is more special.

 

CyberEric
CyberEric SuperDork
10/30/23 4:22 p.m.

I like the new idea. 
 

Sell that S2000! I can't stand when people own cars they don't drive. Unless it's like an old E-type.

roninsoldier83
roninsoldier83 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/30/23 5:15 p.m.
BLRB said:

I think you should keep the S2000 if you are getting a dedicated DD with the Maverick.  I had a gen 2 BRZ and it is a fun car, but the S2000 is more special.

 

I agree that the S2000 is a very special car. This is my 2nd S2000. I owned my first one for about 1.5 years. I’ve owned this one for a little over 4 years. So, I’ve spent about 5.5 to 6 years with the platform. It’s very special indeed. Part of the problem is that I’m keenly aware of just how special it is.

I tracked my first S2000. I’ve autocrossed my current S2000. I used to live on the west side of Denver- ~15 minutes away from some of the best mountain roads in the country. I’ve driven the S2000 in more canyons than I can count. I now live on the east side, over an hour away from any half-decent mountain roads- It’s likely been over a year since I’ve taken the S2000 to the canyons, part of the reason being that in order to get there, I generally have to slog through over an hours’ worth of Denver traffic to get there, which really saps the fun out of the equation, making it far less appealing.

I’m intimately familiar with the S2000. I know what you have to do to have fun with this car: you really need to keep it on-boil and be on your game. If you’re not pitching the car around on a twisty road, honestly, as a car to commute in, it’s not very good. When you are pitching it around, keeping the revs up, rowing hard through the gears, it’s glorious! Although an issue I’ve ran into is that: so is my Type R-esque DC2 Integra. The Integra is also ~200 lbs lighter, just as “raw” feeling, has better steering feel (hydraulic rack vs the S2000’s EPS), it’s more forgiving to drive, rotates just as well, far more practical and I’m not nearly as concerned about door dings and inclement weather.

Before I took my S2000 to get emissions tested recently, I hadn’t driven it in about a month… the last time I drove it before that was due to a series of unforeseen issues that cropped up almost simultaneously: the Integra was on jack stands getting some upgrades, the Xterra had just thrown a CEL (fuel trim related, I think I’ve sorted it out) and the AC had stopped working in the BMW (it was hot outside at the time). So, I drove the S2000 around to run a few errands… as anything but a toy, as an actual car, the S2000 sucks. I do not enjoy commuting or running errands around town in the S2000. Honestly, at lower speeds around town, a Miata is a lot more fun. I truly loved the NC Miata (I’m 6’2” and the NC has nearly the same amount of interior space as the S2000), but if I’m being honest, for commuting, it’s tough to beat the smile the original NA Miata can bring. Doing 40mph in an NA feels like 80mph lol. That doesn’t happen in the S2000- it’s a very serious car, that in order to have fun in, you need to be seriously driving.  

If my wife and I are going downtown for some reason, I don’t take the S2000 for fear if it getting dinged up. Same story with any sort of concert or large, live event.

Cloud in the sky? Nope. Anything but the S2000.

Groceries for the family? Literally any car except the S2000 will work.

Summer days? Too hot to put the top down with black leather seats.

Want to go to a track event? The Integra (and BMW) is/are far more disposable- I would have an easier time feeling comfortable taking them out on track.

Got the itch to mod a car? Anything but the near collector-car-grade S2000.

Winter time? The car is tucked away safely in the garage for months at a time.

Substantial amount of freeway driving? The S2000 is a twitchy/darty girl at freeway speeds! I have better machines for that- machines that won’t wear me down so quickly with steering corrections.

Commuting in traffic? The car is lethargic under 6000rpm and it’s just not the right tool for the job.

I don’t go to Cars and Coffee nearly enough (maybe once a year?) to justify keeping the S2000. I do regularly go to an event called the Golden Cruise (hundreds, sometimes thousands of rare cars on the west side once a month in the summer- mostly older muscle cars), but I usually don’t take the S2000 due to being so far from home and seeing it hail a couple of times (hail is a real pain in the neck in the summers here!).

Really, the car is outstanding at 1 thing, but compromised in every other area. And in that one area, I just so happen to have the keys to other car(s) that I would prefer to take the majority of the time (for reasons listed previously). I do like a good roadster for a nice sunset drive or occasional summer date night, but again, Miata’s are a heck of a lot cheaper/less special (not as concerned with keeping them pristine) and honestly, more fun at lower speeds around town. That’s coming from someone that has owned 2 S2000’s and a plethora of Miata’s from every generation.

In a way, the “special” aspect of the S2000 is part of the problem: I just don’t drive it anymore, partially because it’s so special. I’m not much of a collector. If I have a car, it should have a purpose and I should be getting regular use out of it. Otherwise, well, here we are.

dj06482 (Forum Supporter)
dj06482 (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UberDork
10/30/23 8:10 p.m.

Can you throw snows on the 128i and drive it year-round? Seems like you like that car a lot, and if you need something more raw you can jump in the Integra.

roninsoldier83
roninsoldier83 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/31/23 10:05 a.m.
dj06482 (Forum Supporter) said:

Can you throw snows on the 128i and drive it year-round? Seems like you like that car a lot, and if you need something more raw you can jump in the Integra.

Yes, I absolutely can. I do like the 128i a lot- it's a legitimately good car to drive daily and I'm sure with a set of snows on it, it would be fun in the winter. If I decide to keep it, it was going to get a LSD in pretty short order, which would also be helpful with snow duties. 

That still doesn't change the fact that I don't really drive the S2000 anymore. I've pretty much made up my mind and will likely sell the S2000 in the spring. I can just invest the cash or leave it in the bank for a rainy day. Or get something like the Maverick, which I like a lot and will check a lot of boxes, but isn't anything special- even if logically, it is probably the best idea. Or get something like the GR86, which is still fairly niche and unique (somewhat special without feeling like it's some type of rare unobtanium), but doing that would likely result in me not having much use for the 128i, due to their similarities. Which is what led me to the above-listed idea. 

Whenever I get some time, if I can find one locally, I really need to take a GR86/BRZ for a spin. I can come up with ideas all day, but if I drive the car and find out I don't actually care for it (like what happened with the GR Corolla), that changes things. Alternately, if I drive it and it puts a big, stupid grin on my face, well, there's decisions to be made. I'll likely try to drive my 128i to the test drive to compare them back to back. 

I've actually watched a couple of comparison videos comparing the 128i to the GR86, to try and assess if it's really a better car to drive: 

 

^^^Granted, both of those reviewers actually own GR86's, so it's tough to say if there might be a bias. 

roninsoldier83
roninsoldier83 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/31/23 5:27 p.m.

I needed to burn some vacation time (I'm constantly in use-or-lose territory), so I left work today, drove out west and took a spin in a used 2023 Subaru BRZ Premium: 

Someone just traded this car in- it has a bit over 8000 miles on the clock; which I was happy about, as the car is well past it's break-in period, so I was able to open it up a bit. Disclaimers:

-It was a cooler day today (around 40 degrees F) and the weekend snow is still melting. As a result, I didn't really pitch it around corners much.  

-I understand that the BRZ is actually supposed to feel ever-so-slightly softer than the GR86- although for my purposes, it doesn't really matter. 

-The exterior of the car is dirty- they literally just wiped the snow off of it while I was on my way. The interior was very clean. 

The sales lady was very accommodating. I called before I drove out there and when I got there she just handed me the keys, a dealer plate and sent me on my way. I spent about ~30 minutes driving solo and learned a good amount. My thoughts: 

-It's a good car! I can see why everyone loves this thing so much! 

-There is a massive difference in this new 2.4L motor vs the old 2.0L motor. It's not even close. At my elevation (5200 ft), the old car felt absolutely gutless- I could never get over how slow it felt. Objectively I think it was quicker than it felt, but the mid-range torque dip really killed it for me. The new 2.4L now pulls pretty strongly across the rev range. Even though it revs to around 7500rpm, it never feels like an old school Honda motor- it feels more like a bigger Miata motor- very linear. I now have no problems with the power it makes- it's fairly quick. I think it's probably just a touch quicker than the S2000, but due to the shorter wheelbase and open roof, the S2000 feels a lot quicker when revving it out; in truth, the S2000 feels much quicker than it actually is. Around town, the BRZ's 2.4L motor has a good bit more torque than the S2000 and doesn't feel nearly as gutless as the S2000 does down low. 

They definitely piped a bit of extra sound into the cabin... like, quite a bit of extra noise. I didn't mind it, but if I'm being honest, this engine doesn't exactly sound good. It's okay. Not the worst sound I've ever heard, but I could take it or leave it. With that said, although the car has good power/torque, I don't feel like the engine has much character. I never felt rewarded for wringing the motor out, but it does feel good/strong throughout the rev range. Subaru has done a great job for what is otherwise a tarted up Forester engine. 

-I didn't really push the car hard through corners due to the cold and melting snow all over. I have a feeling it's very good, based on the inputs I did receive. The steering is very light and the car seems to be very eager to change direction. It feels very light on its toes. The steering feels a good bit lighter than the steering in my S2000 and a LOT lighter than the steering in my 128i. I think the feel of the steering is maybe a bit better than the S2000's, but it can't hold a candle to my Integra or BMW that both have hydraulic racks. 

Body motions are very well controlled. The car is certainly firm, but it's not what I would call stiff. Honestly, it's pretty reasonable for a sporty street car. I would have no qualms with taking this car on a longer road trip. 

At freeway speeds, the BRZ certainly isn't as darty as my S2000... but it is noticeably dartier than my 128i. The door sill on the driver's door is a bit low, not leaving me with a place to rest my left arm while cruising. Not a deal breaker, but the car certainly doesn't cruise as well as the BMW- which really shouldn't shock anyone. 

I would have preferred a bit more weight to the steering- while the car felt eager to rotate, it does feel very much like a fingertips kind of car. It's not bad at all, but I've certainly been spoiled by my 128i's steering which is nicely weighted, making the car feel more planted. 

-The clutch was super easy to use! Not heavy in the least and very easy to drive smoothly. I know is has a spring on it that some people remove, but for driving in traffic, I would leave the stock spring in there. 

The shifter was also pretty good. Much better than the 1st gen cars I drove. Very easy to find gears, solid throws, overall very intuitive. It feels more mechanical than the more rubbery throws in my BMW and had no difficulty even while cold (she might have warmed up the car before I got there?), which is something I can't say about my Honda's that need a bit of heat, but it still doesn't feel as good/mechanical as either of my old Honda's. Honestly, I've driven just about everything under the sun and no manual shifter feels as good as golden age Honda's. I like the BRZ's shifter just fine- in the absence of other cars (namely old Honda's), I would probably be pretty impressed. 

-The seats are a mixed bag. The seating position is GREAT! Forward visibility is GREAT! I thought the overall ergonomics are pretty good for my frame- I had no issues reaching for the steering wheel or shifter. I thought the back bolsters were very comfortable... but the seat bottom bolsters pinch me a bit too much for my liking. I'm a bigger guy and I usually like to splay my legs out a bit while driving... which, I can technically do, but in doing so, my right leg ends up sitting on TOP of the seat bolster and feels pinched/awkward. If I ever got one of these cars, I would likely remove the seat and see if I could bend the heck out of the seat bottom bolsters so it would stop pinching my leg. 

Does it hurt me knee to drive? Maybe. It was hard to tell, honestly. So, not nearly as bad as the GR Corolla which caused me pain within minutes... but maybe. I could feel a bit of discomfort. I suspect that it had something to do with the lower seat bottom bolster putting my right leg in an odd position. I had a similar problem with an aftermarket seat in the past- I bent the hell out of it with a pry bar and it was fine. Maybe bending it would do the trick here? I'll be honest, it does make me a bit wary of spending $30k+ on something I feel like I would need to modify to drive comfortably. I don't remember having this issue with the 1st gen cars. 

-There is quite a bit of wind/road noise within the car. I've read all the reviews of Subaru/Toyota cutting costs by not using sound deadening.... the rumors are true. It's not convertible noisy, but it seems to be just as noisy (maybe noisier?) than my 1996 Integra. Again, not a deal breaker, I don't need a completely isolated cabin, but it was pretty loud.

-The brakes felt pretty weak. I know that's easily fixed with a set of more aggressive pads, but compared to my S2000 (aftermarket pads), Integra (track pads) and BMW, they required a good bit of extra pedal to slow the car down. 

-I know everyone says the BRZ is easy to heel-toe, but I was wearing dress shoes (just came from work), so I can't comment. I tried a couple of times but my shoe keep slipping off of the pedals. That might not be the car's fault. 

-The car feels very light/tossable. Honestly, it feels a lot like a hardtop coupe Miata. That's about the nicest thing I can say about it. 

 

Overall, it was a positive driving experience. I liked it. I don't know if I love it, but I certainly like it. I suspect I might have enjoyed it a lot more on a warm, sunny day where I could treat it like a sports car. 

How does it compare to the S2000? The BRZ is a good bit more relaxing than the S2000, without feeling like it's dull. I can see the BRZ being more fun in most circumstances. With the S2000, you really have to grab that car by the scruff and pitch it around like you mean it, otherwise you'll never enjoy it. You need to be pushing the S2000 hard to have fun- that's seemingly not true with the BRZ. The BRZ feels like it would be more forgiving and likely more fun day to day. I would rather drive the BRZ daily, by a pretty substantial margin. On the perfect road, on the perfect day? That's a tough one that I couldn't answer without really putting the BRZ through its paces. I found the BRZ to be a suitable S2000 replacement for someone that wants to drive more often. 
 

How does it compare to the 128i? That's a tough one. Full disclosure: my 128i isn't 100% stock, it does have a set of front and rear M3/1M control arms (stiffer and they added an extra degree of negative camber up front). I came back and drove my 128i around for a bit to compare... I think I might prefer my 128i. 

The seats in my 128i are better- the lower leg extension (I have fairly long legs), the adjustable bolsters and the lack of an overly pinchy seat bottom make for a more comfortable seat. To be fair, my car does have the Sport Package- I wouldn't feel that away about the base 128i seats. 

The steering in my 128i is phenomenal. Great weighting, great steering feel, very confidence inspiring. The BRZ is pretty good for an EPS rack, but at the end of the day, it's still an EPS rack and I wish it had more weight to it. 

The 128i's smooth inline-6 makes a much better noise. I've removed the intake resonator on mine, so it's just a tad bit louder than stock- I get it, that's not fair, but I would take an I6 noise over a flat-4 noise any day of the week. 

I'm pretty sure the BRZ is quicker than the 128i, but numbers don't tell the full story. Lower in the rev range, the BMW definitely feels torquier. The BRZ pulls harder up top, but I still prefer the mid-range of the BMW 3.0L I6. I have a 3-stage DISA intake manifold that I pulled off of an X5 in a junkyard a few weeks ago for $100 that's just sitting in my garage. That manifold from the factory bumps power from 230hp to 255hp, with a solid gain across the rev range. I'm curious if the BRZ would feel faster if the BMW had the DISA manifold on it. I really need to get around to swapping it in and reflashing the DME. While the BRZ is the faster car, I think I prefer the BMW's motor.  

Handling is a mixed bag... the BRZ feels lighter and more eager to rotate... but the BMW feels more planted and confidence inspiring. 

I figured that I would prefer the BRZ... but the 128i is very good. The BRZ would mean a warranty and no real repairs for years... but the BMW is such a joy to drive! If they were both brand new and priced the same, I think I would pick the BMW. 

I guess I have a lot to think about. 

My wife and I are supposed to go back and drive the BRZ again on Friday (assuming it doesn't sell before then), when temps are supposed to be in the 60's. Maybe I'll have a different impression driving it when it's warmer outside and there isn't as much snow melting on the road. 

z31maniac
z31maniac MegaDork
10/31/23 6:26 p.m.

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

Just for reference, there isn't a sound tube like in the first gen for the engine sound. It's actually a separate speaker and amp for it. You can disable it by unplugging the amp (it's on the passenger side, outside of the glove box, you remove that panel between it and the door) or the dealer can go in with their scan tool and turn it off. Which I find weird because it's basically the only setting on the car you can't control from the head unit. You can even turn off the "Steering Responsive Headlights" in the head unit options (yes, the headlights turn with the wheel just like the 1-series).

The brakes have plenty of power, just need a firmer push to get there. But like you said, that's down to the stock compound.

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/31/23 8:10 p.m.
docwyte said:

In reply to LanEvo :

Tim, I really liked the interior of the Evo X, but they killed the trunk space in that generation, you literally couldn't carry anything.  The 8/9's trunk's were 2-3 times larger.

It's definitely not the most practical car I've ever owned. I remember carrying stuff on the back seat way too often. But point it at a mountain road in the Sierra Nevada, get in the zone and it was sublime.

gunner (Forum Supporter)
gunner (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand Dork
10/31/23 8:33 p.m.

So cool to see that you watch Everyday Driver videos. They have a podcast as well and a couple years ago they made an episode about how to get rid of a car that has become too precious to drive. I was in a similar situation to you with my E28 M5. They went way up in value and it was sitting in my garage not being driven since early 2017. it got maybe 3000 miles that year then less than a 1000 miles a year after that. I went through a similar crisis to yours. I loved the car, not a collector but didn't want to drive it. Even though it was amazing and I loved to drive it. Paul (from Everyday Driver) suggested that you take a bunch of photos and videos to remember the car, take it out to some cool places in your area and take photos, make those memories. Then sell it and you still have those pics to look back on but its no longer your problem. I owned the M5 for a decade and by the time it got sold, I was not glad to see it go, but not sad at all. I knew the next owner was going to enjoy it as much as I had. He owned a E28 535is and an E34 M5 already so I knew it would be taken care of. It allowed me to go onto my next adventure. I hope it can help you do the same.

AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter)
AnthonyGS (Forum Supporter) PowerDork
10/31/23 8:44 p.m.

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

The BRZ is a brilliant car.  My wife has green lighted me to get one, but I may end up with a new WRX because stock class rallycross.  There is a brand new black BRZ here locally if you want 100 miles or less.

Fupdiggity (Forum Supporter)
Fupdiggity (Forum Supporter) Reader
10/31/23 9:22 p.m.

Man, that's a lot of variables you're trying to nail down at once, between the S2000, 128i, BRZ, xterra, & maverick. I can relate, as I do the same thing (if i sell x & y, i can buy z & w). It sounds like you've decided the S2000 is headed down the road, which I think is a good call. It also sounds like you really enjoy the 128i, it's paid off, and it occupies a pretty similar area as a BRZ (even if they're on different ends of the sporty coupe segment).

If it was me, I'd sell the S2000 (in the spring when the market is strongest), put in the X5 manifold and an LSD, drive the pants off the 128i, then re-evaluate 6-12 months later if you're feeling like there's a hole in your lineup or you're really itching to replace the xterra.

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