Screw the haters...I own a 2013 BRZ Limited and absolutely love it. This review does it justice. It's RWD, almost a 50/50 weight split, lightweight, and comes well appointed for a $25k car. Leather, auto/digital climate control, RFID key, SAT/NAV, and HID/LED lights, just to name a few. I shopped around a lot before buying this and couldn't find another car this fun to drive with these options in this price range.
interesting.. what do you think of the plastic in the front grill? I think that is the only part that really really bothers me about it. The rest of the car looks nice but the front is ruined
Jo Kommentaah I agree, to an extent. I think the fog light surrounds and the lower plastic would look better painted, however the upper solid piece doesn't bother me at all. It's got a nice textured matte finish and holds up better against stone chips and bugs than a painted surface would. Also, I drive a black BRZ so the unpainted plastic is much less notable. I DO have a problem with the stock fog lights. They use some eco-friendly low-wattage non-halogen bulbs. I will be upgrading these soon on mine.
marshallrhayes technically it only has around 170hp to the wheels and 130 ftp of torque, but with simple mods like full exhaust and e85 tuned will get you to 200whp and 165 ftp torque which will get you 0-60 in about 6 seconds. About not being light enough you also have options. Lighter wheels (14pounds per corner), aluminum or carbon fiber driveshaft, light clutch kit, single exit exhaust or dual straight pipe. Lighter rotors(aluminum hats). Or you could go FI turbo or SC, there are plenty of options out there.
My 23 year old son just bought one. I drove it 1800km from Melbourne to Brisbane. I own a 3 series BMW and this little car is brilliant. I enjoyed every minute of the drive and would not hesitate to buy one.
I think many people in the commenting section missed the whole point of the car. They're still stuck with camaros & mustangs. People, this is a fun,tail happy sports car that cost 27k. How many times a day do u go 120mph? In this, you do 50 & still have fun slidin' round all day
Oh okay so what is ur shape or form for a sports car? Or ur price range for a cheap sports car? Enlighten us pls...u better not mention these 10 n 20 yr old cars
most of the cars u mentioned are 30k + cars and they r mostly abused n have lots of baggages with them. Cool if thats u tho.....as for the brz, sure its underpowered but it 25k brand new n its so much fun. N if pwr is all u want, spend a few bucks on it make it "a real sports car"
i cud argue more on this...really...but i think u're "unconvincable" and i think u hate the car n the fact that its gettin all the praises so i give up. its overpirced underpowered "car" like u said
I find it amusing in the comments. These people bitching and complaining about ,"Too slow, POS." or "Not enough power." I find it funny, because these hating idiots have probably never driven the car before ever. Also, are you dragging the car everyday in a straight line with no traffic and without speed limit? Do you even possess the skills enough to handle a car that has all power and no handling? It's all about balance, handling and pure enjoyment, simular to a miata with a hood on. Not to mention, this car is typically 1000LBS lighter than most full sized sports cars, and costs a fraction of cars with 300-400HP.
I have the 10th Anniversary FR-S manual with 2k miles on it now... I LOVE IT. Best way to describe this car is that when you want to have fun driving, it lets you, and when you just need to get from point A to B, it will get you there effortlessly (and in style).
The BRZ just needs a turbo and some tuning. Than it'll be plenty fast. I have a '88 Fiero GT with turbo and phase two tuning. Roughly 300HP. One morning I smoked a 3 series Bimmer off the line. Priceless!
Daniel Groulx I think it depends on what sorta driving you do with it, if you've got at least a few decent curving turns in your commute it's perfectly fine, or if you live near hills it works. You're not gonna struggle to get up to speed on the freeway or anything. The thing is a turbo model would likely cost a good deal more, but at worst you can just spend 5k and get a decent supercharger to remove the lack of torque it has in the midrange.
Mr.Science yeah and putting a turbo kit in this will add weight, a lot of it, on the front. the whole point of this, the Mazda mx5 and, yeah even the Cayman, is that it is not about straight line speed it is about balance and precision and free revving engines with a sound no turbo can match.
I challenge anyone to find a brand new car that can meet these standards for the price range: Go find another car for sub $30k with limited slip rear end, strengthened chassis, .28 drag coefficient, low center mass, 51/49 weight distribution, low weight, seating position with enough room over head for a helmet, enough room in the back for second set of wheels, factory bolt positions for seating harness, capable and ready to rev engine that has responded really well to superchargers, direct injection, dry sump, the list goes on. Sorry but anyone who cannot see this is good value needs to think about the fact that you can always add power, you can only reduce weight so much while retaining drivability.
The brz is for people who know how to drive. Those people don't write in the comment section of RU-vid though, so you won't get any good responses here. So stop wasting your time and go to a track day.
The BRZ in one of the best affordable sports cars out there + you can tune the hell out of it, engine, exterior,... This car wasn't designed for straight line but pure handeling delight ! Btw, Mustangs can't keep a straight line anyways, youtube is full of mustang crashes :D
This comment has no validity when you're talking about a car with only 200hp. You can buy a honda accord that has more power its pathetic. I could beat a brz in my fucking grocery getter with two toddlers in the back.
It's true. I hear all the time "I can get a V6 Camaro with 300HP!" Sure you can. But the build quality sucks. It doesn't handle as well, or stop as well. You don't feel as connected to the road...and then you will find yourself in just another Camaro. No thanks.
i understand and im sure the car handles great but what im sayin is if u put me in just about any decent handling 300 hp car against someone in a brz out on a track i will win every time. The car may handle very well but at 200hp that car will only do well in corners thats it. Not hating on the car. I would prefer a 4 cylinder non turbo for better gas mileage and lower insurance i just wish the car was cheaper than 25K and I would buy one.
What you're really paying for is the chassis and the layout. That's the foundation. You can tune and reduce weight to other cars all you want, and you'll make them better, but they'll never quite have the balance the brz has stock. It lacks some torque due to the restrictive headers that are there to improve efficiency, but those can be swapped out if 7 second 0-60 is really too slow for you. Personally I think they struck a great balance between fun and efficiency. If all you want is affordable power, just buy a Mustang. Better yet go ahead and buy a used Porsche but your maintenance costs are going to be through the roof...
I am in love with this car! I would get it over the FRS simply because of the hid lights, that makes a big difference in terms of car quality/finish in 2013. Its about the same price as a WRX which has 65 more hp, 100+ ft/lb of torque more and can make 300whp with about $2000-$3000 in modifications. If I got the BRZ I would keep it mainly stock except for small bolt ons but if I got a WRX I would modify it for 300+whp. Thats a hard choice, but I think i'd take the BRZ for the light weight and hooligan nature of rwd cars!
This car was underpowered. Trust me on this, intake, exhaust and a decent ecu re-map and tune, will have this car in the perfect power range for its weight.
My wife chose MX-5 Miata over BRZ, and I'm pissed, becasue she's right. Literally, the only reason we didn't get the BRZ, was becasue instead of the proper STI engine it has a pathetically castrated 2L. It's like this; BRZ 151 ft-lbs. @ 6,400 rpm 2,824 lbs Miata 140 ft-lbs. @ 5000 rpm 2,619 lbs My wife test drove the BRZ, she loved absolutely everything about it, expect when we hit the freeway onramp and while getting up to speed she asked "Does it go any faster? What am I doing wrong?" And what's up with 6th gear? On the freeway it's way to short, why? I'm guessing only becasue the 2L motor just craps out on the torque at that rage. It's that pathetic, Miata MX-5 has better torque to weight at lower RPM, better acceleration then the BRZ, and it had to be my wife making a point of it. BRZ is 50hp short of being adequate on freeway passes, and 100hp short of being a real blast to drive. We were so excited when BRZ came out, is was such a disappointment when such a serious lack of power became apperant, and my wife said that in this category, Mazda Miata 5 just made much more sense to her. I have a Subaru and love it, and soooo wanted another one in the family but no, corporate dick heads had to fuck it up, now the wife will be happily zipping around in a Miata instead of a BRZ.
True, but considering the BRZ weighs a heavy passenger more its 33 extra HP over the MX5 is almost moot. What I was hinting at is if the BRZ needs more power then the MX5 is in the same boat.
Sean M lighter MX5 will out handle the BRZ, and Miatas are known specifically for cornering performance. BRZ is at the very least 100hp underpowered, while for a performance car it's 200hp underpowered.
This is great! I think 200hp is enough for daily use & a lil fun. This car was meant to be a tuner base, so of course, if you're into more performance, there's plenty of aftermarket add-ons.
I couldn't believe he made that statement. This is the third Subaru I've owned and I absolutely love the sound of the Boxer engine. Sounds even better with decent aftermarket exhaust (had Cobb Tuning cat-backs on my old Impreza).
I have a BRZ limited in Silver. I absolutely love it! I traded in a big muscle car. I wanted something totally different and this car is a blast to drive. Instant classic.
Once you drive a car, you will know immediately. Its just the feeling and the feedback of a car that can make it great. It doesn't have to go zero to 60 in 3 seconds to be awesome. The root of greatness can be anything from a good shifter to the engine sound.
I an 6 foot 5 inches tall and I have over an inch of headroom and just enough leg room. Outward vision is perfect. No human can sit behind me though. I have driven over 500 miles in one day and felt fine. The seats are awesome.
it's great how people still hate on this car even though it's won loads of awards for being a drivers car. you know, cos random guy in the youtube comments who has never driven the car knows better than professional car reviewers.
This pays homage to the Toyota Hachi Roku AE86 if y'all didn't know. Initial D. Bunta and his Subaru, Takumi and his Toyota. 2 of the best fictional drift characters, makes more sense instead of comparing it to cars that deal more with HP. It's the new 86, it's all about balance
Seating position is the first thing everybody should get right when doing any sort of performance driving. The correct position is top of steering wheel at your wrist with your arm fully extended and your back against the seat. And both hands on steering wheel at all times at 9 and 3 o'clock positions :)
This car has roughly the same weight, horsepower, and torque of my old RSX Type-S and I had no complaints. If I were in the market for a sports car I'd buy one.
I actually had plans to go buy the Scion FR-S/ Subaru BRZ next year when I finished bootcamp. A FR-S sits down my road. That's when I found out Toyota and Subaru both made it and have the car. They are amazing looking cars and with the turbo kits they come out with you'll have no problem getting it up to 400+ horse. But stuff happened and now I'm looking at a 2004 Subaru WRX if things go smoothly. Also a beautiful well put together car. Excited to get my hands on it!
As with anything I make a large purchase on I did my research before laying down my hard earned money for my '13 BRZ Limited. I love It, driving in this car is a blast. Reminds me of my 1993 Ford Probe GT.
That's rough. I've had my WRB BRZ Limited since June and I have never had an ounce of regret about buying it. I get excited every time I walk out to my car.
A third person is quite comfortable laying across the seats. If you have two 5'-2" girls one can sit in the front passenger and the rear seat on the passengers side. When you fold down the rear seats you have great trunk space. When the seat is up the car is more silent than if it were a hatchback.
I have an frs and I couldn't be happier I have grown more attached to this car is the short time I had it than any of my other cars that includes 03 evo, 05 g35, 01 z28, 91 mustang 5.0, and numerous turbo honda's making over 300whp, so needless to say all my cars were faster with alot of money in mods invested in all of them. My frs is stock and I love it and can't think of much to do to it right now to make it better because I know I will be disappointed if I take away from it's balance.
Damn good review! Much better than the Motortrend review and that is hard for me to say. I am currently in France now (Lyon specifically) and loved that you talked about the country, it is a very lovely country! Great job CARandDRIVER!
I found when driving this car that the only problem with it straight from the box was it's clutch and brakes, with a high actuation point. For someone inexperienced (or rusty) with a manual, they're going to be chirping the tires often. Also, the brakes were SUPER touchy, but when pushed hard, they tended to fade fast. Otherwise, it's a phenomenal car. I'm actually seriously looking at picking one up for September.
You are right Tim. like many I have driven light weight sporting cars. The last gen Celica,CRX, INtegra, 240. Corolla GTS. All of them had less power than the BRZ. The Mustang GT is a Wonderful Car. I love it. Ford has done an excellent job of engineering that car. Man you can feel that extra 850 pounds over the BRZ. For those of us that like the quick transitions of a light weight sporting car there is nothing else like the BRZ/FRS. We are willing to give up 200 ft lbs of torque 2 dump 850 pds.
I'm in love with this car and the FRS. I think that those two cars are the most exciting cars of the past ten to fifteen years of car making. I can only hope that this sparks other car manufacturers to start following the same pursuit of light weight and fun to drive. I've been into rotary engines for the past decade, and every sports car I have owned has been as such. (Three Rx7s and an Rx8 currently). I think this will be my next car.
the gt86 is all about being the predecessor to the ae86. it's striving towards balance, harmony between engine, suspension and transmission, about fun in driving, and a fast cornering machine. people who keep saying it's weak because of 200 hp are missing the whole point of what toyota was trying to accomplish.
3K at 70 mph in 6th gear sounds about right for a 2 liter engine. In fact, it is exactly what the tachometer shows in my SVT Focus, which also has a 2 liter engine paired to a 6-speed transmission. Can't say that it's a great result or something to be proud of, but it is what it is. After all it's a smaller displacement, high compression 4-cylinder, not an old bulletproof V8.
Tuners are gonna love this when the leases start running out.This is the next 240 I wonder if performance engine parts are interchangeable with the WRX ? I see a after market turbo install in the near future
"100 hp per litre ain't too bad if you ask me. How many production V8's can claim that?" I agree. I too like to compare apples to oranges. Bravo sir. Bravo.
Both. This version was the Subaru BRZ, but an almost identical car is sold with the Scion FR-S badge. From the research I've done, the only difference is body styling.
The brz is designed for fun. It's rear drive so that means when you lose traction to the rear, you don't understeer and plow forwards; instead you slide out in the back making it more fun. Also, with big power cars you can't really wring it out like you could in a less powerful car. That's what makes the brz awesome, you can take it to the limit every time.
Totally agree on everything. Just maybe 15 hp (not whp) will be possibile with a good full aftermarket exhaust + remap. I think that would be a good compromise, and then when it's out of warranty you can fit a HKS Supercharger kit. I think this car is a keeper and people will buy it and keep it for 6-10 years doing lots of mods.
Pretty much, and that's about where everyone's hope for a more powerful car ends. The car serves a purpose the way it is, and it's doing a good job opening up a new market for manufacturers to break into, and a market where you can get younger people, like me, back into owning a car to have fun with and not just go to and fro, and back again.
This go back the the movie initial D, the boy had a non-turbo Tureno( toyota Ae86) and beat all the GTR and mitsubishis on the curvy mountain road.... this is a perfect beginner car to max ur driving potentials
Everyone is too excited to see 250+ WHP numbers that they forget the magic of a high reving N/A engine. Hello! NSX! I think an STI version with a fat turbo would be good, but the you'd get lag and risk upsetting the balance. Drive this car, it's magical around a corner. It almost resembles the Miata in that it easily power-oversteers, but it's so controllable and refined. A beautiful car.
Good review! Somehow even though I've watched a lot reviews on this car, your review was balanced, touched all the bases I am interested in and added an honest perspective missing in many of the other reviews which have been released since. Keep it up!
This is a car that its fun to drive from 0-80mph. For daily drive, you don't need to go faster than that. When you're driving a +300hp car, its only fun when you're driving beyond 80mph
Love it! Could be my next car. I used to have a Porsche 944 and it had 147hp, If you know how to drive that's enough power. I enjoyed it The BRZ reminds of of that car!
Its pretty much only more affordable because its the low-tech version of the subaru version, no HIDs, no climate control, no nav, and I believe a few other options. All-in-all either car looks like a lot of fun to drive and that's pretty much the whole reason to buy a sports car.
I like the comment about the seats being "all day comfortable" and I hear these are really nice cars to live with on a daily basis. I used to have a Porsche 944 and remember coming home from Pennsylvania feeling like I had just been beaten with a lead pipe for four hours. I also had a second generation Prelude Si that was even worse (there were times I wondered if that car had any suspension travel). Granted both cars were a blast to drive, but I am glad the newer sports cars are more refined.
I stripped mustang GT (still twice the Hp and Torque) . 2k less will get you the Base BRZ that still has Navigation and HIDs. All the limited adds is leather, independent heater control and a rear spoiler.
I have not noticed. I appears to be slightly faster on a mild day. What slows it down the most is the stability, traction control programming. Even in sport mode. When everything is off it feels faster and more responsive. Even just driving around town.
I'm currently 20 years and want one of these so bad, one day hopefully. Only thing is, I hope they're not all destroyed by the time I can afford one. lol
I don't know who your nan is or if she is related to the Stig, but the reviewer is sitting in the proper driving position. Upright and nice and close to the steering wheel. The check is to put your shoulders into the seat, reach your hand straight out, and if the steering wheel touches your wrist you are close enough to the wheel.
The NSX is an exotic. If you can't afford a new 911 you cant afford a used NSX. Changing the timing belt is a mortgage payment. You will need new rear tires every 10k you dont want to price them. The NSX is a wonderful car for the folks that can afford to maintain it.
I never once mentioned that this vehicle is the fastest thing around or the quickest. All i’m stating is that its a good base to work with. Even though a megane or 3 is faster, its not as good of a base to start with. This vehicle is already light and agile, with a great chassis, so technically all you have to do is build upon the motor, and there will be a very big aftermarket for this vehicle. So its a great base for those with a budget.
The coups interior quality is better than the stang or the brz. It also is a great platform to build onto as turbo cars are pretty easy to get power out of with minimal effects. Most people getting brz/frs arent even true car enthusiast. Some options for people who want sporty looking non sports cars ( the brz/frs's market ) Forte Koup SX manual fully loaded 21k Civic Si 22k Scion tc fully loaded 22k Genesis Coup R spec 26k V6 Mustang starts at 22k Ford Focus ST starts at 23k Sonic Turbo 18k
i just drove one today..the power is enough to have fun, at any moment i was wishing for more power (consider i was on speedlimitless german autobahns!)...and unlike many people i actually did like the noise of the car..but then, as far as i can SEE, the exhaust from the car i drove looked very different to the one in the video...but i did like the sound..it was sporty, without being shouty or "look at me"
The Chevy camaro is also a rear wheel drive sports car. its starting price is actually a little lower than the subaru and it has 323hp. that is why i bought myself a base-model camaro and i have not had one but of regret.
i love mine! it just handles great. and then i go online and there are even more parts i can get to make it even better. its just great to have every day.
One of these reviews I watched they timed it at 6.2. It's the one where they drag race it next to a train yard. My '93 Nissan 240SX, which also weighs 2700 lbs, only has 155hp and it does 0-60 in 8.5 to 9 sec, depending on the temperature. And that's shifting at 5800 or 6000 RPM, well before the 6900 RPM redline. It seems conceivable that this car with 200hp could do. And it did because they show it being timed in the test.
You need a turbo an intercooler. Beefed up clutch, rear dif and cooling system. Also larger brakes and wheels and hopefully a larger than 13 gallon gas tank. The weight adds up quickly. To cut weight somewhere else cost money. Around town at reasonable speeds the base car would still be more fun. You would not need to do much of anything to add 30 N/A hp. Just better brakes. It is always a trade off.
Seth, the Z is an a exceptional value at 32k. The Z is fine until you drive the BRZ. The Z understeers at the limit. You have more than enough power to push the tail out. Back off, back to understeer. The BRZ is neutral at the limit. Keep on pushing it slowly moves into oversteer. Both cars need better brakes. The Z is not a bad handling car but you can feel the 450 pound difference between the two in the transitions. The BRZ is a blast but feels slow next to the Z. This is just my opinion.
Actually, AISIN makes the transmission. While Aisin is partly owned by Toyota, it also supplies trannies to Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi , General Motors, Daihatsu, Hino Motors, FIAT, Volvo, Jeep, and Porsche.
It's not about speed for everyone. I would agree that an extra 50bhp would go a long way, but like the RX-8, it's all about control in the corners and control in the slide. The FRS is a 'driver's' car, not a drag racer. Believe it or not, cars can turn left and right. They don't just go straight.
When pushing the BRZ you need to stay above 4500 rpm. Response is instant and it is FAST when you are pushing it. Below 4k you have a torquey economy engine that gets over 30 mpg. There are inexpensive mods for camber adjustment. Your money would be better spent on sticky rubber. If it had more power it would not have the excellent throttle response or fuel efficiency of the current car. Right car at the right price. I paid 26k for mine. If it were 30k 2900 pounds and 250 hp I would not own 1.
So you know how to read the brochure! Good job! Look, MSRP at the Subaru website is not the same as what dealerships are asking for. Dealers can raise the prices of the BRZ because of the demand and rarity vs a new FR-S or WRX. Plus for in addition to the six month wait for an 86 car only certain amount of BRZs are built for every 8 FR-S/GT-86 built.
It really depends on the car. A supercharger is a viable option for people who want consistent power. Turbos, while predictable, aren't consistent. That being said, some platforms just don't like SC, the boxer engine in the BRZ actually does quite well with it. There is plenty of information and dyno reports out there to compare the two as well as great experiences with both systems.
This is exactly the kind of car I'm looking for. Any more power and I'd be in trouble with the local police. It does everything well and with 200 hp it still has alot of get up and go. Put a great stereo in it and any road noise would be drowned out.
I almost purchased the 350z when it first came out. I have been in the 370z several times. I am 6.5 feet tall and 200 pounds (skinny). In the Z with the seat all the way back if I look to the left I see the headliner. I look forward I see the headliner. In the BRZ I can drive cross country with a hat on. There is excellent outward vision for the tall and the short. Until recently I had no idea how much room there is in the Boxter someone on line told me to try it. Plenty of head and leg room.
Great review! I especially liked how you showed/discussed road handling in the two locations. My question: if the BRZ had high performance tyres say the same as the WRX STi, would the star grip make the car better or worse because it would be less "chuckable" but quicker around corners because of the grip. Your thoughts...
Great review! Unlike the MX-5, this car is really well built ergonomically. I sit really upright, like the reviewer, and there is plenty of head room for me, even if I was wearing a helmet on the track. Ok, maybe with a helmet I would have to recline a notch or two from the ideal position, but for day to day use, the seating position is brilliant for me.
For those who have the money to buy a proper and I mean a PROPER sports-car like the Porsche Cayman or a BMW Z4 but aren't completely confident about their driving-technique and would like to improve on it before they buy something much more expensive, the BRZ is a great place to start. It allows you 'learn the ropes', if you will.
I traded in my 2007 VW GTI that I had for 5 years for this car. HP is the same. And this car is great.Yes with some tuning maybe just 240 HP would make it even better, but everything about this car is good. Though I wish the back seats had a bit more room for passengers. All in all, fun car if you like the twisty stuff. If you're a knuckle dragger straight line driver... I don't recommended it for you.
Thanks for telling us where the RPM is on the highway. That's something no one ever talks about. I drove with my friend in his Evo X and it was spinning 3k on 70...super annoying.
I drove the V6 Mustang 6 speed manual with the track package. It was allot of fun and very very fast. With the stock tires the BRZ can not keep up. The BRZ is way more fun to drive. It is not even close. Yes the V6 Mustang is faster. The BRZ is more fun. If you put real tires on the BRZ it will outrun the Mustang V6 no problem on any twisty road. Unless I put two extra 300 pound guys in the car.
