Here's the Car and Driver comparo of the BRZ and FR-S:...
Here's the Car and Driver comparo of the BRZ and FR-S: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2013-subaru-brz-and-2013-scion-fr-s-a-study-in-comparison-and-contrast-feature (I added the bold.) Looks like US cars get different shocks and springs. Also, by not breaking it down into front versus rear, the piece implies that all four corners of the Scion get softer springs and stiffer shocks. How's that for confusing? (Let's keep in mind that the C&D piece is about four months older than evo's. Either things have changed or US cars are specced differently, perhaps because our bumper height requirements run a little higher.)
After watching this vid I thought I'd check what a used Cayman was worth here in OZ. Cheapest I could find was $56,500 and it had done over 100,000km's. As you guys know I ordered my 86GT about a month ago for a little over $30k. Feeling a bit smug?...you betcha!!
I must confess, I've always loved the look of the Porsche Cayman and had long been contemplating a used one as a daily driver for when I finally escape university. However, the arrival of the GT86 has completely and totally changed my thinking. The more I hear about the Toyota, the more I like the sound of it. Throw in the 5-year warranty in comparison to a relatively expensive-to-maintain and insure Porsche, and the decision looks to be a no-brainer even if you could get the two for exactly the same money. The only thing that concerns me slightly (apart from the difficult decision between Scion and Subaru! ) is the reports that the brakes are known to fade a little on aggressive driving. My own driving style is extremely hard on the brakes... I have often favoured underpowered cars and enjoyed making them stand on their noses when braking for corners. On my 90bhp MINI, I simultaneously cooked the standard brake pads and boiled my brake fluid, so I uprated the brakes to grooved higher performance brake discs with kevlar pads and changed to uprated DOT 5.1 brake fluid. I actually managed to set that latter setup on fire with vigorous driving: the pads ignited, I boiled the DOT 5.1, and also heat-damaged the rubber brake lines. Now running (further uprated) Brembo pads and using (further uprated) Motul RBF-600 fluid, as well as being a little more cautious on the brakes. I wonder what uprated brake options there are from Scion, Subaru, and Toyota. While aftermarket big brake kit solutions (e.g. 6 pot fronts, 4 pot rears, larger grooved discs, stainless steel brake lines, and performance pads) are out there, I really am not keen to have another modified car, as this has been a nightmare from an insurance point of view for me on my current car: the quotes for the first year of modified car insurance was very cheap, but once the modifications were on the car the insurers jacked the rates up massively. I now pay more to insure just my tiny 90bhp MINI than my parents do to insure all of the following: 1959 Triumph TR3A, a 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Convertible, 2011 Porsche Cayenne S, and 2003 Ford F350 Dually. Bear in mind that I'm 29, have never had a ticket, and have never been at fault for an accident, so my age and driving record are not putting up the rates. It really isn't cheap to tinker with the mechanical specification of your vehicle, even if the changes seem quite modest. All the best, Andrew.
Keep the mini and buy that 348 when you leave Uni Andrew.....you will do well to overcome their brakes......having said that I have just found out my front rotors (drilled) are cracked on the GTC, but I can't complain as I do give it a good thrashing on track days.
The likely plan after university is a move from the UK to the States, so keeping the MINI won't be an option: it's not worth enough to justify shipping it over the Atlantic, it'd be a nightmare to import and register in the States, and the steering wheel would be on the wrong side anyway. Also, buying a 348 won't be on the cards for the first few years after starting my career, as I'll need to pay off my student debt first... and there's a fair bit of it to take care of. I'll have to look for some sort of fun, reliable daily driver to keep me inexpensively entertained and always able to get to work until I can make the 348 happen. I suspect an entry-level GT86 might well be it... might even be able to get into an ex-demo version with much of the warranty still intact. Something like that seems a sensible plan. All the best, Andrew.
Nah, don't want a convertible. I have driven a Miata though and they're surprisingly fun - much more of a sporting feel than people give them credit for. All the best, Andrew.
You can get a 2012 Touring model w/retractable hardtop but your idea of finding a demo-model GT86 is a great alternative, good luck.
Pleasure brotha. Once you get here and get settled in you will get to go on alot of test drives in various makes and models (and hookup with Fchat members for your Ferrari fix)which will also be good experience learning all the in's and out's of what it is like to drive in the US, get agressive!!!! Gregg ps, We will gladly make room for you here in Texas!
I still haven't seen a silver one in person or driven one, makes waiting for delivery that one bit harder! either going to be one late XMAS present or an early one. In the mean time thinking about buying an MX-5 or old MR2 Dazzling, when is your expected delivery date? I haven't read all your posts so not sure what color you chose.
It may no longer be true but about eight years ago you could fit every human being on the planet in Texas, at a population density that's only a little higher than the one in Paris, ie, the most visited city in the world. (I posted this elsewhere as part of a challenge to the notion that the planet is overpopulated. A Texan then asked that I not give people any more ideas, that there were more than enough Yanks down there already . . .)
Guys, I'm loving black for BRZ. I think it has some great potential for mean looks with just a little tasty mods. I love the fact that this car is just a great drivers car that doesn't try to have any image, except that it's made for driving fun. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I agree on both points although I am also rather fond of the blue. Some Texans may feel that way but I am not one of them, my only request is that one comes here legally and pays their taxes just like the rest of us.
Andrew, if you're worried about brakes both TRD and Brembo have bbks available for the car if you're okay with parting with some coin. I test drove the Miata hardtop convertible, and while it's fun it's definitely not in the same league of the BRZ. Similar handling, and you can feel that the Miata is a bit lighter, but once you look at the overall (price, size, storage, looks) it's hard to go with the Mazda IMO. Gregg, you'll have to see the blue in person at the USGP if you make it to Austin.
Here's hoping you get it before Xmas Tornado grey was going to be my next choice, white is too common and I wasn't impressed with the quality of pearl it's nothing like what I expected. I dropped by a random dealer yesterday who had accidentally left out a freshly detailed Sonic blue GT after close time. It's a fantastic colour a lot better than in pictures and pretty close to Ferraris TDF only a bit darker.
Some of Litchfield's first products for the GT86/BRZ are mentioned in evo #175, the one with the McLaren Eggplant on the cover . . . : USA cars seem to have different suspension settings than those offered in the UK/EU (see above.) That could mean that Litchfield's springs may not be perfectly matched to USA cars.
I know, but I modified my MINI to uprate things like the brakes and it became an insurance and servicing nightmare. My insurance premiums get put up year after year despite a lack of incidents or claims on the policy, and very few people here will touch a modified car to work on it. I like the idea of buying a completely OEM car next and keeping it that way. Looks good. Do you have a picture of the previous look as well for comparison? All the best, Andrew.
Mine will probably stay pretty stock. There are many years of warranty left on it to risk voiding that for a couple more hp. Here's the before and after. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The blue is quite soothing, I like it. The red reminds me of a 348 instrument panel though, so... hehehe. All the best, Andrew.
The other difference, of course, is that they use some really efficient and bio-friendly fuels on the other side of the pond, whereas we burn Mazola.