WRX4ME

To start with, I would say the Z makes me very glad that the BRZ/FRS exists, since the 'Toyobaru' twins have done a brilliant job of delivering crisp, RWD japanese sports car handling in a $25k package. For many, a $35-40k vehicle is just out of reach, and it's nice to see what I consider to be a stellar sports car made available to a larger portion of the population. I sincerely hope that the BRZ/FRS endures for years to come and isn't just a historical footnote.

You have to consider that both the BRZ and the Z used the Porsche Cayman as a benchmark. What this translates into is a very, VERY similar driving experience from the Subaru to the Nissan. The control layouts are similar, as is the seating position (though I favor the seating position in the BRZ just a tad more, as I think they placed the shift lever a more ideal distance from the driver. BRZ/FRS has a really, really nice seating position and visibility is superb).

As to road manners, the two vehicles are again extremely similar, with the 370 seeming just a tad more 'darty' to me, likely because of the short wheel base. What's interesting is how these cars have gone about accomplishing their handling characteristics. The 370z uses its double wishbone front suspension, coupled with a multi-link rear suspension and sticky tires to great effect. It's a terrific handling car. The BRZ uses a simpler front and rear setup, and in effect, places the engine low in the compartment to lower the center of gravity, and lets the chassis sort out the rest. And it does all that handling on all-season Prius tires. It's not a stretch to describe the BRZ's handling as Lotus-like. I have a friend who owns both an Exige and an Esprit V8. I've driven both, and the handling is eerily similar. But the closest 'real-world' car I can compare the BRZ to in terms of suspension and handling is a Mazda Miata, which really is it's closest track-day competitor in terms of power and performance.

The Nissan is more plush on the interior, by far. My model falls into the Sport/Touring category which likely accounts for the difference. My BRZ was a Limited, which meant it had HID headlamps and NAV... The NAV was so bad as to make a jagged hole in the dash preferable, and I triple dog dare you to change radio stations while driving in the BRZ with that infotainment setup. The Nissan, in contrast, is more refined.

The 370 has much more 'brutish' levels of power, obviously, and some have accused the BRZ/FRS of being under-powered. Perhaps those accusations are on point, though the same is often said of the Mazda Miata, and that thing's a blast to drive, even with only 150 hp. Personally, I tuned my BRZ to somewhere in the neighborhood of 230-235 hp and was very pleased with the result. It made it just about perfect coming out of corners. I never felt at a loss for power, especially in the twisties, and that was coming from an '02 S-2000 with a CT supercharger, which is what I sold to purchase the BRZ.

In the end, both Nissan and Subaru/Toyota built dedicated sports cars. They handle very much the same, the controls and layout are similar, and they will both put a smile on your face when you're going around corners with your hair on fire.

Sorry this is so long... I love cars, and once I start talking about them...