Nice! what made you choose the BRZ instead of FR-S? I know BRZ seems to have better package overall, but i personally like the look of FR-S better

I dunno. I think I liked the trim package better in the Subaru -- bluetooth, leather, auto climate controls. It ended up about 3k more than the base Scion, but I knew if I cheaped out, I would regret it later.

I believe the interior materials of BRZ are better than the cheap crappy plastic in FR-S, right? I never got to sit in either one, just pure speculation.

I kind of agree here. It is what it is and what it is is a pretty cool car for what it is.

Haha.. did that make sense? :icon17:

I don't know about the FR-S -- never saw one in person, but the BRZ Limited interior is not bad.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4...0/IMG_0305.JPG

Yea I believe you are right. Not a huge difference but i do believe the BRZ has slightly better interior.

Finally got a chance to sit in one today. The dealer wouldn't let me test drive it cuz they think clearly I wasn't buying. Anyway, I feel the seating position seems to be a little bit higher than the Z. When I get into my Z, I just sink into the seat. I didn't get the same feeling when I sit into the FR-S

sucks that you couldn't test drive it. I always walk onto a dealer lot confident and with a prepared story that is mostly true, that I'm about 6 months out of a buying decision and just starting to compile data. Usually that's how I feel, but then life gets in the way and I have to pray that the DD survives a few more months lol

Yes. Even though the roof is lower and you are physically lower to the ground in the BRZ/FRS, the seating position is more elevated -- it's more or less inbetween how I sit in the Z and my old Mazda 3. It's OK, but it will take some getting used to. The seats are comfortable though and the wheel telescopes.

That's the thing about the notorious US stealership culture. I have heard numerous stories. If I were in Japan walking into a Toyota dealer, and I told them honestly up front that I have no intention of buying the car, while only wished to test drive it and see what's all the fuzz is about, they would still treat me with respect and definitely welcome me for a test drive.

Btw, I had to ask. Since you actually own both cars, is it true the BRZ handles better than the Z? Or it just feels different?

I agree. It's how the game's played in the US. I have long since stopped caring about wasting salesman's time.

It's too early too tell since I'm still in break-in and have yet to go above 4k. My suspicion is that the BRZ will excel in low speed maneuvering -- it really does have a go-cart feel to the handling. But it likely won't inspire confidence in high speed cornering -- better tires than the OEM Michelin's will help here. In fact, in the Road and Track I just got they did a comparison by switching out a couple of different brands of Dunlop's -- one set stock size one set a bit wider (225) with 18" wheels. Their skidpad test went from .89g stock to around .94 - .96.

That's around the same level of grip as a Z. :tup:

Don't quote me on it yet. I'll verify the figures when I get home -- the article is not online yet.