Anyone own one? I've just started seeing them on the roads, and a guy showed up to one of my track days with an FRS towing a small trailer with his Ducati(!). They look amazing, sound like they handle phenomenally, get good mileage, and the price is right. Might be my next car.... except it's probably not ideal for a family cruiser.
I've heard some good things from the autox guys about them. They appear to be well received by the Subaru guys as well. There should be some decent power to be had if you want to stay NA, and real power is only a turbo away.
They do sound like a lot of fun. I havent heard any major complains about them. Maybe lack a little power. I was thinking about trading my car into one of them, but just ended up buying another bike
I thought the 200HP sounded a bit low at first, but I think that's purely because of all the horsepower inflation going on these days. 200 is plenty with only 2500 lbs to push.
I rode next to one into work this morning. Looks like a fun car and I really dig the styling. It's the 240Z for 2012.
I did the new model release launch at Summit Shenandoah with a few FR-S's, scion TC, Civic Si, and the Hyundai Genesis turbo. The FR-S was by far, the best handling car there. They didn't let us take off the traction control or stability control, so I couldn't really get it out of shape and we didn't run the whole course, but A few corners with varying cone slaloms set up leading into them to keep the speeds down. If I was looking for a fun, part time auto-x car, that'd be it! I had a 1993 Mazda Miata and I'm fairly certain that the FR-S would put it to shame on any road course or auto cross course.
Neat car. If you think it needs more HP go to the aftermarket. There's turbo kits hitting the market that claim up to 350hp.
I think a turbo is one of the worse things you can do to this car. Its all about the handling, and the non linear power delivery of a turbo would just make it bad. I think and nice built NA motor is the way to go. It dont need 350hp
Turbo's can produce somewhat linear power. Of course you will need them to build boost but there's no reason you can tune a smaller vf turbo or something similar to get the results you want. There's plenty of wrx's using a similar boxer motor that make tons of power in the mid range.
I test drove one. You need to rev the shit out them to make power, torque is so absent. Handling was nice but it's extremely small. Think Miata sized. Fit and finish is nice. Great for canyon carving or track days, but not much else.
It's a relatively cheap sports car. It's not supposed to be an interstate cruising luxo barge, a tire smoking penis enlarging quarter mile star or a family of 7 going to grand ma's while towing the boat roadtoad. Cheap, rear wheel drive, handles well, makes you work for your payoff, sounds like a great idea.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/comparison/mazda-mx-5-miata-vs-subaru-brz-vs-hyundai-genesis-coupe Then the followup http://www.roadandtrack.com/special-report/scion-fr-s-tire-transformation
It's completely ridiculous that they are delivering this car shod with Michelin Primacy (the Prius tires).
Ive love a BRZ , but , untill a STi verson comes along , the Legacy GT will just have to suffice - and no, I havent driven one , if Ido I think it will probally be going home wiht me - lol
I work for Subaru currently , played a bit with the BRZ today. No doubt its a fun car for the money , but the handling and interior really push this thing into the "great car " category. It's so flat through turns at nearly any speed, and that's on the stock TINY Prius ish tire. I too was taken a back by the low sounding HP figures ( coming from a 911 turbo) , but really , its so light you hardly notice!
I like the car. But I'm a traditional subi guy. I loved my wrx and wish I didn't sell it. To me a Subaru is awd
