Hi guys,

I'm considering putting down a deposit on one of these without even test driving it as they don't arrive in Canada until June.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ0sDiL87eE&feature=share

Anyone driving one yet overseas?

Tks,

Jet

Dude, just put the deposit down.


I have been debating a Mitsibushi Evo, Subaru Impreza WRx or Dodge Challenger.

Forget the Challenger, it's a completely different class obviously.


Now I am seriously considering this. I just fell in love with the Honda Accord coupe we picked up as a daily driver. Now Subaru are finally doing a Coupe with such love and at a price that would allow you to buy two instead of one fully loaded WRX...

Reviews so far are only giving negatives about interior features, that any drivers driver really doesn't care about. Heated seats with motors to set position? Who needs the weight!

They have got the motor pushed back, chassis rigidity, a four banger with a turbo... it's quick and it's agile and will have economy when you need it up against a V6 or V8.

It's a drivers car through and through. Sure a big V8 will out drag it, but what fun is driving in a straight line? This thing will be sick through the corners, and that Subaru Boxer lump with a Turbo will easily satisfy the right foot.

I have a strong feeling this is my next fun car. I will drive everything I have been wanting again before I decide... but man, the GRZ looks like it's the car.

Soooo fucking pretty as well.

 

My error, the BRZ doesn't have a turbo.

Here's putting it up against a V6 Mustang.

Seriously, live rear axle in a Mustang. WTF?

Crazy Americans.




It's not a big surprise - the Mustang in the straights and the BRZ gains though the corners. I have been racing for years and I have often embarrassed the guys with all the money poured into their engines that haven't put the time and effort into handling.

I am going to take a good hard look at the BRZ, and rumor has it the STi version won't be far away now with an extra 50 brake and some finesse in the handling. A brand new BRZ rather than a couple years old WRX may be the smarter choice, and I have a real soft spot for rear wheel drive.

For the record, the reason I am considering a Dodge Challenger is pretty much looks. I think it's the best looking car in the world right now.

 

Yer right! Live rear axle? WTF?

There seems to be no comparison for me......I hate body roll.......and the spongy Ford brakes just kill it for me......

I am booked for a special BRZ test drive Wednesday morning, the car will only be at the dealership for 2 hours........I am expecting to put down a deposit.......she'll fit nicely in my garage as well!

Strangely enough the other car I am looking at is the Challenger......fitting it in the garage is a problem tho....
Jet

My wife just picked up the new Civic Si 6 speed....what a sweet little car.......lotsa great techy toys too!

Love it! (1)

The live rear axle thing is a Mustang tradition, partly to keep the costs down (a base V6 Mustang starts at ~$22K) and partly because the Mustang has a long history as a drag racer, viz http://www.caranddriver.com/features/ford-mustang-cobra-jet . Starting with the 2005 redesign and especially with the latest 2010+ models, Ford's engineers have apparently done a brilliant job of masking the traditional drawbacks to the live-axle setup, to the point where there's a video floating around of a Mustang beating a M3 around a course. That said, yes you're still basically trying to walk with your shoelaces tied together. But in the US, a 300hp rear-wheel-drive car for $22,000 is hard to come by, so you take what you can get.

disclaimer: I own two WRX wagons and a Miata, and would have replaced one of the wagons with a Fiat 500 Abarth if the dealership hadn't been total jerks about it.

You can always rely on a Dealership being total a-holes.......

Nice!

I had never even considered a Honda before, it was pure chance we test drove it, we were looking at Toyotas. The V-Tech is a sweet engine, and a lot of BHP for a four banger. It's balance between guts, MPG and handling are just right for a fun daily driver. I'll bet your wife will fall totally in love with her Si!

That's funny your also considering the Challenger... I really get why though. It looks like it's just kicked some butt and looking for more and they really have those engines sorted out.

If I get one, it will be pure black.


Here's an Accord Coupe - I'm surprised how rare they are:

 

Yeah, I get why it's live axles - it's a muscle car. As fas I can really see though, masking it is just making it a bit safer more than a performance gain.

Also... they are everywhere, and they really got the look of the rear wrong - it doesn't look mustang, it looks Japanese!

How do you like the WRX's? You must if you have a couple!

 

You will need to take it on a road trip with your wife deserving enough for the car...

Head out of Canada and aim for Legget in northern California and hit Route 1 - The Pacific Coastal Highway all the way down the coast.

The Wife and I will meet you at Dana Point in Orange County for Sword Fish and mocking the seriously rich douchebags, where we can swap keys so you can see how your BRZ looks from behind on the road ;)

 

That Accord is sweet......

My wife drove her Civic to work today....first time, the bird has left the nest with the newly learned 6-speed manual.....(fingers crossed)

The PCH is an awesome road trip, I have done it in a rental convertible Mustang.....

Swordfish sounds great, I'll look you up the next time we're in Cali......my wife has relatives there!

Will probably fly tho......it's a little far!

Jet

Hope she gets in synch with the six gears, she should have fun!

I had the car in at the dealers earlier, and while I was waiting went across the street and test drove a Challenger with the Hemi 5.7 in it. I did warn the guy I hadn't driven a manual in the U.S for a while... driving a stick with the hand that doesn't have the muscle memory is a challenge!

That car is a fucking animal!

Yeah, that's definitely a trip that needs planning. We haven't actually done the PCH yet.

We are an hour from L.A and San Diego so definitely give me a heads up next time.


How are you feeling about the BRZ? When it's out I want to test drive a Challenger and BRZ on the same day and make my mind up. Day to day I reckon the Challenger would be more fun, but getting into the windy roads the BRZ would probably be the choice...

 

Sounds like a plan!

I test drive the BRZ tomorrow! Lookin' forward to it! I'll let you know.....

My wife came home all cocky today as she drove in.......thinking she has mastered it....then she laid a patch in the driveway while putting her in the garage...scared the shit out of me! LOL

Jet

That's just funny

I'm curious to know what you think!

 

Hi,

Actually , it was a Scion FR-S.........with Toyota -86 decals on it.......

It was a short test drive, but it was sweet.......super stable, little to no body roll......

Pulled away easy, the clutch was perfect, and in seconds it was like I had been driving it forever.

At first, (even tho it is a very light car) it "felt" like it was very sturdy with a slightly heavy front end....maybe that was not being used to the rear tires pushing me instead of front wheel drive. But once I got her up to speed, it was like a really refined sports car. It REALLY felt like I was driving a race car rather than a production vehicle. I took a back country road and it was pure bliss. Like racing down a bobsled run on yer back almost.

The torque was smooth and consistent....no major drop-off zones.

The aluminum hood (bonnet) was super light, you don't wanna open up that puppy on a windy day......although it did have a sort of clip mechanism to hold it.

It looks alot smaller in real life, which is fine, and golf clubs would be tight......and don't plan on taking anyone in the backseat other than that dwarf hooker you keep on speed-dial for the really kinky stuff.

Lotsa Subaru badging on the engine.....the sales guys didn't like that but really....who cares?

The engine has a special snorkle mechanism that channels a throaty engine sound into the passenger compartment straight from the engine.......one guy that took it for a test drive thought it made the car too noisy, but I loved the exhaust note. Apparently you can disconnect it if it bugs you that much......

Upgraded breaking system is standard on the vehicle, it was precise smooth and not mushy at all.

Engine takes 0W20 oil.....

Apparently, they are already working on an aftermarket supercharger for it......if I buy it, I may have to start a separate fund for that supercharger.....

Overall, I thought it was awesome,

Jet

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Looks fantastic. First time I remember seeing strengthening struts under the bonnet of a production car!

How was it off the line? Did the lightness feel like it was letting you get away quicker than a 200 BHP car normally would?

Sounds like fun... and you got to give it a good, if short test drive.

I heard about the snorkel channeling the engine, I could see it being annoying but, that's going to be such a personal thing!

I normally have the windows down

Interesting about the size. I don't golf, but there is something I do a couple of times a week I need some trunk space for. I will have to look at that. I could not care less about the rear seats - in fact, I would consider removing them to add a little luggage space or amplifier room... the coupe accord actually has pretty good leg room!

Supercharger.... mmmmmmh!

I wouldn't normally be for an aftermarket supercharger on a four banger, but with the handling it could be worth making a piggy bank for.

I was reading that they are planning an SI version, it might be worth waiting for second gen, although it seems pretty complete and well tested already.

I'm going to need to test drive a Challenger and BRZ on the same day. It would be a little sad if it was trunk space that killed the BRZ for me. I don't need a huge trunk, but I do get around with my racing.... and I don't want to have to hand over the keys tooooo often to the wife

Saying that, her car is getting a de-badging, the fog light package, a set of 19' rims and rubber and when she is not looking the rear roll bar could use a couple of extra millimeters... or front and rear a good few extra millimeters. It's the first thing I could feel on the accord, and I believe they want it to oversteer when pushed to the edge for safety sake. But I think just a little thicker on the rear will tweak it enough not to be dangerous for her.

 

Well, that was horse shit... there is a strengthening bar running across the Accords engine bay. I must have been blind to them...

 

Sounds great for the Accord!

An interesting thing about the Scion/Subaru....they sales people were quite adamant that even tho the rear looks small, with the seats down you can fit and entire set of tires and rims in the back for race day at the track.......I was skeptical but it's apparently true.

It was hard to say off the line, like any 4-banger, you did have to wind it up a little to feel the power, but I would not say it was bad in any way.....it was decent.

Gonna pick up these for my wife for her winters.....much nicer than diamonds or pearls I think......

Jet

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Wheels look pretty sweet. They should go nice on the Civic! If she would prefer them over Diamonds then she is a keeper!

That's the only thing I worry about with the BRZ, I am in the mood for something stupid fast in a straight line. If the handling makes up for it... I am in.

The idea of a Supercharger or turbo on it.... mmmmmh. But:

 

A little update... I have been chatting with my mechanic who is also keen to build a project car. We are starting to plan a Mazda MX5 (Miata in the U.S).

The current debate is wether to go nuts on the 1.8 engine (Supercharger baby!) or get really involved and fit a V6 in it... then go nuts on that.

We are talking soup to nuts - gear ratios, adjustable suspension, roll bar, brakes and everything in between. A track car you can drive to the track...

We discussed a V8 but then you would really be fucking with the 50/50 weight balance, also, my wife has to be able to drive it without doing donuts at every right or left turn without smoking the clutch.

What I want from the project is to pull up to a light so people end up saying:

"Huh. The Miata is a girls ca..... where the fuck did it go???"