A real live negative review!

[Subaruwrxfan]

Originally Posted by Draco-REX

You know, I'd like to see this mythical Minivan with a 5 second 0-60. All I'm finding are 8sec 0-60s.

And honestly, how often are you RACING minivans and corollas?

I merge on the highway and pass people in my spec.B without hitting boost. So It is essentially a heavy, low-compression 4 cyl and it's plenty fast for traffic. I bet I'm not even making 150hp, let alone 200hp. And even if I do get into boost, it still doesn't have the power-to-weight ratio of the BRZ.

And none of this has anything to do with launching from a standing start.

So no, it's not going to be too slow for traffic. I think people just don't realize how these numbers translate into every-day driving.

I don't see Miatas struggling in traffic. Do you?

Lol good post, I have had a few camrys "smoke" me from a light because I wouldn't race, but yeah, I really don't think this car will have a problem merging.

As for the miatas though, I have a buddy that has one of the original ones and he actually does have trouble merging sometimes, you can only be so brave when you have 98 hp. lol

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by 86'd

This is the only thing that gets me. I want the BRZ/FRS to have as high of a redline as the S2K; it's one of the things, if not THE thing that defined the car.

But the gas mileage was bad, I averaged 18-19 in the city; I think the FRS/BRZ will do really well in this department, comparatively.

You might get your wish in the future. Engine might be able to spin up to 9000rpm according to Subaru chief engineer:

Originally Posted by switchlanez

The hooks are in there for a higher output version. It's convertible-ready so chassis reinforcements would be near plug-and-play and I think Racecomp Engineering confirmed a larger WRX STI rear sway bar is a direct fit. In an interview with Top Gear Magazine, Subaru cheif engineer Masuda-san asserted this car would never see factory forced induction but hinted, "We can fit tougher valve springs, and that would allow the BRZ to rev much higher, maybe to 9,000rpm."

Tada-san hinted at a convertible version (now confirmed). Leads me to believe if ever one of the chief engineers hints at something, it'll likely happen pending sales numbers.

[NERO]

He's probably been online and listening to all those that have said;

1. It's priced too high!
2. It doesn't have enough horsepower!
3. It needs AWD!
4. The backseat isn't big enough!

[zoomzoomers]

I totally get what people are saying about 90's tech and the S2k and power output and all, but the S2k was a terribly focused car and highly strung. From what I've read and seen the FRS/BRZ is not supposed to be such a focused or high strung car. It's just supposed to let you have fun driving it. Now we all know you don't have to a focused or high strung car to have a good time in.

[Subaruwrxfan]

Originally Posted by zoomzoomers

I totally get what people are saying about 90's tech and the S2k and power output and all, but the S2k was a terribly focused car and highly strung. From what I've read and seen the FRS/BRZ is not supposed to be such a focused or high strung car. It's just supposed to let you have fun driving it. Now we all know you don't have to a focused or high strung car to have a good time in.

Yeah exactly, I know a lot of people said the S2000 was a bear to commute in because of the complete lack of torque. That's part of the reason why they retuned the engine with a lower redline for the AP2 models. I'm really glad that most of the torque comes on pretty early in the BRZ.

[Lone]

The number freaks make another appearance.

It doesn't matter if it is actually fast. Light-to-light racers can leave.

The important part: does it feel fast? Does it feel fast in daily driving? Is it electrifying in daily driving? Signs point to yes.

[NERO]

Originally Posted by eikond

I also agree that the platform is a fantastic building block. Remember that the 240sx was 155 hp stock, but turned into one of the most beloved platforms ever.. I'm not buying the BRZ for the 200hp.. I'm buying it for the platform, chassis, suspension, etc.. I'll enjoy it for a while with 200hp.. then do some light mods and get it up a bit more and enjoy each step of the way.. Then someday I'll do a FI or engine swap and enjoy it even more..

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[blu_]

People would be surprised at how harsh it is to launch an STI at 3-3.5k rpm to achieve low 0-60 times. Your rear diff sounds like it breaks (at least with stock diff bushings) and you are left with smelling clutch. I did it once or twice and never again.

[Subaruwrxfan]

Originally Posted by blu_

People would be surprised at how harsh it is to launch an STI to achieve low 0-60 times. Your rear diff sounds like it breaks (at least with stock diff bushings) and you are left with smelling clutch. I did it once or twice and never again.

Lol yeah the couple times I did it in my spec.B it scared me too. Not that I plan to, but I'm pretty sure you could drop the clutch all day in the BRZ and be fine. There is minimal stress. You have only 200hp, rear wheel drive and skinny tires, so all the stress will be released from the drivetrain easily.

[Liftcontrol]

Der FRS vil bee eenfinitely greater een reliabilitee then the greatest reeliable german sheet
And eef der germans make 25,000 dollar sport car eet it weel be total crap

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by 86'd

Here's my favorite quotes:

Bwhaha, have fun carving it up in your Passat, "Even then, the GT is no acceleration miracle. 7.6 seconds from 0 to 100 kph - this creates a VW Passat."

Bustin' der rhymes, "...just a philistine still no athlete."

I couldn't have said it better myself, "...a decent car on the wheels."

Honestly I love negative reviews just to balance out all of the positive reviews going on, and to get more objectivity, but it has to be from someone who knows what they're talking about; who isn't spoiled by Porsche, BMW and autobahns.

It's the German version of the common "But a Camry is faster." complaint. Cute.

[dsgerbc]

Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan

Lol yeah the couple times I did it in my spec.B it scared me too. Not that I plan to, but I'm pretty sure you could drop the clutch all day in the BRZ and be fine. There is minimal stress. You have only 200hp, rear wheel drive and skinny tires, so all the stress will be released from the drivetrain easily.

I never even attempted to launch my spec hard (other than on the snow). I figured it barely has the torque necessary to break the traction of decent summer performance tires and while the turbo is taking it's sweet time to spool to give me that torque, at best I'm killing my clutch. I agree though that BRZ should be easier. More torque/weight per axle, okay-ish tires and no turbo to spool.

[Spaceywilly]

Originally Posted by blu_

People would be surprised at how harsh it is to launch an STI at 3-3.5k rpm to achieve low 0-60 times. Your rear diff sounds like it breaks (at least with stock diff bushings) and you are left with smelling clutch. I did it once or twice and never again.

I was able to get 5.6sec 0-60 in my WRX (magazine time is 5.5sec) without launching it hard, I just held revs at about 3000 and let the clutch out fairly quickly as I gave it more gas to get started, then I floored it and shifted right at redline. I'm not sure you gain anything by doing a clutch dump other than beating the crap out of your car. There are videos of WRXs on drag strips where you can see the driveshaft coming out of the bottom of the car when the driver dumps the clutch. This doesn't help you accelerate any faster. Just letting the clutch out progressively and giving it more gas as you go is just as fast and much better for the car.

[catharsis]

Sorry people still absorbed in the hype. But the mag is right. The car has the looks, it has the drivetrain, it has the handling, but it lacks the bite. It accelerates like a econo box and thats it's downfall.