If one was going to be shopping a pre-owned Subota BRS or the Toybaru FRZ which one would would you consider and why?
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If one was going to be shopping a pre-owned Subota BRS or the Toybaru FRZ which one would would you consider and why?
If I was interested in autocrossing in the SCCA Street (stock) classes, the FRS might be the better choice with the recent TRD performance suspension allowances. I think the base FRS is also a little lighter than the base BRZ, but that might not be true in the most recent iterations.
I didn't think either one had stellar reliability numbers, but I could be wrong. Have you driven both? Any differences to report?
I like the look of the BRZ front end a bit better than the FRS. I'd have to drive one of each though.
The BRZ is a little more neutral in its handling. The Scion rotates better, IMHO, and makes the better autocross car, even before the TRD options came around. I'm a Subaru fan, and they come a little better-optioned on the interior, but it's really very minor differences. They are similar enough that you could slap some Subaru emblems on the Scion and never know the difference.
I have not heard of reliability issues beyond normal first-year niggles, and I think some of it has more to do with the type of young, aggressive drivers who buy a lot of them than it does the car itself. Dave Ogburn has been DD his for several years before he decided to sell his Camaro and autox the FRS. He told me the car has had almost nothing done to it, and he really did nothing but wheels/tires and a sway bar to make it work for autox. I think he may have done shocks right before the Pro, but he had not installed any of the now-legal TRD goodies when he won.
i still find them intriguing, and may get one after the mini is gone if I decide against the ND. The only reason I didn't get one 18 months ago was the lack of good lease offers on them at the time. I'm happy with the mini, but I do miss rwd sometimes.
ND
I was all in on an ND but not willing to wait until this fall or winter to get my hands on a first year ND. Figure I may be better off waiting a year or so before I jump on the ND bandwagon.
Plus sell the NB get an BRS/FRZ it gets me into a newer car for less $$$ than going all in on an ND. I am still a cheap bastard with a kid at Oklahoma State University. ;-)
POS Racing, you are just messin' with us...again, right?
Possibly - But a few factors for consideration.
- EKK has been given the Corolla and it will be headed to Oklahoma State University in about 4 weeks.
- We are learning that a 20 year old Ranger with 160,000 hard miles isn't the worlds greatest daily driver. But is a darn handy thing to have around the house.
- The NB has been sitting in the garage since EKK returned for the summer. (Actually I drove it about 2 miles yesterday just to see if it still ran) ;-)
We test drove the twins when Sharon was shopping to replace the NC PRHT. Fell off the list when we dicovered they had more interior wind noise than the NC
With sales having taken a header down like 40% you could likely go new at almost used prices.
John Hale with Spokes has had really shitty reliability with his BRZ:
"Two timing chain cover leaks that required engine removal, one short block replacement, and now a cam position issue. A couple other minor bits along the way as well. The car is 19 months old. Definitely inching within lemon range. I'm not pushing hard - yet."
This is a stock car. FWIW John's heavily modded STU STi never needed any engine work during the time he owned and raced it.
Well the road noise and the engine issues aren't going on the plus side of my list....
IIRC they tuned the FRS to exhibit understeer when compared with the BRZ, due mainly to the demo of their respective buyers. Product marketing determined that prospective FRS buyers are used to the push of a FWD car and Subie buyers are used to neutral handling traits.
From my recent conversations Subaru seems more motivate to get rid of the BRS's than the folks at Scion
There is a Limited or Premium version of the Subaru that cost more than an FRS it has more bells and whistles than the regular Scion. But I guess base car vs base car they are in the same $$$ range. I can't help but think they are both a bit overpriced for what ya get. ;-)
Fyi rubies nav/info system just plain sux. At least on the new wrx