BRZ any views?

Author
Discussion

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,953 posts

210 months

Saturday 8th October 2016
quotequote all
What are they like? any owners here? Seemed to be lots of plaudits when new, but can't find any contemporary mentions or reviews. I quite like the idea, they look good and I like the idea of adjustable rear-wheel drive without too much power.

Need a test drive of course, but thought I would poll opinion.

Cheers
Bert

loskie

5,143 posts

119 months

Sunday 9th October 2016
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what do you mean by "adjustable"?

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,953 posts

210 months

Sunday 9th October 2016
quotequote all
Good question. For some examples, the caterham is probably a good example. Very precise on turn in and the throttle adjusts what's going on. In my 911 experience the 996 turbo being 4 wheel drive is not very adjustable. The rwd 996s are quite adjustable, the gt3 is very adjustable.

In my impreza experience, they are not very adjustable as normal. But the Lichfield spec c (or was it d?) I drove ages ago was very pointy and adjustable.

I'm not really looking for Chris Harris styles sideways action!

Hope that makes sense.
Bert

JamesL91

62 posts

127 months

Wednesday 19th October 2016
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Had mine for about a year. Only sold because I thought it would be a good idea to buy a house instead.. regretted it ever since XD.

Honestly, it completely depends on your driving style and what you have owned in the past. I had a 343bhp STI before the BRZ.. and I'd take the BRZ everytime. If you like a morning blast, without going ludicrously fast but feeling a bit like you are.. then it's the car for you. Some say it's too slow, but for me it was perfect

Fairly good on fuel when you needed it to be (High 30's to 40 on the motorway) and a great looking car. I'm still yearning for one to this day, desperate to get back into it. Just waiting for the prices to drop and a mortgage in place before I do!

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,953 posts

210 months

Wednesday 19th October 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the view on the car. I'd assumed that none had actually owned one. You describe exactly what I am looking for. I couldn't find a BRZ to test drive so I am going out in a GT86 on Saturday for a test drive.

Any views on the relative merits of the Subaru versus the Toyota? My allegiance is Subaru having owned a P1 for quite a long time in the past. But there aren't many about.

Bert

Freds

947 posts

136 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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DeaconFrost

431 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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BertBert said:
Thanks for the view on the car. I'd assumed that none had actually owned one. You describe exactly what I am looking for. I couldn't find a BRZ to test drive so I am going out in a GT86 on Saturday for a test drive.

Any views on the relative merits of the Subaru versus the Toyota? My allegiance is Subaru having owned a P1 for quite a long time in the past. But there aren't many about.

Bert
I've owned a GT86 for 3.5 years. Get yourself on the drivers club forum as there's loads of useful info. I was between the brz and 86 initially but the ludicrous subaru servicing costs put me off in the end. How subaru can justify charging two and three times the cost toyota charge on the same car is literally beyond me!

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,953 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
DeaconFrost said:
I've owned a GT86 for 3.5 years. Get yourself on the drivers club forum as there's loads of useful info. I was between the brz and 86 initially but the ludicrous subaru servicing costs put me off in the end. How subaru can justify charging two and three times the cost toyota charge on the same car is literally beyond me!
Ahh yes my Subaru allegiance doesn't go that far! biggrin

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,953 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Freds said:
Thanks, very interesting. If the motoring journos spent so much time trying to work out the differences in handling, I doubt I'll notice anything much. I'm not going for new, so I think the general availability (on Autotrader, Toyota 116, Subaru 19) plus servicing costs makes the GT86 a better choice.

Been to the GT86 forum now as well.

Looks like I am posting in the wrong forum now biggrin
Bert

Alex

9,975 posts

283 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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ash73 said:
As they are the same, can you get a BRZ serviced at a Toyota garage?
You'd think so, but Toyota won't service a BRZ as "it's not a Toyota".

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,953 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
I was told by a journo friend that the collaboration between the two companies was not being very successful because of the 'it's not a Toyota' effect. I assume though that Toyota have still sold way more than Subaru. Although (and I have no numbers), I don't think the GT86/BRZ project as a whole is very successful. Anyone got any sales figures?

DeaconFrost

431 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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ash73 said:
As they are the same, can you get a BRZ serviced at a Toyota garage?
You can get the servicing done at Toyota yes. Warranty issues would have to be at Subaru though which could be a pain

Alex

9,975 posts

283 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
DeaconFrost said:
You can get the servicing done at Toyota yes. Warranty issues would have to be at Subaru though which could be a pain
I phoned my local Toyota dealer to book a service for my BRZ and they flat refused.

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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BertBert said:
What are they like? any owners here? Seemed to be lots of plaudits when new, but can't find any contemporary mentions or reviews. I quite like the idea, they look good and I like the idea of adjustable rear-wheel drive without too much power.

Need a test drive of course, but thought I would poll opinion.

Cheers
Bert
Another with the better looking, faster sibling here. wink

When the three years was up I considered with what to replace it, and drew a blank. Paid the balloon payment and it's mine 'for real' now.
A niche car, but if you fit the niche there's nothing else close. Still love mine, despite forever fiddling with bits that ain't broke and regretting at my leisure. boxedin

Try one - you'll either love it, or not.

Freds

947 posts

136 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
BertBert said:
I was told by a journo friend that the collaboration between the two companies was not being very successful because of the 'it's not a Toyota' effect. I assume though that Toyota have still sold way more than Subaru. Although (and I have no numbers), I don't think the GT86/BRZ project as a whole is very successful. Anyone got any sales figures?
There are circa 5.100 GT86 Toyotas on the road in the UK, AND 520 Subaru BRZ .

Alex

9,975 posts

283 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Freds said:
There are circa 5.100 GT86 Toyotas on the road in the UK, AND 520 Subaru BRZ .
I'd say that's not bad for a niche car.

BertBert

Original Poster:

18,953 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Alex said:
Freds said:
There are circa 5.100 GT86 Toyotas on the road in the UK, AND 520 Subaru BRZ .
I'd say that's not bad for a niche car.
4 years, 100 new cars per month? Don't know if it's good or bad! Anyway, certainly enough for the used market to have enough choice in for me.
I love light, nimble, well handling not over-powered cars! And lest anyone think I am not PH-testosterone-filled enough, I do have a 380bhp n/a 1989 911 beast and I am a company director to boot biggrin

I'll report back after the test drive!

loskie

5,143 posts

119 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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DeaconFrost

431 posts

170 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Alex said:
I phoned my local Toyota dealer to book a service for my BRZ and they flat refused.
Try a better dealer - there are some truly awful ones about! RRG Macclesfield Toyota who are universally recommended on the forums have serviced BRZ's and even my local Honda garage advertise that they'll service any make.

Freds

947 posts

136 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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loskie said:
Interesting.

A lot more money but very low mileage.

http://www.ktgreen-subaru.co.uk/used-cars/search/?...