Discussion
After spending a fortune on my Impreza P1, I gave in and did something I said I'd never do: bought a new car.
My requirements were simple; a fun every day car that was focussed enough for track days and not too expensive to run. Those stipulations actually reduced the choice quite considerably.
My final three were:
Subaru BRZ (or Toyota GT86)
Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup
Ford Fiesta ST
I discounted the Fiesta fairly early on as too similar to my previous car (Integra Type-R DC2) and a bit, well, girly.
I was attracted to the Megane as Renault were offering 20% discount. However getting a test-drive proved to be an impossible mission. I live near Guildford, which used to have a big Renault dealer, but it is now closed. My nearest Renaultsport dealer is in Basingstoke, but they did not have a Megane demonstrator. I phoned Renault UK, and my nearest dealer with a demonstrator was Tunbridge Wells(!). And on further enquiry, the 20% discount only applied to cars already in the UK, of which there were...three, none of them in a desirable spec.
Goodbye Renault.
I'd already test-driven a BRZ around 6 months early. I loved the way it drove, but was a bit worried by the "lack of torque". However, a session at Spa in a mate's MX5 (after the P1 broke down), made me realise that power is not necessary to have fun.
I emailed Bell & Colvill, and they made me a decent offer on the Black BRZ in the showroom. So I bought it.
More to follow, if there's interest!
Apologies for the thumb in the pic below:
Untitled by Loconinja, on Flickr
Untitled by Loconinja, on Flickr
My requirements were simple; a fun every day car that was focussed enough for track days and not too expensive to run. Those stipulations actually reduced the choice quite considerably.
My final three were:
Subaru BRZ (or Toyota GT86)
Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup
Ford Fiesta ST
I discounted the Fiesta fairly early on as too similar to my previous car (Integra Type-R DC2) and a bit, well, girly.
I was attracted to the Megane as Renault were offering 20% discount. However getting a test-drive proved to be an impossible mission. I live near Guildford, which used to have a big Renault dealer, but it is now closed. My nearest Renaultsport dealer is in Basingstoke, but they did not have a Megane demonstrator. I phoned Renault UK, and my nearest dealer with a demonstrator was Tunbridge Wells(!). And on further enquiry, the 20% discount only applied to cars already in the UK, of which there were...three, none of them in a desirable spec.
Goodbye Renault.
I'd already test-driven a BRZ around 6 months early. I loved the way it drove, but was a bit worried by the "lack of torque". However, a session at Spa in a mate's MX5 (after the P1 broke down), made me realise that power is not necessary to have fun.
I emailed Bell & Colvill, and they made me a decent offer on the Black BRZ in the showroom. So I bought it.
More to follow, if there's interest!
Apologies for the thumb in the pic below:
Untitled by Loconinja, on Flickr
Untitled by Loconinja, on Flickr
Congratulations on your new Scooby......! 
I recently went the other way and bought an old 3.0 litre H6 Legacy Spec B and find the car heavy, reluctant at times, lacking a tiny bit in the feel department, engine to be a little unrefined at times, but I do love the bomb-proof build, the sunroof, the dash design, steering wheel, turn-in, balance and engine above 4000 rpm is truly surprisingly laugh-out-loud fun.
I hope your BRZ delivers on the sound and top end power-to-weight... does it?
I imagine the BRZ weight makes for fluid nimbleness, but can you feel the road surfaces and grip levels from the steering wheel?
Enjoy and report back!
I recently went the other way and bought an old 3.0 litre H6 Legacy Spec B and find the car heavy, reluctant at times, lacking a tiny bit in the feel department, engine to be a little unrefined at times, but I do love the bomb-proof build, the sunroof, the dash design, steering wheel, turn-in, balance and engine above 4000 rpm is truly surprisingly laugh-out-loud fun.
I hope your BRZ delivers on the sound and top end power-to-weight... does it?
I imagine the BRZ weight makes for fluid nimbleness, but can you feel the road surfaces and grip levels from the steering wheel?
Enjoy and report back!
MadKipper said:
I recently went the other way and bought an old 3.0 litre H6 Legacy Spec B and find the car heavy, reluctant at times, lacking a tiny bit in the feel department, engine to be a little unrefined at times, but I do love the bomb-proof build, the sunroof, the dash design, steering wheel, turn-in, balance and engine above 4000 rpm is truly surprisingly laugh-out-loud fun.
I've been teasing myself with the idea of getting a Legacy spec B estate for a while now. Seems like a lot of car for the money. I really don't need one but I just like the idea.UXB is a great registration for a Scooby like that one.
Mastodon2 said:
Nice BRZ, while neither the BRZ or GT86 is a car I'm all that in love with, I much prefer the Subaru version to the Toyota. Is that the P1 that shat it's gearbox at the ring, or am I thinking of a different PHer?
Yes, although it wasn't the gearbox. It was the engine. Replaced with a P1 block previously rebuilt by Subaru under warranty.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff