Topic: First Drive: 2013 Subaru BRZ

[Autos_Editor]

"Not since the introduction of the WRX has Subaru brought a more interesting and exciting vehicle to market," says Paul Williams.

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[Winterpeg]

Hmmmm........if the automatic is so good here (and thank the Lord it's not a cvt!) then why not put it in the new Crossteck and etc ?
Com'on Subaru.....lets getter done eh......   

[JohnnyMac]

Definitely one of the best sports cars anyone could buy for under $30,000.  I have no doubts this will win in the AJAC category (or maybe the scion version instead) that the Veloster won last year.  I love that this is such a pure drivers car and something that has been lacking in the market for some time from Toyota.  I have already put it at the top of my list for my next purchase in 2.5 years.  Hopefully by then there won't be such a big demand for it and I can get one a bit easier.  Oh and there should be plenty of aftermarket parts offered by then also. 

The only thing that makes me hesitate a bit is the existance of the Mustang V6 and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R.  Now before everyone bits my head off about how they are apples and oranges and what not I won't be the only one who mentions those two cars with the BRZ and FR-S.  I'm just not sure if I would want the extra power and at a lower price and interest rate.  I just hope that the insurance rate isn't too bad.

[redman]

Beyond the excellent handling, I really like what the Toyota group has done with the the fuel injection system combining the advantage of both port and direct injection while mitigating their inherent disadvantages. I'd like to see this in other Subaru products.

Just in case you missed this Dyno wright up on this engine. It states 173HP at the wheel and "From 4500 and 6500 rpm, the FR-S delivers a flat 140 lb-ft"
At 4000 rpm the Scion appears to lose about 14% of its torque. http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2012/04/dyno-tested-2013-scion-fr-s.html

On the fence if I would like one of these with a Double Clutch (DSG), turbo or even which iteration of this car (Sub\Toy). Have yet to give her a spin before a verdict is made, but so far an excellent start in a long overdue market.

[D70]

A coupe that is bound to be popular in Vancouver, although a little more expensive than it's Scion sibling. When the convertible version comes on stream even more so.  Very much like the MX5 in driver experience I would think

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/6897345534/

[sweetadad]

I'm thinking Subaru is trying to cash in the void left by the Honda S2000 + the addition of the 2 seats in the back for kids. After all, when people want to graduate from their old S2000, they would buy the BRZ

[aquadorhj]

I'm thinking Subaru is trying to cash in the void left by the Honda S2000 + the addition of the 2 seats in the back for kids. After all, when people want to graduate from their old S2000, they would buy the BRZ

How can people graduate from s2000 to these?  S2k has more power and is more of a pure sports car.

Sure they can move to these from it for whatever reason  more seats, solid roof etc  but it would be a downgrade.

[OliverD]

I'm thinking Subaru is trying to cash in the void left by the Honda S2000 + the addition of the 2 seats in the back for kids. After all, when people want to graduate from their old S2000, they would buy the BRZ

I'd say it's more comparable to the now discontinued Mazda RX-8.

[Solstice2006]

"Only criticism is the dopey comment about the hatch – it doesn't have a hatch because it's a coupe."

Yes it is labelled a coupe, I think the author is noting, it would be more practical if it was a sport hatch, like the Acura RSX for example, 350z, or an old favourite the Toyota Supra.  No one calls those vehicles hatches, a car like the Toyota Matrix, yes that is a hatch

I think if the Scion was offered as a sport hatch, it would offer a little more distinction, so people who like sport hatches, have the option.

[OliverD]

I was thinking it would  be neat if it offered a hatchback model that resembled the old BMW M coupe, AKA the shoe.

[tpl]

I see the point of this car.  It is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slowly ( and I speak as someone who has driven both ends and the middle of that spectrum) and it is nice looking, economical I bet and will prove to be reliable. Indeed a hatchback would be nice...maybe next year if it sells well.

Now if they could only find a way to make the insurance cheap enough for an 18 year old to drive one

[Arthur Dent]

It amazes me how many people call this slow - 200hp and 0-60 in 6 seconds - slow? Would be pretty fast even a decade ago.

Reminds me a lot of the old Nissan 240SX in concept. Not a bad thing.

[JohnnyMac]

It amazes me how many people call this slow - 200hp and 0-60 in 6 seconds - slow? Would be pretty fast even a decade ago.

Reminds me a lot of the old Nissan 240SX in concept. Not a bad thing.

It's not that it's slow, because it not, it's that for the same kind of money you can get a Mustang V6 or Genesis 2.0T that are between .5-1 second faster to 60mph.  I thought it was rather interesting the article I read in the current issue of Car And Driver where they compared it to three other vehicles (GTI, Mustang V6, and MX-5), it appears that this vehicle might be a great drivers car but in terms of skid-pad G's, 0-60 numbers, and braking, it's just run of the mill and the Mustang is still the best in all those categories.

One thing that I haven't seen talked about is the large difference in fuel consumption between the manual and automatic.  It seems crazy because in the past you'd never see that.  Now you see it a bit more often but usually because the automatic is a dual clutch or CVT.  This one is neither and is touted as a very good sporty automatic with little lost in the feel of the vehicle.  So based on everyone saying it's so good I wouldn't think it's geared too much different than the standard but it must be if those fuel economy numbers are right.

[The Mighty Duck]

Now if they could only find a way to make the insurance cheap enough for an 18 year old to drive one

Don't count on it, at least not in Ontario. I'm waiting until I turn 25 before I'd even consider buying a two-door car. Insurance seems to be the market that economic theory forgot... :/

[nlm]

Interesting vehicle for sure.

I would rather have standard navigation and optional heated seats than the other way around, especially when so many manufacturers over charge for navigation.

[ajay]

With new engines like Mazdas skyactiv high compression engines and Hyundais turbos running on regular gas it never occured to me this would require premium fuel .

[ArticSteve]

Now if they could only find a way to make the insurance cheap enough for an 18 year old to drive one

Don't count on it, at least not in Ontario. I'm waiting until I turn 25 before I'd even consider buying a two-door car. Insurance seems to be the market that economic theory forgot... :/

Ontario insuers have retired the "25 year old" gate post.  No longer do insurance rates drop like a stone when mles hit age 25.   

[ArticSteve]

It amazes me how many people call this slow - 200hp and 0-60 in 6 seconds - slow? Would be pretty fast even a decade ago.

Reminds me a lot of the old Nissan 240SX in concept. Not a bad thing.

You'll find it's closer to 7 than 6, but this is not a "0-60" car so it's an inappropriate measurement.

But it's still a torqueless/underpowered motor.  This might be the future:

 The big news, of course, is the new 2.0-liter direct injection turbo (DIT) flat-four producing 296hp (300PS) at 5,600 rpm and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) from 2,000 to 4,800 rpm, or 15hp and 50Nm (37 lb-ft) more than the 2.5-liter single-scroll turbo flat four it replaces.
Furthermore, thanks to the adoption of Impreza’s auto start stop system, the 2.0GT DIT is 20 percent more fuel efficient than the 281hp 2.5-liter unit with a similar reduction in CO2 emissions.
According to Japanese media, the 2.0GT DIT is based on the FA20 engine found on the BRZ, Toyota 86 and Scion FR-S coupes, though instead of the Toyota sourced D4S dual port- and direct-injection technology, it uses Subaru's own direct-injection system and of course, a turbocharger. 

It's also very unfortunate that they omit the fog lights from the base model.  That really sucks because there is nothing more revolting that looking at those big black plastic filler plates.

Also nice to see a reviewer admit that the tires are a waste of rubber.   
 

[OliverD]

It's not that it's slow, because it not, it's that for the same kind of money you can get a Mustang V6 or Genesis 2.0T that are between .5-1 second faster to 60mph.  I thought it was rather interesting the article I read in the current issue of Car And Driver where they compared it to three other vehicles (GTI, Mustang V6, and MX-5), it appears that this vehicle might be a great drivers car but in terms of skid-pad G's, 0-60 numbers, and braking, it's just run of the mill and the Mustang is still the best in all those categories.

This definitely isn't a car for people who buy based on paper specs. I don't think there's any question that this car will be more fun to drive than the Mustang, Genesis, or GTI.

Kind of like how on paper the RX-8 looks completely torqueless, but then you drive one and discover that it has a very smooth and linear power delivery and doesn't feel gutless at all.

[rrocket]

Kind of like how on paper the RX-8 looks completely torqueless, but then you drive one and discover that it has a very smooth and linear power delivery and doesn't feel gutless at all.

I'll disagree with that one, having driven an RX-8 on several occasions....