FYI...
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FR-S’s interior ****pit instantly exudes a “sports car” feel. The front sports seats are shaped to
Are the *** serious? If so we have nutty intra-word political correctness going on.
FYI...
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FR-S’s interior ****pit instantly exudes a “sports car” feel. The front sports seats are shaped to
It is the rear-drive BRZ's competence in those pivotal split seconds as the limit of grip approaches and departs that gives it undeniably enticing character. Few cars in recent memory do it so well and those that do typically cost at least twice as much. Think Lotus Exige/Elise or Porsche 911 GT3. In other words, the BRZ offers a level of engagement that, until now, has been either too costly or too impractical for the average enthusiast.
In all, the BRZ offers a world of usable, accessible performance with a straightforward purity that’s rare today. And the car itself should be accessible to a broad swath of enthusiast drivers; Subaru hasn’t yet announced pricing, but we expect the base version to come in around $25,000. For about $2000 more, the Limited model adds leather-and-Alcantara upholstery, keyless ignition, heated seats, and a few lesser items. For either version, the only option is a six-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.
Every so often in this business you get the chance to drive a new car that will make a big impression, and I’ve just spent the better part of a day in one: the new 2013 Subaru BRZ, an affordable rear-drive sports coupe that proved to be a tossable delight on the epic switchbacks and esses of the Route Napoleon in southern France. Frankly, I haven’t had this much driving fun in a long time, the BRZ proving with each trip up to its 7400-rpm redline that 200 bhp is plenty of power when the chassis is light, rigid and eager to turn.
And the BRZ is undeniably superb. For the money, its grin-getting straight-line quickness, 22/30 mpg city/highway fuel economy (25/34 with the six-speed automatic), seemingly extrasensory chassis response, seven-airbag passive safety suite, and straightforward, aesthetically pleasing cabin -- offering nearly as much front headroom as the 4.4-inch-taller Honda Civic Si and enough cargo room with the rear seats folded to swallow a toolbox, a helmet, and a full set of wheels/tires -- make Subaru's most creative creation a force to be reckoned with.
Miata is a totally different car for a totally different market. I already have a two-seater sports car. I'm getting the BRZ as a daily driver that has room for 2 adults plus storage, plus two small people and is fun to drive. Essentially, this will replace my 2008 Accord Coupe - v6.
i wouldn't say totally different. the BRZ is only a little bigger than the Miata. i can't imagine the rear seats being too functional... but that is to be seen.
At 2747 pounds, the BRZ is 160 pounds heavier than the 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition hardtop, but offsets the added weight with an extra 33 hp. In other words, the Subaru's weight-to-power ratio of 13.7 pounds per pony betters the Mazda's 15.5. Unsurprisingly, the BRZ, which measures 9.4 inches longer and around 2 inches wider and taller than the Miata, proved a hair quicker, scooting from 0 to 60 in 6.4 seconds (versus the Miata's 6.5) and through the quarter mile in 14.9 at 95.5 mph (versus 15.0 at 90.2). Better still, the BRZ treats the driver to all the MX-5's chassis greatness -- the direct, linear steering; the composed, taut ride with a touch of softness; the firm, reassuring brakes; the initial understeer that transitions gently and predictably to controllable oversteer -- but adds a quiver-free fixed-roof body that communicates chassis behavior with even more precision.
Well, 4 seats vs 2 seats. In a pinch, I could squeeze 2 more smallish adults for short trips if needed, or use the back seats for more storage or fold down the seats for a lot of storage. Or my wife and I can take the young-ins.
P
-Jim
I have sat in this car at the Geneva Motorshow..the rear seats are no better than the Audi TT coupe...i.e if you are taller than 5ft 10'...you can fit kids in the back with stick thin legs.
Adults..forget it..there isn't much headroom...FYI
SS
exactly my concern, mind you midgits without legs could fit.
^^^ why so much hate on the this car? did someone offend you somehow?
I deleted my post because it wasn't worth it but now that it's back up then i'll argue your logic is flawed but.. then again... i'm simply too lazy.why so much love? this car is more expensive and worse performing than all the options i provided... granted the Miata has no back seats, but those seats in the toyubaru are hardly functional. lets drop the miata and you still have the other two options i presented which are better suited to the needs outlined by jimbo. you have every right to like whatever you want, but don't attack me for using logic.
why so much love? this car is more expensive and worse performing than all the options i provided... granted the Miata has no back seats, but those seats in the toyubaru are hardly functional. lets drop the miata and you still have the other two options i presented which are better suited to the needs outlined by jimbo. you have every right to like whatever you want, but don't attack me for using logic.
...But you're not John Force, are you? Neither are we, which is why we realize that the BRZ's respectable 69.1-mph slalom speed and striking 0.92g on the skid pad are more definitive of its character than is its acceleration. Those numbers are better than both the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe (67.4 mph slalom, 0.89g skid pad) and the 2011 Ford Mustang GT (67.3 mph slalom, 0.91g skid pad)....
why would i need to provide evidence to back up my claims for the miata? if you don't believe me, i don't care... you don't want a 2 seat roadster, so that information has no relevence other than to prove you wrong, which would educate you and make you a better person. i would rather leave you in the dark and leave you to your ignorance.
fyi, i do not hate the toyubaru. my only problem is the questionable reliability due to my experience with direct injection, subaru's, boxer engines, and whatever else i learned in my 15 years in the automotive industry... and the price. otherwise, it seems to be fine and my anger is because the car is good for the industry and they screwed up pricing it the way it is. most potential customers have already gone elsewhere...
my opinions on this matter are no different from many in the automotive media and i know this because i have spoken to them in person about it. as much as i would like to leave out the details on better options, i have more integrity than that.
In a word: sensational. A few years ago, the Hyundai Genesis coupe seemed as it could mark the return of the affordable and agile rear-wheel-drive sports car. However, it came in too heavy and not refined enough. The BRZ packs everything you look for in a sports car, including a tight and responsive chassis, a comfortable driving position and sporty looks. It is a riot to pilot. We spent a day hammering the BRZ on the twisty roads through the Alps in southern France...
...If you've been waiting for an affordable rear-drive sports car then yes, you do--badly. In short, the Subaru BRZ marks the return of what you crave. The philosophy Subaru followed while developing this car should be music to a car enthusiast's ears, with light weight, a low center of gravity and rear-wheel drive being the pillars.
I'm a bit weary of all the press coverage myself. They're so hungry for anything exciting these days that I feel every writer is jumping on the bandwagon and fears saying anything wrong about the car. Yet another reason why i'm waiting at least a few months and will make a decision on my own. For now it's certainly on the radar.
It's also pretty obvious this car will be slow. It may have fantastic handling dynamics and be super fun but it will be slow. Notice there's no published Nurburgring time anywhere. I guess all in all it'll make for a fun daily driver --this part is almost certain.
It's also pretty obvious this car will be slow. It may have fantastic handling dynamics and be super fun but it will be slow. Notice there's no published Nurburgring time anywhere. I guess all in all it'll make for a fun daily driver --this part is almost certain.