Anyone have a 2013 Subaru BRZ?

I think the finance deals on the GT86 are better, along with availability, so I'd go with that.

Good first car for an enthusiast imo. My first car was a mk2 MR2 and it rocked :D Just try not to crunch that lovely new bodywork into anything :p
 
NinetyOne said:
What's all this about bread? I'm a caeliac!
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its a forum thing, if you get something new, put a loaf of hovis on it and take a picture.

it proves its yours you see.

great first car to be going for and a nice opportunity to have.

i think for the 23k budget, a GT86 will fit the bill as the BRZ is inexplicably more expensive.

i think its something to do with the deal toyota and subaru have. toyota do the larger quantity for whatever reason.

this example here has a few miles on the clock but all toyotas come with a long warranty.

you could spend up to the top end of your budget and net one with nav also.


for a first time driver, as mentioned, upgrade the tyres.
the standard tyres are designed to have very low limits of grip to allow the car to slide easier. i had the back end out on my test drive easily and at low speed. for a new driver, this may not be the best idea. perhaps consider a more high performance, grippier alternative.
 
I've have a modest financial windfall lately which means I might be able to replace the MX5 sooner than I think, and the GT86 is looking like a prime candidate at the moment. Great looks, long warranty, not too pricey and the same driving ethic of the Mazda (fun over outright power). So I'm interested in opinions in this thread.

pioneer2000 said:
GT86 over the BRZ definitely.

Beware though, in the cold the Primacys act a little like ice skates! :o
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Every review seems to mention the tyres which I think might be a little unnerving. I'm sure the car would benefit with an upgrade to higher performance tyres though.
 
Conscript said:
Every review seems to mention the tyres which I think might be a little unnerving. I'm sure the car would benefit with an upgrade to higher performance tyres though.
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I'm pretty sure the mechanical grip of the tyres was limited by design. The GT-86 is meant to be about letting the car move around underneath you a bit.

EDIT- Oh and OP, if you get one as a first car I will officially hate you... just a little bit.
 
it is, the salesman i drove with was very knowledgeable about the vehicle. the tyres are the same ones on the yaris. they chose them as they are readily available at all major toyota dealerships anyway and break traction easily whilst offering progressive control.
 
Michelin Primacy HP's are technically high performance tyres - it's just they're designed for low rolling resistance for economy / drifting reasons! :p

Grip is always pretty loose on the 86, which is fun when you want it, but not so good in the cold.
 
I have had my GT86 since febuary and i am very pleased with it.

Dealer very good

5 year warranty

MPG not bad look at signeture


It is a car that makes you smile every time you get in it and I have done 5500 miles so far and it gets a a lot of attention and and petrol stations people will ask questions and talk to you.

There is a good uk forum for information.

On the matter of grip the traction control has three settings

Nanny mode

Semi nanny mode

off

I have tried semi nanny mode and this was only in dry and there is slip but it can be controlled.

In the wet you need to be alert but due to the low seating position you are aware of what is going on

many people say it is not fast enough but 0-60 is not everything the handling counter balancesd this.

One word of caution I had two crashes in the first 18 months of driving and then I had none for the next twenty years.

So i would get an old banger and get some no clams bonus and then in a couple of years look at your options
 
lordrobs said:
I'm pretty sure the mechanical grip of the tyres was limited by design. The GT-86 is meant to be about letting the car move around underneath you a bit.

EDIT- Oh and OP, if you get one as a first car I will officially hate you... just a little bit.
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Oh certainly, I know it's how they intended...but I watched a couple of Youtube reviews which said the lack of grip could sometimes be a bit of a downside in fast driving, not just when you're trying to hang the tail out :D

Edit:

wyatt gates said:
I have had my GT86 since febuary and i am very pleased with it.

Dealer very good

5 year warranty

MPG not bad look at signeture


It is a car that makes you smile every time you get in it and I have done 5500 miles so far and it gets a a lot of attention and and petrol stations people will ask questions and talk to you.

There is a good uk forum for information.

On the matter of grip the traction control has three settings

Nanny mode

Semi nanny mode

off

I have tried semi nanny mode and this was only in dry and there is slip but it can be controlled.

In the wet you need to be alert but due to the low seating position you are aware of what is going on

many people say it is not fast enough but 0-60 is not everything the handling counter balancesd this.

One word of caution I had two crashes in the first 18 months of driving and then I had none for the next twenty years.

So i would get an old banger and get some no clams bonus and then in a couple of years look at your options
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That's reassuring - I don't mind having a car intended to lose grip for fun, as long as it's still usable most of the time.
 
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wyatt gates said:
I have had my GT86 since febuary and i am very pleased with it.

Dealer very good

5 year warranty

MPG not bad look at signeture


It is a car that makes you smile every time you get in it and I have done 5500 miles so far and it gets a a lot of attention and and petrol stations people will ask questions and talk to you.

There is a good uk forum for information.

On the matter of grip the traction control has three settings

Nanny mode

Semi nanny mode

off

I have tried semi nanny mode and this was only in dry and there is slip but it can be controlled.

In the wet you need to be alert but due to the low seating position you are aware of what is going on

many people say it is not fast enough but 0-60 is not everything the handling counter balancesd this.
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Pretty much what I would say from the few days I borrowed one. great cars but for me the BRZ would have to be the one, just because. :p
 
rjkoneill said:
it is, the salesman i drove with was very knowledgeable about the vehicle. the tyres are the same ones on the yaris. they chose them as they are readily available at all major toyota dealerships anyway and break traction easily whilst offering progressive control.
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same as the Prius tyres

Alex
 
Conscript said:
Oh certainly, I know it's how they intended...but I watched a couple of Youtube reviews which said the lack of grip could sometimes be a bit of a downside in fast driving, not just when you're trying to hang the tail out :D
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The biggest problem I have with 'spirited' driving on the roads isn't running out of grip it's being so far from running out of grip that I can't really feel like I'm driving the thing without being in danger of upsetting PC plod or other road users. I don't mean coming out of every corner with full opposite lock or anything, just about exploring the limits of the car a bit.

Maybe I should swap the Goodyear F1's on the MX5 for some Linglongs :p
 
rjkoneill said:
its a forum thing, if you get something new, put a loaf of hovis on it and take a picture.

it proves its yours you see.
Click to expand...

i'm surprised nobody has commented yet (looks at Fox) about how it actually came about because it DOESN'T prove something is yours :p
 
lordrobs said:
The biggest problem I have with 'spirited' driving on the roads isn't running out of grip it's being so far from running out of grip that I can't really feel like I'm driving the thing without being in danger of upsetting PC plod or other road users. I don't mean coming out of every corner with full opposite lock or anything, just about exploring the limits of the car a bit.

Maybe I should swap the Goodyear F1's on the MX5 for some Linglongs :p
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I'm tempted to put some F1's on when my primacys wear out... let's just say that much! :eek:
 
I know it's not really the point of the car but I do find the power a little disappointing, I mean i'd have liked to see an FI model launched at the same time with ~300bhp for those wanting a little more.

Apart from that I think it's brilliant though.
 
I'm not sure about putting a turbo in the thing but a supercharged version or one with a stronger/bigger engine would make it a different animal, I would expect.
 
i'd get a BRZ over a GT86 they will hold there value much better being rarer, but then i do work at a subaru garage so i'm biased. i was looking at insuring a 3000gt for when i'm 21 and the best quote was just over 7.5k a year :D
 
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