So I test drove a FR-S (FT86) today

[cale]

LOL @ the jap car statement, my old twinscroll ej257 would do circles around my old s52 touring and would still probably pull on a s54 swapped e30......all for less than the cost of a clean s52 swap and using oem parts.

Ignorance is bliss. e30's are fun, but they're not the be all end all.

[InuFaye]

The only "other" car that I would spend 20 grand on is an e30 m3, or an e46 m3.
Its not always about speed.

[priapism]

Big question is: BRZ or FR-S?

[cale]

Brz, better styling IMO and hid projectors.

[evandael]

BRZ because I can't stand the Scion demographic and marketing bullshit.

[z31maniac]

BRZ is a bit nicer and if you're so inclined you can get the "Limited" trim level with alcantara and a few other options.

[Nsquared97]

Still amazes me how some of you guys don't understand the concept of this car and yet your E30 owners... This car is not about straight line speed/power! Granted I am sure it would be a bit more fun with another 50 hp, but still.

I have to say this is on a very short list of new cars I am actually interested in owning if the funds were available.

[freeride53]

I want a BRZ soooooooooo bad.

[knuklehead92]

i test drove one a week ago, feels great but i am hesitant of buying one because of the boxer engine it self. we still don't know what its capable of and Subaru engines are not the best to modify. yes every body mods sti dailys but as for holding gobs of power id take a bmw i6 any day. feels like a cheaper version of the s2000. time will tell how this engine will hold, but so far the crank is forged but the rods are weak..... pistons are meh we already took one apart in my shop

[Cliche Guevara]

My friend is going back and forth on getting a BRZ or a 135i. I'm kinda at a loss for which one to recommend lol.

edit: a used 135, I should note. Was actually on his way to buy one yesterday when the seller called him to let him know that she sold it out from underneath him.

[evandael]

^ IMO, far different vehicles. If anything, the 128i would be a better comparison, but is bloated and far more luxurious by comparison.

Boxer engines do look like a mess underhood but, as mentioned earlier, I think a twinscrew blower could sit nicely in the bay and boost power to 270 reliable, non-intercooled horsepower.

Suspension, light 17's and sticky rubber would round out the package quite nicely, I think.

[Morrison]

It should also be noted that the FRS and BRZ have different suspension setups. One of them has stiffer spings in front and softer in the rear, while the other is just the opposite. I can't remember which is which though.

Regardless, I just can't justify the initial cost or the depreciation factor of owning a new car when there are a plethora of fun used cars on the market at fractions of the cost.

[evandael]

I'm with you, I'll never buy a new car, ever. But the idea here is 10 years down the road there will (hopefully) be a crop of FRS/BRZ's to choose from for pennies on the dollar.

[herbivor]

Regardless, I just can't justify the initial cost or the depreciation factor of owning a new car when there are a plethora of fun used cars on the market at fractions of the cost.

In my case, owning used cars hasn't been a whole lot cheaper, mainly because I dump tons of money into them, then want something else every 2 years anyway.

[z31maniac]

I'm with you, I'll never buy a new car, ever. But the idea here is 10 years down the road there will (hopefully) be a crop of FRS/BRZ's to choose from for pennies on the dollar.

This precisely why all the cool cars have gone away, because people refuse to buy them.

Why should the manufacturer's care about the "enthusiast" when they refuse to buy new products?