lol i love when people get butthurt over an internet stranger posting a pic of their LS-swapped [insert damn near any car].

you sound jealous.

...as very well you should be, since that LS just solved your turbo-vs-supercharger debate without having to add any forced induction

11/21/2012 11:00:56 AM

I would have rather seen a lexus/land cruiser dohc all aluminum v8 but you have to go with a single cam motor when space is so tight

11/21/2012 11:01:38 AM

Lol I'm actually just kidding an lsx is nice especially the real lsx!!!


But I do think is the cheap bitch way to do an engine swap... But that's just my opinion.

Real men find a brand loyal way to increase displacement.
2uz would have been way cooler. Yep more difficult yup more expensive but cooler none the less.

11/21/2012 12:55:33 PM

Quote :

"What in the hell, I feel like I'm trying to order some rare coveted Ferrari. Why the fuck aren't they building more of these cars?"

Are you specifically focusing on the Subaru version, or are you having trouble finding a Scion version to drive as well? I mean, admittedly, the demographic of my area is nothing like the target demographic of the Toyobaru, but our Toyota dealer has 3 manual FR-S's on the lot right now, lol. They also say they've been selling like hotcakes, so they've been ordering lots of them.

I can understand wanting the BRZ (especially if they make an STi version), but you should go test drive the Scion to get a feel for it if nothing else

11/23/2012 9:53:59 AM

in raleigh i haven't found a MANUAL version of either car on a lot.

11/23/2012 10:33:28 AM

Its a 200 hp four banger why would you even want to find one?

11/23/2012 2:37:21 PM

Performance (chapel hill) has one "in transit"

11/24/2012 3:15:05 PM

The local Subaru dealer's website lists 5 manual BRZ's as well:
http://www.wallacesubarujohnsoncity.com/new-inventory/index.htm?model=BRZ&

I drove by today and didn't see any though, odd.

11/24/2012 3:40:02 PM

I've been wanting to test drive one...but the local Subaru dealer in town never has one. I've been looking for a fun commuter when I'm not on baby duty and the BRZ is very tempting. I'll probably wait until the STI version comes out and pickup a base model when depreciation ramps up.

That or I'll find a really clean E30, Z3, 944 or beater 911 for the right price.

11/25/2012 8:57:07 AM

what's a right price on a 944?

11/25/2012 4:09:29 PM

Really depends on condition and model 2-20k

Typical I wouldn't pay more than 5 for an n/a or 12 for a turbo but last I looked was 4 years ago

11/25/2012 5:02:08 PM

I hear ya. 944 prices have gone up a bit in the last year or two.

11/25/2012 8:01:53 PM

It really depends on the overall condition, service history, personality of the previous owner etc. It's like any other used car, except it's an almost 30 year old German one. I've noticed that used car prices have gone up in general...this is probably because people have stopped buying new cars and inflation is finally starting to build momentum.

I'd rather find an air cooled 911 if possible.

11/25/2012 9:03:34 PM

It really depends on the overall condition, service history, personality of the previous owner etc. It's like any other used car, except it's an almost 30 year old German one. I've noticed that used car prices have gone up in general...this is probably because people have stopped buying new cars and inflation is finally starting to build momentum.

I'd rather find an air cooled 911 if possible.

11/25/2012 9:04:32 PM

Quote :

"Are you specifically focusing on the Subaru version, or are you having trouble finding a Scion version to drive as well? I mean, admittedly, the demographic of my area is nothing like the target demographic of the Toyobaru, but our Toyota dealer has 3 manual FR-S's on the lot right now, lol. They also say they've been selling like hotcakes, so they've been ordering lots of them."

Yeah I have come to the realization that it will be much easier to test drive an FR-S than a BRZ. And other than some minor suspension tuning they're identical.

I test drove a WRX on Friday (had to do it down in Charlotte since nobody within 50 miles of Raleigh had one on the lot!!!) It was the only one the dealership (South Blvd Subaru) had and it was on the show room. So while I assured them I was interested I was very firm in saying I wasn't buying today. Got them to move it off the showroom and went on a pretty sedate "test drive". I was allowed to drive down 1 four lane road and not rev the engine over 4500 rpm...way to get a driving impression. Nonetheless I was happy with what little i could determine about the car. MSRP for this one was $27,123. I would look used except they're so scare that it just makes sense to buy new.

11/26/2012 10:40:56 AM

I test drove the scion during lunch today when I ran by the dealsership to pickup a part. I liked it.

11/26/2012 12:23:19 PM

Did they let you get onto the throttle in any sort of aggressive manner? Or was it not a demo model so you had to go easy on it?

11/26/2012 11:16:14 PM

I remember when I drove a WRX at Southern States they were real assholes about it, wanting to make sure I was serious etc. Shortest test drive ever.

11/27/2012 12:16:10 AM

Quote :

"I remember when I drove a WRX at Southern States they were real assholes about it, wanting to make sure I was serious etc. Shortest test drive ever."

11/27/2012 12:34:32 AM

But when I drove a used Evo at the same place it was on like a pot of neckbones.

11/27/2012 12:35:41 AM

Really? No one would let me drive an evo or sti one of the reasons I got the leggy.

11/27/2012 6:52:29 AM

Johnson Subaru let me drive a WRX over the weekend with no restrictions. None of that "don't rev past 4500 rpm" shit. I mean I wasn't doing power slides but I got a much better idea of what the car is like to drive "hard".

I then drove immediately after it an automatic equipped "demo" BRZ Limited. And, I'm a little ashamed to admit that I really REALLY enjoyed driving it, lol. The handling was pretty damn good and the steering feel phenomenal. And it was peppier than I thought it would be.

Decisions, decisions...

12/11/2012 10:23:20 AM

so yeah, I now own a BRZ.

It's a lot of fun to drive and the interior is pretty damn sweet. Alcantara seats FTW Not "quite" as fast as the S2000 in a straight line but I can already see how it would be close to (if not) it's equal around a race track. Engine has a nice growl (induction noise is piped into the interior via a tube of some sort just like the Mustang GT) and the engine feels torque-ier than the S2000 below 5000 (well, because it is). Not sure when I'll be able to hit the track with this car but I would imagine nothing before late spring or early summer.

I'm really impressed with how flat the car stays through turns. You can really tell that it's center of gravity is quite low.

2/5/2013 10:28:36 AM

I'm jealous


Seriously

2/5/2013 12:11:01 PM

Thanks man, that's quite a compliment

2/5/2013 4:39:03 PM

nice

i'm guessing the s2000's gone?

2/5/2013 7:11:11 PM

sadly yes

2/6/2013 8:23:26 AM

It would appear that with a tuned ECU, short ram intake, headers, gutted cat and axle back exhaust the FA20 puts down 197 whp. That seems pretty good for a 2.0 liter engine.

2/7/2013 3:12:56 PM

won't a stock f20c put down that much HP?

2/7/2013 4:30:42 PM

Yes but a stock F20C revs to 9000 rpm, the FA20 redlines at 7400. The F20C has 2 cam lobe profiles, the FA20 has 1. The F20C is also hand built with forged internals, the FA20 is not and does not. F20C was in a $35k MSRP car (circa 2009), FA20 is in a $25-28k car, circa 2013.

2/7/2013 4:48:46 PM

what is the bottom end on the FA20 ?

Forged crank decent rods shit pistions... the subie special ?

2/7/2013 5:10:27 PM

That didn't take long;

Subaru developing engine for BRZ Turbo;
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/22/subaru-developing-engine-for-brz-turbo/

2/11/2013 5:09:52 PM

^ ooooooooo yes. 280hp/250tq has to place that as one other best power/weight ratios on the market, especially in its price range, yeah?

2/11/2013 5:42:06 PM

If you noticed that story is from last October and the engine in question is the turbocharged version of the FA20 which is being used in the Subaru Forester. Speculation is speculation, but Subaru hasn't said a word about that engine being used for the BRZ.

Of course, if they do release a BRZ Turbo you better believe I'll be trading in my NA model for one

2/12/2013 8:53:40 AM

Car did pretty damn well around the Top Gear test track, wet track considering...

01:31.3 Toyota GT86 (wet)
01:31.4 Audi TT Mk.II 2.0T
01:31.6 Honda NSX-R (wet)
01:31.8 BMW M3 E46
01:31.8 Nissan 350Z
01:31.8 Mazda RX-8

2/12/2013 11:51:55 AM

yeah seems to be a pretty slick car....


[Edited on February 12, 2013 at 3:20 PM. Reason : .]

2/12/2013 3:19:52 PM

^^wow

most surprised at the nsx-r

2/12/2013 6:58:17 PM

gotta take it for what it is, in the wet, not very inspiring.

Lemme see some dry times on the R, probably very different story.

2/12/2013 7:33:17 PM

yeah the lower hp of the gt86 with narrower tires will actually help in the wet.

2/12/2013 7:40:20 PM

and I can almost guarantee the 86 is easier to drive sideways than a snappy, mid engined R

still impressive

2/12/2013 7:42:58 PM

The Audi TT faster than an e46 M3? Something looks wonky here...

2/12/2013 10:50:17 PM

FYI this car gets impressively high fuel mileage. Around town I average 26-28 and both trips on the highway thus far have netted 35 mpg (going 70-80 with no drafting)

2/19/2013 10:24:54 AM

impressive... i wondered why it didn't get those numbers when i checked it the first time... i was like... hrmm... 4 cam vvti, 2 liters , light weight... how come no 30+ mpg?


my wife's kia does 35 with a 2 liter in a fucking box on the highway...

2/19/2013 10:48:24 AM

my buddy told me today that the Toyotas are selling 90 for every Subaru sold

sounds like they're flooding the market or is Subaru still recovering from the natural disasters in Japan last year?

2/19/2013 1:55:18 PM

Subaru signed a deal that they would only sell 1 car for every 2 but 1:90 seems excessive

2/19/2013 2:37:46 PM

^^, ^

They referenced this on Top Gear and I think (if I remember correctly), it was that there was to be a 90/10 sales mix.

2/19/2013 7:25:53 PM

^^^theyre all built in the same factory. As a Subaru owner I like the exclusivity

2/19/2013 10:30:42 PM

90/10 sounds like subaru got fucked....

2/20/2013 7:55:51 AM

limited production keeps resale numbers high

2/21/2013 6:25:16 PM

Interesting tidbit (that may or may not have been mentioned a while back):

The FRS/BRZ comes from the factory with rolled fenders.

3/11/2013 2:53:20 PM