Here's What FRS/BRZ Ownership Is Really like - 6 Month Review

[@Mrcliff4]

I bought a 2013 brand new. It still drives great. I've only ever had to do regular maintenance. I kept mine stock. I'm at 110k miles.

[@saulespino2510]

If you don't mind me asking, what was the sticker price on yours?

[@saulespino2510]

@Cafe Racer nice

[@ErnanJ]

@Cafe Racer Is it an automatic and also what year?

[@saulespino2510]

@@ErnanJ In his post he wrote 2013

[@mammieloonie]

Does it still run the same as it did at 50k miles ?

[@audiomagic8192]

It took me over a year to get used to the throttle in the BRZ. But once I realized what Subaru wanted of the driver and why it's like this, it was a GAME CHANGER. Basically, they wanted this car to be a "slow" city commuter with amazing fuel economy (for the era), hence the torque dip in the lower-middle of the rev range. They ALSO wanted you to turn into a Formula 1 pro (and did their best to make you feel like it) when you hit a corner or a country road. You need to keep the car screaming at 5000+ RPM floor it to 7400 out of a corner and then powershift up and then down every corner - sometimes two gears in 2 seconds! You MUST NOT try to floor the gas in 3rd at 4000 RPM. Do the work. It's a car that forces you to learn to drive like a pro and rewards you with some of the rawest, most agile, and thrilling driving experience on the entire market. Sadly, so many dumb people (like myself) and even reviewers try to drive it after getting out of a TDI or a Supra and then complain it doesn't pull. Subaru, I understand now. I understand why they forced you to change the BRZ in 2021. Thank you for making it in the first place.

[@GastonMaqueda]

I still in the honey mooon. Almost 6 years later I just arrive from a 7100 km roadtrip with him Canmore - Calgary - Helena - Salt Lake City - Page - Las Vegas - Death Valley - San Simeon - Monterey - Reedwoods highway - Oregon Coast - Astoria - Seattle - Vancouver - Canmore. All kinds of terrain all kinds of weather. And I LOVE IT.

[@EB-yp1wu]

Sounds like a Québecois

[@GastonMaqueda]

@@EB-yp1wu Spanish, friend

[@davethompson6081]

How is it in the snow???

[@GastonMaqueda]

@@davethompson6081 I don't know with winter tires, with summer ones TERRIBLE BAD. I use mine only in summer.

[@georgetheodossopoulos7827]

Gaston Maqueda how do you find the car in winter? i live in canada and I’m worried about driving RWD in snow

[@effeee]

had the choice between a BRZ and a used WRX. i went for the brz, i live in europe and we dont have big roads or even 2lanes roads near me. but i have wonderful mountain roads that i can enjoy to their fullest :) i dont regret it

[@thdremily]

I just made that exact decision saturday, went with a 2020 brz vs a 2018 wrx, it was simply more fun to drive, even if it has less power, the gear box felt better, it felt gobs more agile. I look forward to picking it up today.

[@effeee]

@@thdremily great decision mate. after a year i still love it, thankfully the community is pretty alive in my area despite how few owners there are, we can arrange a monthly meeting of about 10-20 brz/86...and about the twisty mountain roads that i was speaking of, i pretty much did all of them in my area-- yes, sliding through all corners and redlining it its very much worth it :) have fun

[@germanespinosa1947]

@@thdremily after 2 years I’m on this exact boat now. A wrx or brz my concern is that the brz may be too slow. But then again is it really this fun to drive around that’s people would choose it over 350z, Ford Focus st, wrx, mustangs??

[@thdremily]

@@germanespinosa1947 after owning it for 2 years it still is a hoot to drive, I tuned it to E85 to try to smooth out the torque dip and give it just a bit more push. The driving dynamic of the car really are a blast despite the slower over all speed. You can push the car to its limits easily and make it feel very dramatic, and it’s just fun to wind out the engine and drive at 9 or 10 tenths without blowing the speed limit away. Love the car and not considering getting rid of it any time soon.

[@germanespinosa1947]

@@thdremily that sounds like so much fun, I was looking for one in the market but I’m going to look for a 240sx with 70k original miles tomorrow

[@Sentient6ix]

"An eight-six trains it's driver." Famous quote from Initial D, and it's pretty accurate for this car.

[@ebenfredclarissa]

Adam Smith this is prob the dumbest thing I have seen on the Internet.. ever ..

[@Sentient6ix]

@@ebenfredclarissa then you don't frequent twitter and tumblr all that much. And you know very little about driving, as well. I've put in some wheel time with the new car, and an old Corolla GTS. Not a true AE86, but it's as close as I can get while still being on the left side of the car. Also ran a tweaked out FD3S about ten years back. That RX7 was a damn bullet compared to any of those Toyotas. I wouldn't mind owning a newer 86 these days. Would help me master some techniques that I haven't practiced since i switched over to more utilitarian machines several years ago. Haven't had a good rear wheeler in a long time, and the 86/BRZ are good cars, albeit slow. They can teach you alot, if you're willing to drive such a slow car. They're very good for newer drivers that wanna focus on learning decent racing techniques, but probably shouldn't be learning those techniques behind a super powerful sports car. It's wise to start learning that stuff in something that's a little underpowered that forces you to learn good steering and braking control. No, that statement was definitely not stupid. Just the source material of the quote is trash.

[@ebenfredclarissa]

Adam Smith I actually own both , and drive them on track and instruct .. you are full of shit .. spent some time ... I use the brz for students , great cars .. drivers drive .. morons talk about the car training them .. you have a set of skills and you adapt to the car ..

[@DeltaAnt1000]

​@@ebenfredclarissa I agree with both of you. My thought is "The choice of car affects the training of a driver". It was a good tool for learning how to drive a RWD car coming from FWD only tracking experience. I could have probably learned in a number of RWD cars, but the limited power and good balance cut down on distractions and made cornering feel controllable. I can transfer the skills I developed with the 86 to other cars, but early on in driver development choosing an appropriate car seems important. Quote is non-literal, but perhaps the point is it is a good training car for driver development.

[@nathanwhitmer8802]

fred fox lmao ur a trash instructor I can already tel

[@kazunorisaga3709]

For me the car is the greatest sports car ever made for the price. I have diven my 86 since July, and I love it, in every way.

[@Effy2123]

talking about the torque dip saying you cant get around it, down shift, thats all you need to do

[@Cruz474]

Real you only need to go through it once 😂

[@lntercooler]

just bought my second brz last saturday after my last one got totalled. yeah, i could've gone with something better and definitely faster, but the overall driving experience is just too good.

[@NoobHustle]

i traded in my 2013 brz for a new 2019 86 about a month ago, test drove a few wrx's and an sti and the brz/86 is just way more fun to drive imo, i haven't hit 2k km yet and i already have a catback, front pipe and stage 1 tune lol, header and stage 2 is coming soon 😄

[@TheChipMcDonald]

I'd do the same.

[@Mrcliff4]

@@NoobHustle you probably should have held out for the redesign in 2021.

[@saulespino2510]

@@NoobHustle Did you notice a difference in ride quality?

[@NoobHustle]

Saul Espino I’m stage 2 with full exhaust now and it’s definitely got more torque and power

[@foxbat2549]

Thanks for a very honest and pretty in-depth review. I've had my FR-S for about 4 months and I love her! She's a 2013 Base model and came w/a very low mileage count of 37,000 miles on the odometer. Records showed that the "big" recall was done flawlessly and no ensuing problems. She has a 6-speed auto trans and it's fun to put her in manual mode. The condition of the vehicle was nearly mint and I plan to keep her that way. Hey, - I'm 67 yr. old 'geezer and my FR-S has plenty "hops". I'm surprised at how much owners/drivers make a big deal about not enough power, torque, etc. I know about racing a bit as my old man was an NHRA Driver of The Year back in the day in Hawaii and I got no complaints about the aforementioned power, torque thing. Appreciate your taking the time and effort to share this video. Aloha!

[@EatSleepDrive]

Glad you're enjoying the car! I appreciate the note.

[@TheChipMcDonald]

2014 BRZ owner. Greatest daily driver, ever. Bozos complaining about power don't live in the real world. And people modding the suspension, using big wheels or different f/r sizes are committing a crime, it's beautiful how perfectly balanced it is. Blind spot from the a pillars have probably caught people out -, about the only negative I can think of. Just fantastic, easiest and best purchase I've ever made.

[@iokua1120]

Your car is gay get a real car

[@drkk5310]

Just bought a 2013 frs, those blind spots are killer.

[@driftracerr34]

I'm in the process of trying to buy a new car and I have the BRZ way down at the bottom. No disrespect to the BRZ but the 200 hp is a deal breaker for me. I live in South Florida where it's flat, all highways, and large roads everywhere. I'd be slower than the high school girls driving Jettas down here. I'm just simply not gonna be able to appreciate the strengths of this car.

[@grimeymunyun]

ur a bozo for judging the way people want there cars if u wanna stick with small wheels go ahead little man but not everyone wants wheel size

[@BCNeil]

That dead zone between 3000-4500 rpm, is because they forgot a turbo.

[@hammer86_]

@Eze&Yare Dominguez It's the FA20, the same engine as the WRX, which has a turbo.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

It's a boxer engine thing, you get the same thing on Porsche's boxer engines. But if you go way back to before everything had turbos, pretty much all sports cars were like this. The S2000 for example has nothing until you get the revs high, people used to moan about that the same way they do this car now.

[@konjiki240sx]

@Brett Collins Yeah maybe with a turbo from a promod, power generator or maybe a large diesel truck! lmao I reasonably sized turbo will be spool between 2-3k rpms. IE EFR7163 or g25-550 (both are 350-500whp capable) Go check out the fullrace dyno and educate your self a bit... www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111313

[@gtmike916]

Brett Collins Unless you are drifting or drag racing engine swapping is pointless. I can tell you don’t do time attack or anything road course oriented. 5.5k RPM... You’re in peak power when you race anyway so why would you need low end torque?

[@Skedawg88]

Subaru didn't want to add weight and raise the center of gravity. they also wanted to keep the mpg better. Or so I have read. Moreover, they wished to keep costs down.

[@mr.wiggles7535]

I had mine stock for 6 months before gently modifying it and it really helps. It's a fun car for me. Not super fast, but fun and I enjoy that.

[@alexlafreniere6573]

When I first got my BRZ it took me awhile to get use to the throttle. I kept slipping the clutch revving it to 3k just to get the car moving in 1st gear. Now I have it down and I barely even touch the throttle and it revs to about 1.5k. Takes some time forsure. The reason for the torque dip is because your always in that 2.5-4k range and they wanted the car to get better fuel efficiency.

[@seanscantland8016]

You're right. He should really be driving in the upper 45-8k range if he wants to get on it.

[@TheChipMcDonald]

I stalled it at a stop sign on the way home after I bought mine. Took a few stops to get used to it, no big deal.

[@mikeyb9942]

To eliminate torque dip get yourself some headers and a tune and then no more torque dip:)

[@mikeyb9942]

Oh by the way you can throw the 86 around more then the brz and the 86 is more tail happy .

[@BboyDaquack]

I still run around 2k comin from a start to get movin faster

[@BboyDaquack]

Lol idk why I'm here. Been dailying my '17 series yellow for 2.5 years. Absolutely love it every single day

[@iokua1120]

HingleMcCringleBerry I can get you a job so you can get a real car.

[@OldDyer]

J T your brain is tiny

[@aroundomaha]

I loved the BRZ within the first 300 yards of my test drive. Though I went with a GTI because I still occasionally hail four people, my future has to have one of these in it. Your thoughts about daily life with the car were helpful, and good work on the footage. Nicely done!

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

BRZ is not a daily driver unless all you do is short twisty road trips, or if you're under 30 and can tolerate all the noise.

[@playlistajimenez5567]

Have been 6months with my brand new BRZ and I also had bad experience about the gas pedal that is why I bought an Open Flash Tablet and I tuned my car with stage 1 tune because I have a stock set up and that fixed my gas pedal and increased the efficiency of the car. Improved gas mileage too.

[@Morackify]

I have had mine for pushing 2 years now, and I am still in love. #86love

[@john_dee1431]

Good video. Great footage too. One thing I've noticed, these cars don't attract cops much either. At least not where I'm from.

[@DigitalDissident]

Fuck the police.

[@EatSleepDrive]

Interesting point, although I've been pulled over I maintain it's only because the previous owner had modified the car for the worse. I think you're right in stock form they probably not cop magnets like most sports cars.

[@john_dee1431]

@@EatSleepDrive Agree about stock form. Only you know how much fun is being had!

[@beechcraftpvp]

I'll tell ya, with blacked out windows, aftermarket headlights, invidia pipes, and tomei headers, I tend to get every single cop's attention. Never been pulled over, but definitely I catch their attention :/

[@brianbailey904]

I’ve had a stock ‘15 BRZ for 4 years or so and I can confirm they leave me alone.

[@graumail]

I put an equal length header on with the factory exhaust and a tune. I found it to be the perfect balance to get rid of the annoyance of the torque dip while still being relatively quiet, and now i can swap to E85 during summers.

[@alexrain1188]

Honey moon period never ended for me. 5 years in and I'm still learning cool new ways to challenge it.

[@utkarsh12]

it's also a simple car to service and maintain. It's not loaded with electronics, so parts are generally affordable

[@justinbuice]

We have the touch screen infotainment in our 2014 FR-S. It has an issue where every hour or so, the bluetooth will randomly disconnect and then re-connect. Does yours have that problem?

[@dannymonti2829]

@Cafe Racer genius

[@robertlovesgothgirlz]

Nope. Rarely the bluetooth service doesn't run and you have to actually turn the car off the so the radio resets

[@Boxman5618]

mines 2016 and i don't have that issue BUT the radio is a pain in the ass to initially connect via Bluetooth

[@jpatt9542]

My Acura TSX does that

[@cheng5938]

I got a 2013 Subaru BRZ and I love it. It is a fun car to drive and won't break your bank.

[@MerkNasty]

At first I had all the same problems with my brz. But I installed a new exhaust and uel headers and got a tune and man, just those simple upgrades makes it drive 10x better

[@matthewgonzales8324]

I'd like to do this to mine. Mind giving a ballpark on how much that would run?

[@80Kanaia8]

Matthew Gonzales headers, tune and catback should be around 2k might go up or down a bit based on preference and deals though

[@deborahdiperna2451]

Miss my 13 frs so much. Made me happy when on road and off road walking to it. Gives you a confidence boost. Put 37 k miles in under 2 years delivering pizza. Who cares about power it's all about handling and feel. Brz ts in the future to get back in a 86

[@iokua1120]

Deborah DiPerna everyone cares about power and your confidence should be low that you settle. Dream bigger pizza boy

[@JoseFlores-ig7gq]

@@iokua1120 just let people be happy. Dont be an ahole.

[@southernclassik]

You sound like a sad individual. If it makes him happy why should he care about what people think. You are the insecure one... Bitch

[@splatbubble]

:D i am imagining what your pizzas looked like when they arrived! Was it like the beginning of Spider-Man 2? :) glad you liked your car - your comment may cause me to get one.

[@AndySo2000]

I have the 2013 black FRS bought it used a year and a half ago. I fell in love with the car, but it has it's quarks. I have that stock head unit in mine. The head unit comes stock in scion tC mode. If you change it to the FRS mode the stereo sounds amazing. There's a youtube video on it I just found and it changed my world as far as sound quality goes. If you turn the stereo off then hold down the volume knob in for a few seconds this screen pops up that give you the option to change the stereo to any of the scion lineup. I swear not many people know about and i wish I had known a long time ago because when it's in tC mode it sounds terrible. I used to have a tC and that car actually has a way different speaker configuration than the FRS. It has a 8" speaker and smaller mid range and a tweeters in the door. You can also change what the display says to whatever you want.

[@moviestarsnake]

Andy S link please?

[@RuthlessShadowGamer]

bump

[@moflyboyblanquito541]

Finally someone address the gas mileage. It’s basically a cool looking economy car that can also do 140 mph and handles like a boss.

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

140 mph? At what, 6800 rpm lol? It already turns 4K at only 85 mph.

[@moflyboyblanquito541]

80's Boombox Collector Don’t remember it’s pretty much redline though

[@moflyboyblanquito541]

80's Boombox Collector kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWPIZ39oq5mHo5I

[@janronelrecano1208]

@@80s_Boombox_Collector wait really, for a 6 speed it's at 4500k at 85mph? Cause my 5 speed Honda prelude is at 4k at 80mph with a five speed 😲

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

@@janronelrecano1208 Nah, it's 4K at 85

[@SilverShadow02]

Every car reviewer needs the two camera setup you have! What's the point of one camera on the driver!

[@barbaraperry2616]

I purchased a 2016 FRS in September 2015 and absolutely love it! Ablaze Red, 6 speed manual - my daily driver. Only 12,000 miles. It's more fun to drive than my 1981 BMW 320i.

[@kevinfortsch]

Just bought a 2013 for $15k, smidge over 75,000. Previous owner took fantastic care of it. My insurance went up $160 for the year. Probably thee most fun iv had driving..couldn't be happier.

[@pedrovazquez5990]

bought a 2017 manual gt86, solid car did a road trip from oc to san fran same day and car gave me no issues. just hate the speakers it has but other than that no major issues other than basic maintenance.

[@robertrickel9205]

Have had mine since 2013. Now have 110,000 miles and is my daily driver. Not the first problem. I sold my Boxster last month as I almost never drive it. Really prefer the FRS and the Scion is a whole lot cheaper to run. It will outrun the Boxster in the mountains and the FRS is just bulletproof.

[@gumkel]

Did you give it a Doug score

[@TheChipMcDonald]

Doug is in the "it needs 100 more hp, who cares if it costs another $8,000 and only gets 22 mpg" camp.

[@Sentient6ix]

@@TheChipMcDonald as is most people, even the owners of the car feel the same way, lol

[@TheChipMcDonald]

@@Sentient6ix I'm an owner and I much prefer BEING an owner because 1) I can afford it because it didn't cost $8,000 more and 2) it gets 30+ mpg, making it affordable as a daily driver. In ehich it is the perfect sports car. Another 100 up and crappy fuel economy puts it in a bracket I can't afford. I'd miss the car more than I miss 100 hp. And on that, I'm here to say I owned a Chevelle SS396 h.o. with mods - 400+ hp, and my BRZ is wayyyyy more fun. Work isn't a series of 1/4 mile runs....

[@dylanmatheson7859]

I've had my 86 since 2013, and all these issues are valid. Yes they can pretty much all be solved by tuning, but up until you can afford aftermarket parts you have to deal with the annoying factors . The engine drone is a massive issue, really just wish the exhaust sound had some more character to it. Every time someone asks me to start up the car (the large twin pipes give false hopes), they are disappointed by what they hear. But as said, all can be tuned up. Sadly interior is also a big one. I dont mind the layout so much as the cheap plastics which do tend to rattle at times, and one small irritation is how when pulling the passenger seat forward to access the rear seats, it never locks forward so you have to keep holding it (unlike the drivers seat). Overall though I love the car, yes you wont win many drag races, or stock interior awards, practicality awards or get people interested when you announce "I drive a BRZ/FR-S/GT86" (I actually get ignorant people saying "oh you own a 1986 Toyota?". But when you're navigating curved roads, you'll have a bigger smile than many other drivers :)

[@dylanmatheson7859]

@Smixhy I can never speak for every 86/FRS/BRZ made, but for mine, yes its been absolutely reliable. The biggest fix ive had was for my clutch which thanks to silly actions on my side burnt out in about 3 years, but there after very reliable. My biggest advice for any car owner would just be to stay aware of your cars conditions. Check the fluid from time to time, try to keep a regular maintenance schedule (even out of warranty) and if you feel something wrong or even suspect a problem, investigate and mitigate a larger future problem

[@matt25675]

I have a lot of people get excited when I tell them I drive an 86

[@chriscaarnold]

Had mine one year today. Luv it, intended to do some mods (exhaust, breaks). But have left it stock . Ive done track days and driven all across Europe, from UK to France/Italy. Its practical enough if u don’t have a family. It tracks well and is fun every time u are in the mood to push it a bit. My dislikes Rattles - random interior Volume knob on my OEM head unit OEM stereo sound quality Torque dip(will fix with some mods) All in great little GT and track toy

[@pesnevim1626]

Thank you. Just about to buy a 2013 BRZ and your info really helped me decide for sure.

[@EatSleepDrive]

Glad I could help!

[@AJBAF]

I've owned mine for 6 years now and plan to keep it til death. I love my FRS lol

[@iokua1120]

Angel B how often do you get your nails done?

[@AJBAF]

Joshua Torres is this an attempt at talking shit? lmao

[@bethanyt.212]

@@iokua1120 oof. sexism isn't cute. you prob don't get laid much, huh?

[@iokua1120]

Bethany T. How the music career working out still a nobody?!

[@dantesmith3664]

I love mine. Just came here as I'm struggling to wait till spring to get mine out.

[@xXF3AR3DXx]

Went from a WRX and RSX and now I have an 86 and could say I’ve had more fun driving the 86 then I ever could with the other cars

[@Scooby3150]

Own a 2015 BRZ, am the original owner. I don't disagree with much in the video. The throttle mapping doesn't really strike me as a big deal. I've managed to drive accordingly. I do agree that the torque dip is probably my biggest angst with the car. To compensate I have learned how to rev the car up right before executing a pass and throwing down the upshift right as I get into position for my move around the car and found my passing works well and is actually fun to execute. I actually upgraded my tires to ultra-high performance Michelin (originals were a lower grade Michelin) and have suffered no loss to the loose play on the rear end. The new tires are much better in the rain and offer an overall more comfortable ride, so I personally recommend the move and wish these were the original tires. I did lose a little on the mileage, but it's only between 1-2 MPG, worth the additional safety and comfort. Yes, I wish there was more power, I wish the car operated at a higher rev rate , but it's just so damn fun to drive I am willing to overlook all of that. Subaru is developing a new 2.4 liter box engine with 260 hp for the Ascent, I think that would be about perfect for this car. I probably wouldn't trade in for a new version of this car as there just isn't enough changed, but if they move to something like a 2.4 liter box I would definitely consider trading in for it.

[@touringteg]

A friend has a 13 BRZ with just Bridgestone RE71R tires and is always competitive at autox and track days. There is something to be said for driving on the limit in a slower car. Most of the fun driving enthusiasts do is on the street and not at track days so to me a fun street car is top priority. I upgraded from an Integra Type R to BMW 1M this year. The 1M is very capable but is it worth the extra cost of consumables and purchase price? The jury is still out. I highly recommend buying an Integra Type R for a fun driving experience that has only appreciated since 2016.

[@EatSleepDrive]

I love all the cars you mentioned. I think my window for being able to afford a Type R is shrinking.

[@saka3364]

Get the 135i and have m1 upgrade

[@RuthlessShadowGamer]

I'd 100% get an Integra type R if they didn't all have 200,000km :(

[@touringteg]

@@RuthlessShadowGamer They are so fun. My had about 170km when I sold it this year.

[@jesseseymour4011]

Awesome, am considering buying one. Looking for more videos like this.

[@xanderheeler402]

Great review. When this car came out I knew I had to have one. Still do. Hopefully soon.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

Had mine almost 3 years. Except for the valve spring recall (which was complete and they actually did a good job of it too) it's been fine. I use it all year round and have a set of winter tyres for when it snows :D

[@vmfan96]

I agree it is very inexpensive to mod and run. Hard to beat the smiles per dollar. I have a BRZ with catless headers, Tune , lightweight wheels and Tein Coils. It is so much more responsive and definitely not slow at all. Just fast enough to keep you from getting into trouble. Pure motoring nirvana.

[@J_J1711]

I do agree the major negative is the rev range between 3 to 5. Got my Scion FRS in July 2013 and just love it. Got the special 10 year edition. Added a carbon spoiler and hood for the look but also ventilation. Nice 18 inch wheels as an add. I added cold air intake and exhaust as well. This added a bit more zip about 25 hp but still stayed true to the naturally aspirated boxer engine. Has very low km and it is not my daily driver. The handling is amazing and like it more then my previous Subaru WRX which was faster but not as fun at all. Hope to keep it for many years to come. Good vid with driving on the windy roads!

[@larphraulen]

Great video! Totally agree with the throttle comment. I'm 9 months into owning mine, coming from a VW, and am not super smooth if I wear thick-soled shoes. Thin shoes definitely help. That being said, the throttle response is really nice. Maybe it's the NA motor but it's pretty quick to react to inputs. I think the updated (shorter) final drive makes the torque dip more tolerable. The car feels a little more urgent. I usually don't go through the torque dip except in 2nd gear, occasionally 1st -- it goes by pretty quickly then stay above it afterwards. I love the "Prius" tires too. They're SO fun. The chassis is so easy to balance, and this is my first RWD car. The tires are what let us access it easily and in a controlled manner.

[@shawnhamlin5963]

Actually, I really want to purchase a 2013 model FR-S. I went to a used dealership about 5 years ago and both my wife and myself drove the FR-S. If I hadn't been locked into a ridiculous car payment already, I would have bought the one we drove that day. I have had 3 Nissan Sentra SE-R''s from the early 90's. I adored that car and haven't driven another one since then that even came close, until I drove the FR-S. It is truly a drivers car. My favorite feature is the fact that the FR-S is rear wheel drive. A true sports car. The last SE-R I owned was tuned up a bit from the stock version. Those SR20DE-T engines are little monsters. I quite literally drove them all until it was costing me more to own it than I was willing to put back into them.

[@RobustArid379]

Man proud to be a part of this invention

[@alejandrorodriguezsanchez1525]

love my frs's bluetooth. connects instantly

[@s2k4l10]

Love this channel.. wish I could be driving, owning and wrenching on as many cars as you do. I have a gt86 for 3-4 years now and daily drive it (only in summers I use my s2000). When I step into a regular car and take a first corner I always scare myself because I think it will tip over. Its just a reminder of how well the GT86 corners. I also have been flirting with the idea of changing it for a Cayman S (987.2) but than reason kicks in. The Cayman seems less practical (no foldable rear seats), has the risk for expensive repairs and high running costs. Chris Harris drove both back to back... the GT86 just likes to dance on the road whereas I think the cayman will just be a lot grippier but not necessarily more fun. For real fun I would than more tend towards a Lotus or something exotic like a donkervoort but thats not something for a DD.

[@EatSleepDrive]

I love Caymans, but like you said, running the risk of expensive repairs always has reluctant. I think if I go Porsche again it will be another 911, basically the same upkeep cost, and rear-engine is just different and fun. As is right now keep enjoying your GT86!

[@etoineschrdlu9382]

Ah! you have a stock FR-S and a BMW M3. I have a lightly modded '15 BRZ and a '99 BMW 323i. Kind of opposite each other. I interchange them as daily drivers. My BRZ has around 65,000 miles and other than standard service and Winter/Summer wheel/tire swaps I have had only one service issue: the left front wheel bearing went bad. You are correct about the throttle mapping and the torque dip and also that a tune can fix this. My first mod was an Open Flash Tune and it did remap the throttle and somewhat filled in the torque dip. My second mod was a catted UEL header. After retuning with the OFT, the torque dip was gone. My Winter tires are mounted on Enkei M52's and I have since upgraded my Summer tires to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's mounted on Enkei RPF-1s. The new Summer wheels and tires are stock diameter but one size wider. You are also correct about the OEM tires and brakes: both wear like iron. The Michelin Primacy's still have 7/32nds worth of tread left on them and they are sitting in my shed in their tire totes, but the Pilots are an order of magnitude stickier. The difference is amazing. Rear view and blind spots in this car is terrible. I installed a backup camera kit that plugs directly into the stock touch screen head unit. Totally plug and play and backing out from between the two high lift trucks that always seem to park on either side of me is now a breeze. After buying the BMW, I noticed it had blue tint convex mirrors which I really liked, so I bought replacement ones for the BRZ. They really make a difference in traffic. I installed Toyota GT86 mud flaps and they look great. The stock BRZ speakers sounded terrible so I replaced them, keeping the stock head unit and trunk mounted amp. The BRZ's sound system is quite idiosyncratic: you need the BRZ specific wiring diagram and a little knowledge on crossover design to figure it out and select appropriate speakers. The Fujitsu Ten head unit and that amp have built in crossovers on some but not all channels. I replaced the dash and rear panel speakers with 2 pairs of Infinity Reference REF-3032cfx 3-1/2" 2-ways, using the provided crossover caps on the dash speakers and jumpering the dash speaker connector. The rear panel speakers use the stock system's crossover. For the door woofers I bought a Polk Audio MM 6502 component speaker system and did a direct swap, discarding the tweeters. After resetting the EQ the much maligned touch screen head unit now sounds great.

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

I drove a base 15 BRZ and I would say the stock speakers sound a lot better than most other cars of this price range.

[@etoineschrdlu9382]

@@80s_Boombox_Collector Yes, I lived with those stock speakers for three years before upgrading them. They were OK, but just barely. My boss drove me to lunch in his Infiniti and cranked his car's OEM sound system, it sounded pretty good, and I realized that the BRZ's sound wasn't even close. Good aftermarket speakers closed the gap. Before the upgrade I could turn it up to max volume and still want more. Now I rarely turn it past 80%; its now loud enough and perfectly clear. I believe anyone could take their favorite song, from whatever source, play it back to back in my car and a stock BRZ, and they would clearly hear that the upgraded speakers sound an order of magnitude better.

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

@@etoineschrdlu9382 True, OEM usually cheap out on the speakers.

[@LifeOfWhy]

Any notchy shifting is related to the sloppy drivetrain movement. The stock motor mounts are pure garbage also. I highly recommend changing all fluids to motul, upgrading motor mounts, and installing a one piece aluminum driveshaft for a true shifting feel.

[@itsfantom3020]

Torque dip can be easily reduced and even eliminated with a bit of cash, short throw shifter on these cars ate amazing. Light bolt on tunes make this car even more phenomenal

[@ClellBiggs]

Great review! I've had mine almost a year and a half (also 2013) and my experience has been identical to yours.

[@brokensmilephoto]

The day I bought my Corolla Hatchback, I almost put the deal on hold to go have some fun the the GT86 - GT/TRD/Whatever the hell it's called. I kept looking at it, thinking I shouldn't buy this, but I want it. Well packaged, good style, the right factory upgrades. But I talked my self out of it when I seen the price tag. Figured I could probably build the same car from a base model better and cheaper using the aftermarket non OEM supplier options. The reality of it is, I should have bought a FRS/GT86 over the ND MX5 Club. I'd probably still have it, and not have the problems my ND Club had which lead me to going to back Toyota in the first place. Plus having a usable trunk and back seat make the difference in your daily driver. Note to anyone reading this comment, stop lying to your self. The Miata is a AWFUL daily driver. Yes it's a full on blast to drive, but it makes things in life so much harder. The instagram likes for fitting stupid stuff into your car with the top down aren't worth the struggles. Although I do have another MX5 (did it properly this time and bought a super clean NA6 with hardtop), it's only good for your weekend car. The only things I really don't like about the 86 is the reputation, wide body kits, and stock wheels. All that aside, it's a great drivers car and people just need to understand that you don't need globs of hp and tq to be fast. Learn to drive properly and quit trying to do straight line stuff. Its boring.

[@EatSleepDrive]

What problems did you have with your ND? I haven't been keeping up with them but am surprised to hear you had issues.

[@brokensmilephoto]

@@EatSleepDrive Day 1: Dealer bricked radio with update. Few months of random VSS/TSC/ABS light flickers and then finally in dead of winter the CEL comes on with the hat trick of lights. (Wheel speed sensor ends up the problem) Few months after that, transmission noises start. Few months after that transmission noises worsen. (Manuals with LSD rears didn't play well together until later revisions of trans) That got replaced as well as the seat belt guides so that the belts properly retract. The transmission was my final straw. So I went back to the trusted Toyota, and glad because the Corolla Hatchback is pretty damn good for a Corolla. It's not perfect, but it's not boring anymore. Also worth noting, I've had less issues from my 30 year old MX5 than I did with my brand new ND Club.

[@seanscantland8016]

I've had my '13 for 4 years and put 35k on it. It has Fortune Auto coils, PBM suspension arms, TRD louvers, tucking 17x9 wheels and an Open Flash tune. The tune is cheap and fixes the problems mentioned in this video along with a little boost in power and response in higher gears. I love it and will probably never part with it if I don't have to.

[@Traternal]

Dang man I want one so bad

[@slimjim77M]

2017 BRZ operator here. I make my payments gleefully, as this vehicle has brought many smiles. A supercharger is on my task list.

[@shaderade420a]

Go turbo dude, youll regret it

[@slimjim77M]

@@shaderade420a Why do you say that?

[@shaderade420a]

Way more power and less torque dip from a medium priced turbo over super

[@slimjim77M]

@@shaderade420a Do you have a specific suggestion? Thanks in advance.

[@Cryptiiix]

Random Reviews actually you get alot more low end torque from a supercharger and keep the similar feel to the brz. Would recommend more than a turbo. But do your research before you purchase either or

[@Lost_Kappa]

I have had my eye on this one, used to own the ae86, had s14 Silvia and driving rs200 Altezza now. Just waiting on the right price point to arrive

[@1compaqedr8]

$7-10,000 is the most I would pay for one then turbo it.

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

@@1compaqedr8 If you find one for only 7-10K it's either beaten on or it has 100K miles. No thanks.

[@1compaqedr8]

80's Boombox Collector I see multiple for sale currently in that range with 80,000 miles.

[@Lost_Kappa]

@@1compaqedr8 i'll be running an NA setup by flashing the ecu, intake, exhaust for modest power increase and to remove torque dip, then wheel, tires, struts and sway bars.

[@1compaqedr8]

。。 sounds great. I’m used to my mustang 5.0 430hp and mr2 turbo 300hp so a 300-330hp frs would replace both while being newer than mr2 and lighter than mustang.

[@davidzhao6270]

Owned 2 years, will buy another one in the future if it's not been changed in a bad way. There's 2 ways to drive this car, within torque curve with good fuel economy, and over 45k rpm with variable valve timing kicks in. To accelerate, need to drop a bunch of gears and do a manual rev match. Fun car

[@TheChipMcDonald]

The Prius tires were fun (I switched to BF Goodrich Comp-2s), but I bet one of the reasons I saw so many smashed fenders when I was shopping for it were from people not accustomed to rwd snap oversteer. In the rain they were fun, but when needing to really jump out in traffic they were kinda almost too loose. Comp-2s are just a tiny bit stickier, still plenty of fun.

[@matt25675]

Can confirm, crashed my frs (not too bad of a crash) trying to mess around on the stock tires, I have continental extremecontact sports now, I can’t even break traction if I try lol. Kind of boring sometimes but it is fun to get around town fast like I’m on rails and I feel a lot safer

[@MrDayna39]

Good review, I dream about owning one, maybe next year

[@umarahmad5119]

Did you get one?

[@MrDayna39]

@@umarahmad5119 The new model has not arrive yet

[@hammer86_]

Good review. I have a 2015 and still love it. Hadn't noticed the throttle response, I'll pay attention on the next drive. You're spot on about the tires. Those Prius tires are the right choice, with the perfect amount of grip. In the summer I put on my track tires -- 200 tread wear, p225. Great for the track but not as fun on the street! I think the car has the perfect amount of power for the street, but I'm not wild about the engine. It has a nice rumble at low RPMs, but sounds anemic at high RPMs. And that access -- not looking forward to changing the spark plugs, what a hassle. The shifter is just ok, not nearly as good as my Mazda 3 or my friend's Honda Civic. At this price range, our only choices are this and the MX-5, and I can't fit in the MX-5. But I can fit myself, a passenger, and two sets of golf clubs in the 86. After 4 years I still love taking it out for a long drive on weekends. Cheers.

[@iokua1120]

cerberus65 we know you haven’t notice throttle response bc your car is slow and gay. Get a real car

[@eddiedick9886]

After market header and exhaust will totally eliminate the torque dip.. Great video!

[@iokua1120]

Eddie Dick hahaha talking about this car and torque... good one

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

Unless you live in Cali where headers aren't allowed

[@keithprice6581]

'torque dip sucks' - people used to modern turbo insta-torque

[@jclss99]

Can confirm on audio system. I have a 13 BRZ with the big touch screen, and it sucks. My bluetooth has been more reliable than it used to be somehow, but the larger issue is a lack of physical buttons. You can't mess with stuff without looking at the headunit. They fixed this with steering wheel controls later on, but not on 13's. I'd much rather have a plain radio with bluetooth and physical buttons.

[@EatSleepDrive]

Good to hear from someone who has the touch screen. Thanks for sharing!

[@LioShel]

This is my new dream car now: reliable, fun, cheap maintenance, tons of aftermarket parts available if I ever wanted to mod it, cheap to own, rear wheel drive, easy to drift.... Maybe the only thing I don't like about it is that it only has 2 seats and not very family friendly. But I have a rolla now and a Rav4, so that doesn't matter at all haha. Looking forward to own it soon

[@EatSleepDrive]

It certainly checks all those boxes!

[@iokua1120]

Way to set your dreams low

[@sage11x]

Hm... I’ve never had an issue with the throttle- especially launching the car. Owned mine since 2012. I’ve only owned manuals. Owned a couple of jettas, couple of SHOs, a GM, Mazda...

[@pligon09]

After 6 months of ownership: I forgot how to tie my shoes, accrued a massive collection of flat-brimmed hats, can't stop saying "bruh", and for some reason I'm furious about all the vaping bans

[@toasty8638]

*hits dab*

[@islayya]

Ive got a 2019 TRD 86 and holy fuck i love it. Torq dip is some bs but easily avoidable if youre tryna do a pull. just a couple downshifts or a single downshift and youre gucci. currently saving up for a huge overhaul performance wise (boost, dynotune, upgraded engine components, clutch, etc..). def dont regret my purchase and im sure i never will!

[@robbiebonetti4164]

Fantastic review. Basically locked me in to buying one:D

[@iokua1120]

Robbie Bonetti bc your poor?

[@mustafa810c8]

@@iokua1120 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 😐

[@duartebbm]

The off the shelf OFT tunes fix the issue with the throttle and help a bit with the torque dip!

[@romariosmith422]

Please.... oft is bs.

[@duartebbm]

@@romariosmith422 Sure, not as good as custom tune. But you can pick one up for $300 and sell it later for the same price, effectively being free. Kind of hard to justify $500-$1000 more for another 5hp, but to each his own

[@robertszigyarto7400]

Lack of power is my problem with the car. I also wish they had put a stronger engine in so if I were to boost it I could run more boost without fear of it sending a rod into my fender.

[@FOXDADDYSUPREME1]

Coming up on 3 years with my BRZ. I got a used Open Flash Header for $200, and a used Open Flash Tablet for $400. Made a monsterous difference. I also switched to Michelin PS4S when my tires were due. I like them better, but I don't have an M3 or GT350 to hop into either! Almost nothing I have test driven has been better (to me and my preferences) under ~$35k. The few that are, which are all Porsches, have me a bit concerned about costs (running and purchasing). I'll keep my paid off BRZ for a while longer I guess.

[@EatSleepDrive]

Header and tune are definitely my next steps. Maybe even E85..

[@FOXDADDYSUPREME1]

@@EatSleepDrive looking forward to the video if you do. Ive been thinking about the flex kit for next summer

[@iokua1120]

Why waste the money just buy a better car?

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

Dip in the torque curve? No no, that's the bit the Turbo fills in. Oh wait, Toyota unbolted that along with the front drive shafts when they were removing the rear doors.

[@logancrawford6807]

*things a wrx guy would say*

[@Arikiatrukido]

I currently have a BMW X1 and I really like this car, it looks great and I love how it sounds. I hope I can get it this year :))

[@Navieri]

I had a 13 frs and sold it not too long ago and I miss that car so much, it was my first car and Im thinking about getting the 86 trd se

[@Navieri]

@@garrett8850 and I ended up selling it, biggest mistake I ever made, I'm driving a POS 08 Kia Spectra that's held together with duct tape, I want my frs back :(

[@jessetenkman3237]

I have had my BRZ for 3 years now and I have done 2 cross country road trips in it with it lowered and an after market exhaust and I did not get tired of driving it once. Surprisingly it was a very comfortable ride the entire way. It is a blast to drive and so much fun on mountain roads. Absolutely love this car and very inexpensive to modify and easy to work on

[@seollenda]

I can't wait to purchase a BRZ. I'm coming from an iM 2018 (a surprisingly fun hatchback), and the only thing I was craving was more speed. And better looking car haha. I think going to a BRZ is my best next step.

[@parkjazz3337]

Curious to know if anyone out there has taken their BRZ or FR-S on a Track like Virginia International Raceway (VIR), Barber Motorsports Park, or the Atlanta Raceway track for a drive? If so how did it handle? I'm looking into getting into Amateur Racing (For Fun / Pleasure) and am looking for a cheap car, say.... Under $20k US, all in and ready to drive. I'm also considering an Infiniti G37s Series, Acura Integra, WRX, Jaguar XK, Mazda Speed 3 or 6, Fiero, etc. (Any suggestions would be great too!) I am NOT Interested in a Miata, RX-7 (Rotatory Engines) or ANY German Automobile due to the high cost of ownership. In my search I have come across a group of folks, "Just Track It" that rent out race tracks all over the US, Particularly in the South East and Mid-West. Any help there would be great too, as to who would be best to run with. Respectfully, Park (Bill Bald)

[@racehemi426425]

Get a BRZ lower it down one inch, get fat tires. And have an amazing time. I bought my new 5 years ago and it's still super fun

[@Ispeedymg]

To all the people preaching this car needs stickier tired and a turbo: this car takes 92 octane gas, idk if yall remember what prices were like in 2012, but at peak prices this car would have cost ~$60 per full refuel. This car is enough fun stock, and at 33 mpg highway i’m more than happy saving every spare gallon of fuel. Best daily driver i’ve ever owned, didn’t break the bank to buy and has been cheaper than my old car (early 2010’s wrangler) at the pump. Going from my wrangler to my BRZ was like going from a school bus to a F-16.

[@ValkenDnB]

i love the winding roads where you live. that's a huge plus to even owning that car. here in california i have to go out of my way to find some or drive 15-20min to some canyons or mountain roads. long story short i ended up getting a 19' civic si sedan since i have a 2 year old. Going to trade it in for a brz once he turns 5.

[@hammer86_]

@Luis, Those sweet Cali canyons are on my bucket list (along with the Pacific Coast Highway). Not looking forward to driving across the country, though. We have some nice roads here in Maryland but they all have speed limit 35 :(

[@ValkenDnB]

cerberus65 iVe actually done a road trip from Cali to NY and found myself in Maryland. Really nice area but it is low speed limit as you say. Pacific coast is pretty cool. Though LA is a let down I would suggest going to San Diego if you do come

[@bk8230]

Simple mod. Get the bushing for the transmission cross member. Feels a lot better. I have done a lot of small stuff to mine. Even with a tune and header it won't be noticeably faster. Better, but forced induction is the way to go on these cars. Just not too much or you gotta build the engine. Getting some Michelin pilot sports will drop your mpg around 4 less. Worth it though.

[@EatSleepDrive]

Proper tires are definitely next on the list.

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

In what way does the tranny bushing make it feel better? Shift accuracy? Vibration?

[@TheChipMcDonald]

What does it do?

[@miguelfragoso7023]

Had it for almost a year and I’m comfortable saying I’ll never sell it. Owners of this car know its not about a fast 0-60 but about maintaining that speed around corners and curves not like those boats called muscle cars. To each their own tho🤷🏽‍♂️

[@joshuacstorlie]

I have had my 2015 BRZ series.blue for almost two years now. I’m still in the honeymoon faze!🥰 DD it all year, through Minnesota winters, and don’t regret buying it at all. Wouldn’t mind getting one of the AP’s that takes away the dead zone around 4K. But that’s about all that I would do to it beyond stock. Nice review though!

[@EatSleepDrive]

I'm planning a tune in the future, will report back how much it helps the torque dip.

[@joshuacstorlie]

Everything that I’ve seen in the other reviews state that is is light years better! I’ll keep an eye out for your version 👍🏼

[@iokua1120]

EatSleepDrive you could sell it for a car with actual torque?! Unless your trying to pick up High School girls.

[@barbaraperry2616]

Forgot to mention that my 2016 FRS was the last model with Scion badging.

[@jamescarson6681]

9:30 Would you say you get better steering feel out of the 86/BRZ over the 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata ND too?

[@jbalgo]

Yes, I've driven them all and the gt86 has better steering and fun

[@80s_Boombox_Collector]

Miata steering is too light.

[@TimMug]

I've always wondered if that torque dip is where usually a turbo would kick in the most, especially on these engines. Whatever tune they are on from factory seem like they were made for turbocharging.

[@raphaelbullock]

Hey, nice video! Would you recommend the BRZ for someone who drives in the city? I'd like to have a sporty feeling car, but the acceleration and the torque dip seem to be a big problem since I won't be able to enjoy its agility often. Would a Mustang Ecoboost or a GLI be more fun around town?

[@aura_daddy]

brz is only fun in the back roads or only on a track. get something faster if you dont have easy access to those

[@raphaelbullock]

@@aura_daddy You're right... I think I'd like to have a sporty car so bad that i'm in denial of my my situation haha

[@aura_daddy]

Raphael Bullock honestly regret getting my brz without testing driving one to the limit lol. i knew it wasnt fast but i dont have access to back roads or a track around my area

[@iokua1120]

Raphael Bullock I recommend all those cars to meet your next boyfriend.

[@EatSleepDrive]

For city driving you'll probably have more fun with something that has more torque. Like a GTI or a GLI like you mentioned. Turbo 2.0L will be so much better for quickly accelerating to gaps in traffic. i would stay away from a mustang for city driving just because of the size.

[@JourneymanVan]

Being a mechanical guy I can sense that u r in a comparison mode with a super car. Well this is not a super car at all. But it a a fun to drive city car. These engines are good without turbo, but being boxer engine, these engines give problem in head gasket if turbo is used. Other then this issue, these engines are still good to drift around in city with your friend.

[@kikiza123]

I’m hoping to get a BRZ for my next car as I’m getting into cars a bit more. Any good mods to look out for?

[@cosdonamo]

Had my valve springs done in october its been in the shop 3 times since then because they did a bad job. Bad for them that im a mechanic myself. (only let them do it because it was free) now regret it.

[@johnnothnagle4642]

I’ve had a very similar experience, engine one blew a rod and it’s been rebuilt three times in 5 months bc the dealership mechanics are to lazy to properly do warranty work

[@corndawgz]

I owned this car for 8 years now ever since I bought the 2012 FRS back in 2011 and a monogram in 2014 as a daily driver. the throttle issue? EASILY ignorable not important. torque curve? EASILY ignorable not important. I miss driving my FRS and always come back to driving it over my other cars. I own a 2017 F82 M4, 2010 Nissan Maxima, a 2013 370z which I sold for a 2016 mustang gt, and a 2019 Lexus RX450h.

[@martingregory5955]

I test drove one for my son the other week and ran away. First was revs up and down at idle(easy fix) then let the clutch out and a terrible noise then coming to your first comment, setting off wasn't easy as throttle response was all over the place. No good for a first car. He got a BMW Z4 instead but thanks for the info

[@tariqdacres7465]

Simple tune would've fixed it

[@alexduey7868]

a lot of you complaints about throttle mapping and weird power dips were fixed in later models but none of the frs's

[@thestarwarsgamer3258]

Very informative. Thank you

[@briando1026]

I’m a 13’ model at 80k. Also didn’t bring it for that recall but I got the car when it’s 60’k and it’s been going strong still (we also got the same color so this is neat for me)

[@briando1026]

Update 108k. Still runs no issues

[@TheBigDanois]

About the torque dip fix: Even with bolt-ons and a tune you still have to rev the titties off and stay up there. Also: it's a very loud and expensive extra 20hp.

[@johnSmith-lq2qw]

This is a great little car, but Toyota and Subaru missed the mark on several things. The FRS suspension is very unbalanced to the point of making it dangerous to push the car hard through a turn. Toyota made the rear suspension way softer than it should be on purpose so guys could drift in the car. BIG mistake...., it makes this car dangerous. A stiffer aftermarket rear sway bar is essential if you plan to push this car hard through turns. The pan under the engine is way to flat, it vibrates like crazy and makes the engine sound like a buzz box. Triple coating the pan with undercoating is the only way to keep the car from being a buzz box. The air intake is way too restrictive, it needs an aftermarket intake system. The car needs a lot of sound proofing to make it quieter. Other than that it's a great little car. The head unit in the the 2016 car is great for a factory head unit. With a staggered wheel setup and larger grippy tires the handling is amazing.