Hi all,

Obviously as of now they haven't been released yet, but what do you think? I'm very interested. How do you think they would match up against our MINIs??

From what I've read the base price will be around 25k. I'm sure an optioned one will put it closer to 30k.

 

It would certainly be a different animal. More of a real sports car than our 'hot hatches.' I am interested in driving one. The rumored base price is also very appealing.

 

Anyone else bothered by the torque figure? So low at such a high rpm, doesn't sound fun to drive unless you are getting on it, like a RX-8, Honda S2K, M3 ?

Maximum output 200hp @ 7,000 rpm
Maximum torque 151 lb.-ft. @ 6,600 rpm

 

According to the magazines, the torque curve is pretty flat from around 2500rpm to it's peak. They have said it is NOT a peaky engine like the S2000 or RX-8.

Personally, I like the Scion a lot. I think it will be a fantastic sports car, like a hardtop Miata with a bit more power.

 

So my comparison is a little off, good point. But such low torque can't be that fun can it?

 

They will more than likely be faster than MINIs stock..

 

Just wait for the turbo version

 

I am definitely interested, but I do agree that torque is what makes MINIs fun as DDs. With the AP especially, I can be sitting in the wrong gear and still have plenty of grunt to pass if needed.

A turbo version would be awesome....but I've read that Subaru/Toyota may not have plans to make a FI version. This is more of a corner carver like the miata. As of now, the compresson also doesn't look too great for FI.

 

The articles I have read about it are calling it the next drift machine, not sure how with the lack of torque. Maybe I am just hung up on that one figure but it's cool, glad they made it jointly, but not for me.

 

There is a vid on youtube and it appears to be very good at drifting in stock form - but I can't remember the track might have been damp.

I do wonder how it would be like to drive compared to a MCS or JCW on the street with the lower torque figures. On a track I would bet it would trounce a stock MCS, but maybe not a JCW due to the brakes.

I'm very glad it is being released - looks like quite the drivers car.

 

The cars are cool; however, I can't forgive Toyota. Yet again, Tiyota exploits another company to try and come out on top. Can they even design their own engines for small sports cars. Just like the 7th Gen FAILicas (not a bad chassis), who's engines were designed by Yamaha, now they get a boxer engine from Subaru and will probably take the credit for it.

 

Guess who makes the engines for these cars:



Toyota/Subaru wanted to use the boxer engine because of the low center of gravity, and no one makes better boxer engines than Subaru (except maybe Porsche sans RMS issues).

 

As far as I know, Porsche and Subaru are the only makers of boxer engines.(currently)

 

Saw one today. Theyre ugly

 

In my opinion at least

 

Very true! Although I believe BMW makes them for motorcycles.

 

As well as I think either Yamaha or Honda, i'm not sure which, have a horizontally opposed configuration on one of the cruisers (baggers?)

 

Saw a BRZ on the road last week. Thought it looked rather nice.

 

Someone is selling one on Craiglist for a STEAL!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/3046634547.html

 

It's right near me - I'll run down and get it.

$38,000 for a $24,000 car. I think not.

 

Seen the pre production one in January. Drove it in March, Drove the production one last week. I will drive it again, maybe get one.

 

Saw a truck trailer filled to the brim with BRZs headed towards Seattle. Probably will be seeing them out on the roads soon enough.

 

Has anybody seen one of these in person yet? I stopped by a local Toyota/Scion dealer today and they didn't have any on the lot. They said I could order one then if I didn't want it it would be 'no hard feelings' and they'd have one for the lot....not terribly sure I want to go through with that considering I'm not interested in buying a new car.

After doing some research, I'm not sure the fr-s/brz will be a better performer than the MINI. Acceleration to an r56 won't be much better and handling sounds comparable especially with the brz having some understeer. It is a very tempting car but I think the MINI beats it because it's a nicer car on the inside. Nav, double sunroof, bluetooth, integrated iPod, heated seats, etc. A lot of those options...well...aren't options on the scionaru. I think I'm still more interested in an s2000.....

 

I saw the subaru version coming home from vacation last week. I came home and looked it up. Then tonight I saw a commercial for the scion version. I thought "that looks like the subaru I saw. I cant believe they would have two identical models but different car companies. its not like its toyota and scion... its scion and subaru?!?!

 

There are a few differences between the BRZ and the FR-S or whatever Scion is calling it. Suspension i think, but I can't recall. I look forward to test driving the BRZ. It's not a "fast" car (especially by Subaru standards.) but a 200HP NA engine with RWD and designed to be wound up and driven hard, sounds like my kind of car.

By all accounts there is no Turbo version in the works.

Here's the new commercial:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jmVHaEjT8A