[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by spinny2559

Cheap tires should have nothing to do with the choice, excellent high performance tires are available at just over $100/piece. But the 200hp isn't what you should be looking at. The car is probably one of the best handling cars you can get for under $30K. Straight line distance it can be beat by many, but it is truly a sports car from the ground up. Incredible low center of gravity, again, lower than the Ferrari 458 Italia actually, and it is a curvy road beast. In a race around the track (not simultaneously) with a Mustang with the sports package (don't recall which one, but putting down 300+ HP), the BRZ came in at around 1:31, compared to the Mustang's 1:30 I believe. As far as handling, body roll and motion is incredibly low, and next to maybe the Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata, this thing is probably the best handling car under $35K you can get from a showroom. (I know I said 30K before, but I'm upping that).

Don't underestimate this car, it is a tiny beast.

But still, it's slow in a straight line with a peaky powerband 200hp is fine 151 ft/lbs of torque at 6400 rpm is not. They are not that cheap for 28K for a brz. It's a great car though for sure, based on lap times and what I've read. When I sat in the car it feels like cost cutting (interior and tires are the glaring things) has occurred in non vital places and that cost is not reflective in the price tag.

edit: tldr
Not everyone drives an autox course to work.

[SCM killa]

Originally Posted by Supra_MKIII

It's a 15+ year old mitsubishi. Even stock, it would be unreliable. Start adding boost and every part of your drivetrain will fail. You'll go through transmissions/transfer cases if you launch it all the time, etc. If it's got a VCU, that will be toast in a few launches...

If I had that amount of money, I'd get a newer BMW 335i. A couple of relatively cheap mods can add almost 100hp.

But I wouldn't launch it all the time.

Alright, so a more realistic budget is $15k. What should I be looking at?

[IBleed Arbor]

Originally Posted by SCM killa

But I wouldn't launch it all the time.

Alright, so a more realistic budget is $15k. What should I be looking at?

Low mileage 2005-07 wrx.

[SCM killa]

Not happening. I hate wrx's.

[IBleed Arbor]

Originally Posted by SCM killa

Not happening. I hate wrx's.

8th gen civic si. B5 s4. 04 r32.

[spinny2559]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

But still, it's slow in a straight line with a peaky powerband 200hp is fine 151 ft/lbs of torque at 6400 rpm is not. They are not that cheap for 28K for a brz. It's a great car though for sure, based on lap times and what I've read. When I sat in the car it feels like cost cutting (interior and tires are the glaring things) has occurred in non vital places and that cost is not reflective in the price tag.

edit: tldr
Not everyone drives an autox course to work.

A little less than 28K, but, seems like you haven't driven it. The way its geared makes 151 ft/lbs even at high RPM not seem at all like you're starved for power.
True that in straight line it's not super fast, if you want a fast straight line car for around $25K, a GTI or WRX is what I'd suggest. But if you want a true drivers' car actually built with race car tuning and drivability features, the BRZ is the best under $30K I'd have to say.

[Supra_MKIII]

Originally Posted by SCM killa

Not happening. I hate wrx's.

Evo?

S4?

E36/46 M3?

Is it going to be a DD or a weekend car?

[IBleed Arbor]

Originally Posted by spinny2559

A little less than 28K, but, seems like you haven't driven it. The way its geared makes 151 ft/lbs even at high RPM not seem at all like you're starved for power.
True that in straight line it's not super fast, if you want a fast straight line car for around $25K, a GTI or WRX is what I'd suggest. But if you want a true drivers' car actually built with race car tuning and drivability features, the BRZ is the best under $30K I'd have to say.

Gti? No. Wrx? Maybe.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by spinny2559

A little less than 28K, but, seems like you haven't driven it. The way its geared makes 151 ft/lbs even at high RPM not seem at all like you're starved for power.
True that in straight line it's not super fast, if you want a fast straight line car for around $25K, a GTI or WRX is what I'd suggest. But if you want a true drivers' car actually built with race car tuning and drivability features, the BRZ is the best under $30K I'd have to say.

I'm getting an m roadster until a supercharger kit come out for the BRZ/FRS

If after a year or two used ones pop up for a decent price I might snatch one up.

[spinny2559]

Originally Posted by IBleed Arbor

Gti? No. Wrx? Maybe.

I <3 Subarus. I will miss my Legacy every time I see one on the road. BUT, every Impreza, not so much the STI, but even the WRX is a 'parts bin' car. Interior wise, it is crap. I LOVE my Subarus but I will not hesitate to say that. On the other hand, the GTI has that Euro-styling that is simply not found in any other car in that price range and class.

Also, the GTI gets its max torque at around 2200 RPM, the WRX gets it at 4K, there is a lot to be said there, unfortunately.

[spinny2559]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

I'm getting an m roadster until a supercharger kit come out for the BRZ/FRS

If after a year or two used ones pop up for a decent price I might snatch one up.

Ahh, yes. A turbo charged BRZ. Now that will be something!!
I wonder if a cold air intake will do anything for the BRZ. A cold air intake did about 10 extra HP and 10-15 ft/lbs of mid-range torque to my original Legacy (naturally aspirated 4cl Boxer engine as well), so I'd assume it will provide similar results with the BRZ.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by spinny2559

Ahh, yes. A turbo charged BRZ. Now that will be something!!
I wonder if a cold air intake will do anything for the BRZ. A cold air intake did about 10 extra HP and 10-15 ft/lbs of mid-range torque to my original Legacy (naturally aspirated 4cl Boxer engine as well), so I'd assume it will provide similar results with the BRZ.

Who knows, I wonder what weight people have stripped them down too.

[IBleed Arbor]

Originally Posted by spinny2559

I <3 Subarus. I will miss my Legacy every time I see one on the road. BUT, every Impreza, not so much the STI, but even the WRX is a 'parts bin' car. Interior wise, it is crap. I LOVE my Subarus but I will not hesitate to say that. On the other hand, the GTI has that Euro-styling that is simply not found in any other car in that price range and class.

Also, the GTI gets its max torque at around 2200 RPM, the WRX gets it at 4K, there is a lot to be said there, unfortunately.

I drove the gti and hated it. I felt like I wasn't getting enough for the price tag in terms of luxury and performance. The new base wrx compared to the new base gti isn't much different in the interior.

EDIT: I ended up with a 2012 si, flame on.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by IBleed Arbor

I drove the gti and hated it. I felt like I wasn't getting enough for the price tag in terms of luxury and performance. The new base wrx compared to the new base gti isn't much different in the interior.

EDIT: I ended up with a 2012 si, flame on.

i didn't know what people were on about the si till i drove one, pretty fun cars and really cheap

[IBleed Arbor]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

i didn't know what people were on about the si till i drove one, pretty fun cars and really cheap

I don't think the price can be beat for what you get, but that's just me.

[Rampager2000]

I've driven some older ones and didn't like them much. But, this is my opinion.

Ehh, for 20k you can get a 205hp Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. It's cheaper.

[IBleed Arbor]

There are so many nice cars out there at every price point.

The spec-v, aside from ugly looks IMO, comes in with full torque at 1000 rpms more than the si with one less hp.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by Rampager2000

I've driven some older ones and didn't like them much. But, this is my opinion.

Ehh, for 20k you can get a 205hp Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. It's cheaper.

I like the newest/newer gen chassis for the civics a lot, haven't driven the spec-v to give an opinion

Would have bought the acura rsx type s if the resale value wasn't absurd and it actually had a LSD like the SI. I personally just prefer hatch backs.

[spinny2559]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

Who knows, I wonder what weight people have stripped them down too.

They come as low as 2600 out of the factory. Can get rid of the seats, but the back seats really don't look like they weigh too much (just a guess though).
I'm curious to see what happens. They had a BRZ STI concept, but I don't know if they had specs for it. They did claim it was also naturally aspirated though, I hope it's not another Z-like car (assuming they're not joking about no turbo).

[IBleed Arbor]

For what it is, the brz is an awesome car, Subaru lover or not.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by IBleed Arbor

For what it is, the brz is an awesome car, Subaru lover or not.

until you change the sparkplugs