MrH's BRZ Thread

[2o6]

If it doesn't fit, it won't happen.

[r0tor]

If there is room for an aftermarket system, there is room for an OEM system. 

[MrH]

Toyota put up the cash to make this thing happen. If Toyota doesn't want subaru to turbo charge it and walk away with all the sales, and it's not going to happen.

[MX793]

If there is room for an aftermarket system, there is room for an OEM system. 

The aftermarket doesn't have to worry about stuff like crash safety standards (pedestrian standards require a minimum amount of crush space between the hood and motor, for instance).

[r0tor]

The aftermarket doesn't have to worry about stuff like crash safety standards (pedestrian standards require a minimum amount of crush space between the hood and motor, for instance).

The aftermarket can't reengineer subframes and firewalls

[MrH]

You think an OEM would do that just to make a turbo version of the car...?

[AutobahnSHO]

You think an OEM would do that just to make a turbo version of the car...?

Yes. See the Cygnet v12 thread.
Of course that's more extreme, but they do have to do some body modifications to work it out.  See also the crazy multitudes of weird motors shoe-horned into cars they didn't belong in....     

Now, will Toyobaru actually do it?   I dunno. But sales and demand seem strong enough, they'd be dumb not to. They could sell the turbo FRS model as well....

[MX793]

Yes. See the Cygnet v12 thread.
Of course that's more extreme, but they do have to do some body modifications to work it out.  See also the crazy multitudes of weird motors shoe-horned into cars they didn't belong in....     

Now, will Toyobaru actually do it?   I dunno. But sales and demand seem strong enough, they'd be dumb not to. They could sell the turbo FRS model as well....

I'll be surprised if they make a dozen of those Cygnets.  They'll also probably sell for some atrocious price.  To be honest, I half suspect that the V12 Cygnet is a factory custom job for a handful of uber-wealthy Aston fans.  People like the royal family of Brunei who get one-off Ferraris made for them.

[AutobahnSHO]

I'll be surprised if they make a dozen of those Cygnets.  They'll also probably sell for some atrocious price.  To be honest, I half suspect that the V12 Cygnet is a factory custom job for a handful of uber-wealthy Aston fans.  People like the royal family of Brunei who get one-off Ferraris made for them.

Me too.  But what it does is gives the brand major street cred. Like the turbo'd up Subarus have done for their "lesbian ski car" image..

[r0tor]

You think an OEM would do that just to make a turbo version of the car...?

Depends on if they want the car to sell in decent numbers for more then a few years.  Sports coupes are universally known to have strong sales for a year or two and fall off the face of the earth.  One way to restart sales is coming out with a hotter version a couple model years into production - the germans typically do this to perfection.

Had mazda slapped forced induction onto the RX8, I believe it would probably still be around... they didnt have the funding for it.

[MX793]

Me too.  But what it does is gives the brand major street cred. Like the turbo'd up Subarus have done for their "lesbian ski car" image..

I'm pretty sure Subie only had the lesbian ski car image in North America.  They were building high performance, turbocharged versions of the Legacy and Impreza for other markets in the early 90s, they just didn't opt to sell them in North America until the early to mid 00s.

[MrH]

Yes. See the Cygnet v12 thread.
Of course that's more extreme, but they do have to do some body modifications to work it out.  See also the crazy multitudes of weird motors shoe-horned into cars they didn't belong in....     

Now, will Toyobaru actually do it?   I dunno. But sales and demand seem strong enough, they'd be dumb not to. They could sell the turbo FRS model as well....

Holy fuckin

Seriously?  You're going to say that subaru is going to be willing to change the entire fire wall and sub frame on a mass produced car,  because there's a rumor Aston Martin is going to do it a handful of times with the Cygnet? One, that's also a stupid rumor and unlikely to happen.  Two,  they'll make all of 5-10 of them.  Three,  it'll cost something stupid like $500k. It is absolutely nothing like this scenario at all.

[hotrodalex]

From the article Wimmer posted, the Aston is just a rumor for now, with only "studies" done - no actual V12 stuck in the car yet.

[AutobahnSHO]

Holy fuckin

Seriously?  You're going to say that subaru is going to be willing to change the entire fire wall and sub frame on a mass produced car,  because there's a rumor Aston Martin is going to do it a handful of times with the Cygnet? One, that's also a stupid rumor and unlikely to happen.  Two,  they'll make all of 5-10 of them.  Three,  it'll cost something stupid like $500k. It is absolutely nothing like this scenario at all.

I'm NOT saying "because". I'm saying many companies do sillier.

As pointed out, if an aftermarket setup will fit, I'm sure an OEM solution could too.

-How many BRZs and FRSs are sitting unsold on dealer lots again????
-How many have said the cars have too much horsepower???
-How many people have said "I'd buy it- if it had a turbo" ??

[MrH]

You know how many people on forums would claim they'd buy an M5 wagon with a manual transmission if it was for sale here?

And how many are sitting around on lots right now?  Zero.  They're not having trouble moving these at all.

Companies do sillier...but not for mass production vehicles.  You can't point to something like a Juke R and say "ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE!!!"

[Soup DeVille]

The aftermarket doesn't have to worry about stuff like crash safety standards (pedestrian standards require a minimum amount of crush space between the hood and motor, for instance).

Stupid rules, and there should be an exception for turbo plumbing anyways (I see no reason why a pressure pipe from a turbo can't be made to crush upon impact)

[Eye of the Tiger]

I want an FRS with exactly 200 HP.

[MrH]

Dropped a reverse bulb into the housing   Hour and a half later, I got the whole thing out, shook the bulb out, and reinstalled.  Ugh.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I can't believe the Velostet Turb amd Fiat 500 Abarth are $22K. Totally worth another $3K for a BReeZe.

[r0tor]

And how many are sitting around on lots right now?  Zero.  They're not having trouble moving these at all.
!!!"

Give it 2 years and see if thats still the case

[r0tor]

Dropped a reverse bulb into the housing   Hour and a half later, I got the whole thing out, shook the bulb out, and reinstalled.  Ugh.

Did that to my headlights... Had to take the front bumper off to get the headlight out to shake the bulb out

[MrH]

Did that to my headlights... Had to take the front bumper off to get the headlight out to shake the bulb out

It was so ridiculous, I had to just sit there and laugh at myself for awhile.  I was laying on my back, trying to fish it out with a pair of needle nose pliers, wrapped in duct tape to try and stick the bulb.

Ended up getting the duct tape stuck too.  Went to remove the whole bumper, but realized you had to remove EVERYTHING to do it.  Ended up being able to sneak it out of the bottom, but I snapped a clip off in the process.  Still secures in plenty fine with the 2 christmas trees and bolts, but it bothers me for some reason.  My right arm looks like it got attacked by a badger, because I had to jam it against the exhaust and do all of it by feel alone.

[MrH]

Give it 2 years and see if thats still the case

It's somewhere in the range of a 6-8 month waiting list right now...I think it'll hold ok for quite awhile.  Production simply can't keep up with demand, and they're running all out right now.  There just isn't many BRZs coming to the states period.  I think I've only seen 2 others in my entire area. 

Good friend of mine just got a black one though   Now I got someone to nerd out with about BRZs.  He was dead set on getting a Jetta GLI, was going to order it the next day, then he drove my car.  He has no idea how he's going to strap his bikes to the car, but he said it was good enough to drive, he just didn't care anymore.

[2o6]

I've seen a few FR-Ses, though.

[AutobahnSHO]

He has no idea how he's going to strap his bikes to the car, but he said it was good enough to drive, he just didn't care anymore.

DO NOT let him get a bumper rack, those things mess up the paint no matter how careful you are with them. That car looks too small for a good roofrack.

HITCH RACK. Hitch will be $100-200 but you can get all sorts of different racks.  I like this one, it was about $130 at performancebike.com



You can get much cheaper racks too.

[MrH]

He knows not to do a bumper rack.  There's no where for a hitch on this car.  The exhaust hangs right where a hitch would go.

I think he's going to remove the wheel and throw it in the back with the seats down for the time being

[AutobahnSHO]

He knows not to do a bumper rack.  There's no where for a hitch on this car.  The exhaust hangs right where a hitch would go.

I'm sure someone will make a hitch- it might be lower than usual, but...

OR- I hate to say it, but punch a 3" square hole throught the bumper and weld a receiver right to the frame..  (pretty much invalidates the point of bumpers though!  )

[S204STi]

http://www.speedhunters.com/2012/11/avo-brz/

[MrH]

It's tempting. I'm waiting to see what the Vortech supercharger ends up looking like.  I think that might end of being a better option.

[MrH]

Alright, question time.  Need some opinions.

First up, summer wheels and tires.  I'm leaning towards some stock STI BBS wheels.  Something like these would look good and let me run some wider rubber without completely breaking the bank.  I like the look of them better than anything the aftermarket really has.  I've seen them in silver, gunmetal, black, adn gold. Thoughts? Which color?



Also, the taillights will finally get wrapped this weekend.  As for the interior, what is everyone's thoughts are wrapping the interior silver panel in Subaru Rally Blue instead?  I don't know why, but I really don't like how cheap the painted silver looks.