2013 Subaru BRZ Limited in Graphite Gray, at Mastro Subaru in Tampa
So, my car is listed for sale. All I can do now is wait for the offers to pour in. Just so happens that my best gal pal is also in the market for a vehicle, so we decided to do the conventional thing and head out on a sweltering Saturday for some test drives.
Following an unsuccessful attempt to kick the tires of a 6-speed manual Volkswagen GTI (or any VW model for that matter) at Kuhn, Paul and I moved on to investigate the focus of his car search: the Subaru BRZ.
For those unfamiliar, this is not a typical, family-friendly Subaru. It was jointly developed with Toyota as a purist two-door sports coupe, somewhere between the discontinued Supra and Celica…and is sold in the US as both a Scion (as the FR-S), and a Subie.
The BRZ brings a sharky snout (vs. something like a catfish for the FR-S), and fistful of more upmarket options and features, and is priced accordingly. Paul is particularly interested in some of the tech, like xenon headlamps and keyless access/start…so though he has been a loyal Toyota customer, his sights were on the more expensive and…grown up…version.
Of course, during the test drive, Paul swapped with me so I could give ‘er a whirl. I was surprised at how nice the leather felt in my hands, how clear and crisp the gauges were, how German-heavy the steering was, and how meaty and short the throws were on the manual shifter. Metal pedals and Alcantara seats embellished the sporty, high-quality feel.
Driving the Subaru BRZ
The engine is neat too. It’s unique Boxer design and layout mean it is lower to the ground, makes uncommonly low, growly rumbles, and responds differently. I found it to have good response from a stop, a dip in 2nd and 3rd gear, and then a surge of overtaking power in 4th and 5th gears. I pushed it harder and more aggressively than Paul did, and I was not disappointed.
Despite my allegiance to Mini, VW, and the rest of the Euros, I was honestly impressed by the BRZ. It’s not a practical vehicle, and not one I would consider a contender in my own car search. It’s back seat is nearly microscopic, and its trunk is small. I’ve enjoyed relative utility with my current extended-body Mini, and I’d get something similar out of a GTI. But, from a driving enjoyment perspective, I can see why Paul is so excited.
If you’re in the market for something high-quality, with a solid warranty backing, and premium features, and live in an Aeon Flux, Fifth Element, Jaws kind of world, then you’d probably like the BRZ.
Or, if you just want to go drive one, I’m sure George Hios at Mastro Subaru will indulge you. Check it out!
