A friend of mine picked up his new Subaru BRZ around a week ago and asked me if I’d be interested in taking it out for a spin. Since it’s one of the hottest cars right now along with the Toyota 86 I really wanted to try it out. The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 were developed jointly by Toyota and Subaru. The 86 refers to the original Toyota Corolla AE86 which has a very large cult following all over the world.
There are currently two BRZ’s in Kuwait, an automatic and a manual gear version. My friend has the manual one and since I hadn’t driven stick shift since 1996 I was looking forward to it. Embarrassingly, I spent the first half hour getting the hang of the stick shift with my friend sitting next to me while we drove around his neighborhood. I was so bad that he got car sick and told me to drop him back home and bring the car back whenever I was done. Things got better after that since I had less pressure and once I hit the highways it was smooth sailing.
The car is pretty compact and cozy. The interior is simple and very plasticky which is fine except for the fact the BRZ in Kuwait comes with a really cheap looking 90s style CD player radio unit which would be the first thing I’d personally throw out of the car. Everything else I could live with but the stereo is just too retro for my taste. The AC is great and the very simple LED screen in the dash shows the outside temperature as well as what gear number you’re in. It’s all very basic but that’s really how the car should be.
The car is a rear wheel drive but the steering has a lot of feel to it. It’s very precise and probably my favorite part in the car. It’s not a powerful or really fast car by any means but if you’re a fan of the car you already know that. Handling wise the car is supposed to be great but I wasn’t really able to explore that since I didn’t speed nor did I take the car to any track. But the car did feel light and very agile.
The BRZ costs around KD8,500 but is currently very difficult to get a hold of one. The dealer is getting just one more BRZ from now till the end of the year and I think it’s already sold. It’s a pretty fun car that’s affordable and like the Toyota 86 will probably end up selling like hot cakes.
23 replies on “The Subaru BRZ”
Mark,really thanks for this post about the BRZ.
“Big Subaru Fan”
Nah.. For me this is not Subaru π 8500KD for Toyota with Subaru logo? No, thanks!
I hate all Toyota cars except Land Cruiser. So, if they will make Land Cruiser with Subaru logo, no problem π
Really Biggest Subaru fan π I’m currently driving my third Subaru (Legacy) and before I had two Subaru Forester.
It’s a car that’s meant to be simple, so yea, having a simple 90s CD or plasticky interior doesn’t really matter. Thanks. π
It is supposed to be a fun car.
Both the BRZ and Toyota 86 are manufactured in the same Subaru factory
I read a review of both the 86 and brz , they said the toyota had the edge over subaru .
I read a review too, but they said the subaru had the edge over the toyota.
Subaru will definitely be rarer in Kuwait π
Suddenly π Because of this I can’t find any parts except their service center and prices for part in Behbehani is really f…ing expensive π
its designed with the assumption that it will be modified.
I saw an 86 on the gulf road over the weekend, had quite a boy racer body kit on it………..i liked it despite the looks being faster than the car actually is.
Excellent value!
I have the toyota 86 pearl white one with Aero body kit automatic. I get it from alsayer 9400 kd, really a fun to drive car
Anyone know how much does it cost ?
I think the car makes sense for the US market for sure. Great looking car, cheap, good handling, however with a not so great 0-60 etc. Unfortunetly think this will either be the next camaro / mustang in Kuwait or that “market group” will think its too slow to have fun in and therefore we wont see many around which is always better π
Hate seeing the same car in kuwait x 1000000
Why are subaru so slow in bringing the car. Dont they know that this car could help them in their sales.
Most people who know about the 86 and BRZ favor the BRZ.
This may be the only other car I would look it if I walked into the Subaru dealership. My first choice would be the STI Coupe in dark grey. Now that’s a car.
Not bad looking the BRZ.
Does it have a short shifter? Do you have to rev it to redline (almost) get to zoom or is there a sweet spot?
This (along with the 86) would be prime candidates for drifters.
If Honda hadn’t killed off the S2000 – it would have given these two a good run for the money.
They don’t make STi coupes. They only have the hatchback and sedan, both a 4 doors. Coupe=2 doors.
All the power on the BRZ is mid range to top end, gotta rev it. Honda S2000 would be a great match, except its heavier and not as well balanced.
Yeah the hatch, not the sedan. Thanks for the clarification.
The car seems a bit too slow but at least the dimensions and sports seat are something that fits the philosophy of the car.
Obviously this car is meant to modified but Subaru and especially roustabout should sell the parts they recommend to be installed such as a turbo charger or super charger. Those don’t void the warranty on the car. The other problem is when they designed their car with mods to be installed did they put a chip that can handle more hp, and assuming the other parts are up to speed as well.
It just looks like bad business by car companies by selling a shell of the car, and not maximizing their profits with the really intention of the car as a sports car.
There are luxury sedans with better timing than these cars but they are also V6 engines, but the point is it’s meant to be a sports car, and they are selling the shell with the other parts that can compete with luxury sedans. Kinda pathetic.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Elise#section_1
That was in 1990s, and 20 years later they can’t make an affordable sports car.
Light car, low to the ground, wide. Small engine for fuel efficiency, and weight… With a turbo charger.
And the link dies not have a turbo carver in the car with less power and better times than a 2012 car using ‘new’ technology.
Cars are just like legos. But it seems some people are using bad pieces to build their little sand castle with.
Google Subaru BRZ 0-60
got this:
“a 0-60 time that rivals that of some minivans β 7.3 seconds”
LOL
Toyota and Subaru has is trying to change the concept of a sport car. Usually when you talk to a persona bout a sport car the first 2 things they ask is the HP and 0-60. The GT86 and the BRZ is concentrating on the feel and the feedback giving the driver the full control of the car, and helping them in developing the driving skills, time will tell if this is the new concept of a sport car.
I disagree. This is not a “new” concept as this “concept” has been around for a long time. This is the oldest concept of a sports car, balance and finesse. Other cars include miatas, rx7’s, NSX, Lotus. But you are right in the cars high priority on feedback for the driver. I think this is what they are trying to revive, the love of driving!
Cars like this are fun because you can drive them 10/10th on the street as opposed to a Vette where you have to drive the car at about 7/10ths on the street.
Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ and Sion FRS are the same car with different badges and bumpers ( and few minor differences). Handling wise, The 86 is slightly softer overall and has a tendency to oversteer. The BRZ is little stiffer with more racy feel at the limits. Its only Springs rates and dampers settings. Not sure about the camber, toe and caster angles though.
This car is meant to be a good handling car and inexpensive to buy and to maintain. We will see a lot of parts in the aftermarket for this car which is great, unfortunately we donβt have a race track to enjoy it. Thatβs why people tend to buy muscle cars in Kuwait. They have an excuse.