you're right to complain about the sound system. I have friends who are automotive engineers and they often lament the fact that $20 extra per car could bring the system to a whole other level. And it is increasingly difficult to just "upgrade" in the aftermarket. The average buyer is not going to want to crack a digital bus and add a time-delay processor and amp.
Subaru has been horrible about that for a while. I had a 2014 WRX and the audio system was absolutely garbage. Like McDonald’s speakers all around. That, and the receiver could only hold 1 Bluetooth device in memory at a time. Total bummer. I thought they fixed that for the 15+ generation
I’m most likely getting the 86, leaning towards it but it has the same audio. I’ve never done audio work, but I’m a former mechanic. Would like to upgrade it when I get the car. What should I need?
@@Salvaba Basically, the first thing I used to ask a customer before an install is 'how far do you want to go?". Most folks want sound quality to approx. double. Back in the day this was ultra-easy. Today it is harder. What I would do is first get the specs on the factory speakers. They are the "low hanging fruit". You need to know impedance info. That's critical. It looks like the BRZ has re-purposed aftermarket head-unit, which is good for the installer. Usually it means no proprietary digital bus system, or wacky impedances. We always kept a list of the most sensitive speakers, that also sounded good. Back in the day, Infinity had the best high sensitivity products. What this means to you is that you get more sound per watt. It takes 100% more power to raise 3dB. So if a speaker is 3dB more sensitive, it needs half the AMP power to drive to the same levels. Once you swap the speakers, you have your first check-stage. If U are happy, you stop. If not.....we always added a self-powered subwoofer with signal derived from the rear speakers. You lose the rears, but who cares. No concert ever plays from the back door. Luckily, there are still aftermarket subs made to do this. If you still are not satisfied, we would then put an AMP into the system. (if the head unit only had 12Watts of power, we would likely do this sooner than later!). But when I was an installer we'd go: Speakers-->sub-->Amp-->signal processor/Eq--> time delay system.
Just purchased my BRZ last week (thankfully no dealer markup) and i can agree, road noise is pretty loud and the radio is fairly medicore. Still small price to pay, and i love the Car.
I have the 1st gen, 1st to 2nd shift is painful when not revving high, but I found what works for me is rev it to about 4k, and then upshift, makes it less painful, but still have to wait almost a full second before I can let the clutch out. Still a car I love to death.
Depending on which type of MT fluid your car's require GF4 or GF5. If its gf4 this Motorcraft XTM5QS full syn fluid is like liquid magic for pesky synchros. Its pricy but exclent, secret for the S2000, RX8 and Miata, guys. Mostly Assin 6 speed cars.
@@zydomason 1) double clutch doesn't help shift up synchro engagement 2) double clutch doesn't fix rev hang. The main issue is that the entry rev speed has to be excessively higher than engaging shafts rev speed for 1-3 gears. Applying double clutch mates the rev speed between engine and engaging shaft, which makes it harder to shove in synchros. I think this is due to triple clutch synchro setup with OEM transmission oil that slips too much. Changing the transmission oil to a higher quality (sticky?) helps tremendously + shifter rear/torqueing bushing swap makes it more direct for shifting. With sticky oil, proper mission oil warm up plus pre-lubricating synchros before driving off makes night and day difference, especially in cold temp. For the rev hang, it is not super bad by itself, but since 1st to 2nd rev drop is high + starting rev has to be high, the rev hang just feel awfully long under normal condition. On aggressive driving condition, people just need to learn to slowly drop clutch, mate the engine to the transmission and reengage gas seamlessly.
The previous generation had an OEM armrest that you can order. It’ll likely be the case with this one as well so lets see if Toyota/Subaru follows through.
All your complaints are nonsense, pretty subjective. Its a Sport car, its not expensive, your complaints are not performance oriented, they are subjective. You want better interior, finish, better audio go to a premium brand ....or put aftermarket stuff to your car. ....period
Good to see these reviews as this is a potential future car. Surprising to hear about the amount road noise for a non-convertible and Rev hang for a NA engine. How does the road noise compare to a ND Miata (RF or soft-top) and S2000 with top up?
The rev hang is programmed in for emission purposes. Turbo doesn’t automatically make your car have rev hang, once you let off the throttle to shift, you block off the throttle body and all intake and turbo air anyways (which then either gets released by a blowoff valve or recirculated with a bypass valve). You can get rid of it with just a simple tune tho.
@@kunfupandarofl Good points. I guess the rev hang is becoming the norm in many cars, but the FK8 Type R is well tuned as it is much better than the SI on the rev hang department
I’d just like to say that I do not own a brz however I do own a 2019 fa20 powered wrx, in regards to the rev hang I’m willing to bet subaru carried over their sneaky perfect rev match up shift feature. All you need to do is disregard what your tach is showing you and go ahead and shift at a faster pace almost as if you were at WOT just remember to keep your foot completely off the gas until you are fully in gear and released the clutch. In essence the ecu already knows how fast you’re going in your current gear and also what rpm it will need to be at once you have upshifted the car is waiting on you (also this works for stock tune va generation wrx’s) please try this and report back to us to help spread this info!! Ps please like this comment so he can see it!
I found that if you adjust your clutch pedal to have that bite point couple inches off the floor rather than really uptop like it came from factory, it doesn't feel rev hangy. This will ensure gas input happens much more in sync with the release of clutch. Revs do drop slower than last gen. But it doesn't linger around like most hondas.
So glad I found your video , having just test drove the car with the intent to buy one. Im 6’2” and the first thing I noticed was the door arm rest..my elbow falls right in the hole. Also too much hard plastic and yes too much noise , this is not car for long drives. We are big Subie fans but with all the little things I didn’t like Im taking a pass..and Im going to wait and drive the new WRZ soon. Here I thought is was just me ..Being 68 years old so I felt very vindicated after watching your video. Thanks Go bear
Hmm, these issues are pretty similar to my 2017 GT-86. Rev hang less so, but low speed driving is somewhat tedious/jerky do the the aggressive throttle mapping.
I’d also like to add that subaru most likely carried over a similar system regarding down shifts, give the car a big boot on the gas every time you are about to downshift again the ecu knows what you are doing. Basically hit the gas all the way in the same way you would clutch kick just a very quick full pedal input and immediately release while releasing the clutch. You may have instinctively been doing this already but if not you’ll notice no matter how fast you were going downshifting in this way always yields an effortless perfect downshift (works for va wrx’s and last gen brz’s guys!!)
I had a 17 WRX and sold it mostly because of the rev hang and just terrible power delivery. I didn't buy the previous 86 because of the torque dip. It felt terrible. I was trying to wait for this new 86, but i wound up buying a Miata RF last year. I'm so glad I didn't wait for this thing with more rev hang. The Miata basically just pulls harder as the revs climb, and the revs drop when you let off. In other words, it works like it's supposed to. I'm sure it's not, but it feels faster than the WRX just because it delivers the power correctly. We're running out of fun little cars and the WRX and previous and current generation of 86 are all ruined just because they can't get the engine tuning right. I'm much more interested in feeling fast over being fast. I haven't driven a new 86 yet, but if there's rev hang, I'm gonna be sticking with the Miata.
@@patrickbateman7122 Agreed.I don''t know if it was just the terrible tuning, but the WRX felt like it hated to rev. I only drove last gen 86's a few times, but they didn't feel good either.
@@Jin-ef7rq I have the Bose in my RF and I can hear it with the top down up to about 75 before it really gets drowned out. I had the premium WRX (no Harmon Kardon) and i couldn't hear it at 75 with the windows up.
The road noise is probably mostly from your factor summer tires....and of course the fake noise the pipe in....(that can be disconnected) AM/FM stations are suspect at best.....XM sounds better.....Using a real streaming platform from your phone sounds best. There are a ton of eq setting that you can adjust to your particular style of music that you enjoy. Put your water bottle in the cup holder on the door. Put your phone in the dual cup holder compartment/slash arm rest.....close the arm rest.
That rev annoying delay is do to emissions, after you cut the fuel the throttle will remain open for a little bit to burn any fuel residue left behind the intake valve. Another aspect that can add to worsen the problem is the weight of the flywheel, I don't say that this second situation is specific for the brz, but it is a factor to consider
I have a 2022 Limited 6MT that I daily drive (1500 miles so far) and love it...but elbow thing is real, my left elbow ends up in that cut out on the door handle, it's not comfortable, for right elbow I usually keep the cupholder lid closed and rest the phone towards the back part, that way at least I can rest my right elbow on the padded part (and the pads are very soft). Visibility is a little limited for me, I was merging from left and needed to cross several lanes of traffic to make a right turn, usually I like to look back over my right shoulder to see whats in the next few lanes to the right of me, the C pillars are wide enough it makes it pretty hard. I agree, audio isn't good. Another thing I really dislike is when using Apple Carplay and using GPS (Waze/Google) you can't swipe the map with your finger if you want to see whats off screen. The glovebox sticks out too far, it's not lighted and it's pretty small. I do notice the rev hang at normal driving speeds but as you said I don't notice it as much when driving it hard. Overall I'm still really glad and fortunate to own one and I look forward to driving it everyday!
@@Zygrene hate it! I think I saw a video of someone successfully finger swiping using Android but with Apple it seems you're stuck with using those annoying arrows. sux!
The center console elbow positioning is driving me crazy. I keep hitting the button to open the lid with my elbow, and then when I put my right elbow back on the console it falls in the gap.
As a 22 BRZ Limited AT owner I can say that most of your complaint's don't apply to me. The phone living in the center console cupholder is just fine, because I do all my shifting with paddles on the steering wheel. The compartment can be closed with a phone in it, USB A-C with a right angle A does the trick. Road noise, eh, I just came from a lifetime of shitboxes that are about 3 magnitudes louder than this car. I'm happy with how loud it gets, highway driving hasn't made music any harder to enjoy. The rev hang was quite apparent until around mile 300 the car informed me that it was changing from shifting level 0 to level 3 and it said I was a more aggressive driver, rev hang reduced significantly. I wonder what nanny system is doing that, because it's obviously not the AT, your MT does it too.
Rev hang problem is most likely caused by the throttle body and not the tranny. A remap of the ecu should solve the problem easily since the throttle body is not complete closed in between gear change
How’s the transmission overall I had an 15 FRS Automatic and zero complaints on it. You really need to have it on power and vsc sport mode on and it’s snappy I mean for an automatic Aisin A960E that’s been out since 2006 is still impressive. It’s funny how every youtuber bitches on the automatic.
A lot of folks don’t like the new rear end, personally, I too find the previous model to look MUCH better from the backside with the spoiler especially!
One thing i do really hate on a lot of new cars is how low the manufacturers are mounting the reverse lights. Honda made this mistake with the pilot for one year and quickly realized how bad it was. They were smart enough to change it
I was seriously considering trading my 128i and going to a 22' brz. But my #1 concern was interior stuff and seeing how 4 out 5 of your complaints were interior related... think ill stay with the 128i! 👍🏽
If the 128i is anything like my brother’s 135i then be prepared for unscheduled repairs as you put on miles. He had tons of problems with the HVAC/blower system ($2500 repairs each time something failed every 6 months, but there were some warranty repairs in there as BMW warranties their work for like 1 or 2 years after the first time) and the fuel system having failures. I loved the older BMW’s, but his experience with the 135i was enough for me to forever stay away from modern turbo bmw, at least outside of warranty. Hopefully you have had a better experience, it sounds like you like the car and plan to keep it so I’m guessing it hasn’t been bad for you. A BRZ/GR86 is going to be a very different commuting experience than a BMW, so if your main concern is daily comfort you might want to stick with the plusher German cars.
@@joeracer302 the 128i has been good so far. Knock on wood! I have a late model, The last of the hydrolic steering, naturally aspirated, strait 6 bmw's! Based on being the end of the run I'm thinking everything is sorted. On track I am neck and neck with BRZ/FRS's (gen1?). Swapped cars with a frs owner for a session, and man the FRS is FAR more enjoyable on the track and the BMW far more enjoyable for daily duties. Perfect car for me is someplace in the middle, a moded 128i or a more refined fully optioned 22 brz/86. Driving the 2 back to back is truly an interesting comparison! FRS is a SPORTS car and 128 is a SPORTY car. They achieve same results but accomplish them in completely differnt ways!
@@petert7807 the I6 NA BMW are the safe bets . I’d love to still grab a 128i in manual or maybe an E46 even if its just the base motor as long as it’s manual these cars are the last of the modern refined analog cars.
Always loved the versatility, size, and classic RWD dynamics of the 1 series but it's a compromised driving experience compared to the much more focused BRZ/86. Probably more enjoyable as a daily though!
Useful info you might not notice on a test drive, Thank you. How is the clutch/shifter compared to the S2000? How is the fuel consumption? Looks fantastic in that blue!
Was fun to see you follow another 22 in traffic - gave a sense of actually seeing it on the road. I’d be disconnecting that “active sound” speaker - sounds digital like a 2005 driving game :D
I had the first gen 86 and am thinking to get the new one. As I really enjoyed it in the past, the road/wind noise really bothered me. I wish I could hear engine noise more than road noise. Some reviewers say the road noise is tempered in the new generation and the platform is better. May I know your opinions? Thanks
get a $60 active noise canceling headphone from Amazon and you are good to go. Spending hundreds thousands of dollars on sound deadening+audio system upgrade for these types of cars is just waste of money nowadays. I think 2nd gen road noise is lower due to tires + wheel changes. When I sat on 2nd gen with the doors closed, the ambient noise penetration wasn't noticeably different from my 1st gen.
Really looking forward to your long term impressions, thanks for sharing! Do you plan to PPF the front bumper or ceramic coat the paint? I had a 2013 BRZ for 7 years and while the rest of the car’s paint looked great with basic detailing, the front bumper and front half of the hood very quickly degraded (LOTS of paint chips) with normal highway driving. It’s definitely something I plan to do with the new GR86. Any plans to add lower eccentric camber bolts before the first track day?
One of the thing I'm not a big fan of the BRZ is the way it sounds (at least when I listen to from the video, but I should listen in-person bit more)... the engine just doesn't sound as "raspy" or "punchy" compared to AE86, and S2000. Hopefully changing the muffler and exhaust will make the engine sounds better
I have an ND MX-5, and did the sound tube delete modification. It helps more when the top is down. When I watched the review done by "Everyday driver" on this car, they mentioned the engine sound getting piped in to the interior, and the need to reduce it. I would think that there will be a way to reduce some of that interior noise eventually?
Might consider some sound deadening solutions to improve the road noise / stereo. Did that in my Civic 10th gen and noticed a huge difference. Even doing the trunk alone helps especially with mid bass!
@@Zygrene yeah. Honestly Fenton even a bit of it in the trunk would really help with helping the bass shine a bit without distorting… you really don’t need much of it to make it work.
@@scottanthony3426 just used the Noico 80 mil all around. Likely will layer with some closed cel foam but tbh I wish I would’ve rather gotten something better like Soundskins instead. Still pleased with the results but makes the car feel more solid all around
@ 06:53 I paused to appreciate this photo and noticed this is my local safeway here in Milpitas! No wonder the drive looked so beautiful, the bay area has some of the best scenic backroads to drive. Calaveras Road is one of my favorites
I would be more concerned about not being able to shift into gear then my phone being crushed. Rev matching means you want the RPMs to be the same when shifting gears. That allows smoother shifting and max power. Great video overall keep it up.
400 miles on mine. I disconnected the "piped" in engine noise. I would recommend doing it. Will make a big difference. Yeah, the sound system really really sucks. Even for a $31k car, the speakers are such crap. I think the guy who ergonomically designed the interior must be 85 years old and doesn't even know what a cell phone is. One thing that drives me nuts is the teeny weenie lock unlock buttons and when you lock the car while you're driving, most will automatically unlock when you pull the door handle but not this car. I just don't understand what they were thinking on some of the interior designs.....
@@SMITHZAC000 I went out to the garage as soon as I saw your reply and tried it but nope, still locked. May be just mine but you're stuck manually unlocking it.
Curious - what difference did you notice after disconnecting the sound pipe? I don't mind the augmented engine sound at high rpm to be honest. And at low rpm the engine is quiet enough.
@@Zygrene With it connected, I kept hearing this tinny, light rattling sound as if someone was taking aluminium foil and trying to use that as a speaker. Once I disconnected it, it was interesting to hear just the actual engine noise. It was a better sounding interior, at least for me.
@@michelfortier9563 That sounds like the speaker cable is ran along the engine and is picking up interference. Disconnecting the speaker is one fix, but rerunning the speaker cable with better cable could also solve the tinny light rattling sound.
Thanks for the video man. I'm keeping my eye on this car, I think I'm going to buy this generation of BRZ/86. I was surprised to hear about the rev hang, it's probably for environmental/eco reasons as you mentioned. Also the paint looks very nice, great choice 👍.
My dad and stepmom have a 2023 BRZ. I drove it a few times. I love the car and I love driving it but the rev hang would drive me nuts if it was my car. I have a 2023 WRX and my car has no rev hang whatsoever and I love the car because of it. I had a 2020 Si Coupe before the WRX and the Si had tons of rev hang and it drove me up the fucking wall. I hated driving the car because of it. I agree with you 100% there. Rev hang is crazy annoying. I'm glad Subaru fixed it in the WRX's. It's half of the reason I got rid of my Si. Couldn't stand driving it because of that. As much as I love driving the BRZ, I'm glad it's not my car. The rev hang would completely kill the driving experience for me if I had to put up with it on a daily basis again.
I have a 2018 Si and it has a setting for audio called " neural " it makes you feel as if you're at a concert tbh, but even when you turn the bass up it doesn't really do anything, mines up almost all the way and the bass still sounds a bit flat but bass is noticeable,but overall the audio in it makes you feel immersed in the music and can drown out the road noise, also alot of features you said you wish the brz had I have in my civic I just noticed
@@MrSodaBelly hell yeah, the bass part I figured out cause my treble setting was set all way up for some reason, the sou d system in it is pretty damn good I'll say, im coming from a 2008 so it's a massive improvement for me, I think the civic has 10 speakers total I read somewhere with DTS surround sound or " neural " as they call it
We have been duped into thinking 30k is cheap. I remember when corvettes were 30k new and I’m not a old man. They have plenty of money in the pot for true r&d that shouldn’t cause the price to skyrocket.
Great feedback, it was between this and the GTI, I think I'll still with GTI. BTW $30 is a nice chunk of change, shouldn't have to apologize for not having simple things like a decent stereo or armrests.
I really can't understand the rev hang complaint. I own a 2015 Civic Si. It has a 2.4l NA 4 cylinder and also has rev hang from the factory. Obviously, if you plan on tuning your car, this shouldn't even be a complaint. But if you aren't I still don't see the issue. When I drive my car aggressively and shift at higher RPM, rev hang is pretty much non existent. When I'm cruising and shifting between 3-4k RPM every gear it's obviously more prominent but other than the sound that it gives off how is it an issue ? Even if you shift fast, the car does not jerk so why the complaint ? Just shift normally and let the car do it's thing and all you're dealing with really is the SOUND of the rev hang. The whole elbow room, cabin noise and cheap sound system I have gotten used to in my girlfriends '16 FRS. Then again hers isn't stock and I much prefer hearing that engine anyways. Also like how you mentioned with the amazing seating position and such a well tuned chassis the car just "feels" like a race car. It wants to be thrown into corners and revved out. It wants to be driven hard and it will reward you for it. That's the whole point of these cars in my opinion, the driving experience. Something my far from stock Civic cannot even come close to. For that reason alone I'm able to forgive the FRS for all it's issues and now that this new 86/brz has even more useable torque + an even better tuned chassis. I'm sure I wouldn't even consider these "dislikes" when I drive the car !
Great color choice, I love the new look. The sound is going to be as great as it is going to get. Even the Hardon Karman system in the STi with 440 watt upgrade barely does anything. I believe that it fits with the price within the low to mid 30k range tho. About the rear fenders, I wish it was actual fenders too. Since it is RWD, I would want the most grip and widest tires I can get, which means I'd have to roll the fenders to go super wide. I am debating on the blue and the white as both colors are great.
Add dynamat to doors and 3/4 panels, ezpz, did it to our first gen, makes a huge difference. Replaced all of the speakers, head unit, and added a sub, ezpz. I usually stick the phone on the passenger seat or in the center console on top of cupholders (I usually use door ones over center console ones anyway) underneath the optional OEM accessory armrest which is a great elbow rest on the first gen. Tune the rev hang out, ezpz. Time to get an ecutek and have Zach from CSG work his magic to tune it to perfection, I guess you're close enough that they can Dyno tune it for you instead of etune. Also get csg pads, fool.
Since you own an NSX, don't you think the BRZ is less smooth as far as the clutch take up? I have a Type R and it is night and day the difference in shifting for me.
I am in the minority, experienced the 'rev hang' in the 2017 WRX, and don't mind it at all. Other MT cars I've owned are E30, 96 outback, 04 WRX (light weight pully installed) , E46, Jeep Renegade. I find the hang makes causal drive much easier.
@@SK8EVRYDAY96 it's definitely more on the WRX then E46, but really I don't think it is as big of issue as people make it to be. During spirited driving, I don't find any 'hang' shifting in the high RPM ranges, and driving around in daily conditions, the 'hang' is welcome for shifting casually.
Rev-hang is there but not as bad as my 15+ WRX; count "1 Mississippi 2 Mississippi" between 1st and 2nd LMAO. Audio is really disappointing for an EIGHT speaker system. Doesn't seem close to my two bookshelf speakers at home. Might also consider leaving my phone in my pocket and snaking the cord out for short trips oof
His idea of the cubby hole in front of the shifter he got from owning the Cayman 😉 That is a convenient place in that car. Good head's up on the issues. If I had a complaint as a bystander, it would be the piped in engine noise. Even though I can't explain the engineering reasons, I recall my stock 2800 lbs RSX-S had much less road noise than this before the mods, so It must be something else besides the weight of the car (and yes, I too would deal with the road noise if it somehow made the car more fun to drive)
My 2017 Accord sport had noticable rev hang too. Really ruins the driving experience when you are trying to shift quickly when driving spiritedly. When I test drove a new 2017 Wrx, I felt like the rev hang was worse than the accord. I was told it is to minimize the amount of unburnt fuel. I wonder if car mfg have another way of handling this emissions issue.
Which trim level did you get? Curious on how noise levels compare to the first generation car. Interesting on the rev hang. That doesn't seem to be an issue with first gen 2 liter. '
I'll negatives for me would be that I just moved into the city so imma be dealing with traffic which isint the best for a first manual car situation, and my room mate n I have gridlock parking so he would have to learn to move it to get his car out or I would have to move it for him.. ever. time.... but this car would make it all worth it as I'm a die hard enthusiast and all your cons seem like pros to me!
Hi thanks for sharing, I have a question about the gas. As per online information, BRZ and 86 need 93, but I saw you are adding 91, do you feel anything wrong with the car?
Are you driving on Skyline in this video??? I feel like I recognize the roads but I may be wrong LOL. Cant wait till my wheels come so I can finally get my S back on the road. If I had 30-40 grand I would def pick up a GR86 but unfortunately I dont LOL.
Is the rev hang as bad as the wrx? Because the wrx rev hang is insane. Takes forever. It's also kinda weird that it even has any rev hang because I remember driving a stock 2015 BRZ and it was pretty smooth compared to other cars. I didn't think the extra .4 liters would make a difference.
1. It is definitely quieter than the old one, so that's actually an improvment. 2. The sound system is a massive step up from the old one, so it's another improvement. It also has tons of bass, you just need to take the time to set it up properly (there are several pages of menus to deal with). 3. You don't need to use Android Auto or Car Play because it has sat-nav built in. I just use Bluetooth. 4. You don't need a place for your elbows because both your hands should ALWAYS be on the wheel. 5. I've only had mine for a week but I've not experienced any rev-hang. The only complaint I have with my MY 23 BRZ is that they took away the big vertical handle that made it easy to close the door. Now I have to lean right out of the cabin to grab it so I can close it. Everything else about this car is an improvement over my previous MY17 BRZ.
The ever increasing regulations are why we ended up with electronic throttle controls in the first place. The few remaining automotive manufacturers that are attempting to offer actual drivers cars these days face a tall task. But what's worse, dealing with rev hang (that you'll likely be able to fix via the aftermarket), or being stuck with driving yet another automatic? I'm no fan of today's cars, but I do tip my cap to Subaru and Toyota for still offering a drivers car complete with a manual transmission at this point.
The way you keep having to down shift right after you hit third really makes me question if the car is anybetter than the last model. Can't leave it in third for those turns?
After driving mine several hundred miles, I would ike a place to store more stuff. Maybe make a pocket I can mount on the passenger's side tranny tunnel. I'd like a holder I can slip my iphone into that is wired up, Map pocket behind the passenger's seat, louder horn, set of fog lights /DRL's, improved speakers/sound. Also, it would be neat if the seat bottom could tilt and have a slide out thigh support. I'd prefer if the steering wheel was slightly bigger and made of a grippier leather. I'd prefer if the brake lever was a little closer to the gas for heel and toe. I am extremely satisfied with the car overall. I like the brakes for street driving, the suspension is tuned very well. I bet I would prefer 17 inch rims with 225-40-17's. And getting rid of the rev hang would be great. I think my list of mods will be very small with this car.
I think the cabin noise has always been bad, would you say is noisier than previous generations? Second point related to the audio system, kind of related.
Proper arm rests aren't a luxury feature, and lack of proper ones does not improve a sports car. To boot, people buying this car are likely to be also using it for a daily driver and this is all very applicable. If you have the money to have a handful of purpose-specific cars, you probably can afford a Porsche or something more exotic anyway. Pointing out essentially zero-cost design flaws is useful information.
Rev hang really frustrated me on my manual 2019 Crosstrek. Hope it’s not as bad on the 2022 BRZ I have on order. Rev hang seems to be present on most or all modern Japanese cars. Nicer German sports cars (like Porsches) don’t seem to have it though.
I don't know about the Crosstrek as I've never driven a standard Crosstrek before but I drove a 2023 BRZ and I used to own a Honda Civic Si. Compared to the Si, the rev hang in the BRZ is nothing. Now, I'm not saying it's not noticeable, it definitely is if you're shifting fast but I find the BRZ way better to drive. It's noticeable but not as noticeable as in other vehicles.
You can take the car apart and add sound deadening and will car is completely apart put a high end stereo system in it. Remount the seats in different place while it’s all apart. Then pull engine and replace the crankshaft with a lighter one and it should be good. You can shave the fender wells and then bigger wheels and tires will fit.
@@Zygrene That's good! A lot of cars I've driven this year have the same issue but even worse have the USB port on the front of the head unit so you need a longer cable flapping around from your phone to the unit. Enjoy the BRZ! Hope to get a ride if you bring it down to LA :)
I’m just interested- do you have the upgraded sound system over standard or do you have the regular stock one that is in the base trim ?????? That would be very unfortunate if it were that bad AND was the upgraded version
The Toyota has a cup holder further forward it’s one of the biggest reasons for picking the Toyota, not to mention I feel the front is a little nicer, gr animation on display and the gr graphic on the start button.
I have a '06 BMW 530i that has a Premium "Great" Sound System. The Car is super comfortable and Is very quiet . I can only hear the engine if I get on it and even then it's really not loud LOL If the radio is on I wouldn't hear it. I was thinking about buying a BRZ Automatic as I have driven a S10 5 speed for 20 years. it's always nice that when I drive my Bimmer I don't have to shift. LOL So my thought was maybe it's time for a Sportier new car but still internally retaining a very Comfortable and Great Sounding ride like my 530i After seeing and hearing your review (with the screaming engine) lack of comfortable ergonomics and bad Sound System I have to wonder if the BRZ is the right car for me I'm sure that I'd really miss my Bimmer.. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I'll hold on to my Bimmer for awhile until that perfect replacement can be found.. Damn...The other videos painted a much prettier picture of the car and that one couldn't go wrong with either.
I too have a new BRZ. Mine is magnetite gray, limited, and automatic (don't judge!). I can honestly say that your observations on the things that annoy your somewhat match mine. Rev hang? Absent in the automatic! Road noise at freeway speed is really bad. I notice it on my commute whenever the pavement changes from rough to smooth on breaks in the freeway. I've never experienced anything like it. Super bad/annoying but I'm learning to live with it. It's my biggest problem with the car. The stereo is a bit disappointing. For me it's tolerable whenever I have a digital source like Sirius (free for now!) or using Spotify thru Apple car play. Tune the equalizer to plus 2 on the base and neutral on the mid and treble. Then roll it back with a rear speaker bias. I've had some good jams on that setting, I got a phone holder that connects to the vent top and right of the stereo screen .... solved that problem. My car actually has a cup holder between the seat warmer buttons and the center console that opens up. Not sure why you don't but you got ripped! My last observation is that your commentary while driving and talking about the car is very good. I've watched a ton of videos on the new BRZ and your presentation and style is informative and easy to watch. Keep up the good work!
Interesting that in the rear fitment you mentioned that it would scrape the fender. I was thinking about getting some 17x9 +35 wheels with 245/40-17's extreme summers square for my GR86 as a track setup but maybe will need +45's in the rear? Thanks!
+35 might be pushing it. There will be some poke for sure on stock suspension I dont think it would rub though. Different story if you lower it. Im thinking a +40-45 is the way to go. Maybe even a little less tire. 245 is a whole lot of rubber for a 228HP car.
@@boost331 ok sounds good. Never owned one of these Subayota's before so I have no clue on them? Will probably see what all the track rats use on their cars before purchasing my set so no rush for me. I have 255's square on my S2K CR & figured 245's were small haha!
@@RylisPro Lol I hear ya. Im definitely the minority when it come to some things. I have been in the car modding game since I was 14. Im now 40. I see most people just want to stuff the fattest tire they can fit under a car without really needing that amount of grip or knowing the negative side effects that has to driveability in situations that are not on a racetrack. Some of it is purely style, and I get that. People do all kinds of crazy mods that make their cars slower, handle worse and sound horrible just to make people look. But thats what makes modding fun. To each their own. Let us know what fitment you end up with.
I have a '17" 86 mine has a space for my phone in front of the shifter , I added a stock powered sub from my out forester and totally changed the sound in my car
you're right to complain about the sound system. I have friends who are automotive engineers and they often lament the fact that $20 extra per car could bring the system to a whole other level. And it is increasingly difficult to just "upgrade" in the aftermarket. The average buyer is not going to want to crack a digital bus and add a time-delay processor and amp.
Subaru has been horrible about that for a while. I had a 2014 WRX and the audio system was absolutely garbage. Like McDonald’s speakers all around. That, and the receiver could only hold 1 Bluetooth device in memory at a time. Total bummer. I thought they fixed that for the 15+ generation
Which is, mind you, ironic because this car is meant for “cool” people who probably like to blast music
It ain't a Subaru if the speakers don't make your ears cry
I’m most likely getting the 86, leaning towards it but it has the same audio. I’ve never done audio work, but I’m a former mechanic. Would like to upgrade it when I get the car. What should I need?
@@Salvaba Basically, the first thing I used to ask a customer before an install is 'how far do you want to go?". Most folks want sound quality to approx. double. Back in the day this was ultra-easy. Today it is harder. What I would do is first get the specs on the factory speakers. They are the "low hanging fruit". You need to know impedance info. That's critical. It looks like the BRZ has re-purposed aftermarket head-unit, which is good for the installer. Usually it means no proprietary digital bus system, or wacky impedances. We always kept a list of the most sensitive speakers, that also sounded good. Back in the day, Infinity had the best high sensitivity products. What this means to you is that you get more sound per watt. It takes 100% more power to raise 3dB. So if a speaker is 3dB more sensitive, it needs half the AMP power to drive to the same levels. Once you swap the speakers, you have your first check-stage. If U are happy, you stop. If not.....we always added a self-powered subwoofer with signal derived from the rear speakers. You lose the rears, but who cares. No concert ever plays from the back door. Luckily, there are still aftermarket subs made to do this. If you still are not satisfied, we would then put an AMP into the system. (if the head unit only had 12Watts of power, we would likely do this sooner than later!). But when I was an installer we'd go: Speakers-->sub-->Amp-->signal processor/Eq--> time delay system.
Please those dislikes about the car are childish. Grow up a pair
Just purchased my BRZ last week (thankfully no dealer markup) and i can agree, road noise is pretty loud and the radio is fairly medicore. Still small price to pay, and i love the Car.
1) it's not a Honda 2) it doesn't rev to 9k 3) it's not convertible 4) it's not strictly a two seater 5) it's not an s2000 😁
It really needs to rev higher
As a brz owner i won't disagree with you..
I have the 1st gen, 1st to 2nd shift is painful when not revving high, but I found what works for me is rev it to about 4k, and then upshift, makes it less painful, but still have to wait almost a full second before I can let the clutch out. Still a car I love to death.
Depending on which type of MT fluid your car's require GF4 or GF5. If its gf4 this Motorcraft XTM5QS full syn fluid is like liquid magic for pesky synchros. Its pricy but exclent, secret for the S2000, RX8 and Miata, guys. Mostly Assin 6 speed cars.
I’ve heard that 3600rpm is the sweet spot for 1st to 2nd and it has seemed to work out for me. Try shifting around there
Double clutch then?
@@zydomason
1) double clutch doesn't help shift up synchro engagement
2) double clutch doesn't fix rev hang.
The main issue is that the entry rev speed has to be excessively higher than engaging shafts rev speed for 1-3 gears. Applying double clutch mates the rev speed between engine and engaging shaft, which makes it harder to shove in synchros. I think this is due to triple clutch synchro setup with OEM transmission oil that slips too much. Changing the transmission oil to a higher quality (sticky?) helps tremendously + shifter rear/torqueing bushing swap makes it more direct for shifting. With sticky oil, proper mission oil warm up plus pre-lubricating synchros before driving off makes night and day difference, especially in cold temp.
For the rev hang, it is not super bad by itself, but since 1st to 2nd rev drop is high + starting rev has to be high, the rev hang just feel awfully long under normal condition. On aggressive driving condition, people just need to learn to slowly drop clutch, mate the engine to the transmission and reengage gas seamlessly.
The weakness makes it a charm. I don't think about it, it's part of my gt86.
The previous generation had an OEM armrest that you can order. It’ll likely be the case with this one as well so lets see if Toyota/Subaru follows through.
5 things I dislike about the new BRZ:
1 - I don’t have one
All your complaints are nonsense, pretty subjective.
Its a Sport car, its not expensive, your complaints are not performance oriented, they are subjective.
You want better interior, finish, better audio go to a premium brand ....or put aftermarket stuff to your car. ....period
Good to see these reviews as this is a potential future car. Surprising to hear about the amount road noise for a non-convertible and Rev hang for a NA engine. How does the road noise compare to a ND Miata (RF or soft-top) and S2000 with top up?
You KNOW that comparo is coming soon 😏
@@Zygrene Yes! The "One" which set the gold standard for all others to pass muster. :)
The rev hang is programmed in for emission purposes. Turbo doesn’t automatically make your car have rev hang, once you let off the throttle to shift, you block off the throttle body and all intake and turbo air anyways (which then either gets released by a blowoff valve or recirculated with a bypass valve).
You can get rid of it with just a simple tune tho.
@@kunfupandarofl Good points. I guess the rev hang is becoming the norm in many cars, but the FK8 Type R is well tuned as it is much better than the SI on the rev hang department
My guess is it’s because these come with sticky tires from the factory instead of Prius tires like the last gen
I’d just like to say that I do not own a brz however I do own a 2019 fa20 powered wrx, in regards to the rev hang I’m willing to bet subaru carried over their sneaky perfect rev match up shift feature. All you need to do is disregard what your tach is showing you and go ahead and shift at a faster pace almost as if you were at WOT just remember to keep your foot completely off the gas until you are fully in gear and released the clutch. In essence the ecu already knows how fast you’re going in your current gear and also what rpm it will need to be at once you have upshifted the car is waiting on you (also this works for stock tune va generation wrx’s) please try this and report back to us to help spread this info!!
Ps please like this comment so he can see it!
I found that if you adjust your clutch pedal to have that bite point couple inches off the floor rather than really uptop like it came from factory, it doesn't feel rev hangy. This will ensure gas input happens much more in sync with the release of clutch. Revs do drop slower than last gen. But it doesn't linger around like most hondas.
So glad I found your video , having just test drove the car with the intent to buy one. Im 6’2” and the first thing I noticed was the door arm rest..my elbow falls right in the hole. Also too much hard plastic and yes too much noise , this is not car for long drives.
We are big Subie fans but with all the little things I didn’t like Im taking a pass..and Im going to wait and drive the new WRZ soon.
Here I thought is was just me ..Being 68 years old so I felt very vindicated after watching your video.
Thanks
Go bear
Hmm, these issues are pretty similar to my 2017 GT-86. Rev hang less so, but low speed driving is somewhat tedious/jerky do the the aggressive throttle mapping.
One of my favorite positives when I tuned my WRX was that Rev hang was eliminated.
I’d also like to add that subaru most likely carried over a similar system regarding down shifts, give the car a big boot on the gas every time you are about to downshift again the ecu knows what you are doing. Basically hit the gas all the way in the same way you would clutch kick just a very quick full pedal input and immediately release while releasing the clutch. You may have instinctively been doing this already but if not you’ll notice no matter how fast you were going downshifting in this way always yields an effortless perfect downshift (works for va wrx’s and last gen brz’s guys!!)
Noooo! I want to blip the throttle! The 370Z had that feature which you could turn off.
Would love thoughts on how this compares to your s2000 experience after your track day!
as a S2K owner, i'm interested to know as well :)
F
Hell yeah!
@@James-ti3vl as a current brz owner I'd rather have an s2k anyday..
@@patrickbateman7122 as a Miata and BRZ owner. I seen s2k go mustang mid corner way to many times to want one. The k20 is the only upside for me.
I had a 17 WRX and sold it mostly because of the rev hang and just terrible power delivery. I didn't buy the previous 86 because of the torque dip. It felt terrible. I was trying to wait for this new 86, but i wound up buying a Miata RF last year. I'm so glad I didn't wait for this thing with more rev hang. The Miata basically just pulls harder as the revs climb, and the revs drop when you let off. In other words, it works like it's supposed to. I'm sure it's not, but it feels faster than the WRX just because it delivers the power correctly. We're running out of fun little cars and the WRX and previous and current generation of 86 are all ruined just because they can't get the engine tuning right. I'm much more interested in feeling fast over being fast. I haven't driven a new 86 yet, but if there's rev hang, I'm gonna be sticking with the Miata.
Feeling fast over being fast exactly! Love my Miatas for that. Amen Carl!
-Ben
As a current brz owner I'd take an ND over mine and this new one. Flat 4 is not a good sports car engine imo..
Not to mention the sound system isn’t that bad even in the base model (when you’re not going 60mph ofc)
@@patrickbateman7122 Agreed.I don''t know if it was just the terrible tuning, but the WRX felt like it hated to rev. I only drove last gen 86's a few times, but they didn't feel good either.
@@Jin-ef7rq I have the Bose in my RF and I can hear it with the top down up to about 75 before it really gets drowned out. I had the premium WRX (no Harmon Kardon) and i couldn't hear it at 75 with the windows up.
The road noise is probably mostly from your factor summer tires....and of course the fake noise the pipe in....(that can be disconnected)
AM/FM stations are suspect at best.....XM sounds better.....Using a real streaming platform from your phone sounds best. There are a ton of eq setting that you can adjust to your particular style of music that you enjoy.
Put your water bottle in the cup holder on the door.
Put your phone in the dual cup holder compartment/slash arm rest.....close the arm rest.
That rev annoying delay is do to emissions, after you cut the fuel the throttle will remain open for a little bit to burn any fuel residue left behind the intake valve. Another aspect that can add to worsen the problem is the weight of the flywheel, I don't say that this second situation is specific for the brz, but it is a factor to consider
I have a 2022 Limited 6MT that I daily drive (1500 miles so far) and love it...but elbow thing is real, my left elbow ends up in that cut out on the door handle, it's not comfortable, for right elbow I usually keep the cupholder lid closed and rest the phone towards the back part, that way at least I can rest my right elbow on the padded part (and the pads are very soft). Visibility is a little limited for me, I was merging from left and needed to cross several lanes of traffic to make a right turn, usually I like to look back over my right shoulder to see whats in the next few lanes to the right of me, the C pillars are wide enough it makes it pretty hard. I agree, audio isn't good. Another thing I really dislike is when using Apple Carplay and using GPS (Waze/Google) you can't swipe the map with your finger if you want to see whats off screen. The glovebox sticks out too far, it's not lighted and it's pretty small. I do notice the rev hang at normal driving speeds but as you said I don't notice it as much when driving it hard. Overall I'm still really glad and fortunate to own one and I look forward to driving it everyday!
I didn't even realize I was annoyed by the 1 finger GPS swipe issue until you pointed it out!
@@Zygrene hate it! I think I saw a video of someone successfully finger swiping using Android but with Apple it seems you're stuck with using those annoying arrows. sux!
How would you rate the visibility compared to the current Camaro?
The center console elbow positioning is driving me crazy. I keep hitting the button to open the lid with my elbow, and then when I put my right elbow back on the console it falls in the gap.
The brakes are gonna be the weak point when you take it to the track
Exactly why I did pads and fluid first.
As a 22 BRZ Limited AT owner I can say that most of your complaint's don't apply to me. The phone living in the center console cupholder is just fine, because I do all my shifting with paddles on the steering wheel. The compartment can be closed with a phone in it, USB A-C with a right angle A does the trick.
Road noise, eh, I just came from a lifetime of shitboxes that are about 3 magnitudes louder than this car. I'm happy with how loud it gets, highway driving hasn't made music any harder to enjoy.
The rev hang was quite apparent until around mile 300 the car informed me that it was changing from shifting level 0 to level 3 and it said I was a more aggressive driver, rev hang reduced significantly. I wonder what nanny system is doing that, because it's obviously not the AT, your MT does it too.
Rev hang problem is most likely caused by the throttle body and not the tranny. A remap of the ecu should solve the problem easily since the throttle body is not complete closed in between gear change
Why bother getting a sports car with automatic?
@@joeracer302 I had a feeling some kid would whine about an automatic under this comment lol
@@joeracer302 i was expecting this 😂
How’s the transmission overall I had an 15 FRS Automatic and zero complaints on it. You really need to have it on power and vsc sport mode on and it’s snappy I mean for an automatic Aisin A960E that’s been out since 2006 is still impressive. It’s funny how every youtuber bitches on the automatic.
A lot of folks don’t like the new rear end, personally, I too find the previous model to look MUCH better from the backside with the spoiler especially!
Rev hang, probably a heavy flywheel to improve driveability, since I think this will be a lot of young people's first exposure to stick shift.
Congratulations! We love the BRZ!
How’s the visibility?
Good video. Marry Christmas 🎄
Rear visibility is decent with the backup cam. Front visibility is a little compromised by the large side mirrors and hood.
One thing i do really hate on a lot of new cars is how low the manufacturers are mounting the reverse lights.
Honda made this mistake with the pilot for one year and quickly realized how bad it was. They were smart enough to change it
I was seriously considering trading my 128i and going to a 22' brz. But my #1 concern was interior stuff and seeing how 4 out 5 of your complaints were interior related... think ill stay with the 128i! 👍🏽
If the 128i is anything like my brother’s 135i then be prepared for unscheduled repairs as you put on miles. He had tons of problems with the HVAC/blower system ($2500 repairs each time something failed every 6 months, but there were some warranty repairs in there as BMW warranties their work for like 1 or 2 years after the first time) and the fuel system having failures. I loved the older BMW’s, but his experience with the 135i was enough for me to forever stay away from modern turbo bmw, at least outside of warranty. Hopefully you have had a better experience, it sounds like you like the car and plan to keep it so I’m guessing it hasn’t been bad for you. A BRZ/GR86 is going to be a very different commuting experience than a BMW, so if your main concern is daily comfort you might want to stick with the plusher German cars.
@@joeracer302 the 128i has been good so far. Knock on wood! I have a late model, The last of the hydrolic steering, naturally aspirated, strait 6 bmw's! Based on being the end of the run I'm thinking everything is sorted. On track I am neck and neck with BRZ/FRS's (gen1?). Swapped cars with a frs owner for a session, and man the FRS is FAR more enjoyable on the track and the BMW far more enjoyable for daily duties. Perfect car for me is someplace in the middle, a moded 128i or a more refined fully optioned 22 brz/86. Driving the 2 back to back is truly an interesting comparison! FRS is a SPORTS car and 128 is a SPORTY car. They achieve same results but accomplish them in completely differnt ways!
@@petert7807 the I6 NA BMW are the safe bets . I’d love to still grab a 128i in manual or maybe an E46 even if its just the base motor as long as it’s manual these cars are the last of the modern refined analog cars.
Always loved the versatility, size, and classic RWD dynamics of the 1 series but it's a compromised driving experience compared to the much more focused BRZ/86. Probably more enjoyable as a daily though!
@@Zygrene 100% agree..... brz has a very sports car low center of gravity feel!
Congratulations on the new success buddy!
Useful info you might not notice on a test drive, Thank you. How is the clutch/shifter compared to the S2000? How is the fuel consumption? Looks fantastic in that blue!
Will compare those cars in a future video!
Was fun to see you follow another 22 in traffic - gave a sense of actually seeing it on the road. I’d be disconnecting that “active sound” speaker - sounds digital like a 2005 driving game :D
I had the first gen 86 and am thinking to get the new one. As I really enjoyed it in the past, the road/wind noise really bothered me. I wish I could hear engine noise more than road noise. Some reviewers say the road noise is tempered in the new generation and the platform is better. May I know your opinions? Thanks
get a $60 active noise canceling headphone from Amazon and you are good to go. Spending hundreds thousands of dollars on sound deadening+audio system upgrade for these types of cars is just waste of money nowadays. I think 2nd gen road noise is lower due to tires + wheel changes. When I sat on 2nd gen with the doors closed, the ambient noise penetration wasn't noticeably different from my 1st gen.
Really looking forward to your long term impressions, thanks for sharing!
Do you plan to PPF the front bumper or ceramic coat the paint? I had a 2013 BRZ for 7 years and while the rest of the car’s paint looked great with basic detailing, the front bumper and front half of the hood very quickly degraded (LOTS of paint chips) with normal highway driving. It’s definitely something I plan to do with the new GR86.
Any plans to add lower eccentric camber bolts before the first track day?
TBD on PPF / coating. Also not planning to do the camber bolts since I'll go coilovers + camber plates + rear control arms all at once.
One of the thing I'm not a big fan of the BRZ is the way it sounds (at least when I listen to from the video, but I should listen in-person bit more)... the engine just doesn't sound as "raspy" or "punchy" compared to AE86, and S2000. Hopefully changing the muffler and exhaust will make the engine sounds better
💯 excellent video! great transparency.
I have an ND MX-5, and did the sound tube delete modification. It helps more when the top is down.
When I watched the review done by "Everyday driver" on this car, they mentioned the engine sound getting piped in to the interior, and the need to reduce it.
I would think that there will be a way to reduce some of that interior noise eventually?
Might consider some sound deadening solutions to improve the road noise / stereo. Did that in my Civic 10th gen and noticed a huge difference. Even doing the trunk alone helps especially with mid bass!
This is tempting but I really don't want to add weight to the car
@@Zygrene It's going to be negligible amount to be honest
@@Zygrene yeah. Honestly Fenton even a bit of it in the trunk would really help with helping the bass shine a bit without distorting… you really don’t need much of it to make it work.
Julian - What do you use for the sound deadening and where do you find it? Thanks.
@@scottanthony3426 just used the Noico 80 mil all around. Likely will layer with some closed cel foam but tbh I wish I would’ve rather gotten something better like Soundskins instead. Still pleased with the results but makes the car feel more solid all around
@ 06:53 I paused to appreciate this photo and noticed this is my local safeway here in Milpitas! No wonder the drive looked so beautiful, the bay area has some of the best scenic backroads to drive. Calaveras Road is one of my favorites
I would be more concerned about not being able to shift into gear then my phone being crushed. Rev matching means you want the RPMs to be the same when shifting gears. That allows smoother shifting and max power. Great video overall keep it up.
400 miles on mine. I disconnected the "piped" in engine noise. I would recommend doing it. Will make a big difference. Yeah, the sound system really really sucks. Even for a $31k car, the speakers are such crap. I think the guy who ergonomically designed the interior must be 85 years old and doesn't even know what a cell phone is. One thing that drives me nuts is the teeny weenie lock unlock buttons and when you lock the car while you're driving, most will automatically unlock when you pull the door handle but not this car. I just don't understand what they were thinking on some of the interior designs.....
Almost all modern cars require you to pull the interior handle twice.
@@SMITHZAC000 I went out to the garage as soon as I saw your reply and tried it but nope, still locked. May be just mine but you're stuck manually unlocking it.
Curious - what difference did you notice after disconnecting the sound pipe? I don't mind the augmented engine sound at high rpm to be honest. And at low rpm the engine is quiet enough.
@@Zygrene With it connected, I kept hearing this tinny, light rattling sound as if someone was taking aluminium foil and trying to use that as a speaker. Once I disconnected it, it was interesting to hear just the actual engine noise. It was a better sounding interior, at least for me.
@@michelfortier9563 That sounds like the speaker cable is ran along the engine and is picking up interference. Disconnecting the speaker is one fix, but rerunning the speaker cable with better cable could also solve the tinny light rattling sound.
het mate, nice review. Just wondering how the ride quality is compared with G37s or 370z.
Every complaint about the car is exactly the same for the 1st gen lol
Thanks for the video man. I'm keeping my eye on this car, I think I'm going to buy this generation of BRZ/86. I was surprised to hear about the rev hang, it's probably for environmental/eco reasons as you mentioned. Also the paint looks very nice, great choice 👍.
Yeah most modern cars do it to prevent nox gas emissions on decompression.
My dad and stepmom have a 2023 BRZ. I drove it a few times. I love the car and I love driving it but the rev hang would drive me nuts if it was my car. I have a 2023 WRX and my car has no rev hang whatsoever and I love the car because of it. I had a 2020 Si Coupe before the WRX and the Si had tons of rev hang and it drove me up the fucking wall. I hated driving the car because of it. I agree with you 100% there. Rev hang is crazy annoying. I'm glad Subaru fixed it in the WRX's. It's half of the reason I got rid of my Si. Couldn't stand driving it because of that. As much as I love driving the BRZ, I'm glad it's not my car. The rev hang would completely kill the driving experience for me if I had to put up with it on a daily basis again.
I have a 2018 Si and it has a setting for audio called " neural " it makes you feel as if you're at a concert tbh, but even when you turn the bass up it doesn't really do anything, mines up almost all the way and the bass still sounds a bit flat but bass is noticeable,but overall the audio in it makes you feel immersed in the music and can drown out the road noise, also alot of features you said you wish the brz had I have in my civic I just noticed
Getting a civic thank you bruh
@@MrSodaBelly hell yeah, the bass part I figured out cause my treble setting was set all way up for some reason, the sou d system in it is pretty damn good I'll say, im coming from a 2008 so it's a massive improvement for me, I think the civic has 10 speakers total I read somewhere with DTS surround sound or " neural " as they call it
Great vid. I was looking at the BRZ but decided to wait until I could find 400Z
We have been duped into thinking 30k is cheap. I remember when corvettes were 30k new and I’m not a old man. They have plenty of money in the pot for true r&d that shouldn’t cause the price to skyrocket.
Great feedback, it was between this and the GTI, I think I'll still with GTI. BTW $30 is a nice chunk of change, shouldn't have to apologize for not having simple things like a decent stereo or armrests.
I really can't understand the rev hang complaint.
I own a 2015 Civic Si. It has a 2.4l NA 4 cylinder and also has rev hang from the factory.
Obviously, if you plan on tuning your car, this shouldn't even be a complaint.
But if you aren't I still don't see the issue. When I drive my car aggressively and shift at higher RPM, rev hang is pretty much non existent. When I'm cruising and shifting between 3-4k RPM every gear it's obviously more prominent but other than the sound that it gives off how is it an issue ? Even if you shift fast, the car does not jerk so why the complaint ? Just shift normally and let the car do it's thing and all you're dealing with really is the SOUND of the rev hang.
The whole elbow room, cabin noise and cheap sound system I have gotten used to in my girlfriends '16 FRS. Then again hers isn't stock and I much prefer hearing that engine anyways. Also like how you mentioned with the amazing seating position and such a well tuned chassis the car just "feels" like a race car. It wants to be thrown into corners and revved out. It wants to be driven hard and it will reward you for it. That's the whole point of these cars in my opinion, the driving experience. Something my far from stock Civic cannot even come close to.
For that reason alone I'm able to forgive the FRS for all it's issues and now that this new 86/brz has even more useable torque + an even better tuned chassis. I'm sure I wouldn't even consider these "dislikes" when I drive the car !
I hope you are right buddy.
Great color choice, I love the new look. The sound is going to be as great as it is going to get. Even the Hardon Karman system in the STi with 440 watt upgrade barely does anything. I believe that it fits with the price within the low to mid 30k range tho. About the rear fenders, I wish it was actual fenders too. Since it is RWD, I would want the most grip and widest tires I can get, which means I'd have to roll the fenders to go super wide. I am debating on the blue and the white as both colors are great.
How is it compared to the previous generation 86?
Will make a video on this soon!
Add dynamat to doors and 3/4 panels, ezpz, did it to our first gen, makes a huge difference.
Replaced all of the speakers, head unit, and added a sub, ezpz.
I usually stick the phone on the passenger seat or in the center console on top of cupholders (I usually use door ones over center console ones anyway) underneath the optional OEM accessory armrest which is a great elbow rest on the first gen.
Tune the rev hang out, ezpz. Time to get an ecutek and have Zach from CSG work his magic to tune it to perfection, I guess you're close enough that they can Dyno tune it for you instead of etune. Also get csg pads, fool.
Since you own an NSX, don't you think the BRZ is less smooth as far as the clutch take up? I have a Type R and it is night and day the difference in shifting for me.
I am in the minority, experienced the 'rev hang' in the 2017 WRX, and don't mind it at all. Other MT cars I've owned are E30, 96 outback, 04 WRX (light weight pully installed) , E46, Jeep Renegade. I find the hang makes causal drive much easier.
I have an E46 as well. Would you say you have some rev hang from 1-2 shift? I find that my car has it a little bit but not as bad as my WRX before.
@@SK8EVRYDAY96 it's definitely more on the WRX then E46, but really I don't think it is as big of issue as people make it to be. During spirited driving, I don't find any 'hang' shifting in the high RPM ranges, and driving around in daily conditions, the 'hang' is welcome for shifting casually.
@@sleepyfu yeah definitely not as bad as WRX. I can shift smoothly in the BMW but I have a 92 miata and there’s non whatsoever
Rev-hang is there but not as bad as my 15+ WRX; count "1 Mississippi 2 Mississippi" between 1st and 2nd LMAO.
Audio is really disappointing for an EIGHT speaker system. Doesn't seem close to my two bookshelf speakers at home.
Might also consider leaving my phone in my pocket and snaking the cord out for short trips oof
My thought is plug the phone in a flop it on the passenger seat. I need that center arm rest. 99% of the time no passenger. LOL
@@boost331 Id be lyin if I said I didn’t do that half the time or when I need both cupholders
Good man loving my pixel 6 after finally upgrading my 3, great video!
His idea of the cubby hole in front of the shifter he got from owning the Cayman 😉 That is a convenient place in that car. Good head's up on the issues. If I had a complaint as a bystander, it would be the piped in engine noise. Even though I can't explain the engineering reasons, I recall my stock 2800 lbs RSX-S had much less road noise than this before the mods, so It must be something else besides the weight of the car (and yes, I too would deal with the road noise if it somehow made the car more fun to drive)
Good catch! 987/997 cubby hole ftw
The funny thing is Subaru has that exact cubby hole in the Impreza/Crosstrek.
My 2017 Accord sport had noticable rev hang too. Really ruins the driving experience when you are trying to shift quickly when driving spiritedly. When I test drove a new 2017 Wrx, I felt like the rev hang was worse than the accord. I was told it is to minimize the amount of unburnt fuel. I wonder if car mfg have another way of handling this emissions issue.
Subaru boxer turbo gets the worst rev hang ever. Subaru boxer NA gets much lower rev hang, but still unbearable.
Which trim level did you get? Curious on how noise levels compare to the first generation car. Interesting on the rev hang. That doesn't seem to be an issue with first gen 2 liter. '
I have just over 1,000 miles on my GR86. There's no rev hang. You must be keeping a slight amount of pressure on the accelerator when shifting.
I'll negatives for me would be that I just moved into the city so imma be dealing with traffic which isint the best for a first manual car situation, and my room mate n I have gridlock parking so he would have to learn to move it to get his car out or I would have to move it for him.. ever. time.... but this car would make it all worth it as I'm a die hard enthusiast and all your cons seem like pros to me!
The Drift King said this car was like a Lexus. Now I’m disappointed
The hang you described is probably related to the electronic throttle
Hi thanks for sharing, I have a question about the gas. As per online information, BRZ and 86 need 93, but I saw you are adding 91, do you feel anything wrong with the car?
Are you driving on Skyline in this video??? I feel like I recognize the roads but I may be wrong LOL. Cant wait till my wheels come so I can finally get my S back on the road. If I had 30-40 grand I would def pick up a GR86 but unfortunately I dont LOL.
Congrats. Not sure if you covered this in your previous videos. But why did you get a BRZ instead of the GR86?
I'll cover this in the next ZCT podcast!
1 road news
2 sound system
3 no cubby for phone
4 elbow rests
5 rev hang
Rev hang is usually an emissions thing. A tune will get rid of it, even in turbo hot hatches.
Is the rev hang as bad as the wrx? Because the wrx rev hang is insane. Takes forever. It's also kinda weird that it even has any rev hang because I remember driving a stock 2015 BRZ and it was pretty smooth compared to other cars. I didn't think the extra .4 liters would make a difference.
1. It is definitely quieter than the old one, so that's actually an improvment.
2. The sound system is a massive step up from the old one, so it's another improvement. It also has tons of bass, you just need to take the time to set it up properly (there are several pages of menus to deal with).
3. You don't need to use Android Auto or Car Play because it has sat-nav built in. I just use Bluetooth.
4. You don't need a place for your elbows because both your hands should ALWAYS be on the wheel.
5. I've only had mine for a week but I've not experienced any rev-hang.
The only complaint I have with my MY 23 BRZ is that they took away the big vertical handle that made it easy to close the door. Now I have to lean right out of the cabin to grab it so I can close it. Everything else about this car is an improvement over my previous MY17 BRZ.
this might be the dumbest shit ive ever read on the internet. who the hell drives with 2 hands on the wheel at all times? maybe geezers
The ever increasing regulations are why we ended up with electronic throttle controls in the first place. The few remaining automotive manufacturers that are attempting to offer actual drivers cars these days face a tall task. But what's worse, dealing with rev hang (that you'll likely be able to fix via the aftermarket), or being stuck with driving yet another automatic? I'm no fan of today's cars, but I do tip my cap to Subaru and Toyota for still offering a drivers car complete with a manual transmission at this point.
The way you keep having to down shift right after you hit third really makes me question if the car is anybetter than the last model. Can't leave it in third for those turns?
After driving mine several hundred miles, I would ike a place to store more stuff. Maybe make a pocket I can mount on the passenger's side tranny tunnel. I'd like a holder I can slip my iphone into that is wired up, Map pocket behind the passenger's seat, louder horn, set of fog lights /DRL's, improved speakers/sound. Also, it would be neat if the seat bottom could tilt and have a slide out thigh support. I'd prefer if the steering wheel was slightly bigger and made of a grippier leather.
I'd prefer if the brake lever was a little closer to the gas for heel and toe. I am extremely satisfied with the car overall. I like the brakes for street driving, the suspension is tuned very well. I bet I would prefer 17 inch rims with 225-40-17's. And getting rid of the rev hang would be great. I think my list of mods will be very small with this car.
Like it better than your old s2k? (I’m a gpw ap1 owner)
Nice review. This is pretty useful info. I'd like to see a comparison vs the ND2 Miata.
That video is coming, stay tuned!
I think the cabin noise has always been bad, would you say is noisier than previous generations?
Second point related to the audio system, kind of related.
To sum up this video
*I bought a sports Car and I wish it had Luxury car features and here is a 10 minute video for my TH-cam content*
Exactly.
Hilarious 😂 😃 😄 😁
Proper arm rests aren't a luxury feature, and lack of proper ones does not improve a sports car. To boot, people buying this car are likely to be also using it for a daily driver and this is all very applicable. If you have the money to have a handful of purpose-specific cars, you probably can afford a Porsche or something more exotic anyway. Pointing out essentially zero-cost design flaws is useful information.
Rev hang really frustrated me on my manual 2019 Crosstrek. Hope it’s not as bad on the 2022 BRZ I have on order. Rev hang seems to be present on most or all modern Japanese cars. Nicer German sports cars (like Porsches) don’t seem to have it though.
I've got a 16 Crosstrek with a 5-speed. It's rev-hang city and I had to learn to adapt my shifting to compensate.
I don't know about the Crosstrek as I've never driven a standard Crosstrek before but I drove a 2023 BRZ and I used to own a Honda Civic Si. Compared to the Si, the rev hang in the BRZ is nothing. Now, I'm not saying it's not noticeable, it definitely is if you're shifting fast but I find the BRZ way better to drive. It's noticeable but not as noticeable as in other vehicles.
You can take the car apart and add sound deadening and will car is completely apart put a high end stereo system in it. Remount the seats in different place while it’s all apart. Then pull engine and replace the crankshaft with a lighter one and it should be good. You can shave the fender wells and then bigger wheels and tires will fit.
Where is the USB port to plug in for android auto or carplay?
Center armrest/cupholders.
Yup, there are 2 USB-A ports in the center armrest compartment
@@Zygrene That's good! A lot of cars I've driven this year have the same issue but even worse have the USB port on the front of the head unit so you need a longer cable flapping around from your phone to the unit. Enjoy the BRZ! Hope to get a ride if you bring it down to LA :)
I’m just interested- do you have the upgraded sound system over standard or do you have the regular stock one that is in the base trim ?????? That would be very unfortunate if it were that bad AND was the upgraded version
Road noise and stereo can be sorted but that elbow thing is a little harder to fix
I got a 6inch usb to usb-c cable and my phone is closed in the compartment, so you can use the rest. Gotta use the side cup holder though...
Could you upgrade the tires to make the car more quiet
You should consider the factory kicker sub option in the trunk, it is removable as well which is nice.
I was seriously gonna get one of these then i saw low mile C5 corvettes are 15 grand cheaper im happy with my decision
Been looking at C6 Corvettes but at this point in time, I feel like I need a warranty.
You annoyed with the seat belt holder buttons on side of seats yet ?
The Toyota has a cup holder further forward it’s one of the biggest reasons for picking the Toyota, not to mention I feel the front is a little nicer, gr animation on display and the gr graphic on the start button.
Wrx driver here - this thing has rev hang too? Wtf? I wonder if the Toyoter 86 has the same issue…
Great list - I have a completely different list , I am only at about 200 miles of seat time - Keep the content coming
Your rev hang complaint is good. Driving enthusiast cars make terrible daily cars. That's the tradeoff. Fun toy cars.
That is pretty annoying that they put the cup holders further back, I use the cup holders all the time.
$63-40k. I’d rather buy Nissan nismo. Just my opinion. Glad you did a reviews on this car.
I have a '06 BMW 530i that has a Premium "Great" Sound System. The Car is super comfortable and Is very quiet .
I can only hear the engine if I get on it and even then it's really not loud LOL If the radio is on I wouldn't hear it.
I was thinking about buying a BRZ Automatic as I have driven a S10 5 speed for 20 years. it's always nice that when I drive my Bimmer I don't have to shift. LOL
So my thought was maybe it's time for a Sportier new car but still internally retaining a very Comfortable and Great Sounding ride like my 530i
After seeing and hearing your review (with the screaming engine) lack of comfortable ergonomics and bad Sound System I have to wonder if the BRZ is the right car for me
I'm sure that I'd really miss my Bimmer..
Thanks for clearing that up for me.
I'll hold on to my Bimmer for awhile until that perfect replacement can be found..
Damn...The other videos painted a much prettier picture of the car and that one couldn't go wrong with either.
Loved to hear your opinion on this car 👍🏽
I too have a new BRZ. Mine is magnetite gray, limited, and automatic (don't judge!). I can honestly say that your observations on the things that annoy your somewhat match mine.
Rev hang? Absent in the automatic!
Road noise at freeway speed is really bad. I notice it on my commute whenever the pavement changes from rough to smooth on breaks in the freeway. I've never experienced anything like it. Super bad/annoying but I'm learning to live with it. It's my biggest problem with the car.
The stereo is a bit disappointing. For me it's tolerable whenever I have a digital source like Sirius (free for now!) or using Spotify thru Apple car play. Tune the equalizer to plus 2 on the base and neutral on the mid and treble. Then roll it back with a rear speaker bias. I've had some good jams on that setting,
I got a phone holder that connects to the vent top and right of the stereo screen .... solved that problem. My car actually has a cup holder between the seat warmer buttons and the center console that opens up. Not sure why you don't but you got ripped!
My last observation is that your commentary while driving and talking about the car is very good. I've watched a ton of videos on the new BRZ and your presentation and style is informative and easy to watch. Keep up the good work!
Interesting that in the rear fitment you mentioned that it would scrape the fender. I was thinking about getting some 17x9 +35 wheels with 245/40-17's extreme summers square for my GR86 as a track setup but maybe will need +45's in the rear? Thanks!
22 owner checking in. I have some 17x9 +45 Forged Apex wheels on order right now. I'll let you know how they fit once I get them
@@tr4ck_day cool thanks! Waiting on the new Yoko AD09's coming out next year & will wrap them around some RPF1's so look forward to your results
+35 might be pushing it. There will be some poke for sure on stock suspension I dont think it would rub though. Different story if you lower it. Im thinking a +40-45 is the way to go. Maybe even a little less tire. 245 is a whole lot of rubber for a 228HP car.
@@boost331 ok sounds good. Never owned one of these Subayota's before so I have no clue on them? Will probably see what all the track rats use on their cars before purchasing my set so no rush for me. I have 255's square on my S2K CR & figured 245's were small haha!
@@RylisPro Lol I hear ya. Im definitely the minority when it come to some things. I have been in the car modding game since I was 14. Im now 40. I see most people just want to stuff the fattest tire they can fit under a car without really needing that amount of grip or knowing the negative side effects that has to driveability in situations that are not on a racetrack. Some of it is purely style, and I get that. People do all kinds of crazy mods that make their cars slower, handle worse and sound horrible just to make people look. But thats what makes modding fun. To each their own. Let us know what fitment you end up with.
I have a '17" 86 mine has a space for my phone in front of the shifter , I added a stock powered sub from my out forester and totally changed the sound in my car
What is the engine rpm at highway speeds?