My former roommate just picked up a new BRZ Limited. I drove it last night. The car is everything the 370Z should have been for me. It's nimble, the suspension is FAR MORE competent in weight transfer, rebound control, feed-back, etc. The brakes feel amazingly well modulated (even when my 370Z's worked for **** it was never this nice, although you have to press a lot harder on the BRZ, I like it. It's easy to modulate).
The exhaust note inside the cabin is very nice stock, very unlike my Altima. Errr...370Z was.
Steering was great. A bit numb on-center, but that's fine by me. Helps on highway driving.
The acceleration was amazing down low for a 4-banger. Sure, nothing to write home about, but it was plenty for daily driving and having fun. Speed isn't what the car is about, but it should be fine.
Sound system destroyed mine.
Road-noise was similar, with more wind-noise.
Paint was equal quality.
Interior is more spartan, but just as well, if not better made, and the seats are literally the best seats I have sat in. They hold you like a race seat and are comfortable enough you could fall asleep sitting up in a driving position in a parking-lot. Amazing seats. In EVER WAY!
Chassis feels great. Maybe not as rigid as the 370Z, but as or more rigid than my C6 Z06. The dynamics felt in the middle between my 370Z and Z06, with it having the rebound control and competence of my Z06, and not the jittery atomic pogo-stick feel of my 370Z Sport/Touring.
I'm obviously obnoxiously upside down ($6-7K?) in my 370Z, but no way am I keeping it when a car like the BRZ is out there. I'm holding out until about 33-34K miles on my odometer and then paying cash to make up the trade difference between the two. By then, the 2014 BRZ's should be out and we will know if they are doing an STI any time soon or not. If they are not, I honestly feel that rims/tires/pads/intake/exhaust will make the BRZ an insanely awesome car, even if the STI package never drops.
Just my take on it after some stick time with it. It's a MUCH more competent car than my 370Z.
As to my 370Z, I left it overnight at the dealer. I hope they drop it off the rack and total that POS. But in reality, the shop foreman drove it with me, and was apologizing profusely by the time the test-ride was over, saying that it was an embarrassment to Nissan, commenting on my rotors and everything looking like I barely drove the car, etc. The dealer is disgusted with all the problems I am having, and has vowed to do whatever it takes to make it right. I hope so. Trading in a fubar'ed car is difficult, lol
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