4 Meaningful Differences Between The Subaru BRZ and Scion FRS

27 May 2015

The manual FRS weighs 6 lbs less than the base manual BRZ. The auto FRS weighs 18 lbs less than the base auto BRZ.
The FRS has a drag coefficient of 0.27, vs 0.28 (with spoiler) or 0.29 (without spoiler) on the BRZ. I believe this is due to panels under the car. (Series.Blue BRZ is 0.27).
The FRS has softer springs up front and stiffer springs in the rear vs the BRZ. Theoretically this makes it slightly less prone to understeer.
The Series.Blue BRZ wheels weighed about 3 lbs less (per wheel) vs the FRS. (Both are 17” alloys).

Comments

I also want to say that the clutches use different mechanicals, or are tuned slightly different. I’ve driven both and the clutch take up on the FRS seemed much more vague than the clutch take up on the BRZ.

In the spirit of what this car is/supposed to be, the base FR-S with “cheap” interior is exactly what it should have. If you’re buying this car because it’s a driver’s car, that’s all you should be worried about.

Scion FRS = Subaru BRZ = Toyota GT86. All made in the same factory, by the same people. Argue all you want.

Except the BR-Z has a slightly more refined form, with more refined interior, more refined road suspension, more refined branding, but also the more refined price point. :/

The BRZ looks like it’s having a grand old time on the road and the FRS looks morbidly terrified.

What do these get over 2000 upvotes ?

Is it the transmission itself thats heavier in the BRZ’s or features that come with it?

Same transmission. 6 lbs is basically negligible (a heavy laptop haha). Could be anything.

how about the 86?

FR-S is a GT86, but that’s the Amurcian branding of it because Toyota doesn’t feel that having a cheap sports car that is popular with kids would be good for its more conservative minded lineup and branding with American buyers, and they want to try to keep Scion alive, since it’s failing because not too many younger adults are buying new cars at all, let along TC’s and XB’s, esp with how the XB is an old person’s car due to its reliability and how easy it is to get in and out of for people with limited mobility.

The BRZ comes with more goodies… they’re both going to perform so similarly that it doesn’t make much of a difference. Love my BRZ!

I am actually in the market for a GT86 or a BRZ. Where I live, in Sweden I they only come in 1 standard equipped edition. As far as I could tell I couldn’t see much difference.

What is it that your BRZ has that a FRS/GT86 does not?