Long-Term Road Test Update
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Still big fun, but with some niggles.
Months in Fleet: 10 months
Current Mileage: 20,929 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 28 mpg
Average Range: 370 miles
Service: $174
Normal Wear: $0
Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $47
Since we last checked on our long-term, 10Best-winning Subaru BRZ at about the 10,000-mile mark, springtime temperatures have slowly come to Michigan and put the little rear-drive coupe back in its element for pure driving pleasure. The car continues to accumulate miles at a snail’s pace, and several of the car’s shortcomings seem to be directly related to how much we ask of it as a day-to-day vehicle.
Where Are You Going?
Michelin X-Ice Xi2 winter tires were on the car for the majority of our last stint and we can confirm they saved the Subie’s hide over the winter months. While straight-line tracking on the highway was severely impaired by the squishy, seasonal rubber, the complaints stopped once the BRZ proved it could get around just fine with white stuff on the roads.
So well, in fact, that our six-foot-eight senior editor, Jared Gall, along with his wife, took the car to New York City in the middle of winter for a vacation. They returned unscathed, with their primary complaints centered on things that, well, a giant would notice in such a tiny car: a lack of leg and knee room and seat bolsters that are a smidge narrow. “I won’t be taking it on any more long trips, and I’m not happy about that,” Gall declared, noting the car still offers an exemplary driving position.
The BRZ’s small size and energetic personality, however, have mostly kept it a local runabout, with St. Louis, Missouri, the only other recent far-flung destination. “It’s okay for a town car, but feels lightweight and cheap at highway speeds,” noted one logbook comment. Draconian measures may be needed in order to get the Subie on additional long-range trips.
Re-Flashes, Leaky Taillights and Other Woes
One place our BRZ is becoming very familiar with, though, is the local dealership’s service center. In addition to a handful of previous visits, a new shift knob for the slick, six-speed manual was fitted at just over 10,000 miles because the original one had begun to rattle. Shortly thereafter, the already infuriating navigation system developed a glitch and stopped working, necessitating another trip to the dealer for a re-flash and software update. Both issues were covered by Subaru’s warranty, but the scheduled 15,000-mile service, including an oil and filter change, inspection, and tire rotation, was not. That set us back $83.65.
While the car was in for the oil change, technicians fiddled some more with the shift knob, installing foam tape this time. The BRZ also finally got new taillight assemblies, which had been on back order for months. (Condensation in the rear lights, including our car’s, reportedly was an issue with many early BRZs.) Other issues that have yet to be remedied include a couple of rattles in the cabin, a loose hood latch that causes the hood to flutter at high speeds, and power windows that occasionally freeze up in cold weather.
As we’ve highlighted before, the Subaru’s audio and navigation system has ergonomic issues that continue to frustrate drivers due to small touch-screen controls, a confounding interface, and a lack of redundant steering-wheel buttons. A sore spot on an otherwise terrific-driving car, it’s one of the reasons—including a small trunk and smaller back seat—the BRZ hasn’t ventured far from home more often.
Onward Ho!
Yet despite the fit-and-finish niggles, our BRZ continues to be great at its core mission: driving fun. Several staffers have noted their willingness to purchase one of their own, and the car still turns heads and draws thumbs ups from all walks of life. Having the Michelin Primacy HP all-season tires back has revived the car’s excellent dynamics, which hopefully will tempt more drivers to explore new, faraway roads with the Subaru. As long as we spend more time enjoying the car’s driving experience than taking it to the dealer to address its minor issues, which is still largely the case, the BRZ will remain on our list of favorites.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED: $26,265 (base price: $26,265)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 122 cu in, 1998 cc
Power: 200 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque: 151 lb-ft @ 6400 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 101.2 in
Length: 166.7 in
Width: 69.9 in Height: 50.6 in
Curb weight: 2757 lb
PERFORMANCE: NEW
Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.9 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 36.3 sec
Rolling start, 560 mph: 8.0 sec
Top gear, 3050 mph: 12.6 sec
Top gear, 5070 mph: 9.8 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.0 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 139 mph
Braking, 700 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.89 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 22/30 mpg
C/D observed: 29 mpg
Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt
WARRANTY:
3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper;
5 years/60,000 miles powertrain;
5 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;
3 years/36,000 miles roadside assistance
Continued…