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Nashville tS

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913 views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  Lewbaru  
#1 ·
My wife loved the tS after test driving a few of the other usual suspects. I drove it too and was very impressed by the package, I daily a Ridgeline and have an Evora 400 for laughs. Her current daily, which a BRZ would become, is a GTI.

We both drove a tS a couple of days ago and were wowed by the driving experience. First impressions were immediately positive. It is really well poised as an athletic street machine in a way reminiscent of my Lotus although they are about as different as two approaches can be apart from both being RWD. The steering is excellent despite some criticisms I've seen. and we were both immediately confident taking the wheel. We enjoyed a good backroad romp on some fun roads in the outskirts of Nashville.

So, we ordered a tS yesterday in WR Blue. I look forward to enjoying the forum, and enjoying my lady's BRZ from time to time because, you know....we're family.

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#2 ·
We thought we'd have to wait months to get our spec but it happens that our dealer was able to locate a car so we'll be taking delivery tomorrow. This car is in the WR Blue my wife insisted on, but has a few extras we didn't want, the main one being the Homelink mirror and the least wanted being the rear bumper ppf and the vortex generator that I don't prefer the look ofor see any benefit in. Rather than wait for weeks or months, we're taking the car as is and not standing on ceremony. Excited!

Film at 11......tomorrow!
 
#3 ·
Your wife has good tastes. In my opinion, WR blue is the best color for the BRZ and perhaps for any sports car.

Post some pictures when you get a chance.

I had a similar story. In April 2023, I started looking with the plan to buy at the end of the summer. I searched in a 500 mile radius. The only one I found happened to be in route to my local dealer in the right color, transmission, and trim. I was able to get the things I didn’t want deleted before they were installed at the port.

Please tell us how it compares to the Lotus. I realize they are in a different league, but I suspect they have similarities.
 
#4 · (Edited)
We received a call from our dealer Friday shortly after I'd posted my previous entry. They informed me that our car would be arriving late that evening and should be ready for us midday Saturday. Needless to say, we were both very excited. And as promised, we picked the car up yesterday. This happened a lot faster than we expected as we were fully prepared to order a car to our spec and wait the months required to get it but our dealer and salesman ( Noah of Nashville Subaru) were exceptionally easy and pleasant to work with and found us this car in our region. We didn't pay any fees and to sweeten the deal, we paid the same price we'd agreed upon for the car we ordered. It was one of the fastest, easiest and most pleasant new car transactions I have ever experienced so props to them! We put about 200 miles on the car since we picked it up yesterday so I can make preliminary comparisons between it and my Lotus, so here goes.

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Photos and a description of my Lotus are probably in order. So, photos below! Mine is an Evora 400 with a Komotech tune rated at 460 HP and making about 425 WHP and 365 ft. lbs of torque so with just 100pounds of weight over the BRZ, it is a considerably more powerful car. For those unfamiliar with the 400, it uses a 3.5 liter supercharged Toyota 2GR-FE and a modified Asian 6 speed manual transmission mounted forward of the rear wheels. Steering is hydraulic. Turn in is ivery fast and is similar to the BRZ respecting immediacy but with more texture and feel. Steering is an outstanding feature of this car. Ride quality is very good, but I think the Subaru is excellent in that respect as well. Similar, but the Lotus corners a bit flatter and is a bit firmer too (I think). Their interior layouts are similar as they are both 2 plus 2s, although the Lotus has a bit more fore/aft adjustment and driver space than the Subaru. It is leather slathered throughout the interior and is traditionally appointed in British fashion which has considerable character and charm (and great, enduring leather smell) as it should for nearly three times the money. But it is also literally hand made and has all the attributes of such, making it something of an acquired taste for those who have not experienced British "quirkery" of this type.

The Lotus is noticeably more powerful and (especially with its 460 tune) is a genuinely fast car capable of accelerating in a way that frightens passengers and sometimes the driver too. Of all the aspirational sports cars on the market (eg: Cayman/base 911, C8, F Type, Supra, etc) it is probably the most exotic and least familiar even to car people so it gets a huge amount of attention wherever enthusiasts gather and at gas stations and rest stops everywhere. I've owned it since new and have no plans to sell it because its so unique and so much fun to own and drive. These cars have a reputation for being fussy but ours has been remarkably problem free despite Lotus' reputation. The Toyota drive train and robust chassis are major pluses.

It is in a different class than the BRZ but to be clear, there are many positive comparisons to our "Bluebaru." The BRZ has considerably more tech than the Lotus which lacks any form of driver awareness features such as lane keeping warnings, emergency braking assistance, adaptive cruise and the like although they do have similar connectivity and the Lotus also has a decent rear view camera, heated seats, great AC with "real" controls and buttons for all the required functions, just like the Subie. The Lotus tuned V6 is however a more characterful, tuneful motor and that is something you'd notice immediately, even at idle.

This could become a very, very long post (it already is) but I suppose the real question is: does the Lotus make the BRZ feel inadequate, and the answer to that is a resounding NO! The Subie has plenty of charm, great grip (a bit tail happy like the Lotus perhaps?) and both are comfortable, superb handling sports cars that keep a smile on your face even if you're just puttering around. As our car will be "in break-in" for some time, it's unfair for me to compare the BRZ's ultimate performance characteristics at this point but so far, we're thrilled. More importantly, my wife is happy with her choice and (hehe) I have actually driven it more than she has as I am always given the job of breaking in any new cars. To be continued, I guess!



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