If we are discussing the GR86, I’ve been driving mine since it came out in January 2022. I currently have 33k miles on it and use it as my daily driver. I haven’t had any major quality issues.
Just a heads up, be ready for less space inside compared to the Corolla. The fuel efficiency is not great, especially with a smaller tank.
I can only speak about the reliability of the first generation. My FR-S gave me 9 years of worry-free driving. Nothing went wrong with it mechanically or electrically. I didn’t even have to deal with any recalls, which is pretty rare nowadays.
I’ve had the second generation for half a year now, and got the BRZ this time. So far, no problems to report, but it’s still new.
Frey said: @Devin
Is there anything better on the BRZ compared to the FRS?
Are you asking about the first gen versus second gen or comparing the GR86 with the new BRZ?
As a Canadian, I found that price was a significant advantage in both generations. For some reason, Toyota charges more for these cars, like $2K-3K extra for the same model. It was different back when Scion was around since they were always a bit cheaper.
One thing to watch out for is that I’ve seen online about unexpected engine failure due to oil issues in certain situations. I’m not sure how common that is.
One thing to watch out for is that I’ve seen online about unexpected engine failure due to oil issues in certain situations. I’m not sure how common that is.
It’s mainly long right turns at sustained speeds. If you’re not tracking it, you should be fine.
This car is absolutely brilliant. The first generation is great, but the new generation has improved upon almost everything.
For what it’s worth, Toyota makes sure that their partners meet their quality standards. This includes BMW with the Supra collaboration.
They may not have designed the boxer engine, but it still meets Toyota’s standards. You can trust that.
The only issues reported are from those who track the car, which may concern some buyers since it was marketed as a track-ready vehicle. For everyday drivers like you, it shouldn’t be a problem. I haven’t heard of many other issues since it’s only been out for two years.
Arlen said:
I only know about the GT86, sorry about that
No worries, thanks for your input
Of course! I want to mention that I really love the handling. If they continue with a boxer engine, the weight distribution is perfect, just like a hot knife through butter. I’ve heard great things, and we finally got the turbos we wanted, so I don’t expect it to be bad.
Honestly, it’s the usual issues with boxer engines. Sometimes the oil doesn’t drain to the bottom like it should, which can lead to corrosion or wear. (Think about the common head gasket issues that some Subarus experience). I believe the GR86 uses a Toyota fuel system, but I might be mistaken; this could have only been an issue with the GT86. The BRZ and the 86 are almost identical, but I think Toyota has made their version more Toyota-like, and the GR86 is even more so since it’s a GR model.
I could be wrong as it’s been a while since I read up on the 86/BRZ, so please correct me if I’m off base.
A boxer engine is a type of engine! Subaru makes most of their engines in this flat ‘boxer’ style. The 86 has a Subaru engine. Porsche also uses flat engines.
No problem! I should add that the advantage of this engine type over a standard inline engine is weight balance. Flat engines can lower the center of gravity, which is part of what makes the 86 and BRZ so agile. They’ve focused everything about the car on agility and control.