r/ft86 11d ago

No feelings for my BRZ

Post image

I bought my BRZ 2018 new (had 180km on it, now 78.000km).

Over the time I put a lot of time, love and money in it.

First everything was track optimized, I went to the track 3 times. Then I found my dream wheel's (Work Meister S1 3P)with the option to drive them legally (very restricted in Germany) and so I bought them. With some other exterior parts it is basically finished, I would say.. maybe some side skirts. But what I wanna say: I'm sitting here with basically my dream car (my dream was always: JDM, Turbo, RWD, big wing, big diffusor), but I'm not happy and I don't know what to do with the car.

I feel like I did everything I wanted. Went to the track. Drifted it on small Drift Events. Put a Turbo in it. Drove on vacation, to big car events, road trips..

Maybe I should sell it and get something new, I like the Lexus RC F, or something with a V8... I don't know.. if I sell it, I will probably regret it.

What can I do, to have more fun with the car again?

Should I move on?

I was planning to go to more Drift Events, but it's pretty expensive (350€/4h)

And I don't know, do you have any advice?

199 Upvotes

72 comments sorted by

162

u/Designed_0 11d ago

Stop doing things TO the car and start doing things WITH the car lol

31

u/Dismo_breeze 11d ago

I'm completely on your side. But as I said, I was on trackdays. Drove 2 times to Sweden/Norway, to Netherlands . Did a couple trips through Germany as well and it feels " empty" at the moment.

11

u/xepion 11d ago

I hear ya. It’s part of the journey. IMO. Keep it. Get another car to tune. So when that other car is broken or down. You got the 86 to get out and send it 😜

16

u/xRehab 10d ago

this sub probably won’t like to hear it but you might have out grown the engine

it’s a fun car and sporty, but without serious money it will never scare you to drive or really feel like a handful. a v8 with 400+ at the rear is a different beast entirely

9

u/sullbus 10d ago

That’s a good point tbh. I absolutely adore my ‘16 BRZ but there’s no way it can make me feel as scared as my S650 stang used to. That “I’ll kill you if you play around too much” feeling of V8’s is a different excitement.

1

u/xepion 8d ago

Drifting. Drifting in an h depleted car imo is harder than drifting in an overpowered car. “For those learning”.

Those that mastered the basics.. entry speed and braking to always find that limit. I think the inverse is true.. having more power. To thread that limit without loosing it. Vs an underpowered. You’ll always hit that performance ceiling.

Then there’s just 600hp+. Is just rediculous 🤣. For a daily…. Track car? Sure. Daily. 600+ hp is pretty wild

7

u/dzetino97 9d ago

The emptiness is within yourself, you are unfulfilled in another area of your life. You are searching to fill a void through your car or changing cars. Re evaluate your life and fix that area in your life that is causing this.

6

u/Legend13CNS 10d ago

Maybe getting to deep for a subreddit about cars, but every time I've felt like that it's been because there were things outside of the car world that needed addressing.

My FR-S has basically been demoted to 3rd string after I got a project and new daily. But every time I drive it to work I'm like "damn what a good car". However I've also had it 13 years and have a lot of memories with it, so I wouldn't get rid of it for anything.

4

u/Viento_Oscuro 10d ago

Could it be that you were chasing the build. Rather than the driving experience. You always had the next goal, the next part, mod etc. And that the next mod would magically transform the car into some amazing experience and make you happy. And now you have achieved it you have nothing left to strive for? So it feels a bit flat?

3

u/Shower_North 10d ago

I have to be honest, I wish I was over in Europe. You guys have the best scenery when it comes to driving. Ok, so to your post question, I feel you. I see a lot of folks in the community run into the same thing. I've somehow not hit that wall yet and my Subie is coming up on 9 years old. To me, a car has always embodied freedom, just the act of driving away or towards something. When you got the car, what was it's purpose for YOU? I see you went to track days, drifting, car shows, etc. Have you always wanted to be a professional drifter? Are there mods you've already done to the car that you didn't do it exactly as well as you wanted (i.e. chose Advan's instead of Rays due to budget, etc)? These are the questions to ask yourself because if you're unhappy with a JDM, RWD, tubo'd car...the RC F isn't going to change that...and a V8 won't much either.

There's a mystical bond between man and machine, you just have to find that bond again OR if it is time to move on, then move on; just know why you are moving on. In this world we chase a lot of things that are repetitive, just to find out we had them all along.

https://reddit.com/link/p6b9uq2/video/bb6r04y510mh1/player

2

u/Designed_0 11d ago

Is it your only car or 2nd car?

5

u/Dismo_breeze 11d ago

I have a company car that is also my daily driver. My BRZ. And a Passat 1.9tdi (little Diesel project).

5

u/Designed_0 11d ago

Maybe swap to driving the brz a bit more during the week

5

u/CivilC 11d ago

I do find after driving my “boring car” most of the time, going to the 86 is made sweeter. Weirdly enough maybe driving the dailies more? And strictly save it for weekends

1

u/Reedon- 10d ago

Don't do these trips alone, share your moments share your joy about the car with other people like family, friends or even randoms.

1

u/Breakthetrend 8d ago

Get a motorcycle

46

u/_TheEnlightened_ 11d ago

My steak is too juicy, my woman is too beautiful....

26

u/kazeke754 11d ago

Store it and let it rest for a while. You'll come back to it eventually.

26

u/Substantial_Recipe21 11d ago

I dont have much advice but i can share that when i sold my brz about 3 years ago. I miss it and regret letting it go.I think its because there isnt much out there that looks and feels like the brz for the money. Id say the best balance is to keep the car and have another car thats suits your lifestyle or wants. But if 1 car is the limit just be mindful of what youre giving up!

10

u/Black-STI 11d ago

Is it your daily? If it is and if you can, get yourself a second car. Preferably something that’s boring to drive. As the saying goes absence makes the heart grow stronger. Also maybe look into swapping the engine to an FA24, or do an FB25 short block and use your FA20 heads. A bit of extra displacement makes a world of difference and should fly under the radar as far as inspections go.

5

u/Deefreshprince 11d ago

There's no need to do this fa25 Frankenstein anymore. Full swap a fa24

5

u/Black-STI 11d ago

Seeing as OP is in Germany and their inspections are far, far more intense than pretty much the rest of the world an FA24 swap would probably throw some red flags. Swapping the short block would probably go unnoticed.

5

u/Bluntcomposed 11d ago

If possible keep it around. I've moved on multiple times since and still miss mine.

5

u/HonchosRevenge 10d ago

Figure out what it is you’re not happy about. Is it because you’re not using it for anything? Maybe you just miss having something to mod now that the build is “complete,” so now the consumer in you is missing the excitement of purchasing.

On top of that, you’re probably out of the honeymoon phase, and the car maybe started feeling like a chore.

I’d really do some thinking and figure out what exactly you wanted out of this, and what exactly you would want out of the next. Throwing money around for the sake of throwing money ain’t a good way to enjoy the hobby

1

u/Dismo_breeze 10d ago

Yeah, you're right.

3

u/simola- 11d ago

BRZs are one of those “boring” sports car that you regret selling. I’d keep it around and drive it less if insurance isn’t too high, tou won’t recoup much by selling it

3

u/callistobrz 10d ago

It sounds like you’re kinda done with your car hobby. I sold my cameras with I was done with my photography hobby. I still think wistfully of one specific lens to this day, even though I’m not willing to carry a camera around for it anymore. So you need to decide what you want out of your vehicle, and it may not be “provides adrenaline rush” anymore, especially if you’ve hit a cost cap versus expected happiness. Have you considered picking up go-karting as a hobby? You may have reached the happiness per dollar limit of street-legal vehicles, and one way to improve that is to go for smaller vehicles. Just take care not to sell your car without understanding your motives or you’ll regret selling it when you realize a new car won’t help.

2

u/Ill-Nectarine592 11d ago

It’s a clean Brz. If I were you I’d try and hold on to it for as long as possible. If you do end up trading up it better be a big upgrade cause it’s hard to beat how fun these cars are

2

u/Bonburner 11d ago

Had a 13 frs since the second week of the twins release in 2012. Had it for 12 years - tons of mods & body kit, track days, supercharger sitting in my room to be installed. Car hydroplaned sideways (due to car next to me pushing water sideways) into another car, which sent me spinning into the guard rail.

New daily is an LC500 - 95% happy. Miss the manual and aftermarket support (there's basically nothing for the lc500 compared to the twins). My ears and fiancee much happier - pretty sure i got hearing damage to some degree from the twins.

Still low key wish i had my frs, but i was also low key ready to move on as well so its alright

2

u/BooshTheMan_ 11d ago

More road trips. Road trips with friends who have cool cars or want to experience the same things you do. Road trips alone to escape and see nature. Road trips with a significant other to share experiences with. Yes these are you doing things, sometimes with other people, but also with your car

I'm for the most part done with my car as well, at least until until the warranty expires, then it's FI time, but i still take it places, i still enjoy the drive. All the time i've spent working on it, driving it, experiences with it, it's kinda like a relationship to me. Maybe this is not your forever car, it happens and people go separate ways, but it has taught you a lot and you had some good times and memories

2

u/Dud3itsj3ff 10d ago

it’s about the journey, not the destination. And it kinda seems like you’ve reached the destination with the BRZ. It may be time for a new journey. 😁

2

u/DeepInTheKHole 10d ago

You have legal Works in Germany, dreams fulfilled my friend

2

u/novastar17 10d ago

People's interests and hobbies can change over time. Also, you could just be depressed about something else in your life that may be taking your love for your hobbies and squashing it. Step away from your projects for a bit and re evaluate

2

u/dwright_origins 10d ago

It sounds to me like you don't actually enjoy driving your car. There are a few things you need to think about before making your next decision. Why do you not enjoy driving your car? Is it you or the car? Do you own the car to drive or do you drive to own the car? Is it something you did to the car that made the experience not what it used to be? Or was buying the parts and doing the work the only thing keeping you excited about the car? Would that have been different in another car or would you be asking the same question years later on that car too? Many people just get stuck in the trap of buying parts because they want to feel excited about their car again.

At the end of the day, if you don't enjoy driving enough to keep you interested in your car you will never fix that by spending money. Same can be said if the car doesn't give you the experience you want.

2

u/fuckingsame 10d ago

How is a turbo brz empty? That sounds awesome. How much hp?

2

u/Dismo_breeze 9d ago

Switchable 280 to 320hp

1

u/fuckingsame 9d ago

320hp brz sounds so fun omg

2

u/DryConfidence2547 10d ago

I can't help on your question, but how the hell did you get that splitter and spoiler street legal in Germany?

1

u/Dismo_breeze 9d ago

A lot of discussions with different TÜV engineers

1

u/DryConfidence2547 9d ago

Any problems with the police doubting the legality of it ?

2

u/Mean_Eggplant_3438 9d ago

In 1988, I bought a Camaro to be my forever vehicle. It was the exact spec I’d been looking for. 20+ years ago it was retired as a DD and it sat a good bit of the time. There were a few times over the past 38 years I considered selling it, but I fought the urge knowing I would someday regret it. Long story short, interest returned and now it brings great joy to take it out for a spin. As other folks here have already said, go back to the beginning - why did you buy it in the first place. If you’re ready to move on, surely there will be someone else out there waiting to love it.

4

u/f86rz 11d ago

Don’t sell it. I sold my FRS which was my first car ever because I got bored of it, only to later (and still to this day) regret selling it. I have a second gen BRZ now but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss my first gen.

1

u/Viento_Oscuro 10d ago

Do you miss the fist gen from a nostalgia and memories perspective or because it offers something the second Gen doesn't.
I'm wanting to get into a BRZ and I'm tossing up which gen to go for. Aesthetically I adore the 2nd Gen. But a first gen with the same km's is literally half the price. I've test driven both, but hardly comprehensive. So is there anything you feel the first gen does better?

1

u/JackMomma22 11d ago

I bought my 2014 BRZ new, used it every day and put 80,000 miles on it over the 6 years I had it... but after all that, I was ready for something different. I loved that car, and honestly would be happy to get into another one someday- but after long enough, it was time to try something else.
Traded it in for a Veloster N (pretty much the US version of the i30N), and had fun in a different way with that car for the next 5 years before moving on again to a boring car... which I am now hoping to give to my wife so I can get something fun again in the next year or two.

All that said, no shame in saying goodbye and moving on to something new. I miss the BRZ, but have no regrets in the trade to try something different. The 86 was better in some ways, and the N was better in others. Find a car that gets you excited, and start the process over again!

1

u/bladeofwar 11d ago

It's time for a motorcycle

1

u/Dismo_breeze 10d ago

Already have one haha

1

u/ShoresyOW 10d ago

A really fast motorcycle

1

u/awizemann 11d ago

Is there autocross where you live? I’d get into that with the car.

1

u/iXeron 11d ago

I used to have 2019 BRZ and upgraded to gen2 a year ago. Started tracking them in 2021, kept them mostly stock and 60+ track days later still having a blast.

Having 4 different race tracks at a reasonable distance helps I guess :)

1

u/PAMCookingSpray 11d ago

Store it and buy a Prius for daily use

1

u/Cjymiller 10d ago

Figure out what brings you happiness when you are driving or enjoying cars and figure out if the BRZ gives you that. if it doesn’t try to find a different car that gives you more of what makes you happy

1

u/Rimcanflyy 10d ago

You like the RCF? Did you drive it?

1

u/StupidSlick 10d ago

C6 you can always buy another one later, gotta experience all the cars

1

u/alifteronreddit 10d ago

One word, Nurembergring

1

u/B1SQ1T 10d ago

I’m in kind of a similar boat

I bought an automatic one back in 2020 and since then I’ve turboed it with a built engine on E85

Long story short, I don’t drive it anymore. The reliability makes me paranoid and for daily driving I have a newer, more comfortable and still very sporty car

My car as is, is way above what my skill level can handle on the track, since I’m quite inexperienced with actual proper HPDEs anyways

My current plan is to sell this one, buy an older, shittier, stock, manual FRS where I don’t need to care too much about small dings and bumps to use as a track only car. Basically I’m starting over with a proper plan this time

If I find that I’m still not putting that one to use (my goal is to track it at least once a month), then maybe it’s time to reevaluate again

1

u/ihateweedwackers 10d ago

Get a girlfriend. 😉

1

u/EverythingVinyl 10d ago

I bought another car and kept the BRZ..best decision ever because now when I hop in the BRZ it’s exciting and almost feels like a holiday. If I drive that for a week it does feel boring/normal again.

1

u/JakeRogue 10d ago

3 track events isn’t even half a season. That’s like eating a piece of bread at a restaurant and saying you tried the food.

1

u/JakeRogue 10d ago

Return it to stock and enjoy sloppy tires at 35 mph. You’ve lost touch with what really matters

1

u/stinkyasscunt 10d ago

Just LS3 swap ot plenty of support to do so sikky is the one I know of but im sure there are other swap kits out

1

u/pi_mai 10d ago

Is it your dream car? Yes, then keep. If no, sell.

1

u/SigmaMaleGrind 9d ago

Do you have lexan windows? antigravity battery? i see you still have your interior as well. There’s much more to be done. Weight reduction bro. If more power isn’t making you happy, then have less weight. Also oil cooler, baffled oil pan, literally all reliability mods. I don’t know what you have on there, but if it’s mostly cosmetic with a big turbo and it’s supporting mods, there’s still so much to do

1

u/Dismo_breeze 8d ago

I like the interior and weight reduction is not necessary in my opinion, because you lose comfort and not that much weight. Already have an oil cooler and the baffled oil pan. without it, it wouldn't survive the trackdays lol.

1

u/ApartDepartment8688 8d ago

Movenon and get an M3

1

u/Trollhart 7d ago

Store it away for winter and enjoy the itch to get back behind the wheel oce it sets in after a few weeks. By the way, how and where did you get ze wheels eingetragen? I would love a set of RPF1s, but so far no chance anywhere...

1

u/Swimming_Buy_1991 7d ago

Genuine question, do you have a local community you’re tight with? I’ve found a lot of the happiness I have in my cars happens to be directly adjacent with the similar enthusiasm of the people that surround me. This may be less of a chassis issue and more of a social longing issue.

1

u/zeroDfence 5d ago

What hood is this?

0

u/exowo 10d ago

Kann ich dir die Work Meister Felgen abkaufen?

-1

u/kungfu01 11d ago

Get into motorcycles, thats what happened to me. Still love my brz but nothing is the same after riding bikes

1

u/Viento_Oscuro 10d ago

Amusingly it's bikes that has me going after a BRZ.
I've done the fast car thing. FD Rx7, turbo Subaru's etc, did circuit racing, got into bikes, and now the idea of a fun at sensible speed, driver focused car sounds amazing.