Former owner looking to return, maybe ?

[shiftspark 41]

I sold my 86 around 11 months ago to buy a Fiesta St as I thought I needed the extra room but I have found that I could probably live with an 86 again and have not gelled as much as I thought with the ST.
So is the new model 86 worth the extra over the older model ? Looking for peoples opinions who have driven both really.I am considering a late old model but curious on the new suspension set up and how it copes with the terrible road conditions we now have.

Cheers

[Lauren 2259]

If you can afford the Kouki model then it's a worthwhile improvement over the Zenki. The new suspension does ride bumps slightly better, the reinforcement to the chassis does reduce the NVH which is good, so it's a little bit more refined which for some makes it more appealling as a daily driver. Best bet is to try one I would say. 

[GraemeI 41]

4 hours ago, Lauren said:

If you can afford the Kouki model then it's a worthwhile improvement over the Zenki. The new suspension does ride bumps slightly better, the reinforcement to the chassis does reduce the NVH which is good, so it's a little bit more refined which for some makes it more appealling as a daily driver. Best bet is to try one I would say. 

I would definitely echo what Lauren is saying.  

The new one as stock makes cornering on corrugated roads a much better experience - the rear doesn't skip about like the early model. I test drove both models for over an hour each, back to back on the same day on the same roads, which is what I am basing this on  The interior of the newer model is also nicer (imho), so worth considering.

OR, you could do what I did, and buy an earlier model and use the saved money to change the bits you don't like - like suspension, exhaust, mapping etc   Not the option to take if you're concerned about modifying the car, and it's a slippery slope  

In short, if it's a daily driver and you're likely to keep it stock, definitely try and get the newer model.

[Church 209]

Nice bits in kouki that may matter - better suspension, brembo's option for BRZ in performance package (hence why i'd prefer to get BRZ over GT86 for new model), improved track mode (ex. vsc sport), touch 2 headunit (with screen mirroring from phones bit), headunit controls on steering wheel. IIRC non-EUDM models also feature updated airfilter box, intake manifold, exhaust headers and ecu tune (for +5hp) and different ratio FD (on MT models).

Rest of changes, like single piece dash, lcd screen on instrument panel, changed design of bumpers and head & tail lights .. to me seems of little importance.

[shiftspark 41]

I am off on holiday in a couple of weeks so will have time for test drives. I will have a read of the test you did last year @Lauren

I also like the look of the BRZ in blue @will300 which I originally wanted when I first saw them a few years ago, does the BRZ the have the same updates as the 86 ? I seem to remember that the spring rates were the opposite of the 86.

There also seems a fair amount of BRZ in stock at Subaru even a 2017 car.

[shiftspark 41]

9 hours ago, GraemeI said:

I would definitely echo what Lauren is saying.  

The new one as stock makes cornering on corrugated roads a much better experience - the rear doesn't skip about like the early model. I test drove both models for over an hour each, back to back on the same day on the same roads, which is what I am basing this on  The interior of the newer model is also nicer (imho), so worth considering.

OR, you could do what I did, and buy an earlier model and use the saved money to change the bits you don't like - like suspension, exhaust, mapping etc   Not the option to take if you're concerned about modifying the car, and it's a slippery slope  

In short, if it's a daily driver and you're likely to keep it stock, definitely try and get the newer model.

I don't think I will be messing with suspension mods as my old car bottomed out a few times on lowering springs but other tuning stuff is still possible.