General car related posts not specific to a project or person.
Not too long ago I published a video that covered some of my complaints about my 2017 BRZ. Just like any car, the BRZ does have some faults and is not perfect. However, in the case of the BRZ faults, there are plenty of ways you can fix those issues. In this video, we go over some of the more common ways to overcome the 5 things I dislike about my BRZ. In addition, we find out if those stock exhaust tips are adjustable!
The Subaru BRZ came out in 2013 with much fanfare. There was much anticipation around the BRZ, a coveted “driver’s car” that was light weight and rear wheel driven. As great as it sounded, it was not perfect. Low power and somewhat cheap quality were some of the common complaints about the cars. Despite these imperfections, the BRZ is still a crazy fun car to drive and brings smiles to just about anyone who drives them. I have owned both a 2013 FRS as well as my 2017 BRZ. I have a lot of driving experience in both cars, so I thought it would be a good time to share the 5 things I dislike about my own 2017 BRZ.
Brake upgrades are often overlooked when it comes to modifying a car. However, they are also one of the most important upgrades you can do. Especially, if the car has already been modified for more power and faster speeds! This becomes even more important if the car is a track day car or race car. In that case, upgraded brakes is a must. Not only for safety, because a weak brake system will not stop the car after a few hot laps. But, also for performance and reliability. For this phase of my e36 brake upgrade process, I have picked up a new set of high performance rotors and brake pads. I went with Stoptech slotted rotors front and rear, as well as Hawk DTC-60 brake pads. This combo should provide the stopping power I need while also being consistent lap after lap.
It is winter time and I need to find out if my 1994 BMW 325is will start! The car has been sitting for about a month so I am not sure if I will have a successful start. If all goes well, I will record some of the glorious e36 exhaust sound and revs that come from this car. Since I have numerous engine upgrades, this is not an ordinary 325is. The upgrades on this car include an aFe intake and also a TMS computer chip. In addition, I have engine bolt-ons that consist of TMS headers and a Bimmerworld lightweight race exhaust. This makes for a pretty loud and angry sounding BMW!
Nobody likes rock chips or blemishes in their cars paint. By following my Subaru BRZ mud flaps install guide, you can easily protect the lower sections of your car. I did this install on my 2017 Subaru BRZ just after I purchased the car. The new BRZ is a fantastic car and looks great in just about every color it comes in. However, I personally prefer the world rally blue pearl color and went with the BRZ mud flaps to keep the paint free from rock chips. The installation of the mud flaps, or sometimes called splash guards, is fairly straightforward. All you need is basic tools like a screwdriver and drill with drill bits. If you are technically inclined the job can be finished in under an hour.
The BRZ mud flaps have proved to be pretty good upgrade while being relatively inexpensive. If you want to know more, you can also check out my BRZ mud flaps review page.
The Subaru BRZ has many improvements for model year 2017. Among some of the changes are engine upgrades and interior changes. The engine upgrades result in a slightly different BRZ exhaust sound compared to the previous model year cars. Since the engine has a bit more power and slightly re-worked exhaust system, this was to be expected. But, what does it really sound like? I have recorded the exhaust sound from my Scion FRS in the past and was curious how the new BRZ stacked up. Granted, my 2017 BRZ is bone stock car while my FRS had upgrades. The stock BRZ sounds pretty dang good!
The instructions available for installing the BRZ STi lip are specific to pre-2017 cars, so it was a little bit tricky to figure out. I did have help from another BRZ enthusiast on the FT86club forums. Following these instructions, the BRZ STi front lip install process was fairly straightforward. I was able to successfully install the BRZ STi lip on my own 2017 BRZ. The BRZ STi lip adds an aggressive look to an already great looking car. In my case, I am also using it for a little bit of autocross cone protection for the front bumper 🙂 Be careful though, since the lip hangs down about 1.5″ from the normal bumper, it becomes a bit of a ground clearance hazard.
It’s not often that I get cosmetic upgrades for my cars, but this BRZ STi front lip looks too good to pass up. The front under-spoiler is from the Subaru accessory catalog, so it is a genuine Subaru STi part. The front lip gives the car a lower, more aggressive look. In addition, it will help protect the real bumper from potential dings and impacts. This is especially important when you autocross the car like I do. Nothing like built in cone protection for your shiny new bumper 🙂 You can order your own lip directly from your local Subaru dealership. Check out the video as Shelby and I un-box the BRZ STi front lip! Check back soon for the installation video as well.
I have spent a couple weekends of installing upgrades and modifications on my new 2017 BRZ. This weekend, I had the chance to get my BRZ first autocross event in! My 2017 Subaru BRZ has all of the suspension upgrades in place, as well as the various chassis upgrades. In addition to that, the BRZ has a fresh alignment and corner balancing from my race shop. I have been looking forward to how the new car compares to my old 2013 Scion FRS. Theoretically, the 2017 BRZ should outperform the older FRS. However, the cars are so close performance wise, it might be difficult to notice. Finally, check out how the event went and how the BRZ stacks up performance wise!
This particular install session was a mixed bag of various BRZ upgrades. I started off by upgrading the rear subframe and differential mounts with bushing inserts. I used Whiteline bushing inserts, which improve stability and car feedback when driving. These are a great upgrade at a very inexpensive price. In addition to the bushing inserts, we shed some weight on the front of the car by installing a Shorai lightweight battery. A lightweight battery easily saves ~25lbs from on the front of the car. Lastly, to improve stopping power, we installed Hawk HPS brake pads.