GT86/BRZ Vs a Westfield

[Burgerbob]

OK, I get this may be an odd comparison...

 

There is a potential need to change from a 3 car family to a 2 car family, and this puts pressure on the Westfield.

 

I may be able to persuade the better half to part with her Kia Picanto, and have my BMW 2 series gran tourer instead. This would mean we have a practical family car, so I would just need something reliable as a daily. But also something that semi substitutes my Westfield as a fun to drive car for the occasional weekend blast and a couple of track days a year. My Westfield is a 160bhp zetec, so not the fastest, but perfect for the road. 

 

Budget would be c. £20k. For that money a newer GT86 pops out as an option. I'd prefer a GR86, but that may be too much of a stretch.  

 

2 question??

 

Is anyone able to share any thoughts on a GT86 Vs a Westfield of similar power to mine? And

 

Are there any other options? I did think of a BMW 240, but whilst I think this would be a great daily, it may not be as fun to drive, plus I much prefer the GT86 looks?

 

I was out for my first decent drive in the Westfield this year yesterday. I reckon it'll be hard to find any car that's as good to drive on the road, so this may be a tough call.

[Mike Rowland - Essex AO]

What kind of use will your daily get? A friend of mine had a BRZ which he loved, but although great, it wasn't a whole lot more practical than my MX5 NC as a daily car, honestly. I'm heavily biased towards MX5s, but wouldn't want to daily one more than 30 miles or so

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I can probably help with this as I sold my Westfield just before Covid hit and bought a BRZ to replace it.

 

It’s hard to make comparisons as they’re such different cars but for me I was finding I was using the Westfield less and less each year and felt the time had come for something more practical. My mileage only ever was road miles and blats so I was less concerned about track performance and more interested in B-road handling.

 

my Westfield had 135bhp yet 200bhp in the Subaru still wouldn’t match it for acceleration and was about 2 seconds slower to 60. The Subarus however was much more refined, very sure footed even in the wet and as really rewarding when the engine was revved hard to get the most from it.

 

If you want a track weapon look elsewhere as you’ll be disappointed with the GT86/BRZ but if you want a practical reliable sports car that can be used daily and that isn’t an MX5 then they’re a great car.

 

After 6 years I slightly reluctantly traded mine in a couple of weeks back so if you’re looking for a BRZ I doubt you’ll find a better one than this for your budget.

 

https://www.vindisgroup.com/auto-now/search/20966355-subaru-brz-subaru brz 2.0i se lux coupe 2dr petrol manual euro 5 (200 ps)/

 

Selling was a tough decision, not least as I also sold my Impreza at the same time to help fund the new car, but there was one car that I’ve wanted to own for years.

 

 

 

 

[Stuart]

I have a 240 and it has great acceleration but you can't really throw it into corners 

[Burgerbob]

My use will typically be commuting and when I'm driving somewhere with just me or with my son. I expect the better half would demand we use the BMW when she joins me...

 

I used to daily a MK1 mx5 many years ago and whilst I took have a soft spot for them, I'd prefer a roof now. 

 

I'm not looking for a track weapon, but a car that I could take for a run out at donington (which is nearby) once or twice as year and enjoy it. My Westfield is very much a road setup rather than a track car. A few years back I had some passenger laps in a GT86 at Bedford and it went very well for a road car.

 

@Mark (smokey mow) It was the newer facelift version that I was looking at. However... From the pictures that looks spotless for it's age, has remarkably low mileage and comes in below the budget I was thinking....

I've seen some of the newer ones go for £22k, but at that price I'dy almost worth stretching for a GR86

 

 

[Burgerbob]

2 minutes ago, Stuart said:

I have a 240 and it has great acceleration but you can't really throw it into corners 

That's great feedback. Thanks. 

 

My gut feel is a 240 would be a great car. But it won't get me out of bed at 630 on a Sunday morning lto have a drive before everyone wakes up, ike I do in the Westfield.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

2 minutes ago, Burgerbob said:

@Mark (smokey mow) It was the newer facelift version that I was looking at. However... From the pictures that looks spotless for it's age, has remarkably low mileage and comes in below the budget I was thinking....

as a pure road car I find them hard to beat. Mine did a couple of trips to lemans and some long UK drives and was always comfortable. I am likewise a big fan of the MX5 and my Westfield used one as a donor but at 6ft2 I simply didn’t fit the current models.
 

Right now the BRZ’s are holding their value well (slightly less so for the GT86) and despite buying mine from a forecourt I still managed to sell it for more than I originally paid for it.

 

if you’re tempted, it really is as clean as the pictures suggest.