The car market during the COVID years were rough for sure. I bought my Tacoma back at 2022 during the COVID market with the new car shortage. Because of my other criteria (absolutely no markup, manual, TRD Off-Road, did NOT want the premium pkg), I was left with taking a white example which is in fact somebody's canceled allocation. Otherwise I'd have to wait at least a year just for a pickup truck lol. At that time, I wasn't as picky with colors, but as mentioned before I did the ricer move and put dark blue Gram Lights wheels because I wanted to add some color.




I've said the same thing as well. I prefer the GR86 front end, but the BRZ front end grew on me. I have the same observation; dealing with Subaru is much better than dealing with Toyota. At least Subaru lets you custom order a BRZ (while Toyota doesn't). Better overall showroom experience as well compared to most Toyota dealerships. Also, Subaru seems more willing to honor their warranty compared to Toyota or at least have better customer service. I have a friend of friend who's able to get his BRZ engine replaced under warranty and Subaru didn't give him a hard time.

 

100%. Buying our Subarus were always painless experiences, which is saying alot considering it's the bay area, but Toyota was always the usual song and dance. Service department wise it's not even close. I never understood the whole aspect of dealer experience factoring into a purchase, but recently I found myself softening up to Subarus simply because I have confidence in our local dealers and rather not deal with the DMV like experiences with the Toyota dealers. It's like going to a Lexus dealer but instead of espressos and cookies you get bottled water and trail mix.

 

You probably lost some unsprung weight in the process by going to the Gram Lights. Best upgrade for handling there is, and overall pretty inexpensive with the cast flow formed wheels available today. I just ordered some wheels for a new DD. Nothing fancy, but they are 8 pounds lighter than the heavy OEM stock wheels. At speed this feels like you dropped hundreds of pounds from the vehicle and you get a solid handling upgrade. Not rice at all man. Looks good! I did the same with my truck, performance car, and DD. Once I sell the stock wheels off to some OEM-only Nancy out there, it’s very minimal cost.

 

I switched to Subaru after the Honda dealership trained all of their employees to exact high pressure sales tactics on their clients, and they all learned how to hide extra vehicle costs from purchasers. When I visited the Subaru dealership I was shocked to find out that they only wanted to sell me a car, that was it, nothing else. The process was so easy, no hidden cost tactics , no high pressure sales tactics. It was very refreshing.

 

I like the front end of the BRZ better, smoother and cleaner. The GR86 resembles a big mouth bass, it is more aggressive but I don't like it as much. People refer to the BRZ as having a Subaru smile.

 

That looks great, I love the wheels and I love their colour, nice combo, well done.

 

While I did put some bigger tires that are heavier, at least my setup isn't as heavy as what it could have been with stock wheels. Nothing ever stays stock under my hands, I always like to add some style.

Both Subaru dealerships my brother dealt with are easy to work with. Very simple process. It's indeed refreshing to see.

While my experience with Toyota dealerships isn't as smooth of process as I had to comb through several for a good one. There's one dealership where I have a buddy who tried to sell me a vehicle for a good deal, only for his sales manager to still insist him to add on markup, prompting me to take my business elsewhere. Another dealership, despite being a "no-markup" dealer during the COVID times, tried to push me into a used example that is listed for way more than its new MSRP. And another didn't inform me that they are going to switch from a no-markup to a markup deal while I was waiting for a vehicle to be allocated to me. I did eventually find a good dealership who's easy to work with, bought my truck there, and proceed to refer my mom there for her new gen Prius (also a smooth experience for her).

They've always gave me different vibes. BRZ has the more mature look. GR86/86/FR-S front end looks more aggressive and "boy racer".

I was younger when the FR-S came out, so I preferred that front end more at that time. But now, it's getting closer to a toss-up

 

We had a Honda dealership in my home town that was owned by one family for several generations, it was a small dealership, very personable and friendly, they had the same sales staff for decades along with the parts department guys. I dealt with every one of them as they changed, I knew all of the family members by first name basis, they liked me as I was into modifying Hondas which they loved. Dealing with them on trades and purchases was amazing.

The dealership was later sold to a new owner and it turned into this huge new dealership, all of the marketing and sales approaches changed, I swear the sales people changed every 1-3 months there. I ended up signing a deal on a trade-in and new vehicle purchase one evening, the next day I went in to finalize the purchase deal and all of the numbers changed. The numbers on my trade changed and the numbers on the vehicle purchase changed, and none of it in my favour. I kept asking them for the document I signed the night before which had all of the approved numbers on them and they refused to give me a copy of that sheet that I signed. I complained to the owner and he eventually made it right and he apologized and he told the sales manager to do whatever was needed to make me happy. When the sales manager called me and asked what I wanted to make it all right I just said give me the deal that I was promised. I wasn't looking to get more than I deserved. The place just turned into a dealership where customers and employees were ushered through there like cattle, boy did it ever change. The sales managers would literally lock you into their office until they sold you some kind of extra protection package, even life insurance for god's sake.

For the next vehicle I went to Subaru and I could not believe the difference when I came out of there, it was so refreshing. Everything was above-board and they did not care to sell me anything other than the vehicle. I never went back to Honda and I continue to deal with Subaru to this day.

 

Yeah, when I buy cars now it's like dealing with children, I have to set clear boundaries and expectations like if any one of these numbers are wrong I will just stand up and walk away, I want to be in and out in one hour let's please schedule an appointment to make this happen, etc etc.

Actually, now that I think about it, it's making me miss buying cars used private party.

 

Funny that I just remembered, one of my Honda buddies was about to pick up a Civic Type R FK8 when the first ones were arriving to the USA. The dealership then decided to do a last minute price increase which resulted in him leaving to purchase a BRZ. He hasn't bought a Honda product ever since, except for one CBR600RR he bought used.

Generally speaking I have better experience with buying used cars private party compared to the dealership especially enthusiast cars, but also I was smart enough to see which cars are worth checking out.