There's no doubt that the Subaru BRZ is one of the best small sports cars on the market. It's cheap and easy to maintain, it's a joy to drive and it's built with the level of quality that buyers have come to expect from Japanese manufacturers. Alongside its twin the Toyota GT/GR86, the BRZ has cemented its place in the world of serious drivers cars since it first debuted in 2012. But, after ten years on sale, there's a new generation of the car for the 2022 model year.
The new generation makes a number of improvements over the original car, but it's of course a lot more expensive to buy than a used first-gen car. So, the question is, is it worth buying used or is it better to save up and get a new one? To answer that question, it's worth considering the pros and cons of both options. It's not quite as simple as a yes or no answer, and the decision will differ depending on a buyer's finances, practical requirements, and what they want to do with the car. Here, we break down the main advantages and disadvantages of buying new versus used to help you decide what's best for your buying dilemma.
10 Buy Used: Becoming Very Affordable
For anyone working on a tight budget, buying a used car is practically a no-brainer. A quick search on used car sites like Autotrader shows BRZs starting at around $15,000, and there are probably even cheaper examples out there in local listings or auctions.
While these cheap used cars will often require a bit more maintenance and repairs, the running cost is unlikely to cost as much as the premium buyers would pay for a new car. This is especially true for buyers planning to work on their car themselves rather than take it to a garage.
9 Buy Used: Excellent Handling
A key reason that the BRZs won over enthusiasts early on is that from day one, they've always been very fun to drive. This is largely down to their handling, which manages to strike just the right balance between precise and playful.
There were minor improvements made to the car's handling over the first generation's life cycle, but even the earliest model BRZ will still be a hoot to drive. In fact, at its used price point, it's probably one of the best handling cars on the market, period.
8 Buy Used: Design Still Looks Modern
It's no longer a cutting-edge design, but most people would agree that the BRZ has aged very well over the years. It still looks good even when it's stock, and it's easy to add wheels and kits to make it look even better if the owner wants.
In comparison to the 2012 Mazda Miata, which looks noticeably dated today, early model BRZs have held up very well and even 2021 model year cars look practically identical. And while it's true that looks aren't everything, it's always nice to have a visually appealing car to walk back to in the parking lot.
7 Buy Used: Easy to Source
In comparison to some other older sports cars, buying a used BRZ is a piece of cake. The BRZ and its twin were sales successes straight off the line, so there are dozens of used examples sat on the market at any given time.
That makes finding a used example in good condition significantly easier than with many other cars. Granted, there will be plenty of BRZs that will have been thoroughly abused by their previous owners, but spotting a well-cared-for one is still a fairly easy task.
6 Buy Used: Lots Of Aftermarket Parts Available
Whether it's a weekend track day toy or a slammed show queen, there's a huge variety of options available for building a BRZ project. That's helped by the fact that the BRZ/GT86 has one of the most diverse aftermarket scenes out there.
Most builds will be able to use off-the-shelf parts that bolt straight on, without the need for costly custom fabrication. In this instance, buying new might actually be a hindrance, as there won't quite be the same level of aftermarket support available yet since the 2022 car is still so new.
5 Buy Used: Very Reliable
There aren't many small sports cars on the market that could be feasibly used as daily drivers, but the BRZ bucks that trend. Its reliability coupled with its relatively low running costs means that it's a surprisingly good daily, even if it might not be the most comfortable car for long-distance cruises.
It's not unusual to see used examples on the market with over 150,000 miles on the clock, sometimes close to 200,000. With such high mileage being commonplace, buyers can rest assured that buying a car with a six-digit odometer reading isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it likely has tens of thousands of miles of life left in it yet.
4 Buy Used: Not A Huge Difference In Performance
The main criticism of the original BRZ was that its power output didn't quite match up to the overall driving experience. With just 200 horsepower on tap, many regular passenger sedans and SUVs were actually more powerful.
The new BRZ doesn't really change that, as there's only been a slight power increase to 228 hp. While any improvement is a good thing, it would be very easy (and much cheaper) to fit a few aftermarket parts to an older BRZ and be able to match the 2022 car's output figure. Moreover, even the 9-year-old 2013 BRZ (and Toyota GT86) offers similar acceleration figures to the brand-new model, making it a much bigger value for the money in terms of performance.
3 Save For New: No More Torque Dip
If the extra 23 horsepower and 28 lb-ft of torque don't sound convincing enough to wait for the new model (which we understand), know the new engine does far more for the model than that. Power delivery for the 2022 model is much smoother, with the notorious torque dip between 3,000 and 4,500 RPM being almost completely eliminated.
This torque dip was one of the main complaints everyone had for the older model, as it occurs in the rev-range when you effectively need it the most. To get the most out of the old BRZ, you had to constantly keep it above 4500 RPM, or else it would feel sluggish. This is no longer the case for the 2022 model, as the extra 0.4 liters not only provide more instant torque and power but keep it coming all throughout the rev range.
2 Save For New: Handling Improvements
As well as its looks Subaru has made several handling improvements to the new car. It's lighter and stronger than before thanks to its increased use of aluminum, and the new wheels can now handle Michelin Pilot Sport tires which should increase overall grip.
The car's chassis setup has also been tweaked and the body shell is around 50% stiffer than the old car thanks to updated manufacturing techniques. All of that extra bolstering did not increase the new BRZ's curb weight, either, and it weighs virtually the same as the old models. HotCars hasn't had the chance to drive the new BRZ yet, but these improvements will almost certainly translate to a noticeable change in the car's overall handling and driving dynamics.
1 Save For New: Updated Cabin
The interior of the new BRZ is another area that Subaru has worked on for the 2022 car. Most of the focus has been on updating the connectivity and tech features to bring it in line with other models in Subaru's range.
A new digital gauge cluster replaces the old analog unit and there's a new infotainment system in the center console. All these changes together add up to make a package that's great value for money when new, but buying used is still a great option. In some cases, it's probably better to buy used than new, but if we were in the market for a BRZ? We'd save up for a new one.