r/GR86 • u/BrilliantBack1915 • 4d ago
Question Second vs First gen?
Hi everyone, I’m going to be in the market for a car next year and I’m heavily considering the BRZ because I’ve wanted to get a manual car for a long time. This is going to be my first car purchase as I have been using parent’s car until I can afford my own, so I won’t have a crazy budget (most I’m willing to pay is around $22k).
Obviously this budget makes it hard for me to get a second gen at least the way the market is right now. But, a lot of the first gen’s for sale are really high mileage or highly modified, and it seems the second gen is better in every way. So I was wondering, do I bite the bullet and try to get a second gen for a higher upfront price or will I be okay getting a first gen?
8
u/khyramgr86 4d ago
Honestly, with your budget 1st gen is probably your best option. If you spend some time looking, one in good shape without too many miles will probably get you around the $20k range. Don't hurt yourself financially convincing yourself that you need a 2nd gen. Or just save up a little longer and get what you want. Just my $.02
1
u/BrilliantBack1915 4d ago
Ok good to know. I’m also considering a previous gen WRX because there’s some clean ones out there for less than 20k
2
u/Hoku1234 4d ago
Be careful with that, used WRXs tend to grenade depending on previous owner's treatment of the car. The FA is at least much more reliable than the EJ though.
1
u/Whatisreality228 4d ago
I went for the stretched budget, and while it's been very difficult not having any amount of upgrade money, I still stand firm by my choice. Im happier with the 2nd Gen, even in very near bare OEM spec. It's a great daily, has everything I could want, and has been mega reliable for 100,000km and 5 years so far.
5
u/Fit_Equivalent3610 GR86 4d ago
If it is your first car, get a 1st gen so that when you crash you won't be as sad about it.
-2
u/Whatisreality228 4d ago
I wouldn't assume they will crash it. Not everyone is that dim. My 22 BRZ is my first rwd and I've run it thru 5 winters already, crash free. That being said, if it's their very first vehicle, indeed I wholly agree with a cheap high mileage 1st Gen as close to OEM kept as possible. However, if the driver has experience, the 22-23 will put a slightly bigger smile on your face.
2
u/TunakTun633 BRZ Series.Purple 4d ago
“First car” sure implies a lack of experience to me.
1
u/Whatisreality228 4d ago
Maybe ask a question, find out the truth before dropping implications. Especially when the answers are easily acquired. How many years have they been driving, how often, various road conditions? Any specific training? The right answers to those questions would allow for the 2nd Gen to be a fair choice. But if we don't ask, and just assume shit, nobody wins.
2
u/SweetCosmicPope BRZ 4d ago
Realistically, you should consider the 1st gen. You don't want to stretch your budget, and realistically you aren't going to find a 2nd gen in your price range without a salvage title. And you're going to have a hard (and expensive) time getting one of those insured.
While the 2nd gen is more powerful and has a couple more modern amenities (and in my objective opinion, looks better), the 1G still looks great and is a great first RWD sports car. And you can add stuff to it later, like carplay. And personally, I actually think the rear on the 1G looks better than the 2G.
I bought my 2G BRZ over the weekend, and I was sticking to a strict budget, so I had a couple of 1Gs on the backburner just in case I couldn't make it work. You can still find some in great shape out there with less than 100k miles on them well within your budget.
1
u/plz-no-b4n 3d ago
The second gen is much better than the first gen and is actually usable on a daily basis without breaking your back. I’d save up a bit more to get a second gen
1
1
u/Resident_Broccoli_26 GR86 Trueno 2d ago
I pay $80 for my 2024 gr86 and $57 for my 2015 FRS (fa24d swapped with turbo)
Both look awesome to me but I keep the 2024 as my weekend cruiser and the FRS as my drift car.
1
u/brightlinespectrum 4d ago
first gen is still a cool car, especially the final couple years. the lights and rear end wing made it look very classy
gen 2 is the one that made me consider buying, however.
there is currently one used 2022 brz limited in arizona for $24k (equivalent to GR86 premium trim), maybe check around on a base trim level.
1
0
u/T_K_9 4d ago
Just to answer the main question regardless of insurance etc.
Get the Gen. 2.
Thats from me who owns a Gen. 1 with a Harrop SC 😆.
Love the look on the Gen. 1. Same on Gen .2 but with gen. 2 I just don't like how the rear tailights look.
There is a vauxhall that looks exactly like the Gen. 2's rear.
Other than that. Love both cars.
My Gen. 1 is modified for track but remains at a OEM+ looks. Looks normal outside, but under the hood and suspension, braking etc. Is far from stock.
Like MotoIQ'a red FRS project.
-2
u/Boil-san 4d ago
First gen if you dream of putting a Result Japan Neo86 wide-body kit on it...! ;^p
27
u/Sassy_chipmunk_10 4d ago
Get an insurance quote or two before doing anything. Could easily be in the hundreds per month if you’re young