Subaru BRZ ZC6

The first-generation BRZ is Subaru's half of the GT86/86 it co-developed with Toyota — rear-wheel drive, a low boxer centre of gravity, a Torsen LSD, and a philosophy built around light weight and balance rather than horsepower. That's where the honest truth lives: the FA20 naturally-aspirated boxer, with 200 to 205 hp, has the infamous torque dip between 3,000 and 4,500 rpm, and in everyday driving the car feels genuinely slow. If you want shove, look elsewhere. If you want one of the most honest handling icons of the last twenty years, you're in the right place — on a twisty back road the joy is in the chassis, not the spec sheet.

Buying advice: get the 2017 facelift onward with 205 hp and revised suspension if you can — the early recalls are ancient history on these. Be cautious with 2012-2013 cars: that production window falls under the valve-spring recall (which can cause catastrophic engine failure) and the early EPS steering recalls in RHD markets. Only buy if completion is documented in the service history.

Typical used-car weaknesses: the throwout bearing and the undersized clutch often speak up early, whining or rattling at clutch take-up — under-greased from the factory. The suspension bushings wear with the miles, producing clunks and a vague steering feel. Tail-light condensation, interior rattles, and — in salty climates — underbody rust at the rear arches and rockers are all common. The notchy, mechanical cold-shift is normal; grinding or genuine lockout is not.

Repair costs are modest: clutch parts are affordable, and re-greasing or swapping the throwout bearing is best done at the same time. The factory brakes aren't built for the track and fade fast — if you plan track days, budget braided lines and better pads up front.

2026 market price: ZC6 cars are thin on the ground in Germany, which keeps prices firm. Higher-mileage examples start in the high teens, roughly 17,000-20,000 euros; clean, low-km facelift cars climb into the upper twenties. A well-maintained FA20 with disciplined oil changes will pass 300,000 km comfortably.

Test-drive red flags: grinding rather than merely notchy shifting, blue smoke on the overrun (internal damage), a whining throwout bearing at clutch play, clunking bushings, fogged tail lights, and rust at arches and rockers. Insider pick: a documented, recall-cleared 2017+ facelift manual — the mature, sorted version of the icon.