This sports coupe has a boxer engine, RWD configuration, and a manual transmission. But it isn’t a Porsche

If I ask you to name a sports coupe with a stick shift and a boxer engine, you’re going to immediately think “Porsche” before your mind moves on to the ludicrous costs associated with German performance cars. The days of picking up a functional used 911 for a shade over $30,000 are long gone, but you can get a brand new, manual, boxer engined, sports coupe for around that price.

The Subaru BRZ has 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, which admittedly puts it in Miata territory when it comes to specs. Thankfully, it’s also in Miata territory when it comes to driving pleasure. Subie’s little sports car can go from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, which is pretty nippy when you’re shorter than a truck tire. The BRZ is electronically limited to 140 mph too, which is more than most people will use and again, pretty exhilarating in something of its size.

It’s also rear-wheel drive and packing a limited-slip diff, which means you can spend many an hour not drifting around rainy or snowy parking lots because that would be illegal or something. But if you were to engage in the kind of behavior we are 100% not endorsing or encouraging, then the BRZ is a fantastic pick. Also, sliding the back end out is a lot easier with a stick shift, which the BRZ has. Because it was obviously designed by someone with a soul who likes both cars and the driving experience in general.

Pricing starts at $35,860 and caps out at just under $40,000. So again, we’re sort of in Miata territory. Subaru only makes a shade over 2,000 BRZs a year, though, as its production efforts sensibly focus on volume sellers like the Forester, Outback, and Crosstrek. But if you really want to get behind the wheel of a BRZ, there is a far more common version of it on the market.

Wait, isn’t the Subaru BRZ just a rebadged Toyota GR86?

So you may be thinking you’ve seen all of this before, and the BRZ is just a rebadged Toyota GR86. And that is somewhat correct; they are essentially the same vehicle with a different logo on the front. But the powertrain is all Subaru, so give them a little credit there. It’s a clear joint effort.

It’s far from the only time Subaru has collaborated with Toyota, and considering Toyota owns a fifth of Subaru’s stock, none of this is surprising. Some people would like to see a Toyota engine in a GR86, and they point to the reliability issues that have plagued certain Subaru engines over the years.

If you owned a Subaru WRX STI in the late 90s or early 2000s, you’ll likely be aware of the horrific smells that accompany a failed head gasket. In more recent years, Subaru’s boxer engines have suffered from oil pressure issues that aren’t really noticeable when you’re commuting to work or taking a Forester on a slow trail drive. But they are a lot more apparent if you’re trying to feel a little G-force in your entry-level sports coupe.

While some Toyota fans think dumping the main Subaru aspect of this collaboration would improve the GR86, some Subaru fans should see it as a chance to make the BRZ its own unique thing.

A boxer engine is a bit weird. They’re more expensive to build and maintain, and they’re often awkward to work on. Which is probably why they aren’t too popular. Only Subaru and Porsche really use them to any degree, which is why the configuration is instantly associated with both manufacturers and no one else.

But in terms of performance, they’re excellent. The boxer can sit lower in the vehicle, providing better balance and handling. They tend to be pretty stable, low-vibration options, too, which makes for a more comfortable ride. Which means it makes great sense in a 911 or a BRZ, not so much in an Outback but like I said, it’s Subaru’s “thing.”

Choice is never bad, so if we see a turbocharged I4 GR86 in the future, I’m all for it. But Subaru should stick to its guns with the BRZ. And they should probably make more than 2,000 of them a year.