Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ

Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ

It's a rare opportunity to realize that one is witnessing history, and I think all of us who reported on these near twins recognized that we were seeing the birth of what will be remembered as one of the decade's great cars. The FR-S and BRZ -- they are close enough in content and character to be covered together -- are true back-to-basics sports cars designed to evoke memories of the Toyota Corolla AE86, the accidental hero of the drifting world. But the Scibaru is not a hobbled homage like the Honda CR-Z -- this car truly hits its mark by emphasizing handling finesse over straight-line performance. These little rear-drivers are so well balanced that even a lousy drifter like me can pop the throttle, kick the tail out, countersteer, and (with a little practice) transform an ordinary corner into a ballet. Though both cars have Subaru souls, I'm partial to the Scion, which has a little less equipment and a little more tail-happy bias. Still, the truth is that if you can appreciate the merits of a rear-wheel-drive car, you can't go wrong with either one.