considering a wrx

[Rogueman2016s]

Did you see the updated Elantra N?

View attachment 191287

The rear is what lost me only if they reworked that rear end looked

 

[Cujet]

I can’t get over the ugly unpainted rear.

View attachment 191284

I think it looks a LOT better in blue.

And Just right in Black or is that Charcoal:

 

[Soft Cars]

That's one car that sounds horrible with aftermarket mufflers. With a WRX, if you can hear the engine at all, it's too loud.

That thing needs to be as hush hush as possible.

 

[edyvw]

I just do not get those horrid unpainted bumpers.

 

[Oillover]

I just do not get those horrid unpainted bumpers.

true, but at least it makes it easier to replace if they ever need replacement (no painting required).

 

[Rogueman2016s]

That's one car that sounds horrible with aftermarket mufflers. With a WRX, if you can hear the engine at all, it's too loud.

That thing needs to be as hush hush as possible.

I do agree the boxer growl sounds much better tamed through the stock pipe work. After watching a bunch of YouTube videos I don’t even think I’ll entertain a test drive. For the money the performance isn’t all that impressive even watched a few Brz videos does Subaru not have a variable valve timing? those engines seem like they don’t wake up. Watching the Brz launch I was expecting some intake cam lift and a nicer exhaust. The wrx sounds decent when the stock exhaust is left on but again wasn’t impressed I know driving experience speaks for itself the videos i watched the turbo itself is very tamed and quiet for an enthusiast vehicle it’s not hitting like it should.. has Subaru gone soft on us. My Volvo s60 T5 had more turbo sound.

Another thing 1-2-3 seem like horrible throws either i chose videos with guys that can’t shift great or that’s one rubbery long throw gearbox.

 

[meep]

I think it looks a LOT better in blue.

And Just right in Black or is that Charcoal:

What wait, we aren’t looking at a civic?

 

[wemay]

Of course it was far different, but I once owned a 2007 WRX TR with a 5 speed I bought new. People always seemed interested to talk to me about the car while at the gas station. For those that don't know, TR means Tuner Ready.

View attachment 191250

I owned a silver bug-eyed WRX back in the day. It was fantastic. Fun, comfortable and reliable. It was my first japanese enthusiast car after a trove of 90's and early 2000's VW GTI, GLi and Corrado.

 

[wemay]

I think it looks a LOT better in blue.

And Just right in Black or is that Charcoal:

Funny you bring this up. I hated the cladding when reading reviews or watching YouTube videos, but I really like it now, after seeing it in person.

 

[Rogueman2016s]

DOes it still come with a stick or only with CVT made for people that are long dead after retirement?

Still available in row and go

 

[MCompact]

I test drove the previous generation STI and absolutely loved it.

 

[PF52]

I just do not get those horrid unpainted bumpers.

The unpainted plastic wheelwell cladding and the unpainted bumpers (PARTICULARLY the rear bumper that looks like a giant diaper) spoil it for me.

I have a 2021 and I thank my lucky stars I bought it instead of waiting for the 22+ models. I did test-drive a couple 22s and they still have the same clunky 1-2 shifts mentioned earlier. Rev hang is more like my 21 but much improved over the 15-16-17 or so models. But none of them have the precise feel of, say, every Honda ever made. Brakes are so-so at best; there is a reason people aspire to swap to the STI Brembos. But otherwise, I prefer the dash layout, infotainment screen, fog lights and a few other cosmetic differences of the 15-21 generation over the 22+ models.

 

[Nchockeyfan]

Golf R is a strong alternative to the WRX, especially styling wise. Just saying...

 

[IndyIan]

I do agree the boxer growl sounds much better tamed through the stock pipe work. After watching a bunch of YouTube videos I don’t even think I’ll entertain a test drive. For the money the performance isn’t all that impressive even watched a few Brz videos does Subaru not have a variable valve timing? those engines seem like they don’t wake up. Watching the Brz launch I was expecting some intake cam lift and a nicer exhaust. The wrx sounds decent when the stock exhaust is left on but again wasn’t impressed I know driving experience speaks for itself the videos i watched the turbo itself is very tamed and quiet for an enthusiast vehicle it’s not hitting like it should.. has Subaru gone soft on us. My Volvo s60 T5 had more turbo sound.

Another thing 1-2-3 seem like horrible throws either i chose videos with guys that can’t shift great or that’s one rubbery long throw gearbox.

I guess give one a try, and see if you find the same? I think the regular WRX is a nice DD for people that gets snow or a lot of rain, and want to autocross once in a while, especially on the rainy days.
For a nice day toy, I'd get something manual and rwd, probably a Miata for me, or a 2nd gen+ Viper if funds allowed. Either one provides a different "experience" than you'd want everyday.

 

[Rogueman2016s]

The unpainted plastic wheelwell cladding and the unpainted bumpers (PARTICULARLY the rear bumper that looks like a giant diaper) spoil it for me.

I have a 2021 and I thank my lucky stars I bought it instead of waiting for the 22+ models. I did test-drive a couple 22s and they still have the same clunky 1-2 shifts mentioned earlier. Rev hang is more like my 21 but much improved over the 15-16-17 or so models. But none of them have the precise feel of, say, every Honda ever made. Brakes are so-so at best; there is a reason people aspire to swap to the STI Brembos. But otherwise, I prefer the dash layout, infotainment screen, fog lights and a few other cosmetic differences of the 15-21 generation over the 22+ models.

Nice looking ride

 

[Rogueman2016s]

I guess give one a try, and see if you find the same? I think the regular WRX is a nice DD for people that gets snow or a lot of rain, and want to autocross once in a while, especially on the rainy days.
For a nice day toy, I'd get something manual and rwd, probably a Miata for me, or a 2nd gen+ Viper if funds allowed. Either one provides a different "experience" than you'd want everyday.

I had a Miata in my younger days I do love them and miss my 2010. But I wanted something with rear seats to take the family out. Maybe a cts v

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/93426832

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

okay then.

Well, considering it’s been 6+ years since a “plain” WRX has had that engine (EJ255/7), you can see all the haters really have is old drivel. Usually because they're stuck inside when it snows and everyone’s seen The Shining

 

[Ws6]

I just don't understand the WRX. In 2005 it made sense, but now? It's absurdly slow, it's not very nice inside unless you load out a WRX Sti, it's not high enough off the ground to actually rally in, it's not very good on fuel economy, it's not going to handle as well as its peers in that price range. It's literally just a Subaru fanboy product at this stage in the game. They literally stopped making it a better performing car in the late 2000's.

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX

VEHICLE TYPE
Front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan or 5-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED
$25,660 (base price: $25,660)

ENGINE TYPE
Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement
150 in3, 2457 cm3
Power (SAE net)
265 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque (SAE net)
244 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.1 in
Length: 180.3 in
Width: 68.5 in
Height: 58.1 in
Curb weight: 3204 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 4.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.9 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 19.7 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.3 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 13.5 sec @ 102 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 142 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 160 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.87 g

FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city/highway driving: 18/25 mpg
C/D observed: 20 mpg

Tested: 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX

From the Archive: The heavily revised and vastly improved WRX is quicker than an STI. Seriously.

www.caranddriver.com

And here it is in 2022 (current) guise...

2022 Subaru WRX Limited
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $36,990/$36,990

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 146 in3, 2387 cm3
Power: 271 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/11.4-in vented disc
Tires: Dunlop Sport Maxx GT 600 A
245/40R-18 97Y

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.2 in
Length: 183.8 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 57.8 in
Passenger Volume: 98 ft3
Trunk Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3401 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.9 sec @ 101 mph
130 mph: 26.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 10.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 7.7 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 145 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 153 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 317 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.95 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 28 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 460 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 22/19/26 mpg



C/D TESTING EXPLAINED



2022 Subaru WRX GT
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $43,390/$43,390

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 146 in3, 2387 cm3
Power: 271 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/11.8-in vented disc
Tires: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 A
245/40R-18 97Y

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.2 in
Length: 183.8 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 57.8 in
Passenger Volume: 98 ft3
Trunk Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3552 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.4 sec
100 mph: 13.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.1 sec @ 101 mph
130 mph: 28.2 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.3 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.1 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 134 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 159 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 326 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.93 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 20 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 28 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 460 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/19/25 mpg

2023 Subaru WRX Review, Pricing, and Specs

Time has matured the 2023 Subaru WRX into a car with a decent ride and sophisticated technology but it can still spray gravel—just not as far as it used to.

www.caranddriver.com

For what? Why? It's literally a decade and a half past its prime.

The 2009 car is FASTER. It gets the SAME observed fuel economy. The only thing better about the 2022+ models is the braking and skidpad rating, and when you consider the tire differences in 2009 rubber vs 2022+ rubber (Dunlop SP Sport 01s in 2009 vs Dunlop Sport Maxx GT 600 A in 2022+), you know where that came from. It's literally a worse performing car than 15 years ago. Why anyone buys them beyond nostalgia is beyond me.

In 2009 it ran C&D's Lightning Lap in 3:16.6. In 2022, 3:11.6. Literally 5 seconds quicker in 15 years, and I bet a lot of that is tires. For comparison, the front-wheel drive compact SUV from Hyundai, the Kona N, ran a 3:06.1. A compact FWD SUV. Oh, and that's with its rear tires literally on the wear bars. No, there is no saving grace for the WRX in my book. None. Hard pass.

 

[RooflessVW]

I just don't understand the WRX. In 2005 it made sense, but now? It's absurdly slow, it's not very nice inside unless you load out a WRX Sti, it's not high enough off the ground to actually rally in, it's not very good on fuel economy, it's not going to handle as well as its peers in that price range. It's literally just a Subaru fanboy product at this stage in the game. They literally stopped making it a better performing car in the late 2000's.

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX

VEHICLE TYPE
Front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan or 5-door wagon

PRICE AS TESTED
$25,660 (base price: $25,660)

ENGINE TYPE
Turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement
150 in3, 2457 cm3
Power (SAE net)
265 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque (SAE net)
244 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.1 in
Length: 180.3 in
Width: 68.5 in
Height: 58.1 in
Curb weight: 3204 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 4.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.9 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 19.7 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.3 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 13.5 sec @ 102 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 142 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 160 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.87 g

FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city/highway driving: 18/25 mpg
C/D observed: 20 mpg

Tested: 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX

From the Archive: The heavily revised and vastly improved WRX is quicker than an STI. Seriously.

www.caranddriver.com

And here it is in 2022 (current) guise...

2022 Subaru WRX Limited
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $36,990/$36,990

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 146 in3, 2387 cm3
Power: 271 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/11.4-in vented disc
Tires: Dunlop Sport Maxx GT 600 A
245/40R-18 97Y

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.2 in
Length: 183.8 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 57.8 in
Passenger Volume: 98 ft3
Trunk Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3401 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.9 sec @ 101 mph
130 mph: 26.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 10.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 7.7 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 145 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 153 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 317 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.95 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 21 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 28 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 460 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 22/19/26 mpg



C/D TESTING EXPLAINED



2022 Subaru WRX GT
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $43,390/$43,390

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 146 in3, 2387 cm3
Power: 271 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/11.8-in vented disc
Tires: Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT 600 A
245/40R-18 97Y

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.2 in
Length: 183.8 in
Width: 71.9 in
Height: 57.8 in
Passenger Volume: 98 ft3
Trunk Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3552 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.4 sec
100 mph: 13.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.1 sec @ 101 mph
130 mph: 28.2 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.3 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.1 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 134 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 159 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 326 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.93 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 20 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 28 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 460 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 21/19/25 mpg

2023 Subaru WRX Review, Pricing, and Specs

Time has matured the 2023 Subaru WRX into a car with a decent ride and sophisticated technology but it can still spray gravel—just not as far as it used to.

www.caranddriver.com

For what? Why? It's literally a decade and a half past its prime.

The 2009 car is SLOWER. It gets the SAME observed fuel economy. The only thing better about the 2022+ models is the braking and skidpad rating, and when you consider the tire differences in 2009 rubber vs 2022+ rubber, you know where that came from. It's literally a worse performing car than 15 years ago. Why anyone buys them beyond nostalgia is beyond me.

Are there many other AWD 6MT sedans with turbocharged boxer engines?

I'm not a Subaru fan myself, but they do have a whole vibe, and people dig it.

 

[Ws6]

I just do not get those horrid unpainted bumpers.

It's because Subaru is a Rally Car company! Err...makes...ummm...made....heck with it, it's cheaper.