Daughter thinking about a WRX

I love subaru awd systems. My crosstrek was reliable, but seats not as comfortable as my other cars.

Toyota supra maybe? I had a 1984. Loved it. The new ones look pretty amazing. Bmw engine though. I’ve had two bmw 3 series. Love the x3 too. Great as long as under warranty.
 
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skyactiv said:
I once owned a 2007 WRX I bought new. It had a 5 speed manual while the newer ones are a 6 speed manual. My WRX was the most reliable car I ever owned. My wife put a ton of miles on it. Replaced it with a 2013 GTI but kept the WRX around a few more years after that. The GTI was my most favorite car I ever owned, despite needing a few repairs. The WRX was hard to learn its limitations on being AWD--I never did. The GTI was an easy driver and more fun despite being FWD. I think the same holds true for the new ones today. If she wants a stick in a GTI look now as 2024 is the last year for one.

We got compliments on the WRX about every time we were out in it.

subaru-impreza-wrx-hoover-dam-jpg.206496
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I definitely would have kept that car. True classic.
 
I was thinking of a WRX myself. The wife just got $2700 off of a new turbo Outback…dealers first offer on a WRX was $2000 off. Honda and VW are NOT as generous
 
I was THIIIIIIIIIIISSSS close to buying one in 2016. The deal killer that made me get another Tacoma was the insurance. I have a near perfect insurance score (Record, Credit, other typical measures). The WRX was ~$100/month versus a Tacoma of approximately the same price. Insurance guy(s) said it was pure statistics: WRX has a higher % of crashes/repairs, those repairs cost more to fix that other cars and are more frequently a total loss. YMMV but suggest check insurance before pulling the trigger.
 
edyvw said:
Rod bearings? You are obviously not keeping up.
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I am on 2 subaru forums I have heard of it but all forums over represent issues. VW's are widely known for their electronic failures and unreliability/cost of repairs. Also probably overly represented. Which Subaru engine(s) are you referring to?
 
Al said:
I am on 2 subaru forums I have heard of it but all forums over represent issues. VW's are widely known for their electronic failures and unreliability/cost of repairs. Also probably overly represented. Which Subaru engine(s) are you referring to?
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The FA24DIT have been very reliable
 
Al said:
I am on 2 subaru forums I have heard of it but all forums over represent issues. VW's are widely known for their electronic failures and unreliability/cost of repairs. Also probably overly represented. Which Subaru engine(s) are you referring to?
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BRZ/GR86, old and new.
I have this VW for 11yrs, had before that CC, before that Passat B5.5, and some 30* in my business.
So, please, what am I missing?
 
edyvw said:
BRZ/GR86, old and new.
I have this VW for 11yrs, had before that CC, before that Passat B5.5, and some 30* in my business.
So, please, what am I missing?
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That the brz/gr86 has a slightly different variant of the FA24. Oiling system is different for sure.
 
Fa24wrx said:
That the brz/gr86 has a slightly different variant of the FA24. Oiling system is different for sure.
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The oiling system can only be improved, considering it was aimed at the track crowd. ALso, add RTV issues with older ones etc.
That is why they are as common here at the track as last year snow.
 
edyvw said:
Depends how much it can pull.
The problem with WRX, especially the current one, for serious track use is that it costs A LOT of money to get it up and going.
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I mean, not really. Tires, brake pads and it's not bad. They also make crazy power with very little mods. My buddy has 375 whp with an intake and tune (e64) and makes 350s-360 on 91/93 octane. Stock motors have held 600 whp but the transmission is the failure point after 400 wtq
 
Fa24wrx said:
I mean, not really. Tires, brake pads and it's not bad. They also make crazy power with very little mods. My buddy has 375 whp with an intake and tune (e64) and makes 350s-360 on 91/93 octane. Stock motors have held 600 whp but the transmission is the failure point after 400 wtq
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It is not about power. It is "not bad" brakes means failure in the first lap. Oil cooling, engine cooling etc. More power, more investment in suspension, brakes etc. I drove new Subaru WRX. I like the fact that they are one of few that offer manual, but it is far cry from old days of STi etc. Simply, the Subaru business model is different these days.
Generally, it is very expensive to make a Subaru WRX track-worthy. That is why the Miata and BMW 3 series are the most popular track vehicles. Miata bcs. size, dynamics, BMW bcs. all models come with chassis made already with M model in mind, all connections, spots to install coolers if necessary, brake cooling tunnels etc.
 
Pablo said:
And define "potent". What are, say the 0-60MPH?

I would bet the VW feels a little more "solid". At first.
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Potent: on a cool day earlier this year, with my “hot” E30 tune, 4H engaged for the launch, foot-braked to 2700rpm, and about half a tank (18 gallons), on one of the GPS-based 0-60 timers, my bolt-on modded crew cab F150 recorded a 3.95 0-60. That seems a hair too quick to me, but who knows? With just a tune about 4 days after I got the truck, it ran a video-verified 4.62 0-60, and 0-100 in about 10.6.

OP, WRX is a fun car, but can be a slippery slope like any turbo car can. Not trying to talk her out of the Rex in any way, but has she looked at more traditional sporty cars like the Miata or BRZ that may be a little less encouraging to chase that midlife excess bug? These are both great cars in their own right, but without turbos it takes a little more commitment to mod them to high heaven. I know once I felt what just a tune could do to the 3.5 Eco, my thirst quickly exceeded my willingness to dump the needed money into it. OTOH, all my G8 GT really needed was a set of mufflers and an SCT tuner and it was pretty satisfying without having to chase the speed demons…
 
One thing I didn't see was if there are any kids involved with the reset/divorce. Is a useable rear seat needed or wanted? I have a couple divorced friends that had to sell their reset vehicles because they needed room for the weekend custody that turned to joint or fulltime custody. My one friend got a Mustang and then 1.5 years later traded it for an Integra type S for those reasons.

He really wanted a Lexus IS but wanted a 6MT more.

IMG_3839.webp
IMG_3840.webp

IMG_3841.webp
 
edyvw said:
It is not about power. It is "not bad" brakes means failure in the first lap. Oil cooling, engine cooling etc. More power, more investment in suspension, brakes etc. I drove new Subaru WRX. I like the fact that they are one of few that offer manual, but it is far cry from old days of STi etc. Simply, the Subaru business model is different these days.
Generally, it is very expensive to make a Subaru WRX track-worthy. That is why the Miata and BMW 3 series are the most popular track vehicles. Miata bcs. size, dynamics, BMW bcs. all models come with chassis made already with M model in mind, all connections, spots to install coolers if necessary, brake cooling tunnels etc.
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I get where you're coming from. I'm avoiding engine mods for warranty reasons and strictly worked on suspension parts, etc. I don't know what MY WRX you pushed on the track but its' been getting changes and upgrades through the years. Even the 2024+ MY TR got stiffer chassis. It's still a little float-y on high speeds but ALL that said, my brakes held up fine after a several HPDE laps. Did a flush, etc, afterwards but the only thing I'd say the 2024+ MY TR needs on a track are good coilovers and supporting mods for it to dial it in. I'm a bit disappointed with Ohlin's for this MY though so we'll see.

It's definitely a different experience coming from the Porsche/BMW world into the Subaru world on track days.

PXL_20250428_164317857.webp


Also, OEM wheels needs to go. They were like 30 lbs per corner as opposed to 19 on forged STI wheels.
 
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