I drove a new WRX before deciding that it wasn't enough power stock and would require modifications. With that, i wanted to be on the Golf MK7 platform if i was going to mod. VW seems more durable than the subaru engine under the stress of mods. I do really like the simple layout and permanent 4x4 of the WRX alot.
WRX Opinions
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Highboy
$100 Site Donor 2025
I’m 55 and I just got one. It’s fun the drive and tons of aftermarket stuff out there. But with only 3k miles on it, it’s kinda a toy and not a daily driver.
Since you were originally looking at American Muscle it's to bad Dodge won't let you have the Charger Pursuit Hemi AWD in the consumer R/T.
I actually considered buying one of these. You can get them, just have to either 1) do a bit of background work with the dealer, 2) buy a seriously clean low-mileage version optioned the way you want.
It will have a 5-speed, but I believe it's a derivative of the excellent NAG1.
This is a hasty example: https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...e1=DODGE&modelCode1=DODCHAR&clickType=listing
My first car out of school was a ten year old Bavaria 3.0. I performed a "rolling restoration," as the Brits call it. It took about five years to finish it up. I kept it for another two years; I then sold it to a friend and and bought a three year old 535is. By then the die was cast...
I'd get the bumper-to-bumper warranty and not worry about it.
Reliability isn't everything.
I owned a 2007 WRX I bought new and it was the most reliable vehicle I ever owned. I replaced the WRX with a VW GTI which I liked better
despite it not being as reliable.
My wife has a 2015 Audi A4 quattro and my mom has a 2016 Audi A3 quattro DSG. My moms Audi feels like a rocket ship.
I owned a 2007 WRX I bought new and it was the most reliable vehicle I ever owned. I replaced the WRX with a VW GTI which I liked better
despite it not being as reliable.
My wife has a 2015 Audi A4 quattro and my mom has a 2016 Audi A3 quattro DSG. My moms Audi feels like a rocket ship.
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Yeah, it's a safe pick. The MQB chassis cars are all really well sorted.
You can pick up a lighty used '18 or '19 A3 for ~25-27K. With the S-Line trim, it's plenty sporty. A nice thing about Audi is the big depreciation--makes them a pretty good deal lightly used.
The other option is a Golf R. The utility with the hatchback is really nice, and unfortunately the US no longer imports the A3 hatch. There are no new ones left, but you can still find one lightly used in the 35-38K range. It's basically an S3 with a hatch, a slightly different interior, and longer warranty (6/72 bumper to bumper).
For me, the R checks all of the boxes. I was considering a fun car along with my wagon. I ended up going to a single car, and if you're looking for a practical performance car, it's hard to beat. Another benefit: insurance is cheap. It seems to be treated by most companies as a regular Golf. Insurance is cheaper than my prior Alltrack or GTI. Weird..
The base A3 sucks. S or RS, or don't bother. My girlfriend was looking at a 2016 A3 Premium or some such, and the build quality/materials/etc. felt very cheap compared to a car like my Mazda or even my friends WRX and his STi. It had a well sorted transmission and engine combo, but otherwise was very "meh". Similar in quality to mid-level Fords of the same year I've driven. Lots of rattle, squeak, creak, hard plastic, etc. Bleck!
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Surprised to hear that. I haven't sat in one (no hatch, no care), but my 8P A3 was pretty nice for its time. The S-Line interior looks really similar to the S3, though?
Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Golf R interior, and really all of the MK7 VW's. While not the most exciting, it's pretty timeless and the materials are all mostly good.
No experience with a Golf. They seem to have a cult appeal, though. The A3 just really shocked me. I was expecting to be blown away by its quality, and left feeling smug about my Mazda, which IMO, should NOT happen with an Audi. It really turned me off to the brand. That said, the RS3 is worth even that interior for the performance. A call to the local VW dealer confirmed the Audi was more maintenance, but it was honestly less than I thought, and not something that would turn me off had I liked the car.
According to the shop, by 100K miles you are looking at $4-800 in repairs, and about $350 in maintenance every 40K miles or something (I forgot the interval, but basically changing DSG fluid). Not a bad deal at all, especially if the RS3 is the same. The one thing to keep in mind is the A3 is a super tiny car. I am 5'10.75, and sitting in the back seat was not fun. Do-able, but about as do-able as that 3rd seat place in the back for a large 10 year-old on a road trip.
Reliability is generally at or near the bottom of the important needs on the lists of most WRX buyers.
I have experience with a good female friend's 2016. If your goal is to just make HP and have a fun little car that makes a bunch of noise, then I think they are good for that. Her's is that same blue as the pics above and it looks great and hauls some serious butt with the tune. It is not reliable, not fuel efficient, and not comfortable though. She bought it new, and frankly for the price I'm kind of surprised how basic the interior is and how tin-can like the inside felt (rattles, etc). But they aren't built for that, it does what it does pretty well, but make sure that is what you are looking for.
He'd probably like a Ford Explorer RS if he test drove one.
What is that?
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
I'd wait a year or two for the new 400HP STI to come out. 
I'm sure the WRX will get a nice power bump, as well.
If you can't wait, then realize that the STI MPG is pee-poor. I had a pretty mild commute where I couldn't get into boost too much for a long time and my average MPG over ~60k miles was 21.X MPG in my '08 STI (which, sadly, had the same exact engine as the newest STI).
I'm sure the WRX will get a nice power bump, as well.If you can't wait, then realize that the STI MPG is pee-poor. I had a pretty mild commute where I couldn't get into boost too much for a long time and my average MPG over ~60k miles was 21.X MPG in my '08 STI (which, sadly, had the same exact engine as the newest STI).
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