Z for a '16 WRX?
 

Hopefully I'm in the right section with this one; apologies ahead of time if I'm not.
After having my Z for a little over a year now, I still absolutely love driving the car. However, there are times I wish I had a little extra space - whether it be for additional people or room in the trunk for things for the house.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to drive a buddy's 2013 stage 2 WRX and I was pretty impressed. He mentioned that some of the new 2015/16s are making pretty good numbers with a tune and some simple modifications and at $26.5k~ they seem like quite a bargain.
Anyone have any experience with the new WRXs? Would it be a considerable step back?

Came sooooo close to trading the Z in on a 16 limited sti but couldn't quite pull the trigger on the 43k after taxes price tag. Cobb stage II tune is a must but test driving stock u was impressed. For now still sit ting in my Z but lack of space after 4yrs I'm ready to make the jump. Just th8n king Bout it a lil more. Best wishes on making your decision!

Getcha' a good and roomy daily driver like my 1986 MR2.It has a trunk and a frunk.:icon17:

IMHO, a WRX is a step back. I used to have a WRX and while it's a great performance car, to me, it always had that econo car feel/look.

Disclaimer: I'm old (45). :tup:

:iagree: I had a wrx too.

And Im less old (33) :icon17:

Maybe opt for an STi? Or keep modding the hell outta the '16 WRX with wheels, suspension bits, brakes, etc. etc. etc.

While the WRX is a much more practical car, you'll never get the feeling of driving a real sports car. WRX and Z are very different. In terms of performance and appearance, it's a step back. However, you can easily tune a WRX. You can't really go wrong with WRX but there will be lots of compromises.

Step back , dont do it

WRX engine sux @$$.

I wouldn't do it but that just my opinion.

At the end of the day it's what you really want and what you would be more happier with at the end of the day.

I got a WRX 2016 STI for a daily
Fun car and lots of room , good in the twisties
Horrible gas mileage , and still not as fun to drive as Z

All said tho, If I had to just live with one I would take the STI just because of the daily and practicality of the car



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I was close to pulling a trigger on one too. I couldn't get over the interior material at the price they were asking for.

The WRX STI's have always been ugly-aggressive looking but are now looking more and more forgettable. Keep the Z and the hell with practicality. :driving:

Keep the Z. At the end its what you want but in my honest opinion the Z looks way better and cant match rear wheel drive fun.

You completely sacrifice what makes this car special for the STI. Once you're in a STI, or even EVO for that matter you realize it's just a souped up family sports car. If thats the means you need then sure, otherwise as a single male or even engaged male, its a bad decision performance wise spec to spec IMO.

Just get a Benz, cheapest one is better than sti. Mho.

Appreciate all the feedback guys! I figure I'll do a bit more research and maybe a test drive and go from there

I went 350z - 2014 Wrx hatch - 2015 370Z base with sports package. The Z is special indeed, except the crap paint, it feels like a better built car all around. The WRX started rattling within the first 1k miles, and inside plastic was cheap, stereo was horrible, but it was very practical, and that boxer engine sounded great! I am lucky enough to also own a stage 2 Mazdaspeed3, so that gives me the practicality I need, and that thing is quick, even for a FWD. If I were in your shoes, I would not go for a regular WRX, the STI may work out for you. But at that price, you can even do what I did, show around for a used fun/practical car, that way you can have it both ways. Good luck!

The new Golf R's seem to get some really good reviews too, that may be a good option too.

yah, for a dd i suppose, but i wouldnt sell my Z for that. just get a cheap hatch or your dd needs.

I feel like Subaru's design approach to the WRX over the past 6 or 7 years has been "How can we get this car to look more and more like a Corolla?". IMO, they keep getting uglier and uglier.

subaru does need to hire better designers, yes. their legacy's and tribecca (sp?) look like chryslers. lol

but then it wouldnt have that off-beat quirkiness.

If you care ANYTHING about interior quality, don't look at the WRX lol

i thought about swapping my z for the sti.. i just like how they sound lol and the ease of getting more hp out of them. but i also can't see myself ever giving 40k for that car.

It's looks vs. practicality, like trading a hot looking wife for a frumpy lady who cooks and cleans better. At some point, the latter is preferable. If you are at that point, go for it.

the CLA AMG is close in price to the top trim evo and sti's in canada... =P

That's why I can't bring myself to buy one, or even put one into consideration.

I had a '14 for about 6 months, great to drive, terrible to feel at home in. Ended up in another Z.

that boxer motor sounds horrendous..

Have you guys ever heard of WRX S4? It's a new WRX in Japan with high-end luxury interior that will blow the current WRX's interior out of the water. Might want to research that OP

I thought so also at first , after awhile it grows on ya

Really?!?! I always thought they were one of the few good sounding 4 cylinders with an aftermarket exhaust.

Yeah, as much as I like my Z, boxer engine in the WRX sounds good, dare I say better than a stock Z... and I have owned both.

Might also throw the 2016 Ford Focus RS In to the discussion as well now that the specs are out

350 hp/350tq and pretty much the same price as an sti. DAMN!

The Ford Focus RS Will Have 350 Horsepower, 350 Pound-Feet Of Torque

Sti killer

I understand that much of someone's car choice is heavily subjective, but I really can't understand why anyone would spend 37k on a Focus. Why the hell is there a market for this car? (yea, I know my first sentence answered this) But I can't understand why anyone would spend 35-40k on an STI either, and that happens. As I know some folks on here also own an STI...and I mean no offense. I'm just not a fan of the visuals or the performance at that price tag. But, to each their own.

From a numbers perspective, it would be hard to argue against the Focus RS. It's quick. But it's still a Focus...It looks terrible. I don't care if that thing had 500 HP, I'd never want to drive in something that looks like a glorified econobox. It looks like Ford's version of a Prius. Awful. And again, 37k for a Ford Focus...I just don't care what is under the hood. Who would want to wake up in the morning, get ready for work, and go out into your garage and see a Focus after you've been walking out to a Z every morning? It's like dumping Kate Upton (insert girl you like) for Miss Piggy.

If I wanted a little more room, and a backseat for 37k, I'd just buy a 2016 Camaro SS. At least I can have some dignity driving that around. It doesn't hurt that all signs are pointing to it being hands down the best all around sports car under 40k (performance wise).

Anyway, I'm not trying to pick on you, I just hate the idea of the Focus RS, as you likely noticed. Frankly, this is actually a good suggestion, based on what the OP said. I just wanted to rant a little bit.

Heh..I hear you man and I agree. It's still just a focus, but bang for the buck not a terrible choice. I can't hate much on the STi, since I owned a 2006 =). The wing was a bit much, but I enjoyed the car until the engine blew up at 32k (oil pickup tube issue). It never really ran quite right after getting the engine replaced. I definitely wouldn't trade up the Z for a focus or go back to another STi for the price they're going for now.

This man...could be my best friend.

Hahahaha.



And now I'm derailing this thread...oh well.

Screw the haters. The RS is a monster!

It's currently the talk of all my friends. If it was out while I was shopping around for my Z I may not have been here to type this out.

Dont even consider a wrx! Sure nice power but its under 30k for a reason. The z is overbuilt and you wont break anything. The wrx will need built parts in a few years. As for the sti, i had a built 2015 sti and to be honest I like my stock nismo more... I also have no use for backseats but if you want back seats go buy a beater and enjoy the z