Same here!

wow... a lot of guys have had the Subie's huh? You know I have not seen ONE WRX bodystyle like mine anywhere local to me since the 2011 came out. I know when I started calling about them they were VERY hard to get because of the earthquake in Japan. I opted to order the car and wait the 8 weeks for it to come in. Glad I did. Only 4 miles on it because in NY they have to drive the car to test everything and such. Anyway, very interesting so many guys coming from them in the past.

I think I would have saved a little more for a EVO X GSR if I wanted AWD. It's a far better drivers car by all accounts vs. the STi and for those concerned with numbers it's a good bit quicker to. The only conceivable down side really to the EVO X is that its ride is a bit more harsh and interior not as nice arguably.

13.0@106 isn't far off the pace of the Mustang GT as far as the ET is concerned due to the AWD launch. But then again this doesn't matter much unless you race your daily drivers for a living. But again I'm not saying the WRX is a bad choice just that the EVO X GSR is probably a better bargain for not too much more money.

Oh and as far as modding the regular WRX doesn't have the same basically bullet proof 6MT transmission nor does it have the same sophisticated deferential's and so on. Many people seem not to understand that the STi is much more than just a more powerful version on the WRX.

The point being the WRX isn't going to be as mod friendly if you're into that type of thing and that there's a good reason for why some choose to pay more for an STi. The WRX may match / be slightly quicker to 60 / 1/4 mile due to gearing (5-speed requires 2 shifts to reach 60 vs. 3 shifts for the STi's 6-speed & 4 shifts vs. 5 shifts for the 1/4mile) but that's where the performance advantage ends.

Owned an X for 2 years. Its quick... but its heavy ... no folding rear seat... very tiny trunk.. gas mileage I can get better now, and buying a used one is like playing Russian rolet. If you can find one unmolested ... you're going to pay a whole lot more than I did for the wrx.

i use to have an STI too.

By far one of the better cars out there.

Simple bolt ons created huge difference.

A downpipe and catback made so much power. Fun cars for sure. the clutch has nice feedback.

The wrx is just as fun, at 265 its no slug. Supposely people hit 60 faster than the sti in a wrx because you can do it in 2nd gear oppose to shifting to 3rd in the STI.

I came from a 2007 Toyota Yaris. IBTL :)

Now that is a HELL OF A BEAST...... :tiphat:

OP, great write up.

I had a kid checking out my Z as he drove past in his WRX. I was looking at his as well.

I'm sorry, but I think you're hypocritically gay.

You were defending your subbie, pretty well though-out opinions on how you feel about the Z and Subbie, differences, etc. I loved the thread in the beginning, but now it's starting to show it's turdness.

But then you start name calling Hondas because of the classification of people who drives them. I might as well name call Subaru's as a poor mans Evo, Evo drivers thinking they're faster than super cars, and BMW drivers owned by those who can't drive but spoiled by their parents. Get my point?

Please no name calling other car brands.

I used to own a Civic Si and I test drove a WRX before I bought my Z just recently.

The WRX seemed fun to drive and I could have definitely lived with it. The interior quality and the shear sexy looks of the Z made the decision for me.

I'm rarely going to go as fast as my car can take me, and I don't race. I would rather have a nice looking, quality interior and some comforts than the ability to mod my car heavily and maybe be faster than a Z.

That being said, having no room for anything in the car is a pain in the ***. Having iffy traction in the rain and colder weather sucks too. Its all about what you want. WRXs are awesome cars, and it wasn't a really easy decision.

Every time I see an STi or WRX or any other nice sports car, I try to give a nod, wave or thumbs up. Its cool to be happy with your Z, god knows I am, but there are tons of bad *** cars out there that are just as cool and many are much faster.

Good assessment on your post. I've been looking to run against a stock 09+WRX at the road course with my Z but no luck yet.

The WRX is an easy car to drive fast where the Z takes more skill but is more rewarding at the limit.

They're polar opposites from a power delivery perspective but they both feel equally fast with the Z being quick off the line and the WRX coming in on boost around 3500rpms. Here in Colorado going up a mountain pass at 10k feet my money is on my WRX though. Everywhere else I'll take the Z.

The WRX is easier to city drive compared to the Z - clutch action, once you get use to it is easier, steering a little less twitchy, the ride more compliant and outward visibility is better.

We get about 25mpg in the city and 32mpg highway in the WRX and I've only been able to eek out about 20/26mpg city/highway in the Z.

You didn't take a step back considering your need for selling the Z. They're both a lot of fun to drive, they're just very different but for ~$26k the WRX is a bargain.

good post.......enjoy your new ride.... there not that popular down here where i live.. but i can understand why you made the switch.....

but i have just one kicker...........imho the only really true sports car is RWD
make and model make no difference but it's got to be RWD......

Coming from the Wisconsin/Illinois border, Subaru's are a dime a dozen. In fact, the town I come from has a subie meet every Thursday, and every Thursday around 4-6 pm, a long train of 12+ subaru's come out; in every color, every trim, and typically, a ridiculous BOV and exhaust. They still sound great, but it's like a massive train of vuvuzelas.

That being said, I've driven a 94 impreza L making 200 wheel, an auto RS with 180 crank, an 04 WRX making at least 350 wheel, and ridden in a 400+ 09 WRX. If you've got within 30 horse of the Z, the all wheel drive makes it seem like an even match up to 60. I've seen that they often understeer while under throttle but overall, the subaru is a car that will work very well for snowy or rainy environments, and can be driven year round. The only thing that a lot of people hate about subarus are their insanely difficult to maintain motors; changing anything out of a boxer motor can be a serious pain in the ***...

Hey guys... bringing this thread back a bit. I've had the WRX for a few months now and added a downpipe, AEM CAI and an OTS tune that was very slightly tweaked by Eric at Torqued Performance... I didn't do any dyno run, but the virtual dyno (said to be pretty well inline with a dynojet) netted me 309 whp/324 wtq. Feels like a different car now. Some SS brake lines and a fluid change are needed and some sway bars to level out the handling now.

However, I think everything cost me 550.00 - 600.00.. so not to bad.

Aftermarket part market for the impreza motor(s) is huge. An exhaust for the Z is typically a thousand dollars, where an equivalent one for the WRX might be only 600.

Good to hear you're enjoying the car. Those things don't take much to amp up.

:icon18:Funny

Did ya turbo it???:hello:

Thanks for starting this post & reviving it. Good info when you throw out the unnecessary comments. Your car looks good and now sounds even better, enjoy!

Yeah, i'm really not looking for much power... but the stage 2 set-up has helped my mileage a bit, but I am careful about which parts I choose or will choose in the future. The thing with this car is that the DP is a HUGE restriction on this car, but the full exhaust MIGHT net you 5-8 whp... not worth it for the price and the stock CBE sounds deep and very good to me.

thanks!... now go **** your mother... anally :-)

tempting...

You still got your Subie man?

yep. love it.

Huh?