WRX - my take

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:34 am

I am embarrassed to say this is the firs time I actually drove one... here is my quick take.

The good.
In person the car actually looks good, especially in blue.
The interior is nice, nothing feels super economy
The ride is nice and firm and not jarring
Handling and steering are very good. Car stays very flat in turns.
This must have been the easiest to drive manual ever, only way to have this car.
HK stereo is good

The not so good.
Um this car is not fast and it doesn't feel like it has 268hp, the cla felt quicker, as does a gti. This engine is completely dead under 2k, then a healthy bit of power from 2500-3500 then it felt like it fell flat from 5000-6500. Kind of disappointing
Road noise is not good, anything in its current class is much better in that regard.
Brakes were mediocre at best, nothing out of the ordinary on a sports car which isn't ideal
The stock performance exhaust drones at low rpms, rattling the cabin, :dafuq:
The price of one with the options I'd want is basically 36k :disgust:

(msrp of car i drove)

I think I may check out a poverty spec and or an sti. Overall a mixed bag on this thing ...
didn't love or hate it.

If I had it my way, it would a bit quieter ride wise, 350hp, sti brakes, then I can totally see it.

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Tar · Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:55 am

Whoa!

Punchagoat · Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:57 am

Tune fixes the power band issues, the power goes up too. I bought a limited for under $32k. Not sure where you are getting $36k for a WRX.

Ahh, I see. MSRP. That's not what you will pay. Unless Phagg0t.

Are you Phagg0t?

Tar · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:14 am

I just read up on a forum brehs issues with a transmission. Dealership telling him his WRX won't be covered under warranty because he has an aftermarket intercooler installed. He bought it used and didn't even bolt the thing in. A tune might be no bueno with those guys.

KiaGiver · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:18 am

The WRX I drove seemed much faster than my GTI

My GTI had a tune and an intake, too, lol. Probably dat AWD. My future STi should be faster than both.

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:27 am

WRX is without a doubt faster than a MK6 GTI.
Yeah I didn't think you'd enjoy it all that much if for nothing other than the road noise. You might like the STI more though, brakes are great, suspension is honestly pretty similar, turn in is :mindblown:

. The power is higher up though, it's pretty lukewarm until like 3500 RPM. Sounds better too. I didn't much care for the engine in the WRX and got out of it kind of meh too. I got out of STI grinning like a moran.

Also heard a lot of people don't like the port installed exhaust option.

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:29 am

Tarspin wrote:I just read up on a forum brehs issues with a transmission. Dealership telling him his WRX won't be covered under warranty because he has an aftermarket intercooler installed. He bought it used and didn't even bolt the thing in. A tune might be no bueno with those guys.

Subaru, from what I can tell, are way worse than VW when it comes to warranty denial due to mods.

I don't really blame them. Just a bunch of 22-35 year old dudes buying WRXs and beating the shit out of them regularly.

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:37 am

Oh you compared to a MK7. Yeah a PP MK7 is probably as fast or faster. It might feel faster regardless because it will pull hard to redline where the Rex will taper off.

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:48 am

Johnny_P wrote:WRX is without a doubt faster than a MK6 GTI.
Yeah I didn't think you'd enjoy it all that much if for nothing other than the road noise. You might like the STI more though, brakes are great, suspension is honestly pretty similar, turn in is . The power is higher up though, it's pretty lukewarm until like 3500 RPM. Sounds better too. I didn't much care for the engine in the WRX and got out of it kind of meh too. I got out of STI grinning like a moran.

Also heard a lot of people don't like the port installed exhaust option.

I am talking mk7, this was right between mk6 and mk7.

The gti had a wider power band also.

STIs may be too expensive for me, there are none under 40 in my area.

I barely got a test drive on the wrx they said they normally don't allow it :dafuq:

Also they are all pretty rare cars only 2-6 per dealer with either fubared colors or crazy msrps
I'd have to order it

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:48 am

Johnny_P wrote:Oh you compared to a MK7. Yeah a PP MK7 is probably as fast or faster. It might feel faster regardless because it will pull hard to redline where the Rex will taper off.

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:49 am

GTI depreciates harder. STI poorer fuel mileage and higher insurance. It's a wash.

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:50 am

Punchagoat wrote:Tune fixes the power band issues, the power goes up too. I bought a limited for under $32k. Not sure where you are getting $36k for a WRX.

Ahh, I see. MSRP. That's not what you will pay. Unless Phagg0t.

Are you Phagg0t?

Limited with hk + nav, sti short shifter + exhaust =36k

That's just how it was on the dealer lot, the stis were 41-43k

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:51 am

Get a no option STI for 36 and change then.

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:51 am

Johnny_P wrote:GTI depreciates harder. STI poorer fuel mileage and higher insurance. It's a wash.

Yea I think the sti mileage may actually so bad that it is noticeable monthly. High teens right ? Also insurance may be horrible as mentioned ...

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:55 am

maxtdi wrote:
Johnny_P wrote:GTI depreciates harder. STI poorer fuel mileage and higher insurance. It's a wash.
Yea I think the sti mileage may actually so bad that it is noticeable monthly. High teens right ? Also insurance may be horrible as mentioned ...

My GTI is around $100/mo to insure. STI would go up by $36.

Fuel mileage, IIRC it's like 17 city 23 highway. With most people getting about 19-20 combined. About on par with a pickup truck or SUV.

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:57 am

FWIW my GTI gets all of 17 city. So if STI gets 17 city then I don't notice a difference in fuel cost. Road tripping is minimal for me. If you do a lot of highway then yeah you'd notice 23 MPG vs the ~30 MPG of the MK7.

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:59 am

Johnny_P wrote:FWIW my GTI gets all of 17 city. So if STI gets 17 city then I don't notice a difference in fuel cost. Road tripping is minimal for me. If you do a lot of highway then yeah you'd notice 23 MPG vs the ~30 MPG of the MK7.

If you get 17 in gti you'll get 13 in the sti doe

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:00 am

maxtdi wrote:
Johnny_P wrote:FWIW my GTI gets all of 17 city. So if STI gets 17 city then I don't notice a difference in fuel cost. Road tripping is minimal for me. If you do a lot of highway then yeah you'd notice 23 MPG vs the ~30 MPG of the MK7.
If you get 17 in gti you'll get 13 in the sti doe

Whatever. 3 miles each way to work daily.

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:00 am

Johnny_P wrote:
maxtdi wrote:
Yea I think the sti mileage may actually so bad that it is noticeable monthly. High teens right ? Also insurance may be horrible as mentioned ...
My GTI is around $100/mo to insure. STI would go up by $36.

Fuel mileage, IIRC it's like 17 city 23 highway. With most people getting about 19-20 combined. About on par with a pickup truck or SUV.

Yea that's not ideal right there ... the sti would have to be that much better to justify 50% extra cost all in

Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:00 am

[user not found] wrote:
maxtdi wrote:
Limited with hk + nav, sti short shifter + exhaust =36k

That's just how it was on the dealer lot, the stis were 41-43k
Man, buy out here and ship back. Dime a dozen in the north east

Sent from and

They got the supply thing figured out, every dealer has at least 5 WRXs on the lot. Most have 1-2 STIs too.

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:03 am

Johnny_P wrote:
[user not found] wrote: Man, buy out here and ship back. Dime a dozen in the north east

Sent from and
They got the supply thing figured out, every dealer has at least 5 WRXs on the lot. Most have 1-2 STIs too.

Well that's somewhat comparable, however vw dealers have like 20-30 gtis and 2-6 Rs

Honestly for the same money I think a golf R is a better car than the STI.

It is just far better to live with daily

Gberg2119 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:05 am

I'd go Mk7 GTI over WRX every time. Real world the wrx is no faster and doesn't handle any better than the GTI.

The new GTI sport trim is the sweet spot at 27-28k.

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Johnny_P · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:07 am

maxtdi wrote:
Johnny_P wrote: They got the supply thing figured out, every dealer has at least 5 WRXs on the lot. Most have 1-2 STIs too.
Well that's somewhat comparable, however vw dealers have like 20-30 gtis and 2-6 Rs

Honestly for the same money I think a golf R is a better car than the STI.

It is just far better to live with daily

Yeah that's probably totally true. But I'd imagine the R being a lot more boring. Plus.... VW.

max225 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:11 am

Gberg2119 wrote:I'd go Mk7 GTI over WRX every time. Real world the wrx is no faster and doesn't handle any better than the GTI.

The new GTI sport trim is the sweet spot at 27-28k.

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I dunno the wrx felt a bit firmer than the gti, I think it may corner better. The gti can't get the power down as well as a wrx, however the gti has a better engine and brakes

Gberg2119 · Mon Nov 07, 2016 11:17 am

maxtdi wrote:
Gberg2119 wrote:I'd go Mk7 GTI over WRX every time. Real world the wrx is no faster and doesn't handle any better than the GTI.

The new GTI sport trim is the sweet spot at 27-28k.

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I dunno the wrx felt a bit firmer than the gti, I think it may corner better. The gti can't get the power down as well as a wrx, however the gti has a better engine and brakes

Some better tires would fix that. Did the GTI you drive have the lousy P7 all seasons?

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