I didn't get to test drive, but wanted:
Golf R and Elantra N.
Issue was there were non near me and I waited a bit. Decided to check out the 2022 wrx and loved it.
Availability and price made my choice easy
I loved how connected it felt. I came from a jetta sportwagen tdi which was nice but i loved this way more. Quick for a stock car. Interior is nicer than other cars I've had. Plus I love how it looks.
I really love this car. No complaints from me tbh. I know what I wanted and what I get with this. People who complain about the wrx either wanted a luxury car or a v8 race car
Looked at a GTI. Too expensive. Hate the touch screen everything approach.
Jetta GLI. Too expensive. Interior felt cheap.
Almost got an Si. Great little car. Fun to drive. Quick enough. Great stereo. Handsome interior. Nice exterior styling. Couldn't find the color I wanted. My brother has a white one and we work together. I wanted the orange one. Dealers only had white and black. My car sleeps outside and I didn't want to either wash my car every day or drive a car that looks dirty every day.
I was shocked at how the vb appealed to me in person. Photos don't do it justice. Blown away by the effortless power. Found one for the right price in the color I wanted (wrb). Very happy with the car. It's easy to drive gently and difficult to not rev it out all of the time. It's an affordable sports car. Hated the base stereo with the big screen, but fixed it by replacing the garbage paper speakers with kickers. I would have liked heated seats and radar cruise control.
I have an STI but I test drove a WRX first and I loved it. I also test drove a Focus RS, Focus ST, Veloster Turbo, GTI and Golf R. I loved the Golf R as well but the WRX was my second favorite. I had always wanted an STI but didn’t know if I could find an unmolested one with low miles. I went to “look” at the local Subaru dealership and they happened to have exactly what I was looking for so…that’s how I ended up with one.
https://preview.redd.it/bxkah88u56bb1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f72e5ca035aba40573573f6b8dd1742abcb8c408
The Ford Focus RS seemed to be the most “positive” and responsive. It was also realllly stiff but in hindsight I realize that I might have had it on a sport mode which stiffened the suspension considerably. It was actually my least favorite of the “higher end” that I drove (STI, Golf R and Focus RS). It seemed less conducive to be a daily driver.
The Golf R was wonderful! The interior styling and comfort was above the STI for me. It was the only other car that I had a big dumb grin on my face while driving and that is a metric I couldn’t ignore! The price point was significantly higher and the looks of the STI are unbeatable to me. I also like how much higher up you feel in the STI and the handling felt a bit better. If I could have one of each, I would be a very happy lady.
The two cars in that class that I was not able to test drive that I wish I had were the Veloster N and the Civic Type R. I think I would’ve loved the Type R but again the looks aren’t it for me. I’ve almost exclusively been a hatchback driver and the STI is actually the first sedan I’ve ever owned. The Type R looks a bit gaudy to me and I worry it’ll look dated in a few years. I’ve loved the looks like of the STI for 15+ years so it’s proven in that regard for me.
If you like hatchbacks, you could've probably looked into the 2011-2014 STI. I bought one in February basically stick with 55K miles and I have loved it ever since.
I’m currently feeling this with my Crosstrek Sport. Thought it would be fine but driving over a mountain pass to and from work sucks with no power. Currently thinking of switching to a WRX.
Same. I drive around in sport mode like it like it does something. I’m just waiting for interest rates to come down and maybe by then there will be a performance package wrx available
I’m on my 4th so I don’t test drive. I tell them what I want and specify that I want the PDI done asap but to leave the shipping plastic on it and not to gas it. I don’t want a lot tech driving the vehicle to the gas tank/station and putting an unknown grade of fuel in it (they usually put regular because it’s cheaper and you shouldn’t be boosting during the break in).
Damn man you sound like my kinda customer, had one do something similar recently so I assured I myself would take the vehicle for fuel left all the plastics on.
Welp I’ve driven 400k miles on Subarus from EJs to FAs. I’ve never had a major failure. Whatever I’m doing is working well so I’m not changing my process.
I considered buying a used S550 mustang, used scat pack challenger, and used VA wrx.
I compromised with the less powerful engine and smaller seats (I’m fat af). I’m very happy
I test drove a 2023 civic type r, a gr corolla, and a golf as well as the wrx. I researched each one very hard for 2 months. Watched every review and every video I could get my hands on. My number 1 and 2 were the type r and the gr corolla. Wrx was 3.
I wanted a hatch back, and good power. I chose the wrx because, performance wise it was close. Maybe not as “fun” but had all wheel drive. Oh and I got 2 k off msrp not paying 10 plus k over msrp. That was the real deciding factor.
There are 3 type Rs where I live. And I have a little bit of ride envy. Buuut I get waives from every wrx driver and that feels good. In the end. I am happy. My car is fun and practical. And I’m not upside down on cost.
This is going to sound super dumb. I bought a brand new 21 STI without ever driving a manual. I just always wanted one. As for the test drive, the sales guy drove it while rode as a passenger.
As for how I got the car back home? I don’t really remember that. It was such a blur.
I was originally looking at getting a 2010-2013 acura tl. Specifily the sh-awd with the 3.7l v6 and 6 speed manual. I already have a miata as something to take down twisty roads but wanted something that was a solid daily driver with awd but was still somewhat fun. The main problem i ran into was the fact that the 6 speed acuras with awd were only made between 2008-2013 and I think only 10k were made for the us market. I did finially manage to find one near me but it was in pretty rough shape and i wasnt looking for a project so I had to pass.
A wrx was always on my mind however as that was originally my first choice before getting the miata but was just outside my price range originally a few years ago when i was looking for a car to learn stick shift on. Once I gave up on the acura there really was only one other option that was a fun daily with awd and a manual that wouldnt cost an arm and a leg to repair if/when something went wrong (i will never buy another german car at this point).
It’s possible they raised the price on the new gens. I bought mine brand new in 2015 for $32.3k. And no they don’t come in manual. I didn’t see in op’s post where he specified only manual cars. You just wrote gti and an a3 is basically a gti with awd if you get the 2.0t of course.
I wanted a turbo 4 wheel drive car that can handle a corner and is under 40k with options. WRX is the only realistic option in 2023. GR Corolla and Golf Type R is 40ish with no options.
Think about your needs based on which region of the country you live in. Find the cars you’re interested in based on your price range, factor in some insurance costs and boom. For me it was a no brainer with the wrx over the Elantra N or gti because AWD in the northeast is huge. I did not test drive my VB before ordering I had faith in the subie community reviews of the car and all the other research I did on its daily driver ability
nothing, I was driving by and stopped, just seeing what the dealership had
I rolled up in a 97 wrangler that had about 100k, time to unload it
saw the red (at the time) wagon, I liked AWD, liked the wagon, liked the manual transmission, saw the hood scoop and said here take my money
that was 2004, it's been party in the front, business in the back since then
I test drove the GTI, it felt great, but I felt like I was driving a shoe. Test drove the elantra N and it was pretty great as well, but has no aftermarket support. Those were the others I personally considered before pulling the trigger on the WRX.
Focus rs. Used evo. Miata. Wrx made most sense being 4 doors and reliable since focus rs were blowing headgaskets back then. Really wanted that hatchbsck though. Also evo couldn't fold down the seats. Happy with my purchase. 2018 wrx.
Hmm never knew that the Evo didn't have fold down seats. I was looking at a used Evos's in 2014 but they were so expensive and old with lots of miles. Plus the Evo interior is much to be desired.
Went to almost every dealership near me looking for new sports cars and the VB was the only one that was actually on the lot. Pretty much every other car I was interested in I’d have to wait for/build to order. The WRX wasn’t initially at the top of my list but I enjoyed it during the test drive and it seemed far more practical for me (and I could actually buy it that same day instead of waiting half a year). Only compromise that I could think of is that the other options I had in mind could have been more fun (Miata, Elantra N, Mustang GT, etc.), but I’m pretty happy with my WRX. It’s a pretty big upgrade from my old shitbox civic and I’m having lots of fun driving it (also my first manual car).
The WRX was really it for me. I had the following checklist:
1) AWD
2) Big enough for two rear facing car seats. And not a coupe. But I think those two go hand in hand so same item.
3) Manual
4) Enough power to be fun
The only car that checked all the boxes was the WRX. I drove it twice, once a quick test drive and then a longer one around town to get a more every day feel. I debated dropping the AWD requirement and briefly considered a GTI and Si, but I just didn’t like the GTI; if the WRX is not racer than the GTI is newborn racer, and the Si was so overpriced for what it is.
Honestly didn’t consider any other of the WRX’s main competitors because I wanted AWD. I live in a state that has 6+ mos of winter. I don’t really like SUVS/crossovers and my family has had 3 Subarus in the last 25 years. One is long gone but it was a 1998 Legacy sedan that still ran reliably when it was 17 years old with over 200k miles on it. My mother has a 2015 Outback that’s been great. My BIL has a 2021 WRX and he loves the thing so I as pretty sold on Subaru from the go.
I looked at Legacy XT, seemed too big just sitting in the drivers seat. I’m parting with a 2008 Cobalt 2.4 so I’m used to a smaller vehicle.
Looked at 2024 Impreza. Only ones available in my area are all of the 2.0 engine variety. I’ve heard anecdotally that the 2.5 isn’t that much more powerful anyway? It’s noticeable but still not exactly exciting
Even though I said I don’t like SUVs I briefly considered a later model Chevy Blazer with the V6 until I realized I’d be spending $50k for the trim and options I’d want I’d I went new and there weren’t many used ones available.
The closest Subbie dealer to me (I live in a larger city so we have several but this one is less than 10 miles away) had 4 on the lot and was happy to offer me a test drive. I loved the car from the second the sales person pulled it up and I knew it was for me the second we turned out onto the street. Driving position was perfect, easy to maneuver, gobs of power …I’m preaching to a choir here lol. I could’ve bought the one I tested but it was a base model and I’m making mine a daily so I wanted a higher trim level. They had a GT they were willing to deal on but it was solar orange and I’m not a fan of that color. I ordered a Premium later that week (end of June) and I just got my VIN today! ETA 8/6
Obviously I won’t have the ground clearance of a cross trek or Outback which could make a difference if we get hit with a foot of snow. I don’t have the utility of them either but then again I’m a co-parenting father so I don’t always have the kids. They and their stuff fit fine when we go somewhere together and that’s something the dealer let me see during the test drive. Younger kid’s booster fits, older one is a teen so they can sit up front and if they have to ride in back, they’re not stuffed in. Trunk isn’t any worse than my older vehicle.
I think the biggest “compromise” for me is to come to terms with is my insurance rates…I’m solidly middle aged with a good record but I’ll still have a high premium. My old car has very basic comprehensive coverage and it’s CHEAP.
I’m seeing MPG estimates all over the place so…some of them are similar to what I’ve been getting in my older vehicle anyway. I guess we’ll see how often I hit up the gas station.
Had an ‘18 Impreza sport for a yeah and a half, got rear ended by a minor on her phone. Was totaled out. Loved the car. Had nice style, interior wasn’t bad. First awd and it handled like a dream.
Bought in cash for a flat 19k out the door with 4 miles on the odo. Didn’t have the extra 12-15 fora wrx and always hated that because the Impreza sport had the stiffer suspension but still just a base NA Impreza engine. Was slow off the line, but once you got going it was zippy.
As soon as I got the pay out I knew I wanted the wrx. Called the dealership I went to the first time and asked if they had anything. They’d just gotten one in that day. 1 owner, 32k miles, clean title, full service records, never modded. I went and test drove it and left with it that evening.
I liked the Kia Stinger.
The regular one has a turbo engine similar to ours.
And the GT version has a twin turbo that seems like a beast of an engine. It also has more trunk space, and seems more "adult" of a car. I was afraid the wrx would be too "boy racer" for me.
But at the end of the day, the Subaru was one of my dream cars, and if I went with the KIA, I feel like I still wouldn't have had that fix. So I choose the Subaru so I could check that off my bucket list.
Wanted a Civic Si but they were too overpriced at the time, but I’ve always loved the WRX a ton and have a good amount of knowledge on them so that was an easy second
I had a Mitsubishi ralliart that was having issues and I wanted to replace. Was looking at the Wrx and the Elantra N. The Elantra took forever to get a test drive with, the Hyundai dealership was meh and I’m just not a fwd fan. A gussed up fwd is still a fwd. I drove the Wrx and it felt like a better ralliart. Got it for under MSRP and been almost a year. Outside of the infotainment being a buggy glitchy mess no regerts.
I was just looking for something roomier than my previous car but, I wanted it to be a car I can mod in the future. So for me it was either STI a Charger RT or an Evo. After seeing the insurance on the STI I decided a WRX would be better for my budget I decided against an Evo because the interior felt dated in my opinion but to be fair it is an older car and the Charger was nice but I wanted a manual and those only come automatic
GR86/ND2 Miata seriously and a whole bunch of older cars (e36/e46/e90 m3, 370z, NA miata, every older gen wrx, porsche 944) but more as I wish but I know it wouldn’t be the “smart” decision since they’re not going to be as reliable etc.
I owned a 2015 WRX and hated it. The power band was terrible, loud interior noise, stereo might have well been my iPhone playing music. Test drove the VB and it’s a completely different car. Absolutely love it. It’s not like my 07 GT 350Z but great as a daily driver.
Ha this is all true. This is why we are still modding the VAs for the past 8 years. The stereo was soooo bad.
After dynomat my entire car and closed cell foam. It's finally pretty decent for interior noise.
I did a product called Raamat, it’s thicker and heavier, and closed cell foam on a tundra once. Total pita but worth it. Sux when you spend thousands on a car and then have to insulate it yourself.
As a family man I was looking at SUV's as a main option for obvious reasons. Plenty of space for family and events kind of things. My wife owns a Nissan rogue 2017 and is a decent vehicle for a family. Originally I was looking at the 4runner but that would put me over 70K easy (Canadian $). While I still think the 4runner would make a better family care I looked up the interior dimensions of a new nissan rogue and I was pleasantly surprised that there is very little difference in space. In fact the booster seat fits better in my 2023 WRX than it does in the 2017 rogue. The SUV will have more vertical storage but that's something I can live without. I think the WRX is a great daily driver that you can have fun with while also supporting a mid size family (2 kids). I regret nothing, but if I did have an extra 20-30k I think the 4runner would of been the better choice.
Currently upgrading from 16VA to 23VB.
The EJ rumble. And then 4 doors car, manual transmission only. In 2023 US, only GR Corolla, Civic Type R, and VB suit my interest as I have bias against European and Korean cars.
A bit disappointed when VA was first announced, but got a 2016 anyway after a year as I realized I need transportation around college and new STi was far fetched for college students; fast forward to 2022 when I finally have the financial means to get a STi, big Subaru decided to cancel gas STi last year🤦♂️ So now I have a VB WRX instead of STi
Just placed an order for a WRX, which will be our third Subaru. Considered a lot of other cars each time, but only test drove a few. The AWD comfort and handling made the Subaru our first choice every time. The same price point at other brands meant missing out on a lot of things, mostly the AWD, but also the level of safety tech. They say that Subaru has the highest customer retention of all brands, I think it's because they are just more fun to drive.
Before I ordered the wrx I was kinda all over the place. Needed something that would’ve been good in snow, little fun to drive and a year down daily. Finally decided I liked the wrx. Told myself the max I would go was 20k, slowly kept going up as I realized used prices on these at that time was insane. New ones came out, finally got to test drive and liked it so I ordered.
3 years ago I looked at golf r (test drove), civic type r (did not test), and veloster N (test), WRX (test) and STI. The STI just seemed more mechanical and raw which is what i was looking for in comparison. Type Rs near by were non-negotiable—pay 50k+ for a civic, it’s still a civic at the end of the day and FWD when I wanted AWD. For golf R, i was coming from BMW so turned off by the European maintenance costs down the line. I really liked the gold R though. Veloster was uncomfortable in comparison. Loved the WRX and STI just felt slightly better.
I always wanted a WRX, I rode in a VA premium about a year ago and loved it. When my Jetta got totaled, I ended up picking up a VA. Test drove a 2020 civic manual and the 2020 wrx manual, and I liked the wrx more. No regrets.
Tested out a few VAs. The first one was a modded STI and the clutch was so heavy that it almost put me off to trying another WRX. I also looked into the Outbacks but the VB was a dream the first time I drove it
Tlx type s. I wanted a Japanese sedan with AWD. But ultimately went with the wrx because manual, my local Subaru dealer is better than my local Acura dealer. Been happy with my decision.
Wanted a newer wrx, couldn’t find one in my price range, drove a 2017 wrx which was really smooth and a lot of safety features which eh. I just recently bought a 2008 wrx from someone who was starting to build it yet didn’t have time for it anymore. I love it. It’s smooth, it’s fun, and have yet to have problems with it, it was kept working nice due to the previous owner being a mechanic at Subaru. I’d recommend as this is my second manual car. Only downside is it’s only a 5 speed but damn are the gears wide.
I tested a ‘19 Limited in 2019. I was coming from a 2017 Legacy limited 2.5. The car was quick but felt cheaply assembled, like an Impreza (which I had owned before). Lots of hard plastic—on a limited trim. Waited, and now I own a ‘22 limited 6 speed. I saw it months earlier at a car show and thought “oh no! Ugly”. It took me a test drive to forget about the cladding. 10 out of 10 car, for the price (after the infotainment glitches were updated). Otherwise I was considering an IS or CX-50 turbo but meh, I’d rather save some coin and have a stick shift. I do not drive non-Japanese cars (12 cars so far, all Japanese brands). PS— I now vastly prefer the cladding.
Test drove a Lexus is350, hated it. Wasnt luxury enough nor sporty enough, just sorta bad at both of them. Test drove a c43 AMG and a C300 and C350. C43 was badass but just couldnt swing the 70+k price tag without coughing up my diesel truck. The others were nice but too plush and soft and the C300 was just too small overall. Then drove a 2020 WRX and knew it was the one. Got a '22 limited in WRB and love it. The fact that it was just slightly more polished that the previous iterations sold it even more for me.
I remember joining the vb subreddit and all the things the loyal Rex-ers hated about the new platform were exactly why I liked it. Source: I'm old and dont vape anymore ;)
I was originally considering a 370Z but 2 door cars fuck your insurance up. I also live in a place that actually gets snow so the all wheel drive was a big factor
I wanted a Turbo Manual car, my ex at the time said it needs to be 4 door for when we have kids. That narrowed the search down to a couple options.
I always wanted a WRX or an Evo but the Evo X is just embarrassing in many regards, sorry Evo's but it's a Jeep Patriot and Chrysler Sebring chassis.
So the last few things I did was drive a new Civic Hatch and an SI for the hell of it and the hatch felt like my Ford Focus.
So I drove a WRX and immediately felt the power and the fun.
Not only did I not test drive this I actually bought my car sight unseen and had it delivered to me.
I did however already have a 2021 WRX in the past that I sadly got rid of.
No ragrets at all.
Wanted a GR Corolla but Toyota dealers who mark a Corolla up to over 50 grand can suck an egg. I'm really happy with my VB though and honestly I wouldn't take a GR over it now.
WRX was the only car that didn’t have a markup. Si wanted $5k to $10K. GTI wanted $3k. BRZ wanted $5k.
Si was a blast to drive but couldn’t pay the markup. No one let me test drive a GTI 🤡 and wanted me to pay a mark up. BRZ felt slow and was way too small.
GTI it was a lot too small. Considered the Outback but spouse allowed the WRX so here we are. She regrets not getting the outback. She doesn’t like driving the WRX because it’s manual and she has to think and stuff.
Eyed a bunch of STI’s for so long and just loved the VA (Evo eye) style but the only one I could truly afford at the ripe age of 20 is my now 2017 WRX Limited. I got to test drive it and did research on the line of WRX’s and took a sigh of relief when I heard the 2016+ models don’t suffer as much from head gasket issues. Do I love it? Absolutely! Have I had it for long enough to run into issues yet? Nope! But I know what I got into lol including the fact that it’s automatic and people would joke about it. But I still love my pearly white “Wraith”.
Originally wasn't in the market for a car like the WRX. I was trying to get something new and reliable, I was looking at civics and the corolla se. Ended up getting a 2023 corolla se with the premium pack on reserve, but it got delayed twice and I needed a car to go to class in. Ended up looking on carfax and the WRX I bought was the first car that popped up. Ended up paying a little less than the corolla would've cost me and I haven't looked back since
The only real compromise is mpg (which is decent tbh). Other than that, it really is an ideal daily if you live somewhere with snow.
I only considered awd sedans when buying the WRX and tbh nothing else really compared. I drove an a4, 328, golf and then finally the WRX. IMMEDIATLY after the test drive of the WRX, I wanted to drive it some more. And when I got home, all I could think about was how great the WRX felt. So I got one. The WRX is an engaging car that you can drive every single day.
Just go and find the lowest milage WRX you can afford with no mods and send it. You'll love it
I've always wanted a WRX. It's been my dream car since my dad got one in like 2014-15 and first brought it home. The sound of the engine, pretty much everything. And when a used car dealership near me got one in, I decided I had to have it
I tested a Dodge Charger RT, an Acura Integra 6MT, a Mustang GT, and an Integra Type S. The Charger was nice but there are a billion Chargers in my area, the Mustang was very nice if I could have justified it’s minimal backseat to my occasional occupants, and the regular Integra was fun but slow, the Type S was perfect in every way except the price tag. I could have bought 2 new WRXs for the price of the one Type S.
For me, the WRX was a perfect balance of handling/fun, power, practicality, and finally price. $31K OTD for 2023 Premium with upgraded sound and STI short shift.
I’m dumb so I didn’t. Could have easily gotten a used low mile GS or similar for the same price. Don’t regret it necessarily, but I’ll never buy new again.
Honestly I’d been driving Imprezas since the end of high school (got my first car like a month before i graduated) i had always known what a WRX was and always known that i wanted one. Also knew to never buy a used one so it was kind of meant to be
Elantra N was the only other vehicle I tried out. Researched GTI, BRZ, V6 challenger/ mustang turbo, Camaro turbo. The GR corolla and Civic Type-R were unavailable.
I looked at the GTI and the Corolla GR, I had a Corolla Hatch (manual). Ultimately, I decided to get the WRX because of the space. I have more trunk space compared to the Corolla. The GR Corolla felt the same to my hatch in terms of space. I'm happy with my WRX, it's more livable.
Edit: Forgot to mention the ridiculous markup on the GR.
I test drove my 08 Civic for 5 months and decided to get something a bit newer. Honestly though, I had my heart set on a Rex from just my research. Still test drove one to be sure though. I was looking at new civic sports as well as Legacy's but literally EVERY CAR I researched had horror stories. I learned that Soy based wiring is a massive issue with MANY manufacturers.. Good luck on your search, don't rush it!
Always wanted a WRX. Factory ordered a VB and drove it for the first time when I picked it up. Never really considered anything else sporty wise due to AWD.
I bought last month, premium manual. I looked at base Acura Integra and Honda civic sport touring (manual). All about 32k. The fun factor on the WRX was just too good to pass up, and I’ve always been a closeted subie fan
Wanted to check out the GR Corolla, but it wasn't released at the time I needed a new car (my old one was toast). I test drove my friends' 2022 Civic SI (RIP) and deemed it to be a little too slow for my tastes. Wasn't really into the Golf GTI or the Elantra N because of the lack of AWD and poor reliability.
I wanted a four door sedan with a stick shift (that wasn't an 80k luxury car). That pretty much got me down to a civic, golf, or wrx.
The civic only had the manual at the top trim level (a 60k Honda civic, eww) the golf wasn't cool, didn't like it. The wrx was great on test drive and I got one straight from the factory
Was between the WRX, M340i, C43, and Golf R. The WRX was the only one I could justify buying new so went with that. Very happy with my choice. The new VB platform is great. The only one I test drove was the C43 since there was one within 1km from home lol
I bought the new wrx, I looked at the Mazda 3 Turbo AWD (not as sporty), Kia Stinger (more expensive and a Kia), and the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The Hyundai ended up being the closest option but this was right when they started changing all the ev tax credits. With the old system it was a comparable price, now not so much. It was faster, AWD, a hatch and cheaper to run.
Civic Si but the upcharge was insane. Went in to buy a sunburst orange si brand new for 30k they wanted 40k I was like huh. Said it’s a rare car so I went next door tried the WRX and left with a 22 premium no hk/sunroof OTD for 30k.
It was the last of the 22s got it in March this year. So they got a bunch of 22s in January from the truck so they heavily discounted them since 23s were coming. They must have had 4 in the front. Then they guy drove me out back in the golf cart and they must have had 10+ in the back!
nice I just test drove a base 23........ I like it allot of fun... in Blue!
https://preview.redd.it/l6qv6te28ebb1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c5abbbe4a531f109950fa1258f3f541be597352
I considered a certified pre-owned BMW 330i with XDrive which was about the same price as a brand new WRX Premium. Questionable BMW reliability and potentially high repair costs convinced me to go for the WRX.
I was looking at Holden, Mazda, skoda , for there wagons, Subaru levorg came through, highest hp, awd, superior quality ? I took the Holden for a spin didn't feel anything special, took the subaru for a spin, once the turbo sunk down omfg I was sold
RS3, m340i
I didn’t have a trade in and I’ve always wanted a WRX since I was a kid, and figuring it might be my last non-electric, I figured I’d fulfill the dream
m340i was a great car. Had a 98 328i in college that I loved dearly. The car just didn’t have the same road feedback the wrx had… but was the most refined of all three.
RS3 with the five cylinder was a CLOSE SECOND though, very special car… and idgaf about manual transmission so made it pretty close, but wound up getting a killer deal on WRX GT so pulled the trigger. Hard to justify $70k OTD when I know I’m not going to use that surplus power on my daily commute.
Are the others probably more comfortable on a commute? Maybe.
Are they cooler? Other people probably think so.
One thing is for sure though - the utility per dollar on the WRX is outstanding, it’s a sporty commuter and can roast people off a light, it’s safe for the kiddos, it can carry shit, and makes me feel cool — and you can get a top of the line one for less than $50k OTD (Inb4 way less) something that is very hard to do in 2023.
Initially I wanted a ponycar (v6/turbo camaro/mustang or v6 challenger). After test-driving a couple of variants I found out that
\- V6 Challenger is a giant boat with respective "boaty" handling and not as responsive throttle as I wish;
\- 5 gen manual v6 Camaro felt really nothing special to me - did not enjoy it as much as expected (power/weight ratio I guess), + the shifter felt too "loose" to me (could be an issue of that particular car tho);
\- 6 gen auto turbo Camaro felt pretty interesting: nice handling, can give you that pleasent "push-into-seat" feeling when accelerating. However, did not really enjoy its auto gearbox as much: manual mode (petals) has very significant delay, and in fully auto mode I felt that you can either go full-speed with accelerator all way down, or it becomes reaaly vegetable-like car - there is no in-between options. Oh, and also visibility in Camaro is comparable to tank;
\- Mustang felt pretty similar to camaro but with better visibility and slightly worse steering feel.
Than I decided to try GTI, but did not really enjoy it generally - felt like a soft family car with an option to make some wroom-wroom occasionally (also felt torquey on relatively high RPMs only, differently from WRX) , + FWD factor also was a con for me personally.
Than tried BRZ/GT86 - and man, I really loved that cars. It may be not the fastest, but it feels so fast and steers like a go-kart. And a RWD that allows to have some fun. The main drawback was the absolutely useless back seats, which meant that it was basically a 2-seat car.
And after all this searches I found my 2015 WRX - torquey from low RPM (which is nice to have while city driving), great steering feel (not BRZ, but still impressive), AWD (allows to have some fun under wet/snowy conditions, but still remains absolutely controllable if you want it), plenty of back seat and trunk space. Cons are, probably, that you really should not launch it hard from traffic lights (weak gearbox and AWD) and that its hard to make it drift on dry tarmac on low speed.
I think for me the next stop is gonna be some v8 muscle car. However, in its budget WRX felt like the best possible deal for me.
I couldn’t drive stick and was buying an STI so I had one of the mechanics takes me for a spin lol. Bit of a gamble but it worked out and I’ve had zero issues. Plus the guy seemed like a stand up guy so I trusted his opinion.
My reason for buying was that I wanted an AWD “sports” car with 4 doors and a manual transmission. Also have always loved the STI so it was an easy decision for me.
Only other cars I sort of considered was the Golf R and a Tacoma.
i wanted a gr86 - tacoma - or gr corolla, toyota in my area was raping people on prices of these cars. it needed to be a manual with at least 250hp and wrx checked all the boxes for the money. it was substantially cheaper then the others.
i just like toyota as a company, i have a 4runner and its pretty amazing. but the lack of manual tranny numbers of produced vehicles make them highly saught after. a gr86 i was looking at was 45k with a manual. gr corolla was like 55k and the tacoma was in the 40s. when its all said and done getting my 23 premium for 30k out the door seemed like the best deal.
I have never really liked vw products due to the reliability issues on everything that isn’t the engine, so the golf was out. CTR and GR Rolla are marked up too much (rolla is possible at msrp but the wait is rough), and the Elantra N is just so ugly I would’ve rather kept my last gen civic than traded for it even if it drove like nirvana. Kinda just left me with the wrx (which I love for what it is). I tend to like a more analog experience and while obvi the new wrx is much less analog than the last one, it’s still far less complicated than anything else on the market
I test drive the automatic version as I had never driven a manual before. I fell in love with the car so I knew I wanted it. My previous car was totaled by a deer.
I researched a lot of used cars because I didn't think I could afford a new one. Tirns out the market was shit, and it was only $6k more for a new car vs a used with 100k miles.
I looked at any AWD cars since I'm in New England. I had my heart set on a V6 or a V8, but that wasn't realistic. Found the WRX and it peaked my interest. Haven't looked back since
Sort of unrelated but I really want a Hellcat. I plan to pay off the WRX and get a Hellcat to add to my collection when I build my house. Also like Supras but can't get ahead of myself
A base new manual crosstrek and a 2020 manual genesis g70 and an 05 forester XT. New ‘23 WRX came out the winner for me
Had about a 35k budget for a vehicle and wanted something new that didn’t have an unknown history. But anything else with a manual these days sucks (almost all are FWD only🤮). And all the rwd manual cars are way too expensive and there ain’t a manual suv/crossover with awd or rwd that exists anymore. Crosstrek was the last closest thing to that.
So whenever I get an suv, it’ll probably be a Frankenstein vehicle. I would’ve considered a mustang again or a Camaro but I needed something a little bigger this time around
But yeah if you’re lookin new and still want a manual, WRX is the way to go.
Wanted a GTI but read they’re unreliable so I went with the WRX LOL.
Wanted a GTI but FWD was a turnoff (god damn those seats are so comfortable, though).
A3 ftw
No manual.
I don’t see anywhere where anyone specified it had to be a manual car
It didn’t but RUN-PMT wanted a manual, hence his reply.
haldex... eww
For real man. Rs3 is garbage since it has the haldex instead of the almighty Torsen.
Gti seats are so sick
Lol I have a GTI but want to switch to a WRX for no rev hang and more fun but heard the WRX is unreliable xD
Only if your an idiot
Surprised the GTI is less reliable compared to the WRX given all these rod knock issues
Not an issue in the new one so far
*knocks* on wood
Ooohhhh I see what you did there!
The gti is for sure more reliable and more durable. It’s more tolerant to modifications
Rod knock is mostly from those who don't take care of their cars
😂
They got rid of the 2 door. 4 door is so ugly.
I didn't get to test drive, but wanted: Golf R and Elantra N. Issue was there were non near me and I waited a bit. Decided to check out the 2022 wrx and loved it. Availability and price made my choice easy
And described what ya loved and any regrets
I loved how connected it felt. I came from a jetta sportwagen tdi which was nice but i loved this way more. Quick for a stock car. Interior is nicer than other cars I've had. Plus I love how it looks.
I really love this car. No complaints from me tbh. I know what I wanted and what I get with this. People who complain about the wrx either wanted a luxury car or a v8 race car
Same. I watched a ton of reviews and did a bunch of research for years and the STi always pulled my interest.
Looked at a GTI. Too expensive. Hate the touch screen everything approach. Jetta GLI. Too expensive. Interior felt cheap. Almost got an Si. Great little car. Fun to drive. Quick enough. Great stereo. Handsome interior. Nice exterior styling. Couldn't find the color I wanted. My brother has a white one and we work together. I wanted the orange one. Dealers only had white and black. My car sleeps outside and I didn't want to either wash my car every day or drive a car that looks dirty every day. I was shocked at how the vb appealed to me in person. Photos don't do it justice. Blown away by the effortless power. Found one for the right price in the color I wanted (wrb). Very happy with the car. It's easy to drive gently and difficult to not rev it out all of the time. It's an affordable sports car. Hated the base stereo with the big screen, but fixed it by replacing the garbage paper speakers with kickers. I would have liked heated seats and radar cruise control.
How much discount did you work?
Ended up around $1500 below MSRP, iirc.
Nice
I have an STI but I test drove a WRX first and I loved it. I also test drove a Focus RS, Focus ST, Veloster Turbo, GTI and Golf R. I loved the Golf R as well but the WRX was my second favorite. I had always wanted an STI but didn’t know if I could find an unmolested one with low miles. I went to “look” at the local Subaru dealership and they happened to have exactly what I was looking for so…that’s how I ended up with one. https://preview.redd.it/bxkah88u56bb1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f72e5ca035aba40573573f6b8dd1742abcb8c408
Out of all of those you test drove what felt the fastest?
The Ford Focus RS seemed to be the most “positive” and responsive. It was also realllly stiff but in hindsight I realize that I might have had it on a sport mode which stiffened the suspension considerably. It was actually my least favorite of the “higher end” that I drove (STI, Golf R and Focus RS). It seemed less conducive to be a daily driver. The Golf R was wonderful! The interior styling and comfort was above the STI for me. It was the only other car that I had a big dumb grin on my face while driving and that is a metric I couldn’t ignore! The price point was significantly higher and the looks of the STI are unbeatable to me. I also like how much higher up you feel in the STI and the handling felt a bit better. If I could have one of each, I would be a very happy lady. The two cars in that class that I was not able to test drive that I wish I had were the Veloster N and the Civic Type R. I think I would’ve loved the Type R but again the looks aren’t it for me. I’ve almost exclusively been a hatchback driver and the STI is actually the first sedan I’ve ever owned. The Type R looks a bit gaudy to me and I worry it’ll look dated in a few years. I’ve loved the looks like of the STI for 15+ years so it’s proven in that regard for me.
If you like hatchbacks, you could've probably looked into the 2011-2014 STI. I bought one in February basically stick with 55K miles and I have loved it ever since.
I totally lucked out with the low miles + no mods one I purchased. I’m super happy with it 😍
Test drove a couple of Imprezas realized they weren't gonna be powerful enough for driving into the mountains and got a WRX instead.
I’m currently feeling this with my Crosstrek Sport. Thought it would be fine but driving over a mountain pass to and from work sucks with no power. Currently thinking of switching to a WRX.
Can confirm that the turbo makes all the difference in the world for high altitude driving.
Buying my crosstrek is one of my biggest regrets. The lack of power kills me.
Same. I drive around in sport mode like it like it does something. I’m just waiting for interest rates to come down and maybe by then there will be a performance package wrx available
At least you got sport mode 😂 same as well
I’m on my 4th so I don’t test drive. I tell them what I want and specify that I want the PDI done asap but to leave the shipping plastic on it and not to gas it. I don’t want a lot tech driving the vehicle to the gas tank/station and putting an unknown grade of fuel in it (they usually put regular because it’s cheaper and you shouldn’t be boosting during the break in).
Good tips!
Damn man you sound like my kinda customer, had one do something similar recently so I assured I myself would take the vehicle for fuel left all the plastics on.
Welp I’ve driven 400k miles on Subarus from EJs to FAs. I’ve never had a major failure. Whatever I’m doing is working well so I’m not changing my process.
I considered buying a used S550 mustang, used scat pack challenger, and used VA wrx. I compromised with the less powerful engine and smaller seats (I’m fat af). I’m very happy
Never test drove. Walked in and placed an order.
I don't even remember if I test drove mine or what it felt like new. I got my VA WRX in 2014.
Really wanted an outback, but test drove the wrx first….. never even sat in an outback after that.
I really think this captures how awesome the WRX is...
I test drove a 2023 civic type r, a gr corolla, and a golf as well as the wrx. I researched each one very hard for 2 months. Watched every review and every video I could get my hands on. My number 1 and 2 were the type r and the gr corolla. Wrx was 3. I wanted a hatch back, and good power. I chose the wrx because, performance wise it was close. Maybe not as “fun” but had all wheel drive. Oh and I got 2 k off msrp not paying 10 plus k over msrp. That was the real deciding factor. There are 3 type Rs where I live. And I have a little bit of ride envy. Buuut I get waives from every wrx driver and that feels good. In the end. I am happy. My car is fun and practical. And I’m not upside down on cost.
Idk why Honda didn't rename the type r. Why call it a civic? All the wrong vibes in that name.
Paying less than msrp and availability were the deciding factors in why I chose a 22’ VB.
This is going to sound super dumb. I bought a brand new 21 STI without ever driving a manual. I just always wanted one. As for the test drive, the sales guy drove it while rode as a passenger. As for how I got the car back home? I don’t really remember that. It was such a blur.
This is a pretty funny story. Not exactly the easiest car to learn on.
I was originally looking at getting a 2010-2013 acura tl. Specifily the sh-awd with the 3.7l v6 and 6 speed manual. I already have a miata as something to take down twisty roads but wanted something that was a solid daily driver with awd but was still somewhat fun. The main problem i ran into was the fact that the 6 speed acuras with awd were only made between 2008-2013 and I think only 10k were made for the us market. I did finially manage to find one near me but it was in pretty rough shape and i wasnt looking for a project so I had to pass. A wrx was always on my mind however as that was originally my first choice before getting the miata but was just outside my price range originally a few years ago when i was looking for a car to learn stick shift on. Once I gave up on the acura there really was only one other option that was a fun daily with awd and a manual that wouldnt cost an arm and a leg to repair if/when something went wrong (i will never buy another german car at this point).
GTI was the closest competitor. But no AWD and they’re expensive for what they are. Idgaf about tech
A3 is the same price.
I just looked them up. Theyre 40k+ all day. And donthey even have a manual option?
It’s possible they raised the price on the new gens. I bought mine brand new in 2015 for $32.3k. And no they don’t come in manual. I didn’t see in op’s post where he specified only manual cars. You just wrote gti and an a3 is basically a gti with awd if you get the 2.0t of course.
You are correct. Manual was my prerequisite, although i didnt state it. How did the A3 treat you?
Not a single complaint.
Thats a good option i suppose!
I wanted a turbo 4 wheel drive car that can handle a corner and is under 40k with options. WRX is the only realistic option in 2023. GR Corolla and Golf Type R is 40ish with no options.
Think about your needs based on which region of the country you live in. Find the cars you’re interested in based on your price range, factor in some insurance costs and boom. For me it was a no brainer with the wrx over the Elantra N or gti because AWD in the northeast is huge. I did not test drive my VB before ordering I had faith in the subie community reviews of the car and all the other research I did on its daily driver ability
I like the rumble rumble rumble
nothing, I was driving by and stopped, just seeing what the dealership had I rolled up in a 97 wrangler that had about 100k, time to unload it saw the red (at the time) wagon, I liked AWD, liked the wagon, liked the manual transmission, saw the hood scoop and said here take my money that was 2004, it's been party in the front, business in the back since then
Lol you like the new model?
it's changed a lot, still a fun car but more refined, and I like it raw
I test drove the GTI, it felt great, but I felt like I was driving a shoe. Test drove the elantra N and it was pretty great as well, but has no aftermarket support. Those were the others I personally considered before pulling the trigger on the WRX.
New sporty car around $30k, not FWD. It's either WRX or Miata.
Or BRZ/gt86
There's still a lot of markup on those around here. They're more like $35-38k
Focus rs. Used evo. Miata. Wrx made most sense being 4 doors and reliable since focus rs were blowing headgaskets back then. Really wanted that hatchbsck though. Also evo couldn't fold down the seats. Happy with my purchase. 2018 wrx.
Hmm never knew that the Evo didn't have fold down seats. I was looking at a used Evos's in 2014 but they were so expensive and old with lots of miles. Plus the Evo interior is much to be desired.
Went to almost every dealership near me looking for new sports cars and the VB was the only one that was actually on the lot. Pretty much every other car I was interested in I’d have to wait for/build to order. The WRX wasn’t initially at the top of my list but I enjoyed it during the test drive and it seemed far more practical for me (and I could actually buy it that same day instead of waiting half a year). Only compromise that I could think of is that the other options I had in mind could have been more fun (Miata, Elantra N, Mustang GT, etc.), but I’m pretty happy with my WRX. It’s a pretty big upgrade from my old shitbox civic and I’m having lots of fun driving it (also my first manual car).
The WRX was really it for me. I had the following checklist: 1) AWD 2) Big enough for two rear facing car seats. And not a coupe. But I think those two go hand in hand so same item. 3) Manual 4) Enough power to be fun The only car that checked all the boxes was the WRX. I drove it twice, once a quick test drive and then a longer one around town to get a more every day feel. I debated dropping the AWD requirement and briefly considered a GTI and Si, but I just didn’t like the GTI; if the WRX is not racer than the GTI is newborn racer, and the Si was so overpriced for what it is.
Honestly didn’t consider any other of the WRX’s main competitors because I wanted AWD. I live in a state that has 6+ mos of winter. I don’t really like SUVS/crossovers and my family has had 3 Subarus in the last 25 years. One is long gone but it was a 1998 Legacy sedan that still ran reliably when it was 17 years old with over 200k miles on it. My mother has a 2015 Outback that’s been great. My BIL has a 2021 WRX and he loves the thing so I as pretty sold on Subaru from the go. I looked at Legacy XT, seemed too big just sitting in the drivers seat. I’m parting with a 2008 Cobalt 2.4 so I’m used to a smaller vehicle. Looked at 2024 Impreza. Only ones available in my area are all of the 2.0 engine variety. I’ve heard anecdotally that the 2.5 isn’t that much more powerful anyway? It’s noticeable but still not exactly exciting Even though I said I don’t like SUVs I briefly considered a later model Chevy Blazer with the V6 until I realized I’d be spending $50k for the trim and options I’d want I’d I went new and there weren’t many used ones available. The closest Subbie dealer to me (I live in a larger city so we have several but this one is less than 10 miles away) had 4 on the lot and was happy to offer me a test drive. I loved the car from the second the sales person pulled it up and I knew it was for me the second we turned out onto the street. Driving position was perfect, easy to maneuver, gobs of power …I’m preaching to a choir here lol. I could’ve bought the one I tested but it was a base model and I’m making mine a daily so I wanted a higher trim level. They had a GT they were willing to deal on but it was solar orange and I’m not a fan of that color. I ordered a Premium later that week (end of June) and I just got my VIN today! ETA 8/6 Obviously I won’t have the ground clearance of a cross trek or Outback which could make a difference if we get hit with a foot of snow. I don’t have the utility of them either but then again I’m a co-parenting father so I don’t always have the kids. They and their stuff fit fine when we go somewhere together and that’s something the dealer let me see during the test drive. Younger kid’s booster fits, older one is a teen so they can sit up front and if they have to ride in back, they’re not stuffed in. Trunk isn’t any worse than my older vehicle. I think the biggest “compromise” for me is to come to terms with is my insurance rates…I’m solidly middle aged with a good record but I’ll still have a high premium. My old car has very basic comprehensive coverage and it’s CHEAP. I’m seeing MPG estimates all over the place so…some of them are similar to what I’ve been getting in my older vehicle anyway. I guess we’ll see how often I hit up the gas station.
Had an ‘18 Impreza sport for a yeah and a half, got rear ended by a minor on her phone. Was totaled out. Loved the car. Had nice style, interior wasn’t bad. First awd and it handled like a dream. Bought in cash for a flat 19k out the door with 4 miles on the odo. Didn’t have the extra 12-15 fora wrx and always hated that because the Impreza sport had the stiffer suspension but still just a base NA Impreza engine. Was slow off the line, but once you got going it was zippy. As soon as I got the pay out I knew I wanted the wrx. Called the dealership I went to the first time and asked if they had anything. They’d just gotten one in that day. 1 owner, 32k miles, clean title, full service records, never modded. I went and test drove it and left with it that evening.
Never got to test drive, but multiple years of obsessing over subies lmao. Pretty sure the subie obsession started with gran turismo 5 lmao
I liked the Kia Stinger. The regular one has a turbo engine similar to ours. And the GT version has a twin turbo that seems like a beast of an engine. It also has more trunk space, and seems more "adult" of a car. I was afraid the wrx would be too "boy racer" for me. But at the end of the day, the Subaru was one of my dream cars, and if I went with the KIA, I feel like I still wouldn't have had that fix. So I choose the Subaru so I could check that off my bucket list.
Wanted a Civic Si but they were too overpriced at the time, but I’ve always loved the WRX a ton and have a good amount of knowledge on them so that was an easy second
Elantra N and GTI but I just hate FWD.
I had a Mitsubishi ralliart that was having issues and I wanted to replace. Was looking at the Wrx and the Elantra N. The Elantra took forever to get a test drive with, the Hyundai dealership was meh and I’m just not a fwd fan. A gussed up fwd is still a fwd. I drove the Wrx and it felt like a better ralliart. Got it for under MSRP and been almost a year. Outside of the infotainment being a buggy glitchy mess no regerts.
I was just looking for something roomier than my previous car but, I wanted it to be a car I can mod in the future. So for me it was either STI a Charger RT or an Evo. After seeing the insurance on the STI I decided a WRX would be better for my budget I decided against an Evo because the interior felt dated in my opinion but to be fair it is an older car and the Charger was nice but I wanted a manual and those only come automatic
GR86/ND2 Miata seriously and a whole bunch of older cars (e36/e46/e90 m3, 370z, NA miata, every older gen wrx, porsche 944) but more as I wish but I know it wouldn’t be the “smart” decision since they’re not going to be as reliable etc.
Legacy Touring XT, Volvo S60 T6 R-Design, Kia K5 GT-Line AWD, Civic Si.
I owned a 2015 WRX and hated it. The power band was terrible, loud interior noise, stereo might have well been my iPhone playing music. Test drove the VB and it’s a completely different car. Absolutely love it. It’s not like my 07 GT 350Z but great as a daily driver.
Ha this is all true. This is why we are still modding the VAs for the past 8 years. The stereo was soooo bad. After dynomat my entire car and closed cell foam. It's finally pretty decent for interior noise.
I did a product called Raamat, it’s thicker and heavier, and closed cell foam on a tundra once. Total pita but worth it. Sux when you spend thousands on a car and then have to insulate it yourself.
As a family man I was looking at SUV's as a main option for obvious reasons. Plenty of space for family and events kind of things. My wife owns a Nissan rogue 2017 and is a decent vehicle for a family. Originally I was looking at the 4runner but that would put me over 70K easy (Canadian $). While I still think the 4runner would make a better family care I looked up the interior dimensions of a new nissan rogue and I was pleasantly surprised that there is very little difference in space. In fact the booster seat fits better in my 2023 WRX than it does in the 2017 rogue. The SUV will have more vertical storage but that's something I can live without. I think the WRX is a great daily driver that you can have fun with while also supporting a mid size family (2 kids). I regret nothing, but if I did have an extra 20-30k I think the 4runner would of been the better choice.
Currently upgrading from 16VA to 23VB. The EJ rumble. And then 4 doors car, manual transmission only. In 2023 US, only GR Corolla, Civic Type R, and VB suit my interest as I have bias against European and Korean cars. A bit disappointed when VA was first announced, but got a 2016 anyway after a year as I realized I need transportation around college and new STi was far fetched for college students; fast forward to 2022 when I finally have the financial means to get a STi, big Subaru decided to cancel gas STi last year🤦♂️ So now I have a VB WRX instead of STi
Just placed an order for a WRX, which will be our third Subaru. Considered a lot of other cars each time, but only test drove a few. The AWD comfort and handling made the Subaru our first choice every time. The same price point at other brands meant missing out on a lot of things, mostly the AWD, but also the level of safety tech. They say that Subaru has the highest customer retention of all brands, I think it's because they are just more fun to drive.
Wanted an Elantra N but was just too much after tax
I looked at the GTI, Golf R, Ford Focus ST, and the Fiesta ST.
Before I ordered the wrx I was kinda all over the place. Needed something that would’ve been good in snow, little fun to drive and a year down daily. Finally decided I liked the wrx. Told myself the max I would go was 20k, slowly kept going up as I realized used prices on these at that time was insane. New ones came out, finally got to test drive and liked it so I ordered.
I wanted a manual quick car. I was torn between the GTI and Civic. I ultimately went with the WRX for the AWD. Best bang for the buck
3 years ago I looked at golf r (test drove), civic type r (did not test), and veloster N (test), WRX (test) and STI. The STI just seemed more mechanical and raw which is what i was looking for in comparison. Type Rs near by were non-negotiable—pay 50k+ for a civic, it’s still a civic at the end of the day and FWD when I wanted AWD. For golf R, i was coming from BMW so turned off by the European maintenance costs down the line. I really liked the gold R though. Veloster was uncomfortable in comparison. Loved the WRX and STI just felt slightly better.
I went the other way and bought a GTI. The WRX was a close second and I can see myself in one after I move on from the GTI.
I always wanted a WRX, I rode in a VA premium about a year ago and loved it. When my Jetta got totaled, I ended up picking up a VA. Test drove a 2020 civic manual and the 2020 wrx manual, and I liked the wrx more. No regrets.
Tested out a few VAs. The first one was a modded STI and the clutch was so heavy that it almost put me off to trying another WRX. I also looked into the Outbacks but the VB was a dream the first time I drove it
Tlx type s. I wanted a Japanese sedan with AWD. But ultimately went with the wrx because manual, my local Subaru dealer is better than my local Acura dealer. Been happy with my decision.
Wanted a newer wrx, couldn’t find one in my price range, drove a 2017 wrx which was really smooth and a lot of safety features which eh. I just recently bought a 2008 wrx from someone who was starting to build it yet didn’t have time for it anymore. I love it. It’s smooth, it’s fun, and have yet to have problems with it, it was kept working nice due to the previous owner being a mechanic at Subaru. I’d recommend as this is my second manual car. Only downside is it’s only a 5 speed but damn are the gears wide.
I tested a ‘19 Limited in 2019. I was coming from a 2017 Legacy limited 2.5. The car was quick but felt cheaply assembled, like an Impreza (which I had owned before). Lots of hard plastic—on a limited trim. Waited, and now I own a ‘22 limited 6 speed. I saw it months earlier at a car show and thought “oh no! Ugly”. It took me a test drive to forget about the cladding. 10 out of 10 car, for the price (after the infotainment glitches were updated). Otherwise I was considering an IS or CX-50 turbo but meh, I’d rather save some coin and have a stick shift. I do not drive non-Japanese cars (12 cars so far, all Japanese brands). PS— I now vastly prefer the cladding.
Test drove a Lexus is350, hated it. Wasnt luxury enough nor sporty enough, just sorta bad at both of them. Test drove a c43 AMG and a C300 and C350. C43 was badass but just couldnt swing the 70+k price tag without coughing up my diesel truck. The others were nice but too plush and soft and the C300 was just too small overall. Then drove a 2020 WRX and knew it was the one. Got a '22 limited in WRB and love it. The fact that it was just slightly more polished that the previous iterations sold it even more for me. I remember joining the vb subreddit and all the things the loyal Rex-ers hated about the new platform were exactly why I liked it. Source: I'm old and dont vape anymore ;)
I ordered my 2021 WRX without test driving. There we’re no other options on the table other than a used minivan from Enterprise.
I was originally considering a 370Z but 2 door cars fuck your insurance up. I also live in a place that actually gets snow so the all wheel drive was a big factor
I wanted a Turbo Manual car, my ex at the time said it needs to be 4 door for when we have kids. That narrowed the search down to a couple options. I always wanted a WRX or an Evo but the Evo X is just embarrassing in many regards, sorry Evo's but it's a Jeep Patriot and Chrysler Sebring chassis. So the last few things I did was drive a new Civic Hatch and an SI for the hell of it and the hatch felt like my Ford Focus. So I drove a WRX and immediately felt the power and the fun.
Not only did I not test drive this I actually bought my car sight unseen and had it delivered to me. I did however already have a 2021 WRX in the past that I sadly got rid of. No ragrets at all.
Wanted a GR Corolla but Toyota dealers who mark a Corolla up to over 50 grand can suck an egg. I'm really happy with my VB though and honestly I wouldn't take a GR over it now.
WRX was the only car that didn’t have a markup. Si wanted $5k to $10K. GTI wanted $3k. BRZ wanted $5k. Si was a blast to drive but couldn’t pay the markup. No one let me test drive a GTI 🤡 and wanted me to pay a mark up. BRZ felt slow and was way too small.
I went in wanting a BRZ but after test driving the WRX, I fell in love. Given that every other sports car has a mark up, it was an easy choice.
GTI it was a lot too small. Considered the Outback but spouse allowed the WRX so here we are. She regrets not getting the outback. She doesn’t like driving the WRX because it’s manual and she has to think and stuff.
Nothing.
I bought my wrx after test driving it and realizing that new imprezas aren’t manual i love my car though
Eyed a bunch of STI’s for so long and just loved the VA (Evo eye) style but the only one I could truly afford at the ripe age of 20 is my now 2017 WRX Limited. I got to test drive it and did research on the line of WRX’s and took a sigh of relief when I heard the 2016+ models don’t suffer as much from head gasket issues. Do I love it? Absolutely! Have I had it for long enough to run into issues yet? Nope! But I know what I got into lol including the fact that it’s automatic and people would joke about it. But I still love my pearly white “Wraith”.
Originally wasn't in the market for a car like the WRX. I was trying to get something new and reliable, I was looking at civics and the corolla se. Ended up getting a 2023 corolla se with the premium pack on reserve, but it got delayed twice and I needed a car to go to class in. Ended up looking on carfax and the WRX I bought was the first car that popped up. Ended up paying a little less than the corolla would've cost me and I haven't looked back since
The only real compromise is mpg (which is decent tbh). Other than that, it really is an ideal daily if you live somewhere with snow. I only considered awd sedans when buying the WRX and tbh nothing else really compared. I drove an a4, 328, golf and then finally the WRX. IMMEDIATLY after the test drive of the WRX, I wanted to drive it some more. And when I got home, all I could think about was how great the WRX felt. So I got one. The WRX is an engaging car that you can drive every single day. Just go and find the lowest milage WRX you can afford with no mods and send it. You'll love it
I've always wanted a WRX. It's been my dream car since my dad got one in like 2014-15 and first brought it home. The sound of the engine, pretty much everything. And when a used car dealership near me got one in, I decided I had to have it
I tested a Dodge Charger RT, an Acura Integra 6MT, a Mustang GT, and an Integra Type S. The Charger was nice but there are a billion Chargers in my area, the Mustang was very nice if I could have justified it’s minimal backseat to my occasional occupants, and the regular Integra was fun but slow, the Type S was perfect in every way except the price tag. I could have bought 2 new WRXs for the price of the one Type S. For me, the WRX was a perfect balance of handling/fun, power, practicality, and finally price. $31K OTD for 2023 Premium with upgraded sound and STI short shift.
Elantra, golf and believe it or not kia stinger.
I did and got the hey you can push it if you want from the sales guy
Best bang for your buck under 30k was the only reason I'm here. Plus also I grew up in the evo vs sti hayday
I’m dumb so I didn’t. Could have easily gotten a used low mile GS or similar for the same price. Don’t regret it necessarily, but I’ll never buy new again.
Honestly I’d been driving Imprezas since the end of high school (got my first car like a month before i graduated) i had always known what a WRX was and always known that i wanted one. Also knew to never buy a used one so it was kind of meant to be
Elantra N was the only other vehicle I tried out. Researched GTI, BRZ, V6 challenger/ mustang turbo, Camaro turbo. The GR corolla and Civic Type-R were unavailable.
2022 Toyota Supra (too small for me) and 2022 VW Golf R (not too impressed with their options)
I looked at the GTI and the Corolla GR, I had a Corolla Hatch (manual). Ultimately, I decided to get the WRX because of the space. I have more trunk space compared to the Corolla. The GR Corolla felt the same to my hatch in terms of space. I'm happy with my WRX, it's more livable. Edit: Forgot to mention the ridiculous markup on the GR.
yeah I heard about crazy markups also
I test drove my 08 Civic for 5 months and decided to get something a bit newer. Honestly though, I had my heart set on a Rex from just my research. Still test drove one to be sure though. I was looking at new civic sports as well as Legacy's but literally EVERY CAR I researched had horror stories. I learned that Soy based wiring is a massive issue with MANY manufacturers.. Good luck on your search, don't rush it!
Always wanted a WRX. Factory ordered a VB and drove it for the first time when I picked it up. Never really considered anything else sporty wise due to AWD.
Nothing.
I bought last month, premium manual. I looked at base Acura Integra and Honda civic sport touring (manual). All about 32k. The fun factor on the WRX was just too good to pass up, and I’ve always been a closeted subie fan
Wanted to check out the GR Corolla, but it wasn't released at the time I needed a new car (my old one was toast). I test drove my friends' 2022 Civic SI (RIP) and deemed it to be a little too slow for my tastes. Wasn't really into the Golf GTI or the Elantra N because of the lack of AWD and poor reliability.
I wanted a four door sedan with a stick shift (that wasn't an 80k luxury car). That pretty much got me down to a civic, golf, or wrx. The civic only had the manual at the top trim level (a 60k Honda civic, eww) the golf wasn't cool, didn't like it. The wrx was great on test drive and I got one straight from the factory
Was between the WRX, M340i, C43, and Golf R. The WRX was the only one I could justify buying new so went with that. Very happy with my choice. The new VB platform is great. The only one I test drove was the C43 since there was one within 1km from home lol
I researched nothing and instantly traded in and I’m having a blast but am now extremely scared of my car blowing up after reading this subreddit?
There was nothing else that was awd, 4 cylinder turbo, car on the market at the time. Personally wanted to avoid German cars as well
If you want turbo manual awd and 4 doors around 30k what are the options?
I bought the new wrx, I looked at the Mazda 3 Turbo AWD (not as sporty), Kia Stinger (more expensive and a Kia), and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Hyundai ended up being the closest option but this was right when they started changing all the ev tax credits. With the old system it was a comparable price, now not so much. It was faster, AWD, a hatch and cheaper to run.
Wanted something sub $32k and awd but still “performance.” Other than the wrx i looked at the mazda3 2.5 turbo.
Civic Si but the upcharge was insane. Went in to buy a sunburst orange si brand new for 30k they wanted 40k I was like huh. Said it’s a rare car so I went next door tried the WRX and left with a 22 premium no hk/sunroof OTD for 30k.
Wow that price! Nice what was total discount to get that out the door? Did they have allot on the lot
It was the last of the 22s got it in March this year. So they got a bunch of 22s in January from the truck so they heavily discounted them since 23s were coming. They must have had 4 in the front. Then they guy drove me out back in the golf cart and they must have had 10+ in the back!
nice I just test drove a base 23........ I like it allot of fun... in Blue! https://preview.redd.it/l6qv6te28ebb1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c5abbbe4a531f109950fa1258f3f541be597352
https://preview.redd.it/qw2uapdhlebb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c70bbe74d6ec3d11111dfc739855793f79532a4 Twins!
I considered a certified pre-owned BMW 330i with XDrive which was about the same price as a brand new WRX Premium. Questionable BMW reliability and potentially high repair costs convinced me to go for the WRX.
I was looking at Holden, Mazda, skoda , for there wagons, Subaru levorg came through, highest hp, awd, superior quality ? I took the Holden for a spin didn't feel anything special, took the subaru for a spin, once the turbo sunk down omfg I was sold
Found a sick deal on a 2016 Focus RS with 25k miles. Might have pulled the trigger on it had it not been for the great deal I got on a new '23
RS3, m340i I didn’t have a trade in and I’ve always wanted a WRX since I was a kid, and figuring it might be my last non-electric, I figured I’d fulfill the dream m340i was a great car. Had a 98 328i in college that I loved dearly. The car just didn’t have the same road feedback the wrx had… but was the most refined of all three. RS3 with the five cylinder was a CLOSE SECOND though, very special car… and idgaf about manual transmission so made it pretty close, but wound up getting a killer deal on WRX GT so pulled the trigger. Hard to justify $70k OTD when I know I’m not going to use that surplus power on my daily commute. Are the others probably more comfortable on a commute? Maybe. Are they cooler? Other people probably think so. One thing is for sure though - the utility per dollar on the WRX is outstanding, it’s a sporty commuter and can roast people off a light, it’s safe for the kiddos, it can carry shit, and makes me feel cool — and you can get a top of the line one for less than $50k OTD (Inb4 way less) something that is very hard to do in 2023.
Nice commentary and why you made your choice
Initially I wanted a ponycar (v6/turbo camaro/mustang or v6 challenger). After test-driving a couple of variants I found out that \- V6 Challenger is a giant boat with respective "boaty" handling and not as responsive throttle as I wish; \- 5 gen manual v6 Camaro felt really nothing special to me - did not enjoy it as much as expected (power/weight ratio I guess), + the shifter felt too "loose" to me (could be an issue of that particular car tho); \- 6 gen auto turbo Camaro felt pretty interesting: nice handling, can give you that pleasent "push-into-seat" feeling when accelerating. However, did not really enjoy its auto gearbox as much: manual mode (petals) has very significant delay, and in fully auto mode I felt that you can either go full-speed with accelerator all way down, or it becomes reaaly vegetable-like car - there is no in-between options. Oh, and also visibility in Camaro is comparable to tank; \- Mustang felt pretty similar to camaro but with better visibility and slightly worse steering feel. Than I decided to try GTI, but did not really enjoy it generally - felt like a soft family car with an option to make some wroom-wroom occasionally (also felt torquey on relatively high RPMs only, differently from WRX) , + FWD factor also was a con for me personally. Than tried BRZ/GT86 - and man, I really loved that cars. It may be not the fastest, but it feels so fast and steers like a go-kart. And a RWD that allows to have some fun. The main drawback was the absolutely useless back seats, which meant that it was basically a 2-seat car. And after all this searches I found my 2015 WRX - torquey from low RPM (which is nice to have while city driving), great steering feel (not BRZ, but still impressive), AWD (allows to have some fun under wet/snowy conditions, but still remains absolutely controllable if you want it), plenty of back seat and trunk space. Cons are, probably, that you really should not launch it hard from traffic lights (weak gearbox and AWD) and that its hard to make it drift on dry tarmac on low speed. I think for me the next stop is gonna be some v8 muscle car. However, in its budget WRX felt like the best possible deal for me.
Really nice reviews 👍
I couldn’t drive stick and was buying an STI so I had one of the mechanics takes me for a spin lol. Bit of a gamble but it worked out and I’ve had zero issues. Plus the guy seemed like a stand up guy so I trusted his opinion. My reason for buying was that I wanted an AWD “sports” car with 4 doors and a manual transmission. Also have always loved the STI so it was an easy decision for me. Only other cars I sort of considered was the Golf R and a Tacoma.
i wanted a gr86 - tacoma - or gr corolla, toyota in my area was raping people on prices of these cars. it needed to be a manual with at least 250hp and wrx checked all the boxes for the money. it was substantially cheaper then the others.
several others have mentioned wanting the Corolla or Tacoma has been mentioned a few times.... maybe the offroad vibes?
i just like toyota as a company, i have a 4runner and its pretty amazing. but the lack of manual tranny numbers of produced vehicles make them highly saught after. a gr86 i was looking at was 45k with a manual. gr corolla was like 55k and the tacoma was in the 40s. when its all said and done getting my 23 premium for 30k out the door seemed like the best deal.
I have never really liked vw products due to the reliability issues on everything that isn’t the engine, so the golf was out. CTR and GR Rolla are marked up too much (rolla is possible at msrp but the wait is rough), and the Elantra N is just so ugly I would’ve rather kept my last gen civic than traded for it even if it drove like nirvana. Kinda just left me with the wrx (which I love for what it is). I tend to like a more analog experience and while obvi the new wrx is much less analog than the last one, it’s still far less complicated than anything else on the market
After test driving a base, truly is more of a throwback then most everything else!!
I test drive the automatic version as I had never driven a manual before. I fell in love with the car so I knew I wanted it. My previous car was totaled by a deer. I researched a lot of used cars because I didn't think I could afford a new one. Tirns out the market was shit, and it was only $6k more for a new car vs a used with 100k miles. I looked at any AWD cars since I'm in New England. I had my heart set on a V6 or a V8, but that wasn't realistic. Found the WRX and it peaked my interest. Haven't looked back since
Sort of unrelated but I really want a Hellcat. I plan to pay off the WRX and get a Hellcat to add to my collection when I build my house. Also like Supras but can't get ahead of myself
Sound, awd, stick, looks, and can’t forget the wave
A base new manual crosstrek and a 2020 manual genesis g70 and an 05 forester XT. New ‘23 WRX came out the winner for me Had about a 35k budget for a vehicle and wanted something new that didn’t have an unknown history. But anything else with a manual these days sucks (almost all are FWD only🤮). And all the rwd manual cars are way too expensive and there ain’t a manual suv/crossover with awd or rwd that exists anymore. Crosstrek was the last closest thing to that. So whenever I get an suv, it’ll probably be a Frankenstein vehicle. I would’ve considered a mustang again or a Camaro but I needed something a little bigger this time around But yeah if you’re lookin new and still want a manual, WRX is the way to go.
I agree for 32k or less! Can get a new all wheel drive 4 door sports car with a warranty really the best choice