Should You Buy A 2015-2021 Subaru WRX VA instead of a 2022+ WRX VB?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มิ.ย. 2024
- The tale of 2 WRX's. Aside from the exterior design, the VA WRX quite literally has nothing in common with the VB WRX. In this video, I compare my experience with this 2016 Subaru WRX to what I have with my 2023 WRX Premium.
Thank you to Infiniti of Nashua for letting me check out this WRX
www.infinitiofnashua.com/
Check out my friend's channel!
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Sold my stage 2 VA a while back. Now in a vb after much debating on how it looks. Pulled the trigger anyways and zero regrets. Absolutely VB all the way. Both good cars but I feel the vb has the edge.
The VB has a higher ground clearance, but has a lower center of gravity. It’s 3” longer, 1” wider, 1” shorter. Depending on the trim level, the weight is about the same.
Great video Mike! After spending time with the VA I agree with every single point you have made. Ironically, after stepping into the VB after lots of time in the VA, I did feel the car was too soft compared to the previous gen, so I chuckled when you said that. Thanks for stopping by!!!
Thanks Jacob! That’s why I love my VB lol. The VA is cool but doesn’t appeal to my driving style. Still a great car for purists though.
Answer is NO. VA is incredibly outdated as is looks and performance wise. Not to mention theres a reason used WRX's have the rep they do. People beat on them and usually modify them heavily. You dont know what youre getting. Do yourself a favor and get a branch new one with a fresh factory warranty and down the line if you plan on modifying you'll spend a fraction of what you would have on the VA in parts and get a lot more performance out of the VB
Agreed. I would NEVER buy a used WRX or STI from a used dealership or someone I didn’t know well.
I agree with you as well! VB is a better platform.
Same thing with sti and people still buy used sti.
The new generation looks hideous
That car is gorgeous! I'd fly to NH to buy it if I was in the market. But I may be biased; I have a '21 that is the same color. Keep up the great videos!
Thanks! Definitely a good looking car and I liked the exterior mods the previous owner installed.
I had a VA now own a VB … You can’t go wrong with either one. I’ve found the VB is more solid/comfortable plus I really like the 11.5” touchscreen. My color is CBS so the cladding is not an issue since it all blends in.
Great job!
Thanks!
Appreciate your perspective on the intangibles between the two. I have a 2023 VB--never driven a VA. But your take validates my decision to go with the VB: I think it fits the bill for what I was looking for. And...... I freakin' love the thing. I'd driven VWs, Audis and Minis, prior. The Subie is dope. Thanks for the video!
I've driven a lot of lightweight sportscars. FB/FC/RX8, NC Miata, FRS, and the VA feels more like an AWD extension to that philosophy. VA doesn't feel nearly as fast as VB though it feels like the peaky engine can teach you more. VB feels like a better Bond Car (excluding the minimalist interior). Where something like an FRS is good to teach you to be a stunt driver, the WRX is a better escape vehicle. VB feels more rugged and faster, more grown up. If you haven't yet learned how to stunt drive, you might benefit from the earlier car or, ideally, a lightweight RWD sportscar. If you wish you had a modern R32 GTR (yes I've driven one).... VB WRX does that.
VB! no replacement for displacement. However... VA had an STI
I wish they'd make a VB STi. So much potential with the platform and powertrain.
The VB engine is seperior to the sti VA in multiple ways like direct enjestion, a better turbo, a much higher compression ratio and much lower boost which gives it more tuning potential to make more horse power with less mods that the VA.
stock for stock a vb wrx will beat a va sti, barely but it will
The FA24 has more potential than the EJ, give it more R&D time and I can see Subaru making an STI with that same engine. I mean the new WRX does 271hp, its closing that gap of the STI numbers.
The VB was supposed to have an upgraded FA24 engine specific for the STI, but Subaru pissed it away. All it needed was a bigger turbocharger, an ECU retune, upgraded intercooler, upgraded intake plenum and manifold, stronger shocks and struts, tighter suspension, and upgraded unequal length exhaust headers. It could easily get 325-330hp and maybe 320lb-ft of tq.
Subaru had a fully built STI completed and ready to go and they threw it all away.
Some independent shop will do what Subaru won't do and let the STI Division continue to do and they'll post it on TH-cam, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook Reels showing exactly what Subaru is passing up and missing out on with the WRX STI community.
On paper the VA and VB are similar in power but on the dyno, the VB makes 30+ more whp and it does it on almost HALF the stock boost. The VB is way underrated.
i recently went to test drive the VB to consider trading in my '16 VA. Yes, the VB is a little better in everything, but I decided to modify and improve my VA and Im very happy I did because it was a cheaper option to do and its even better than the VB now!
how much are you making ? my vb with just a tune will walk you :)
Great video. I had a 2021 sport tech with a SPT (CVT) which I gave back on a 2 year lease, and picked up a 2023 sport tech with a 6MT. I'd have to say i prefer the way the 21 handled. I agree the 23 is a more comfortable ride. I personally hate the large touchscreen, and wish it had the physical climate control knobs which is easier and safer to use while driving. I also prefer the 21 trunk opening as it was more rectangular and ergonomic for placing larger cargo vs the 23 has a narrower bottom. I also find that the seats in the 23 hurt my back after driving for 30 mins. The hill assistant in the 23 is very nice especially considering this is the first time driving manual in 22 years. Both VA and VB perform great in the snow. My last thought is that I love that no one ia stealing Subarus considering whats happening out there these days.
I have a 2017 WRX and a 2022 WRX. VB all day! More consistent power delivery. Smoother ride.
A few months ago I was in the market for my first ever Subaru. I ended up going with a Limited VA. It was cheaper and it looked better in my opinion in lapis blue pearl. I like the VB too, But I'd have to make alot of changes to make it to my liking. Probably would have come out spending more money too. If I had the budget. I probably would have went VB. I don't regret my VA purchase tho. I love my car.
It still irks my nerve Subaru had the audacity to shock the world abruptly discontinuing the WRX STI for the VB platform after they had the car fully built and ready for it to go to production because of the PR move they think the government is making them do.
If they come out with an STI that's fully EV and call it STE, they may as well not even bother bringing it to this market.
I'm not even a WRX owner nor a WRX STI owner of the outgoing generation, but I wouldn't want no electric STI because it will not be a real STI. It's mad disrespectful to the WRX and WRX STI community.
There was plenty of room for the WRX STI to be on the VB platform. All they had to do was upgrade the turbo, the ECU, exhaust, intercooler, intake manifold, suspension, give it 320hp matching the Integra Type S or beat by 5-10 extra hp and with 325-330hp and 320lb-ft of tq beating the entire competition: Elantra N, GR Corolla, MK8 Golf R, FL5 Civic Type R, and DE5 Integra Type S.
There was and is still plenty of room for the car in the enthusiast community.
The demand was not there anymore to keep producing the sti
VA looks much better... really not a big fan of the VB side plastic trim
For me. The touch screen makes the VB just a no go. I refuse to consider any cars that won't have any manual knobs for AC. Its something that is just a must. Other than that they both are pretty close that I would probably go for a VB new. But until the touch screen is gone I don't think I would consider it. I don't want to crash trying to change my AC
Set your AC before you drive, not while you're driving and get distracted doing it. Common sense.
@@antoinelee-thomas9536 So it sounds like we are in agreement. Trying to use a touch screen while driving is bad. Its much easier to reach over without looking to use knobs.
I dunno why the way he says VB is so cringe
The new generation wrx looks hideous
No.
Theyre both awful cars. Fa platform is trash, if you are to buy wrx buy one before 2015
Nah, you trippen
@@chriswhoop neither one is very fast, and even with tuning, the increased HP cannot be utilized with it's shit handling performance out of the box. You would need to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to even get it at the same level as an STI, and even then, the STI is not even the fastest platform either. That makes the VA and VB WRX extremely slow against its competitors.
@@TheLastS209 you high, the VB handles like it's on rails with stock suspension. completely flat. you sound foolish
@@AbleMable you must've never driven many cars to think a VB "handles like it's on rails"
@@TheLastS209 the stock VB dyno’s just about the same as a VA STI and costs WAY less to make 400whp. Do your research 🤦🏻
The VA is a better looking car and I say that while my weekend toy is a 2024 WRX Sport-Tech 6 speed. The VA is more conservative and just better looking. But that is about the only thing that makes this prior generation better. In EVERY OTHER aspect, the new chassis and drive-train is better. The interior is mildly better in the new, with better tech and some trim touches. The chassis and suspension is better with a wider track, more space and a far stiffer chassis thanks to better welds, better materials and light-weight ultra-strong metals. Most importantly, the 2.4 T tuning and power delivery is FAR better. More linear, far flatter without the dips and valleys of the old .20DIT engine.