All the local dealerships added the Harmon Kardon sunroof combo package to the Premium which nudges the price closer to the limited, so I bought the Limited. I'm 52 and this was the first new or used car that wasn't the base model. I'm enjoying the upgraded upholstery and navigation (after driving through Utah, Montana, and Colorado I don't want to be dependent on cell phone towers). Coming from a 2013 Jeep Wrangler sport with crank windows and manual door locks, this car is LOADED! Hahahahaha Looking forward to many years with this car.
I have a 2022 base trim manual WRX. Love the car, it has an old school feeling. The suspension is great, awesome handling amd enough power to put a smile in your face. Two bad things: 1. Fuel consuption is bad, just getting 19-20 mpg... 2. Lots of interior noises ( squeaks.). Great car for tuning.
very good review, l too own 2023 WRX premium.. l did upgrade STI exhaust and sounds and feels good. Upgrade steering wheel Noble, and Perrin intake soon. This car is Fun and engaging, short gearing is perfect matching this motor well. Stiff performance chassis ok. l am 62 and love the car, grip sure footed.. l will upgrade seats for more comfort, also sunroof for better wind regulation is nice
The biggest flaw with this car other than the looks (which actually aren't bad in person) is that it rewards you for being a hooligan. I've found the police don't like that so much.
Nice to finally see a review that isn’t done by a WRX fan boy. My 2 big complaints are 1) Horrible fuel economy versus displacement & power. 2) The cheap plasticy and super thin sheet metal feel of it. The hood flex (bouncing up & down) over every imperfection in the road isn’t acceptable for a car that costs way more than a Civic sport. My girlfriend has one that I drive once in a while and it feels A LOT more solid than the WRX does. I will agree that the handling is phenomenal but her Civic isn’t all that bad either albeit a little lower to the ground. Light off roading is handled good as well with the WRX even with the summer performance tires. Like you once these are worn out I’ll be going with the Pilot AS4+ when it comes to replacing these. I’ll also note that the summer tires don’t wear out as fast as most claim. I’ve got 15,000 on mine in just about a year and they still have 7/32 tread depth left on them. As far as making more power? It will only make fuel economy worse and void your warranty. No thanks at this point in time.
Nice shout out to the dealer and fair review! Love your new ride, especially the color! I almost bought the Miata anniversary in orange 🍊…..but had to much in my current car.
Nothing wrong with the stock stick shift if you know how to drive one. The shifts are no longer than a Tremec T 56 6 speed which is an awesome transmission.
Awesome review. One of the best I've seen on the VB WRX. Since you own both, I'm curious - if you could only have one car, would you go with a Golf GTI or the WRX?
Thanks Don! That's a tough question. The GTI is the more practical and fuel efficient choice between the two, but personally I'm going with the WRX and that just might be because I'm still in the "honeymoon phase" of my ownership with the car. I like having AWD and the suspension is tuned for my style of driving, but I think it boils down to having the manual. At some point I'll have to drive a manual GTI for a more fair answer.
Iam technically an older version of you, 45 years old, came from an Outback, have a premium as well, and one of the main reasons ive picked this car was the manual. After one year, the one thing I can tell, this car is not to boost your ego, this car is to teach you to be a better driver. I use to have manuals in the past, but this wrx is different. And yes, sometimes, when iam tired, I wish I would have an automatic, even a cvt. This car is not for everyone. To be honest, for everyday driving this is a downgrade from my Outback in every turn. Louder, stiffer and angrier, you always have to give her all the attention. But when you on a nice, twisty road everything makes sense, the car shines and you become more alive. Although you have to work for it using heel toe downshift. The car is only as good as good driver you are! Ps. If I would you, I would trade the gti for a brz, or gr86. If I would not need four doors, I would have one of those!
All the local dealerships added the Harmon Kardon sunroof combo package to the Premium which nudges the price closer to the limited, so I bought the Limited. I'm 52 and this was the first new or used car that wasn't the base model. I'm enjoying the upgraded upholstery and navigation (after driving through Utah, Montana, and Colorado I don't want to be dependent on cell phone towers). Coming from a 2013 Jeep Wrangler sport with crank windows and manual door locks, this car is LOADED! Hahahahaha Looking forward to many years with this car.
I have a 2022 base trim manual WRX. Love the car, it has an old school feeling. The suspension is great, awesome handling amd enough power to put a smile in your face. Two bad things:
1. Fuel consuption is bad, just getting 19-20 mpg...
2. Lots of interior noises ( squeaks.).
Great car for tuning.
very good review, l too own 2023 WRX premium.. l did upgrade STI exhaust and sounds and feels good. Upgrade steering wheel Noble, and Perrin intake soon. This car is Fun and engaging, short gearing is perfect matching this motor well. Stiff performance chassis ok. l am 62 and love the car, grip sure footed.. l will upgrade seats for more comfort, also sunroof for better wind regulation is nice
I greatly enjoyed this review. Been casually shopping the WRX, Civic Si, and VW GTI, but really feeling Rex.
The biggest flaw with this car other than the looks (which actually aren't bad in person) is that it rewards you for being a hooligan. I've found the police don't like that so much.
Nice to finally see a review that isn’t done by a WRX fan boy. My 2 big complaints are
1) Horrible fuel economy versus displacement & power.
2) The cheap plasticy and super thin sheet metal feel of it. The hood flex (bouncing up & down) over every imperfection in the road isn’t acceptable for a car that costs way more than a Civic sport.
My girlfriend has one that I drive once in a while and it feels A LOT more solid than the WRX does. I will agree that the handling is phenomenal but her Civic isn’t all that bad either albeit a little lower to the ground. Light off roading is handled good as well with the WRX even with the summer performance tires. Like you once these are worn out I’ll be going with the Pilot AS4+ when it comes to replacing these. I’ll also note that the summer tires don’t wear out as fast as most claim. I’ve got 15,000 on mine in just about a year and they still have 7/32 tread depth left on them.
As far as making more power? It will only make fuel economy worse and void your warranty. No thanks at this point in time.
Love this car
Nice shout out to the dealer and fair review! Love your new ride, especially the color! I almost bought the Miata anniversary in orange 🍊…..but had to much in my current car.
Thanks Mark! Never thought I’d buy an orange car, but it’s definitely a captivating color
Love the Solar Orange 👍
Nothing wrong with the stock stick shift if you know how to drive one. The shifts are no longer than a Tremec T 56 6 speed which is an awesome transmission.
Really thinking about getting the premium, just hate how you have to get the limited to get blind spot monitoring and RCTA.
Awesome review. One of the best I've seen on the VB WRX. Since you own both, I'm curious - if you could only have one car, would you go with a Golf GTI or the WRX?
Thanks Don!
That's a tough question. The GTI is the more practical and fuel efficient choice between the two, but personally I'm going with the WRX and that just might be because I'm still in the "honeymoon phase" of my ownership with the car. I like having AWD and the suspension is tuned for my style of driving, but I think it boils down to having the manual.
At some point I'll have to drive a manual GTI for a more fair answer.
Have you added a spare tire to yours?
Subaru just needs to put Impreza RS body on this
100% agree
No. I own a 2023 WRX. The sedan design is more grown up.
Give us a turbo 6 SPD Forester.
Great review! I'm thinking of going from a Kona N to a WRX as a daily. Haven't driven yet though.
Definitely check one out. It’s a different experience compared to the Kona N for sure, and is a much more rigid and raw car.
How are you able to take the hit on depreciation of getting rid of a new car after 6 months?
By being single and having no responsibilities besides keeping myself alive
😘😘😘
Iam technically an older version of you, 45 years old, came from an Outback, have a premium as well, and one of the main reasons ive picked this car was the manual. After one year, the one thing I can tell, this car is not to boost your ego, this car is to teach you to be a better driver. I use to have manuals in the past, but this wrx is different. And yes, sometimes, when iam tired, I wish I would have an automatic, even a cvt. This car is not for everyone. To be honest, for everyday driving this is a downgrade from my Outback in every turn. Louder, stiffer and angrier, you always have to give her all the attention. But when you on a nice, twisty road everything makes sense, the car shines and you become more alive. Although you have to work for it using heel toe downshift. The car is only as good as good driver you are!
Ps. If I would you, I would trade the gti for a brz, or gr86. If I would not need four doors, I would have one of those!
I have no need for heel to toe shifting. I do 95% of my shifting without even using the clutch.
What’s a dubruex? Do you mean WRX?