I love the look of this car. I get so confused when people say its ugly. Not offended, just confused. I own this car. I love this car. And cobb has fun parts to make it drive a lil faster.
I love the aggressive fenders on this model. I never understand when people call WRXs ugly. I’ve driven so many and ugly is never a word I hear when talking to people about them.
I disagree with three things... 1. I like the 80's feel of the shifter. I want to feel the car shift. I love the proud moment when I claim the perfect shift. There is a learning curve but once mastered its a great feeling of accomplishment and a more thorough relationship formed with your vehicle. 2. I'm larger in size than both of these guys at 6 foot 3 inches and 270 lbs. I love these seats. They just fit like a glove and are some of the more comfortable seats I have ever used. Especially on extended road trips for 3+ hours of seat time. Plenty of leg room here as well. As someone who's usually uncomfortable in most cars I couldn't be happier with the seats in this vehicle. 3. This is a beautiful car. Maybe its just a matter of taste but every angle is just gorgeous to me! The functional Hood scoop, the wing and quad exhaust tips just absolutely beckon to be admired. First time Subaru owner here. I am extremely happy with my purchase! Just a different opinion I wanted to share for anyone considering buying one.
I have this model but got Recaro's and a short shifter in the package so luckily I don't have to put up with the car's shortfalls. I love the chunky looks of the car, dunno why they are picking on that???
I owned a 2006 WRX and a 2014 BRZ i know they are totally different compared to a 2014 wrx and 2014 brz. but i'd have to say i did enjoy the brz more ! way funner handles better. wish it did have that little extra power. but you can buy a tuning mod for 800$ that gets an extra 20-30 hp out of the brz. which is awesome !
I changed my mind. The seats are nice after all. I weigh 240 pounds and am 6 even. yes, they are under bolstered and yes you rattle around in them a bit too much when you are putting your foot into it but the thing is... they are comfortable. My expectations when I first bought my 2014 plasma blue pearl sedan was a rip your face off rocket when what it really is is a super sweet do all road carver for an adult. Shit! I like the seats now and so does my wife and my passengers.My feelings for this car have evolved and I now understand my wrx like only an owner can. No its not a circuit king in stock form, it's more of a jack of all trades. It's pretty sweet when you can go off road and transition to tarmac without a thought. Finally, i get plenty of thumbs up and a lot of people asking me how I like it. They want one as much as I did before I owned one. Great great car.
i watched this video for like 3 or 4 times a day and 7 months later i ended up buying one, i prefer the hatch over the sedan though... great review guys!
+Tristan Gervacio - Very glad to hear we were helpful to you in finding a car you really love. That's what we're here for! Thanks for watching and letting us know!
+EverydayDriver funny part of the story was , i went to the next door dealer mitsubishi to check out the ralliart but they didnt approve me soooo i walked in subaru and they got me the wrx limited, while i was getting the money i downed for the ralliart i brought the wrx in their parking lot... man that was a goodchoice thank goodness subaru ahaha!
Great review, but I don't agree at all about the comments pertaining to the exterior or the uncomfortable seats. I think this model WRX in particular (widebody, sedan) looks fantastic. As for the seats? I think they are extremely comfortable and there's a fucking lumbar support level so...wtf at that criticism...
The standard WRX seats aren't very good. They never really have been to be honest; limited edition versions fitted with STi Recaros were far superior in that respect.
i recently purchased a 2013 wrx and it came with a short throw and slightly different seats then the one they are testing. I have nothing but good things to say about it. It has all of the good things that they are mentioning in the video and without the problems with the shifter and the seats it really is a beautiful work of engineering. The only negative feedback i have about the car is that the stock stereo is not so great and the doors rattle a lot at high volumes. I highly recommend it!
I own a 2012 WRX and it sticks to the corners better than I could have hoped no matter how much I push it, and I really dig the looks of the exterior! Best AWD sport sedan for the money!
Bought a new WRX sedan in Feb and I really love this car! Sticker was 27,777 and I ended up getting for 25,700. I basically test drove every sedan on the market that was under $30k, Seats are a little uncomfortable, tranny takes some time to dial in and a nice dark window tinting does multitudes for the looks of the car. I've always been a Chevy guy, love the LS engines but this WRX has blown me away for being an all around fun and functional vehicle. Great review guys!
Sam Nelson Wider for sure, but I'm not sure about bigger. I'm going with 18x8.75 on stock springs. The last thing I'd ever do to a WRX is lower it... but that's just me.
I want to buy my first wrx but the new one to me just doesn't seem that refined yet, I'm thinking in the next couple of years they're going to improve on it. Like how they improved the last gen wrx in 2011. Mainly it's the looks that don't convince me to buy the 2015 so I'm going to go with a 2013-14. The looks of it have really grown on me and since it will be my first subie I think it's a good choice, I am tired of waiting for that 'perfect' wrx to come out lol
Good review. But I got the short shifter and immediately got the STI shift knob for a better feel and it shifts like a dream. And drove it for 20+ straight hours.... loved the seats. I have NOTHING negative to say about my sube "I'm addictedddddd"
2012 WRX owner here as well. Yeah, I got the short shifter kit as well. I drove one without it and knew it needed a short shifter immediately, so this review is pretty much spot on about that. But make no mistake, after you put the short shifter in this thing, it's the best daily driver car you can imagine. I love the thing to death.
Zshazz I agree! Just love that thing. Gears never stick. Best Daily Driver Award!!!!!!!! Plus a lot of people don't know about them. Nice to have something that turns heads without spending $50,000 plus
Agreed. I owned a 2009 Mazdaspeed 3 before the WRX. Great car fun to drive but it understeers badly. Despite what people say the WRX when pushed really hard has a nearly neutral push with the rear giving out slightly. I was amazed at how much faster I could take my favorite corners in the WRX vs. the MS3. It gives you confidence. Well sorted chassis.
Personally I like the styling of the new WRX and STI, I agree the the front bumper is really busy looking. The fog lights put it over the edge, they looked like they were just tacked on and if you removed them you can see that the WRX is a really gorgeous muscular car, imo the best looking wrx to date.
I was surprised how much they disliked they shifter on the WRX. I have heard this criticism before however; one review I read before I bought my 2013 hatch is the short throw shifter is a must have option; they were right; the shifter in my WRX is every bit as tight and precise as you could hope for. Great car and it obviously can compete with the big boys.
I bought the WRX and the very first thing i changed was the shifter. They weren't lying when they said it had really long throws.. As far as it "pushing you away from buying the car", I disagree, spend a couple hundred bucks on a good short shifter and bushings and problem solved! The seats are perfectly fine and im 6"5' at 215 pounds. If anything, they are quite comfortable. This is a GREAT car and there is nothing on the market that gives you that value for money. So glad i bought my WRX :D Nevertheless, Good review!
Great performance as always out of the WRX but it is still the ugliest and has the absolute worst interior out of all the price for performance car. I would buy this car instantly if they were able to match the 2014 Civic Si's interior/exterior design. I'm between the ST, Si, WRX still not sure. Anyway you can convince me?
thefives7ar I don't know why everyone rants on about how "ugly" the WRX is.. From what i've heard and seen, everyone compliments the aesthetics of the car. I personally thing the civic is ugly and grandma like haha. The WRX is aggressive and the wide body poses a very robust image. The car is rally-bred, the civic and ford aren't, and you really notice it when you jump in it every day. I LOVE the boxer engine. It's arguably one of the most reliable engines produced in a 4 cylinder. Not to mention, the rumble! Another thing.. Its Symmetrical AWD.. There is no comparison between AWD and FWD, the difference is night & day. The interior isn't half bad, I have the premium model with leather, sunroof and nav screen, and yes, people compliment the interior! Also, it's nice to sit in every day. The sound system sucks, but i changed that straight away along with the short throw shifter. But at the end of the day, my friend, it really is down to personal preference and what you're after in a car. I've loved subaru's my whole life, so yes, I'm a bit biased.. But there's a reason why they are as popular as they are.. My best advice to you is to test drive one, fall in love and buy one :D Hope this helps buddy.
Zoran Terzic People are just butthurt it doesn't look like the concept car. Each year Subaru releases a new model, people complain about looks. A year later it's the best thing ever.
I'm a big fan of the videos, guys. Keep them coming! After much indecision and many test drives I've decided to go with a WRX Hatch. Again, thanks for the honest input and insightful reviews!
Easy fix with the shifter. Just switch it for a Kartboy Short thrower. but what i thought was weird is the fact that they compared a base model wrx to a evo 10 mr. shouldnt the equivelant competitor be the STI? planned for a failure here.
Great review guys. Everything was spot on in this video. I think people tend to forget that the WRX is the fine line between performance and affordability for it's price range when clearly the STi is better in every single other aspect aside from the price. Gonna watch the Evo video now :D
I like cars with a little understeer to them. Oversteer drives me crazy. Also I love the space-shipy lego design. It looks interesting. So many modern cars just look so homogenized, I'm glad that at least for WRX Subaru didn't go down this road, even though they did for their Forrester and Outback.
Everything they dislike about the WRX is something easily and simply upgraded. shifting issues solved with a simple short shifter kit, there even is a factory option for one. seat solved with an aftermarket seat. initial turnin understeer solved by a rear sway bar. done. stage 2 for way more power. so easy to mod. so much potential for its money. to imagine this is the same price as a civic/etc. is crazy. This is an amazing car. the look issues are all subjective because I love it.
Well, we know that owning and loving a car makes any critiques hit harder than compliments, but the guys have mostly positive things to say when discussing the dynamics of the car (power, handling, performance for the money) - their closing comments are a great summary of this. Of course, we realize our style isn't for everyone, so you are welcome to not like what we do - there are many others who would disagree with you. Either way, thanks for being part of the discussion!
We realize that the downsides of most any car can be addressed with aftermarket tuning and changes. The WRX is one of the best examples of what's possible. But we test cars in their stock form as that is the way the manufacturers choose to sell it to the public - the only common "base line", if you will. And we get cars from the manufacturers spec'd in the way they'd like them reviewed. As a result, we discuss the good and bad of every car in stock form. Thanks for watching and commenting!
i own a 2011 wrx. i think its comfortable and shifts well. its a beautiful car esp when u cover up that chrome piece on the trunk. i also threw the rally armor flaps on there and it looks even better. gives it a wider looking stance. glad they put wider body on the wrx in 2011 i love the evo and sti but personally i didnt want to drop 35-40k on a car. wrx has good performance and you can go to stage 2 for under 30k so you have a fast car right there
What are these guys talking about? I love the new look of the GR chassis. There are only two chassis years which I love the looks of, the GD (blob eyes) and the current gen GR models. And yes, others can disagree or agree... but just like ED's review, it's simply their own opinion on how the styling goes/looks in their eyes. I love how the GR widebody looks like it was built around the car widening it's track. I just love it.
These cars aren't real competitors on price here in Australia. The WRX retailed at $39995, and isn't much more even now. The Golf R retails at $58k. I have a 2009 WRX with the factory 265bhp and factory STi suspension/steering bits, and as a point-to-point car it's very hard to beat in the sub-$15k used car bracket.
It is really too bad your WRX did not have the sub $300 short shifter in it. It makes a huge difference with the manual. Throws are much more short and less vague, it really is the best mod for the car outside of some $300 front and rear sway bars that reduce understeer and body roll. If you do those two things for about $600 or so, it really makes a big difference. Oh, and get a good alignment before either of those things :)
Thank you, we consider that very high praise. We absolutely want people to love their car or find one that thrills them, but no car is perfect so we strive to be candid. At the same time, we don't want to be boring or bury people with stats along the way - thanks for the encouragement!
I test drove the STI and the EVO. I ended up buying the Evo GSR. Both are amazing cars but it all depends on what you compromises you are willing to make. The Sti has a lot of trunk room and the ride is more quiet. The Evo is a go kart on steroids with a modest trunk size and amazing Recaro seats. Both perform brilliantly, but my personal preference, the Evo is an amazing car. Test drive both of them, no matter which one you buy, you will walk away with a smile on your face.
The guys didn't discuss the styling of the STI in this video... Yes, they look the same, and Todd even mentioned how similar the WRX and STI have become. They did mention preferring the STI gearbox, but they didn't talk about the STI styling.
If you do the seat mod, it helps a lot. Basically, unzip the back of the seat and remove the spring there and it brings the bolters closer together, did wonders for me.
Instead of shifting from the top, reach about half-way down on the stick and shift from there. Now it's like you have a short throw shifter. You won't miss any gears and shifting is crisp. This car is so fun to drive.
im guessing they drove it without the short throw kit because it makes a world of a difference with the gear box but once in awhile i still catch but its very rare with the kit
I have a 2.5L 2001 Subaru Legacy GT Limited and I am in love with it. Of course I wouldn't mind if it had more power than its current 165HP, but it's an absolute pleasure to drive. And driving in snow makes no difference.
An entire video bashing the WRX? We hope you watched the whole piece to notice that the guys gave the car high ratings and praised it's power, handling, and performance value. Yet, no car is perfect and they will point out faults as well. We hope you'll watch more of our work to get a feel for what we do. We're thrilled you like your car and appreciate you watching and commenting!
We drove the RX8 a few years ago (in a 2+2 comparison with the Genesis Coupe and Infiniti G37S). We hope you'll find it and enjoy that piece. We've also got it on our schedule for next year for a completely different reason. Thanks for watching!
Timeswe people are starting to realize how versatile and beautiful hatchbacks are..most supercars are kinda like hatch except the back door has an engine in it..lol...I love hatchbacks..own a Civic ep3 and looking at that 2017 type r...just wish Honda would make AWD turbo Civic
All your points are very valid, which is why the guys didn't say "there are NO reasons to by the STI." We hope you watched the beginning to see why we brought a Standard WRX, and the wrap-ups & STI discussion at the end of the Evo portion. Thanks for watching!
I own a 2012 WRX hatch, limited package, and in my opinion, you are completely wrong about the interior and the look of the car. It's a sharp looking car and stands out compared to other bland cars in its price range. I feel the interior is well designed and simple, there are some cheap materials but I think Subaru pulled it off. The STI just adds to the style, and is worth the premium by the way. You're right about the gear box though, that's why i got the short throw, but it's still clunky.
You are correct based on price alone, but we hope you watched the opening to hear why we put the WRX into this discussion. It's also discussed further at the end of the Evo piece. Thanks for watching!
Video's allgood, except why the super low frequency throughout the clip, like somebody forgot to clean up the sound file, on a decent sound setup it's got too much bass.
As a matter of fact I am a 2013 WRX STI Sedan owner. The clutch is so light it's amazing how light it is. I grew up driving and drag racing all sorts of Honda Civics, and the STI's clutch I would still consider "light". Get a test drive if you can, be careful though you might end up getting it! Regarding price: shop around. I paid nowhere near MSRP for mine. There's no better car for the money, except maybe the EVO GSR depending on what kind of deal you can get for it. Good luck.
I own a 2011 WRX and you are completely correct, stock the transmissions feels like a stick jammed into an over sized marshmellow. Kartboy short shifter kit was 80$ and was a MASSIVE improvement. Shifts are quick and sure now.
I will have a 13' STI hopefully coming Monday. It's been a LONG 4 month wait! My son drives a 12' STI. The wait is driving me freakin' NUTS!!! I drove a 350Z for 7 years!
As we said in the opener, and in response to others with this question - Yes, the Ralliart is better a better match for the WRX, no question. But this comparison is inspired by the Golf R - and VW claims it goes with the STI & EVO. The stats put the R closer to the Ralliart and WRX - so we brought one from each group to put the Golf R in context. Thanks for watching and commenting.
You guys need to experience the gc8 wrx's/sti's. Interiors are simplistic but made to be comfortable daily or hold you in on a tight hairpin. Exerior wise they look small, light and agile. The newer ones seem way too bulky. Also my 96 wrx had around 250 hp stock and a five speed. The US models seem to be lacking in the power area, but handling wise seem to ill the gc.
1st ) 0-60 is not 5.3 sec , its 4.5 very easy seconds; 2nd ) Wrx can beat a lot of cars in 100k-120k range; 3rd ) one thing is bad tho - this is the most ticketed car and them tickets can cost you a lot...personal experience
I own an 08 WRX and while the throws are quite long on the stock shifter, im not sure they are completely correct by calling it vague. I haven't had any issues finding the gear I need. The gear box has kind of chunky feel to it too, which I actually enjoy, I think it adds to the driving experience. If you are worried about the interior of the car. Everyone that has ridden in my car says the think the seats a really comfortable, and I also think they are comfortable. Yeah it has a pretty boring interior but the performance of the car complete makes that irrelevant in my experience.
my '07 wrx has a short throw shifter, maddad turbo back exhaust and is cobb stage 2. along with minor suspension upgrades it's easy to make these cars a lot of fun and pretty fast. they should all be tested with short throw and at least stage 1.
As a WRX owner who has been a bit jealous of golf R's, the more I hear about them the worse they sound. I like the WRX but the interior is really half assed..on the other hand simplicity can be a good thing. The shifter isn't bad with bushings and a short shifter, its not like driving a truck, that's a VQ35 or LS1 tranny..wrx is just kind of vague but I miss less gears than I did in my RSX-S with its super precise tranny
No hate here - as you may have noticed, the WRX does very well in this comparison. We've done plenty of reviews on Subaru product and it shows us as big fans of the WRX. However, we do call out the good and bad of every car, as no car is perfect. We hope you heard the positives mentioned here, and not just the negative things you might not agree with. Thanks for watching!
I'm in the same boat. Looking at the two cars they're so close in terms of practicality and for the amount extra you pay for the marginal performance gains of the STI, it's hard to choose.
I agree completely, the EVO MR is tought competition for even the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, so it isn't exactly fair to compare it to the regular WRX... I would suggest using the WRX STI as comparison, but I am choosing between getting an 2011+ WRX or a BRZ right now so I want this review to be of the standard WRX.
I own the Hatchback WRX base model (I think the hatchback looks better). I agree, the throw is very very long, and coming from an old Audi A4, the tranny is nowhere as precise and linkage is easy to miss, I don't have the confidence of fast shifting as I did in the A4. That said, this engine is super happy to rev; and performance is just amazing. Best bang for your buck easily. As far as seats, being a shorter asian guy, I find them to be super comfortable.
Hey EverydayDriver I was curious as to why you guys didn't use a STI instead of the WRX. I personally Have always wanted a WRX or STI. Which do you guys prefer? Thanks
We hope you noticed all the positive things said about the WRX throughout this review and the three part comparison as well. You are welcome to not like Todd's hair just as he is welcome to not like the styling of the WRX - looks are a personal thing. Driving dynamics are much more quantifiable and we hope you'll stick around to watch our work and discussion of other cars. Thanks for your watching!
Its 10k cheaper than the STI and doesn't have nearly the amount of issues with ringland failures as the pistons in the 2.5 STI. Also with some sway bars better brake pads and good rubber its good fun around the track. Mine is converted to ethanol and has a Td05 20g turbo (on the stock 5 speed!) and it routinely blows the doors off of other STIs i run into at the track.
I think an interesting point to be made here, about the WRX, is that if the seats WERE that good, and the transmission WAS as great as the STi's, then.. well, the only compelling reason to get the STi would be the power bump. Which is still a good reason, but i think maybe Subaru left a little refinement out of the WRX so that they wouldnt cannibalize STi sales. In my opinion of course.
We hope you listened to the opening of this review, as well as at the end of the 3 parts of this comparison. As explained, the reason for this comparison is to find the Golf R's place in the world. While we know the STI is the proper match for the EVO, the Golf R aims for the higher models (EVO & STI) yet seems better matched against the lower ones (WRX and Ralliart). So we have representatives of each group here. We hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
If the Golf R came in a Diesel for the R model (as it is AWD), I would get that for the price. Since the Golf R is Gasoline only, I'd prefer the Lancer Evo, but right now I actually have the Lancer ES FWD, and I am happy with that.
i bought a wrx for everyday driving rather than the sti. the mpg is fair for the usable awd in sticky situations. It's also very practical yet rushes you with adrenaline. that's my 2 cents though
vague feeling shifter and long throws? Slap the STI short throw shifter kit and bushing that is offered from the dealer and watch this baby really shine!
There's really no fixing the vagueness of the 5MT (I've tried). It's a shit box. If you want a good Subaru manual transmission, you need the STI's 6MT.
sabrewings Ah well I will settle for a less refined 5MT and save myself about 10k. I don't think to me the 6MT is worth all that extra money. I mean if money isn't a factor then of course go for it, otherwise I will throw the short throw shifter and SPT exhaust on it and be on my way.. rather quickly lol.
We hope you watched the beginning of the video where we explained why these cars were brought together. Yes, the STI & EVO are competitors. And the WRX and Ralliart are competitors. We didn't bring the WRX and EVO together to compete with each other, but to place the Golf R in perspective. It's also discussed further at the end of the Evo piece. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2013 STI Sedan so I'm completely biased. What I will say, though, is that these cars look much better in person than they do in pictures/videos.
A large percentage of our viewers were not confused by the titling or the premise of this piece. These are AWD performance vehicles. The match-up was inspired by the Golf R. For those who didn't see or hear the explanation we've tried to clarify. We don't expect everyone to agree with us, as that has never been our point. We hope you'll stick around to point out all the errors we make in the future. Thanks for watching.
I own a '13 WRX. I agree with most of the review, but there *is* lumbar support... it just isn't *adjustable* (big difference here) and in no way should that makes them "terrible". You really need to play with the seating position to find the proper ergos... in my opinion the lumbar support is perfect as soon as you dial it in. Spot-on with the shifter... I find it no better than my old Civic but at least it can be easily remedied (Kartboy sells a stellar kit for
I really like the review on the WRX. I must say I disagree with a few things, like the ugly part. What I love about the WRX is, you can do so much with so little, with a few bolton's and a tune you can bring the car up to 320 rwhp with 350lbs of torque, those are super good numbers for only about 1,200 bucks (a down pipe and a protune) most of the negative reviews about the WRX like the shifting part and steering can be fix with about 400 bucks ( a rear sway bar and a KB short shifter.
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I love the look of this car. I get so confused when people say its ugly. Not offended, just confused. I own this car. I love this car. And cobb has fun parts to make it drive a lil faster.
Daniel Horack This is my dream car.
My dream car
Have to lower them and fit them with wheels and tires. It'll be gorgeous
I love the aggressive fenders on this model. I never understand when people call WRXs ugly. I’ve driven so many and ugly is never a word I hear when talking to people about them.
I disagree with three things...
1. I like the 80's feel of the shifter. I want to feel the car shift. I love the proud moment when I claim the perfect shift. There is a learning curve but once mastered its a great feeling of accomplishment and a more thorough relationship formed with your vehicle.
2. I'm larger in size than both of these guys at 6 foot 3 inches and 270 lbs. I love these seats. They just fit like a glove and are some of the more comfortable seats I have ever used. Especially on extended road trips for 3+ hours of seat time. Plenty of leg room here as well. As someone who's usually uncomfortable in most cars I couldn't be happier with the seats in this vehicle.
3. This is a beautiful car. Maybe its just a matter of taste but every angle is just gorgeous to me! The functional Hood scoop, the wing and quad exhaust tips just absolutely beckon to be admired.
First time Subaru owner here. I am extremely happy with my purchase! Just a different opinion I wanted to share for anyone considering buying one.
10 years later, the WRX is still the best looking sedan out there- small low and compact.
I have this model but got Recaro's and a short shifter in the package so luckily I don't have to put up with the car's shortfalls. I love the chunky looks of the car, dunno why they are picking on that???
I really like the back end
I owned a 2006 WRX and a 2014 BRZ i know they are totally different compared to a 2014 wrx and 2014 brz. but i'd have to say i did enjoy the brz more ! way funner handles better.
wish it did have that little extra power. but you can buy a tuning mod for 800$ that gets an extra 20-30 hp out of the brz. which is awesome !
This car is fuckin beautiful idk what their problem is with "so much going on" and it definitely looks better than the shitty new 2015 model.
They were referring to the interior when they said that. And as a MY2011 WRX owner, they aren't entirely wrong... It's not the best inside.
I changed my mind. The seats are nice after all. I weigh 240 pounds and am 6 even. yes, they are under bolstered and yes you rattle around in them a bit too much when you are putting your foot into it but the thing is... they are comfortable. My expectations when I first bought my 2014 plasma blue pearl sedan was a rip your face off rocket when what it really is is a super sweet do all road carver for an adult. Shit! I like the seats now and so does my wife and my passengers.My feelings for this car have evolved and I now understand my wrx like only an owner can. No its not a circuit king in stock form, it's more of a jack of all trades. It's pretty sweet when you can go off road and transition to tarmac without a thought. Finally, i get plenty of thumbs up and a lot of people asking me how I like it. They want one as much as I did before I owned one. Great great car.
i watched this video for like 3 or 4 times a day and 7 months later i ended up buying one, i prefer the hatch over the sedan though... great review guys!
+Tristan Gervacio - Very glad to hear we were helpful to you in finding a car you really love. That's what we're here for! Thanks for watching and letting us know!
+EverydayDriver funny part of the story was , i went to the next door dealer mitsubishi to check out the ralliart but they didnt approve me soooo i walked in subaru and they got me the wrx limited, while i was getting the money i downed for the ralliart i brought the wrx in their parking lot... man that was a goodchoice thank goodness subaru ahaha!
Tristan Gervacio Ew!
So, do you still own your wrx???? After 3 years?
Sedan is growing on me. It took a few years but I am loving it now. The hell with the hatch
Great review, but I don't agree at all about the comments pertaining to the exterior or the uncomfortable seats. I think this model WRX in particular (widebody, sedan) looks fantastic. As for the seats? I think they are extremely comfortable and there's a fucking lumbar support level so...wtf at that criticism...
The standard WRX seats aren't very good. They never really have been to be honest; limited edition versions fitted with STi Recaros were far superior in that respect.
***** old comment, but the 6 speed gearboxes from the sti's are bulletproof, so i dont know what you're talking about bro
Phil No such thing as a bulletproof gearbox and I meant quality not durability.. But the STIs do have the best Subaru makes so I was off base on that.
i recently purchased a 2013 wrx and it came with a short throw and slightly different seats then the one they are testing. I have nothing but good things to say about it. It has all of the good things that they are mentioning in the video and without the problems with the shifter and the seats it really is a beautiful work of engineering. The only negative feedback i have about the car is that the stock stereo is not so great and the doors rattle a lot at high volumes. I highly recommend it!
I own a 2012 WRX and it sticks to the corners better than I could have hoped no matter how much I push it, and I really dig the looks of the exterior! Best AWD sport sedan for the money!
Bought a new WRX sedan in Feb and I really love this car! Sticker was 27,777 and I ended up getting for 25,700. I basically test drove every sedan on the market that was under $30k, Seats are a little uncomfortable, tranny takes some time to dial in and a nice dark window tinting does multitudes for the looks of the car.
I've always been a Chevy guy, love the LS engines but this WRX has blown me away for being an all around fun and functional vehicle. Great review guys!
I'm so glad I waited for the 2015 WRX. All I've been hearing is how much better the 2015 is in every way.
Just needs bigger wheels and to be lower...
Sam Nelson Wider for sure, but I'm not sure about bigger. I'm going with 18x8.75 on stock springs. The last thing I'd ever do to a WRX is lower it... but that's just me.
Ghetto D It's not just you.What's the point in owning a Subaru if you can't hoon on a dirt road or snow?
I want to buy my first wrx but the new one to me just doesn't seem that refined yet, I'm thinking in the next couple of years they're going to improve on it. Like how they improved the last gen wrx in 2011. Mainly it's the looks that don't convince me to buy the 2015 so I'm going to go with a 2013-14. The looks of it have really grown on me and since it will be my first subie I think it's a good choice, I am tired of waiting for that 'perfect' wrx to come out lol
A former 08 and 11 WRX owner here, this video reminded me of the good time I had, and now it's time for me to get a STI :)
Excited already
did you get a STI?
What are they talking about with the looks and too much going on? That's one of my all time favorite looking cars.
Compared to the older models, such as the GD, it's not very nice.
The last good looking and good sounding wrx. This wrx looks badass
Good review. But I got the short shifter and immediately got the STI shift knob for a better feel and it shifts like a dream. And drove it for 20+ straight hours.... loved the seats. I have NOTHING negative to say about my sube "I'm addictedddddd"
2012 WRX owner here as well. Yeah, I got the short shifter kit as well. I drove one without it and knew it needed a short shifter immediately, so this review is pretty much spot on about that. But make no mistake, after you put the short shifter in this thing, it's the best daily driver car you can imagine. I love the thing to death.
Zshazz I agree! Just love that thing. Gears never stick. Best Daily Driver Award!!!!!!!! Plus a lot of people don't know about them. Nice to have something that turns heads without spending $50,000 plus
We need a comparison of this Gen wrx against 2015+ wrx.
Also a video comparison of the 2015+ wrx vs sti.
Keep up the good work guys!!
Agreed. I owned a 2009 Mazdaspeed 3 before the WRX. Great car fun to drive but it understeers badly. Despite what people say the WRX when pushed really hard has a nearly neutral push with the rear giving out slightly. I was amazed at how much faster I could take my favorite corners in the WRX vs. the MS3. It gives you confidence. Well sorted chassis.
Personally I like the styling of the new WRX and STI, I agree the the front bumper is really busy looking. The fog lights put it over the edge, they looked like they were just tacked on and if you removed them you can see that the WRX is a really gorgeous muscular car, imo the best looking wrx to date.
I was surprised how much they disliked they shifter on the WRX. I have heard this criticism before however; one review I read before I bought my 2013 hatch is the short throw shifter is a must have option; they were right; the shifter in my WRX is every bit as tight and precise as you could hope for. Great car and it obviously can compete with the big boys.
I bought the WRX and the very first thing i changed was the shifter. They weren't lying when they said it had really long throws.. As far as it "pushing you away from buying the car", I disagree, spend a couple hundred bucks on a good short shifter and bushings and problem solved! The seats are perfectly fine and im 6"5' at 215 pounds. If anything, they are quite comfortable. This is a GREAT car and there is nothing on the market that gives you that value for money. So glad i bought my WRX :D Nevertheless, Good review!
Great performance as always out of the WRX but it is still the ugliest and has the absolute worst interior out of all the price for performance car. I would buy this car instantly if they were able to match the 2014 Civic Si's interior/exterior design. I'm between the ST, Si, WRX still not sure. Anyway you can convince me?
thefives7ar Lololol comparing a Civic SI to a WRX. People buying WRXs don't care about interior.
thefives7ar I don't know why everyone rants on about how "ugly" the WRX is.. From what i've heard and seen, everyone compliments the aesthetics of the car. I personally thing the civic is ugly and grandma like haha. The WRX is aggressive and the wide body poses a very robust image. The car is rally-bred, the civic and ford aren't, and you really notice it when you jump in it every day. I LOVE the boxer engine. It's arguably one of the most reliable engines produced in a 4 cylinder. Not to mention, the rumble! Another thing.. Its Symmetrical AWD.. There is no comparison between AWD and FWD, the difference is night & day. The interior isn't half bad, I have the premium model with leather, sunroof and nav screen, and yes, people compliment the interior! Also, it's nice to sit in every day. The sound system sucks, but i changed that straight away along with the short throw shifter.
But at the end of the day, my friend, it really is down to personal preference and what you're after in a car. I've loved subaru's my whole life, so yes, I'm a bit biased.. But there's a reason why they are as popular as they are.. My best advice to you is to test drive one, fall in love and buy one :D
Hope this helps buddy.
Zoran Terzic People are just butthurt it doesn't look like the concept car. Each year Subaru releases a new model, people complain about looks. A year later it's the best thing ever.
the seats are comfy but they dont keep in it, when you turn , etc etc, you kinda sway off of them, but yes they are comfortable
Watching it from start to finish, everything seemed to make pretty logical sense to me. Not sure what you or Camaroburnouts are missing.
I'm a big fan of the videos, guys. Keep them coming! After much indecision and many test drives I've decided to go with a WRX Hatch. Again, thanks for the honest input and insightful reviews!
Easy fix with the shifter. Just switch it for a Kartboy Short thrower. but what i thought was weird is the fact that they compared a base model wrx to a evo 10 mr. shouldnt the equivelant competitor be the STI? planned for a failure here.
Great review guys. Everything was spot on in this video. I think people tend to forget that the WRX is the fine line between performance and affordability for it's price range when clearly the STi is better in every single other aspect aside from the price.
Gonna watch the Evo video now :D
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I love the look of the WRX.
I like cars with a little understeer to them. Oversteer drives me crazy. Also I love the space-shipy lego design. It looks interesting. So many modern cars just look so homogenized, I'm glad that at least for WRX Subaru didn't go down this road, even though they did for their Forrester and Outback.
Everything they dislike about the WRX is something easily and simply upgraded. shifting issues solved with a simple short shifter kit, there even is a factory option for one. seat solved with an aftermarket seat. initial turnin understeer solved by a rear sway bar. done. stage 2 for way more power. so easy to mod. so much potential for its money. to imagine this is the same price as a civic/etc. is crazy. This is an amazing car. the look issues are all subjective because I love it.
I love the place it's filmed, a mile from my home, used to drive up there weekly just for fun
is it Angeles Forest Hwy?
Well, we know that owning and loving a car makes any critiques hit harder than compliments, but the guys have mostly positive things to say when discussing the dynamics of the car (power, handling, performance for the money) - their closing comments are a great summary of this. Of course, we realize our style isn't for everyone, so you are welcome to not like what we do - there are many others who would disagree with you. Either way, thanks for being part of the discussion!
We realize that the downsides of most any car can be addressed with aftermarket tuning and changes. The WRX is one of the best examples of what's possible. But we test cars in their stock form as that is the way the manufacturers choose to sell it to the public - the only common "base line", if you will. And we get cars from the manufacturers spec'd in the way they'd like them reviewed. As a result, we discuss the good and bad of every car in stock form. Thanks for watching and commenting!
so this is how old people view Subaru.....
Yes, with intelligence, life experience and maturity. Based on your comment, you will probably struggle with that.
@@1970borntorun You're too old to drive a WRX, go away
@@1970borntorun L
L
@@1970borntorunL
i own a 2011 wrx. i think its comfortable and shifts well. its a beautiful car esp when u cover up that chrome piece on the trunk. i also threw the rally armor flaps on there and it looks even better. gives it a wider looking stance. glad they put wider body on the wrx in 2011
i love the evo and sti but personally i didnt want to drop 35-40k on a car. wrx has good performance and you can go to stage 2 for under 30k so you have a fast car right there
What are these guys talking about? I love the new look of the GR chassis. There are only two chassis years which I love the looks of, the GD (blob eyes) and the current gen GR models. And yes, others can disagree or agree... but just like ED's review, it's simply their own opinion on how the styling goes/looks in their eyes.
I love how the GR widebody looks like it was built around the car widening it's track. I just love it.
I own a 2010 wrx and yeah I agree the seats are a back braker and the shifter is too long
These cars aren't real competitors on price here in Australia. The WRX retailed at $39995, and isn't much more even now. The Golf R retails at $58k. I have a 2009 WRX with the factory 265bhp and factory STi suspension/steering bits, and as a point-to-point car it's very hard to beat in the sub-$15k used car bracket.
It is really too bad your WRX did not have the sub $300 short shifter in it. It makes a huge difference with the manual. Throws are much more short and less vague, it really is the best mod for the car outside of some $300 front and rear sway bars that reduce understeer and body roll. If you do those two things for about $600 or so, it really makes a big difference. Oh, and get a good alignment before either of those things :)
Thank you, we consider that very high praise. We absolutely want people to love their car or find one that thrills them, but no car is perfect so we strive to be candid. At the same time, we don't want to be boring or bury people with stats along the way - thanks for the encouragement!
I test drove the STI and the EVO. I ended up buying the Evo GSR. Both are amazing cars but it all depends on what you compromises you are willing to make. The Sti has a lot of trunk room and the ride is more quiet. The Evo is a go kart on steroids with a modest trunk size and amazing Recaro seats. Both perform brilliantly, but my personal preference, the Evo is an amazing car.
Test drive both of them, no matter which one you buy, you will walk away with a smile on your face.
The guys didn't discuss the styling of the STI in this video... Yes, they look the same, and Todd even mentioned how similar the WRX and STI have become. They did mention preferring the STI gearbox, but they didn't talk about the STI styling.
If you do the seat mod, it helps a lot. Basically, unzip the back of the seat and remove the spring there and it brings the bolters closer together, did wonders for me.
they need to have people reviewing this car that would actually buy instead of some old guys that care about interior
Instead of shifting from the top, reach about half-way down on the stick and shift from there. Now it's like you have a short throw shifter. You won't miss any gears and shifting is crisp. This car is so fun to drive.
Good review vdieo, the only thing I would mention is that there IS a short-shift kit available from the dealer to help with those long throws
im guessing they drove it without the short throw kit because it makes a world of a difference with the gear box but once in awhile i still catch but its very rare with the kit
I have a 2.5L 2001 Subaru Legacy GT Limited and I am in love with it. Of course I wouldn't mind if it had more power than its current 165HP, but it's an absolute pleasure to drive. And driving in snow makes no difference.
An entire video bashing the WRX? We hope you watched the whole piece to notice that the guys gave the car high ratings and praised it's power, handling, and performance value. Yet, no car is perfect and they will point out faults as well. We hope you'll watch more of our work to get a feel for what we do. We're thrilled you like your car and appreciate you watching and commenting!
We drove the RX8 a few years ago (in a 2+2 comparison with the Genesis Coupe and Infiniti G37S). We hope you'll find it and enjoy that piece. We've also got it on our schedule for next year for a completely different reason. Thanks for watching!
Now if only they made the hatch style for 2015
Timeswe people are starting to realize how versatile and beautiful hatchbacks are..most supercars are kinda like hatch except the back door has an engine in it..lol...I love hatchbacks..own a Civic ep3 and looking at that 2017 type r...just wish Honda would make AWD turbo Civic
Crosstrek
Timeswe had Ew!
NY NY They're ugly!
I have the factory short-throw shifter and it makes an ENORMOUS difference.
The guy didnt know what he's talking about: now in 2022 it's still the only best looking WRX I wannna buy
All your points are very valid, which is why the guys didn't say "there are NO reasons to by the STI."
We hope you watched the beginning to see why we brought a Standard WRX, and the wrap-ups & STI discussion at the end of the Evo portion. Thanks for watching!
I own a 2012 WRX hatch, limited package, and in my opinion, you are completely wrong about the interior and the look of the car. It's a sharp looking car and stands out compared to other bland cars in its price range. I feel the interior is well designed and simple, there are some cheap materials but I think Subaru pulled it off. The STI just adds to the style, and is worth the premium by the way. You're right about the gear box though, that's why i got the short throw, but it's still clunky.
You are correct based on price alone, but we hope you watched the opening to hear why we put the WRX into this discussion. It's also discussed further at the end of the Evo piece. Thanks for watching!
Video's allgood, except why the super low frequency throughout the clip, like somebody forgot to clean up the sound file, on a decent sound setup it's got too much bass.
Yes, we did a MS3 vs. GTI vs. Volvo C30 a few years ago, it's a bit dated, but we think you'll enjoy it as well. Thanks for watching!
As a matter of fact I am a 2013 WRX STI Sedan owner. The clutch is so light it's amazing how light it is. I grew up driving and drag racing all sorts of Honda Civics, and the STI's clutch I would still consider "light". Get a test drive if you can, be careful though you might end up getting it! Regarding price: shop around. I paid nowhere near MSRP for mine. There's no better car for the money, except maybe the EVO GSR depending on what kind of deal you can get for it. Good luck.
Get the STI short throw shift option direct from subaru when you buy this car, it costs a tiny $295 and it should solve most shifting issues
I own a 2011 WRX and you are completely correct, stock the transmissions feels like a stick jammed into an over sized marshmellow. Kartboy short shifter kit was 80$ and was a MASSIVE improvement. Shifts are quick and sure now.
I love the look of the newer hatch WRX/STI's, but I've heard the interior needs help.. and that's where we spend all of our time.
Just ordered one. So happy.
Honestly, I've never waited anxiously for a TH-cam video to be uploaded- but I'm refreshing my feed every half hour it seems to find the Evo X MR one!
I will have a 13' STI hopefully coming Monday. It's been a LONG 4 month wait! My son drives a 12' STI. The wait is driving me freakin' NUTS!!! I drove a 350Z for 7 years!
Did you ever get the sti?
WRX 👍
AMEN
STI 🤝
The Subaru WRX/WRX STI are beautiful cars IMO. Best looking sedans out there.
I'm an Evo owner
and I can't wait for the last segment and what honest comments they have to say - good or bad
keep it up Everyday Driver
They are going to. I think they are also going to go direct injected and increase the power on both the WRX, and STI models.
As we said in the opener, and in response to others with this question - Yes, the Ralliart is better a better match for the WRX, no question. But this comparison is inspired by the Golf R - and VW claims it goes with the STI & EVO. The stats put the R closer to the Ralliart and WRX - so we brought one from each group to put the Golf R in context. Thanks for watching and commenting.
You guys need to experience the gc8 wrx's/sti's. Interiors are simplistic but made to be comfortable daily or hold you in on a tight hairpin. Exerior wise they look small, light and agile. The newer ones seem way too bulky. Also my 96 wrx had around 250 hp stock and a five speed. The US models seem to be lacking in the power area, but handling wise seem to ill the gc.
1st ) 0-60 is not 5.3 sec , its 4.5 very easy seconds; 2nd ) Wrx can beat a lot of cars in 100k-120k range; 3rd ) one thing is bad tho - this is the most ticketed car and them tickets can cost you a lot...personal experience
No wing=less attraction compared to sti
I own an 08 WRX and while the throws are quite long on the stock shifter, im not sure they are completely correct by calling it vague. I haven't had any issues finding the gear I need. The gear box has kind of chunky feel to it too, which I actually enjoy, I think it adds to the driving experience. If you are worried about the interior of the car. Everyone that has ridden in my car says the think the seats a really comfortable, and I also think they are comfortable. Yeah it has a pretty boring interior but the performance of the car complete makes that irrelevant in my experience.
my '07 wrx has a short throw shifter, maddad turbo back exhaust and is cobb stage 2. along with minor suspension upgrades it's easy to make these cars a lot of fun and pretty fast. they should all be tested with short throw and at least stage 1.
As a WRX owner who has been a bit jealous of golf R's, the more I hear about them the worse they sound. I like the WRX but the interior is really half assed..on the other hand simplicity can be a good thing. The shifter isn't bad with bushings and a short shifter, its not like driving a truck, that's a VQ35 or LS1 tranny..wrx is just kind of vague but I miss less gears than I did in my RSX-S with its super precise tranny
Stop hating on the subaru "everydaydriver"
No hate here - as you may have noticed, the WRX does very well in this comparison. We've done plenty of reviews on Subaru product and it shows us as big fans of the WRX. However, we do call out the good and bad of every car, as no car is perfect. We hope you heard the positives mentioned here, and not just the negative things you might not agree with. Thanks for watching!
I'm in the same boat. Looking at the two cars they're so close in terms of practicality and for the amount extra you pay for the marginal performance gains of the STI, it's hard to choose.
I agree completely, the EVO MR is tought competition for even the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, so it isn't exactly fair to compare it to the regular WRX... I would suggest using the WRX STI as comparison, but I am choosing between getting an 2011+ WRX or a BRZ right now so I want this review to be of the standard WRX.
I own the Hatchback WRX base model (I think the hatchback looks better). I agree, the throw is very very long, and coming from an old Audi A4, the tranny is nowhere as precise and linkage is easy to miss, I don't have the confidence of fast shifting as I did in the A4. That said, this engine is super happy to rev; and performance is just amazing. Best bang for your buck easily. As far as seats, being a shorter asian guy, I find them to be super comfortable.
Hey EverydayDriver I was curious as to why you guys didn't use a STI instead of the WRX. I personally Have always wanted a WRX or STI. Which do you guys prefer?
Thanks
We hope you noticed all the positive things said about the WRX throughout this review and the three part comparison as well. You are welcome to not like Todd's hair just as he is welcome to not like the styling of the WRX - looks are a personal thing. Driving dynamics are much more quantifiable and we hope you'll stick around to watch our work and discussion of other cars. Thanks for your watching!
Its 10k cheaper than the STI and doesn't have nearly the amount of issues with ringland failures as the pistons in the 2.5 STI. Also with some sway bars better brake pads and good rubber its good fun around the track. Mine is converted to ethanol and has a Td05 20g turbo (on the stock 5 speed!) and it routinely blows the doors off of other STIs i run into at the track.
"It's not lego's," best description ever!
But its not, I work on these things, they ARE legos.
ITS GREAT!
Fantastic video guys... The visuals were soooooooo nice. Hi five to the DP.
I think an interesting point to be made here, about the WRX, is that if the seats WERE that good, and the transmission WAS as great as the STi's, then.. well, the only compelling reason to get the STi would be the power bump. Which is still a good reason, but i think maybe Subaru left a little refinement out of the WRX so that they wouldnt cannibalize STi sales. In my opinion of course.
I also got a short throw shifter after one month of driving the 2011 WRX. Oh what a difference.
Not to mention you can hop up a WRX to run next to STi's and EVO's for less than the STi or EVO cost. Take my 2004 WRX for example ;)
We hope you listened to the opening of this review, as well as at the end of the 3 parts of this comparison. As explained, the reason for this comparison is to find the Golf R's place in the world. While we know the STI is the proper match for the EVO, the Golf R aims for the higher models (EVO & STI) yet seems better matched against the lower ones (WRX and Ralliart). So we have representatives of each group here. We hope that helps. Thanks for watching!
If the Golf R came in a Diesel for the R model (as it is AWD), I would get that for the price. Since the Golf R is Gasoline only, I'd prefer the Lancer Evo, but right now I actually have the Lancer ES FWD, and I am happy with that.
i bought a wrx for everyday driving rather than the sti. the mpg is fair for the usable awd in sticky situations. It's also very practical yet rushes you with adrenaline. that's my 2 cents though
I still want the subbie nothing beats a boxer rumble but a single turbo supra flyby
Can't wait for your Evo segment from this. I bought my Evo X GSR with a lot of influence from your first video on it. Keep it up.
vague feeling shifter and long throws? Slap the STI short throw shifter kit and bushing that is offered from the dealer and watch this baby really shine!
There's really no fixing the vagueness of the 5MT (I've tried). It's a shit box. If you want a good Subaru manual transmission, you need the STI's 6MT.
sabrewings Ah well I will settle for a less refined 5MT and save myself about 10k. I don't think to me the 6MT is worth all that extra money. I mean if money isn't a factor then of course go for it, otherwise I will throw the short throw shifter and SPT exhaust on it and be on my way.. rather quickly lol.
We hope you watched the beginning of the video where we explained why these cars were brought together. Yes, the STI & EVO are competitors. And the WRX and Ralliart are competitors. We didn't bring the WRX and EVO together to compete with each other, but to place the Golf R in perspective. It's also discussed further at the end of the Evo piece. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2013 STI Sedan so I'm completely biased. What I will say, though, is that these cars look much better in person than they do in pictures/videos.
Either one is a great car it's just what you plan on doing with it should be your deciding factor
I like how you can make an entertaining and interesting review of a world known fact. Everyone knows that the Golf R is no match for the other two.
A large percentage of our viewers were not confused by the titling or the premise of this piece. These are AWD performance vehicles. The match-up was inspired by the Golf R. For those who didn't see or hear the explanation we've tried to clarify. We don't expect everyone to agree with us, as that has never been our point. We hope you'll stick around to point out all the errors we make in the future. Thanks for watching.
I own a '13 WRX. I agree with most of the review, but there *is* lumbar support... it just isn't *adjustable* (big difference here) and in no way should that makes them "terrible". You really need to play with the seating position to find the proper ergos... in my opinion the lumbar support is perfect as soon as you dial it in.
Spot-on with the shifter... I find it no better than my old Civic but at least it can be easily remedied (Kartboy sells a stellar kit for
I really like the review on the WRX. I must say I disagree with a few things, like the ugly part. What I love about the WRX is, you can do so much with so little, with a few bolton's and a tune you can bring the car up to 320 rwhp with 350lbs of torque, those are super good numbers for only about 1,200 bucks (a down pipe and a protune) most of the negative reviews about the WRX like the shifting part and steering can be fix with about 400 bucks ( a rear sway bar and a KB short shifter.