I have been driving a 2015 WRX for 3 years now. I would say it's a car for those who want to sacrifice some refinement for the sheer enjoyment of driving aggressively. The harder you drive it, the more rewarding it is. For that, it's a great car--especially if you live in the snow belt. With the 2020 refresh though, Subaru needs to refine the car significantly AND make it perform better--while still keeping the price reasonable. Otherwise its competitors may render it obsolete.
the original gc8 wrx cost 40k in the 90s and in 2017 this car still costs 40k, that's amazing considering inflation. most other cars have risen in price over time.
"has it finally grown up?" We didn't want it to grow up. We wanted it to remain raw. But because of people like you who want gadgets and comfort, the WRX became sterile. Go buy something else if you want refined.
Unchanged engine? Laggy down low??? the engine is a new twin scroll turbo version of the fa-20 that was built for the brz? The twin scroll comes to life at like 1700rpm. but agreed not linear at all and dies towards the limiter. i have a '16 with AP and cobb intake and it is very satisfying for the price! Those two very light mods fix a few of the issues, lets the car live more up top and fixes the rev hang, i do love the car very much.
Hey man, the AP is the Cobb Access Port v3 (v3 = the newest version) .its a tuning chip you simply plug into the connector under the steering wheel. I have a 16. Admittedly I haven't really stayed up to date on what they have changed in the newer years so i can't make an opinion either way. Although if you are familiar with what has changed please share!
Really am sick of all the arrogant cvt haters. I've driven a manual for 12+ years. It's no fun in traffic. There's nothing wrong with a CVT, but there is something wrong with people that think manual transmissions are the ONLY WAY. Just a bunch of juvenile discriminating punks, period. Paddle shifters rule.
I'm on my second WRX. Had a 2011 and now have had my 2018 for almost a year. VERY dissapointed with the 2018 - to the point that I almost regret getting it!
And your accent doesn't give you any additional validity in your review. Please tell me another car that will do everything this will for money? Thought not, go away!
I've had two Subaru's from new, they are great except for the head gaskets! You will only get 60K miles before they go. It has been an issue on Subaru for years and the dealers make heaps out of replacing them because the engine has to come out. If you see bubbles in the coolant overflow tank after a drive then the head gaskets are gone, there should be no air in the cooling system if the dealer says that's normal they are lying! Subaru know about it but they are making too much money on parts......Nothing like a bit of built in obsolescence
Why the fuck would you be looking to a WRX to be "relaxed" or linear, or a coverter for golf gti drivers! It isn't a toffee ass golf gti, judge it on it's own merits and history.
kdavid123186able the Mustang and Camaro handle and stop better than the WRX too. The WRX’s skidpad is the same as a 4300 lb Scatpack Charger Sedan on all season tires.
Rob W - are you one of those types that advocates paddle shift driving over manual transmission driving but drives on the road and not the track? Paddle shift transmissions are meant for the racetrack but if you're buying a daily driver sports car, get a manual transmission
CVT was proposed and banned since the fear was that it would give an unfair advantage to the cars that had them. Imagine keeping an F1 at peak torque and HP all the time.
29erFreak probably proposed and then the engineers went ‘get fucked, we can’t make that!’ As most CVT transmissions. are weak as piss and struggle to contain a regular passenger vehicle, let alone a race car.
I'm really unimpressed with the latest Subaru's, having driven the wrx, impreza & BRZ, I was seriously unimpressed. I want to like them but the wrx is heavy, powerful yes but handling is underwhelming, the impreza is auto only!!! and is boring and sedate, the BRZ was better but hard to live with and felt cheap. BTW this review feels like a commercial rather than a serious review. Cash for comment?
You say the wrx's power was good but the handling was underwhelming? I think you have that backwards. Power is ok, handling is great, for a car under $30,000.
I got a 2018 WRX Limited with the CVT. I understand why people want manual transmissions in that car, but if you want/need an auto transmission, the CVT in the WRX is a great choice. You get to choose from 4 driving modes, 3 of which have more sub modes. You can have it act like a regular (boring) fuel-saving CVT, a 6-speed auto, an 8-speed auto, or manual paddle shifting. I do wish that they had put the manual shifting on the console. It's nearly impossible to find the paddles on tight curves. The car drives great and the CVT gets rid of the rpm hang issue.
I just bought a 2018 WRX manual and it f*cking rips! I love it!
I have been driving a 2015 WRX for 3 years now. I would say it's a car for those who want to sacrifice some refinement for the sheer enjoyment of driving aggressively. The harder you drive it, the more rewarding it is. For that, it's a great car--especially if you live in the snow belt. With the 2020 refresh though, Subaru needs to refine the car significantly AND make it perform better--while still keeping the price reasonable. Otherwise its competitors may render it obsolete.
Wrx= fun. Simple as that.
the original gc8 wrx cost 40k in the 90s and in 2017 this car still costs 40k, that's amazing considering inflation. most other cars have risen in price over time.
that's why ss 35k 94 , is dearer than wrx now
gc8 42k aud
"has it finally grown up?"
We didn't want it to grow up. We wanted it to remain raw. But because of people like you who want gadgets and comfort, the WRX became sterile. Go buy something else if you want refined.
Lol it's 2018 do you want it to be stuck in the 90s forever
Piznick64 you must not have seen the cars interior then, it could be from the 90's.
Reason why I still have my Speed3.
Gadgets and comfort aren't what changed.....Safety requirements forced these cars to get bigger and heavier
He said the turbo engine was that of classic engines but it has a twin scroll and torque starts at 2k rpm not bad at all
That car looks pretty damn good in white
Unchanged engine? It's a new engine
he was talking about sti I guess. even he was driving a wrx.........
Unchanged engine? Laggy down low??? the engine is a new twin scroll turbo version of the fa-20 that was built for the brz? The twin scroll comes to life at like 1700rpm. but agreed not linear at all and dies towards the limiter. i have a '16 with AP and cobb intake and it is very satisfying for the price! Those two very light mods fix a few of the issues, lets the car live more up top and fixes the rev hang, i do love the car very much.
Christian J Funicelli I’m getting the wrx. What’s AP and would recommend 16-17 or 18 wrx?
Hey man, the AP is the Cobb Access Port v3 (v3 = the newest version) .its a tuning chip you simply plug into the connector under the steering wheel. I have a 16. Admittedly I haven't really stayed up to date on what they have changed in the newer years so i can't make an opinion either way. Although if you are familiar with what has changed please share!
exactly .Guys clueless
Really am sick of all the arrogant cvt haters. I've driven a manual for 12+ years. It's no fun in traffic. There's nothing wrong with a CVT, but there is something wrong with people that think manual transmissions are the ONLY WAY. Just a bunch of juvenile discriminating punks, period. Paddle shifters rule.
Agree!!!
Where were the dirt roads at the start of this vid filmed?
Have had two WRX (2003 & 2006) and considering this or an i30 N. Not sure which way to go.
I'm on my second WRX. Had a 2011 and now have had my 2018 for almost a year. VERY dissapointed with the 2018 - to the point that I almost regret getting it!
I30n bang for the buck but i still love wrx
What u mean unchanged??? It's the new FA20 2.0 know your shit man
review in 10 seconds, buy a cobb tuner, get an etune, have a sti for $700.
What is an etune?
not quite
Lol not quite, brakes, DCCD, lsd diffs etc
This is why I really like John Cadogan's car review. Approached with engineering and brutally honest commentary
I love my 2017, but the Stock tune is trash, and holds this car back.
what can you say about its gas consumption? mpg concern for daily driver
mhar sunny roxas I own one not that bad ..
depends on how you drive it. conservatively, and the milage is great, but drive it the way it should be , and you'll watch the gas gauge drop
I love my "rough diamond" 2018 WRX.... you want refined bullshit, buy a shitty Ford Focus with all the bells & whistles...!!!
Finally a Pom who can pronounce Impreza properly.
And your accent doesn't give you any additional validity in your review. Please tell me another car that will do everything this will for money? Thought not, go away!
Jack Hammer
I don’t think there are any cars for this money that have such a shit interior, or look as crap, or seem so cheap & nasty.
I've had two Subaru's from new, they are great except for the head gaskets! You will only get 60K miles before they go. It has been an issue on Subaru for years and the dealers make heaps out of replacing them because the engine has to come out. If you see bubbles in the coolant overflow tank after a drive then the head gaskets are gone, there should be no air in the cooling system if the dealer says that's normal they are lying! Subaru know about it but they are making too much money on parts......Nothing like a bit of built in obsolescence
Rex Venom not in these new models you don't
That’s the EJ motor, these new FA’s are pretty bulletproof up to 350whp
@@Steve-qr2lm are they as bad as ej to throw/spin rod bearings? Oiling issues? Pisting rings?
Why the fuck would you be looking to a WRX to be "relaxed" or linear, or a coverter for golf gti drivers! It isn't a toffee ass golf gti, judge it on it's own merits and history.
Stock, this car does 5-60 mph slower than a Toyota Sienna minivan. This is unacceptable at the price they want for the car.
JoCo Dashcam bro mid trim sienna SE starts at 42k, base model Sienna starts at low 30k.
kdavid123186able and the WRX starts at $28,000. Does that make it ok to lose to a minivan? Nope.
In stright line ?, v6 Camry beats lot of cars in stright line. If speed is what you consider sports car, just get mustang or camaro.
kdavid123186able the Mustang and Camaro handle and stop better than the WRX too. The WRX’s skidpad is the same as a 4300 lb Scatpack Charger Sedan on all season tires.
You realise the wrx isn't built for speed right?
“CVT doesn’t belong in a sports car” clearly he missed early 90’s Formula 1 racing where CVT was banned because it was so good.
Rob W - are you one of those types that advocates paddle shift driving over manual transmission driving but drives on the road and not the track? Paddle shift transmissions are meant for the racetrack but if you're buying a daily driver sports car, get a manual transmission
Rob W no F1 car has ever had a CVT transmission, what the hell are you on about?
CVT was proposed and banned since the fear was that it would give an unfair advantage to the cars that had them. Imagine keeping an F1 at peak torque and HP all the time.
29erFreak probably proposed and then the engineers went ‘get fucked, we can’t make that!’ As most CVT transmissions. are weak as piss and struggle to contain a regular passenger vehicle, let alone a race car.
CVT runs the same as a Manual
Lowkey22 not true. look up how the awd systems work between the stick and cvt.
nope a full second slower
Legends say that if you comment early CarAdvice will...... nah f it
Go on? - Mike S
I'm really unimpressed with the latest Subaru's, having driven the wrx, impreza & BRZ, I was seriously unimpressed. I want to like them but the wrx is heavy, powerful yes but handling is underwhelming, the impreza is auto only!!! and is boring and sedate, the BRZ was better but hard to live with and felt cheap. BTW this review feels like a commercial rather than a serious review. Cash for comment?
Nothing yet, still deciding. I wouldn't buy either the civic nor the Golf though
You say the wrx's power was good but the handling was underwhelming? I think you have that backwards. Power is ok, handling is great, for a car under $30,000.
then buy the sti . wrx for cheap skates
handling underwhelming ? lmfao
@@johnnyVGtran drive one then get in a mazda 6 or BMW 1 or 3 series. Then tell me I'm wrong. I'm talking about the new ones not the older gen
backstreet boyz eh ?
the WRX is a great car, I was very close to getting one, but ended up with the Type R instead! I may get the new Sti when that comes out though...
FlyinGato youtube should indicate thumbs down indicator for comments
why's that? all I see is thumbs up
FlyinGato youtube doesn't indicate thumbs down... that's my point.
I get that you don't like the Type R?
FlyinGato yup. not really.
Is it only me or what that the worst car review
Better be careful driving on the wrong side of the road. Weird Kiwis.
It looks like this is filmed in Australia and the the presenter is clearly from the UK...
It's Australia you dickhead.The presenter is a pommie,not a kiwi.
It’s a Japanese car, guess what side of the road they drive on in Japan? Moronic....
With that kind of arrogance, you’re probably an American
it's looking uglier with each new model
The CVT has to go .. Subaru company should know better CVT doesn’t belong in sports cars
It is just UGLY, DULL and BORING looking. Subaru needs to update the look of this car soon.
Nuri bring the bug eye back. That used to turn heads
when have they been pretty?
What a joke no apple car play no Subaru eye sight with a manual?
What a joke - nobody need that shit in WRX it is drivers car.
elmin2323
Impreza got Apple and Android auto in their 2018 models. Should be coming soon to the WRX.
2018 has both STFU
2020 is when the WRX and STI are slotted to be moved to the Subaru Global Platform, it should come then.
elmin2323 Subaru does have apple car play
no CVT review is a let down
Said no one ever.
If your girly ass wants a CVT, buy a Camry!
A CVT review WOULD be a let down.
I got a 2018 WRX Limited with the CVT. I understand why people want manual transmissions in that car, but if you want/need an auto transmission, the CVT in the WRX is a great choice. You get to choose from 4 driving modes, 3 of which have more sub modes. You can have it act like a regular (boring) fuel-saving CVT, a 6-speed auto, an 8-speed auto, or manual paddle shifting. I do wish that they had put the manual shifting on the console. It's nearly impossible to find the paddles on tight curves.
The car drives great and the CVT gets rid of the rpm hang issue.
29erFreak an accessport solves the rev hang to and is cheaper than buying a cvt
Outdated
1st pin me plzzz
GOOBER GAMER
I’ll peg you.