I'm looking for my first enthusiast car and I am torn between these. What does /o/ recommend? I'd be buying either cash, and it'd be my daily. I'd also like to keep it for 8+ years if possible. >inb4 GR CorollaGreat car but I hate the look and it's not as cheap as the WRX. The low price of the subie is what lets me overlook the appearance.
The CTR is setup from the factory to be an enthusiast car. great suspension and confidence inspiring driving it. It's also >$10k more than the WRX.The WRX is a commuter car. It's AWD. It's probably fun, enough. If you're buying NEW, then you probably want to keep the warranty, but people are getting decent power gains with just a different intake and a mild tune...
>>28923335Type R I'd be buying new, as I can't find any fl5s that are really cheap enough for me to consider buying used, the WRX I'd definitely be buying used though as the main reason I am drawn to that car at all is purely economical. Don't plan on doing any mods to either other than wheels/coils/exhaust and maybe some painted fenders or something if I got the WRX. The other thing with the WRX is that I could probably do a one to one trade for my truck and not pay a dime. It is very enticing, but the CTR is just plain cooler and I feel like I might regret not spending the extra cash
always get the cooler car. until you're older and have a family. then be economical if you have to be.
>>28923341if you test drive the type r, or even sit in it, you'll probably want it. they're great. I had an fk8, it was a very fun car.
wrx stifwd is for buying groceries
I posted a similar thread prior to buying my 2026 WRX. For a car like a WRX there was no chance I was buying used, YMMV. Dealership had 2026 Premiums for ~2200 off msrp, Subaru was writing loans for 2.9% for 5 years. Consider you can get a money market or HYSA for similar return and keep your liquidity. I've broken in the engine and have ~1200 miles on it thus far:Screen is surprisingly good, I'm anti-screen but within 5-10 seconds of start I have instant response, usually better than that. MPG is questionable, I get 22-22.5 actual, not 24mpg the gauge reports. I haven't used a scan tool to confirm but I suspect looking at instantaneous MPG the ECU feeds in a lot of EGR with steady state loading. But if you're like me doing 0-55mph with stop lights with traffic, you don't have enough consistent load to utilize this strategy. MPG this tank is trending higher, 24.4 if I extrapolate out the rough consumption versus total range. Surprise, more steady state cruise the last week. Consider this when guestimating your MPG output. Gearbox is nice, not sure why reviewers dislike it. Clutch is consistent, pedals are placed to easily heel-toe with my 10.5 shoes. Gearing is short, which I have no issue with generally. 1st is arguably too short. Shifting it smoothly at WOT into 2nd takes a few tries to get down. Gates are easy to select but engage well. My model does not have a sunroof and I still have a few inches of headroom at 6'2. Center console arm rest is too far back, subaru sells some extender, might buy it. Ride - somewhat poor but you know that going in. It's unnecessarily bouncy with small inputs yet soaks up bigger hits at high speeds easily. "Boy racer/let's make it feel sporty" OEM valving on the dampers. Some of this is the very stiff summer tires which give great turn in feel but the dampers themselves are busy over small variations. I would be very surprised if any car in the category doesn't ride similarly. AMA
2026 Subaru Uncharged EV
>>28923325RWD > AWD > FWDThe WRX would be practical and fun. FWD is fine for a daily driver and grocery getter; but throwing a bunch of horsepower behind it and a good suspension is silly..
>>28923325You work in IT, Don't you?
>>28923325Ask yourself 2 questions:>Will I be willing to modify and wrench on the carYes: WRXNo: CTRhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDLg2vXZsZc>Do I live in a state it snows regularly or gets below freezing:Yes: WRXNo: CTRConsider the Elantra N too. Grassroots Motorsports picked up a 2023 N they're competing in One Lap of America and has done nothing but wax poetical about it. Andy Hollis is driving it and he's done their track/shootouts for 200TW tires. The fact its a 2023 lessens the chances there's gookshill bucks at play since they had to buy it used and I'm sure oppa Hyundai would've insisted on giving them a special hand picked 2026 to showcase the improvements over the used 4 year old car (and sell new cars).ONLY Do the Elantra N if you want auto too. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/2023-elantra-n/https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/first-time-on-track-with-our-o/286137/page1/
>>28923325I got the CTR new. I considered the WRX. At the end of the day it was supposed to be worse for performance driving, less reliable, more stupid looking, etc. >>28923625I also get shit mpg, like 21-22, but I redline it (which is less cool than it sounds because lol turbo). I think I can get like 26-28 on the highway, but that's not a fact. >>28923640This has pretty much been true. Always nerdy white guys in glasses asking about it. GTI rednecks and subaru vape boys know what it is too. Nobody else does. P.S. if this isn't an "easy" purchase for you OP, consider the cheaper car, though I do wonder how much more you lose on depreciation. Same thing with the Elantra.Note that CTR comes with summer-only tires and needs all-seasons in winter. Performance drops significantly with the A/S.
I've put 70K miles on my 2018 WRX, but I'd have a hard time buying the current one mostly because of the climate controls being the screen and not a fan of the looks. if it's really just the CTR vs WRX, then I'd probably go CTR, but the GTI/R are worth a look too
>>28923716I do wonder if the GTI is a good compromise (that or GR86) - the Si is just not enough power and I really do question the WRX's reliability, etc. I am the CTR fag. P.S. GTI and R are auto only now iirc.
