I think I'm gonna trade in my truck and buy one of these new before the end of the year. It'll be my first stick shift "sporty" car. How do the anons out there that own these like them? Anything I should be aware of before buying?
I'm also interested in this. I'm looking at getting a limited. local dealer is offering below $2k msrp.It's either that or a used integra type s (I want a stick shift sedan that's somewhat fun with seats that have adjustable lumbar).I hate the cladding on the vb's but people say they're pretty fun.
>>29110772In person they look way better imo, just saw one in black about an hour ago and I was surprised with how good it looks. I think the trick is to go with a darker color like black or grey so the panels don't stand out as much. Either that or just get aftermarket painted cladding. My only real gripe with the car at this point is the lack of a hatchback, but I think the price makes up for it desu.
>>29110791i think there's some company that'll paint them if you send them in. depending on how much of a pain in the ass it is to remove them i'd consider it.I'd want that bright subaru blue, myself. It'd be a weekend / fun car so idc about leaving it in the garage with the panels off for a few weeks.Just depends on how much I hate the cladding.
>>29110812the market in my area (houston) for manual bmw's is dogshit in general. hardly fucking anything for sale that isn't from a buy-here pay-here lot which generally means it was also in an accident.
>>29110770I've had one for four years, (22 premium B) got a tons of mods on it. It's easy to work on, spark plugs are the only thing that are annoying but that's typical subaru. You're going to have to do a warranty delete + intake + access port if you want it to feel remotely fast.What compels you go to wrx?
>>29110927is the transmission feel as bad as people say
>>29110935nta, I had an STi for 6 years and a base 5-spd impretzle for 5 years and have driven several other subarus.They have heavy clutches and the gears feel heavy and clunky, but it's fine.With a good AWD system and good tires, all of the impulse forces is eaten by the transmission instead of spinning tires. They have to really make it strong and that's the result. You want it to be so strong that they sacrifice NVH.I haven't driven one later than 2010 MY so maybe they're different now but I doubt it.And yeah, you need an accessport tune at the very least for them to be fast. Downpipe highly recommended alongside the tune.
>>29110935I've had a civic si 2006 (that one that was smooth as fuck but had finicky shit synchros), 2017 mustang gt with the mt82, and the wrx for manual. I think it it's passable, but not really great, honda would probably feel much better, but then it's honda; you can get a little shift stop (billetwerks is what I've got) to install to catch the stick when you shift 1-2. I've got superpro poly bushings in there and a pitch stop.As your first manual car, it should be *fine*, though the gears are short as fuck, that's one thing I miss from the stang where you could legit get to 70 in 2nd.
>>29110947Though I'm must talking about VB, but it uses the same manual transmission as the previous gen.
>>29110812but OP doesn't want a shitty old krautmobile
>>29110945>AI answerSubaru manuals are harsh for a reason.
>>29110953yeah, one reason the retarded BMW wop is probably right about what makes a more 'fun' car. the wrx grips like a nigga but I don't think it's as fun as my old stang as far as the full 'experience'. it handles confidently and can be fun in winter, but now I've got that shit lowered with a bunch of suspension mods so fuck winter driving that. OP lives in houston so it's a moot point.
>>29110945that's reasonable.>>29110947yea I've owned a mustang with the mt82 and a few hondas. The hondas were mostly great except 1 -> 2 was finicky below 3k rpms. Anything you would do and it was a coin flip whether it would be smooth. But if you shifted >5k rpms, it would just slide in like butter. I need to go out and test drive one.>>29110957op does not live in houston i'm just also interested in buying one of these.
>>29110770I have an older G-series WRX as well as a newer V-series. They're solid cars, I've liked mine and they've done me well. The styling is subjective but they've been getting better over time, which can't be said for a lot of manufacturers.
>>29110960yeah, it's also a different animal as far as NVH once modded, like the NVH gets nuts. It's trivially easy to get to 330~ whp with an e-tune and an intake.
>>29110957True. I'd imagine that an extremely rear-based AWD system is ideal. Though I doubt awd in M-series is the same as in normal x-drive bmws.In an STi you have to give it the scandinavian flick and give throttle a little early so boost hits right as the weight shift does if you want it to rotate (oversteer) into a corner in the dry. I would have preferred more rear bias but 59% rear isn't bad.As far as the BMWs, it sounds to me like I'd prefer it to be just RWD. Engaging the front wheels some of the time adds weight and complexity, it doesn't snow where I live.
>>29110770I own the VB and it's my first wrx. I missed out on all the models before and while I do love the look of the older ones this thing is a lot of fun and getting over some of the bumper stuff to me was pretty easy. It's not the fastest thing out there but plenty for what it's worth. I'm looking forward to all their cock teases of a return to STI. I'm huffing massive cope the industry and governments and regulations won't completely fuck me out of the next gen. I'm not a fan of the eyesight shit but you can bypass it. I haven't don't that yet not until I fully own it.
>>29110967>radiumthis nigga knows ball
>>29110770Have a 23 base, 60k miles on it, no plans to sell it. Been pretty reliable, mild tune on the stock engine with 91, so up from 230 whp to 280. Its still fun stock and I do reflash it back sometimes for road trips to get some MPG's back. As for thing to watch out for, I have driven newer ones with the eyesight and it degrades the experience compared to the ones without it, feels, nannied if that makes sense, less free. If I had to do it over, I'd get a used 22-23 base rather than eat the depreciation again. I love the platform enough that buying used isn't an issue for me and they have proven to hold up much better than used FA20 's or EJ powered WRX's.
window sticker shows $926 + 176 + 156 in accessories.auto dimming mirror, auto dimming exterior mirror, cargo tray, floor liners, rear seatback protector.This model's MSRP is actually 38,995 (limited)So I guess this is like $2k below MSRP if you care about those accessories and keep them. Auto dimming mirror IS nice.Not terrible i guess but I'd want to talk down the $300 in all weather floor liners and seatback protector. don't need them.
There's a new one coming in 2028 MYIt's possible there will be an un-cucked sti. Though that will probably be like $60k and have 330 hp and weigh however much more than a vb
>>29110927OP here, for me it's honestly the price and overall lack of bullshit relative to other cars. IMO you're getting great value for money, I see new base models priced at 32.5k in my area on autotrader all day. I considered other cars like the GTI, Civic SI, etc. but the civic has a wimpy 1.5l turbo that is known for being kind of unreliable (for a Honda), and the GTI has the haptic buttons / everything built into the touchscreen which I hate. Don't like the big tablet in the subi, but they have physical buttons for most important things, and also have a proper handbrake which is nice.
>>29111024If you like using throttle in corners it's just the WRX and the Miata at that price range.For me? The nerd sperging out about drivetrains here and in the recent AWD systems thread.Driver facing cameras and SIM cards that give my telemetry and scraped info from my phone's google or apple accounts is a no-go.Buy used, tell 'em how you feel about it, vote with your money.
>>29111024i had a '20 Si and it was fucking gutless, man.
>>29111024 Bro. You were me 12 months ago. I was agonizing over golf R and loved it by a numbers point of view but I hated the interior and heard a ton of problems with the infotainment and I am with you on how it's integrated. Turned into a huge pass. I wanted the power but hated everything else. I'm not a fan of any telematics in any car so turn that shit off in the subie as well.
>>29111037DCM delete isn't that hard for the wrx if you want to remove the starlink telematrics crap and avoid the battery issues associated with it; you can just order a bypass thing online and it's just 10 minutes to get behind the infotainment unit.
>>29111024the tablet is nice for carplay and all that, and if you get an older model you can have old analog gauges still.
>>29111088yeah, it's basically not tail happy at all on asphalt; you could go a different route and mod it for gravel/rally, but that's going to fuck over regular street car use. My wrx is running swaybars and ohlins coilovers on 18x9.5 38mm volk te37s, and even loosening the rear, it's not tail happy at all. It'll stick and stay flat through anything but the point where it doesn't is a point where it's dangerous to the driver.
Have been driving a WRX since buying it new in 2017, I know it's one generation older than the current ones, but I doubt there have been any significant changes made to the things I'm going to mention here. My issues with the WRX:1 - You will probably need to put a better battery in it. I think the OEM battery had like 350 CCA, I don't think I have ever seen a car battery lower than 500 CCA in my entire life until this one. This is a very small issue, though, since you can just replace the battery.2 - The paint sucks. It looks good, but the clear coat is super thin. I've tried to polish it a few times and it just burns though the clear. If you have one with a finish that's still decent, get some protection on it, like ceramic coat, and keep up on it. My paint has no shine left to it at all.3 - The seats are tiny as shit. I'm a fairly average sized guy, and my thighs don't fit within the side bolsters of the seat. The good thing is it has gotten a little more comfortable since over the 10 years of sitting on top of them, the side bolsters have been squashed flat so they no longer dig into my hamstrings.4 - The fuel mileage sucks. Most times I barely hit 20 mpg. I personally don't really care about fuel economy, but I know others might.Other than those things, I love this car. Been driving it for 10 years now and have no plans of swapping it for something else. It looks good, the handling is superb, it's got enough power to be fun. On top of that, it's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. 10 years, nothing but brake pads, tires, and regular fluid/filter changes.Overall, it's a great car. Would recommend. Only thing I can't really speak on is the interior electronics in the newer gen as mine is old enough that it's still just a touch screen for GPS/radio and everything else is still physical gauges/buttons/dials.
>>29110772>fun, stick shift, sedan, adjustable lumbarJust get an LCi E90 N54 335i with the Premium Package seats alreadywrxs are too ugly to consider, too slow and gay-wheel drive to be fun, and they have gay eps and touchscreen tablet dashes
>>29110916The 335i is p. Fun even in automatic (ZF 6HP), but it’s not the same I knowThe mustang wigger is right about REAL-wheel drive being inherently more Fun; and it isn’t about the grip, it’s about being able to power oversteer around corners whenever you want to
It's really zippy!
>>29110770I also want a sporty stick shift, but I’m too large for a Miata or anything tiny. Is there any hope for me? Missed out on pic rel
>>29111634that thing is junk lol
>>29111650Oh for sure. Hence its price
>>29111496Strongly considering one of that gen but the gas bill seems horrible and I’m a govt employee especially because it takes premium. I’ve also noticed they pretty rarely are up for sale locally which is odd because I see plenty about.I just desperately need to get out of my two door accord because trying to get my daughter’s carseat in and out of the back makes me want to kms.
No idea if they're any good but boy are they ugly. There's a guy at my local auto parts store who owns one and it just looks so shitty with the slowly fading black plastic arches.
>>29110770subaru electric tb is gay and it doesnt have a seprate iac. also the one you probably were the previus owner was always in the highest gear(rpm shy) so the rings are coked up. >t. subaru owner
>>29111875So does it just control idle with the tb when it decides it’s “idle”?No iac is odd
You've got a throttle body to control the amount of incoming air and fuel injectors to control the amount of fuel. Isn't that really all that's needed?
>>29111496is the suspension jarring?
>>29110770Your truck has a better f/r weight distro than a "sporty" WRX. Even the Outback is better balanced.
>>29111879>No iac is oddelectronic throttles supersede older vacuum-actuated cruise control, separate IAC valves, and they also enable for basic traction control, stability control etc.i still like cable throttles though. mostly because electronic throttles typically have factory-designed sluggishness in them for emissions laws and other ahit like that.
>>29110945>>29110953this is why you preload your drivetrain before you really dump the clutch and floor it
>>29112964No, not really. It's pretty smooth, most of the time. The stiffness is only really noticeable in extreme situations like hitting a big pothole. First time I hit a pothole in it, with the way it felt and how loud it was I thought for sure I was going to be looking at least at a flat tire and bent wheel, if not some bent suspension components. But it turned out everything was perfectly fine, it just feels really fucking violent when you hit potholes.
>>29113561Another reason to get an E90So far I have Faster, Prettier, more Luxurious, more Fun, more Reliable, and Rides Better
>>29113590>more Reliable
>>29113600a wrx’s engine will blow up before you can even make it fast enough to daily lol that’s why they just stick with off-center plates and other bullshit ricer “MODIFICATIONS”
>>29110770Cross-shopped against Civic Type R or GR86. Basically landed on "only benefit is 270 hp" or whatever it is now. That's very good for the price, but I do believe the engines blow up, it kind of looks like shit, and overall isn't that sporty.It's another car that lives in a weird place where it's ok, but depending on what your priorities are, there is always a better option.I would rather have a GR86 over it.>>29110772The ITS looks better, is more reliable*, has better handling, will hold value better.* But if you get it used, the reliability thing goes out of the window. People who sell cars after a few year are also the people who can destroy them in that time.>>29110947> have early 90s integra> have new type R> they still can't fix 1 -> 2nd shift> "best transmission ever" I just don't understand, genuinely.Anyway OP, I would just get something like a GR86, Supra, non M 2 series, etc. Unless you ACTUALLY need the rear seats or AWD. The camaros are also good.
>>29113610>a wrx’s engine will blow up before you can even make it fast enough to dailyYou have no idea what you're talking about.
>>29113680>the engines blow upI don't know why people keep saying this. I've got 90K hard driven miles on mine over the 10 years I've had it and it still runs great, nothing has ever broken. I know 2 others personally who also drive them and they've never had a problem. Only times I've ever seen the motors blow is when some dumbshit plugs in a tuner and cranks the boost to like 10 psi over OEM boost levels with zero backing mods to support it. And that's not the car's fault, that's just idiots being idiots.
>>29113783> like 10 psi over OEM boost levels with zero backing mods to support it I mean, that's like every old WRX STI and Lancer.But anyway, I have NO support for it - I believed the meme based on some research.
>>29113774wrxs have terrible interiors and are simply too slow to daily (let alone be fun)Plus no powerslidinghttps://youtu.be/9d3MdqMFSmI?t=638
>>29113807>too slow to dailyYou keep saying this like it means something.What ridiculous standard do you deem "too slow to daily"?
>>29113783>stage 1 tune makes engine blow upWhat kind of supporting mods you think are going to prevent that?
>>29113858A better wastegate.
>>29113822They’re too laggy to be Good dailiesI just remembered that they have an ugly slow touchscreen tablet dash and gay epsKekHdmi
>>29113859Explain. And don't tell me some shit like "a better wastegate lowers boost so your engine won't blow up" lmaoIdk anon, it just sounds like there's not a lot of headroom engineered into them.
Ricer rental garbage>>29110772Ricer wrenchlet rental garbage
>>29113873I had a hawkeye STi. I haven't owned a Subaru later than 2010, so I'm not up to date on the new engines.But: with the EJ25s (both EJ255 and EJ257, WRX / STi) the stock turbos had internal wastegates that had a small factor of safety above the stock pressure (1 bar, 14.7 psi).If you put a catless downpipe or one with a high-flow cat and give it a tune with more boost, it will overboost. It's not something that can be tuned out, it's going to go past 20 psi on your "18 psi" tune.This (plus that one turbo oil feed banjo bolt filter that no one ever changed) killed SO MANY Subarus for years and years. All you had to do was go to nasioc and look at the stickies, but nooo everyone slammed an 18 psi tune on a catless dp.https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=477715
>>29114246I think it's reasonable that you'd want a way better wastegate to control the pressure better once you get into modded territory.but people are retarded>>29113561I need to go sit in one.
>>29114246afaik the FA24 doesn't have this problemthe issues I have seen discussed:>spark plug seals leaking oil, was fixed on 2024+ models>RTV in the oil pick up like other recent Subaru engines>tumble generator valves can break and fall into the intake>LSPI is possible if you use the wrong oil>transmission is iffy above 350 ft-lbs>head studs are iffy in the 450-500 range
>>29113822anything less than spending 40 grand on a motor to make 800hp on a good day
>>29114565>a daily driver needs to have 800 hpOK so you're a retard. Thanks for letting me know that discussing things with you is pointless.
>>29114737I'm not that guy. You can tell because I don't format my posts like a schizophrenic.
>>29114737See >>29113865
>>29110770I have a 2023 VB Rex, premium with the decent stereo and goodies. I used to have a 2014 Rex with the 2.5, Cobb access port dyno tuned, intake, exhaust, lowered, etc: the 2023 is HANDS DOWN a superior machine in every way, aside from the giant computer screen bullshitEngine is crisper, more balanced. Great throttle response. 6 speed is awesome, better use of torque. Though forst.to second is abrubt, lots of reviews highlight this. You just gotta tell yourself the truth: its a rally car, a fun little whip, its not a drag car. It just feels "tighter" in every way. I have not modded this car, nor will I ever. It's the perfect balance of fun and snappy. Handling is crisp but not jarring. Lots of cabin noise, but it's not a luxury sedan,so whatever. The car had no slop, no mushiness, no heat issues. My 2014 always lost steam when the temps got high outside. The 2023 is always right there, predictable. A super fun car OP. I hope this one lasts til I croak. The later years had mandatory Subaru nanny driving tech. Haven't read about others experiences with that, so look into it
>>29110770>black wheelsRice pod
>>29111875Wrenchlet take lol wtf is the point of posting
>>29110770sloppy shifter, terrible on gas, awful speakers on the base trim, a/c controls on the shitty touch screen that fucking sucks, awful awful awful road noiseotherwise it's pretty ok for the price if you get the base one. i'd personally get a gr86 if i was buying new now since i only need 2 seats, i want my non-shit a/c controls back, and it'd be slightly better on gas
