Topic: 2015 WRX

[Zorro]

Great choice! She's a beauty.

So, tell me what exactly made you decide on the WRX over the S3 or 3-series!!

No manual in the S3? 3 series too expensive and bloated these days? Both cost about 40% more than the WRX.

Sorry I meant to say 2 series...M235i to be exact.

This all started back in October of last year when the M235i was THE car for me. However by the time December rolled around, my wife and I reconsidered a 2 door car. We know we want kids soon and even though my wife has a hatch (Elantra GT), I don't want the hassle of a 2 door car when dealing with car seat.

Next best option? Audi S3! It was really everything I wanted; small 4 door, AWD and ~300hp. The only thing that was crappy was the fact that it didn't come in manual but I was willing to overlook that cause of all the other things it had going for. So in Feb. I put an order for an S3 in Sepang Blue, with mag-ride, 19" wheels and the Super Sport seats. Fast forward to June and word is that the SS seats are being delayed, so I contact my sales guy for confirmation and he confirms...however now we don't know when the car will be delivered or with which seats it will come. Will it come with Nappa leather or the lesser A3? So after countless emails to my dealer and lack of info (partly their fault and partly Audi of Canada's fault), I got fed up and got my deposit back.

1 week later I go into Subaru dealership and test drive the WRX (CVT version) and it was a blast! I put a deposit on the spot and 2.5 months later the car is my hands.

The GTI was considered but I really wanted to try something different. I always drove FWD and I've had an MK4 Golf and I know that the MK7 is light years ahead but I felt like it was time to try something else.

So far i'm extremely happy...the car is really powerful (at least to me) and the interior is worlds better than the last generation. The most powerful car I've owned is an Altima coupe with 170hp so having 270hp on tap is really foreign to me 

Funny enough a friend of mine just leased a new GTI so now i'll get to try it out haha

[aquadorhj]

Great choice! She's a beauty.

So, tell me what exactly made you decide on the WRX over the S3 or 3-series!!

No manual in the S3? 3 series too expensive and bloated these days? Both cost about 40% more than the WRX.

Sorry I meant to say 2 series...M235i to be exact.

This all started back in October of last year when the M235i was THE car for me. However by the time December rolled around, my wife and I reconsidered a 2 door car. We know we want kids soon and even though my wife has a hatch (Elantra GT), I don't want the hassle of a 2 door car when dealing with car seat.

Next best option? Audi S3! It was really everything I wanted; small 4 door, AWD and ~300hp. The only thing that was crappy was the fact that it didn't come in manual but I was willing to overlook that cause of all the other things it had going for. So in Feb. I put an order for an S3 in Sepang Blue, with mag-ride, 19" wheels and the Super Sport seats. Fast forward to June and word is that the SS seats are being delayed, so I contact my sales guy for confirmation and he confirms...however now we don't know when the car will be delivered or with which seats it will come. Will it come with Nappa leather or the lesser A3? So after countless emails to my dealer and lack of info (partly their fault and partly Audi of Canada's fault), I got fed up and got my deposit back.

1 week later I go into Subaru dealership and test drive the WRX (CVT version) and it was a blast! I put a deposit on the spot and 2.5 months later the car is my hands.

The GTI was considered but I really wanted to try something different. I always drove FWD and I've had an MK4 Golf and I know that the MK7 is light years ahead but I felt like it was time to try something else.

So far i'm extremely happy...the car is really powerful (at least to me) and the interior is worlds better than the last generation. The most powerful car I've owned is an Altima coupe with 170hp so having 270hp on tap is really foreign to me 

Funny enough a friend of mine just leased a new GTI so now i'll get to try it out haha

Congrats, man!!!   sounds like you got yourself a good car for you!

[KD]

Very nice!   

[Noto]

Next best option? Audi S3! It was really everything I wanted; small 4 door, AWD and ~300hp.
...
Fast forward to June and word is that the SS seats are being delayed, so I contact my sales guy for confirmation and he confirms...however now we don't know when the car will be delivered or with which seats it will come. Will it come with Nappa leather or the lesser A3? So after countless emails to my dealer and lack of info (partly their fault and partly Audi of Canada's fault), I got fed up and got my deposit back.

First:  that's a great story!  Thanks for sharing!!

I guess my question boils down to: all things considered equal (i.e. if there was no delay on the seats), would you have preferred the S3 or the WRX?

...and the CVT was a blast?!  OOOH!  Elaborate!

[Zorro]

I guess my question boils down to: all things considered equal (i.e. if there was no delay on the seats), would you have preferred the S3 or the WRX?

...and the CVT was a blast?!  OOOH!  Elaborate!

If the seats wouldn't have been problem then I would have gone with the S3, it's hard for me to say that S3 is better than the WRX because I never test drove the S3 (only the A3).

However I am glad that the hiccup happened with the Audi because that forced me to buy a manual transmission car. Had I purchased the S3 I am sure that I would have been happy however I would have always longed for an MT car.

At this point the 30 or so horses the WRX gives up in power is completely overshadowed by the sheer joy of rowing my own gears. Now in terms of luxury, yes the S3 is nicer, however I am not sure it is $14K nicer cause that is how much I saved.

Even in CVT form the WRx is exhilarating to drive so I knew then that in MT guise it would be that much better.

[Noto]

Great! Thanks.

...and $14k - this shows that the WRX and S3 aren't 'really' competitors.  I mean, fak - Zorro got the Sport-tech (only option missing is the CVT!) and saved $14k.

[Brig]

Awesome!  And I do like those wheels.   

[tooscoops]

good point on pricing... pretty competitive otherwise... in other words.. great car zorro!

congrats on the purchase! as a salesman, i kind of feel for the audi guys... but in the end, even for my customers, if we can't get what we ordered... i feel bad and don't blame them for whatever they choose.

in your case, hard to disagree with the route you went... enjoy the new wheels and rowing your own gears! (i'm the same way... i have to explain to customers that the auto is better in wranglers for off-roading... then explain why i have a manual)

[Angry Chicken]

Very good looking car.  They have certainly grown on me.  Looks awesome in white!

[Scaerio]

  IT!!!  Now get out there and kick a$$es take names!

[DriverJeff]

Very good choice!

I notice you've got Hankook winters.... which model?  Did you go with the same size as the summers?  How do you like them so far? 

[Flinter]

At this point the 30 or so horses the WRX gives up in power is completely overshadowed by the sheer joy of rowing my own gears. Now in terms of luxury, yes the S3 is nicer, however I am not sure it is $14K nicer cause that is how much I saved.

That was exactly my thinking back in 2008 when I leased a WRX hatchback. At the time I remember thinking I could lease a WRX and buy a used S2000 cheaper than some of the German options. Sure you loose a little in terms of luxury, however, every time you mash the throttle in the WRX, you'll be having too much fun to care.

[Zorro]

Very good choice!

I notice you've got Hankook winters.... which model?  Did you go with the same size as the summers?  How do you like them so far?

They are hankook Winter Pike RS (w419), can't really speak about their snow performance yet but so far they seem good in rain.

Here are the wheels I plan to use for the summer...they are the previous gen STI wheels. They are 18x8.5 (+55) compared to the stock wheels which are 17x8 (+55). At this point I plan on purchasing Michelin pilot super sports.

[Noto]

[Fobroader]

I love those rims.....congrats on the acquisition!!!!

[normancw]

Here are the wheels I plan to use for the summer...they are the previous gen STI wheels. They are 18x8.5 (+55) compared to the stock wheels which are 17x8 (+55). At this point I plan on purchasing Michelin pilot super sports.

Nice rims!  I really like Michelin Pilot Super Sports - I just installed them on both our cars (I've had them before).  They are great in the rain.

[Railton]

Here are the wheels I plan to use for the summer...they are the previous gen STI wheels. They are 18x8.5 (+55) compared to the stock wheels which are 17x8 (+55). At this point I plan on purchasing Michelin pilot super sports.

Nice rims!  I really like Michelin Pilot Super Sports - I just installed them on both our cars (I've had them before).  They are great in the rain.

I installed them on the G this year as well. Great Summer  tire and surprisingly compliant and quiet.
Railton

[mixmanmash]

Here are the wheels I plan to use for the summer...they are the previous gen STI wheels. They are 18x8.5 (+55) compared to the stock wheels which are 17x8 (+55). At this point I plan on purchasing Michelin pilot super sports.

Nice rims!  I really like Michelin Pilot Super Sports - I just installed them on both our cars (I've had them before).  They are great in the rain.

I installed them on the G this year as well. Great Summer  tire and surprisingly compliant and quiet.
Railton

Agreed.  They are a good street tire.  I have a set on my 300ZX for street use.

[rrocket]

I'm running a set of the new Pilot Sport A/S 3 on the 911.  So far, so good.  Rain traction is extremely impressive.

[Julie]

Me too! I love those STI wheels!