Author Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Subaru WRX (Read 10351 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** December 19, 2012, 06:42:49 am »

Mike Schlee tests the Subaru WRX to see if it's still 'got it.'

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nlm · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2012, 08:41:53 am »

Quote from: Autos_Editor on December 19, 2012, 06:42:49 am

Mike Schlee tests the Subaru WRX to see if it's still 'got it.'

Read More...

And it reads like it still does!

I'm curious: what size sway bar did you install on your old WRX?

Mike · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2012, 08:43:23 am »

Quote from: nlm on December 19, 2012, 08:41:53 am

Quote from: Autos_Editor on December 19, 2012, 06:42:49 am

Mike Schlee tests the Subaru WRX to see if it's still 'got it.'

Read More...

And it reads like it still does!

I'm curious: what size sway bar did you install on your old WRX?

crap, it was 22 mm or 24 mm Whiteline. It was adjustable and had three settings. I had it on the hardest setting. Ask Weexy; when we went bombing down a gravel road after I installed the tail would kick out in the corners on its own quite easily.

Threader · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2012, 09:23:38 am »

Honestly I hated the fact that they put quad tail pipes and wide body on the WRX in 2011.

They should of it kept the visual separation between the STI and WRX.

Speaking strictly as an owner of STI of course

Mike · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2012, 09:26:57 am »

Quote from: Threader on December 19, 2012, 09:23:38 am

Honestly I hated the fact that they put quad tail pipes and wide body on the WRX in 2011.

They should of it kept the visual separation between the STI and WRX.

Speaking strictly as an owner of STI of course

Mike · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2012, 09:27:48 am »

Quote from: Vmango on December 19, 2012, 09:25:17 am

And I hate that I bought a 2010 and got screwed on the bodywork!

You and me both. Keep telling yourself what I did 'Mine is lighter, has less aerodynamic drag, and the slightly narrower tires cause less friction'

redman · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2012, 09:46:45 am »

Mike thanks for your cander and understandable biased towards this article based on your previous ownership. I to seem at times to be pulling for Subaru the underdog.

Subaru is making it harder for once die hard fans to cheer for them. They've seemingly placed their current product line (at least in N/A) secondary to other places on the globe.

Both Europe and Australian markets receive newer freshened up products lines and offering (diesel) years before we do.

Subaru IMO in no longer the high end niche Japanese player it once use to be and is doing a grave disservice to the N/A market assuming that we are content with older technology, styling and packaging offerings.

Considering their present offerings in Canada, I no longer consider them as a viable option when considering my next vehicle purchase. Wake up Subby !!!

Robin2 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2012, 11:00:39 am »

sales records are there mainly because of the newer cars like the impreza, forester and outback not the wrx/sti.

when the sti first came out in 2003 as 2004 model, subaru canada would sell only about 250-300 units per year.

when i sold my 99rs after owning it over 11 years, i got a 2011wrx. it's a good car but needs a lot of work. for day/day, it's decent but suspension is simply horribly under-damped. the struts simply can't take much and bottom out on bump stops. i also have lots of squeaks in the interior cabin from the cheap plastics. it's simply worse in the

i was flipping between the wrx/sti and yes, the sti is better in the 6spd / better brakes but engine is no better. It's not like we have forged internals like japanese market (v7-9 engines).

we'll see on the new design with the FA engines. Hopefully the FA20 won't have issues like the EJ engines (ringlands, etc)....

Northernridge · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2012, 12:57:03 pm »

Never owned one but I like the idea of a small, 4/5 door, AWD, rally inspired, turbocharged performance car. Seems like a unique and legit category of performance car and in no way redundant with the BRZ.

Hope future versions remain on concept.

SaskSpecV · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2012, 01:12:17 pm »

Nice review Mike. I can appreciate how it'd be hard to be objective on a review for a car you used to own...

Why'd you sell yours anyway?

Weels · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2012, 01:48:37 pm »

Quote from: Mike on December 19, 2012, 08:43:23 am

crap, it was 22 mm or 24 mm Whiteline. It was adjustable and had three settings. I had it on the hardest setting. Ask Weexy; when we went bombing down a gravel road after I installed the tail would kick out in the corners on its own quite easily.

The above may or may not have happened. Thank you.

Flinter · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2012, 02:45:09 pm »

Nice article Mike.

As a former WRX driver (2008 model) I think you summed things up quite nicely. The car definately has it's downsides it's also a hell of alot of fun. For the money it's still tough to beat.

The only comments I would add are:

- In the hatchback configuration It has a surprising amount of utility for someone that wants a fun car but still need a measure of utility.

- I think the winter time is when the WRX really shines. The AWD system is pretty awesome and it'll have you itching to take it out after every snowstorm.

Snowman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2012, 11:16:20 pm »

I owned 3 WRX/STi models for 10 consecutive years and all have been modded. I would say probably the best ten years of my driving life for all the reasons the others and Mike have mentioned.

I had mixed feelings about getting out of my 2010 STi after only 2 years but I felt that I had to move on.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Northernridge · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2012, 11:20:05 pm »

Is the WRX and STi ride tolerable for daily driving or too harsh? I suppose they differ...

jyarkony · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2012, 11:26:58 pm »

Quote from: Northernridge on December 19, 2012, 11:20:05 pm

Is the WRX and STi ride tolerable for daily driving or too harsh? I suppose they differ...

The WRX ride didn't seem bad at all. Oddly, the XV Crosstrek felt stiffer and less comfortable.

rrocket · « **Reply #15 on:** December 19, 2012, 11:32:02 pm »

Quote from: Northernridge on December 19, 2012, 11:20:05 pm

Is the WRX and STi ride tolerable for daily driving or too harsh? I suppose they differ...

I've driven both..and either is perfectly fine for DD duties...

Northernridge · « **Reply #16 on:** December 19, 2012, 11:41:24 pm »

I think I would take a serious look at...probably the STi (maybe WRX tho) for an reasonably affordable 4-season attack vehicle. The prospect of mildly modifying the car is a plus.

I imagine they're a hoot with winter sport tires (in the snow of course). I love the world rally blue.

mixmanmash · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2012, 12:17:30 am »

What I would rather have is a Legacy GT Spec B. A family car with a lot of oomph would fit my needs perfectly.

greengs · « **Reply #18 on:** December 20, 2012, 12:29:40 am »

I owned a 2006 and a 2010 wrx in the past. Reason I got the 2010 was because I got taken by the big increase in power and super cheap lease due to high residuals subarus command in Canada. But after I got used to the power I got bored. It bugged me how the car understeered a lot, suspension was too soft, shifter wasn't all that great etc. Yeah the interior is probably the worst by far in this class but that didn't bug me as much as the fact that something like a Civic Si to me anyways was more fun and engaging to drive albeit much slower. The one thing I did love about these cars is their traction, both winter and summer. Miss that a lot driving RWD in alberta

Soram6275 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 20, 2012, 09:36:11 am »

"five forward gears" - that's a joke. You need six gears in today's cars to be competitive. For this reason alone I would not buy it.