Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Subaru WRX

[Northernridge]

The haven't made the Legacy GT Spec B in years and they don't even make the Legacy GT anymore 

The first thing I did with my car was to replace the shifter with a short throw unit from STi....mandatory mod IMO and done from the factory. Reducing unsprung weight by improving the rims and tires also immensely improved the handling. I guess the other "must do" mod is the beefier sways which takes away the body roll and under-steer. Those mods completely transform the WRX for not that much money. Of course, for about $600 you can be putting out more or less 300 horsepower, too.

The WRX engine is also more stout for mods than the STis for whatever reason.

So what would this cost approx?

[Northernridge]

Shifter was a few hundred bucks or so (too lazy to look it up let's call it $500).

Sways (let's say you put a Whiteline 22 on the front) are a few hundred bucks or so. This will totally address the push and roll.

Better tires cost whatever your tires would cost (my star specs were 600 and change from tirerack).

Nice lightweight rims are expensive.

A custom stage 1 tune from Clark Turner is $150 and the AP is about 400-500.

You don't have to do rims, tires, or tune. Just the shifter and sway is pretty good.

You do everything on that list and your WRX will roast a stock STi.

Thanks. Allowing $400 per wheel it works out to about $4k all done. Used to spend that much modifying snowmobiles.

[Robin2]

The stock wheels are decent in weight on the wrx.  they're 21lbs for 17x8.  there's lighter if you go for some enkei wheels in 15lbs or so... but you'll spend about $250-300/wheel.

The stock shifter is so-so.. and you can easily upgrade with 5spd short shifter at Subaru genenuine $233Us

Not a hard job.

On the newer chasis, the car needs to have front and rear sway bar done at the same time.  for cheap, you can get the eibach kit from tirerack for $250/set or buy whiteline sways.  for about $200/ea.  You'll need to upgrade the endlinks also to something like the kartboy endlinks.

I wasn't planning on modding this car and that's reason i got the wrx.  But i found lots of deficiencies...   sure i autox but stock cars with decent tires shouldn't need upgrades.  found out the later on wrx.

changed the front control arms to 11sti control arms.  have koni yellow shock inserts ready to be placed on the car.  front/rear sway bar.

I don't care about interiors usually but subaru is notorious for squeeks.  from my car, to friend's 11outback h6, etc...

[Snowman]

"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.

Competitive in what? My last two cars have been six-speeds and I prefer my 5-speed in my 2006 WRX mainly because is was one less shift for 0-60. Daily driving is less work as well and if 1-2-3 are spaced properly then they are far better IMO.

[rrocket]

"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.

Uh oh...someone has fallen victim to marketing hype....

[roundupready]

Thank you for a great article.

I miss that ranchy boxer exhaust.  The exhaust on the 3.6 is way too quiet.   

[tenpenny]

"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.

Why?

Like spinal tap, mine goes up to 11???


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[johngenx]

I miss that ranchy boxer exhaust.

[nlm]

On snow and ice which provides better handling/grip: LSDs in STi or Open Diffs in WRX, all other things being equal?

[Flinter]

I agree with Vmango that even a regular WRX hooks up really well in ice and snow. With the LSDs, the STi should be even better.

I'm sure with a experienced driver, the LSDs in the STi would result in higher handling limits too. However, IMHO the open diffs in a regular WRX might be a little more forgiving for most drivers in slippery conditions. My logic here is that in theory only one wheel should ever break loose at either end leaving the second wheel on each end to keep the car from sliding around too much.

I say this because I remember the first time I drove a truck with a locking rear diff in snow/ice, I found it to be much more tail happy than older open diff trucks I've driven.

Perhaps others would disagree

[Fobroader]

My truck has an lsd, it is much more predictable and controlable than one with an open diff. The STi would be much more fun and planted on a slippery road.

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[nlm]

I'm wondering if a traction imbalance at either end will more likely cause a spin-out or the rear breaking loose? Going into a corner or even a path correction, if one rear wheel loses traction, power is transferred to the other rear wheel, but if you are already travelling in an arc would the increased power to the other wheel be effectively pushing the rear along that arc increasing the chance of a spin-out? The same scenario with an open diff would not create a pushing effect?

An LSD is definately a benefit if you are stuck as it helps prevent just one wheel per axle spinning endlessly. But driving in slippery conditions I'm trying to envision the pros and cons of a LSD or open diff setup.

[Bubba]

I'm starting to really like the looks of these.

[nlm]

I'm starting to really like the looks of these.

Yup, and as typically happens with Subarus, just as we get used to, even start like the style, a redesign is around the corner.