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Got my first sports car last week!
- Thread starter Gray Matter
- Start date
It's an old car community joke here, hence my spoiler comment. Subarus are fine cars.
WRX was always my dream car when I was living in the US, and needed a car for everyday life. Gorgeous, fun to drive, and generally practical for everyday use.
you arent going to find that kind of efficiency in the wrx. i can average 34mpg on a freeway with cruise control set to 80mph. city driving is usually around 22. the combined mpg over the life of my car (according to my infotainment) is at 25mpg at 57k miles.
Congrats, OP.
I had a 2011 WRX sedan back in the day. Was a fun car. Spent a lot of time on NASIOC reading all there was to know. Got an Accessport and tune, intake, full exhaust, and intercooler. It was loud and abrasive but cool to a 20 year old me. Learned a lot wrenching on it.
Ultimately I didn't think it was fun to drive though because of the understeer and needing to give it gas to rotate. Not sure if they fixed that.
I had a 2011 WRX sedan back in the day. Was a fun car. Spent a lot of time on NASIOC reading all there was to know. Got an Accessport and tune, intake, full exhaust, and intercooler. It was loud and abrasive but cool to a 20 year old me. Learned a lot wrenching on it.
Ultimately I didn't think it was fun to drive though because of the understeer and needing to give it gas to rotate. Not sure if they fixed that.
Imagine if your WRX was blue with gold wheels and had a spoiler, you'd go nuts haha. Enjoy the car, soon you'll be looking at mods trust me. The horsepower craving is like a drug.
Every time I see a WRX on the road the driver is wearing a beanie and vaping profusely out the window
Great car, awesome car even, but it's not a sports car. It's a sedan. It's not even a dedicated platform (Which isn't a deal breaker but doesn't help it's case).
Engine swap it, job done.
The crosstrek is just a lifted impreza anyway
There's more to an STI than just the engine. But the fact that one could consider it just speaks to how none of these are sports cars.
I guess it depends on how loose your definition of sports car is. I would personally call it a sport sedan, but I could see how it could be called a sports car.
And yeah, the STI is more than the engine, its also the suspension and some other stuff. But a crosstrek sti doesn't really make sense, since it literally is a lifted impreza, and the impreza already has an sti version, just not in the hatchback body. Swapping in the turbo engine would get you something fun though.
Grats OP.
it might be beyond trivial but the roads are empty enough for you to go fling it around (safely) - if you get the chance find a big plot of level graded gravel or dirt - parking lots - and learn not the car's limits- but yours- figure out what you're comfortable with first and don't be pressured into exceeding those limits.
I say gravel or dirt because it's kinder to your tires in most cases and the lessened traction will be fun to explore versus tarmac.
We have a ton of forest service roads nearby and some of them are accessible and safe- but figure out what's legal and practical in your vicinity and remember no matter how middle of nowhere you think you are there's a tractor or a deer or a family of cyclists around every bend.
AWD and electronic assists can make it a little harder to sense the edges of traction and safety but for the most part they're there to help you enjoy driving- and while it's fun to tweak a rwd vehicle into flinging it's butt out, the fact remains that your awd will let you drive faster and better and there's plenty of excitement there.
it might be beyond trivial but the roads are empty enough for you to go fling it around (safely) - if you get the chance find a big plot of level graded gravel or dirt - parking lots - and learn not the car's limits- but yours- figure out what you're comfortable with first and don't be pressured into exceeding those limits.
I say gravel or dirt because it's kinder to your tires in most cases and the lessened traction will be fun to explore versus tarmac.
We have a ton of forest service roads nearby and some of them are accessible and safe- but figure out what's legal and practical in your vicinity and remember no matter how middle of nowhere you think you are there's a tractor or a deer or a family of cyclists around every bend.
AWD and electronic assists can make it a little harder to sense the edges of traction and safety but for the most part they're there to help you enjoy driving- and while it's fun to tweak a rwd vehicle into flinging it's butt out, the fact remains that your awd will let you drive faster and better and there's plenty of excitement there.
*Subie wave* 👋🏾
You'll get used to that... and congratulations on the new ride! It's looking great!
I currently daily a 2012 STI and I love it! Thinking about upgrading to a newer year sooner then later.
You'll get used to that... and congratulations on the new ride! It's looking great!
I currently daily a 2012 STI and I love it! Thinking about upgrading to a newer year sooner then later.
Your definition has to be as loose as possible to consider a sedan that isn't a dedicated platform that's also used as a crossover a sports car.
Look, I'm not trying to be an elitist or anything here, but let's not call a sports sedan a sports car, let's call it what it is, a sports sedan. It's an Impreza with some upgrades to it, but by no means is it a proper sports car.
I don't think anyone is gonna call a Nissan Sentra or Juke with a Nismo badge a sports car are we?
blobeye > bugeye
I had an '03 WRX for not long enough before I had kids and sold it. Such a nice exhaust note
I mean, I agree that I would also call it a sports sedan and not a sports car. But the STI is one of those cases where I wouldn't care if someone called it a sports car. Its like the older Nissan Skyline GT-R's, the R32, R33, and R34. The top end GT-R model I wouldn't care if someone called it a sports car, even though the lower end models can be had as a 4 door sedan with boring engine/transmission options. The BMW M3 vs standard 3-series is similar as well.
Is a BMW M5 a sports car? What about the Toytoa GT86 or the 370Z?
M5 is a sports sedan, the other 2 yes. Even a Miata(mx5) is a sports car because it favors performance over practically. If you can comfortably fit 4 in the car it's not a sports car.
Great choice. Subaru makes fantastic cars and the WRX is absolutely a joy to drive in.
Have fun with your new car!!
Have fun with your new car!!
M5 is a boat sized luxury sports sedan with a massive engine and great suspension. It's a heavy as shit. Fantastic sports sedan, not a proper sports car.
GT86, although it shares parts with other cars, is most definitely a sports car. That chassis is amazing.
The 370z, although it could be considered a sports car, technically it is a proper Gran Touring car. I say that as a happy owner of a 350z HR. They're great, but technically not a dedicated platform, and a little porky for my taste, but they make excellent daily drivers that are awesome when not pushed to the absolute limit.
I'm in the same boat. My wife has already taken over payment on our '18 model so I'm heavily waiting to see what the next model is gonna look like. Namely if they bring the hatch back I'm 100% in for the STI. If it's somehow a super disappointing revision I'm going to say fuck it and get another used WRX to mod to pieces.:subiewave:
I enjoy mine, but a sports car it is not. I'm thinking up upgrading to the sti once they move to the new engine.
I'm scared to buy a Subaru. My brother had head problems with his legacy. The guy I work with has a 2013 WRX and so far replaced the steering rack(plus something else) and also had to replace the motor. He keeps up with maintenance and actually has 2003 WRX in his garage waiting for a motor.
I think for the price the WRX is a great car, but they seem unreliable. Maybe it's just the 2.5?
I think for the price the WRX is a great car, but they seem unreliable. Maybe it's just the 2.5?
the WRX along with the STI are a dedicated platform. they no longer share a platform with the impreza as of the MY2015+ WRX and STI. just sayin, i still wouldnt call it a "sports car".
plenty of memes out there about subaru reliability, specifically the wrx and sti. just google subaru ringland failure. in the 2015+ model wrxs, there is a known issue with the throw out bearing in the clutch causing premature wear. supposedly it was fixed in the '17 model, but mine (which is a 17) suffered from it after just 2000 miles. had entire clutch replaced at 2k miles. also had my oem battery (which is also known to be shit) completely die at 22k. currently at 57k and my throw out bearing is starting to act up AGAIN. ive got extended warranty to 110k so im not worried about it, but yeah reliability aint looking so hot for me.
I think the throw out bearing is the other thing my coworker replaced. You just reaffirmed my position. I won't be buying a Subaru, which sucks, because I want 4 doors and performance. AWD is a plus and a manual is becoming an ever distant qualification. I currently have a 2010 Ford Fusion Sport, which with a tune is adequately quick, but the 2017 Sports are really affordable now and are 12s cars with a tune and light mods.
You considered the Focus RS and Golf R? Those seem to check all your boxes plus a hatch for more practicality. Just a bit more $$ than the wrx though, closer to the price of the STI. Plus the RS is supposed to get a successor soon.
Unless you are outside North America, the Focus is dead. Who knows if Ford will ever bring it back. I'm happy with my 2017 Focus ST. Handling is great for FWD and it's pretty easy to work on.
Honestly the RS and Golf are very much what I want, but they are a lot more expensive than a used Fusion. I may end up with a Golf someday, since Ford stopped making cars in the U.S.
I sometimes miss my WRX, short-throw STI shifter upgrade, great Nokians in the snow, so light and the acceleration off the line was great. On the other hand, jesus the suspension. Was also bucking the trend being a boring dude in his 40s driving it instead of some dumb kid. Of course that's who I sold it to, bless him.
Nice car and colour, very similar in look and drive train to my first sporty car which I bought new in November - 2019 Audi S4 with black optics pack:
I got this ceramic coating called Always Dry (Extreme), makes it super easy to clean and has this self healing ability so can get rid of very slight scratches by pouring boiling water on the area or just leaving it out in the sun.
I got this ceramic coating called Always Dry (Extreme), makes it super easy to clean and has this self healing ability so can get rid of very slight scratches by pouring boiling water on the area or just leaving it out in the sun.