Ditched the Miata, need ideas for another car (again)
 

Parted out my turbo Miata and I'm looking for something fun. My price range is about 25k and so far I've only been looking at '11+ WRX hatchbacks. I guess frs/brz twins are an option but I'm not looking for a downgrade in power.

Does anyone here have a newer WRX hatch/what kind of cars come to mind around this price range?

I'm not looking for a project car, but otherwise open to any ideas.

tl;dr 25k car halp

That generation WRX feels like everything is connected by rubberbands.

Steering, throttle, brake, shifter, engine... it's just bad.

Then it has massive lag with only a couple thousand RPM of unimpressive power than quickly falls off, combined with a horrible shifter.

If you drive it in a fun fashion, expect to get 18 MPG on premium.

If you drive it less fun, expect closer to 20 MPG.

30k on a car, it's at 19.5 MPG average with the owner not being very aggressive.

I could not recommend that car.

having tuned dozens of these and driven them periodically for the past couple years I can say that just about everything above is incorrect, or just plain exaggerated

:jerkit:

I'm seriously trying to figure out where you got all of that "info" and what your "better" alternative suggestion is?

I may be the token subaru geek on this board, and I may be biased, but I just don't see it.

Driving about five thousand miles in a 2012 WRX.

There are plenty of fine Subarus. The new WRX is not one of them, stock. Bushings, shifter, tune might get it to acceptable to me.

I much prefer the GC 2.5 RS. Definitely the best feeling of the Imprezas I've driven.

The bugeye WRX had a lot more character, but really still needs a lot of bushing replacement, exhaust, up/downpipe, tune to get nice. Spent like twelve hours doing the headers, uppipe and full exhaust/dp on that. Like twenty pounds of heat shields.

The most fun to thrash was the early STI, definitely. Crank the DCCD to 40/60 and throw it into corners like a hooligan, and it's completely in it's element.

But the latest WRX is just soft, big, heavy. IIRC, it's as big and heavy as the old Legacy GT, but with a crappy interior, ride and sound deadening by comparison.

Ok, fair enough. I guess we're coming at it from different angles. Sure if you expect it to handle like a miata, and have the interior of an audi, you'll probably be disappointed with the softness, lack of precision, loftier curb weight, etc.

I still want to know your list of 25k cars that will beat the subaru all around as a fun daily driver.

Cause I'm kinda sorta going to be in this situation soon (except keeping the miata also) and trying real hard to top the new wrx for an all arounder all things considered.

Oh and bushing upgrades are fairly cheap and real easy to install.

couple mods to the engine
couple mods to the suspension
couple bushings replaced

and you have yourself a really sweet and quick and fun car

Not expecting Miata handling or an Audi interior.

But if I want a bigger soft car, I expect it to not ride like crap and be noisy inside.

So, Legacy GT.

But if I want a car that riding like crap and being noisy is acceptable, I don't want to feel like I'm shifting in a box of rocks and can feel the drivetrain pitching sideways in the corners seperate from the car.

So, GC or STi.

If I were to get a Subaru, probably the 2005 STi. It misses out on a lot of the STi upgrades, but I like that face the best. If I was going to leave the car stock, 2006-07 STi.

And I can't suggest a fun daily driver without knowing the parameters. Different cars for one person compared to a family of four, etc.

How new he wants it, how much power matters, how nice the ride/how quiet he wants it... so on.

I could recommend an old base first gen Cayman in one breath and a new Mustang in the other, it all depends what's important. Trunk size, hatch, wagon... there are too many variables.

Yes, you do. Uppipe, downpipe, accessport, exhaust and bushings, and they're nice cars.

But if you mean 'no project cars' you mean 'no mods,' then not so much.

06+ wrx's don't need up pipe since they come with a higher flowing catless one

yes downpipe is a good upgrade, and super easy to install
exhaust not mandatory
accessport not needed either, simply a tactrix cable and a good e-tune (to get started at least)

and just with those 2 mods you gain like 40-50hp and 50-60 torque. pretty awesome IMO

Then comes the bushings. shifter bushing kit from tic or kartboy are under 100

then comes suspension - much more selection here, but a set of good springs will get the job done on a daily fairly well.

and then.....

...you're done.

I'd say thats pretty simple and easy..


What I like about them vs the older STi's is that they're way quieter, significantly better quality interior and sound deadening, just as quick, and just as reliable.

..oh and more practical since its a hatchback

Id say BRZ or 11+ Mustang GT.

Focus ST would be cool but it would have to be striped of options at that price, and they seem to be difficult to find striped of options.

The Focus ST has an amazing interior. Haven't driven one though.

Mustang is absolutely horrid interior, but definitely has a charm to it.

The BRZ/FRS is decent, but bad shifter, bad weight distribution and bad steering make it iffy to me.

As far as subarus, didn't know 06+ was catless uppipe, that's good to know.

Notice my points weren't how fast the car was. The new WRX might be as fast as the old STi, but it's just not involving to drive.

I like the focus ST. Everything about it was nice. Until I floored it in 1st and 2nd and it wanted to torque steer into a wall.

Fail wheel drive is fail wheel drive. Do not want.

Not sure about the mustang 5.0, but I hear they are pretty sweet, and look silly quick on paper for what they are.

brz/frs is excellent imo, but so under powered basically feels like a n/a miata.

Yeah I hear you, but again I'm struggling to find a 25k car that will do everything better and not have a major compromise.

Cant complain about the mustang except for the steering and shifter feeling a bit numb, although Im probably spoiled by Miatas when it comes to those kind of things.

The FA20 is hitting 500whp on stock drivetrain (save for clutch).

Dann

True, but I'm sure you've heard of all the issues they have. rough idle, failed hpfp, and other reliability concerns.

local dealer actually bought back 2 due to numerous failures.

That's the biggest thing keeping me away from them actually.

I really really really like them.

But will wait for the supposedly 250hp 2.5L one rumored to come out. Or if they turbo it :party:

Fuck it. I'm gonna go to Subaru tomorrow and test drive a new WRX hatch and see how it compares to my 04 WRX. I love my 04 WRX and I'm pretty happy with its handling considering its stock. It could use better swaybars, but so could most cars.

I really disagree with all the "lack of steering/character/etc" comments, coming from a Miata to my 04 WRX, yes it was different, but I still love how the WRX handles.

I really really reallyyyyy love the toyobaru twins but I test drive them at work and the lack of power would really just kill it for me. And I've always had a soft spot for the looks on the '11+ WRX's.

And yea, we replace HPFP's on a pretty regular basis.

I'm scared that I'm going to want to walk out of the Subaru dealership with keys to a '13 WRX.

lol

if you love your 04 you'll definitely walk out with a '13. they are better at.....well everything

speaking from absolutely no personal experience... Focus ST looks like a fun yet civil daily.

I guess I'm fucked :giggle:

335's have been catching my eye lately. I'm seeing 07/08's with 80k+ miles in the mid-teens now. I'm sure you could find a really nice one in the $25k range.

It's been my experience that German cars don't age well. YMMV.

WHA?!?!? lol


If i were in that situation... as much as i hate dsm's, i would probably get a low mileage, STOCK Lancer Evo8. Damn good cars... solid... and they run forever.
OR a bug eye STI.
The Evo is a little more indestructible it seems though. Club EVOSTI in Springfield missouri argues constantly among themselves, but the cars themselves prove this point.
Im not too biased, ive never owned either, but WOULD own both if i could

Some local guy told me to get an Evo 8. Meh. I just can't really get excited about an Evo. Maybe driving one will change my mind.

Been reading up on +11 WRX's and lots of guys dealing with destroyed ringlands due to the shitty stock tune that warranty may or may not cover (SOA tries their hardest to get out of replacing engines if they find anything at all different from stock). Kinda scares me away a bit, but I still plan on test driving one today. All I would really do if I got one is a catback exhaust and a tune to fix the dangerously lean stock tune.

No one can really answer this (other than by dumb luck) without more background information.

1. You say "not looking for a project car." Does that mean it must stay stock?
2. If so, do you realistically have the self discipline to get a "tuner car" and NOT modify it? Or to stop at just a few bolt-ons?
3. What type of driving do you do most often? Describe your normal commute: short or long distance, all highway, all stop-and-go shitty California highways, mostly awesome California canyons, etc.
4. You mention that a reasonable level of power is important - what other characteristics do you prioritize? Does weight matter? If so, what do you consider "too heavy?"
5. What about practicality? How many seats does it *have* to have? What about cargo capacity?

I have owned well over a dozen cars. The one I regret selling the most was my Evo8. I still toy with selling my E92 M3 and buying a pristine Evo9 SSL.

Just sayin'.

Yeah, that's why you're getting a $50,000 car that's 5 years old for $15,000! It's a hell of a car for that money, even if it does break down 5 minutes later.

eek. kinda wrote this thread in a hurry, i realize i didnt provide enough details.

-Car does not have to stay stock, but I'm definitely not going the path of "oh im putting a bigger turbo so I might as well put rods so I might as well do pistons blah blah blah". I'm probably going to limit myself to exhaust, maybe some coilovers, wheels and tires, etc. Simple things.
-Yes I have the self discipline. I've only put a catback on my 04 WRX.
-My commute is pretty much all of those things. Around town for random errands, freeway for school, mountain runs when I'm bored.
-Weight does matter sort of. I don't want a giant 2 ton pig, but I don't need to have something as light as a Miata.
-4 seats is preferred, but the backseats don't have to fit linebackers. Cargo capacity is whatever.

So I was looking for a blue WRX, preferably Limited trim. The only available WRX hatch in the area happened to be exactly that. After going to 4 different dealerships (which had no hatchback WRXs at all)I found this one and I'm first in line to test drive it tomorrow. Theres a high probability that I will drive away in it.

A low mileage, stock Evo 8 would be fantastic. Unfortunately they are quiet rare at this point.

I much prefer the 9's, but wouldn't daily drive an evo either way. And finding a low mileage un-abused one will set you back 20+ if you could even find one.

Given his stated budget, a clean and potentially tastefully modified Evo doesn't seem unreasonable.


That said, based on the criteria and the OP's clear enjoyment of Subarus, I don't see any real reason to try and talk him out of a newer WRX. Especially given that it sounds like he works at a Subaru dealership, he can probably get deals on parts and any service he doesn't want to perform himself, as well as potentially more lenient warranty coverage.

Perhaps you could talk this guy down:

Other Makes : ETV 2 door in Other Makes | eBay Motors

That things slammed, yo.

Bought a 2014 WRX.

:giggle:

Nice! It dosen't feel all that long ago that I was driving off the dealership in my brand new 2008 WRX. My brother now has a 2011 and love's it!

I do miss mine, but there are a lot of things I like about the miata better. If I could have the wrx as a daily, and the miata as a 2nd car... I'd do it in a heartbeat! Had to ditch the wrx payment when I bought my house in 2011.

You will definitely want to upgrade some bushings, especially the shifter because stock is awful. Kartboy bushings are cheap. Downpipe and a tune will make the powerband wayyy smoother

Oh snap, congrats :D

So they're essentially unchanged for '14 right? I'm only up to date til '13 on these cars lol

From what I can tell, yes. My co worker has a 2013 and I can't spot any differences.

needs catback badly. I can't even hear the engine unless the radio is off.

Nice. Too bad I don't think there are any ecu definitions out for those things yet, they need a tune desperately, and what a difference even a simple "stg1" map makes. Its truly impressive.

Oh well, I'm sure its only a matter of months for that to get worked out.

As for exhaust, I've installed a couple of these:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379701885

Was impressed. Would get one for myself if I get the new wrx

I honestly might wait until warranty is over to reflash anyway. I've done research into how bad the stock tune is. Even if the engine blows at least its not on me at that point. I read horror stories of reflashed cars blowing engines before 5/60 and Subaru refusing to pay for it.

What exhaust is that?

Invidia q300.

All depends what dealership you go to... Gotta find a "mod friendly" dealer. I took my 08 in for a clutch pedal squeak, while I had my tune, downpipe, etc... Turns out It was a pretty big issue with welds breaking on the firewall causing the squeak... But while they had it in there, they also put a brand new clutch in the car for me at 29,000mi. I was shocked they did the new clutch/flywheel, especially since I had stuff done to my car.. but they were really nice about it

Even without a Miata I feel like I get smarter every time I lurk around here. (race prep section I'm looking at you)

However, everytime I lurk around Subaru forums....:facepalm:
A while back I had to justify why rotella T6 is better than walmart oil. Apparently oil analysis says nothing btw.

The WRX needs its own miataturbo.net

I don't even bother with 3gwrx site or whatever it is. Usually just browse nabisco, though its so large that the knowledge is heavily diluted with stupidity, so you really have to sift through 80% crap to find those gem threads and write ups that will answer questions rather then confuse you more.

For sure. My 08 bought in 11/11 with 26K miles, CPO was $27K. Has 76K miles now. Been a solid car. They did put a water pump in at 27K but hasn't been to the shop other than oil changes in the last 50K miles.

I'm still under warranty until 4/14 or another 24K miles. If I sell it for $18K I take a $9K hit for 50K miles which, while still high, is not that bad considering it's a BMW.

Oh and congrats on the Subaru.