2015 WRX vs. FR-S/BRZ

[Whiteoutjames]

Selling all my aftermarket junk and trading in my FR-S for a 15 wrx sport tech. The interior space wins every time. I loved my FRS for what it was but if its your only car you have too compromise when doing anything except when you are charging the twisties

[jskurucz]

I went from a '13 FRS to a '15 Sti...

Going with the Sti all day er day.

[worfworf]

Hey give some more feedback on the sti


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[Vten]

Originally Posted by worfworf

Hey give some more feedback on the sti


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Will do ! Picking up my STI CWP limited this weekend , can't freakin wait .

[Talus1]

I can echo Thill's comments...

I had two WRXs ('08 and '11 5-door, 5M) before I bought my '13 BRZ 6M. I thought I was crazy, given how rough the BRZs ride is and how little torque it has. It also sucked driving it in the winter, though that is mostly down to me trying to get by on the old snow tires I had on the WRXs...

I have been waiting for the new WRX to come out to see if it is the answer to my needs - torque and AWD but still with good steering. Well, I test drove both the WRX (AT unfortunately) and STI (6M) on Saturday. I took both cars on the same route and then drove it in my BRZ. Funny thing, the BRZ was way more fun. The ride and power of the WRX are excellent and the steering response on turn-in is waaay better than the old WRX's, but there is very little steering feel and the seats don't hold me in as well as the BRZ's, although again they are waaay better than the old ones. I just didn't feel as comfortable through the twisty sections so I couldn't go as fast as in the BRZ. Unfortunately, the STI didn't feel much better, even though the limits are higher again.

The other funny thing was the torque. The WRX and expecially the STI will obliterate the BRZ in a straight line and on acceleration out of corners as long as they are on boost. But the weedy little BRZ motor actually has a fair amount of torque at low RPM (below the dip) and there is no waiting. I found that makes the BRZ more capable when cruising at low RPM in traffic, unless you keep the WRX or STI above 2700-3000 RPM waiting for an opening, which just isn't they way I drive 95% of the time.

So, I think I will keep my BRZ and maybe get it a better stereo, better tires and a bit more torque. The Phantom ESC guys are getting about 35-40% more midrange torque, at which point the BRZ would have approximately the same torque to weight ratio as my '11 WRX. Good enough for me.

As most have said, test drive the '15 WRX and see if you like it. If it was a 5-door and had a bit better steering feel I would buy one for sure. As it is, I have fallen a bit more in love with the BRZ.

[Davey]

Yeah I already have a 2nd car for winter. My only compromise with the "fun" car is to have enough space for a weekend's worth of luggage. Since the weekend involves a woman... Well you guys know what I mean. I'm lucky I don't need an SRT Jeep.

Appreciate the feedback Talus1.

[DeanStevenson]

We have a TDI wagon for road trips and hauling stuff along with an old NA Miata for fair weather days. We've been looking for another fun car. The BRZ is a logical choice because it can handle DD as well as autocross days. We were ready to buy.

We went to a local dealer to check out colors and trim levels. We looked at a White Premium BRZ. We test drove a Dark Gray Limited BRZ. We liked the Limited more so it was down to color. They had both in stock.

The sales person came back out to where my wife and I were looking over the Gray Limited we had just driven. We related that we were minutes away from a final decision.

The rest of this I cannot explain.

I asked if they had a 2015 WRX in stock. They had just one left. I thought "why not take it for a short drive while we discuss and choose the BRZ color?"

We drove the same loop we had with the BRZ. Our discussion of which color for the BRZ trailed off as I dipped into the boost. The WRX felt surprisingly good but I said little. We pulled over at the same spot we had swapped drivers in the BRZ. My wife came around the back playfully mimicking the exhaust with a "blub, blub, blub." I asked her to rev it when she climbed in the driver's seat. The BRZ sounded good, but this sounded great.

She drove sedately for a bit but once she was comfortable, she pushed down the accelerator. Swoosh! And then there it was, a huge grin quickly formed across her mouth. I busted out laughing. She started laughing. We did the loop again.

When we returned to the dealership we pulled behind the gray BRZ and just in front of a white STI someone had just purchased. No one was around. We stood back looking at the three of them as we admitted to one another that we both liked the WRX much more than the BRZ. Our salesperson returned and we asked about WRX availability. The salesperson went back inside to find out.

My wife pointed at the STI and asked "why do you keep looking at that one?" I explained the differences in the STI versus the WRX ending with "some reviewers say if you can only afford a WRX, don't drive the STI because you'll want one."

She replied, "get one."


Reposted from Miata.net due to relevance.


We ended up with a base 2015 WRX. The handling characteristics are obviously different (AWD versus RWD, more mass, different seating position, much more power, some understeer instead of oversteer) but for me the WRX was a better performance car for my hard earned dollar.

I still dig the BRZ. One of us.

[w00t692]

Originally Posted by MokSpeed

Turbo timer

Ancient advice, modern turbos are oil and water cooled.

This was for turbo's that were ONLY oil cooled.

The 2015 wrx is an exceedingly better vehicle than the outgoing model. My buddy had a 13, and wants to get a 15, having driven both he said the 2015 is much more refined, way better chassis/suspension and it has very smooth power delivery very early on.

The STI has the same old engine, don't bother looking at it. It makes more power than the old one though (not sure what was changed, people will dig into that and figure it out later) Just look at cobb's dynos of the 2015 sti bone stock and tuned to see how much more power it makes with zero mods.

[P86RAVES]

It is the same old engine, but because of that there is a large knowledg base for it. Imagine dropping a 2JZ into an FRS. Old engine but a newer and better chassis.

Get the STi if you can swing it, if not, the WRX is looking to be a damn fine machine.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by P86RAVES

It is the same old engine, but because of that there is a large knowledg base for it. Imagine dropping a 2JZ into an FRS. Old engine but a newer and better chassis.

Get the STi if you can swing it, if not, the WRX is looking to be a damn fine machine.

That's not close to being the same thing

[P86RAVES]

The Skyline GT-R had the RB26 from 1989-2002

Sometimes an engine just works and the chassis need be upgraded.

[P86RAVES]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

That is true. Between 2002 and 2003 the WRX gained...

a light around the keyhole.

Between 08 and 09 it gained 41 HP and some torques too. Same model generation, just a year later.

[w00t692]

Originally Posted by P86RAVES

It is the same old engine, but because of that there is a large knowledg base for it. Imagine dropping a 2JZ into an FRS. Old engine but a newer and better chassis.

Get the STi if you can swing it, if not, the WRX is looking to be a damn fine machine.

It has a timing belt. I just really dislike that.

[juliog]

EveryDayDriver just posted this WRX/BRZ compare. The owner of the BRZ is @mokinbird87!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWyyY718AM"]Subaru WRX Review: better than the BRZ (FRS, GT86)? -- Everyday Driver - YouTube[/ame]