Anyone cross shopping the new WRX?
 

There are so many cool cars coming out this year and next year. I feel like the new Z has been talked about a lot already. Just curious if anyone else is waiting to see what the new WRX looks and performs like.

I tried looking at WRX forums but they are kind of a cesspit, I'd be interested to hear what you folks have to say.

lol nope

Nope. Slim pickings on a RWD, NA engine, 2 door that you don't have to mortgage the house to purchase.

Still slim picking even if you mortgage the house, especially if you add lightweight to the list...

I don't think anyone is looking at a WRX this time around. Honestly, unless you have copious amounts of snow for more than 5 months out of the year, it's a bad car.

And if you were to ask me, the WRX is only getting closer and closer to becoming a cross over. WR-Cross.

That’s why I am keeping my 04 wagon forever.

I am cross-shopping the 2022 BRZ with an 02 z06 and the EJ-STIs.

It is really hard to ignore a lot of cars that offer a lot more for a lot less than 30K+ new cars.

In your case, I would be cross-shopping the FA-WRX and the EJ-STis.

For example, you can get a low milage, Subaru approved EJ-STi for the same price.

So, yes, I am cross-shopping... which I do every day on everything. ;)

I would state the FA24 BRZ has appeal to me personally once it has some PP brakes on it, once it is past the first year, and once we know what the second year changes are.

What exactly makes it such a bad car that nobody is looking at it? Seems like they've been selling just as well as usual lately. And how is it getting closer to a crossover? It's not sitting any higher, there's no hatch version... Didn't realize some wheel arch cladding is what defines a crossover.

It will probably be a decent performance car for a relative bargain price of around $30K.

The new golf R is $45K, btw. The new STI will probably cost that much too.

I personally don't need that much car, but if I wanted something more practical, comfortable, quiet, and an ECU tune away from 300 whp, I would put it on my list.

There seems to be a lot of MSRP price inflation with the `next gens` of cars coming out.

BRZ is now baselining at 30K

Z will be 40K

As a result, in the transition time, I think it is the case you have to look at lightly used cars (while they last) as there some better performance/$$ options out there.

Then again, I have been tracking the prices of BRZs since 2013, and since the pandemic they (and most other things) have trended WAYYYY up.

I used to be able to find PP BRZs, single owner for 23k. Now, no way. Everything like that is 30k. New ones are 33K for the current gen.

At this current time, when I can get a 10k mile STi for 34k and the same mileage BRZ for the same price... the market is chaotic and thus many different strategies right now make a lot of sense.

I chose a 2021 manual Corolla Hatchback over a 2021 WRX lol.

And I sell Subarus lol. The WRX would have been cheaper to lease than the Corolla in fact (before gas and insurance). The WRX has its fans. I chose a GTI over it 3 years ago too. They feel big and boxy. My biggest gripes with them is a) synthetic the engine feel and b) the rev hang and c) the sound which is a result of a+b.

They have an interior from 2012 yet people still buy them.

I’m wondering if the new WRX will address those things. What won’t change is the fact that the BRZ exists for the purpose of being a better driver’s car and the WRX existing for being a more versatile daily driver choice for people who want something a little more than a typical civilian car.

If I might slightly digress for just one post, @Veloist, but do you feel the same about the STi?

I honestly see running the EJ257 and a long-running engine / transmission platform as a benefit. The sound on the EJ257 is still awesome (in my opinion).

For the reasons you mentioned above (and the FA only having DI and not both) and the terrible EL sound + "5 speed", I could never take the WRX seriously. However, I don't think that is due to `age` of the interior, as they are all just very simple and functional. For the record, I have always felt like this about the WRX since EJ205, EJ255, and definitely once they went away from strut-based rears..

Thanks for the digression!

I definitely prefer the feel and overall driving experience of the STI. Biggest reasons is because of the Hydraulic Steering, mechanical shifter linkage, and a more raw engine feel. The better driving feel and engagement help downplay how big the car is too.

It’s a big reason why I’m a little bummed about the move away to a new engine. A lot of my co-workers are STI owners and are expecting the next-generation STI to be “softer.” So we’ll have to see. Subaru can be unpredictable sometimes.

I was cross shopping 1st gen autos with no paddles. Thank God I watched some videos.