Thoughts on 2015 WRX vs 13/14 BRZ

[TylerLieberman]

^Dude is doing 40mph on a canyon road and is raving about performance....

Waiting for Motor Trend Ignition test on this car

[kuhlka]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

^Dude is doing 40mph on a canyon road and is raving about performance....

Waiting for Motor Trend Ignition test on this car

I know. Talking about turn-in on a straight road is rather disappointing, but at least he went over a bunch of features and design bits. Need to see it on Top Gear piloted by the Stig...

[boxer 2.5]

I want all the interior goodies and the drivetrain of the 2015 in the body of a 2014. Would be 20x better IMO

[SoCal909]

Honestly it did grow on me looks wise. Now I think it looks pretty good.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[Whitigir]

Subaru does never disappoint people in performance promises. This time will be the same. They promised this will be the best of what WRX should has been throughout.

The WRX was inspired by BRZ, and it will handle the same or better, it is just another machine of AWD and 4 doors.

I will take their words for it. The design though however is very disappointing, like many other said, it look to be on steroid, muscular...and tall.

Remind me of the first GTR prototype, muscular and tall, people had so much doubt in it handling

[thill]

Originally Posted by boxer 2.5

I want all the interior goodies and the drivetrain of the 2015 in the body of a 2014. Would be 20x better IMO

I actually agree with you 100%.

[thill]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

^Dude is doing 40mph on a canyon road and is raving about performance....

Waiting for Motor Trend Ignition test on this car

That review was painful to watch. It seems to over the top..

[BadMoon]

Originally Posted by thill

That review was painful to watch. It seems to over the top..

So what do you think of your REX?

[SirBrass]

The new WRX can't handle the same or better than the BRZ, b/c it's AWD. That fundamentally changes how the car feels to handle. Unless you make it 53/47 distribution (weight) or better, 13::1 quick rack steering, & rwd, then it won't handle at all like or better than the twins.

Now, will it be able to actually (disregard what the driver feels) handle as well? Perhaps. But it won't be able to be handled like the BRZ. The two drive train designs are too fundamentally different. That, and awd demands the engine hangs out over top & in front of the front axle b/c of the transaxle in the transmission. This changes weight distribution to mostly forward. Can't get around that.

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[thill]

Originally Posted by BadMoon

So what do you think of your REX?

Well it is a different animal

- On the plus side it feels really, really, fast after driving a BRZ for so many months. Feels faster than my 2.0T twin scroll Gencoupe as well by at least a second and actually feels faster to me than the 3.8 V6 Gencoupe going 0-60. This is my first AWD non-SUV vehicle and it is just planted around turns.

- AWD in Minnesota is really nice to have. With the Blizzak tires on it, there is nowhere I can't go

- I needed the practicality of the backseats and trunk space and that has been really nice already with the kids.

- The steering wheel controls are nice to have and the car is loads quieter inside.

- The WRX does not feel as heavy as it really is on the street.

- I do not miss the horrible touch screen radio in the BRZ..

On the downside:

- It is not as fun to drive around sharp corners as the BRZ. You can't really slide the rear end out like you can in the BRZ.

- I feel like I am sitting so much higher, well because I am. I miss the gocart feeling of the BRZ.

- The WRX understeer was something I am still adjusting to. I have to slow down on the corners and I am already looking at suspension mods to tighten things up (camber, sway bars, better tires, etc).

- If I don't get a speeding ticket soon it will be a miracle. I constantly find myself going 15mph over the speed limit without even trying in the WRX.

- Gas mileage in the WRX is going to be at least 5mpg worse than the BRZ and they both require premium.

- I miss the pushbutton start in the BRZ.

The FT86 is a very special platform. Lightweight RWD with low center of gravity is something no WRX can mimic, and I will really miss those attributes. The WRX is fun in other ways (power), but I won't lie, the BRZ is a more fun car to drive. I will miss it.


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[boxer 2.5]

I assume you bought an 11'-14' model year?

[BadMoon]

Originally Posted by thill

Well it is a different animal

- On the plus side it feels really, really, fast after driving a BRZ for so many months. Feels faster than my 2.0T twin scroll Gencoupe as well by at least a second and actually feels faster to me than the 3.8 V6 Gencoupe going 0-60. This is my first AWD non-SUV vehicle and it is just planted around turns.

- AWD in Minnesota is really nice to have. With the Blizzak tires on it, there is nowhere I can't go

- I needed the practicality of the backseats and trunk space and that has been really nice already with the kids.

- The steering wheel controls are nice to have and the car is loads quieter inside.

- The WRX does not feel as heavy as it really is on the street.

- I do not miss the horrible touch screen radio in the BRZ..

On the downside:

- It is not as fun to drive around sharp corners as the BRZ. You can't really slide the rear end out like you can in the BRZ.

- I feel like I am sitting so much higher, well because I am. I miss the gocart feeling of the BRZ.

- The WRX understeer was something I am still adjusting to. I have to slow down on the corners and I am already looking at suspension mods to tighten things up (camber, sway bars, better tires, etc).

- If I don't get a speeding ticket soon it will be a miracle. I constantly find myself going 15mph over the speed limit without even trying in the WRX.

- Gas mileage in the WRX is going to be at least 5mpg worse than the BRZ and they both require premium.

- I miss the pushbutton start in the BRZ.

The FT86 is a very special platform. Lightweight RWD with low center of gravity is something no WRX can mimic, and I will really miss those attributes. The WRX is fun in other ways (power), but I won't lie, the BRZ is a more fun car to drive. I will miss it.


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Thanks for the honest feedback.

[thill]

Originally Posted by boxer 2.5

I assume you bought an 11'-14' model year?

2014 hatch. I would have sucked it up and waited for a 2015 if there was a hatch, but Subaru killed off the hatch and made it easier for me to make a decision.

[boxer 2.5]

Originally Posted by thill

2014 hatch. I would have sucked it up and waited for a 2015 if there was a hatch, but Subaru killed off the hatch and made it easier for me to make a decision.

I thought so. Your first two mods should be a downpipe and a mild tune. Nets about 30-40hp. For about 400 bucks, its the best bang for your buck around.

Back to the 2015: I really only want it for its new level of driving comfort. The seats look straight out of a BRZ, and the tech inside is great. I have yet to feel the "soft touch materials" but if its better than the tupperware plastic in my 07' then I'll be thrilled.