2015 WRX vs. FR-S/BRZ

[continuecrushing]

Originally Posted by srt4evah

I can offer this tidbit of info regarding the new WRX:

Compared to the 2014 model, the chassis is 41 percent torsionally stiffer in the 2015, and the front spring rates are increased 39%, the rears 60%.

The 2015 base WRX suspension and handling is vastly improved over the 2014, and while the STI may hold an advantage still, the gap is much narrower than in the past.

no kidding. I've felt like since 2009, they keep improving the wrx by leaps and bounds, but giving very minor increases to the STi variants.

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

The 2015 STi in Japan actually uses an FA20 at 305hp. So I would assume they will be bringing that over next year for the rest of the markets

I know. which is why I am pretty sure the EJ is heading to pasture.

[srt4evah]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

The 2015 STi in Japan actually uses an FA20 at 305hp. So I would assume they will be bringing that over next year for the rest of the markets

That's interesting, I thought I had heard that somewhere else, but that makes sense that they would do away with the old EJ. I'm just curious why they even decided to use the EJ for USDM?

The STI is really going to become another trim line, which makes sense, rather than a vastly different car. Better shifter, tighter steering, more aggressive suspension, more power, same basic car otherwise.

I'm looking forward to getting the 2015 WRX, even though my old Evo IX and Evo X will never speak to me again.

[tahdizzle]

the JDM wrx s4 and the STi are even less different than the USDM WRX and STi

[Sigh-on-Rice]

Originally Posted by DSOmegaX

The 2015 STi in Japan actually uses an FA20 at 305hp. So I would assume they will be bringing that over next year for the rest of the markets

In Japan, WRX STI still uses EJ20 and WRX S4 uses FA20. They're both 300+ hp though.

I've read somewhere that they had to make U.S. STI EJ25 to keep 300+ hp and had to detune FA20 down to 260's hp because of the bad fuel. I don't remember where I read it, so I don't have the link to the source.

[ame="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B9%E3%83%90%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BBWRX_VA"]ス�ル・WRX VA - Wikipedia[/ame]
It's in Japanese, but under power train, it says JDM WRX STI has EJ20 carried over from the previous gen STI.

And it revs to 8000 rpm.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by srt4evah

That's interesting, I thought I had heard that somewhere else, but that makes sense that they would do away with the old EJ. I'm just curious why they even decided to use the EJ for USDM?

Probably the same reason as before... emissions and US fuel. Plus it's probably cheaper for them, and they'll probably want to use up their stockpile of those motors before officially switching over and fully committing to the new engine.

[tehwegz]

Japanese fuel is so much better. Closest in Canada is Shell VPower, Chevron 94, Husky 94, and PetroCan 94. But those 94s all have up to 10% Ethanol and are questionable in true octane...Husky is said to be more like 92 and some EJ motors even prefer Shell Vpower 91 over it. I know in the past there was barely any difference between WRX and STi. All STi's in the 90s were just WRX with fancy pink STi logos all over, same power numbers but more aggressive tune by in-house STi tuners, slightly thicker sway bars, a front strut tower cross member, and bigger spoiler.

[xxBrun0xx]

Originally Posted by tehwegz

Japanese fuel is so much better. Closest in Canada is Shell VPower, Chevron 94, Husky 94, and PetroCan 94. But those 94s all have up to 10% Ethanol and are questionable in true octane...Husky is said to be more like 92 and some EJ motors even prefer Shell Vpower 91 over it. I know in the past there was barely any difference between WRX and STi. All STi's in the 90s were just WRX with fancy pink STi logos all over, same power numbers but more aggressive tune by in-house STi tuners, slightly thicker sway bars, a front strut tower cross member, and bigger spoiler.

And more aggressive suspension, and more aggressive steering rack, and bigger injectors, and bigger turbo, and much tougher 6 speed tranny, and forged bbs wheels, and sticker tires, and variable valve timing, and closed deck... The list goes on and on.

If you think the WRX is the same as an STI for any year they were in production, you don't know what you're talking about.


Also, it's a shame that Subaru is phasing out the EJ (or so it seems). While the tuning community will eventually learn the FA, they've got so much experience with the EJ, they really know how to wring an incredible amount of power and reliability out of them.

And don't even get me started on that torque. You would not believe how much torque a stock +08 STI will make with a protune. I made 300whp/350wtq in my 08. Wish I could get those kind of gains for that cheap in the BRZ!

[srt4evah]

Originally Posted by xxBrun0xx

And more aggressive suspension, and more aggressive steering rack, and bigger injectors, and bigger turbo, and much tougher 6 speed tranny, and forged bbs wheels, and sticker tires, and variable valve timing, and closed deck... The list goes on and on.

If you think the WRX is the same as an STI for any year they were in production, you don't know what you're talking about.

He's talking about JDM. In Japan, WRX and STI were not separated by anywhere near the margin in performance that they have been in the USDM. They had different suspension tunes but the same power levels for a long time.

http://www.subarujdm.com/jdm_impreza.htm

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by xxBrun0xx

Also, it's a shame that Subaru is phasing out the EJ (or so it seems). While the tuning community will eventually learn the FA, they've got so much experience with the EJ, they really know how to wring an incredible amount of power and reliability out of them.

And don't even get me started on that torque. You would not believe how much torque a stock +08 STI will make with a protune. I made 300whp/350wtq in my 08. Wish I could get those kind of gains for that cheap in the BRZ!

The same can be said for pretty much any recent motor that was turbocharged from the factory though. But I don't think the EJ has ever been viewed as a powerhouse motor, and there have been a lot of incidents of mildly modded motors breaking stuff. I think it's the ring lands or something that are prone to going bad, I can't remember. I have three friends with STIs, and they are all car guys who know what to do and what not to do... two of them had to get their motors replaced, thankfully under warranty. One was bone stock, the other was just stage 2.

[hanabie]

I'd buy evo x instead if I only have choice between 2015 wrx or evox

[Poodles]

Originally Posted by tehwegz

Japanese fuel is so much better. Closest in Canada is Shell VPower, Chevron 94, Husky 94, and PetroCan 94. But those 94s all have up to 10% Ethanol and are questionable in true octane...Husky is said to be more like 92 and some EJ motors even prefer Shell Vpower 91 over it. I know in the past there was barely any difference between WRX and STi. All STi's in the 90s were just WRX with fancy pink STi logos all over, same power numbers but more aggressive tune by in-house STi tuners, slightly thicker sway bars, a front strut tower cross member, and bigger spoiler.

Japanese fuel is not "so much better."
1) they measure octane differently
2) the higher octane fuel that is higher than us isn't available everywhere, much like our E85.
3) if you're stuck with 91 here in the states, I have pity for you

Originally Posted by hanabie

I'd buy evo x instead if I only have choice between 2015 wrx or evox

Troll much? Mitsubishi is a dying brand and notorious for shoddy warranty work if they do the work at all. It's also hilariously old in the scheme of things. The Evo X is becoming the PT Cruiser of the performance car world...


/rant

[Sideways&Smiling]

Originally Posted by Poodles

Troll much? Mitsubishi is a dying brand and notorious for shoddy warranty work if they do the work at all. It's also hilariously old in the scheme of things. The Evo X is becoming the PT Cruiser of the performance car world...


/rant

But it's still a better performance car. I'd take an Evo 9 over a new WRX or STI (or Evo X) without question. Not great looking, but much better performance for the money.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

For the money? The examples out there that you would want to buy aren't going to be cheap, since a lot of people want them but the supply of them isn't plentiful. I have an Evo IX SE that is 100% bone stock with 79k miles. A few oil changes ago, the dealership's GSM (who I've known for a number of years) said he could sell my car for $29k easily. But it helps that it's in good shape, as the service manager has said that mine is the most immaculate CT9A that their dealership sees (and one of only three bone stock ones that he can recall).

Going with 2015s, in terms of bang for the buck, for me it would be WRX > Evo X > STI.