2015+ WRX/STI Review: Comparison to FRS/BRZ

[tyrantcf]

I greatly appreciate the review. Some day I'd really like to have a STI but not for a while. The insurance prices for me where I live are CRIMINAL at this point.

[DarkSunrise]

Good review and congrats on the new car. I used to have a 2009 STI hatch and it sounds like Subaru has vastly improved on the steering/handling and interior with these new models. If Subaru moves to the FA engines on the STI and comes out with a hatch body style, I think they'd have a huge winner on their hands.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

Good review and congrats on the new car. I used to have a 2009 STI hatch and it sounds like Subaru has vastly improved on the steering/handling and interior with these new models. If Subaru moves to the FA engines on the STI and comes out with a hatch body style, I think they'd have a huge winner on their hands.

Agreed. I suppose it's just a question if they decide to do a hatch again.

I always got a laugh about the hatch because when it first came out, not very many people liked it. Everywhere you looked, people were complaining about how horridly ugly they look and how the STI should be a sedan and have a large wing on it, because that's what makes an STI..an STI.

So much criticism and then people started coming around back in like 2011 when they gave it a facelift and brought the sedan back. Now, Subaru have ditched the hatch and gone back to a sedan STI only, and people are furious lol.

I suppose some people will never be happy.

[thill]

Great review. Spot on. You and I pretty much agree on all the points you made (I owned a 13 BRZ now drive a 15 WRX that I have had for over a year now).

Enjoy the new car. FYI, I did install the OEM Audio+ system in my WRX (obviously I don't have the Star Link, so this was on the older head unit) and it is night and day better than stock. I also added pro springs, and you may want to consider RCE Yellows on the STI. For the WRX at least it made a noticeable difference. My two fav mods so far with pro springs and the OEM Audio + system. And your right, there was too much play in the 6mt in the WRX and some bushings and shift stopped helped, but it is not BRZ/STI manual.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by thill

Great review. Spot on. You and I pretty much agree on all the points you made (I owned a 13 BRZ now drive a 15 WRX that I have had for over a year now).

Enjoy the new car. FYI, I did install the OEM Audio+ system in my WRX (obviously I don't have the Star Link, so this was on the older head unit) and it is night and day better than stock. I also added pro springs, and you may want to consider RCE Yellows on the STI. For the WRX at least it made a noticeable difference. My two fav mods so far with pro springs and the OEM Audio + system. And your right, there was too much play in the 6mt in the WRX and some bushings and shift stopped helped, but it is not BRZ/STI manual.

Awesome! Great to know that the Audio+ system is a good step up.

RCE Yellows are definitely on my list. I don't want to go with a coilover setup and the RCE's lower the car 0.75", which is perfect for me. Those paired off with some camber bolts up front and LCAs on the rear is all I have in mind for suspension.

Brake pads, fluid, oil cooler, and possibly an AOS are the only things on my list for the next 6 months honestly. I'm really enjoying the car as it is right now. I just want to add those items because I know they'll come in handy on the track and in terms of preservation for the car.

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by thill

Great review. Spot on. You and I pretty much agree on all the points you made (I owned a 13 BRZ now drive a 15 WRX that I have had for over a year now).

Enjoy the new car. FYI, I did install the OEM Audio+ system in my WRX (obviously I don't have the Star Link, so this was on the older head unit) and it is night and day better than stock. I also added pro springs, and you may want to consider RCE Yellows on the STI. For the WRX at least it made a noticeable difference. My two fav mods so far with pro springs and the OEM Audio + system. And your right, there was too much play in the 6mt in the WRX and some bushings and shift stopped helped, but it is not BRZ/STI manual.

Getting the perrin shift stop on mine as the first mod lol. The shifter play really bothers me.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by raven1231

Getting the perrin shift stop on mine as the first mod lol. The shifter play really bothers me.

Agreed. I drove one that was stock with just the Subaru short shifter on it and it had a bunch of play. Then I recently drove one that had the shift stop and brass bushing on it and it was so much better. Only amounts to like $50 or so too.

If I got a WRX, that would be the VERY FIRST thing I'd spend my money on, followed by a better looking set of wheels lol

[raven1231]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

Agreed. I drove one that was stock with just the Subaru short shifter on it and it had a bunch of play. Then I recently drove one that had the shift stop and brass bushing on it and it was so much better. Only amounts to like $50 or so too.

If I got a WRX, that would be the VERY FIRST thing I'd spend my money on, followed by a better looking set of wheels lol

That's exactly my plan ha ha

[thill]

Originally Posted by raven1231

That's exactly my plan ha ha

I put in the Perrin shifter bushing, shift stop, and a heavier shift knob and it really helped. That said, the manual transmission in the BRZ spoiled me.

The pro springs and rear sway bar for me really improved handling. I would make that one of the first things I do to the car with the springs and alignment being the first.

[ramiram1984]

nice thread. Late last year I was contemplating trading my car in for a new STI, I parted most of my car out ( I was 90% sure I was going to trade it in), but last minute changes I decided to keep the BRZ. Since then, I'm back to how the car was before but with diff. car parts and the stuff I decided to keep such as suspension, chassis stuff.

Now, I am back with my eyes on the new STI.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by ramiram1984

nice thread. Late last year I was contemplating trading my car in for a new STI, I parted most of my car out ( I was 90% sure I was going to trade it in), but last minute changes I decided to keep the BRZ. Since then, I'm back to how the car was before but with diff. car parts and the stuff I decided to keep such as suspension, chassis stuff.

Now, I am back with my eyes on the new STI.

What was the reason that you decided to keep your FRS/BRZ last year?

[ramiram1984]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

What was the reason that you decided to keep your FRS/BRZ last year?

I moved from WA to CA and I didn't want to add more stress at the time.

[TylerLieberman]

Originally Posted by ramiram1984

I moved from WA to CA and I didn't want to add more stress at the time.

Gotcha. I'm actually getting ready to move back to California from Oklahoma next month.

I was just curious of there was something particular about the vehicle itself that made you decide to keep it, rather than sell it.

[raven1231]

Only about a week until I take delivery!