last gen STI vs. new WRX vs. Corolla GR vs. Evo??

[WolfpackS2k]

I was pretty excited when the WRX finally came to the US, in all it's frogeyed glory. I was a college sophomore (or junior?) at the time. However, even then I couldn't believe how poor the interior was. One of my friends purchased one, and the inside was quite a step down from my 10 year old (at the time) GS-R. Woof.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

I was pretty excited when the WRX finally came to the US, in all it's frogeyed glory. I was a college sophomore (or junior?) at the time. However, even then I couldn't believe how poor the interior was. One of my friends purchased one, and the inside was quite a step down from my 10 year old (at the time) GS-R. Woof.

It wasn't a great interior, but I can't wrap my head around it being a step down from a GS-R. The Momo steering wheel was actually really good especially for its time (even though a three-spoke design would've been more aesthetically pleasant, which they eventually did in 2005 after they pulled the interior from the Saab 9-3x into the WRX), the seats were well-bolstered compared to everything that was an import sport compact car available in the US at that time and it had aluminum pedals (except without the aluminum dead pedal, which they didn't put in the US-bound WRXs for a slight cost-cutting measure).

[drivejumpfly]

I did it. Twenty years later I am back in a WRX. I really like this car. Not sure I will modify it other than brakes and suspension because it rides perfect for a slightly sporty DD. Night and day difference vs the '02 I blew up. Zero regrets so far. A GR Corolla would have been nice, but there is no way it is $16,000 nicer than this. I almost want to buy a second one to modify.

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

It wasn't a great interior, but I can't wrap my head around it being a step down from a GS-R.

The WRX had a newer interior design (naturally as it was a 2002 car vs one designed in the late 80s) but the material quality of the Acura was much higher. And the seats were actually pretty amazing, made with some type of miracle cloth (my term, haha). When I sold the car in 2020, with 345k miles, still next to no visible wear on the driver's seat.

Originally Posted by drivejumpfly

I did it. Twenty years later I am back in a WRX. I really like this car. Not sure I will modify it other than brakes and suspension because it rides perfect for a slightly sporty DD. Night and day difference vs the '02 I blew up. Zero regrets so far. A GR Corolla would have been nice, but there is no way it is $16,000 nicer than this. I almost want to buy a second one to modify.

Congrats! Also, how did you manage to buy a new WRX for $25k?

[wbradley]

I had a new 96 Integra GSR 4 door 5 speed and afterward a new 99 Integra GSR 3 door Special Edition (fancy wheels) 5 speed. They were great cars, leather seats and sunroof, efficient on gas. It did suck a couple of times when I was stuck in the snow behind the store I ran at the time though. Too bad never went for an ITR.

Congrats on the new WRX. It felt really comfy and nice when I sat in it at a car show in Feb. The tail lights remind me of these crazy old bumper cars at carnivals when I was a kid. I think they were actually Japanese made. Subaru are always quirky, but excellent cars.

[drivejumpfly]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

The WRX had a newer interior design (naturally as it was a 2002 car vs one designed in the late 80s) but the material quality of the Acura was much higher. And the seats were actually pretty amazing, made with some type of miracle cloth (my term, haha). When I sold the car in 2020, with 345k miles, still next to no visible wear on the driver's seat.

Congrats! Also, how did you manage to buy a new WRX for $25k?

My price comparison average was $27,800 + $1,000 for travel expenses for a base at the same dealership to the $46,000 I was given for a GR Corolla on a truck to a dealership. I paid under $32,500 including travel expenses for a Premium so $13,500 of a difference between that and the GR Corolla.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by drivejumpfly

My price comparison average was $27,800 + $1,000 for travel expenses for a base at the same dealership to the $46,000 I was given for a GR Corolla on a truck to a dealership. I paid under $32,500 including travel expenses for a Premium so $13,500 of a difference between that and the GR Corolla.

That's impressive, congrats! They're legitimately good cars and I'm blown away by how good they can feel in terms of handling + ride quality with proper suspension, and yes even stock they're not bad at all.

My 3 mechanical complaints:
1. Some LSDs would be really nice.
2. 6k redline stinks
3. Shifter feels not good.

I don't love the fender things or the big screen, but they're not that bad.

- Andrew

[drivejumpfly]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

That's impressive, congrats! They're legitimately good cars and I'm blown away by how good they can feel in terms of handling + ride quality with proper suspension, and yes even stock they're not bad at all.

My 3 mechanical complaints:
1. Some LSDs would be really nice.
2. 6k redline stinks
3. Shifter feels not good.

I don't love the fender things or the big screen, but they're not that bad.

- Andrew

I am very impressed with this car in stock form. It is right between my '02 WRX (when it had a boost controller) and my stock '04 Evo. I would like LSDs, but my bigger need is to improve the brakes. 6K redline comes really fast in stock form so modified it will be a pain. Mine came with the short shifter kit which was the only option I needed installed from the factory. I read the online warnings about the stock shifter. The fenders don't bother me as much, but the rear bumper is jarring to me. At the end of the day I am an all go and no show guy so I won't be spending any money to make it look better before I improve the performance. I think the only thing I will do to it this year is lower it an inch on springs.

I am glad the way things turned out that I am in this instead of a GR86 because getting kids into the back of this is already a pain. Just having one kid in the back of the GR86 would have ruined my plans for weekends away from the house. I do still have to scoot my driver's seat forward to get a kid behind me which slightly impacts how I drive.

All in all I would buy two of these if I could. One to mod and one to leave stock. For the price there isn't a better car to have as a fun DD in a place that has snow up to seven months of the year.