wrx stock.

[Might be DJ]

i seen many people on here posting how they can take mustangs camaros vettes whatever, but i want to know what can a stock 02-05 wrx can do? would it be able to take a 94-95 cobra? 96-98? cobra? what about a 96 trans am? i come from a long line of domestic sports cars, and my brother was the first to purchase a 09 rx8. speaking of rx8 will an 02 wrx keep up with one? I guess in the long run im trying to justify my purchase if a buy a 4 cylinder instead of getting a v8 like i always planned.

so yeah let me know

[SD_GR]

If you really like a US V8 by all means get one of those instead, since you might risk regretting your decision and ultimately it's up to what you like best.

Being no fan of Wankels, I'd look elsewhere than the Mazda but that's me. The RX8 can feel more nimble and tends to rotate easier than the WRX, but IMO you can get on the throttle sooner in the WRX. I don't know how to drive an RX8 quickly but people certainly do. In both you have to keep the revs up and the WRX has a 2nd that's too long and too short at the same time, and it can leave you hanging depending on what your entry speed was. It tends to understeer worst at the exit, but I prefer understeer.

Oh, about the Fords -- but everything needs a grain of salt and they're caught up in straight lines there:
My stock WRX vs. newer(yr?) Mustang COBRA SVT

[Might be DJ]

i saw that thread, okay nevermind i guess i misread it.
i guess the only thing holding me back from getting a snake is the fact i hate driving in the winter with a v6 mustang...i dont know if ill be able to make it through a winter on 4.6 v8 lol, guess its all up to me now. well thanks for making me re read that thread .
-DJ

[s202rxi]

Just throwing this out there but the old 4.6l cobra is around a 14sec car 02-05 wrx are around that but it really depends on the driver and other factors. If you need to drive in the winter and it’s between a wrx and a stang go for the awd.

[LSPowered65]

I have only ever owned v8's and the first wrx i drove the motor blew within the first 100miles so i may be a little biased. I drive a 09 pontiac g8 gt and i can tell you that a 05 wrx could maybe possibly get it off the line but it will lose in the end ever time. The G8 is ungodly fast once its rolling, with the limiter turned off i have had it to 155mph and it was still pulling, i was out of road to push for more, but the 2.92 gears kill it out of the hole, i mean its still rated 0-60mph in 5.3sec a stock wrx is 6.1. I bought the wrx for the winter because its a hassle to switch to snow tires every winter on the g8. So i will dive my g8 on the weekends and the wrx for dd. A v8 imo always will sound meaner. If i were you and looking for a fast car to mod and not spend a ton look at the 4.6 3valve mustangs and the newer gtos. A 4th gen trans am or camaro with a ls1 runs good but are heavy and not all that nice fit and finish wise. i had a 94 lt1 z28 and a 01 ls1 ss both 6sp and modded, they ran well and would beat a stock wrx along with a slew of other cars. Its all up to you and what you are going to use it for, ie snow or just nice weather.

[s202rxi]

I would like to say the G8 is a high 13 sec car, at least the GT 6.0L. I would guess this is due to the fact that it almost weighs in at 4,000lbs. In saying so the 05 wrx is a low 14sec car stock, that’s not to much of a difference. When you factor in four more liters and 5 grand on MSRP I would say that the WRX has more pros then cons.

[RayfieldsWRX]

There are many, better cars to start with than a WRX if what you want is a straight-line monster.

A WRX is a Swiss Army Knife of cars...it can do many things "pretty well", accelerate, corner, deal with slick conditions, has good utility to carry 4 people and their stuff, etc.

[Pavia]

If I wanted to win at the strip or stoplight (ahem...) and I was a youngster with small budget and dreams of smoking cars in under 13secs....
I would spend $10k and buy a stock F-body of 98 to 01 vintage and drop $3k into that LT1 or LS1, add drag radials, 100 shot, and your set.

Once you get bored and catch even a glimpse of rally, time attack, or grand am rolex...you'll wish you had a WRX, Evo, G8/GTO, CTS-V, 911, etc...

[zax]

There are many, better cars to start with than a WRX if what you want is a straight-line monster.

A WRX is a Swiss Army Knife of cars...it can do many things "pretty well", accelerate, corner, deal with slick conditions, has good utility to carry 4 people and their stuff, etc.

This is why I fell in love with the WRX/STi when I was in college. I was trying to find the perfect "well rounded" car that:
1. Had fast acceleration
2. Was nimble/quick
3. Held its composure around the corners
4. Handled well on different terrain
5. Was versatile
6. Could seat 5
Rally cars topped the list, and the WRX wagon had a lot of interior room . They may not beat a new 5.0 mustang to 60, but they are still a blast to drive and that's what really counts

[CGimpreza]

i mean its still rated 0-60mph in 5.3sec a stock wrx is 6.1.

I swear, I hear and read such a wide variety of times for the 03-05 WRX that it's astounding. When I first started researching my 04, just about everywhere I looked, I read 0-60 times of 5.5-5.7. Then on different forums 5.8-6.4. I guess noone agrees on what the car can really do stock?

[LSPowered65]

fyi a 1 second diff in a 1/4 mile is roughly 10 car lengths

[zax]

I swear, I hear and read such a wide variety of times for the 03-05 WRX that it's astounding. When I first started researching my 04, just about everywhere I looked, I read 0-60 times of 5.5-5.7. Then on different forums 5.8-6.4. I guess noone agrees on what the car can really do stock?

I think C&D proved that you COULD hit 60 in about 5.6 seconds with a stock 2.0L WRX.

Realistically, given the fragile nature of the 2.0L tranny, I think 6.1 seconds is a more reasonable estimate with a feathered launch. IMO, a half a second to 60 isn't worth a shattered gearbox.

[cjm1991]

fyi a 1 second diff in a 1/4 mile is roughly 10 car lengths

Very roughly. Theres a hundred factors in that really.

[Colossus]

Did someone really recommend a G8 or GTO then say, "Fbodies are too heavy?" Lol! They only weigh about 300 lbs or more less than your recommendations. LS1's also ran from 98-02. To get an LT1 your talking 1993-1997. FYI I shredded a WRX (mostly stock, maybe exhaust) in my 94 with only 4.10 gears. I was on bald tires from a 10 roll. I didn't catch traction until a little into 3rd gear. He had 2 and half cars on me. When I hooked I made that up and put a half on him by the time I let out a little into 4th. By the way the car is a 6 sp.

Don't get me wrong. If I could only have one car and lived up north I would be in a Duramax 4x4 or a Scoobie. But in a straight line, even with limited traction, the muscle cars have it 9 time out of 10. Those "14 second" Cobras are also good for more like a mid 13 with a decent driver. They don't create all the tire shredding torque us Chevy's do so they don't have to worry to much on the launch. Note I'm talking 96-98 Cobras here. Hell, 99 and 02 Cobras as well. Even still the LS1's were capable of 0-60 in 5.2 and the LT1's were capable of 5.4, the LT would just run out of steam around 3rd gear where the LS really starts to wake up.

[Herknav]

i dont know if ill be able to make it through a winter on 4.6 v8

A good set of winter tires will make all the difference.