I have loved WRX's for years, but have never owned one. As i am getting older, when i talk with people about getting a new car and tell them i am looking at a WRX they say "isnt that a kids car?" and look at me funny. So here is the question to anyone that has purchased a new WRX/STI since 2008. What age were you when you purchased the car and do you regret it?
EDIT:
Just so you know what the Subaru Market Research team has found:
Second subbie now at 28. First one a '96 Legacy wagon at 21. Wanted a rex since I was 19. Now I can finally afford one. Best decision my wife let me make.
29, and just got my first wrx. Idk why people assume sporty cars are kids cars. Because, anything that isn't bland and boring is a kids car? I just laugh at people who kinda look at me weird and tell them to enjoy their cobalt (or whatever they have).
I am 42 and have bought 2011 wrx I don't think you should worry about what people think, It is about what you think, I love my car it is great to drive...
Subaru and Mitsubishi nicely bridged a gap for us, giving us a decently-performing car in a reasonable price range that can still haul 4 people and gear comfortably. It's a "kid's car" that's somewhat practical, and a lot of folks don't quite know what to think of it when a 44-year-old dude drives up in it. Sometimes it's a nice conversation starter. "What the heck is that thing? A wagon with a hood scoop on the front?"
The funny thing is, this is really only of those who post in this forum, which could be representative of who posts in the forums, period. I'm willing to bet that many who do own WRXs and STIs aren't really readily involved in forum life...and many I'd be willing to bet are more of a "blue collar" owner who don't have a chance to sit at a computer all day...which IMO, would explain why the 20-29 age group would be the largest group (younger, more involved in the internet age).
It would be nice to know accurate (non-forum) statistics for ownership, broken down by age, year and model.
"Thanks for buying a WRX from us, today, sir! Now, would you mind filling out this 6-page questionnaire to satisfy the curiosity of a bunch of nerds on a forum? Great!"
This wouldn't work. I guarantee that the act of filling out a 6-page questionnaire is in-and-of-itself age-biased. i.e. a professional 50-yo man/woman is much more likely to complete the questionnaire vs. a 16-yo high school student.... of course, that is "on-average," but statistically the case.
I know its not the most accurate way of doing it, but it was the only way i knew how. I Google searched it, but didn’t find anything. My guess is that it is probably about right with who I see driving them though.
I'm 30 years old and just bought my first WRX. I would have had one at the age of 18, but I couldn't afford one. So now that I am established and can afford a nice car I treated myself. I think the color can make it look like a fast and furious car, so I went subtle and went with the dark gray. Turns heads and I get a lot of compliments. Maybe I'm going through a mid-life crisis, but it does have 4 doors and the baby car seats do fit nicely.