Pre-Purchase

[craighoog]

Finally have the money to buy my next car, cash in hand. (The cash is actually in the bank, don't come to my house looking for it).

I've been looking at the 2008 WRX for a while now and I think I'm settled on it.
I love the 2009 265, but the price difference makes it a hard sell for me at this point.

Hope to be sticking around here once I get the car and come up with all kinds of "great" questions like "Should I put HID bulbs in my fog lights?!"

[rage-wrx]

Welcome. We eagerly await your "should I put HID bulbs in foglight" & "should I smoke my taillight" & "which BOV should I get" & "which intake is best" & "should I tune for an intake" & "does your passenger side window & driver side window go down at the same speed,etc,etc,etc questions.

[maus]

2008 is arguably the worst year WRX

[craighoog]

Welcome. We eagerly await your "should I put HID bulbs in foglight" & "should I smoke my taillight" & "which BOV should I get" & "which intake is best" & "should I tune for an intake" & "does your passenger side window & driver side window go down at the same speed,etc,etc,etc questions.

Each one will be in a separate thread and I look forward to you sharing your expertise!

2008 is arguably the worst year WRX

I mean.. I know it doesn't have the power, but any other logic here?
Is the 2009 tenfold better? Is the 2008 mechanically the worst or just the way it looks?

Yes, typically the 2008 WRX is considered the bastard child of the WRX breed. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, the suspension was softened and this increased body-roll by several orders of magnitude. Second, Subaru adopted the new SAE method of testing HP, which brought the claimed CHP down from 230 to 224. In all reality, the output is the same between the 2008 and 2007 WRX, but the public saw this as a departure from the performance-oriented appeal of the WRX. Third, Subaru decided to utilize sliding-caliper 2/1 pot brakes instead of the 4/2 pot brakes used in the 2006-2007 WRX, which was seen as a step backwards in terms of perfomance.

To me, the 2008 caught a bum-wrap from the start, mainly thanks to the fact that it sat in the shadow of the VF52-powered 2009+ WRX. The 2008 WRX can be had for much cheaper than a 2009+ WRX and (in many cases) than a 2007 WRX. This is ideal for a number of reasons:
1. The body roll and soft suspension can be remedied fairly easily with a stiffer set of sways, springs, and struts. This provides much better handling than the 2006-2007 WRX thanks to a lower polar moment of inertia and multi-link rear suspension... not to mention the lighter weight and improved rigidity of the GE chassis.
2. Despite the claimed 224 CHP, the actual output is similar to the 2006-2007 WRX. The number of turbo options available for the LGT-style intake has improved in recent years and the VF52 can be easily acquired and and swapped for cheap power gains. Not to mention a purportedly strengthened transmission to handle bigger power gains than the 2007 WRX.
3. Subaru brakes (even the 4/2 pot used in the 2006-2007 WRX) are teh suck. That being said, if you're tracking the car, you'll want a BBK anyhow, so the 2006-2007 WRX and the 2008+ WRX are in the same boat in this area anyhow.


So, in conclusion, don't listen to the many members that will tell you that "the 2008 WRX is the worst year for the WRX." To me, the fact that the car can be had for relatively low cost, plus the ease of power gains makes the 2008 an ideal mod platform in my eyes.

[Calvinball]

Welcome!

Welcome. We eagerly await your "should I put HID bulbs in foglight" & "should I smoke my taillight" & "which BOV should I get" & "which intake is best" & "should I tune for an intake" & "does your passenger side window & driver side window go down at the same speed,etc,etc,etc questions.

[Mikie13]

I mean.. I know it doesn't have the power, but any other logic here?
Is the 2009 tenfold better? Is the 2008 mechanically the worst or just the way it looks?

I mean if you're cool with the looks of it, then I suppose you'll be fine. But just remember you're going to be spending a lot of money modding to get performance similar to a 2009+ WRX...where as that same money modding ON a 2009+ WRX would yield even better results.

[craighoog]

I mean if you're cool with the looks of it, then I suppose you'll be fine. But just remember you're going to be spending a lot of money modding to get performance similar to a 2009+ WRX...where as that same money modding ON a 2009+ WRX would yield even better results.

The price difference here for roughly the same KMs is:
08 - $17,000
09 - $21,000

I love the look of the 08, so I figure I'll save the $4k and put that back into suspension and a turbo if I ever feel the need.

[Calvinball]

Have you driven it? That's the biggest issue. If you drive it and think it will suit your wants/needs, then that's the most important factor in the decision.

[craighoog]

I drove the 08. Haven't been in any other Subaru except a brief passenger seat ride in a Legacy.
I'm coming from a 2001 Civic with 300,000kms. Ask me how concerned I am about the suspension on a 2008 WRX