ouch for the sti:rotfl:

 

Yeah, all the dealers I have talked to in the proccess of getting my 09 WRX were not very happy about it's close performance to the STI. Basically why would people spend 10k more for very little to any performance? SOA told them the 6 speed Tranny is worth it, they weren't so sure. They are hoping for improvement on the STI next year.

 

Wow...impressive.

 

Am I missing something? It's not faster than the STI...

"Sixty mph comes in 4.8 sec, and the five-door, five-passenger hatchback we tested covered a quarter mile in 13.5 sec at 101.1 mph. That's near a second faster than last year's model and just a tenth slower than the 2008 STI. "

A tenth SLOWER. And as we know, the STI is more than 0-60 mph performance.

"WRX through our figure-eight in 26.3 sec and around the skidpad at 0.85 g. The figure-eight time is a near second improvement over the 2008 model, but six-tenths off the STI's time. "



Don't get me wrong, I am very impressed with the 09 WRX (actually should be picking mine up tonight!), but the STI was a completely different beast in terms of overall drive. It's much more substantial, direct shift linkage, huge brakes, DCCD, Si Drive, etc.

The 09 WRX was better suited to my daily needs, the STI felt almost over the top/overbuilt for my driving needs, and the $10K savings was more in line with my plans for the next few years. If I wasn't planning to go back to school in 2 years I would've picked up an STI no doubt.

 

Am I missing something? It's not faster than the STI...

...

The 09 WRX was better suited to my daily needs, the STI felt almost over the top/overbuilt for my driving needs

Exactly. I guess someone didn't read the article.

I'm with you on the WRX. The STI is a great piece of machinery, but it isn't suited to my needs. I was driving an Evo when my wife picked up the WRX. She looked at the STI, but after all the headaches of the Evo in terms of eating tires, harsh ride, eating brakes, and, well, less than mainstream styling, the STI just wasn't going to happen. It wasn't a money issue for us, it was a "hassle" and "do we really need another bleeding edge car" issue. We ended up trading the Evo for an suv, and I took the WRX. And I'm honestly happier with the WRX than I was with the Evo. And I'm sure it would have been the same if I'd been driving an STI. Better mileage, quieter, softer ride, much more low key look, and more comfort features, and better power delivery (stage 2, of course).

I'm glad Subaru bumped the WRX up for 2009 (still pissy they did it with no notice when we were shopping in late '07), but I do wonder if they're going to have issues selling the STI as a result. If I were shopping, today, I certainly wouldn't spend the extra $10k on an STI (until they make a corresponding jump in performance). The increase in performance is great, but from an investment standpoint it's a waste, for me, at least, simply because I value that extra 5-10% of performance at less than $10k. I also wonder if they're going to alienate any potential WRX buyers by bumping it up; I doubt it, but it's possible. I suppose those people who would have bought the WRX can always buy a Legacy or the GT, instead.

 

So....They are side by side with the 09 having a "license plate frame " edge?

 

Nice,Subaru is finally giving us a stage 2 WRX .

 

About time.

 

Transmission & Brakes

Has SOA solved the problem of a weak 5 Speed? There is your 10K difference. Better 6 speed transmission and bigger brakes.

 

Has SOA solved the problem of a weak 5 Speed? There is your 10K difference. Better 6 speed transmission and bigger brakes.

Certainly worth it for some...not really for me. I don't track my car, and don't really engage in activities that are beyond the capabilities of stock WRX brakes. The 6-speed would be nice for sure...but not worth a 10K premium.

 

Thank you SOA

 

But it IS faster than the STI. Only in the 0-60 test though.

Yes its true the STI is faster in all other tests (1/4...(barely)...slalom, figure 8, skid pad, etc etc etc) And yes the STI is a better all around package (Yes I would still buy a left over 08 if I could come up with another 5k)

BUT the 09 did test at 4.8 and the STI tested at 4.9. Yes this is just 0-60 but in this test it IS in fact quicker! I dont really see how you can argue its not.

The part you quoted about being almost a second slower was talking about being a "tenth slower" is in the 1/4 mile, not the 0-60.

It is one tenth QUICKER than the sti 0-60 and one tenth SLOWER than the sti in the 1/4.

Granted a 1/10 of a second is just that...not a huge amount. But still after seeing this this test (I trust their testing to be uniform, at least compared to themselves...kinda like dyno's) I feel comfortable saying the 09 wrx is "as fast" as the sti *(again, in the 0-60 department)

0-60 is where its at for me... And no if I got one I wouldnt try to repeat that 4.8 twice a week or the tranny and half shafts would be in pieces all of my local town. BUT even with a moddest/softer launch (not dropping the clutch) should be within half a second of their times (which would be 5.3) still a VERY respectable 0-60 time for not doing a half-shaft-raping launch.

Sure I would LOVE to have the handling/look (mmm Wide body ) and features of the STI (brembo's anyone?) BUT as a pure straight line performance stand point...the WRX takes the cake being 250 pounds lighter.

Now...if only the 5 speed can handle this power (plus hopefully a tune/exhaust) I will be all over this. I am going to let the general public be my guinea pig to see how many grenaded trannies these turn out.

 

Now...if only the 5 speed can handle this power (plus hopefully a tune/exhaust) I will be all over this. I am going to let the general public be my guinea pig to see how many grenaded trannies these turn out.

In terms of grenaded transmissions, it can't be too better off than tuned stage 2 WRXs from prior years. Plus, like you said, there's a big difference between a 4.8 and a 5.3 in terms of wear on the car. I'd bet hard street driving will be just fine for these cars.

 

Wow....that's pretty awesome. I didnt' expect it to be doing that well compared to an STi

 

very nice

A 13 second brand new car for 25k and all wheel drive unheard of guess mitsibuishi is gonna have to step their game up...

 

Ya...if I have AWD and a 13.5 second car that can pull 4.8 0-60's I dont think I can own the car and NOT do a launch a couple of times!

Now im not the type of person to be doing it at every stop light either. There is mention of the legacy gears in here, but that is still up in the air. Hopefully they will stand up to a few 1/4 mile passes and some moderately aggressive everyday driving. The thing that turns me off about the ms3 (besides the power falling flat on its FACE @ 5200 rpm) is that the motor's tend to pop occasionally (no fuel pump + mods = boom) also leaking/popping turbo's.

I am buying a NEW car for a NEW car warranty. I will be making damn sure I dont void it!

 

Launching these cars (1st gear) is not the issue. I don't think I've read one case of an '06+ WRX breaking 1st, it's primarily 3rd gear that breaks b/c of it's ratio and excess torque of the 2.5L.

 

Well when i bought my 06 WRX, 2 STIs were in the shop for 1st gear disintegrating because of abuse. If you push it hard enough...it will break. I'm sure the 5 speed wouldn't last as long as the 6-speed would.

Also I drive my car not like a normal person but not really abusive and after 15k miles apparently I have 95% break life in the back and 90% in the front. And having dedicated summer and winter tires will make them last twice as long. So wear on my car is fairly low.

As far as the new WRX, it is kinda making that $10k gap seem not worth it though...maybe they will surprise us with a 350 hp STI? Maybe even not be a hatchback?!?!...don't we wish...

 

I just find it silly to jump on the 0.1 second faster to 60 mph on one trial and saying it's a faster car.

0.1 is well within driver abilities. Yes it's the same mag, but different days different conditions possibly different locations etc etc etc

I mean if you want to magazine race I guess that's okay...

 

I'd actually say that 0.1 is actually quite a lot. I'm not a professional driver and my launches at a ProSolo are consistent to within a few hundredths.

 

It is not just the tenth of a second it is quicker than the STI... It is the fact the old 0-60 (08) was about a SECOND slower.

To drop a SECOND on the 0-60 time is HUGE. Not to mention a 26k dollar car doing a 0-60 in 4.8 regardless is impressive.

You can argue "magazine racing" on any car's times...but if you compare cars under the same testing (same place testing...ie motor trend) I have no problem comparing numbers. Sure half the 09 owners out there may only be able to squeak out a 5 flat or a 5.3...but its still nice to know what the car is truly capable of.

Same goes for the STI...so they say it pulls a 4.9...but the average driver (without a lot of practice) will probably be pulling 5.1's - 5.4's.

 

I think using the AP my highest was about 8 seconds 0-60. :rotfl: This was without launching and without banging gears(ie actually waiting for the rpms to drop).

Can anyone beat that?!?!.....didn't think so!

 

whatever the number- the 09 is pretty quick 0->60

R&T had the number at 5.1
the Subaru brochure at 5.4

 

Plainly awesome. I would expect given the weight to power ratio that the '09s should clock in around 5 secs for 0-60, give or take a few gear teeth.

 

2nd gear on the 5-speed reaches 62mph (at least it did on my bugeye).

the STi requires two shifts to reach 60mph.

i actually applaud Subaru for not F!*&$ng up the STi's gearing for the sake of the overanalyzed, ultimately useless 0-60 test.

 

you guys do realize that if you bought a new wrx right now for base price that it wouldn't be that fast. Motortrend said they had a as tested price of more than 28 grand, and subaru sells modifications for the wrx as extras. Therefore it is possible that the wrx tested by motortrend had things like subies short throw shifter etc. So you can't just say that the new wrx is that quick right away, other cars could be that quick with a few mods too. It is still a really awesome car.

 

good point on the extra shift

the model they had was the premium, thus the extra cost

the base model weighs less and could possibly even faster yet

the only option to make the car any faster would be the SPT cat back- would guess a 10 hp-ish gain from the freeing flower cat back

 

Here we go...



I knew it wasn't long before the same crap I read at NASIOC spilled over here.

 

Since when did Motor Trend start printing numbers that were at all realistic, reliable, or trustworthy?

 

09 wrx dyno - AOL Video

230/272... I love under-rating

 

09 wrx dyno - AOL Video

230/272... I love under-rating

nice!!