Talk me out of getting a new WRX

2843 Views 20 Replies 11 Participants Last post by pizza_pablo, Aug 27, 2016

Doctor Jeff

Discussion Starter · Aug 9, 2016

I'm probably crazy for thinking about getting another, since I've "moved on", but it's like the old flame you can't put out of your mind...

After my 2012 got stolen almost 2 years ago, I got a 2011 BMW X3 35i for not much more than a new WRX. It was a nice purchase--a definite upgrade in the amenities, and with plenty of speed and power to boot. A more refined ride as well. And yet...not quite as much fun to drive. It isn't as light or as maneuverable. And (except for long highway drives and stop and go traffic) I REALLY miss the manual tranny.

And, I am out of warranty now, and the BMW is EXPENSIVE to maintain. I spent $850 on an oil filter housing gasket leak earlier this year, a very common BMW problem.

So I am thinking about a new WRX. It would have to be a Limited with the HK stereo upgrade and short shifter, etc., because, well, I do have an image to maintain...

I was keen on an STI for awhile, but that might just be a bridge too far--I need a versatile daily driver, not a track car, and I'm a little old to be speeding like a maniac and getting pulled over by every cop who needs to fill a quota. And the road in the Midwest are horrible, so the "less sensitive" suspension of the WRX would probably be a plus.

What do you think? Am I crazy?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

jondotcom

· #2 · Aug 9, 2016

going through something similar here.

Here are some cons of the WRX to help you out:

WRX is expensive to insure due to idiotic boy racers
WRX gets poor gas mileage
WRX is ugly
WRX is a ticket magnet
WRX interior is worse than a corolla

Don't get me wrong. In spite of all that it looks like I'm getting another one

SD_GR

· #3 · Aug 9, 2016

Life is too short to own German cars.

That said, the main fault of German cars is the very same fault shared by almost all other cars: They are not made by Honda.

Buy an Acura instead. Forget "mods" and "meets" and "rims" and advice by the brosephs online.

Just IMO.

Firefighterjake

· #4 · Aug 9, 2016

I'm not so sure about some of your cons . . . or at least in my experience the cons were either not there or not all that bad.

jondotcom said:
going through something similar here.

Here are some cons of the WRX to help you out:

WRX is expensive to insure due to idiotic boy racers . . . I pay a little bit more now, but I went from a 2003 Accord to a brand new 2015 WRX. It was not a huge increase or what I would have considered expensive to insure by any stretch. In fact, it was cheaper than insuring a Civic SI . . . but not by much..

WRX gets poor gas mileage . . . True, and granted I am talking about a 12-year-old car, but on the average I have only lost 4-5 mpg and seem to be averaging around 30 mpg with the WRX compared to the old Accord . . . and for the performance I am OK with that gas mileage.

WRX is ugly . . . Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've always liked the look of the WRX in whatever form it took. Other folks may find it ugly. Then again I have one friend who loves PT Cruisers and another who likes VW Westys -- both of which I find ugly, but it really is a personal thing.

WRX is a ticket magnet . . . Not around here. In the year plus I've been stopped exactly once . . . and that was because I was going 10 mph over the speed limit. Police officer was decent and just gave me a warning. If you keep your foot out of the throttle and drive responsibly I am pretty sure I can say law enforcement will not target a driver simply because they are in a WRX.

WRX interior is worse than a corolla. Perhaps . . . I haven't been in a late model Corolla . . . interior of the WRX for me is fine. I didn't buy the car to sleep in it or live in it. I bought it because it gave me the performance that I wanted at a price I can afford . . . and offers the practicality of driving a sporty car year round regardless of the weather. For the life of me I still don't understand folks that dislike the interior . . . I mean it's not like a 1980s vintage Chevy Malibu . . . and again when I am in the car I am driving the car, not analyzing the interior design.

Don't get me wrong. In spite of all that it looks like I'm getting another one . . . Good choice.

Firefighterjake

· #5 · Aug 9, 2016

Doctor Jeff said:
I'm probably crazy for thinking about getting another, since I've "moved on", but it's like the old flame you can't put out of your mind...

After my 2012 got stolen almost 2 years ago, I got a 2011 BMW X3 35i for not much more than a new WRX. It was a nice purchase--a definite upgrade in the amenities, and with plenty of speed and power to boot. A more refined ride as well. And yet...not quite as much fun to drive. It isn't as light or as maneuverable. And (except for long highway drives and stop and go traffic) I REALLY miss the manual tranny.

And, I am out of warranty now, and the BMW is EXPENSIVE to maintain. I spent $850 on an oil filter housing gasket leak earlier this year, a very common BMW problem.

So I am thinking about a new WRX. It would have to be a Limited with the HK stereo upgrade and short shifter, etc., because, well, I do have an image to maintain...

I was keen on an STI for awhile, but that might just be a bridge too far--I need a versatile daily driver, not a track car, and I'm a little old to be speeding like a maniac and getting pulled over by every cop who needs to fill a quota. And the road in the Midwest are horrible, so the "less sensitive" suspension of the WRX would probably be a plus.

What do you think? Am I crazy?

Usually when folks come here asking us (avid WRX drivers) to talk them out of buying a WRX what they really are writing is "I really, really, really want a WRX" so help me justify buying one."

You don't go to the crack house and ask the dealer to recommend a good method to stop using . . .
When you want to lose weight you don't go to the bakery and ask the baker for advice as to what to eat . . .
And when you want to have someone talk you out of buying a specific car you don't go to a forum dedicated to that car and ask them to talk you out of buying one.

So yeah . . . you know you want one . . .

Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.

Might as well plunk down the cash now and get 'er ordered. No need to explain why you want one or why you think you don't need one. If the finances are good, just do it.

rqjoe

· #6 · Aug 9, 2016

jondotcom said:
WRX gets poor gas mileage
WRX is ugly

Either you drive like a maniac or you are talking about the <14 cars. The 15+ WRXs can get 30-35 actual mpg (up to 38 indicated on the screen.)
Thinking any given car is ugly is OK but is a personal preference thing; you are in the minority thinking WRXs are ugly, though.

rqjoe

· #7 · Aug 9, 2016

Don't do it.
I hate mine.
It gets really shhitty mileage (mine only gets 34 calculated.)
The AWD system sucks; worst one out there.
The 6-speed shifter is such a pain; too many gears; could be texting instead.
Have to slow down way too much for turns; damn thing slides all over the road.
Way underpowered; can't seem to get going.
Sounds like crap; way too quiet.
All the kids hate it; looks like crapp.
Don't do it.

Doctor Jeff

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 9, 2016

Firefighterjake said:
You don't go to the crack house and ask the dealer to recommend a good method to stop using . . .
When you want to lose weight you don't go to the bakery and ask the baker for advice as to what to eat . . .
And when you want to have someone talk you out of buying a specific car you don't go to a forum dedicated to that car and ask them to talk you out of buying one.

LOL!

BaconRaygun

· #9 · Aug 9, 2016

jondotcom said:
going through something similar here.

Here are some cons of the WRX to help you out:

WRX is expensive to insure due to idiotic boy racers

This might just be you. My WRX is [significantly] cheaper to insure than the 2011 sentra I leased before it.

jondotcom said:
WRX gets poor gas mileage
WRX is a ticket magnet

Compared to a similar FWD car, yes, but it's really not that bad, especially the 2015+ models. I personally have not experienced this alleged "ticket magnet" label that the WRX has been slapped with, but my car is also not obnoxiously loud and stanced like most of the Japanese imports around here, so that may be a contributing factor.

jondotcom said:
WRX is ugly
WRX interior is worse than a corolla

Don't get me wrong. In spite of all that it looks like I'm getting another one

IDK man, the newer ones do look sort of like a camry mixed with a honda accord, but, ugly?

Jskibo

· #10 · Aug 9, 2016

My 2017 WRX is $22 less a year to insure than my 2004 530i.....Go figure

TheJ

· #11 · Aug 9, 2016 (Edited)

SD_GR said:
... Forget "mods" and "meets" and "rims" and advice by the brosephs online.

Just IMO.

This coming from you made me lol and think of this:

For the record I do not use or endorse gieco but some of their commercials are funny.

JaySin

· #12 · Aug 9, 2016

rqjoe said:
Either you drive like a maniac or you are talking about the <14 cars. The 15+ WRXs can get 30-35 actual mpg (up to 38 indicated on the screen.)
Thinking any given car is ugly is OK but is a personal preference thing; you are in the minority thinking WRXs are ugly, though.

I'm averaging 21.3 mpg over my first 6k miles. All I gotta say about that. 50/50 driving...CVT, usually in S mode. I don't beat on it too often. That's with the Fuelly calculation. It's identical to my 3.7 V6 330hp G37 coupe. My best was 23 mpg.
:dontknow:

rqjoe

· #13 · Aug 9, 2016

JaySin said:
I'm averaging 21.3 mpg over my first 6k miles. All I gotta say about that. 50/50 driving...CVT, usually in S mode. I don't beat on it too often. That's with the Fuelly calculation. It's identical to my 3.7 V6 330hp G37 coupe. My best was 23 mpg.
:dontknow:

I should say it took about 9 months / 13,000 miles for mine to get up to the high mpg. I still got high 20s/low 30s in the beginning, but after 9 months it was almost like it finally broke in and the mpg went up even more. My driving is not all highway but is mostly so.

SD_GR

· #14 · Aug 9, 2016

TheJ said:
This coming from you made me lol and think of this:
For the record I do not use or endorse gieco but some of their commercials are funny.

My fav was "brofessor."

Great dialect.

BaconRaygun

· #15 · Aug 9, 2016

JaySin said:
I'm averaging 21.3 mpg over my first 6k miles. All I gotta say about that. 50/50 driving...CVT, usually in S mode. I don't beat on it too often. That's with the Fuelly calculation. It's identical to my 3.7 V6 330hp G37 coupe. My best was 23 mpg.
:dontknow:

Wow, with a 15+ CVT. I drive a 2014 model and I'm averaging around 23mpg, 50/50 driving, and plenty of typical long island/NYC metro area traffic. On long trips (which I frequently take), I average 27mpg cruising at 70. Anything over 70 and the mpg tanks. Even with a big fishing kayak strapped to my roof, I still manage around 24-26 on long trips.

Family friend has a 2016 WRX with the CVT, he says he gets an average in the high 20s. Same goes for my buddy who had a 2015 6MT.

Perhaps you're just used to the way your G37 feels off the line, causing a bit of lead foot when in the WRX?

JaySin

· #16 · Aug 9, 2016

BaconRaygun said:
Perhaps you're just used to the way your G37 feels off the line, causing a bit of lead foot when in the WRX?

It's certainly possible! I do miss that off the line go power. Great engine.
My realtime MPG is usually around 25-27 mpg with the highway part of my commute. The issue is the other half is a lot of stop n' go.

Sent from my iBrain using telepathy

NY Styles

· #17 · Aug 10, 2016

I wont, Im ganna tell you to get one, this is my second. Im with the member that 'rebutted' your cons. Personally Im just a Subaru nerd. haha.

I love the old but I love the new and all its forms over the years except for the hatch, just not a fan but can appreciate those that love them for sure. Some look pimp.

Going from a 2004 to the 2017 is luxury to me. haha. I love it so much more now as its a more 'refined' body style for me but has that 'meaty look' and 'pep' I love. Yeah I said 'pep'... ha ha.

Im a chic in my 40's... I dont look it but my style/taste has changed.. the wing, big scoops and some colors just dont 'fit' me anymore. I still love it but love the 'new' more now a days.

My first Rex was the classic WRX blue with wing and scoop.

As much as its changed over the years its a car you Drive and can tweak the crap out of, that has not changed and its a fun one ta boot.

Doctor Jeff

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 11, 2016

This is really a crush thing. The BMW I own is like the posh girl I decided to settle down with and raise a family--attractive, well-bred, refined, practical--high maintenance though. The brain says just be happy.

The WRX is like the hot chick I went out with in high school--not highbrow at all, cute in a certain kind of way, rough around the edges, cheap date, but does love to party.

I was planning on, I mean thinking about, a 2017 Limited in Lapis Blue. But then I came across this 2013...

View attachment 268034

I LOVE that color. Not me really, but still. Definitely an attention-getter.

pizza_pablo

· #19 · Aug 27, 2016 (Edited)

So..... What has occurred, in the last two weeks? \_0_/
Update?

PS, you never did tell us if you're an actual doctor, or just pay one on TV.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Doctor Jeff

Discussion Starter · #20 · Aug 27, 2016

pizza_pablo said:
So..... What has occurred, in the last two weeks? \_0_/
Update?

PS, you never did tell us if you're an actual doctor, or just play one on TV.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Haha, I am an actual doctor (Infectious Diseases)--wish I could play one on TV, maybe a reboot of House??

I haven't pulled the trigger yet. Still looking at my options. My fiancee absolutely doesn't like the used tangerine that I was keen on, so I doubt I'll get that one, but I will probably order a 2017 Premium in a month or so. DGM with short shifter. Then will upgrade the stereo.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

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