I remember when I was looking to buy my STI the dealerships were truly a nightmare for younger guys and I get it. I was in a good financial place to buy an STI but no one would let me drive one until I went into a dealership and they didn't even have an STI but they had a WRX. they threw me the key and let me go for a test drive even without a salesman. Needless to say they got my business. They told me about an incoming limited edition STI and I waited for it to come in and ended up purchasing it. Them being willing to treat me like a person instead of a stupid "kid" coming in to beat on their cars meant the world to me.
Had a similar experience when I was deciding between a mustang or a wrx. I went into the ford dealership first and asked to test drive a mustang, the salespeople said I could only test drive it if I put down a down payment. I told them I’m not putting any money down for a simple test drive and left. Another salesperson chased me out to the lot and saw my previous car, and then he said a mustang was a huge upgrade from my previous car, and then I told him that’s why I needed an upgrade but they just lost my business. I went with the wrx and never looked back
When i was 18 i walked into a Subaru dealership and they blew me off like i couldn’t afford anything they sold granted i was a kid but could buy the car amost in cash. I ended up with the 06 EVO and have been searching for a similar car every since i sold my evo back in the day. May finally forgive subaru for there oversight and give this thing a try.
As an owner of a 2022 VB WRX, I do agree that it's not as raw as previous generations. But I was surprised by the overall driving dynamics; it is much quieter and "softer" making it a perfect daily driver. Then again, it depends on what you are looking for so you have valid points 🤙
@RJWebber13 I love my grey VB so far. I will never do performance mods to it. Out of the box it will keep up with a stock sti, that's good enough for me. Just protective mods like door sill guards, tuxmats, oem mud flaps etc. Will probably also do a 4th brake light.
Based on my situation and lifestyle, having a 2021 STI is a major blessing. It's just my toy that I can enjoy when the time and conditions are perfect. It 'only' took me 18 years to get one, and it was coincidental that I was able to afford it in their last model year. Manual transmissions and 3rd pedals for life, maybe they can bury me in my STI someday...? Happy travels, enjoying your content as always.
The biggest thing I think I'd want out of the new WRX looks aside, is the STI transmission, brakes, and steering rack. Even if it means we can't go beyond 300hp for CAFE/EPA stuff just gives an already solid motor the rawness it deserves.
Just bought a VB. I previously owned a Bugeye, 13 wrx, 15 wrx, and 16 Sti.. Honest opinion is the VB feels the best. The increased comfortability is perfect for someone in mid 30s with kids.
If the VB came with an sti version, I would've bought it. But it wasn't a choice, so I bought a vb wrx. Used vehicle is not an option for me personally, especially not a used sti! I want a car that I know from day 1 that was broken in properly by me.
Just bought a 2024 Limited in silver. I dont mind the plastic cladding. Will be great for winter and road salt. Rust is always bad around the wheel wells and under the doors. Same for dirt roads. Way less paint chipping. As for handling, you dont need any more than what it has around here. Lots of twisting roads. Its easy to rip 25mph marked corners at 50 with some left over.
Never owned an sti but have owned 2 ej forester xt manuals with full bolt ons with vf39 turbos. A 2018 wrx. Was daily driving 2016 forester xt and a 2022 brz. Test drove the vb and decided to trade in brz and sell the 2016 forester. Maybe im getting old but i loved the comfort of the vb as a daily but still had the manual transmission and tuning capabilities. The larger interior is plenty for my 3 kids. I was not a fan of the exterior like most but its growing on me!. And if were nitpicking the 2021's interior hasnt chnaged since 2015?? Its ancient, like the ej. Lol 😂
I kind of like the more raw feeling and I’ve honestly been tempted to trade in my 21 WRX for an older one to get more of that. The steering just gets more and more of a numb feeling. The other thing that I think people are forgetting about is the limitations. Yes, the FA24 has good potential and it can make that power more reliably than the FA20 since they beefed up the connecting rods. But that 380~ torque limit was only half of the issue. The other half is the trans, which the VB inherits from the VA. Nobody has had experience with these issues yet obviously because all of the cars have barely any miles on them. I foresee a massive influx of people blowing their transmissions in the somewhat near future
hopefully they can fit the sti driveline into VB chassis like pretty much every other gen can. if that thing can be easily made to fit or fits natively, it would be a massive upgrade and you're gonna start seeing those prices soar
I came from a 2020 wrx to a 2022 wrx. Stock for stock after having the car for over a month is noticeably faster, the fun ceiling is way higher. In the Va you can hit 22 psi at 4k in 2nd gear, it felt so fun but you were only going 40 mph lol. With the VB the boost comes on later and dosent taper off so you kind of have to push it harder. The fun is near redline with the vb.
Thanks for the feed back , I’ve been in Subies for 20 years . I ordered a 2023 limited , always wanted a wrx , I lost a little love for it tul I saw a color trim paint match , fell back in love . I also wanted a manual ( over the CVT on my 2013 legacy ) . No plans to mod right away . But a major factor for me to stay in the brand is the “ symmetrical all wheel drive “ esp living in the Catskill Mts ! Btw love the channel .. keep at it .
Im not a car enthusiast, nor have I owned something of this caliber, but damn, its a nice car to drive, going from a 2008 forrester to a 2022 wrx, the difference is (unsurprisingly) huge
In your case, definitely a big step up. I’m mainly speaking to the diehard Subaru car enthusiasts that have experience in the previous gens. Someone coming into the vb as their first wrx, definitely a different experience overall.
@@Scoobyfreak86 ya and im really impressed, I dont really mind the looks of it, but pictures definitely don't do it justice, overall, I liked this review
I agree Chris, the 22 did grow on me a bit. I actually always liked the front of the car but the cladding still bothers me as well. I’m glad I got my 21 sti from my 15 wrx.
I'll stick with my 18 STI. Like you said, the feel of the car can't be beat. I think some people are just sold on the idea of getting quick power out of the FA24 with an access port and a few bolt ons.
Not gonna lie, I was happy to get back onto my STI after a VB test drive. The VB will need some mods just to get it to a nice place. Short shifter being the first. That lowwwww rev limit being the second. 1st gear ended wayyy too soon. Wonder why sonlow rev limit. Everything else was OK. Steering was too light compared to STI though. The big thing. It just didn't feel 'special'. I am still debating getting one though lol.
Sti every time buddy..I’ve had 2016 sti , now upgraded to 2019 sti I just love everything about this car not saying there’s a problem with Wrx or anything but I prefer sti all day .
We bought a 2020 STI limited in December with 17k miles. Couldn’t be happier. I absolutely hate the rear styling of the new WRX. I hate all the black plastic cladding on the wheel arches and rear bumper. Also didn’t see any that had the suede interior and recaro seats like our STI has.
So my VB has an STI transmission with the Rotora's and she's my daily. My VA puts down 740hp on e70 and gets 9mpg so that's my weekend warrior. The VB does spool instantly and is insanely fun. I think the torque in the VB is nuts done correctly. I maybe will drive the VA a maximum of 1000 miles a year. Just pay her off and get a VB in my opinion.
I am a VA series WRX owner. Get it or the big brother VA STI. More upgrades right now that will increase power durability and reliability. Or wait years for maybe the aftermarket to maybe put the same effort into the VB.
@2015 WRXMAN I personally will never mod my vb. But curious, what mods for the va increase power and reliability at the same time? That sounds like a fairytale to me.
@@steve8803 Number 1 for reliability on the DIT 2.0 FA a Fluidampr for the crankshaft. Secondary vibrations at high revs are let us say bad for engines and leave it at that. Fluidampr provides an excellent technical explanation. It is common knowledge that DI engines have valve fowling problems as the the valves are not washed by the fuel. An AOS or catch can dramatically reduces this problem. From IAG "oil coats the internal portions of the intake, intercooler, and piping. This oil may cause premature failure of rubber or silicone hoses, which leads to failed connections" Fowled valves rob performance, fuel economy and in turn effect reliability. An EGR delete also has the same positive impact. Air with combustion particulate is not circulated. An engine is a giant air pump. The more oxygen rich cool air you can get in and hot gas out with the least amount of restrictions is optimal for power. So better flowing intake, charge pipe, intercooler, exhaust header and exhaust all increase power output when even slightly higher boost pressure is introduced. An engine that can breath easier doe not work as hard is less stressed and becomes more reliable. Of course if you thrash your car constantly which is tempting when your car performs better you can lose some of that reliability and durability. Lastly regardless of how powerful the engine is BHP it is the losses incurred along the way to the wheels WHP that steal available power transmitted to the ground. That plus sprung and unsprung weight. Driveline upgrades remove power transfer losses, so stiffer engine mounts, stiffer transmission mount and differential mount and bushings reduce losses. Aftermarket brakes are lighter as are aftermarket rims. Less rotational mass means more power is transmitted to the ground versus getting the wheels moving. A one piece carbon fiber drive shaft also does this too. Less rotational mass means better power transfer. On the STI a carbon fiber driveshaft removes 12 lbs! The one I have on my WRX does not provide the same weight loss, roughly 3 lbs if memory serves. So that was way longer than I intended but I got on a roll, lol. Hope that answers the inquiry. Also Chris has talked about some of these very modifications and their benefits on his channel.
I could have gotten a 2021 sti and I love the ej's for sure and would love to have another ej wrx again but the truth is that the fa24 has really been improved. Beehive valve springs, thicker cylinder walls, stronger rods just to Name a few things. So me, I had to go with the future instead of sticking myself in the past for a $35,000 to $40,000 car. I believe in subaru and I believe in the fa24. The motor is seriously dialed back with the stock tune. Of course it does still have the older transmission but that's not too expensive to replace if you do It yourself. People need to understand that if you modify any car then you will be breaking things and replacing things, it's all part of the game. People want to treat their car like a race car but race cars are constantly getting motors replaced. You want a reliable car then don't mess with it, simple as that
I ruined my 2018 WRX for street use with an IAG big motor build w/ an ETS 6466 and I rushed and purchased a 2022 white premium WRX as my daily driver. The 2022 is nice and yes entirely different. Other than the name it's a huge step in the right direction.
Unfortunately the vb wrx isn't even best in class anymore- the Elantra N is a much better driving experience compared to the vb wrx, and that is a sad sight to see. The vb wrx should not even be compared to the older generation STI, STI is a better starting platform for performance with brembos, dccd, suspension, and more power from stock.
I was looking at the Elantra N, but living in New England there’s nothing else in the price range that’s manual with AWD. The VB was the clear winner. Extremely happy with it
I only wish you would have gotten more time with the car, and was able to open it up and do more, a lot of assumptions were made with so little time in the car lol! Good video though!
I didn’t make any assumptions. I formulated my opinion the same way anyone else test driving a car would. The day I bought my STI was the first time I ever truly driven one. I have a pretty good indication of what a car is like before even driving it. It felt exactly the same as the outgoing gen, just with more fluff on the interior. Opening it up more wouldn’t have changed my mind. Although a nicely modified one could change that.
Not sure what the price differences are where you are, but the STI was about 20k more than the 2022 WRX, and quite frankly at that price point (65k CAD) that's Audi S3 or BMW territory, and after test driving both, the price difference was not worth it. Definitely liked the look and sound of the STI though ;)
I wreaked my 2019 WRX that I bought brand new 3 weeks ago. Looked at a 2022 WRX almost got it but I found a 2020 STI with a couple mods and didn’t look back. The 2022 is nice and with a couple mods makes good power but the rear end is just a miss for me.
I love my vb but I do have coilovers and tuned on e30. Stock ride height makes the car look terrible. With the right boost and fuel settings the car is much better to drive than it does on the stock tune
They’re out there! I got a 2016 STI with less than 30k miles for $30k. Completely stock and very well taken care. Just keep looking! All I’ve done so far is an axle back because believe me, the car is too quiet stock.
Amen brother great minds think alike you hit all the good points I’m very interested to see the reliability of this WRX with these companies throwing a ton of power at them these cars WRX not STI motors we’re not built to handle a ton of power not to mention they have the Exact Same 6speed trans as the VA now if u STI SWAP it like I did mine I think there cold be more potential but the stock internals of the 2.4 holding up is what I want to see run 350 hp n 330 lbs of TRQ for 65000 miles and then let’s talk about if the car is reliable thanks for the video man I’m right there with you on everything you said only time will tell
I previously owned a 21' STI and a 22' base VB before so I can chime in unbiased. In my opinion, the VB WRX is about 90-95% of what the VA STI is while being noticably cheaper. The 5-10% that puts the STI ahead is the transmission, hydraulic steering, and rawness. All of which the VB aftermarket cant fully address anytime soon. If Subaru releases a facelift and performance package for the VB then ill likely comeback to the platform. Until then, Ill gladly be enjoying my miata lol
This puts me at ease , I recently totalled my 19 sti, and 22 wrx seems like the only option though I know I'm gonna miss that transmission and steering feel lol
@@alexthesaxman6219 The 22 is such a good daily. Youll get used to the lighter steering and might even be shocked at how quick it is. Only thing for me that I truly missed with the VB was the UEL rumble
I an sticking with my 21 STI, not a fan of the new style of the WRX crosstrek hybrid thing that they went with, not a fan of the interior and the huge screen that looks so out of place, not a fan of direct injection engines with all of the carbon issues and expensive replacement injectors and fuel pumps,, expensive intake cleaning, not a fan of all of the plastic engine parts that are garbage, and last but not least, the Sti transmisson and drivetrain are awesome to drive and row through the gears
Just remember guys if you planning to buy a VB WRX 2022\2023 there are issues with RV engine starvation even as early as the first 3k miles and it’s pretty bad
I don't know man, these cars are pretty Legit. My only gripe is they didn't option LSD. But Cusco makes drop in front and rear LSD. Pastrana definitely put the car through its paces: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--GLH_KhZ5iM.html
@@Scoobyfreak86 That's a good point. I do wish the WRX platform had more adjustability in that regard. I drove a Type R which sat down quite low at its lowest setting, but also could be adjusted to sit as high (and higher) as in my STI.
Tuning potential yes. I think the fa24 is just a better motor overall comparing the fa20. Looks wise, I’ll be giving the W for the VA. Perfect combo would be the va chassis with the fa24 motor.
The front of the new wrx is nice. Kind of a updated from last gen but the rest ofnthe car is terrible looking in my opinion. From the flat black plastic well arches to the Honda civic rear end. Not a fan at all.
It’s already selling like crazy. They come and go very quickly on the lots. Should be interesting in the summer months once the type r prices come down to normal amounts. Also the gr corolla is available too.
The VB has the best motor so far is what it seems like, I also like the interior, I just cant get behind the overall aesthetic, I'm hoping for a facelift version in the future and then maybe I'd consider it. Otherwise for the price you can get into a 2018-2021 Audi S4 for similar money and you get alot more car
So it seems. But time will tell how it holds up. The fa in the va was the same way and everyone was going crazy with it. Just to find out a few years later it has its limits.