The Subaru WRX Just Isn't What It Used To Be... 

I guess I am fortunate, the VB is my first WRX and I love it. Fenders and all. I guess having a community is not important to me. I always give a nod to anyone who are also driving a WRX no matter the year and that is pretty much all you are going to get out of me. I don't drive the WRX to impress anyone - I just love to drive a sporty car and this is the best in my budget.

I think you’re missing the point of the ‘22-2’23 VB WRX; low cost engaging fun for the street WITHOUT the nannies everything else has. It’s a throwback to when the driver actually drove the car. It reminds me of my 2011 Triumph Speed Triple which only had ABS as a rider aid. Tuning is going away for everyone really, not just the VB. Yes, there are tons of normal cars which can do faster 0-60s stock, but they are all sterile and unengaging. I almost bought a Tesla to replace my Alfa Romeo Giulia, but the driving experience was numb despite the incredible acceleration so I ended up with the WRX before I am forced to only have an automatic or an EV as my enthusiast driver options.

Subaru isn’t trying to compete with other manufacturers anymore. That’s how it feels these days.

I went for a test rise of the new WX and I was sally disappointed at how boring it felt

Sold mine and got a i30N hatch, way more fun. it's been good Subaru but goodbye,

Typical cars have more power than ever. Typical driver still can't properly merge onto a highway. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

The Subaru community is definitely changing. The last 3 vb owners I’ve tried to wave at in my sti have ignored me. That itself is whatever, but it’s like the community has loss all respect for the sti, all you hear about is how much better and faster the vb is.

I think the wrx still checks alot of boxes for buyers but to maintain the hype and aura they would really benefit from going ham on a real STI worthy version. It would excite wrx owners knowing they could get an sti if they wanted to even if they end up going for more affordable wrx, since like I said it checks alot of boxes for buyers . If they keep bringing up the prices without more power numbers for sure it’ll be less and Less a good deal .

I have a 2015 Ftype r rwd. It has 40k miles and probably worth 35k. Bone stock i ran 11.39 at 125mph. Now with a tune and pulley it's around 640hp. But it's expensive to own if anything goes wrong and very little aftermarket support. Every car has a trade off

The WRX sold the most it has ever sold in 2023. Affordable, practical, AWD, good ground clearance, big trunk, great interior visibility and space, and economical to operate. Oh, and it's SUPER fun to drive! Subaru is not at the end of it's era, it just improved it's halo car to the best it's ever been. Nothing on the market competes with the VB WRX. Not the Corolla GR, not the Golf R and not the Elantra N. It is in a class of its own and it's awesome.

Transmission still the weak point

the tr and ts are a feaking JOKE...same car withdifferant color seat and a new cluster... $45k.. please

I always wonder about videos like this and how much nostalgia comes into play. I've talked to my son many times about seeing the IROC-Z for the first time. T-tops? Yes please. I'm have so many memories of that car from my childhood. That car was 155hp. I have a 2012 Focus as a daily and it has 160hp. Times changes. I do also agree some of today's cars need to be reinvented. I'm always amazing at how long it took Lexus to update their tech. I believe Toyota/Lexus used the same cruise control stick for 30+ years.

Main reason: the restrictions of emissions now. Totally out of Subaru’s control. I give them props for still trying their best in the world we live in now to produce a WRX. Every new generation of wrx has been hated by the subaru community for minimum of 3 years before they turn around and start loving it. Noone liked the bugeye when it came out. Noone liked the blob when it came out. Noone liked the va when it came out. But looking at it know every subaru enthusiast would take any one of those any day. Give it a couple years, the VB will be a hit.

Who cares about 0-60? Also hard disagree on the brz being not good anymore. Power doesn't mean anything. I daily motorcycles and 99.99% cars can't keep up with me. You will realise that power is pointless.

I think the prior target generation's (now 30-40) taste has evolved faster than the WRX has. I still enjoy my 2016 WRX but it's mostly high school kids that are telling me it's a cool nice or their dream car.

I agree that the wrx is not what it used to be, 90's JDM was a magical thing. I don't know of any of any brand that hasn't changed since then. I do still have passion for these cars, my biggest fear is to see the wrx go the way of the evo. I really hope they bring back the sti, maybe put a 6 cylinder boxer in it or something to make it competitive again. I am planing on modding my VA but I am waiting until the warranty is up. I still have 30k to go. I will say most wrx's that pass me still give a wave and that at least make me feel like there is still a community there...

I get the gist of your video. And I'm on your side. I feel the same way

Love my 22 wrx look at the competition them Cadilacs smoking everything.

Sounds like you should blaming the car market on what it wants, not Subaru who is trying to make good business.

Aftermarket parts are unreliable and low quality, That’s why people aren’t modding these cars, It’s not worth voiding your warranty and blowing up your engine or transmission only to drop 8 grand plus out of pocket to fix the car.

By now a WRX should've been making 350 HP from factory, and STi making 400 HP. That's what it needs to stay competitive with all the other basic turbo 4 cylinders out there.

You are correct. I bought a used Corvette for less than a new VB, and it outhandles and out powers the WRX and STi. And is more reliable. Now mind you I just bought a 2019 VA as a daily and I love it, but man the community is toxic. I had more than on one occasion a VB owner crap on my VA because they think the VB is a better platform. I mean it may be, but I just don’t get the point on why someone would need to be demeaning to another fellow WRX owner. I love the older WRXs. It’s funny because my Corvette does low 11’s with a NOVI Supercharger, but I don’t go crap on the VB because it’s slow. I think the VB is a tame car even compared to older WRXs. It certainly is not competitive in this market when a Camry has 300hp. And the BRZ is nowhere to be found locally for a MSRP price. I rather have a well taken care of used S2000 for that money. Performance cars have gotten so expensive it’s just not fun anymore when you can walk into a KIA dealership and buy a 300 grocery getter while your sport is neck and neck to that. . I do love that every single VA owner has waved at me with enthusiasm, so there are plenty of people that are keeping the community alive, we just need to enjoy these cars. If you can have that much passion for a car, then have passion for like minded fellow enthusiasts.

I regret buying my 22. It is boring as hell. It just isn't fun. I wish they made an STI and maybe I would have liked it more.

The average age of a new car owner is 50. Most manufacturers are definitely catering to that

True Hyundai passed us up competes with Type R

Last gen wrx was so harsh! lol 😂 why ppl freaking out… the stock suspension was absolute shit both in wrx and sti form…. Let’s be real… the suspension felt like third world country Uber car

People need to stop complaining about the Wrx 😂 I swear everyone does this for clickbait. Is it perfect? No, but it's a great car that can be made into a great car with minor modifications.

The only thing WRX has going is that manual transmission platform and cool ass body mods .That tuning isca catastrophe in the long run , Transmission is not the same as the STI

You gotta be an artard to spend almost 50k on a wrx 😂. The STI brand new used to be $36k just a few years ago! Subaru out here asking luxury performance sedan prices for a lower tier entry level "sports" college graduate sedan. You can literally get an M340i brand new for 5k more, a brand new IS350 F sport for 45k, a brand new Audi S4 for 50k, Subaru has lost their marbles 😂

You’re right. The problem is in the late 90s early 2000s, the WRX used to give Porsches a scare. I briefly considered the current WRX, ended up with a cheaper Sean’s hand Audi RS3. AWD ✅ luxury ✅ scares Porsches ✅

I agree with you car isn't what it use to be. I got away my whole driving life for 20 years in 2 door cars mainly mustangs GTs. I finally needed a 4dr and AWD didn't hurt. I bought my first import, 2022 WRX. Its fit and finish is way better than American cars. But it doesn't have that special hot sedan feel I was hoping to have. All these years seeing WRXs on the road. It handles better than any of my mustangs but car isn't engaging if that makes sense. Its a wonderful turbo grocery getter. But not a hot sports sedan was hoping to own. You pull up to a traffic light and an Evo actually pulls up, a 5 years newer WRX couldn't beat a stock Evo that is a minimum of 5 years old and thats a bit disappointing.

Subaru and Lexus are the Casios of the car world. At first, you hate them: Why are you still like the 90s? All slow and without the new gimmicks. Then it hits ya. That's all you really want. If you want an Apple watch, buy a Tesla. I don't need to access apps on my wrist or a heartbeat monitor thing... all I need is a retro Casio and the most analog driving experience a simple formula can provide: 6MT, -3500lbs, hand brake. Look at everyone drooling over an IS-F or the new IS500 because they are still doing the old school formula... slush box auto + 5.0L an V8... it's that or that weird crap Hyundai is doing with the IONIQ 5 N... which by the way, extremely fun cars, but Albert Biermann isn't behind the quality control dept... so he's essentially building ///M cars that will crumble in 6 years. The 2.4L boxer engine will outlive any N car. It's putting out low hp and has plenty of displacement to deal with it longterm. If you're bored after your warranty is out, just buy yourself an OTC Cobb tune and it's like your gf got brand new tits.

I was a big Subaru fan. In the last decade I’ve owned two WRX’s (2012/2015), a Crosstrek (2013), an Impreza (2016), and a BRZ (2020). In that time the competition has gotten better. In almost every category Subaru falls behind. Styling, reliability, performance, and price. I love Rally racing, I live in New England, I have a job that requires me to work regardless of weather. My commute changes nearly 1000 feet in elevation with twisty and steep hills throughout. And yet today not a single Subaru is in my garage. I replaced the Crosstrek with a 250hp CX-30 Turbo. The Crosstrek was just too slow. No power to get out of its own way. The interior styling is cheap and plastic. The head unit is awful and laggy, among the worst I’ve tested. I found the CX-30 had better styling, a better head unit, options that weren’t offered on the Crosstrek and most important, POWER I could use. Two years in and the CX-30 has handled bad weather and snow flawlessly. For standard commuting, it’s the better car front to back. I traded my BRZ for a Miata. Not much to say there. The BRZ was slow. You have to drive the car at its limit to truly feel engaged. In daily driving it’s disappointing at best. If I’m going to have a fixed roof and rear seats I’d rather buy something with more power. Instead the Miata is soooo much more exciting to drive. It has one of the best manual transmissions available in any car and despite being SLOOOW, it’s the most fun you’ll have at speed limit. My only regret is that I didn’t buy one sooner and wasted time in a BRZ. And lastly..my WRX. I traded mine away for an FK8 Type R. And I never looked back. And before you say anything about FWD, I bought a proper set of snow tires and that thing is a tank. No issues in bad weather. It beats the WRX (sorry, no STI to compare it to since, you know, it’s dead) in every way. And then I bought an FL5 Type R a few years later which only improved on the FK8. And man, compared to the Honda, the WRX feels like you’re shifting through a pile of rocks. It’s an absolute trash transmission. Just awful. And fully spec’d, a high trim WRX is only a few thousand less than a Type R…that’s embarrassing. When you’re a car enthusiast and not a brand loyalist it’s easy to see that Subaru is middle of the road at best in nearly every segment. And this comes from someone who, among friends even today, is referred to as “the Subaru guy”.

O'neal would disagree.

I think your point is a function of all jdm sportscars, not just the WRX. The WRX is by far the best JDM below $50K to me. A simple flash puts the car in its own league. But JDM cars did not keep up with the horsepower of muscle cars. The trade off is, muscle cars can't be your only car. The WRX can do it all.

You are right.

A inflation calculation shows a 04' WRX msrp equating to $40,000 today. I got my 23' base for $28,500 out the door I understand your point of the VB being different and not as "enthusiast" focused as previous gens but that doesnt take away from how good of a car the VB is. 0-60 in 5.8 seconds is due to gearing. You could easily achieve low 5s if 60 was in 2nd gear. Competition breeds innovation. Subaru has no competition in the WRX segment. What other company sells an AWD turbo manual sedan in the $30's? WRX's don't make sense past the premium trim if youre an enthusiast imo It sounds like the VB just isnt for you and thats fine. I love my VB as a affordable sporty daily and im coming from a VA STI.

What year does this "Not what it used to be" fall under? What year is the change? Or is it a progression? Also, is the AWD worse? I'm not sure I get that comment.

You are 100 percent right with what you are saying. Tbh, I should've just bought a truck. Subaru knows how to tank a model while earning as much revenue as possible while it’s on its way down. These cars are just boring. Yes, they are a good price compared to what’s out there, but lets be honest, they aren't worth the price tag. And lets not kid ourselves. 0-60 matters. Only people with relatively slow cars say otherwise.

Bro, just sell it, all you do is complain. My ThIrD GeAr Is bRoKen!

It's a bummer how much passion subaru lost making the WRX when Mitsubishi stopped making the EVO.

Redesign it. Make it special again and not just an overpriced Impreza. Stop with the EV nonsense. A winter car that can't winter is just a garage taker upper.

Subaru doesn't need to do anything really. You're getting older as are the rest of us who were practically kids when we got our first Subaru's and they have changed quite a bit from what we remember. A new generation has taken our place and last years sales were the second highest sales of the wrx. Green acts and cafe standards have a lot to do why they aren't pushing for more power and why the sti was ultimately scrapped. At the end of the day the wrx is less then 5% of Subaru's sales and they are a business, and focus more on what brings them sales, the masses are more important especially for a smaller company, that's why the plug is being pulled on the legacy. Its not just subaru, sedans are dying and so are the niche sports cars. Take a bugeye out for a drive and see how that drives compared to current and even last generation wrx's, yes they're a few hundred pounds heavier (power to weight ratio is over a pound less now) but you also stand a lot better chance surviving a crash now days and that base 2002 wrx was $24,000 new, today that's over $42,000.

living in the backwoods mountains of BC i think my 04 sti is still the best car i have ever seen in the dirt and snow. too poor to test drive a new one but the new sti n wrx people seem to think my ol junker is a "better car" even though it almost certainly isnt a better car... but it sure has its charms and does what it was made to do very well.

Some things are mutually exclusive. In particular comfortable car and fun car are never come together. Comfortable car is boring. Effortless driving is boring. Fun car is always annoying. Basic example - if manufacturer adds more sound deadening to your car, that will cancel annoying road noises but also you won't be able hear cool turbo whistles, engine ruble/roar and transmission whining. And that's what happened to hot hatch segment, they improved cars to the point where cars become dead boring. And computers contributed a lot to that failure, you don't control your car anymore, accelerator pedal does not control throttle valve in modern car, you use the pedal just to provide a recommendation to ECU and ECU feels free to ignore this recommendation completely to not let you stall or jerk and to make driving of MT car simple and smooth. That's also why and how stick shift cars near completely lost engine braking capability and again that made driving simple but made manual transmission pointless. Performance does not matter that much, think that first Golf GTI had just 120hp. Affordable performance cars were born from already engaging and connected cars by adding little of extra power just to stop those car to be completely helpless. But all other aspects of fun car were already present in cheap base models including weak noise cancellation. That's not a point anymore, there is no weak but connected cars on market, and there is nothing to make fun affordable cars from. Hot hatches are dead, wrx is dead as well.

that's why i have a hawkeye, 06-07 baby, sti of course

The VB is great. VA was a better drivers feel. Felt tighter all around

It's not just Subaru. The entire car world is changin, and that can be whittled down to government driven regulations along with much of the car buying public wanting SUVs. I'm currently driving a modded '05 WRX, and just last year I had to spend a crap ton of money to get it to pass emissions due to new testing regulations introduced by DEQ, and it passed just fine two years before. The GR Corolla is an option, but I'm a sedan guy and don't want a hatch, and it's looks are just as polarizing to me as the WRX. If I wanted a performance hatch, I'd go for a Golf R, and even that's around $50K out the door. At least the WRX is still a viable platform to mod and make it your own until government nannies finally put a stop to that, and you can bet it's coming fast. I'll probably be getting a new VB sometime next year, and my son will be transplanting my current drivetrain+ into his '01 GC.

I would have just deleted this video. Sounds like he needs to hit vtec for bit.

No Mitsubishi, no need for Subaru to improve anything especially in the HP department

WRX is the most faithful to original compared to everything else, other than Miata.

Sell your car mate lol rip

"Did you know" that Subaru is selling the WRX wagon (271hp) in Manual Transmission currently in Mexico, "but not" in the U.S. 🥺 😢 😭 Non desu ka Subaru, nanio

So much insecurity beta male here vibe