5 Reasons Why I Picked My WRX... Glimpse Inside the Buying Process

Many people often ask me a seemingly harmless question: “why did you get your WRX?” Otherwise, the other question I get is “Why didn’t you get an STi?” or the similar “why didn’t you get an Evo?”

Well, to answer this question truthfully, and in expansive detail, I’m writing this article… But first, a quick review of how it came to be…

That car? She barely looks familiar to me, now, with all of the changes she has undergone. But, I was smitten from the onset. I was there to see a 2010 WRX (one without the wide body) when the salesman told me, given my interests, that he had a 2011 WRX (with the widebody) for less than the 2010. The 2011 has much wider tires, and more power.

Reason #1: Price

Oh yes. This was the least expensive GR chassis hatch in my area. I wanted the hatchback, and I wanted the GR chassis. Not only was it the most inexpensive GR chassis, but it was actually cheaper than the GP chassis with similar mileage and less power and less impressive (more refined, less Subaru-esque) styling.

I understood that I was getting a car whose paint was imperfect and which was imperfect. The roof is stained with some Pepsi-coloured smears. But, I desired this: the rally enthusiast within me was excited to have a turbo, without the rarity of the GG chassis WRX parts and with the existing fender flares of the GR chassis. I wanted a cheap-to-maintain car with imperfections. Why? Well, because - as a rally enthusiast, amateur rally driver and rally driver in training, I knew that I would be beating the hell out of the bodywork anyways. Gravel? Done it. Jumps? Done it. Snow? You get the idea. I never intended for this to be a pavement queen (to do so would be boring and would be a complete waste of my time and money. I’d rather daily drive a Hyundai Accent if I didn’t care about having fun and learning to improve my driving… This would free up even more funds towards the Alfa Romeo 75, the actual rally car.

But, this was all besides the main point: I couldn’t afford an Evo X, although the gorgeous styling and S-AWC system did appeal to me. And, I knew about Subaru from my first car, which I also bought for the express purpose of beating on. I damned near killed that car so many times, and it just kept going. I was impressed with Subaru reliability. I didn’t know what to think of Mitsubishi’s reliability - the stories are a wide range, and don’t generally only apply to modified cars. Subaru cars will run for a long time, if they are maintained well and not modified extensively. If they are maintained perfectly and the engine is barely modified at all? It will last 300,000 km. without a doubt.

The point is: Subaru makes a car which is affordable within my market and given my budget. The only dollar-per-dollar equivalents were much less sporty and were much less desirable.

Reason #2: the Colour, Appearance and Allure…

The next reason? I knew that at least some women (including my girlfriend, whom, for all intents and purposes, shall carry the nickname Ms. Melons within this website,) would appreciate the styling of it. Black on black with red accents? Oh, that’s a tough style to beat.

Yes, it’s a little rough, but it still turns heads. Some people may be looking at the rally damage (front bumper is hanging limply, and stainless skid plate is rattling), but most are genuinely interested in the style of the car.

Reason #3: The AWD System and 5 Speed Gearbox

Yes, I know. The WRX’s AWD system only shares some of the legendary STi’s AWD system… In fact, only the front limited slip differential… The rear? It’s an open system, and the middle is a mechanical symmetrical system that always transmits the same power to the front and rear. The bias is said to be 41% FWD/59% RWD. That closeness to the 50/50% middle ground makes it a surprisingly good handling car, despite the “3 tire fire” differential setup that I have happening now (until I replace the rear differential…)

I know it’s not the most immense setup, but it was half the price of the STi for both insurance and outright cost. And, the STi isn’t even entirely better… It’s not as great for one simple reason: I prefer my 5 speed gearbox and non-dynamic AWD system. Yes, the STi’s system is slightly faster/grippier… But it’s less predictable. It does not always send power the same way. I would prefer to be able to predict and calculate for a car, versus having maybe a tenth of a second more in terms of outright pace. That tenth of a second can be made up by being a better driver, you see. I proved that, when I passed an STi hatch in my WRX hatch in that same rainy track day pictured above. I was drifting and having way more fun, and yet I still passed the STi, whose driver was aiming for fast laps. I was faster than that guy, in a slower car, while mucking about, than he was in his faster car while being serious. My tires? They were some rubbish, stretched, stance-crap tires that the car came with, which were nearly bald. How could it possibly be, that I was that much faster? It all came down to experience. I had more experience than the STi driver ever will. Maybe he’s still paying so much for insurance that he can’t afford as much experience as I have?

Reason #4: The Bolt Pattern on the Wheels

It seems incredibly obvious, that when you want to build a “rally beater” car, you want to downsize your wheels, and put on some cheap, sturdy, very strong wheels, and then really splurge on great tires. So, that’s what I did.

I had some 5x100 bolt pattern Subaru wheels lying around. I wanted a Subaru. I researched which Subaru cars had which bolt patterns… STi has 5x114.3. WRX has 5x100. Hmmmmmm, I can save even more money! Look at that! Economical/frugal decisions now will help me to buy parts for my Alfa Romeo, I thought. I didn’t even have an Alfa Romeo, but I knew that I wanted one. So, I got one.

I saved a bunch of money. But, the money that I saved? Some of it went to buying some winter tires that had the grip to make the WRX one of the fastest cars in my neighbourhood once the snow flies… Sorry, 5.0 Mustang from two doors down, you have no grip here!

I can’t stress this enough. If you claim to be a petrolhead, it’s not about facts and numbers, nor bragging, nor wedding sausage size comparisons. It’s about making the most out of life. The more and more CTzens we lose to heart conditions or whatever, the more it begins to hit home. The best part of being a petrolhead, is the fun. If you aren’t having fun, you’re doing something wrong. Make changes. Life is too short to drive boring cars.

Rest in peace, lost brothers and CTzens. All of you. Your lives were too short… All lives are too short. Whichever car you pick, just enjoy it. Don’t worry too much about why you chose it, unless you don’t care. I don’t care - this is your explanation of why I chose a WRX over an STi. It’s because I wanted to have fun, and could only afford a WRX. But, yet, the WRX fits my needs in every way possible.

I say it one last time: Life is too short to drive boring cars. Life is too short to argue over cars. Just drive, guys.

This is the face of happiness

This post by Melons...