What should I know about a WRX?
Posted by MagnetHashira@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 36 comments
I’ve always wanted a WRX but I don’t know how to drive stick yet but I can always learn. In terms of buying a used one, what should I be wary of??
PlsHalp420@reddit
It will blow up on you.
GuyRayne@reddit
That you’ll be better off buying a Model Y Performance 😉
Miliean@reddit
I recently bought one (a 2023). It's been my dream car for quite a while, I know it's an inexpensive "dream" car but I'm a reasonable priced kind of dude.
So it takes premium gas, that does kind of suck. Apparently you CAN use normal, but the manual says premium so that's what I use. It's not THAT much more money, but every single time I fill up, I sit there and my brain figures out what the price difference is. My brain "It's $0.091 more per L, I've put in 45 L so that's $4.10 more this fill up" I can't stop my brain from doing it, it's like automatic while I'm filling up.
Other WRX people wave at you (make sure you wave back). This is amazing and makes the extra $4.10 more than worth it. Honestly I LOVE it and other people who ride with me always comment. "Do you know that guy?" Me: "no, people with this car just wave at one another, it's like a community thing" and they are then blown away.
Tires are more important than AWD. But AWD with good tires is AMAZING. Invest in good tires.
If you're buying a used car, get as close to stock as you possibly can. Modifications are cool, but they always lower reliability.
Watch the oil level like a hawk. These cars do have a tendency to pop unexpectedly so for sure make sure you are doing oil changes on schedule (or even sooner). If you buy an older model, make sure you get the head gaskets done so you are 100% confident that they have been done recently and are correct. If you can find a subaru speciality shop in your area that's likely where you want to take it for this task.
I learned stick on a lower HP car (not that the WRX is THAT high). I think that was easier than if I'd learned on this. So I'd recommend you do the same. I actually had a normal impreza 5 speed that I learned on.
AWD, while the handling is better it's not the same as FWD or RWD during a loss of traction scenario. Make sure you fully understand how the car behaves when it skids and that you know what to do in such an event. There's a few kinds of driving situations that can be different with AWD, know and understand them.
Tactical_Epunk@reddit
I own an STi. The best advice I can say is don't modify it. Ever...
802trucker@reddit
Modifications. A tune and exhaust probably mean it was beat to hell
Tactical_Epunk@reddit
And going to break.
hinasilica@reddit
Damn there’s a lot of WRX hate over here. You should head over to r/WRX and see what they say about what to look out for. I did buy a new one though, out of fear of buying a used one that was beat to hell. Any car that’s been heavily modded is going to be a mess, but it’s a lot more common for a WRX to be modded than other models. There are a decent amount of older people that bought them and babied them though, it’s not impossible to find a good one. It’s a really solid car, I rarely hear of people being disappointed about buying one unless they bought a beat up one or they actually wanted a race car and got a WRX instead. It’s not 600 hp btw… seems like some people need to hear that
chumlySparkFire@reddit
All WRXs are beat. Immature stupid boys buy them and wreck the drivetrain etc. avoid
hinasilica@reddit
Hey now. I am a mature and stupid woman and my soon to be tuned WRX is AWESOME. But it is stupid, I’m just glad I don’t care about the resale value. OP should only buy used from an old man that babied it.
GOOSEBOY78@reddit
Unless auto.
UberPro_2023@reddit
You can buy a newer one with an auto and get Eyesight which isn’t available on a stick. I believe any model from 2018 and up has the auto option with Eyesight.
DavidAg02@reddit
Former WRX owner here, and I would not buy a used WRX unless I knew the previous owner was my grandma.
SSNs4evr@reddit
It's made by Subaru.
SandstoneCastle@reddit
When I was on Subaru forums, it seemed like 2nd gear problems were common with WRXs that had been tuned. Dunno if the transmission was beefed up in later models, but I'd still look for an unmodified car.
thatG_evanP@reddit
I think the only one that I ever drove was maybe a (used) 2003. It was a loaner, in that a guy I've known for years that owns a mechanic's shop and small used car lot was letting me drive it for a few days to see if I wanted to buy it. Well, a guy in front of me in a big SUV in very slow traffic slammed on his brakes and I hit him at all of 12 mph. Let me put it nicely by saying that WRX had VERY effective crumple zones. The guy in the SUV literally had a scratch on his bumper while the WRX looked like I'd driven it into a wall at 30 MPH. I guess that's a good thing for keeping the occupants safe, but I was fucking shocked. Even the guy I'd hit was in disbelief about how damaged that car was (I wish I had pics). Needless to say, so was the guy who had loaned me the car. He was pretty pissed that day, but he never asked me for a dime, I still patronize their shop to this day, and we're still good friends for going on 25 years now.
AdRckyosho9808@reddit
Get ready for a motor around 80k and timing belts ect but safety wise pretty good car made to bend on impacts ,youll see the roof or c pillar pop in certain stress relief zones
TrumpMan42069@reddit
How come I never see them driving fast. They drive like Prius drivers around me
BiteLegitimate@reddit
Just because you can doesn’t mean you have to. That premium gas is expensive.
TrumpMan42069@reddit
One time I saw a WRX driver wearing a mask while driving alone.
BiteLegitimate@reddit
Just the one time? Your glasses must be fogged up.
TrumpMan42069@reddit
I figure there has to be many more
Corninator@reddit
If you find a one owner wrx with no rental history, no previous accidents, and no mods, it's probably a safe purchase.
Basically, make sure a teenager didn't own it.
Hot-Cardiologist-652@reddit
Do not buy a used wrx lol. Unless it’s a certified pre owned and even then. Unless you are good at working on cars and enjoy doing it or you have the money to put into it as far as repairs in maintaining. And I want to make clear there is nothing wrong with Wrx it’s the way they get beat on. And don’t listen to them when they tell you it’s never been beat on. They are a relative inexpensive “sports” car and they all get beat on. And being awd makes more parts to be replaced. As long as you know it’s gonna cost a lot more then what You’re paying to bring it home and you are ok with that. Have fun they are a fun little car. I know (from beating them) lol
SRTbobby@reddit
The advice of avoiding modified cars extends past the WRX too. If a car has a tuner I'd avoid it to be safe unless there is receipt of it and the tuner is very reputable. WRX are nice cars tho, an exhaust I'd still cop if you like it. Low miles if possible, and verify the carfax looks good. If you got a bad feeling whatsoever I'd back out of a deal. There's so many WRXs out there you can get almost exactly what you want. If the clutch isn't new I'd see if the dealer will replace with a new one so you have no worries on that front
I'm very unfamiliar with boxter engines so I may be wrong on some shit.
GOOSEBOY78@reddit
If you modify it its a never ending money pit.
Head gaskets and oil pump drives are common failure points.
Gearboxes are made of glass so dont Expect to live long life unless your spend out on steel cut gears.
deyaintready@reddit
Get the most stock well maintaned one you can possibly find. They have engine and headgasket issues. If you need me i will be looking at picures of my broken evo 4
Dramatic_Importance4@reddit
There’s going to be some midlife crisis guy who bought it to relive his youth. Find that car and buy it. If not buy a 1yr old from the dealership, if not buy a new one, if not don’t buy one.
BiteLegitimate@reddit
Two things I wouldn’t buy used if I could help it, wrx and a sport bike.
ironicoutlook@reddit
The previous owner
BearvsShad@reddit
I own one, and I absolutely love it. That being said, if you go used don’t get anything modified. Low mileage too.
Diligent_Bat499@reddit
Be ready to change head gasket at 100K.
DeFiClark@reddit
Tough car to learn stick on. It’s not a glass clutch, but it’s not
Shock tower rust is a killer on WRX as is fame rot under the door sills.
The folks who drove it before may have driven it hard so expect suspension work, alignment work.
Either find an enthusiast who can tell you everything they did to the car, or buy from a Subaru dealer (they’ll wholesale anything that’s been beat on) or find someone who really knows them to look at cars with you.
Exhaust hangers are weak.
SpillinThaTea@reddit
I wouldn’t buy a used one. They get rode hard and put up wet by broccoli headed wealthy kids. Also it’s got a sensitive clutch so once you figure out the mechanics of driving a stick (no pun intended) you are going to want to go to a parking lot and practice. The good news is that I think (someone correct me if I’m wrong) but the Subarus have hill assist to keep the car from rolling back when getting it into gear on a hill.
BearvsShad@reddit
Correct, they do have bill assist, but it only holds you there for 3 seconds I think.
Various-Catch-113@reddit
The condition of the clutch and transmission from the three previous owners that learned to drive a manual in it.
Sudden-Yogurt6230@reddit
Modifications by previous owners. Looks for a cars as close to stock as possible. There are many botched up WRXs out there or worse yet when they sell they rip off all of their aftermarket parts off and throw the stock parts back on. Could be running custom tune with the wrong parts, have vacuum leaks or host other issues. Even a car that looks stock, look closely for signs of aftermarket intercoolers, gauges added to the interior that were removed, etc.