Yeah, The WRX is definitely going to need a little bump especially after the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralli Art comes out with the est 237hp… Which will be its main competition.

Also look how much HP they are packing in the FWD sport compacts now… 260hp 260lbstrq in the 08 Cobalt SS Turbocharged, 285hp in the Caliber SRT-4, and 253hp, 285lbstrq in the Mazdaspeed 3, can’t have these little pocket rockets blowing by a WRX now can we?

It’s going to need a little bump, because it’s ugly. I haven’t even seen one on the road yet.

This car needs more than a bump in h.p. The interior looks cheap & the exterior is just too generic looking.

And sound of that motor..yuck

One of my neighbor’s buddies showed up the other day in a new, white STI. He called it a street legal race car. One of his other cars is a mint, low mile ‘95 Mustang GT- last of the 302s- that he gets at least a half dozen offers on everytime he shows up at his local strip. His parting shot was that the STI will run rings around the ‘Stang. It’s also his second WRX.

Actually, in that color around sunset on a perfect evening, it almost looked pretty good. Mind you, I was also looking at it through several 8% amber colored glasses. Even my Caprice wagon was looking pretty sexy at that point.

I’m LMAO, all Subaru had to do was bump the WRX’s output, by 40hp to nix the Ralliart. Now the Ralliart is more expensive, heavier and slower.

that piece of **** is ugly as sin. it was “sprayed with the ugly gun”

A piece of Subaru news on LLN! Stop the freaking presses!

This is probably accurate news; everyone with an Impreza knows you can gain 40hp just by fooling with the software for the ECU and not touching the exhaust, intake or motor — Subaru just detunes the 2.5liter from the factory, most likely for turbo longevity and emissions. However, Need4SSpeed is making the common mistake of judging the car by the HP alone; even at 224hp I had no problem with the cars he mentioned, because putting power down to all four wheels is a tremendous advantage in many situations. The FWDs you mention come with greasy, compliant differentials designed to help with torque steer and tamp down driveline shock — when one of them gets wise with me on the highway, I can be in third gear and steaming away by the time their front differential and electronic throttle has dealt with their throttle input. I think Subaru screwed up the interior and exterior of the car with the current generation, but you can’t argue with the structure and driveline of the car itself.

They need to bump of the stiffness of the suspension. All the videos I have seen the thing looks like it’s going to roll over.

Anyone who’s ignorant enough to call a WRX a piece of **** has only seen the tail lights.

the older WRX looked better. this new one looks like a late 90’s model. I’d take the Lancer over this even if it is just a little bit slower– it looks WAY better.

I wonder what approach they will take to achieve the gains. Such a great handling car, tons of aftermarket for it already, it sounds unique and its affordable and practical. Its looks are not for everyone, but there are only maybe 10 decent looking cars under 30K anyways and none of them offer fast AWD and practacality.

Subaru has sucked ever since Crocodile Dundee stopped endorsing them.

‘02WRX’, it may not entirely be a piece of SHIAT but it sure does LOOK like a piece of SHIAT … that’s just FACT … sorry.

Glad to see the Mitsu Sportback will help make Subie more competitive. Subie should look to develop its own DSG system for the WRX and STi models.

The new subie models defintely grew on me. I thought the 04 05 styling was the best, well maybe i was biased because i have an 05 STi, but the new ones are certainly growing on me a lot. Esp. the new STi.

Subaru and Mitsu can stick it up their collective rectal cavaties. They both just gouge the Comsumer up here. As great as an STi is, it is still not a $50,000 car.

Subaru screwed the WRX up big time. It used to be good but now it’s not.

Looks: Lancer > WRX

that’s probably why the sti and evo don’t cost $50,000, jonnycat.

The WRX will still get outrun by a V6 Camry… how sad is that?

Base MSRP for the STi is $45,000 in Canada, throw in a few options and you are a hair under $50K.

For an MR, it’s possible to crack $60K CDN, with a Base Price of $47,000

RaineMan, you are completely mistaken. Having 260hp is worlds away from having the traction, gearing, suspension and transmission to handle it. There’s no chance a Camry could beat one in a straight line, and if you added two turns to it, the WRX would win by a half-dozen car lengths.

jonnycat: you act like the STI and EVO are the only car models that have jacked-up prices in Canada. ALL the pricing in your half-hearted attempt at a country is jacked up in this manner. You bacon-lovers even pay $8.99 for cigarettes and $7.00 for petrol.

raineman— are you serious!? i know the V6 camry was a speed-demon for its genre but i didn’t realize its numbers were actually better than this wreck. thats funny.

I agree that the STI is getting very expensive, but the mod potential of any WRX or boxer for that reason is huge. Safe, reliable 300awhp is within a few thousand dollars away.

The last gen looked wrong to begin with. why? cause it had 4 doors.
the proportions of that car never looked right.
I like the 2 box shape of the new wrx. only thing wrong with it is the front
overhang and the front graphics.

02WRXPSM, so have you raced a 08 Cobalt SS, Caliber SRT-4, Mazdaspeed 3? I really doubt it because I’ve seen these cars (well the Cobalt SS Turbocharged beat an 04 WRX)…

Also yeah AWD > FWD, especially on a track, but umm do you think your WRX can beat the Cobalt SS Turbocharged’s time on the Gring… you know the 8.22.15 time that was quicker than a Subaru Impreza (didn’t specify which model), E46 M3′ Skyline R32, Audi S5, Cayman S, Lotus Exige… I can keep going…

I’m just saying that yeah a 265hp WRX, probably will beat a FWD similar horsepowered vehicle, but not by much anymore….