So, to be fair, I just test drove a 2002 WRX. Better 0-60 specs than the max but here are my thoughts:

1. Fast but, man, you have to rev that sucker high to feel anthing.
2. Small. I am 6' and the seats were not comfortable after only 5 mins of test driving.
3. Cheap materials for a $25k


I must be getting old, this car just feels "young" to me.

The max is still my first choice.

 

I've test driven one twice and here's what I think:

1. Standard with a turbo motor. Plus there are plenty of mods to reduce the turbo lag.

2. It fit me and I'm 6-6'1 and 270lbs. Then again I drive differently than a lot of people, I keep the seat upright rather than a gangsta lean. Dunno how that would effect it.

3. The money goes into the engine and drive train, not luxury items. I really don't consider the interior that different from my stock SE. Once you add leather and bose and all the win clearly goes to the max.

I wouldn't necessarily call it a "young" car, more of a driver's car. If performance is first and everything else is second, it's perfect. If you need leather, heated seats, navi, etc then it's the wrong car for you.

When it all comes down to it they are two different classes of cars even though they are both considered sports sedans.

 

I agree 100% with punkdork..

 

 

Stock, fast off the line (awd), roll its slow, the Max will kill it like it was a Escort.

 

For real I always thought the WRX would own us no matter what...

 

I dunno.. I think it'd be close between a WRX at a roll and a max... especially if the WRX had any mods at all.

 

I tangled with one coming home from work tonight. Actually started off racing a firebird. Lots of traffic so we couldn't do too much. I was right on his tail. Then a wrx comes flying up in the rear. I let him get in front, then tailed him. He went no where. Probably an auto? Maybe couldn't drive. I don't know. I just no he didn't have much for me from 50 - 90. Then we came into traffic again and had to relax. Fun though.

 

There was a thread a few weeks ago about a 5th Gen 5spd vs. a WRX 5spd, both stock I think. A couple of the guys up North in Canada. The .org member said the WRX pulled about a car on him from a roll each time and they were going at pretty good speeds too.

I know it was someone from Canada because they listed speeds in kmh. Try searching

 

I bought a 2002 Maxima SE last week and haven't looked back.My first choice was a WRX but when you add one or two more people it gets a little tight.I liked the turbo but couldn't imagin how much it would cost to get a major repair for that thing.My buddy at work has a WRX wagon and after I get a few more miles on my Max I will run him.The on ramp we get on is about 1 mile straight as an arrow so it will be perfect.I will let everyone know how the battle goes.

 

Nope. WRX stock times range from 14.6-15.2 at 90-94mph

Most do 91mph stock, we do 93-96 stock.

 

C&D did either 14.0 or 14.1 (can't remember)--i don't usually trust magazine times unless it matches what people are getting at the track--last time i went a guy i sorta know was getting 14.3 (14.4s consistently) but eric beat him anyways b/c of R/T

 

I test drove a WRX and left thorougly impressed.

It's got alot of power, great seats and driving position (and I'm 6'4" 260). IMO the interior was higher quality than my 4th gen, and gearchange was excellent.

Sure its quick in a straight line. But the WRX really shines in the twisties! Fortunately my local subie dealer has rather..enthusiastic sales reps. When I drove a 2.5RS last year they let me go nuts with it, and the same went with the WRX. Never have I driven a car that handled so brilliantly. The level of grip you have with awd is nothing short of incredible. In the corners, this car will eat Maximas alive.

And they're so easy to tweak! Who cares if a max will beat them from a roll stock Spend a few k on the suspension and you have a car that can pull over 1g on the skidpad and 73+ mph in the slalom. spend as much on boltons and it can run 13's and possibly 12's.

I'll take a WR Blue sedan please

 

I test drove the WRX wagon (5-speed) - not once - but 3 times before deciding against it. Handles great, is veerrry quick, even has plenty of leg room for me (6' tall). I just didn't like the size of the car overall. Depends on what you like - will make a much better autocross vehicle than my 2K SE, but what the heck, I like this car better... even after spending 700 for snow tires/rims...
Hmmmm.. then again, why did I get this car?... Uhhh...

Just didn't feel like spending $24K... Well, OK, the wife didn't...

 

Just wait till the Lancer EVO-VII comes out in September ... "regulated" to 276 crank hp ... more like 300 according to test drivers in many publications. This will force Subaru to bring over the STi, which is also rated at the same hp level ... some strange Japanese regulation about 276hp can't be exceeded. Regardless, if the Lancer has the same interior room (hope the style changes) as the current model on sale here, this would be my first choice. I haven't test the WRX, but I have seen both in person and sat in both at a car show and the Lancer has more rear leg room and the EVO-VII has sportier seats than the WRX or so the picture apear. I hope to have a few grand saved by then and hope to start shopping around next summer for my next car. Due to it's outward uglyness, I think the Lancer is in the lead over the WRX, and if I can't afford the EVO-VII (reported base MSRP of around $30K ... who neeps options anyway, they only weigh you down), the Maxima has my vote.

 

I dunno... personally I fear the evo. There was a video review I saw a while back comparing a Euro WRX STi to a Euro Evo and even though the Evo had more gadgetry the WRX won out. I'm just not confident in Mitsubishi's build quality. Not to say it won't be a great car initially, its the durability that I question. What I want is the WRX STi Prodrive version they offer in the uk.

 

Wait till the WRX Sti comes out and we may all be crying as we see our butts get stomped. Oh and don't forget the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII. We may all be in for a rude awakening when these two arive.

 

I wouldn't place much faith in the EVO either after noticing that the EVOs rarely finish rally races due to mechnical breakdowns.

I ran a WRX at the track yesterday. I had incorrectly posted that the WRX had a aftermarket turbo, down pipe, filter, and catback, instead the owner just did a little work on the stock turbo. He had all the other mods I listed. On SUPER HEAVY 19s, 220lb driver, and the mods listed above, he ran a best of a 13.8@100mph. He ran a 14.1@97 against me. On the stock rims and race gas, he'll easily be in the low 13s. Most likely this is my next car. The holeshot these cars have is incredible to watch at the track.

 

They won't put down any more than 260hp when they hit our shores, due to emissions restrictions (nothing an aftermarket downpipe can't cure )

msrp will be around $27k

 

I have owned two Subaru's in the past and LOVE the build quality ... my last Subi (Loyal 4x4) had a true 4 wheel drive setup where it wouldn't even think about turning corners on dry pavement without chewing the hell out of the tires. However, the last one I owned was a 1990 ... not sure if much has changed, but it was a ***** to work on! Again, I am only comparing numbers & whatnot ... time and test drives will tell

 

I almost bought a Silver WRX today. Then when the guy told me $11,200 for my trade (witch is a 2k fully loaded 5-speed) So I got up and said "thanks for you time goodbye" and left.

 

The Lancer Evolution VII in its current form in Japan DOES meet US emissions regulations. Performance will be inhibited because of crash standards, which the current EVO does not meet. Otherwise the EVOVII is coming with just driver side switched to left and made to meet crash standards, nothing else is being changed, we even get the giant wing.

 

When I graduate in just under a year. Hopefully when I get a job, the dealers will have quit marking them up by then and I can get one. There will probably even be an automatic model(the upcoming GTA model in Japan) offered here. That suits me just fine, since I wear a size 16 shoe and already hit both pedals at the same time in my autotragic.

 

No doubt. Tommi has to be soooo happy to be in a Subaru now!