2018 WRX STI Limited to 2023 WRX or 2023 BRZ

Scougar

Scougar

Scougar

Soldato
Joined
30 Jan 2007
Posts
15,485
Location
PA, USA (Orig UK)
My 2018 STI has 74k miles on it, and although the powertrain warranty is another year, I'm getting antsy over potential maint costs as the mileage creeps up. Next year will see new brakes/tires needed, and I worry about the clutch,.as that is a pricey replacement. The other thing... As it passes 75k, the price to Subaru as a trade will go down massively.

Now I realise BRZ or WRX won't be anything like as 'special', but car prices are getting out of control.

WRX Premium would be a stretch for the budget I want to keep in. BRZ Limited is in budget, but doesn't have winter appropriate tires... So that could be an issue.

WRX is wayyyyyy more practical and can be tuned super cheaply if I wanted to do so compared to the BRZ that basically only would get handling mods. Engine is largely tapped out.

BRZ is way prettier of a car, and handling is awesome in comparison. Steering is way tighter than my STI, but I haven't pushed it, as I refuse to rag on a brand new car to test it like that. The seats are vastly better in the BRZ. (The Recaros in the STI suck btw).

Long story short...I can't make up my mind on which. My wife does have a 2022 Outback Wilderness though, so going with an impractical BRZ isn't that bad lol.
 
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The particular place has a 2018 BRZ TS that they frustratingly refuse to sell, as it "isn't ready" and been dancing with me for months. I was trying to get it cheap enough as it isn't the best condition, and high miles. Very cool car. But anyway..

Yes the STI is worth worth longer term, but it is an almost 75k miles STI. Who will be wanting a high miles car. When I bought.it,.I hadn't noticed a rust spot in the rear quarter by a passenger door, and even though certified, I found a load of touch ups I somehow had not noticed when originally buying it. I assume because it it was mostly clean and I didn't really think to look.

For the CVT question.. no, the WRX comes in manual and CVT, most are sold manual. And yes, the bright yellow 6 pot brembos are awesome.

Test drove a brand new Ignition Red WRX, and talked numbers. Found other dealers to price match against and they discounted almost $2k below MSRP on the WRX, and a reasonable trade value.on my STI. Car drove well, steering is decent, shifter sucks. Sounded OK.

Haven't had chance to look at the new Red BRZ yet, but the WRX is fairly nice.
 
Freddie1980 said:
Hold on. Your looking to offload your STI because it's high mileage and your considering a replacement that also has high mileage?
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Originally I was.. because I wanted something more fun, and a TS is very hard to come by. I was going to see an 8k.mikes ts im South Carolina, but they were having it transferred from Florida, and I then went on a paintball event for 5 days, and it arrived amd was sold in that time. I'm not pretending to be sensible lol. I'm trying to get something fun at the same time.
 
Nasher said:
Id say most "sports cars" on sale now are really GT cars and they feel that way. Sports cars are even lighter, more bare bones and not full of nannies or a focus on the 12" iPad stuck in the dash.
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I actually don't like the big screens, because they will 10p% go wrong in the future, and it controls a whole heap of stuff in the car. A BRZ has a much more sensible head unit. Edit: The WRX base split screen truly sucks however.
 
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@keef247 The issue with getting older GT86/BRZ is that even the five year old ones, are within only a few thousand dollars of a new BRZ. The used car market is wild over here. You will see used BRZ's going for more than new ones for example. Nuts.

I did extensive research into the older twins, and the ultimate conclusion I came to was... the BRZ/GR86 (2022+) models were a significant upgrade in every department, with the exception of steering feel being slightly worse. Then there were Edelbrock superchargers/ or jackson racing etc... for around 6 to 7K, but then you completely loose any economy. I don't think I'm prepared to buy an older model without a power bump to be utterly honest. EDIT: The brutal honest answer about why I was considering the 2018 BRZ TS is because it was local, I thought I could get a good deal, and it is 'special enough' to replace my STI. That dry carbon wing is freaking expensive!!

I'm leaning towards the WRX. I often give rides or drive my own car with more than one passenger, so I don't think a BRZ is really the right choice right now, as much as I want it.


EDIT2: (What I REALLLLLLY want is a Porsche, but that just isn't happening right now).
 
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@keef247 Yes, the WRX 6 speed being a split case design, isn't considered to be that good. Above 350hp, you are beginning too get into unreliable territory. This is where the STI trans swap becomes an option, but again.. that's quite an expense, although you could also go further and add in the DCCD systems for along with it.

The reality is.. for the first few years, I will probably not touch the car power wise, and remain stock. I MIGHT change wheels and add a few bushings/braces for the trans, I wouldn't want to push my luck with the engine till I was able to afford a replacement should something happen.
 
Not going to lie, the ability of AWD just to put power down in almost all weather conditions is just fantastic. Even my Juke Nismo AWD RS just went.

I wasn't offended in the slightest. I deserve some ribbing, because I realize I contradict what I want.

What I need is a solid daily with a warranty, that is fun to drive that won't leave me bored. I enjoy my cars every single time I drive them, it's pretty much 'my therapy' as such. No one else in control but you.

I have a solid offer on a WRX Premium, but going to try my best to go look at a BRZ Limited tonight if possible an hour away. I like the BRZ in red, the WRX in red not so much. If the other Scooby dealer won't come to a reasonable trade in value for my STI, then I'll just get the WRX (unless my wife kicks the idea out the park tbh).
 
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Well.... darn.... (good news)...

I drove an hour and fifteen minutes to another dealership, the one that had the red BRZ.

BRZ: $1.8k off MSRP and 2 years service plan that can be used at any Subaru dealership. This is literally cheaper than buying a used BRZ due to trade in, and the high used costs).
WRX: $2.3k off MSRP, and it's in World Rally Blue, the color I much prefer.

I REALLY like the blue on the WRX, but the Red on the BRZ is actually nice, it suits the car, unlike the WRX.

So... decision time, I might just travel out there tomorrow and make the decision there after a test drive of each.

I actually realized I needed to take insurance costs into account, and the BRZ was $11.50 a month more to insure than my STI, and the WRX was $1.15 less than the STI.

Choices choices.

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@keef247 Allegedly they resolved the issue of too much RTV.. but we will see. And yes.... going to a WRX instead of an STI is somewhat sucky. The blue one did have an STI gear knob though LMAO.
 
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I don't get a thrill from burn outs tbh. I like grip driving. Watching car reviews where they just keep power sliding or drifting makes no sense to me, as you can't effectively do that.on the road. Obviously it looks good for the video though lol.

In terms of speed/power, the 2022+ WRX is actually almost on par with the 2015+ STI.

The last RWD cars I had were before I left the UK, and had an S14a and an S13. I learnt to respect RWD at that point.
 
Nasher said:
I did it on the road a bit :D

GT86 slides at low speed quite easily. Slow motion drifting. I miss it a bit in the Lotus, it just grips and goes.
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If I am honest with myself, I am an 8/10s level driver. I can out pace and out drive most people, but you won't see me doing heel and toe or balancing the car on the throttle etc. It's the road, and are just asking for trouble if you are already at that point.

Don't get me wrong, I drive quick, I just haven't needed those skills yet.
 
My wife was messaging me this morning, saying that I may undergo turbo withdrawal, and she will be with me through sickness and health. Offering to put a flannel on my forehead lol.

I've put in a 'offer me 250 more for my trade in and we have a deal'. Still undecided on which car though lol.

Edit: Likely going with WRX. Sensible choice and turbo enjoyment, whilst still being the better vehicle for where I live.

I think I might later look into an older BRZ with a blown engine and swap in an EZ30R engine for track usage for my fun.
 
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Test drove the BRZ Limited and WRX Premium. Bought the WRX.

The BRZ just feels gutless, whilst the WRX has almost instant pull. Steering was better on BRZ although the steering wheel is just too damn skinny and slippery. They need a better wheel IMO. BRZ was definitely more planted and less "shimmy", although I did later notice they had not deflated the tires on WRX from shipping so were 5 to 7 psi high.

If the BRZ had more guts, I would have bought it.

WRX steering is very numb with little feedback. It does not self center well. STI is wayyyyyyy better with it's hydraulic rack. Not even close.

I can't really push the wrx engine yet, staying mostly below 4k rpm and half throttle, but the engine is very responsive.

With a few subtle mods I think it will be pretty nice

Android Auto is stuck with half the screen. Urgh. Lame. Hope they update that.
 
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Cyber-Mav said:
watch MF Ghost and realise the brz/gt86 will wipe the floor with lambos, ferraris, gtr's etc and drive home with a grin on your face.
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Oh believe me, I've been watching videos obsessively for around 3 months on BRZ/GT86/GR86, engine swaps. Which parts make which power. Looked at a load of engine builders, for turbo and supercharged options etc.

All I can tell you is that on test rides it just didn't feel that engaging, or fast. Bear in mind I didn't push the cars, because they were new.
 
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