Speed3, GTI or WRX?

[jlee]

Buying a WRX...FYI. Test drove all three of these vehicles and it was definitely the most fun. I liked the MS3 better than the GTI (GTI was more comfortable) but the AWD and torque management on the WRX was excellent. It will be great for the winter with some snow tires.

Good choice. When you're ready for more power, a tune & downpipe will open things right up. Good call on the snow tires - don't try driving in snow on the stock summers

 

[Zivic]

Buying a WRX...FYI. Test drove all three of these vehicles and it was definitely the most fun. I liked the MS3 better than the GTI (GTI was more comfortable) but the AWD and torque management on the WRX was excellent. It will be great for the winter with some snow tires.

bah... should buy an evo

 

[punjabiplaya]

bah... should buy an evo

out of his price range

 

[PhoKingGuy]

bah... should buy an evo

They probably won't be in the US in 5 years, can't blame him for not wanting one.

 

[punjabiplaya]

speed3 you can turn into a sir

 

[exar333]

bah... should buy an evo

If I got the Evo, it would be the MR, but it's a little over-priced IMHO. I don't need an Evo for winter driving, that would be a little overkill...

The WRX is also cheaper on insurance and offers a chance to do some mods on my own. Definitely will be doing a downpipe/catback + tune either this fall or next spring. That's less than $1500 for some great power and torque gains. First things first though, will need to get to get steelies and Blizzaks this year for sure. :biggrin:

Of course, obligatory pics will be provided upon delivery of the car!

 

[Arkaign]

The current WRX also looks a lot less boy-racer than the Evo. Of course, if you lower it, put rubber-band tires on it, and a big wing, then all bets are off. Subtle is good though.

 

[z1ggy]

If I got the Evo, it would be the MR, but it's a little over-priced IMHO. I don't need an Evo for winter driving, that would be a little overkill...

The WRX is also cheaper on insurance and offers a chance to do some mods on my own. Definitely will be doing a downpipe/catback + tune either this fall or next spring. That's less than $1500 for some great power and torque gains. First things first though, will need to get to get steelies and Blizzaks this year for sure. :biggrin:

Of course, obligatory pics will be provided upon delivery of the car!

Hey, congrats on the WRX. How much did you end up getting it for?? I am curious because the dealer quoted me at 26.3k. An MS3 could be had for 23.5k I think and the GTI for maybe a little more. Think I could work a dealer down for a WRX to maybe 25k or 24.9k?

 

[exar333]

Hey, congrats on the WRX. How much did you end up getting it for?? I am curious because the dealer quoted me at 26.3k. An MS3 could be had for 23.5k I think and the GTI for maybe a little more. Think I could work a dealer down for a WRX to maybe 25k or 24.9k?

You really have to shop around because the current supply is really limited in most places. I am in the Minneapolis area, and the dealers here are hardly willing to undercut MSRP much at all because they have no WRXs on the lot, and the 'last' shipment they have promised is coming early next month with very limited quantities (1-2 per store mostly). Of course, I will not pay MSRP, but I found a dealership about 50mi outside of the city that is really pushing for business and I got the Limited for 27.5 + TL (they included taxes), right about at invoice, with destination charges waived. The car was ordered for a person, but they cancelled at the last minute, so the dealership was looking to sell it quickly.

I looked at the base model, and I could not get anyone with these on the way to go less than 26k. I wasn't planning to get the limited, but that is the only model the dealership I am buying from is getting, and it was only 1k more than the base model price I was quoted after adjusting for TTL, etc.

That said, a few of the models that I saw at 26k sale price did include some nice options like SPT exhaust and short-throw shifter. If you adjust for these option prices, I could see it possible to find a base with minimal/no options at 24.5-25k if you look around.

Pretty much all the dealers I spoke with said most 2011 WRXs arriving now come either in higher-trims or base with a good set of options. The margin is very small right on these, so apparently they are being built with options to increase the profits.

 

[Zap]

First things first though, will need to get to get steelies and Blizzaks this year for sure. :biggrin:

Of course, obligatory pics will be provided upon delivery of the car!

We went with some budget alloy wheels for my wife's 2011 WRX.

They were $103 each from Tire Rack. We even got a few unsolicited comments about how nice they looked. :thumbsup:.

Tire Rack's jacked up link, if it works
(apparently can't just link by part number)

The tires we put on those wheels were 205/50-17 sized. A bit narrower, but perfectly fine for that wheel size and Winter use. It is also listed as one of the alternate sizes for the WRX. The other is a minus sized 215/55-16. Does not seem as if the smaller tires are any cheaper, but the smaller wheels are. Going 16" can get you steelies at $56/ea or alloys at $85/ea, versus $99/ea for cheapest alloy 17" and no steelies.

We also did not put TPMS in the Winter wheels. The idiot light just flashes and then stays solid, but it doesn't do anything else to the vehicle. I've heard some cars can go into limp mode if there is no TPMS installed.

 

[Zivic]

They probably won't be in the US in 5 years, can't blame him for not wanting one.

why would this have anything to do with anything?

 

[Zivic]

We went with some budget alloy wheels for my wife's 2011 WRX.

They were $103 each from Tire Rack. We even got a few unsolicited comments about how nice they looked. :thumbsup:.

Tire Rack's jacked up link, if it works
(apparently can't just link by part number)

The tires we put on those wheels were 205/50-17 sized. A bit narrower, but perfectly fine for that wheel size and Winter use. It is also listed as one of the alternate sizes for the WRX. The other is a minus sized 215/55-16. Does not seem as if the smaller tires are any cheaper, but the smaller wheels are. Going 16" can get you steelies at $56/ea or alloys at $85/ea, versus $99/ea for cheapest alloy 17" and no steelies.

We also did not put TPMS in the Winter wheels. The idiot light just flashes and then stays solid, but it doesn't do anything else to the vehicle. I've heard some cars can go into limp mode if there is no TPMS installed.

they do look good

 

[exar333]

We went with some budget alloy wheels for my wife's 2011 WRX.

They were $103 each from Tire Rack. We even got a few unsolicited comments about how nice they looked. :thumbsup:.

Tire Rack's jacked up link, if it works
(apparently can't just link by part number)

The tires we put on those wheels were 205/50-17 sized. A bit narrower, but perfectly fine for that wheel size and Winter use. It is also listed as one of the alternate sizes for the WRX. The other is a minus sized 215/55-16. Does not seem as if the smaller tires are any cheaper, but the smaller wheels are. Going 16" can get you steelies at $56/ea or alloys at $85/ea, versus $99/ea for cheapest alloy 17" and no steelies.

We also did not put TPMS in the Winter wheels. The idiot light just flashes and then stays solid, but it doesn't do anything else to the vehicle. I've heard some cars can go into limp mode if there is no TPMS installed.

Thanks for the link; thats a good price for alloys. I will probably either go with the budget 16'' steelies @ ~$50 or go for the 17'' alloys you linked at ~$100. Thats not a bad price at all for alloys. The TPMS gets expensive when all you want is budget wheels and winter tires, so I might just avoid that and put up with the 'warning' light.