WRX Styling

The WRX started in 2002 with it's rally looking headlights and the sleek and sexy body styling. The design moves on every two years, and as most WRX enthusiasts will tell you, it's a exciting change. Like I said before the 2002-2003 models were a very rally looking car that could look very mean if you painted the headlights with some eyelids. Some people think that the car looks like a bug driving down the road, both are true I think but to me I like the original WRX style but of the 4 different styles out, I have to say this design would rank number 3 out of the 4.

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The 2004-2005 WRX style is a modest change from the 2002-2003. The headlight design is about the only appearance thing that changed. This style flows with the car a little more and gives it a consumer car look to it, but mated with whats under that all-telling hood scoop is where it differs from all else. The car did not change a whole lot besides the headlights being redesigned, but this is a very good design and I rate it at number 2.

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The 2006-2007 WRX is by far and away my favorite. The front got a total redesign that just ekes power and aggression. It has a look that no other car on the road has, which is great because the WRX is surely different from all other consumer cars on the road. The grill is the major change which has a tri-split design that flows right into the headlights, which have a up swept design that just looks so aggressive and like it will eat up the competition. This is the design that I give my number 1 rating to.

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The 2008-2009? WRX is I think the weakest of the 4 designs. Subaru seemed to have dropped the uniqueness of the Impreza, because it now looks like a lot of other consumer cars out there. The headlights and tail lights are uniquely shaped but the body style lacks the curves that the previous WRX's had, which is a fault in my opinion. The hood scoop is really the only eye catcher for the new WRX because it is integrated into the hood unlike previous models.

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WRX Modifications

One of the most attractive things about the WRX's is that you can mod them out to get even better performance. Of course, just about any car these days can be modified for better performance but there are parts made especially for the WRX that will improve performance incredibly. There is a ECU tuning kit that will tune the fuel ratios and turbo timings and give you a increase of up to 70 hp. I have seen a stock WRX with 297 hp all stock except for the tuning kit.

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The turbo was stock and the engine itself was also stock. This is a huge increase and nearly STI proportions. Another easy modification is a intake system that will improve the performance around 250 hp. Of course there are easy things like a exhaust system or a short shifter. Short shifters don't improve performance but shifting is helped and less time going into gears.

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I have also seen stage 3 turbo upgrades making the cars STI competition. The stage three includes a upgraded turbo pushing more psi of boost and a front mount intercooler. This improves performance up to 350 horse. It is possible to tune it and put a stage 4 turbo kit into the WRX along with a total engine overhaul giving you up to 500 horse with the 2.5 liter engine. For a four cylinder this is insane power and your 0-60 times would be around 4 seconds. The WRX has a huge opportunity to be improved because the vehicle is torqued and powered low. The real killer of this car is the strengthened drive train and AWD which is awesome. The power that can be coaxed from the car is nearly limitless.

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Visual aspects are also limitless. Cars are pretty easily modded with paint and time. Vinyl is another option to add graphics without spending a ton of cash. After market spoilers and body kits also add some interesting body characteristics and looks. These and other cars have tons of parts, as long as you have the time and money.

WRX Competition?

I was cruising the internet the other day and I can't find a equal for the WRX. Any car by any other maker does not offer the same AWD car that has enough power to play with the similarly priced sport models on the road. The Mazdaspeed 3 is a possible contender and maybe the closest the WRX is going to get. The Mazdaspeed 3 is packing a 2.3 liter 263 hp turbocharged engine. The car also is packing a astounding 280 ft lbs of torque. This car packs a serious punch as far as engine power, but what it has there, it lacks in body. The car has a front wheel drive system that is nothing compared to the 60/40 split symmetrical AWD system that the WRX has. The Mazdaspeed cruises to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds because of this downfall. The WRX kicks it in 5.7 seconds beating the Mazdaspeed off the line but in the 1/4 mile runs the car comes through in style beating the WRX barely. The cars are pretty even except for Subaru's reliability rating and the obvious AWD difference. To me being able to drive in the winter is a big deal and with 263 hp the Mazdaspeed will slip and slide and spin the tires while the WRX cruises by.

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Another possible competitor in this race is the Audi A3 with it's two models could possibly be another option versus the Subaru. The 2.0 turbo version can go 0-60 in under 7 seconds which is pretty fast for the weight. The V6 3.2 naturally aspirated engine can go 0-60 in about 6 seconds but with a price tag of nearly 40k is not worth it and is not in the same class as the WRX. The goal of the WRX was the offer power and functionality at a low cost. The A3 is slower and far less reliable then the WRX despite what some others may think. The upside is that the A3 has Audi's amazing Quattro AWD system. This is rivaling Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system in the use and handling. It is godly in the world of cars but Audi needs to realize that they need some more power behind the drive train. Photo Courtesy of Autobytel.com

The WRX is a real killer car. The car has a insane AWD system pared with the power to handle itself and blow away V8's. The car also looks really good and has some very decent options to really make it your own, not to mention the Subaru WRX reliability. Also the functionality makes it a hot ticket for just about anyone, even the price is very reasonable for the type of car that Subaru has created. Awesome.