Hard to compare the two cars, since they are so entirely different.

However, if you were to compare, I think you'd at least need to use a WRX-STi for comparison, since the US spec WRX is so underpowered.

But then the cars are still way to different, so maybe a better comparison would be a 22B (since its a 2dr and slightly lighter than the new age impreza), and use that differential dial they have to drive all of the power to the rear wheels, eliminating the awd advantage the impreza has. Then you might be on your way to a fair comparison.

 

Couldn't agree more. I have both

You can't compare these cars directly except in speed. I bought the S2000 because the WRX wasn't pushing all my buttons. Actually I have the previous model WRX (not available in the USA) which is a little faster than the new one. As another poster pointed out you can very easily modify them to be insanely fast. 350bhp is readily available, and chassis mods are equally easy to come by. Point to point, there's very little that will keep up with a (still very cheap) modded WRX. They're so capable and easy to drive fast that it's almost laughable, but when I want a car that communicates with me and offers ultimate responsiveness and driver invovement, it's the S2000 - no contest. Thing is, you can't put 3 friends and their bags in an S2000 and go fast in the wet. Given the right conditions, I'll take the S2000 every time, but I still need my Subaru.

 

In the straighline the WRX is a very good match for the S2000. In particular if you're talking about 'trafic light' sprints ... in these the WRX excels and it'll take 7k launch from an S2000 to keep up with it or just get the nose ahead. That's the story up to about 140kph.

I run against a friend of mines WRX and here's how it went:
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...?threadid=10351

Though, 'this' WRX is the previous model that weights about 100kg less so the new one will be (and is) slower. The 'old' model weights the same as an S2000.

Also, even though the WRX has 'only' 5 gears, its first 3 gears are actually as short as the S2000's. WRX gearing:

 

Sorry, different car altogether ... Unless it's an STi then it's similar in price range and we can talk about performance. One is almost half of the price of the other and I test drove one on the weekend, the boost is not bad and handling for a 4WD is absolutely superb. But there is absolutely no high end, it's useless to double clutch or heel-toe and I can feel the dramatic weight even though the torque is great.

Other factors to note, the throttle is crap compared to Honda ones since they are not deep at all and the gearbox and shifting is absolutely weird and not impressive at all. Even a Civic shifts better than a WRX compared. But while taking it through the Royal National Park (Sutherland NSW) and flogging it like a cheap shit did excel it's amazing 4WD capabilities and balanced turbo boost as a compliment. Body roll was slight but not significant to be undrivable, though weight has been increased from the GC8 it is in fact easier to slide it compared to the GC8 with more understeer.

Overall, definitely value for money and a good all round car. Does not require much or in fact real skills to perform well in a WRX compared to an S2K ultimately. Good for people who don't have much driving experience yet want to be quick at the wheel. In fact, I found the Integra Type R a harder car to drive properly through the National Park at high speeds compared to the WRX. And I absolutely hate the way it cranks up to start compared to N/A sport cars, absolute unacceptable.