WRX or S2K
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Janesville
I would be concerned with reliabilty on the turbo WRX, since it runs at a relatively high boost (14 psi?), which is scary in a Subaru. I've owned both Subaru's and Honda's, and though it is dangerous to generalize Subaru's break much more often.
Honda builds better engines than Subaru. Period.
Honda builds better engines than Subaru. Period.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Portland
Boy, I am glad I stayed out of this one...
(former S2000 owner, now a WRX owner).
It all depends on what your needs are... For me, I needed a low profile and cheap to operate car that was still decently quick and fun.
my WRX wagon does get better gas mileage than the S2000 in the same driving loop. It attracts less attention than the S2000 did, although it still attracts more attention than I'd like.
Its quick enough and practical enough and the insurance is about 60% of the S2000's insurance...
I know which car I'd like to own, but circumstances dictate which car I have to own (money not really a factor, since I was not financially hurting in the S2000, its just kinda cool to have extra money every month).
Being a college student who has to leave a car at the park and ride, the S2000 wasn't the best choice... I never felt comfortable walking away...
Granted that I might do a few mods to the WRX to try and make up for the straight line speed difference to the S2000, but beyond that its just a car I plan on keeping as a daily driver...
Right now, #1 on my "toy" list is an NSX, just because I've always loved the look... :-D
(former S2000 owner, now a WRX owner).
It all depends on what your needs are... For me, I needed a low profile and cheap to operate car that was still decently quick and fun.
my WRX wagon does get better gas mileage than the S2000 in the same driving loop. It attracts less attention than the S2000 did, although it still attracts more attention than I'd like.
Its quick enough and practical enough and the insurance is about 60% of the S2000's insurance...
I know which car I'd like to own, but circumstances dictate which car I have to own (money not really a factor, since I was not financially hurting in the S2000, its just kinda cool to have extra money every month).
Being a college student who has to leave a car at the park and ride, the S2000 wasn't the best choice... I never felt comfortable walking away...
Granted that I might do a few mods to the WRX to try and make up for the straight line speed difference to the S2000, but beyond that its just a car I plan on keeping as a daily driver...
Right now, #1 on my "toy" list is an NSX, just because I've always loved the look... :-D
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From: Johnston
I have one of each. All I'll say is I use the WRX to drive to places I wouldn't take the S2000 in weather I wouldn't drive the S2000. The Honda is simply more fun to drive, period.
Special note to the guy on the i-club Forum who described the leather interior in the S2000 as "luxurious": Be sure you take your medicine tonight!
Special note to the guy on the i-club Forum who described the leather interior in the S2000 as "luxurious": Be sure you take your medicine tonight!
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From: Ex-pat f/Melbourne, Au. Now in
Actually, one thing that I hope DOESN'T catch on here like it did in Australia is the fact that the WRX is the ram raiding thief's (smash and grab) number one vehicle/weapon of choice.
The theft rate of the WRX was so bad in Australia (especially Sydney) that the police actually had to purchase some themselves just so they could keep up with the stolen WRX's. The WRX was outrunning the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon interceptor police cars! In this case, the WRX really is a high powered "Shopping trolley"
Even owners of the WRX's were often subjected to random interrogations just to ascertain that the car that they were driving was actually theirs and not stolen
Many owners just felt like thieves driving them around!!!!!!!!
Just watch out.......it could happen here.
The theft rate of the WRX was so bad in Australia (especially Sydney) that the police actually had to purchase some themselves just so they could keep up with the stolen WRX's. The WRX was outrunning the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon interceptor police cars! In this case, the WRX really is a high powered "Shopping trolley"
Even owners of the WRX's were often subjected to random interrogations just to ascertain that the car that they were driving was actually theirs and not stolen
Many owners just felt like thieves driving them around!!!!!!!!Just watch out.......it could happen here.
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From: Kirkland
Frayed, this is actually SpaceNeedle. I changed my sign name a while back. I see you're now a cheerleader for the E36 M3. Good for you. How's the kid? Anyways...
I think you're the one that needs to relax, man. You walked a stock WRX with your modded M3. As of today, there are simple mods available for the WRX that'll outrun my stock S2000 and your modded M3 without the aid of a software upgrade.
I've raced a modded WRX and he beat me. I posted the story in the street encounters forum a while back. Check it out.
So my point is, software upgrade or not, you can do other things to the WRX to get some major power. I agree that it's ugly, but it's a car I respect, especially if it's modded. Its modding path comes easier and cheaper than our normally-aspirated engines -you will be seeing a lot of fast WRXs in the hands of young punks who DO race on the streets unlike the S2000 and the M3 (although the young punk E36 M3 is already out there on the roads today).
Watch out now. Get money, get money.
-As a side note, had I gotten the WRX, I know the one car I would absolutely love to smoke is the S4 and all those dudes on Audiworld who thinks their car is faster than shit. Damn, that'd be frickin' hilarious.
I think you're the one that needs to relax, man. You walked a stock WRX with your modded M3. As of today, there are simple mods available for the WRX that'll outrun my stock S2000 and your modded M3 without the aid of a software upgrade.
I've raced a modded WRX and he beat me. I posted the story in the street encounters forum a while back. Check it out.
So my point is, software upgrade or not, you can do other things to the WRX to get some major power. I agree that it's ugly, but it's a car I respect, especially if it's modded. Its modding path comes easier and cheaper than our normally-aspirated engines -you will be seeing a lot of fast WRXs in the hands of young punks who DO race on the streets unlike the S2000 and the M3 (although the young punk E36 M3 is already out there on the roads today).
Watch out now. Get money, get money.
-As a side note, had I gotten the WRX, I know the one car I would absolutely love to smoke is the S4 and all those dudes on Audiworld who thinks their car is faster than shit. Damn, that'd be frickin' hilarious.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: San Diego
The posts in this thread have provided some great informative reading. Although I believe that circumstances will influence your reasoning, I certainly don't believe that they should "dictate" your choice. Like you, I'll be getting married pretty soon. Sure the kids will follow shortly after that. With that said, this is the best time to own a two seater, for the simple reason that it will be many years before you can even consider having such a luxury. Take advantage of the opportunity you currently have and keep the WRX on the shelf for now. Good luck.
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From: Kirkland
To: All the WRX owners
From: An S2000 owner who was going to buy an S4
Subject: WRX Owners Mandate
If you guys love kicking ass and are taking names, put the Audi S4 at the top of your list and make sure to mod your WRX to at least hang with a Stage II S4.
Hunt these suckers down - be it at the tracks or on the streets -smoke 'em, then show and tell.
It is your time, people. Your car is ugly, but it'll look even uglier in the eyes of the snooty S4 owners that dog your car ALL THE TIME on Audiworld.
P.S. - It'd be great if you guys could post photos of the S4 owner's face when you start walking his ass to school. Videos would be tight as well.
Best regards,
WRS2K
From: An S2000 owner who was going to buy an S4
Subject: WRX Owners Mandate
If you guys love kicking ass and are taking names, put the Audi S4 at the top of your list and make sure to mod your WRX to at least hang with a Stage II S4.
Hunt these suckers down - be it at the tracks or on the streets -smoke 'em, then show and tell.
It is your time, people. Your car is ugly, but it'll look even uglier in the eyes of the snooty S4 owners that dog your car ALL THE TIME on Audiworld.
P.S. - It'd be great if you guys could post photos of the S4 owner's face when you start walking his ass to school. Videos would be tight as well.
Best regards,
WRS2K
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Dillsburg, PA
If you can wait, I say hang around until the WRX STi gets here.
276 (or maybe 265) hp., 6-speed, better suspension, MUCH better seats....
A page full of fantastic pictures:
http://downloads.nsis.co.uk/chrisb/sti/index.htm
(Note on the opening picture of the interior all of the red stitch on the leather parts, the different shifter and sport seats, all standard issue with overseas STi cars. Hopefully that'll all make it to the States...!)
I'm hoping to be able to purchase one when it comes out. They're talking about late 2002 or 2003. It is a long way away, and for that matter, the S2000 could be changed by then, or replaced. Who knows. Mitsubishi is planning a US-bound Lancer Evo at the same time, seeing as it's the STi's principal competitor.
Then again..... keep waiting and you'll never settle on anything, that's how it goes.
Hell, in hindsight I should've spent less initial money, and bought a base 2.2L Impreza wagon instead of my 2.5RS (available before the new bodystyle as only a sedan or coupe). Why? The 2.2 is the engine that is the universal heart of all the WRX, STi, Prodrive, 22B, etc. versions. The 2.5 is confined the the US 2.5RS (and now 2.5TS wagon), and the US Legacy and Outback cars. A pretty straightforward engine.
I wanted a wagon, but it didn't have "the big engine." Little did I know that with some (okay.... a LOT) extra buck$, I could've put together basically an STi wagon. Very original!
Alas...
In your case, though, where you're fortunate enough to have the extra money to purchase in the $30k bracket, I say go S2000, and then a bit later try to find a good used Impreza 2.2L. And imagine the possibilities.
276 (or maybe 265) hp., 6-speed, better suspension, MUCH better seats....
A page full of fantastic pictures:
http://downloads.nsis.co.uk/chrisb/sti/index.htm
(Note on the opening picture of the interior all of the red stitch on the leather parts, the different shifter and sport seats, all standard issue with overseas STi cars. Hopefully that'll all make it to the States...!)
I'm hoping to be able to purchase one when it comes out. They're talking about late 2002 or 2003. It is a long way away, and for that matter, the S2000 could be changed by then, or replaced. Who knows. Mitsubishi is planning a US-bound Lancer Evo at the same time, seeing as it's the STi's principal competitor.
Then again..... keep waiting and you'll never settle on anything, that's how it goes.
Hell, in hindsight I should've spent less initial money, and bought a base 2.2L Impreza wagon instead of my 2.5RS (available before the new bodystyle as only a sedan or coupe). Why? The 2.2 is the engine that is the universal heart of all the WRX, STi, Prodrive, 22B, etc. versions. The 2.5 is confined the the US 2.5RS (and now 2.5TS wagon), and the US Legacy and Outback cars. A pretty straightforward engine.I wanted a wagon, but it didn't have "the big engine." Little did I know that with some (okay.... a LOT) extra buck$, I could've put together basically an STi wagon. Very original!
Alas...
In your case, though, where you're fortunate enough to have the extra money to purchase in the $30k bracket, I say go S2000, and then a bit later try to find a good used Impreza 2.2L. And imagine the possibilities.