The Subaru WRX: Because Sometimes I like to Drive Like an Asshole

"Andrew Fails" (fails) 07/25/2015 at 01:03 • Filed to: Subaru, WRX, review, boxer, rally, turbo, AWD, Impreza

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Some cars are precision instruments, and require a delicate touch to elicit every iota of performance. The Subaru WRX is not one of these. In a world of scalpels, it is a hatchet. Some cars have you pick a laser precise racing line, delicately feathering the throttle as you tweak your steering angle. Not the WRX. Turn the traction control all the way off, drop a gear, stomp the pedal to the floor, and point it in generally the right direction you’d like to go. Less a sniper rifle, more of a shotgun. It will bounce, and crash, and slide, and hop, but it will never stop. Keep your foot in it, keep your nerves up, and trust the machine.

The sheer unflappability of it causes a distinct change in your driving patterns. You become much less concerned with things like potholes, or snow, or pavement, or traffic laws. “It will be fine,” becomes your mantra. You’re on an unpaved construction road tight enough that the only thing louder the gravel rattling off the undercarriage is the weeds slapping against your side-view mirrors? Just let the car settle a bit after any major hit, and keep a light touch on the wheel. It’s going to squirm on you. Driving a WRX fast in the wild is surprisingly similar to driving a snowmobile: it’s never going entirely in a straight line.

Along that line, you will develop a unhealthy appreciation for poor driving conditions. A WRX gets better and better the worse everything else gets. You will pray for everything sports cars hate. You’ll crave rain, and snow, and mud, and gravel. When the rest of the city is asleep during a blizzard, you’ll be out in a parking lot, practicing your Scandinavian Flick. When everyone is creeping along in the sleet, you’re the asshole trying to see if you can keep the car sideways all the way through the intersection. You’ll drive down beaten paths in construction yards, just to see where they go.

The trade-off to this is that in perfect driving conditions, you can start to notice some of the shortcomings of the car. Think of it as an AK-47. Its success is directly tied to the sheer abuse it is willing to absorb. The side effect of that is a certain ham-fistedness. The steering is a bit vague on-center, the clutch is a bit heavy, the shifter is a bit rough, and the car bounces a bit. While in a second gear slide through a foot of snow, as you steer by looking out the side windows, none of that matters, and in all reality, is probably helping. But when you’re commuting to work, that slop raises its head.

But at the end of the day, none of that matters. To put it in real world terms, I drove OVER a dead deer at 70 miles per hour, and all that happened was a crack in the front lip of the bumper. Zero mechanical issues. Zero damage to the skid plate. It felt like a hit a small speedbump. It did that, drove across the city in a foot of standing snow, slaloming stranded cars on the interstate, carried a shocking level of speed down unpaved country roads, and much more. All with never missing a beat, while still being able to run with a 5.0 liter Mustang, or haul hundreds of pounds of equipment from the hardware store. You want delicacy? Go buy a Miata. You want speed, utility, durability, and a Nirvana level of “not caring”? Buy the WRX.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 01:16

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as a miata and pretty quick dsm owner i agree. my awd talon is like a wrx but faster. fun to mess around with but not a “handling” car. if i want to go shred corners i take the Miata.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 01:24

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I couldnt belive the acceleration you could still have in the snow

AM3R shamefully returns > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 01:27

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Want MORE speed?

Want MORE fun?

Even LESS regard for traffic laws?

You make this too easy... ;)

SlickMcRick > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 01:31

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Want but out of budget. They hold their value far too well.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > SlickMcRick 07/25/2015 at 01:34

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DSM. Easily made faster than wrx and much cheaper

SlickMcRick > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 07/25/2015 at 01:38

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But I also want something reliable.... From what I’ve read about DSMs that’s not exactly their forte

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > SlickMcRick 07/25/2015 at 01:45

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cause the internet says it? my 300WHP talon has been very reliable. only issue i have had are old seals going and it leaking oil b/c of that. no running issues at all. Of my three friends that have DSM’s all of them do normal maintenance and they run fine. One is in rebuild stage cause we killed it with too much hp though a stock block. That was with approx 450 pump gas (closer to 500 on e-85 which it ran most the time) all on a completely stock block. and thats wheel hp too so add 12% approx

SlickMcRick > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 07/25/2015 at 02:34

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Hmmmm this is very enlightening.... How is it in the snow or are your cars strictly summer cars? I want something to drive all seasons in all weather conditions. I’ve always had a thing for Talons

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > SlickMcRick 07/25/2015 at 02:45

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with snow tires pretty much unstoppable. dont drive mine a ton cause MI used way to much salt on the roads

Roman Savchuk > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 04:11

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And then there is Forester XT for not caring even more))

Also, that vague steering you mentioned is particular to WRX generation pictured. All STIs and older WRXs both have sharper steering. Can’t comment on current model WRX, have yet to drive one

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 04:17

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As an MS6 owner, I feel like the WRX is a Cadillac by comparison. You want something that makes WRX power, but with 6 gears and single pot calipers that sometimes work? Buy an MS6.

Want to worry about power steering cutting out mid drift because the cooler is super tiny and overheats easily? Buy an MS6.

Want to share chassis parts with a Fusion and engine parts with a Focus. Buy an MS6.

LongbowMkII > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 06:14

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You assholes have to stop making my “cars to own” list longer.

SlickMcRick > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 07/25/2015 at 12:16

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Because of you I was up an extra hour reserching DSM cars and drooling over them. Then I happened to stumble into some clean 3000GT VR-4s..... bad thoughts were had.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 12:56

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/agree

Many laughs were had during the reading of this posting, thank you.

MM54 > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 14:48

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You are not helping my intense desire for a WRX

FlimFlamMan > Andrew Fails 07/25/2015 at 17:05

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That’s a pretty good description of the WRX. I’ve been DD’ing my ‘07 since day one. It was as you described in OEM form, and as more and more modifications were added, it remained the same, with the exception of increased NVH (and drastically reduced understeer, yet increased acceleration).

Autofixation > Andrew Fails 07/26/2015 at 09:06

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This, all of it, is why I have a Subaru, and I do all of this everyday. I just don’t have a WRX... I have something older, and slower, but still with over 7” of ground clearance.

Jesse > Andrew Fails 07/27/2015 at 17:28

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Six years and 65k miles on my own WRX wagon. Loved every moment of it. Some cheap steel wheels and good winter tires, and it’s like a whole new level of fun come winter.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 13:10

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As a former WRX owner, I endorse every word. Fantastic write up.

Andrew Fails > Snuze: Needs another Swede 07/30/2015 at 13:18

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Thank you!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 14:15

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“Think of it as an AK-47. Its success is directly tied to the sheer abuse it is willing to absorb. The side effect of that is a certain ham-fistedness.”

This is the best description of a WRX I’ve ever heard.

Andrew Fails > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/30/2015 at 14:22

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Thank you! I try to sum up the overall sensation of a car. I’ll let smarter people discuss the fine details.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 14:25

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The overall sensation is usually the hard part. Going into cold hard facts is easy, not to mention often wrong. My truck, by the facts, is a lump. By the feels, totally different story.

Stupidru > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 14:41

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As a former Legacy GT owner and Impreza Outback Sport owner and Forester XT owner, I can confirm every word of this article.

Cheers on the great write-up!

Andrew Fails > Stupidru 07/30/2015 at 14:47

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Thank you! It means a lot when all you Subaru owners agree with my sentiments.

WRC541 > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 14:53

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Former 99’ RS owner, and current 07’ WRX driver. ^ Real Talk.

Justin Hughes > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 15:20

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As a Miata fan and current BRZ driver - I agree. I want a WRX because it’s precisely the opposite of what I’m used to. That, and because rally car.

Andrew Fails > Justin Hughes 07/30/2015 at 15:23

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I've given serious thought to getting a BRZ.

Justin Hughes > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 15:25

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It’s pretty much the opposite of a WRX.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 16:11

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Idk, the Miata does pretty well on snow tires in astonishingly poor conditions. Especially with the LSD. While I enjoy the whole summer thing so I can always have the top down, I think I actually enjoy driving my Miata even more in the winter. Less cars on the road and no sweating is pretty nice. Maybe I just really like my snow tires or I am just crazy. Probably a little bit of both.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 07/30/2015 at 16:15

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I really seriously considered the MS6. Then when I couldn’t find one in reasonable condition, I was very focused on the MS3. The first gen MS3 is such a sleeper! Idk how/why I was crosshoping the WRX, MS3, and Miatas.

Legen Dairy > Andrew Fails 07/30/2015 at 18:20

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Damnit. Looks like another WRX is in my future sooner than planned.

TheGodDamnPope > Justin Hughes 07/30/2015 at 22:07

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How so? I’m looking at both currently.

tmo-user > Andrew Fails 07/31/2015 at 12:16

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I have an ‘08 Impreza, and while it’s no WRX, I can agree with much of this. I’ve jumped over medians by accident, and the car was no worse for the wear, where as in other cars, I’d need to have an alignment done (at the least). I love Subarus, and plan on getting a WRX for my next car. Also, the fact that they hold their value well is another bonus. My wife has a 5 speed Accord Coupe, and it just isn’t the same as my Impreza. When I’m driving her car, I feel more like I’m just operating it vs driving it, and I really miss the boxer noise when accelerating onto the highway.

acetech09 > Andrew Fails 08/04/2015 at 19:01

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Definitely the best description of the WRX I’ve read in, well, just about forever.

I get hate ALL the time from my WRX friends when I tell people that they aren’t nearly the best road cars. Theirs are all lowered, tuned, coilovered... while mine carries 2 extra inches of ground clearance and a skid plate.

I’ll be referencing lots of people to this article.

Andrew Fails > acetech09 08/04/2015 at 21:27

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Thank you! Yeah, some of the fan base can be unrealistic about what the car is, and is not.

Sigea > Andrew Fails 08/13/2015 at 10:31

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I could use a thousand words to insult the clutch on that year WRX, but heavy would not be one of them. Go drive a Mini Cooper or something from the 90s for a week.

All that said, great article and I completely agree on everything else! Even at a track day, the WRX is a broadsword.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Andrew Fails 08/13/2015 at 14:20

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I had a 2002 impreza and my mom had a 2001 2.5 RS these cars just wanted to be slid hard around corners and revved to red line every time. I loved that RS. I now have a Mazda 3, and while it is a better car in many ways it just doesn’t like to be jumped or thrown willy nilly into corners like the impreza did.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Andrew Fails 08/13/2015 at 14:37

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Thank you for posting so many nice pictures of my car.

Dsscats > Andrew Fails 08/13/2015 at 14:37

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This is fantastic writing.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Andrew Fails 08/13/2015 at 15:58

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Driving a WRX fast in the wild is surprisingly similar to driving a snowmobile: it’s never going entirely in a straight line.

This was by far the weirdest part of driving a snowmobile for the first time. The astonishing lack of real control you have over where it goes. Point, shoot, you’ll get somewhere in that general direction but not in the manner you’d expect (or, sometimes, hope)

William Byrd > Andrew Fails 08/13/2015 at 16:19

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This is excellent. Enjoyed the S6 and AMG work as well. Are you writing for anyone? Shoot me an email if you’d like to. will(@)rightfootdown.com

flyingmetalbird > LongbowMkII 08/13/2015 at 21:56

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Actually though. Every time I come on here I need another car

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 08/14/2015 at 08:43

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Huh. I’ve always thought the MS6 was the “gentleman’s WRX,” but perhaps I should reconsider.

Andrew Fails > Dsscats 08/15/2015 at 00:03

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Thank you!

Andrew Fails > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/15/2015 at 00:04

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I’ve only ridden them once, and it definitely took a while to get used to. The first 10 minutes were terrifying, but eventually your brain just kind of accepts that it never REALLY has traction.

Andrew Fails > William Byrd 08/15/2015 at 10:43

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Emailed you.

Dan > Andrew Fails 08/16/2015 at 15:33

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Good article. Nothing you said is out of line of what Subaru owners think. The Scandinavian Flick came 3 days into owning my car. Like I told my wife, I executed it perfectly, and the proof was I hit the driveway marker perfectly with the corner of my bumper. She did not find it as amazing as I did. She’s not a true Subaruian at heart though. She likes GMC trucks.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Andrew Fails 08/16/2015 at 17:48

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This just makes me want a WRX more. Damn you.

GNS > Andrew Fails 08/16/2015 at 21:00

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I’m only waiting for the STi to get the FA engine and a hatchback body. Then it’ll be a tossup between that and the Focus RS.

aimon > Andrew Fails 08/16/2015 at 22:21

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As an ‘14 STi owner, does that mean it is warranted I drive like an even bigger asshole? Hoon on!

Turbo-Brick > OPPOsaurus WRX 08/16/2015 at 23:46

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Gah, I wish they made steelies that would fit my STI. I actually like that look.

Andrew Fails > aimon 08/17/2015 at 16:53

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I figured that went without saying. Just like traffic laws don’t apply to my motorcycle.

Gonemad > Jesse 08/19/2015 at 14:09

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Exactly. Steel wheels. I saw a Golf with a wheel SHEARED IN HALF, the guy changing the tire, and removing the other half of the wheel still screwed in the car, along with the shredded remnants of the tire, in a slight right-handed turn, over a crest.

I ask myself while passing him “How the hell did that wheel brake in h** [THWACK] [PANG]”[PIN Pin pin...].

I throw my car into the safety lane, gladly still under control. “The car’s hosed” I think to myself... with a sharp neck pain. I get out to check how much of the front suspension is broken or gone... just to find that my left front hubcap was gone, probably making that ‘pin’ noise as it disappeared into the bushes, like it was some saturday morning cartoon. A full-inch dent on the wheel rim, but the rubber is still mounted and inflated. The tire doesn’t have any damage at all despite the brutal impact (thanks Michelin).

The Golf had fallen on the same HUMONGOUS pothole I did, and his wheel cracked in half and shattered like a walnut. The right handed turn, covered by a crest, heading west on a sun-setting afternoon prevented any means of detecting that pothole, before falling in it.

If I hadn’t steel rims, I would be changing my tires like that Golf dude.

TahoeSTi > Andrew Fails 08/19/2015 at 15:39

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And then the sun came out.

TahoeSTi > 04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. 08/19/2015 at 15:40

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MS6 is great if you dont have to deal with real snow.

Fuzzy86 > Stupidru 08/19/2015 at 15:56

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I second that even as a 2.5i Legacy owner. Even the most basic ones can be incredibly fun even in fairly poor road conditions. Although mine tends to understeer until the traction control is turned off. Too much snow (NE Ohio) and ground clearance becomes an issue.

absurdum > Andrew Fails 08/19/2015 at 17:13

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It will bounce, and crash, and slide, and hop, but it will never stop. Keep your foot in it, keep your nerves up, and trust the machine.

On an almost intuitive level I’ve never been able to properly explain to someone else... this is the justification for the existence of Subaru AWD. To all those people who say “why do you need AWD in the city?”, or “front wheel drive will work just as well in the snow (snow tires, mutter, mutter, snow tires, grumble, mutter).” I’m not sure of the right word but there is a sensation... predictability, consistency, balance(?) and I very much prefer it!

It seems counter intuitive, but I feel more in control of my 9-2x (WRX) with all four wheels getting light and drifty than I ever have in any front or rear wheeled car. Driving it feels more like a partnership and less like holding on to a dog that, while well trained, still has that animal unpredictability...

Andrew Fails > absurdum 08/19/2015 at 17:33

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I’ve got a FWD car now, and it does ok in the snow, but not quite as good. Mainly because it doesn’t like to rotate! The WRX would understeer, but you could provoke a slide fairly easily. Now a handbrake is required to make it turn.

That being said, the Subaru taught me to be ok with slight slides and wheelspin in poor conditions. Granted, the Mini doesn’t dig out of a slide as well, but the predilection for rotating under braking is still there, so some of the skills transfer over.

NotASouthWestFan > GNS 08/20/2015 at 09:33

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The one downside of that theory is that I’ve found I’m a lot less likely to execute a devil-may-care drift in my brand new $35,000 2015 STI than I would be in a 2005 STI. The catch 22 is that used STIs are a scary proposition and the interior in the 2015+ is quite a bit nicer. (I’m 34. Interiors actually mean something to me now.) Part of me wants to keep my 2015 for a daily and buy a beater WRX for winter, but I don’t think that would go over well with the girlfriend.

Mildly Amused > Andrew Fails 10/08/2015 at 15:08

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*Awesome* article. This could have easily been written by my husband (if he were a better writer…). Interestingly, he *also* drove over a deer, in traffic, on the highway. Other vehicles were shedding parts and lining the side of the road ahead. He pulled off a couple miles up at a rest stop to look, since it still drove fine, and nada. Just that stupid lip on the bottom of the ‘05 bumper… and, well, one heck of a mess… They just glued it back together and replaced a wheel well (way too much carnage). He took it to the dealer to have it double checked as he couldn’t believe that was it. All their service manager had to say was, “You know, you don’t have the clearance to be driving over deer…”.

Mildly Amused > Andrew Fails 10/09/2015 at 13:57

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We have both. :) A friend mentioned how the BRZ will make my husband a better driver as he’s “nigh-invulnerable” in his WRX. “You’re losing traction? More power!!”

(and it drives me nuts when people ask “should I get a WRX or a BRZ”…Neither— if you’re not smart enough to know the difference… Both are brilliant, but *completely* different!)