Bought 24 base WRX for about 30,000. Buy the manual , get the ignition key . Turn the car over , put your belt on , put your favorite music on . Tool down the road at 3,000 to 4,000 RPM. Most fun I’ve had in my 73 plus years. Enjoy the Torque and the AWD. Nobody else has AWD in this price range. The. 2.4 Liter Boxster is amazing! Be thankful life is allowing you to afford a nice machine. Have fun. Drive safely. I’m lovin the WRX.
100% agree with you on the plastic cladding. I've had my '23 VB for a month so far in the Canadian winter. I was planning on paint matching them, but now I've grown to love them.
OMG. Don't. Leave it alone. Back-yard quality modifications such as painting plastic cladding in a recipe for issues given that commercial quality paints with adhere differently to plastic pieces as opposed to thin steel or aluminum body panels. The WRX looks fine. Leave it alone.
Even if we weren’t going to like the car at first (myself included), Subaru knew exactly what it was doing. Minus the ugly rear, the WRX has grown so much in me. Great review btw!
JDM version has 12.3 LCD instrument cluster that can display apple maps navigation. as well as ventilated seats, rear air vents, rear wipers, f1 brake light, etc, etc.
Adding those features would make it a $50k vehicle in the US. The GT is already getting close to that. At that price, there’s much better options in both the performance and premium sedan categories. I bought my ‘22 WRX Premium because nothing came close in performance and features for the $32k that I paid for it. If I had $50k to spend on a sporty sedan then I would be driving something German.
As a 2020 base WRX owner, one of my biggest gripes is that there is no "bite" to the brakes. Yes they stop well- but you do have to work for it in the pedal, which I'm not a big fan of.
16:07 I got the 22 premium in solar orange. I love it. Get compliments all the time. Can't show pictures on here. But I did some exterior changes. Fun to drive.
‘22 VB owner here with 18mo ownership. This review is nearly spot on. The Premium is the best option, the cladding is SUPER low maintenance, the standard Dunlop tires suck big time you’ll get lucky if you get 30K out of them and lastly it’s a really fun car but they’re not holding the resale value of previous years.
That’s surprising to me… I’m looking at a 2020 car with 66K on it and it’s more expensive than most 2024’s brand new. Yes it’s an STi fully loaded but those were $47-$50K here in Canada but this one is $44K so barely $1K per year in depreciation. That’s less than 10%
Correction for you: The 22 and 23 don’t have a TR so the only option is 24 if you want TR for improved brakes…however the 24 over all come with brake improvements.
As someone in Texas, I can’t stand the summer tires that come on this. They do fine in the summer but anything below 50 degrees, they become way too stiff. They are loud too. And yes, I can’t believe Subaru was able to get away with the brakes on the WRX. It’s embarrassing. For the price, I think the limited trim should have at least come with the adjustable dampers.
Good point. I would say they build cars for not just cold but just any extreme climates that people may inhabit. I live in California so rain and fog are my big dangers. Def happy to have all-wheel drive. I have the 2023 Crystal Black Silica Premium. I love it and drive the devil out of it. Haha.
Agree. I do debate sometimes if I should just go for a used 2022 Veloster N. Don’t need awd, and i like the short wheelbase. But I also like the thought of purchasing a new car.
The other day, I test-drove a brand-new 2024 6-speed WRX Limited at my local dealership. You are absolutely correct that its brake is weak & uninspiring, to say the least. The brake doesn't have the immediate bite that I am accustomed to with my BMW M2 Comp. The problem is that if you go for the TR trim equipped with a Brembo brake, not only do you have to pay a $40K+ sticker price, you only get the CVT instead of the 6-speed. Subaru has really missed the mark on the new Subaru WRX VB. Imho, a 6-speed STI badge will probably persuade a die-hard Subaru fan to buy it. But for me, it simply doesn't make any sense at this price point.
My 21 sport tech came with brembos.... no extra charge. Guess I got lucky. Honestly the only thing keeping me from getting one of these is the brakes and I ain't spending an extra 6k for brembos!!
Until you upgrade the brakes, you simply learn to use engine braking on the back roads. I'll ease the brakes into a curve during the downshift and power out. Yes, it is different than most other sport sedans, I have great fun with the car.
I don't know why people complain about cladding. A lot of cars have that such CR-V, Rev4... just accept it. If you like manual, just embrace what Subaru gives, keep complaining is just going to stop Subaru from producing it.
Really wish this didn’t take premium gas. Was so close to getting one then just couldn’t stomach it with a 500 mile per week drive but if they change the engine or I pull in more $$$ gonna still get it 😂
Premium gives you better gas mileage and cleans the intakes while you drive… I learned that even if you have port injection you need the ports cleaned as part of regular maintenance or you will likely get problems with fuel injection around 100K I’ve had that issue with every car, turbo or non turbo, you definitely want the detergents you get in premium gas, it’s not just about octane or ethanol
l own a 2023 WRX 6 speed and you correct, Stiff performance chassis with AWD makes this car sure footed, so much grip, l can feel the tires gripping the road. Engine short gearing is a perfect match, car is so engaging and easy to drive. A beginner can learn manual in this car. Noisy and not most comfortable car but practical in all weather and snow. Have STI exhaust and upgrading intake, short shift and steering wheel, Car was built to modify, late tuning Cobb and wheels, Noble carbon duck bill heehee
Not sure if it is just me, but my brain fixated on the way you said "twuny twuny" instead of twenty twenty throughout the video lol. No hate here. I'm curious if it's just me that caught onto it or if maybe it's a location/accent thing. Overall great walkthrough of the car! I have been enjoying mine (2023 Base SPT) the last few months & have never been more excited for the snow in my life. P.S. great advice on the getting rid of the summer tires on the car as well, they are terrible. You will hydroplane into a ditch trying to keep up with the rich boys. Game is game.
Thanks Kenny! About a year before buying the WRX I was seriously considering a 20th anniversary edition Golf R but at that time I would have got the DSG. By the time I was ready to buy a new car, I wanted a manual and to spend less than $40k which eliminated the Golf R as a consideration. With VW dealers marking up the Golf R even to this day, I’d tell people to just get a GR Corolla if they really wanted a hatchback.
I much prefer the dual touch screen. I really dislike these large touch screens. I really dislike that put Eyesight in the manual transmission. I hate that stuff.
Saying the plastic cladding is “needed” for colder climates is a true cope. What about the millions of vehicles produced before the WRX that are fairing just fine (pun intended)? The lack of paint is just a manufacturer being cheap and lazy, zero excuses when dropping new car money.
How is it cope when I can easily swap the plastic cladding for color matching fenders and bumpers and install everything myself in my driveway? I'm going to assume you don't encounter snow, road salt, or road debris because in the winter everything gets caked onto the exterior and you're kicking up everything into the wheel wells. The WRX is an all weather and all purpose sports sedan, and more specifically for the VB, is part of the overland generation of vehicles that's influenced the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.
It’s “cope” because you’re comparing your $35k sport sedan to 6 figure Lamborghinis and Porsches lol. It’s cope because you have to spend money on top of the base price of the car to finish the paint job that it used to come with. I live in Michigan, my vehicles experience harsh conditions and roads combined yet the paint and wheel wells have withheld in regard to what you’re referencing. Basic maintenance doesn’t need to be replaced by cheap plastic. Ultimately, color matched fenders should be a free option from factory. I’m curious what the take rate would be.
Never compared the WRX to the Sterrato or Dakar. It’s just the trend that now every manufacturer is joining, and keep in mind that sedans are being replaced by crossovers, so the fact that the WRX gives some level of versatility to buyers is why it has a step up over the competition. I’ve yet to see a VB in New England have color matching fenders, nor have I met anyone who is seriously considering on getting them.
I autocross my WRX, and I can say that the cladding helps not scratch or chip the paint when you hit cones. I had a 17 WRX, and I lost some paint in the wheels arches, and both bumpers from a few cones. I can also say, stock for stock, this WRX verses the last gen WRX (non-STI) handles better in the autocross world. Definitely needs better brakes though. The bottom line is if you want a WRX, you’ll get one. If you’re complaining about the car because of some unpainted plastic, you don’t want it and want to complain about it to justify your choice.
Really wish they didn’t include all this eye site safety bullshit, this is a drivers car it’s gonna and meant to be driven, it’s not a Tesla that drives you.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Bought 24 base WRX for about 30,000. Buy the manual , get the ignition key . Turn the car over , put your belt on , put your favorite music on . Tool down the road at 3,000 to 4,000 RPM. Most fun I’ve had in my 73 plus years. Enjoy the Torque and the AWD. Nobody else has AWD in this price range. The. 2.4 Liter Boxster is amazing! Be thankful life is allowing you to afford a nice machine. Have fun. Drive safely. I’m lovin the WRX.
people dont realize for the price what you are getting they compare it to the 60k type r
100% agree with you on the plastic cladding. I've had my '23 VB for a month so far in the Canadian winter. I was planning on paint matching them, but now I've grown to love them.
Same
OMG. Don't. Leave it alone. Back-yard quality modifications such as painting plastic cladding in a recipe for issues given that commercial quality paints with adhere differently to plastic pieces as opposed to thin steel or aluminum body panels. The WRX looks fine. Leave it alone.
@@AndyRoss-z3t read the comment again. We were saying how we wouldn’t change the cladding because it has grown on us.
Finally someone who understands the plastic cladding lol.
If you live anywhere that has real winter weather then the plastic exterior pieces are a must have.
Even if we weren’t going to like the car at first (myself included), Subaru knew exactly what it was doing. Minus the ugly rear, the WRX has grown so much in me. Great review btw!
We’re lucky in Canada, base models come with heated mirrors and seats.
Fantastic analysis. I just picked up a new 24’ base for 31k, I am beside my self!
Excellent review, brought out some great important points
JDM version has 12.3 LCD instrument cluster that can display apple maps navigation. as well as ventilated seats, rear air vents, rear wipers, f1 brake light, etc, etc.
Adding those features would make it a $50k vehicle in the US. The GT is already getting close to that. At that price, there’s much better options in both the performance and premium sedan categories.
I bought my ‘22 WRX Premium because nothing came close in performance and features for the $32k that I paid for it. If I had $50k to spend on a sporty sedan then I would be driving something German.
As a 2020 base WRX owner, one of my biggest gripes is that there is no "bite" to the brakes.
Yes they stop well- but you do have to work for it in the pedal, which I'm not a big fan of.
The brakes suck on my 22 wrx, and everyone says just change the rotors and pads solves the issue.
It looks better in person I getting a 2023 premium in Red.
Nice! Red is a great color for the VB
16:07 I got the 22 premium in solar orange. I love it. Get compliments all the time. Can't show pictures on here. But I did some exterior changes. Fun to drive.
Nice! I have a 2023 in ignition red. 😊
So for the winter keep the plastic cladding in Canada but in summer complaint match
‘22 VB owner here with 18mo ownership. This review is nearly spot on. The Premium is the best option, the cladding is SUPER low maintenance, the standard Dunlop tires suck big time you’ll get lucky if you get 30K out of them and lastly it’s a really fun car but they’re not holding the resale value of previous years.
That’s surprising to me… I’m looking at a 2020 car with 66K on it and it’s more expensive than most 2024’s brand new. Yes it’s an STi fully loaded but those were $47-$50K here in Canada but this one is $44K so barely $1K per year in depreciation. That’s less than 10%
@@SCraig-Handsome Probably since it’s an STI … we may never see a new one of these again.
“DebraX”😂😂 i lol’d. Your info is good tho and seems unbiased. Good and informed review
Just learned that if one tire becomes severely damaged it could result in having to buy 4 new tires if the tread wear warrants to not damage the awd
This is true with any awd vehicle
Correction for you: The 22 and 23 don’t have a TR so the only option is 24 if you want TR for improved brakes…however the 24 over all come with brake improvements.
Great video I bought a set of Westlake tires on Amazon 400 dollars great in snow for my 22 wrx
As someone in Texas, I can’t stand the summer tires that come on this. They do fine in the summer but anything below 50 degrees, they become way too stiff. They are loud too. And yes, I can’t believe Subaru was able to get away with the brakes on the WRX. It’s embarrassing. For the price, I think the limited trim should have at least come with the adjustable dampers.
I have a 22 premium and I like the brakes more than on the 21 sti I test drove
Good point. I would say they build cars for not just cold but just any extreme climates that people may inhabit. I live in California so rain and fog are my big dangers. Def happy to have all-wheel drive. I have the 2023 Crystal Black Silica Premium. I love it and drive the devil out of it. Haha.
Agree. I do debate sometimes if I should just go for a used 2022 Veloster N. Don’t need awd, and i like the short wheelbase. But I also like the thought of purchasing a new car.
So happy I bought my VB after I moved to Florida.
Feels good in the rain
The other day, I test-drove a brand-new 2024 6-speed WRX Limited at my local dealership. You are absolutely correct that its brake is weak & uninspiring, to say the least. The brake doesn't have the immediate bite that I am accustomed to with my BMW M2 Comp. The problem is that if you go for the TR trim equipped with a Brembo brake, not only do you have to pay a $40K+ sticker price, you only get the CVT instead of the 6-speed. Subaru has really missed the mark on the new Subaru WRX VB. Imho, a 6-speed STI badge will probably persuade a die-hard Subaru fan to buy it. But for me, it simply doesn't make any sense at this price point.
TR is manual. You must mean the GT which is CVT only.
Nice reveiw
Curious why you were planning for only 6 months
My 21 sport tech came with brembos.... no extra charge. Guess I got lucky. Honestly the only thing keeping me from getting one of these is the brakes and I ain't spending an extra 6k for brembos!!
Still no option small rotors for aftermarket only way to 15 inch forester rotors.
Until you upgrade the brakes, you simply learn to use engine braking on the back roads. I'll ease the brakes into a curve during the downshift and power out. Yes, it is different than most other sport sedans, I have great fun with the car.
What tires did you go with?
Im in Florida, what tires should I swap for the Dunlops?
The Dunlops are great tires in a region where you don't get real weather. When they wear out just get Michelin Pilot Sport 4Ss
the Dunlap tires lasted me 1 year. I don't like it because it doesn't have a spare tire.
I don't know why people complain about cladding. A lot of cars have that such CR-V, Rev4... just accept it. If you like manual, just embrace what Subaru gives, keep complaining is just going to stop Subaru from producing it.
Really wish this didn’t take premium gas. Was so close to getting one then just couldn’t stomach it with a 500 mile per week drive but if they change the engine or I pull in more $$$ gonna still get it 😂
Manual says 87 is fine
Premium gives you better gas mileage and cleans the intakes while you drive… I learned that even if you have port injection you need the ports cleaned as part of regular maintenance or you will likely get problems with fuel injection around 100K
I’ve had that issue with every car, turbo or non turbo, you definitely want the detergents you get in premium gas, it’s not just about octane or ethanol
l own a 2023 WRX 6 speed and you correct, Stiff performance chassis with AWD makes this car sure footed, so much grip, l can feel the tires gripping the road. Engine short gearing is a perfect match, car is so engaging and easy to drive. A beginner can learn manual in this car. Noisy and not most comfortable car but practical in all weather and snow. Have STI exhaust and upgrading intake, short shift and steering wheel, Car was built to modify, late tuning Cobb and wheels, Noble carbon duck bill heehee
8:35 why is that head rest in the middle up?
Probably because I had friends in the backseat recently
Not sure if it is just me, but my brain fixated on the way you said "twuny twuny" instead of twenty twenty throughout the video lol. No hate here. I'm curious if it's just me that caught onto it or if maybe it's a location/accent thing.
Overall great walkthrough of the car! I have been enjoying mine (2023 Base SPT) the last few months & have never been more excited for the snow in my life.
P.S. great advice on the getting rid of the summer tires on the car as well, they are terrible. You will hydroplane into a ditch trying to keep up with the rich boys. Game is game.
Did you get rid of the GTI?
Still have it but it will likely be gone by the summer
What about rhe RS IMPREZA WAGON
No manual option
Nice video Mike! Just wondered since you have a GTI, would you have considered a Golf R (price aside), or is the WRX a different/better experience?
Thanks Kenny! About a year before buying the WRX I was seriously considering a 20th anniversary edition Golf R but at that time I would have got the DSG. By the time I was ready to buy a new car, I wanted a manual and to spend less than $40k which eliminated the Golf R as a consideration.
With VW dealers marking up the Golf R even to this day, I’d tell people to just get a GR Corolla if they really wanted a hatchback.
@@mike_cerra Aah, makes sense, thanks!
I’ve got 2600 miles on my 23. I get around 29/30 mpg. There’s 93 octane in my area.
Why only 6 months?
Those other brands have more features and look newer but Theyr FWD why even compare them to this
This is awd. In the rain, snow and dirt. They don't stand a chance.
@@K3GT1 exactly WRX is the camp in this segment even tho it’s less flashy enterior it always withstands the test of time
I much prefer the dual touch screen. I really dislike these large touch screens. I really dislike that put Eyesight in the manual transmission. I hate that stuff.
250 miles a week jeeeez i drive 10 miles a week round trip to work LOL my car is gunna have zero miles on it
I can honestly say I rip my car down back roads in Pennsylvania. I never touch my brakes. I would recommend a manual transmission over A C. V. T.😂😂😂😂
Test drove the GT at an auto show. It doesn't feel like a CVT. More like an automatic. But for boomers, the manual is def the way to go.
Saying the plastic cladding is “needed” for colder climates is a true cope. What about the millions of vehicles produced before the WRX that are fairing just fine (pun intended)? The lack of paint is just a manufacturer being cheap and lazy, zero excuses when dropping new car money.
How is it cope when I can easily swap the plastic cladding for color matching fenders and bumpers and install everything myself in my driveway? I'm going to assume you don't encounter snow, road salt, or road debris because in the winter everything gets caked onto the exterior and you're kicking up everything into the wheel wells.
The WRX is an all weather and all purpose sports sedan, and more specifically for the VB, is part of the overland generation of vehicles that's influenced the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.
It’s “cope” because you’re comparing your $35k sport sedan to 6 figure Lamborghinis and Porsches lol. It’s cope because you have to spend money on top of the base price of the car to finish the paint job that it used to come with.
I live in Michigan, my vehicles experience harsh conditions and roads combined yet the paint and wheel wells have withheld in regard to what you’re referencing. Basic maintenance doesn’t need to be replaced by cheap plastic. Ultimately, color matched fenders should be a free option from factory. I’m curious what the take rate would be.
Never compared the WRX to the Sterrato or Dakar. It’s just the trend that now every manufacturer is joining, and keep in mind that sedans are being replaced by crossovers, so the fact that the WRX gives some level of versatility to buyers is why it has a step up over the competition.
I’ve yet to see a VB in New England have color matching fenders, nor have I met anyone who is seriously considering on getting them.
I autocross my WRX, and I can say that the cladding helps not scratch or chip the paint when you hit cones. I had a 17 WRX, and I lost some paint in the wheels arches, and both bumpers from a few cones. I can also say, stock for stock, this WRX verses the last gen WRX (non-STI) handles better in the autocross world. Definitely needs better brakes though. The bottom line is if you want a WRX, you’ll get one. If you’re complaining about the car because of some unpainted plastic, you don’t want it and want to complain about it to justify your choice.
Let me save you 16 min… just buy it
Really wish they didn’t include all this eye site safety bullshit, this is a drivers car it’s gonna and meant to be driven, it’s not a Tesla that drives you.
It’s an oil eater like all subies 😅
I would really like to see a hybrid wrx! Better fuel economy!
That’s rt 2 lol
Subaru knows how to make ugly cars.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Muy feo
Modelled after your mother and your children
Look at Ford's mach e mustang
The poor reliability are the issues with Subaru. Oil leaks, coolant leaks and head gasket issues are very common.
lol…maybe 20 years ago
Research and learn before speaking nonsense. Just look at the data.
Yes, 20 years ago. If you leave it stock or mod it like a responsible adult, it'll still be reliable.
You own a newer generation WRX
Don't
Plastic cladding is terrible
Nope
I hope your car has all chips in the paint especially around the tires