Chris Powell, a reader and new owner of a 2008 WRX, left an interesting comment on this blog about the new 2008 WRX. Seeing as the new car has received pretty bad comments from readers of this blog, I think Chris’ opinion is worth sharing.
He says:
“Interesting list of quotes from the trade magazines, even more interesting comments from the readers of this blog. My only question is, do you own one? Well I do! I think the car is great. I’ve had it a week now and traded in my 2003 WRX Wagon for the 2008 5 door.
The previous blogger Timis posted “make a comparison with latest VW Golf / Audi A3 / BMW 120i / Opel-Vauxhall Astra modelsâ€. Well he is right, only one big difference, it’s a Subaru! I upgraded the car with STI metal pedals and a short-throw shifter. Unfortunately that is all you can get right now from SPT at Subaru. I’ll add intake and exhaust upgrades from the dealership as soon as they become available.
The first thing you notice (apart from the more stylish and mature look of the car) is the sound of the doors when you close them. They sound and feel much more like a BMW or Audi rather than that “tin†door feel of my 2003 WRX. As soon as I took off from the dealership I immediately noticed the lower end torque of the 2.5 Liter engine versus my old 2.0 liter block. You also notice much more of the hood out the front windshield in the new version of the car.
The handling is completely legendary Subaru. Just yesterday I flew in to a 90 degree left turn on the way to work. I remember quite distinctly in the old wagon that I tried the same turn some years back “a bit too fastâ€. In that “incidentâ€, I under-steered and nearly slid off the road on the right hand side of the corner as I came out of the turn. This time in the 2008, I hit that hard left (well in to the oncoming lane), and only slid a half lane to the right. I was in much better control of the situation. I was probably well over 100-110kph around the turn in third gear and I mean a two lane, hard 90 degree left (we drive on the right here in the US just in case you haven’t been here). It was only then that I noticed the car also has additional traction control and I saw a wonderful little orange indicator light come on in the dash to let me know I had lost traction. I‘m going to light up that baby more often! I didn’t have any indicators like that at all in the 2003.
All in all, the car is very impressive and with the new quiet in the cockpit, the 6 C/D stereo sounds much, much, better. Buy one if you can, we only had five, 5 doors here in Houston (Sept. 07) and the charcoal grey one is smoking tires on the street as you read this!”
Well it sure sounds like a fun car to drive and I’m glad people are actually enjoying the new car!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I traded in my WRX ‘02 wagon and received my new WRX ‘08 5 door hatch today. You definitely need to go and test drive one! Great car!!
We are picking ours up today (Black WRX). Sounds like you are having lots of fun already.
I may have to disagree here, I went and drove an 08 WRX, and proceeded to drive an 07 WRX Limited. I found the 07 to have a better overall package. The 08 suspension was just to soft for my liking. The 07 just provided a more enjoyable driving experience. So I purchased the 07 WRX Limited.
… of course you have to overlook the fact that it’s basically a wolf in a grocery-getter’s clothing.
I personally won’t buy one on principal that design-wise, it’s now basically aiming at the family car market.
Until there’s a new, better looking model, I’ll stay true to Subaru, but not this massive design mistake they’ve made.
Well I have had by 2008 Black wrx sedan for about two months. I can tell you I have never been happier with a vehicle. The car has great get up, and is very quite when you do get up to higher speeds. I was doing 120mph and first off it did not feel like I was doing that fast. Plus it was very quite inside the cockpit, and there was no vibration in the wheel at all. I look at the five door but I am glad that I picked the 4 door sedan.
I own a 2008 wrx. I like that when I pull up next a “fast looking” car, they don’t give me a second look until they are trying see the subaru emblem on the back of my car as it vanishes in the distance. Subaru has always been about substance over style and is for people who care about the drive not the pretty package. My wrx is quiet, fast, grabs the road, and loves the snow and dirt.
I own a 2008 REX 4dr, dressed in black. I’ve only had the car for about two months. I confess, that for the first few weeks I felt it was god-awful ugly. However, the car has really grown on me. Now, I really find its lines pleasing and consider it a great, not as flashy, alternative to a BMW. Regardless, I bought the car for the performance and the AWD. I had an opportunity to buy a leftover 07 STI and in some respects I regret not buying that car. Yet, I’m not a boy racer and I don’t have time to take it to the track, so would it be worth it? The standard WRX is very livable and has enough juice to remind me why fast is fun. I’m having an SPT intake, cat-back exhaust and short throw shifter installed later this month. Also plan to have it tinted. I remember having the same kind of lukewarm feeling about my 03 Legacy GT, but three years later when I traded it for a Tundra I had a difficult time letting go. So, if you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that Subaru won me back.
I just picked up my 08 WRX sedan with the SPT performance cat-back exhaust. I’ve only put 10 miles on it from the dealer home, but I’m looking forward to many more miles. I hate to say goodbye to my 04 G35x, but this car should be a great replacement.
I had my 2008 WRX for the last 8 months. This is my first Subaru. I live in Canada where we had the worst winter of the last 30 years. I really enjoyed the Subaru but a FWD car would have done a good job also.
I kinda like the way the Subaru drives, but I find it a little too tame. I am also part of a track lapping club, and found out really fast that the car would understeer and roll beyond my tolerance. I went ahead and installed two sway bars. The car is much, much better with them.
Brakes are so-so, not very powerful and prone to fade much too quickly.
The interior is pleasant, however the seat cushions are too short, and you “fall” into the car rather than sit in it.
Not too impressed about the WRX body kit. Some parts are glued to the car and are starting to unglue, while the front and back end look like they’re about to fall off.
I also managed to damage 3 of my 4 wheels just driving regularly in our potholed streets (they are BAD, but never experienced this with any other car).
All in all, not all bad, but I didn’t want a AWD Corolla. A WRX should be sportier.
yes the 08 impreza is that good even a crappy hairdressers car is faster and performs better (golf gti)