As a 40+ year old man, I am used to driving vehicles which (shall I say) are much more cusomary for someone my age. Now I drive a 2002 WRX Sport wagon -- and I'm loving every minute of it. Perhaps this is the first of the treat I will give myself at the dawn of this middle stage in life.

If you are over 40, what "possessed" you to buy a WRX -- and what has been your experience driving this fun car? :D

I was born in 1950. The last car I owned before the WRX was a 91 MR2 turbo. It was modified and damn quick. I sold it after I ordered my WRX sedan. While the car is not the visceral experience the MR2 is, it is still a unique car. That's one reason I bought it. I don't "see" myself coming and going (like with Civics, Camrys, or other sedans).
I like the layout of the car; front engine, awd. I've had most of the other layouts (including two Corvairs!). Front wheel drive is OK. Rear wheel drive is much better! Mid-engine rear wheel drive is exciting. All wheel drive is more competent in most driving situations.
The WRX certainly lacks torque down low. I find myself downshifting to third gear often in city driving as fourth gear is nearly gut-less below 40mph. In fact fourth gear won't do you much good if you're climbing a hill at less than 50mph (in a 35mph zone). Again, downshift. I know how to fix this (intake, and exhaust mods) and I am waiting for the APS/Cobb kit to hit the market. By th eway, the a/c imposes quite a hit on performance coming off the line. Lots of clutch slippage,and revs needed to go with any authority when th ea/c is on.
Quality-wise I rate it as average. I've lived with Toyotas since 1985, and the marque is hard to beat. The WRX seems a bit "flimsy" when you shut the doors, close the trunk, but the interior seems to be put together well. No squeaks or ratles
The brakes on the WRX are OK. I'm trying not to be hard on them.
As for my driving style, well I drive quickly, and fast. I'll do 42 in a 35, be the first away from a light without dumping the clutch. I like to do all my braking before I turn the car, then accelerate in to the curves. I love driving in traffic, playing for position to keep going as far as I can without the lights getting me. That means I look very far down the street in traffic. I look at exhaust pipe diameters to see who the sluggos are. I watch driver's heads to see if I can judge their intent. When at a light, I look at the cross traffic lights, and try to see the change from green to yellow. This gives me a jump on cars at the line, and that gives me position in traffic. I also watch the front wheels of cars near me. It's the best way to spot someone turning in to you. (Thank goodness for great peripheral vision too).
Back to the WRX. I have a favorite road loop that I used to run with the MR2 to get an adrenalin rush. Beccause it was mid-engine-rear wheel drive, I had to be ready to catch it in some tight curves if I pushed too hard. In the WRX I can go just as fast and feel more secure with the rear end. After all, I'm talking suburban road here, not country road, and certainly not race track. Still my little "loop" allows me to explore, and enjoy the "REX" as a sports sedan. It's a quirky, odd little machine. and not meant for non-drivers (people who don't really enjoy driving) It's like a poor man's BMW M3 (as opposed to the lesser BMWs). Thw WRX is not posh, it is not at all upscale. I didn't buy it for that. It does have a really good engine (with very good modifying potential), all wheel drive, a very good suspension (needs larger antiroll bars, and STI strings), and nice "go" sounds.
hmmmm...
is that enough?
By the way, heres an odd observation. I'm 5'8, and I drive with the seat all the way back. With my favorite Reeboks on, I find I can shift very smoothly this way. Engagement is very subtle now. When I take it easy, it feels to the wife like it's almost as smooth as her Camry automatic. I don't do group events, so no track time for me. I'm careful with my car, and safe around other cars. No cutting people off any time.
regards!!!
darryl

my father is 52, gonna be 53 in 3 days he owns the REX, I just drive it on weekends! I bought the car because he loves performance, and we always red that the impreza turbo in Europe and Japan was a great car. When we heard we could get it over here, he ordered it ASAP. We had a 94 impreza before, a legacy turbo and a justy for the kids. He only pushes the car on empty roads that he knows very well, he didn't tell me any stories yet!:D

My dad wanted a WRX hes 52 but I immaturely convinced him not to get one and get an Audi instead. Since in my opinion every time I see someone over 50 driving a WRX I assume they are trying way to hard to fit back into the trend culture. Thats just my opinion and to everyone first and foremost who bought a WRX I say good for you and get ready for a car that will give you a huge grin. But I just always envisioned that theres only certain cars made for certain age-groups I mean your never going to see a 19 year old kid driving a jaguar and if he is even if he owns it your going to assume its his dads.

As someone over 50, I feel the WRX wagon is just perfect for me. I spent Friday at Portland Intl Raceway doing a track day and exploring how well I could slow down and corner from 100+ mph as well as extended 50-60mph weaving corners. Great fun, and even my instructor was impressed with the car.

For me, it's just the way I am, I see no reason not to have a fun car - especially as I sold my airplane a few years ago, and haven't found the right motorcycle to replace my old CX-500. And one of my friends is now 63, and she just loves the WRX wagon she got last month - one drive in mine and she ordered it the next week. In my 40's I had a 325, a Turbo II RX-7 and a Legacy GT which was just too darn slow. But I also had a 180mph airplane..

In my 30's I had sensible cars, Datsuns, Valiants, and such, but as I had a motorcycle, I got my driving thrills there. And a 2 seat AMX with a 390 engine that I pulled out once in a while for thrills..

I wonder what I'll drive in my 60's?? I met a fellow at the track who still races in modified Corvettes - he's 84. :lol:

I'm also 40+ and never drive ordinary cars.
As a resident of a snowy region, I prefer AWD. Turbo and AWD are alot more fun than non-turbo versions.
My other cars are Audi quattro's, but the WRX was a much better buy.
Many AWD cars these days are being handicapped with the open diff/ABS controlled systems. These are meant for occassional use, not 6 months of snow and ice.
The WRX sport wagon is a fun car, reminds of older quattro's in many ways.

I turn 40 in September, but I don't own a WRX yet...I'm still driving a '96 4-runner. I figured I'd be upfront and admit I'm having a mid-life crisis...and as such I want a fun-to-drive car. While a Porsche is the typical choice in my situation, I also have a 4 year old son, and we go everywhere together (mom works waaay to much). Also, I love the concept of a sleeper car. Since I haul bicycles and boogie boards and music equipment, I need something practical. I thought about keeping the 4-runner and getting a Boxster/MR2 Spyder/TT/etc, but what if I can have it all in one car?

The one I really want is an S4 Avant, as it has pretty much everything I want/need....oh...except the damn $40K+ price tag.

So the WRX is high on my list. The fit-and-finish worries me a bit (my 4-runner has been bombproof, as was the pu before, and my wife's A8...well....just check one out sometime), but at least the seats are well bolstered. As long as it doesn't develop lots of rattles, and stays out of the shop (that's another great thing about the 4-runner...100K miles and NEVER been in the shop except for 2 tune/valve adjust at 40K and 80K...and the only things I've replaced are tires and shocks...which makes me think it is probably going to cost me some money soon for clutch and brakes)

So, longer term reliability on Subies? I don't have a dealer close to me, and they don't do loaners (like the Audi dealership), so it needs to be bombproof...

in my opinion every time I see someone over 50 driving a WRX I assume they are trying way to hard to fit back into the trend culture
:lol: Never ass-u-me! :lol:
Some cars are made to be driven, and others riding in. Just `cause there's snow on the roof, doesn't mean there ain't a fire down below! :D Cars for age groups? Bah! :p Some perhaps may be marketed that way, but this 51 year (young) guy has the need for r.a.w. speed. Nothing plush and marshmello for me thanks!
"You won't hear me."~Judas Priest (TuRboLover)

I like cars. I like to drive fast. I really like cars that handle well and have lots of power. I also like cars that are stealthy. I also drive 40+ miles each way to work. I've driven my share of dull and boring cars, but for the past 7 years or so, I've asked myself "why bother to drive a boring car, when you can drive a fun one?" Now since I drive so many miles, I really can't justify something like a Boxter. Seems a damn shame to buy a $45k car, and beat it to death on the highways in a few years. Who wants a Boxter with 75k miles on it? I also live in New England and have to respect Mother nature and our winters. I drive too far to have anything that is RWD. I started out with a GTI VR6, which was an absolute blast. Modded the suspension with everything that Autotech could sell me. What a fun car. After my lease ran out, I made the mistake of getting a Passat V6. I turned it in 3 months early on the lease, and took the hit because I hated it so much. I was going to get another GTI, but then I read of the WRX coming to this country. I follow WRC to a degree and had actually test driven a RS2.5 about 4 years ago. Thought it had potential, but was soft and undrpowered. The early review on the WRX was lots of power and a very stiff chassis. I cancelled the order for my GTI and ordered the WRX. In retrospect, fabulous decision. The car is all that I expected it to be and more. Fast. Stealthy. Handles on rails. And this is off the lot. Plus, it can easily and cheaply be made to go faster and handle better. The car is very comfortable for long trips. If I have a gripe, it's a minor one: the interior is a bit cheezy. But: my hands are on that great steering wheel, my feet are on those cool pedals, and my butt is in that great seat. No BMW or AUDI feels as good there where it counts. Bottom line: Terrific car, Outstanding value. Can't get more fun for the money in an everyday driver.

Solidus

I tried very hard to convince my father to get a S4, that's what he was getting before the Rex was available, but my father had 2 audis, 1 benz before and had terrible problems with them. Subarus are more pleasant to own, you don't have to spend money to keep your wanranty and they don't break don't. When he wants luxury he takes my mother`s volvo XC.

Being a Subaruaholic since '76 (inexpensive and built to stay that way era) I have waited these 25 years for a Subaru with alot of juice! owned a 76,81, then a 86 XT Turbo . I made the mistake and drove one, had to have it..alot of these youngens moan and groan about the "amenities" of the new WRX perhaps they should get a gander at a 76 Subaru. I went to the Rim of The World Rally in California, with just 700 miles on the car I took it thru the back twisty turns you have to go thru to get to the different stages MAN did it stick to the road and gave me confidence I have never felt in any Subaru. I'm 44 and will drive Subaru's till I can't. I thought about the look's of the 02 compared to the 01...funny thing is when you are in the drivers seat you can't see the front of the car.:lol: Dave

Man, cool out (don't chill, cuz "chillin" get the job done). Everything old is new again. Trends? Puh-leeze! I don't do fads. Do you? All my life I've been an individual, and I ASSUME one day you will be too. So lay off us older guys. And to you older guys: don't even think to say "youth is wasted on the young". It would be impolite! :D
darryl

Why do I drive a WRX at the age of 45? Well, partly because we don't have an Audi dealership locally :p - I probably would have gotten an S4 if we did have one, but after reading the reviews of the WRX, and looking at the performance to price ratio, the WRX just looked like too good a deal to pass up.

It satisfies my need for speed ;) while still being completely practical (in fact, extremely capable) as a daily driver. Believe it or not, my wife wanted me to get a Lexus SC430 as my new mistress, and is somewhat bumused that I have chosen a "cheap" little Subaru instead, for my return to adolescence. :D

I have always driver fast and loved a car that handled. I also like AWD for the Chicago Winters. I bought the WRX as a 3rd car for my wife & me. (she won't drive it because she knows how much I love it and wouldn't want to damage it)

I am 53 years old and have had many fast cars in my life:

'70 Boss 302 (blueprinted and bored 30 over)
'70 Mach 1's (3) 351 Cleveland engines ONLY!!!
'69 442 Convertible
'68 Ford XL (390 engine)
'87 Audi 5000CS Quattro

Bought my first Subaru in '96 an Outback after 130,000 miles I love to see it take everything I can give it. NO major problems. Saw an article in a Car magazine for the REX HAD TO HAVE ONE!!

Doesn't matter what age you are only WHO you are!

:)

I'll be 40 the end of this month. I bought the WRX because even though I'm near 40 I still believe in the "driving experience" or a balance of good power, handling, and braking. The WRX offers it all for a reasonable price.

I am also a Subaru loyalist having owned several:

85 4x4 hatchback (a true tank)
85 RX Turbo part time 4x4 sedan
87 RX Turbo full time AWD sedan

I have also owned several high performance american cars that were great cars but were impractical during our Colorado winters. With my WRX I can have it all . . . great performance in all weather conditions, good fuel economy, reliability, and a unique automible.

Oh also . . . I have enough wisdom in my 39 years to realize I didn't buy an invincible car and won't wrap it around a tree or total it like a lot of younger inexperienced WRX drivers seem to be doing lately.

Punk

Why the Rex?............

It was going to be a Passat Avant.........

For all of my adult life I have been in sales. The company I worked for provided me with a car. In the past 15 years I have had 12 or more company cars. Well I quit to start my own business and guess what? I purchased my old company car as I was leaving...... Two years later, business is amazingly good and I decide to bale on the Taurus and buy something new.

So I was looking at the Passat Avant, solid upgradeable engine, good looks, fantastic interior....... Who cares!.... give me some horsepower, I have "pent up demand" for a fun car. Plus the stealth of the wagon, fantastic. I have the windows tented so you cannot tell how old I am......44

So, thank you VW Vortex for sending me to the I-Club, and the I-Club to leading to my WRX.

Deposit in November 2000, Car in March 2001.
P7's and S03 in June, K&N in August, More stuff to come.........

I owned some very nice fast cars when I was younger. Then with a wife and three children Outbacks turned out to be more practical. Now at 52 my youngest will be starting college.
And guess what? Daddy is out driving. It is still a practical car.. even if it is fast with excellent handling.
I looked at Audi’s and BMW’s and can afford either. But this car caught my eye and I am plain loving it.

I was looking for an interesting daily driver that I could pass on to my son when he enters graduate school in a few years. Since I have no idea where his career will take him, I figured that a WRX wagon would cover all the bases, and keep me entertained until then.

I'll be 52 later this year. I followed my fathers financial advice when I was young, retired at 45, and have lots of cool stuff. Life is good.

Been driving Subarus since 1974. First one cost $3000 new. Have had mostly practical cars except for a Holden Gemini (Opel Kadette) heavily modded. Saw lots of WRXs in Australia but could never afford one. Moved to the states and they were not available. So for my 50th birthday my wife surprised me with a WRX Wagon. The main reason we are sold on the WRX is not the speed (although it is really fun to drive) but the safety, stability of build, and reliability. It's a damned good car. Life is great!

I grew up with the European ideal of a sports car: under 6 seconds fast, handles well, light, maneuverable, 140 mph

Tell me again which cars do this for < $ 25k?


add: 4wd, upgradeable innards;
weight/hp ratio = euro supercar

add: low insurance compared to Audi/Porsche etc.
great carrying space for a small car (wagon)
seats 4

cause I' old, I forgot the question.

Oh yeah, which cars do this for under $ 25k?

Like the man said, 1. good livin, 2. good lovin and 3. good cars.
The WRX gives me # 3 with $ 20K left for # 1 and # 2. Boy is Susan happy too!

Any more questions?

look for me in No. VA, DC, MD and say hello: silver wagon, plates: SPD WGN

why did I buy a WRX? Easy.....it's fun to drive. I'm 43, and almost without exception, my cars have all been fun to drive. I've owned a '72 MGB (first car), '70 Z/28, various Hondas and VW's, '78 280Z (my first new car) and lastly a '99 BMW 323i. I think a good car transcends age "limits" and that's why the WRX appeals to us old bastids.

Well, I’m 42 and have owned 20+ hi-performance cars in my lifetime. I started out with Olds 442s- having several of those, moving on to Dodge Shelby, Shelby Turbos in the 80s (including a Rampage with a Turbo driveline- cool). I had learned quite a bit about modifying turbo cars, but didn’t like the Dodge build quality or front wheel drive. Several members of my family had Subarus, so I bought a new ’87 RX turbo. I added a super 60 turbo (a leftover Shelby upgrade), an intercooler (same), an aquarium style boost controller, larger injectors, and welded up a 2.5 “ mandrel exhaust. I’m not sure what the horsepower numbers were, but I ran a best of 13.8. However, I was unimpressed with the interior and only later realized all the defiencies of that model's 1.8 engine. I was sold on AWD and turbos though, so I sold it and bought a new 1990 Toyota All-Trac. The All-Trac was a great car and I added a VPC, a boost controller and had a 3“ cat back made for it. This car was quite quick, but it was heavy and there was very little room to work and modify it. When the new SVX came out, I wanted one and bought it. However, I needed a bit more utility, so I sold the All-Trac to buy a ’93 Typhoon (my worst mistake). It was quick, different, AWD, and turbocharged, plus it could haul stuff. However every bump in the road would shake your fillings and cause the suspension to go in four different directions. The rattles,squeaks, and poor build quality and constant detonation drove me crazy. I parted with it, bought the wife a minivan and continued with the SVX. By the mid ‘90s I was hearing quite a bit about the Impreza WRX, so I bought a used ’93 wagon in ’97 and upgraded it with parts from a wrecked legacy turbo wagon, adding an intercooler. I then found a wrecked STi V3 and imported most of the parts other than the shortblock. I had my eye on putting these parts on the wagon, but when the RS came out, I decided I wanted a coupe instead of the wagon. Since I had a bunch of parts, I bypassed the RS and bought a new ’99 L coupe. I bought a new 2.2 legacy turbo shortblock, and added the Sti stuff to the stock 2.2 block (minus turbo), with the intention to build the 2.2 shortblock and add a turbo later. This gave me a very quick N/A 2.2. However, when the new WRX was announced, I abandoned plans to turbo the 2.2, returned it to stock and finally traded it for a new black WRX wagon- I’m driving it now. I still own the ’92 SVX and have a low-mileage SVX rollover. That drivetrain is going into the old ’93 wagon (my winter project this year- didn’t finish the garage in the new house last year). I still have the V3 parts, a Garret GT25 BB turbo, and a brand new legacy turbo 2.2 shortblock. Eventually, those parts should find there way into the WRX, however if someone wanted to make me an offer on the entire lot, I’d consider selling.

...what possesed me to get a WRX? I dunno...it came to me in a dream! :eek:

I have gone 51 years without ever buying a new car. Then the WRX came out and I couldn't wait the year or two for the used ones to hit the market. I had to have it now. I took it for a drive up a beautiful mountain road I used to drive when I was in High School (in my 57 Chevy, 327-dual quads, Hurst, etc.), Squaw Pass road west of Evergreen Colorado. It starts at about 7500 ft. and ends at the top of Mount Evans at 14,148 ft. (all paved). Left about half the tread off the factory tires on the mountain but that's ok, I am looking forward to four 225x45x17s soon. Made me feel like a High School kid again.

Since in my opinion every time I see someone over 50 driving a WRX I assume they are trying way to hard to fit back into the trend culture. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Oh brother! Is this the spelling and grammar they teach in school these days?

Old folks that drive The Fast and the Furious Hondas with lots of graphics would be your trend followers. Subaru drivers being trend followers? Maybe sometime in the future. Subarus are too rare and anonymous to be even slightly trendy. Your statement would have carried more credibility if you had applied it to all inexpensive performance compacts, not just the WRX.

I have always loved inexpensive performance compacts -- the stealthier the better. My very first car was a Austin Mini Cooper S 1275cc back in 1969. I have always been convinced of the value of rally as a proving ground for real-world performance.

A trendy 50-year-old buys a Porsche or BMW 7 series or Lexus or Suburban.

--scott

All of you have great exuberance! I admire that. I'm glad there's a full spectrum of people in this arena. :cool:

I'm over 50 and have watched Colin McCrae in the past and now Richard Burns on Speedvision in WRC. Then I saw the commercial (WRX)......had to get rid of that Ford Tortoise, quick.
I love the WRX and can't wait to leave work to drive it. The first 5 speed in about 10 years.
I started racing motocross when I turned 40 and am still racing at nearly 51.
I did BMX at 48.
Next I think I'll try skateboarding.
Too old is all in your head.

As my moniker would suggest, I'm older than 40.
I bought the WRX as a family car and I get a kick out of it; my other car is a 2300 lb 911 with 300 hp that I built myself.
I like driving at the track and sport climbing.
It is usually a mistake to judge people by their chronological age.
Peace.

I'm 44 and bought a WRX because I needed (wanted) a 4 door,
all wheel drive, great handling, terrific accelerating, terribly fast ride that was somewhat affordable.

Did I have any other choice????

Got my sedan for my 53rd birthday and loving it. My last new car was an 87 milano that I still have and still love but I was tired of the wife always getting the latest (2000 Outback), don't care much for FWD, and finally said what the heck. Yeah debated about the WRX being a young man's car - thinking an audi or Bimmer would be a better match but decided they are too common, too trendy and too expensive. One neighbor scored a new 328 and another an IS 300 and I don't envy them a bit.

Originally posted by sub55
Got my sedan for my 53rd birthday and loving it. My last new car was an 87 milano that I still have and still love but I was tired of the wife always getting the latest (2000 Outback), don't care much for FWD, and finally said what the heck. Yeah debated about the WRX being a young man's car - thinking an audi or Bimmer would be a better match but decided they are too common, too trendy and too expensive. One neighbor scored a new 328 and another an IS 300 and I don't envy them a bit.

I can't own a BMW (they are everywhere in SoCal, overpriced (stereo is an option?!?), and many of the owners...well...I'll stop), and I drove the IS300. You have nothing to envy. The "escaine" faux leather stuff feels cheap, and the acceleration and handling are not near the WRX. But hey, it only costs $5-10K more than the WRX!