So I got a call from my buddy in the EVO crowd that he went and checked out the new '06's over at Irvine Subaru. So this morning I went down to see them for my own eyes. Let me just say I have liked the new design upgrades from the beginning, and the cars in person did not let me down. They have 3 STi's (2 Steel Grey, 1 White), a regular WRX sedan 5MT (CGM), and a WRX Wagon 5MT (Steel Grey). I got to take a test drive in the WRX Sedan, and I am already a big fan of the brakes (HOT), and the low-end grunt from the 2.5L. I am coming from having 2 WRX's ('02, '04) and 1 STi ('05), and this will definitely be the next new car for me. The seats give good support and I like the color scheme of the grey/black seats now. Definitley something that everyone should go down and check out.

cool thanks for the impressions, Im moving to an 06 this fall and im still trying to decide between the STi and the WRX Limited. Im coming from an 03 WRX wagon and have never ridden in an STi so i will be comparing both in great detail.

They're actually letting you test drive them now? Amazing...usually, it was no test drives allowed...or was that just for the STi's?

:confused:

Just STis, and most, but not all dealerships.

having come from a WRX and a STi, the new WRX still can't hold a candle to the STi. It's very fast in it's own right, but it'll never have the surge of the STi. Although, from the '02-'05 WRX to now, it's pretty noticeable. The extra 20 lb-ft of torque really help down low. On the test drive I was coming around the corner in 3rd when I could have technically been in 2nd, and it pulled me through with ease. It's the best move SoA made by putting that block in the WRX. I really can't comment enough on the new (old) brake system in the WRX. I was most impressed by that.

Dude.. if you don't give me more impressions, I will crawl through my monitor and kick you in the nizutts :lol:

what does everyone want to know?

-The seats look and perform the part of the STi seats, w/o the escayne.
-I would buy '04-'05 talilights ASAP.
-Around one corner at a pretty good clip, the tires...............well they still kinda suck stock. MUCH better improvement from the RE-92's. I would have liked to see 225's instead of the 215's they wrapped the rims in.
-The 2.5L motor is louder than the 2.0L. You can really hear the motor come to life when boost hits.
-I've mentioned it before, but the new brakes kick arse. The feel of the brakes and pedal is excellent. Having the Brembos in the STi compared to the 4 pots/2 pots in the WRX, I walked away feeling the performance very close to the Brembos. The best upgrade I noticed.


any more questions, let me know

what does everyone want to know?

How does it handle compared to the STi? Body roll, suspension,....

thanks

what does everyone want to know?

I am coming from originally an 02 WRX then into a Legacy GT wagon. The wife will now get the GT and I will get a WRX or STi, probably a WRX considering the cost difference. I don't know if you have driven a GT or maybe even a Forester XT, but I wanted to know how cruising power is and how the engines compare IN the car. Also any other little tidbits you could throw in would be great! :banana:

I am coming from originally an 02 WRX then into a Legacy GT wagon. The wife will now get the GT and I will get a WRX or STi, probably a WRX considering the cost difference. I don't know if you have driven a GT or maybe even a Forester XT, but I wanted to know how cruising power is and how the engines compare IN the car. Also any other little tidbits you could throw in would be great! :banana:

I've driven a FXT, and the power delivery more noticeable in the WRX. I didn't feel "sportiness" in the FXT handling-wise, but it sits much higher, and performance-wise, maybe it's mental. Could also be the ECU mapping and the tranny.

How does it handle compared to the STi? Body roll, suspension,....

thanks

I noticed body roll at a pretty good clip, but the suspension is definitely tuned differently between the STi and WRX. The suspension "feels" stiffer, but it's also because of the lower profile tires on the 17's.

Did your butt dyno tell you the 06 is faster then the 02-05, or is it just more drivable with less lag down low?

I realize you probably couldn't really get on it in a test drive, but what is your guess based on the limited experience.

How hard did you push it? Did you take it all the way up to the 7,000rpm redline? Does it feel like a 230hp car - or more like a 250 or 260hp car? ;)

-Chike

Did your butt dyno tell you the 06 is faster then the 02-05, or is it just more drivable with less lag down low?

I realize you probably couldn't really get on it in a test drive, but what is your guess based on the limited experience.

For the couple minutes I was in the car (real time), the 'ol butt dyno told me that it was much more drivable torque-wise in everyday situations. HP felt alot of the same, but as always with more torque, it "feels" faster. I got on it up to about 5500-6000 RPM, but not dropping my foot every time I shifted. Felt like less lag, primarily because of the littel bit of extra torque. Hope that helps.

Are the seats shaped differently than the '04 WRX? They look to be the same shape to me, but with different fabric. I hated the '04 seats - they looked great, but after 1 hour of driving my back felt worse than 5 hours in any other car I've owned.

-Around one corner at a pretty good clip, the tires...............well they still kinda suck stock. MUCH better improvement from the RE-92's. I would have liked to see 225's instead of the 215's they wrapped the rims in.

They probably ARE RE92s. They're just +1 size, 215/45-17. Same ones on the Legacy GT.

=S2=

And they still suck even at 17"

Not bad for everyday driving, but no lateral grip whatsoever

you know, now that I think about it, it is the RE92's on the car. They are better than the old 16" variation though.

You are just feeling the smaller sidewall flex, other then that, performance is almost identical, except you are not on a 215 instead of a 195

You are just feeling the smaller sidewall flex, other then that, performance is almost identical, except you are not on a 215 instead of a 195
The previous gen wrx had 205/55/16 tires (not 195). The new gen WRX has 215/45/17 tires... :)

-Chike

Err ya, I knew that didn't look right ..

I'm just glad they reduced turbo lag.

I'm just glad they reduced turbo lag.
Agreed. I can't wait to test drive a wrx as well...

-Chike

I was able to test drive an '06 wrx yesterday as well at Irvine Subaru. My buddy works there so I was able to go for an "extended" test drive. I have owned a 2004 WRX that was slightly modded (Cobb Stg 2) before I traded it in for a 2005 STI. The new 2006 WRX felt smoother from the get go than the model that it replaces. It has nowhere near the response of an STI though. My biggest surprise was the transmission. You can actually shift into first gear without the fear of grinding.

The car can use stiffer springs, a bigger turbo, and I would rather have the older WRX intercooler than the Forrester looking one that it has now. Other than that, I thought that the 06's were pretty nice. Love the brakes...makes me want to paint the Brembos red :banana:

So you think it was "faster" than the old WRX? I know it's relative because of the torque curve and whatnot but I wanted to hear more impressions :D

go get it already , stop talking about it and creaming up your keyboard.......if you need me to talk to the wife for you let me know!!

I was able to test drive an '06 wrx yesterday as well at Irvine Subaru. My buddy works there so I was able to go for an "extended" test drive. I have owned a 2004 WRX that was slightly modded (Cobb Stg 2) before I traded it in for a 2005 STI. The new 2006 WRX felt smoother from the get go than the model that it replaces. It has nowhere near the response of an STI though. My biggest surprise was the transmission. You can actually shift into first gear without the fear of grinding.

The car can use stiffer springs, a bigger turbo, and I would rather have the older WRX intercooler than the Forrester looking one that it has now. Other than that, I thought that the 06's were pretty nice. Love the brakes...makes me want to paint the Brembos red :banana:
How much bigger is the factory turbo on the '06 WRX in comparison with the one used on the '02-'05 WRXs? Is it the same turbo as the one used on the '04-'05 FXT?

Anyone know the psi at which the turbo used on the '06 WRX is maxed out at?

-Chike

redline?

I test drove the 2006 STi a couple of days ago. It felt like it had the same power as a 2005. I don't know if it is just me, but the gearing felt higher. I have only test driven a 2005 for 20 minutes a few months back, so I base it off of a terrible memory. As compared to my WRX, 4th gear felt like third gear ratios. It rode pretty smooth, I was not about to rag the car out to see what the handling limits were. I could not see the roof wing in the back window (for those who have been worrying about that). Of course I had freaking 3 people plus myself in the car on the test drive. The power still felt good. My 2006 STi should be at the dealership in a week or so. They didn't have any 2006 WRXs to test drive.

IT's got more power but it's also a little bit heavier isnt it? quickness should be about the same or else only a small difference. I think it's going to take some time for the 06 to grow on me.

Shane