It sounds to me like you would rather have the WRX. To me I have to have the hatch space. So the new Subie is a no go.

Also even though I haven't driven a new WRX. I don't think it handles better. AWD or not. The ST is a very well balanced awesome handling FWD car.

More features in an ST. Plus it's a Ford so you won't have to worry about reliability for roughly 2,005 years.

It's all subjective and obviously I'm a die hard Ford guy haha. But in my opinion the ST is the better car. Even though it's got two less drive wheels.


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Also even though I haven't driven a new WRX. I don't think it handles better. AWD or not. The ST is a very well balanced awesome handling FWD car.

Motor trend just did a comparison between the ST and 15 WRX.

It beat the ST in every measureable performance area. They especially liked the handling, it was much more stable at the limit and even with the increased handling it road better. The WRX was about 2.5 seconds faster around the road course they were using for the test.

They even liked the WRX seats over the STs Recarros.

 

It's a tough call. The Focus is an awesome car but now that I can afford the Subie, it just throws a monkey wrench into things. I say that about the handling as a result of Motortrend's head to head, which did say that the WRX was more composed and quicker out of corners, but nevertheless, I'm very aware of the Focus' superior handling capabilities as one of my test drives was on a windy back road. A dealership a few hours from me somehow has TWELVE new WRXs, so I'll be taking a trip there soon, but until then I guess I'll be biting my nails with question marks above my head.

 

Oddly enough, I found the ST to be a more refined car all around than the new WRX, I was also in your position a couple months ago, had an opportunity to get a 2015 WRX but I didn't. Now if I could have gotten a 2014 WRX hatch I would have haha, but not the 2015. I don't think it's ever a very good idea to get the first model year of a refreshed vehicle. The aftermarket for the ST is better, handling is probably just as good if not better, looks better (in my opinion), more refined, more fun (from my experience anyway), and on top of all that I got my ST about $8k cheaper than a WRX would have cost me. Is the AWD worth the extra money? I don't think so, living in MI AWD would come in handy, but a well balanced FWD should do just as good with a good set of snow tires. In the end though, it is your decision, test drive both and weigh the pros and cons of either, I'm just here to give my own opinion :big smile:

 

The aftermarket of the ST will be better for a few months. This is a wrx dude. The aftermarket is hilariously huge for sti/wrx's.

go to cobb's website to see dynographs of the new wrx and you can compare it to dyno's of the focus st. They have all of these on their dyno there to compare with. The WRX will have vastly more potential on stock turbo than the st will/does.

 

Subarus are nice, I used to own one. But don't believe that your Subaru will be reliable for 2,000 years. The WRXs and STis are notorious for ringland failure, even in stock form. Albeit, that problem was with the 2.5, but like others have said, this is the first model year of the "refresh" and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if they have quite a few kinks to work out.

My brother has a 2013 with 20k on it and a few weeks ago he blew his engine. Any guess to the cause? Yup...ringland.

The Subaru will be a great, fun car for you, but don't fool yourself into thinking it'll be maintenance free. Only real difference I see between the two is AWD vs FWD. Is it worth the extra 8k for you to get an equally optioned WRX? For me it wasn't and that's why I have an ST.

 

Traded in my '13 ST2 for a '15 WRX Base so I'll see if I can help.

Handling: The WRX handles better then the ST. The ST handles amazingly but it's tendency to over steer gets old, quick. Obviously AWD vs FWD. Both have torque vectoring systems to help with turning.

Brakes: The ST has the better brakes, period.

Interior: I'm 6'2 260lbs and I loved the Recaros in the ST. I miss them dearly. The WRX is typical Subaru interior: pretty cheap and plastic feeling. Layout is nice and I personally like the faux carbon fiber trim pieces. The MFD is nice but I'd still prefer the ST's touchscreen/Sync.

Fuel Economy: Surprisingly, have to go with the WRX. My first tank netted me 33mpg, with me getting on it a few times. I don't know how other guys do it, but even babying my ST I was lucky to get 25mpg.

Power/Speed: I've "cruised" alongside a stock 2013 WRX and a stock 2014 ST1. If anything, the ST pulls harder. I noticed that when I traded in my '11 WRX for the '13 ST and it's even more apparent now in the '15 WRX. The WRX will obviously win from a dig, but rolling, it really came down to whoever jumped first. I should be able "cruise" with a stage 1 ST this weekend and I bet he pulls away. That's mostly the insane amount of torque the ST has. And the fact that the ST has a better Driver mod . However, I don't have to worry about tire hop/spin in the first 3 gears, so that's nice. The opposite side is that even tho the WRX has a twinscroll turbo, it still feels laggy compared to the ST.

Space: The WRX is more comfortable for back seat passengers. Everyone hated getting into my ST. Almost no one liked the Recarcos and there wasn't enough space in the backseat for anyone over 6 feet. The WRX is pretty much the opposite. People will say the hatch gives you more room, and while that's technically true, I was able to fit 4 tires and 4 boxes with rims into my '15. It's was tight, but it fit. Unless you travel a lot and need to take quite a few things with you, I wouldn't worry about trunk/interior space.

Verdict: Focus RS. Honestly, the WRX holds its value better in Colorado then the ST and was one of the reasons I ended up getting it. The AWD is also nice in the winter. I plan to pay it off in a few years and keep it as a daily driver and buy a Focus RS as my weekend car.

 

Excellent review/comparison.

https://www.facebook.com/estercost

 

I love my ST, but would probably go with the WRX. In my eyes, WRX has caught up to the ST in refinement (even if just lagging a bit). ST is cheaper to purchase in real world numbers, but if you're willing to pay the extra 2-3k for the awd, go for the WRX.

 

I don't know if they changed this or not...but the clutch pedal/feel/responsiveness/release was just HORRIBLE in the 2012 wrx I test drove. I wouldn't buy one because of that.

Plus it felt like a dog until you actually got on it, the near-instant torque of the ST is so nice for a daily.

 

This is because, in truth, the turbo for the focus is not remotely large enough. Sure does make for nice daily driving torque and response, but turbo's shouldn't be dead in the water at 5k on a car designed to rev to 7k. Lots of OEM's are guilty of this and it's unfortunate. Evo's feel like a dog and they're pretty laggy, but that 18g turbo on them can hit 400 whp no problem and make power to the rev limiter.

 

I happen to like the ST very much. I've never driven a wrx so I cant speak on its behalf but the ST is very well balanced out of the box and only a few items needed tweaked. On paper backed dyno results perhaps our little turbos do run out of steam up top but the car feels seamless when I'm behind the wheel and when I squish the pedal down low it skyrockets almost instantly. I'm getting older and I dont see myself drawing my rpms up to 6k all the time anymore..living in that range causes early engine failure and Im tired of paying to play.

Usable power is always number one in my book, when I was building my Starion people would always poke fun at my 14b turbo saying that it was too small.. but much like this car, the power and tq was instant. I'm not interested in dyno bragging rights, Im more focused on how smooth the power delivery. It was a happy medium of fast acceleration and freeway go if i needed it. I suppose if they had a 2015 hatch Id be interested but since they dont.. subie gets no love from me..gets the respect but no love.

Another big factor to consider is where are you going to really push the car.. are you looking to be a freeway beast? or a Drag racer? auto cross etc.. There are advantages and disadvantages to the different drive types and where they shine the best.

Also to add.. brand recognition.. there was a time when Suburu engines were like tanks they'd drive 300k miles with no issue asside from general maintenance.. as time has progressed and clearances got tighter and such.. force induction etc... this is no longer the case..things just arent the same I know several people to have head gasket failures and ringland failures as well as low as 30k miles. Things aren't made to last 20 years these days like they used to be so be wary of clinging to i had an old ___insert make/model___ it lasted forever good cars... The days of manufacturing quality products that will last lifetimes are over, manufacturers of all products now aim to build products that will last just long enough to fail and cause consumers to rebuy the newer model and warranties are there to catch the ones that fail just before then to avoid mass negative backlash.

Edit: Depending on your commute I live on the freeways and I can get about 29-34mpg in the ST But I work 4 mins away from my house so there is always a weeks worth of stop go which drops my avg mpg down to about 25-26mpg in the city. But I hot dog a lot and so Im certain if I drove like normal person I could do better.

 

The new WRX is a very nice car, I've already seen a dozen in my area. I just wish it was offered in a hatchback. I'd probably still end up in a ST or the new GTI, no hatch no care


It might be the area I live in and frequent in, in the past month I've seen:

2015 GTI x10
2015 WRX x20+
2013-2014 ST's x2



lol

 

Honestly I doubt most owners even go past 5k rpm in their average everyday driving haha, as noted by another member. For me, the punch the turbo packs is plenty, my buddy has a 2009 WRX and I love the punch it gives, but it's a little annoying under 3.5k rpm, which is most of my driving lol. To each his own, to me the new WRX is hideous, bad looking to the point where it was a big part of the reason why I didn't go for it, even though I've always been a function over form kind of guy. As a vehicle though yes, it's amazing, Subaru did an excellent job this time around, especially with the WRX. Now if they can only make a hatch version lol

As for the aftermarket, I think the ST aftermarket is huge already, especially considering it's a platform that's been available in the US for only 2 years so far. I'm not saying the WRX aftermarket won't take off, but it'll take longer for parts to become readily available at decent prices, because of the new platform. All in all though, as I said, to each his own lol.

 

I have to throw in that our 2.0 engine will likely be gone by the 2016 model, so the aftermarket will start to die out for it as well. I bought the ST mainly because of price and interior quality. The WRX was pretty much the only other thing I considered, but I didn't even drive it after looking at pics online. The interior was just not up to par with the ST, which I think is pretty impressive for its price point. Plus I live in a Ford town. Support your local business.

 

It's a tough call, i've had a 2013 ST2 for 18 months and only picked up a 2015 WRX Limited a month or so back, so it's hard to make a fair comparison. They're very different cars and there are bits about each that i like and dislike. One has to go come the fall and i'm still not sure which it will be. I'm hoping the RS will combine the best of both and then some.


Exterior: ST > WRX. While i don't mind the 2015 WRX front on from the back its bland, disappointing considering the concept version, the ST is still a great looking car.

Interior: ST=WRX. Mixed bunch here. The general fit and finish of the ST2 is better than the WRX Limited, not that the WRX is "bad". My Ford Touch might have its critics but the standard WRX radio feels as if it fell out of the ark and is pretty anemic sounding. Seats wise i love the support of the recardos but i'm wide across the shoulder and after an hour or so i find them pretty uncomfortable. The rear of the ST is also not a pleasant placed to be, unless you call the Shire "home". The seats in the WRX, in the leather trim, are not supportive enough if you really want to get on it, but work better on a daily commute. Rear leg room in the WRX is great, at 6'4'' i can set the drivers seat where i need it and still sit behind the seat.

Handling: ST=WRX. The ST is more "fun" to drive, steering is sharp and the tail happy to step out but the electronics controlling the torque steer and so on can feel a little artificial. Steering in the WRX is a little disappointing it's heavy, which i generally prefer, but doesn't give any real feedback and feels very pedestrian after the ST. Fun though the ST is it's easier for me to drive the WRX faster, it feels more settled.

Ride: WRX>ST. It's likely just down to the 17" wheels/higher profile tires but for daily driving, on the mess that PAs roads are at present, the WRX offers a much more forgiving ride, less chop.

Brakes: ST=WRX. Brake feel is very different. ST has way more attack but at times, for me, they are a little too aggressive, hard to modulate. The WRX brakes require a whole lot more effort to achieve the same stopping power but are a little easier to control for that effort.


Power: ST>WRX. WRX pedal-throttle response is super aggressive, all of the throttle opening feels as if it occurs in the first inch or two of peddle depression. In daily driving it makes pulling away and acceleration something that, even after a month, i still need to think about, only the AWD saves me from sitting there with the front wheels spinning. Power delivery in the WRX during spirited acceleration is also less consistent that than ST. The limits of FWD aside once moving the power delivery in the ST just feels way more consistent than the WRX.

That's my take a month or so in, all very subjective, you'll really need to drive both to have a hope of deciding which to pick.

 

I guess it really all comes down to what you want to do with your car. I am a fan of both, but clearly I went with the ST. IMO, go with the ST and use that extra money you have to upgrade the car if you're worried about handling. I think you would be pleasantly surprised at how well the ST takes a corner when you're really laying into it. From the way you posted it sounds like you can just afford the WRX, then will have to wait to upgrade it. What is the fun in buying one of these cars if you can't start modding/changing things right away? That is what makes it YOUR car. So in short, upgrade the ST and dust the stock WRXs driving around.

(sorry if this was mentioned earlier...trying to work and talk about turbos at the same time)

 

Subaru - it's faster and has few limited slip differentials.. ST - none

 

Everyone in here just assumes things with no proof, don't bother.

 

I assume you have data to back this up?

 

'Everyone' includes yourself. Don't cast out such a large net.

 

Btw, may I borrow some of your status?

 

The ST handles phenomenally well. The new wrx is more in line with the sti in handling terms nowadays, subaru listened to the complaints of the old one feeling very dull.

 

I went to the Subaru dealer, all happy, excited and smiling thinking about my fall in love with the new bad ass WRX's and trade my ST not to mention they offered $1500.00 more on trade-in for my ST than any other dealer.

Long story short

Handling- WRX
Brakes- ST, which is weird because the WRX had better rated braking from 60mph-0mph, but dude...wow they were HORRIBLE I had to slam them and almost missed the dealer entrance on the way back...I kid you not.
Looks- ST, but the WRX is almost tied, both good looking cars, WRX need to eliminate some wheel gap and bump up to 18" wheels
Sound- ST, my ST is straight piped and I have listened to straight piped new WRX because of the equal length headers, I HATED it, no more deep Subaru ruble of fear.
Speed- ST, even though the WRX is rated to be quicker, the ST has WAY more feeling and pull to it, i was VERY shocked by this, I expected the WRX to feel/be gobs faster
Roominess- WRX, much much more comfortable
Interior- I love all the creature comforts of my ST but I prefer the lay out of the WRX honestly.
Drivetrain- WRX all day, FWD sucks booty hole.


At the end of the day, the sticker price of 27k on the base model WRX (not even fog lights) was way to much for me to trade in my Focus ST which I only paid 24.8k for brand in and I have the ST3 package with moonroof option.

I hate to say it, but I like my ST better...I didn't think the day would come I'd say I prefer domestic over import.

Keep in mind, I've had 2 subarus one being a 2006 Legacy GT Spec B and I have been obsessed with them ever since, so I was VERY disappointed when I didn't like the WRX. I HIGHLY prefer the sexy wide body 13-14 WRX but the ringland issue and those crappy EJ's can go to hell.








To each their own though, right? Goodluck, can't really go wrong with either of the cars!

 

I have a really large penis and it wouldn't fit in the WRX, so that pretty much made up my mind for me...


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Lol a slower car that inherently understeers? You call that better. Just because it's harder to spin out does not make it a better handling car. When you can go on and off throttle to balance the car like the st is STOCK. That's a good handling car. A car you have to put suspension and bar on to balance is not. Sure it can be made to handle better but they deff don't stock.

 

2015 WRX in stock trim out handles the Focus. What are you talking about "a car you have to put suspension and bar on to balance", this is nonsense. Find one professional comparison in which the Focus beats a WRX around an actual track.

I don't even like the re-design but numbers don't lie.

 

Just did a pull next to brand new STI and we were pretty even. All I can say is, if you need to accelerate faster than either of these two cars you need to be on a track. Either car will have you doing illegal and dangerous shenanigans faster than you can say no officer I am not sure how fast I was going. Also there will always be somebody with something faster somewhere and were driving around economy cars.

 

Go for the ST BTW. ****ing love this thing!

 

All I can say is, if you need to accelerate faster than either of these two cars you need to be on a track. Either car will have you doing illegal and dangerous shenanigans faster than you can say no officer I am not sure how fast I was going. Also there will always be somebody with something faster somewhere...

Very well stated Sir, very well stated indeed. JP

 

Yep, I screwed up.

 

Someone on the internet admitted to being wrong. Everyone find shelter the world is coming to an end.


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I priced out a 15 Subaru WRX with the "premium" (which is the step above base) package which pretty much includes nothing. You get a crap stereo, crap interior, crap lights, no fogs, seats are crap compared to what they used to be. The interior definitely has a very cheap feel. The power was nice, sounded great, but the price tag was about $3k more then my ST3 with every option. A fully loaded WRX will run you well over $33,000. It was a no brainer for me, way more bang for my buck. Handling and all that jazz I dont really care for really, I have zero intention to track any DD car. I am sure the WRX does just fine on everyday handling just like the ST. The subaru salesmen wouldnt budge on price, so I walked out and decided the ST was going to be my next car. I love the WRX and always will, just not for the money. They also had a used 14 blue wrx with the premium package and sticker on it was $29,845. It had 5600 miles. Thats when I knew I walked into the wrong dealership.

 

I priced out a 15 Subaru WRX with the "premium" (which is the step above base) package which pretty much includes nothing. You get a crap stereo, crap interior, crap lights, no fogs, seats are crap compared to what they used to be. The interior definitely has a very cheap feel. The power was nice, sounded great, but the price tag was about $3k more then my ST3 with every option. A fully loaded WRX will run you well over $33,000. It was a no brainer for me, way more bang for my buck. Handling and all that jazz I dont really care for really, I have zero intention to track any DD car. I am sure the WRX does just fine on everyday handling just like the ST. The subaru salesmen wouldnt budge on price, so I walked out and decided the ST was going to be my next car. I love the WRX and always will, just not for the money. They also had a used 14 blue wrx with the premium package and sticker on it was $29,845. It had 5600 miles. Thats when I knew I walked into the wrong dealership.

You're comparing an AWD vehicle with a FWD one and expecting the price to match up? There's a tad more involved with making all four wheels turn - if Ford offered AWD with the ST for ~3k I'd be interested to see how many people went that route over FWD. We've obviously got different priorities (I mean no disrespect, really) but there's no way I'm looking at a 3k difference in price and choosing the FWD option. But just as you don't care much for handling, I don't care much for fail wheel drive.

Subaru salesmen typically don't haggle a lot on new car prices - especially with respect to WRX's and STi's. They don't need to the car will sell, and this practice is one of the many reasons the WRX holds resale the way it does while your FWD Focus will depreciate like everything else in that space does.

Unless you go with a STI, it's just not worth it. I have several friends/coworkers that have subies and they all say that they wish they got something else. Reliability is a major issue for most of them. Also, they all mention that the interior is from a kids store and not that of a 40k car. Also, they all are envious of my ST 

This is awful advice - it really is. The WRX is huge bang for your buck; the STi is really only worth it if you're going to be tracking it - or have reasonably big power plans. The STi's hardware advantage doesn't show up all that well on the street, to take advantage of the diff's, larger brakes and DCCD you need to be pushing the car on a track. With 2015 Subaru did space the WRX and STi a bit further apart in stock performance but given the new WRX's advantage with fuel economy it's still the clear cut better choice for someone just looking for a quick DD that isn't going to the track. I'm saying this as someone who doesn't even really like the re-design.

It's amazing how everyone always has friends with rival vehicles that are unreliable crap mobiles. Reliability isn't any more an issue for WRX's or Subaru than it is for Focus ST's or Ford. I'd be *very* interested to know what reliability issues you're talking about and how an STI (that has the same engine as the WRX save for 2015) would remedy any of them.

I bolded the end because it's hilarious, what exactly did they envy about your ST? Just gotta have that fail wheel drive?