2006 impreza wrx?

[Bungleaio]

Whilst out car shopping at the weekend i went into the subaru garage, they had a 2006 wrx for what seemed like good money. I didn't test drive but I might go back this week and have a go.

My question is though is the wrx any good? I can't really stretch to the Sti so the wrx will be the highest level I can get as i don't want to go for a car earlier than a 2006.

This car is to replace my mini cooper S, i'm looking for handling and performance, will i feel cheated by not getting the sti?

I also went to the mitsi garage about the evo but the service intervals are too short for the mileage i do.

Thanks for your advice

[Vixpy1]

Get the Sti

[ScoobieWRX]

Nothing wrong with a WRX. It should be the 2.5L i think for 2006. Good car, torquier and a bit more bhp than a newage WRX. Not a huge amount of difference between that and a std 2006 2.5L STi, although with a little tweaking you should get better bhp. See if you can get the garage to throw in a PPP tune and that should see you up to the same output as the STi, and the WRX is a little bit lighter too so i imagine in the real world it might even be a little bit quicker that a std STi.

I run a 2.0L 02 BugEye WRX Sportwagon with some very mild tweaking and it is noticeably quicker than when standard. All i've done is a Snorkus mod, Performance Flat Panel air filter and some home ECU mapping, with all 3 cats still in place. Need to get it on a dyno in the new year but i am confident it's a decent leap forward from standard.

The mini is a different kettle of fish and i would have thought a lot better handling and a bit nippier than the WRX around town, but the moment you get on a decent B or A road you won't see which way the WRX went. I don't think you would be missing out by having the WRX instead of the STi, unlessyou wanted a more hardcore drive, i.e. harder suspension and taut handling and more power out of the box. Drive them both and see what you think.

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 25th November 22:59

[Weso]

I was in the same position, couldn't really afford an STi, so bought a bugeye WRX, and it is a great car, although I now find myself doing minor mods to get a bit more out of it (Snorkus removed, green filter, Prodrive back box). I keep toying with decatting and Ecutek remap, but then I think - when will I ever really use the extra? Easy enough to lose your licence in a standard WRX!
ScoobyWRX, tell me more about your home mapping, any chance you'd do it on a fellow PHers car???

[MilnerR]

My last impreza was a standard bugeye WRX and it was a great car. They're certainly a lot more car than a standard cooper S and the AWD will be a revelation, they grip and grip. If you can't stretch to an STi then don't bankrupt yourself trying. There's a few people who would tell you that the WRX setup is actually better on bumpy UK roads than the STi setup.

Buy the WRX and start planning how you are going to upgrade to an STi.

[ScoobieWRX]

I might be able to sort out something on the DIY mapping front but it does take about 2-3 hrs, maybe a little bit longer, to sort properly and your car needs to be in reasonable fettle as well as having at least a half tank of fuel. I would need to do a diagnostic on it to make sure it isn't throwing any errors and it's running OK, but apart from that every car is just a little bit different so yours will need the map tweaking a little bit here or there to get the best of it.

This Thursday mine is going in to have a decat uppipe installed , that's good for at least 10bhp on a standard WRX as the OEM PreCAT uppipe is restrictive and power sapping, but i have played with my mapping already and it should make a pretty reasonable improvement to the engines breathing thereby making better use of my map, although i suppose i will have to have another play and tweak some more

P.S. My cabling and software works for WRX's and STi's 2001 - 2006

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Monday 26th November 17:38

[Weso]

ScoobieWRX said:

I might be able to sort out something on the DIY mapping front but it does take about 2-3 hrs, maybe a little bit longer, to sort properly and your car needs to be in reasonable fettle as well as having at least a half tank of fuel. I would need to do a diagnostic on it to make sure it isn't throwing any errors and it's running OK, but apart from that every car is just a little bit different so yours will need the map tweaking a little bit here or there to get the best of it.

This Thursday mine is going in to have a decat uppipe installed , that's good for at least 10bhp on a standard WRX as the OEM PreCAT uppipe is restrictive and power sapping, but i have played with my mapping already and it should make a pretty reasonable improvement to the engines breathing thereby making better use of my map, although i suppose i will have to have another play and tweak some more

P.S. My cabling and software works for WRX's and STi's 2001 - 2006

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Monday 26th November 17:38

I drive a 2001 WRX, it's done 54k so didn't long ago have its 50k service. I'm in Norwich, so could easily come to Northants for a half day or something if you don't mind having a play. Drop me an email or something and we'll see waht we can sort out. I would give you my number but I'm not putting it on a public forum!
Weso

[ScoobieWRX]

Weso said:

ScoobieWRX said:

I might be able to sort out something on the DIY mapping front but it does take about 2-3 hrs, maybe a little bit longer, to sort properly and your car needs to be in reasonable fettle as well as having at least a half tank of fuel. I would need to do a diagnostic on it to make sure it isn't throwing any errors and it's running OK, but apart from that every car is just a little bit different so yours will need the map tweaking a little bit here or there to get the best of it.

This Thursday mine is going in to have a decat uppipe installed , that's good for at least 10bhp on a standard WRX as the OEM PreCAT uppipe is restrictive and power sapping, but i have played with my mapping already and it should make a pretty reasonable improvement to the engines breathing thereby making better use of my map, although i suppose i will have to have another play and tweak some more

P.S. My cabling and software works for WRX's and STi's 2001 - 2006

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Monday 26th November 17:38

I drive a 2001 WRX, it's done 54k so didn't long ago have its 50k service. I'm in Norwich, so could easily come to Northants for a half day or something if you don't mind having a play. Drop me an email or something and we'll see waht we can sort out. I would give you my number but I'm not putting it on a public forum!
Weso

PM me and we'll take it from there.

[Weso]

Don't want to sound thick, but I'm going to. How do you PM on here?

[ScoobieWRX]

Click on my PH name, look to the right of the next screen and it says email me

[Bungleaio]

Thanks for the help guys. I have found out that they are in band G for road tax, I don't want to be paying that, I also fear that this high tax band may harm the resale values.

I'm now looking for a WRX that was registered before the end of march 2006, theres a few about surely?

On to the test drive next

[Reidy10_0]

I was just about to point out the road tax problem.
I was very pis$%ed off when i found out i would be paying the band G tax.
I am told the prodrive performance pack (£1700) will bring power up to STI standard.

[MilnerR]

Reidy10_0 said:

I was just about to point out the road tax problem.
I was very pis$%ed off when i found out i would be paying the band G tax.
I am told the prodrive performance pack (£1700) will bring power up to STI standard.

Yep, a wrx with a prodrive pack will be similar to an STi in power terms but I personally wouldn't get a PPP if your impreza is out of warranty. There are lots of other mods that are cheaper and more effective than a PPP. I only got mine done because I had the money spare, I wanted more than 300bhp and I didn't want to wait 3 years for the warranty to run out. As soon as it does then a trip over to scooby clinic is in order (420bhp )

[stara]

although the STi is the ultimate, the WRX can perform like a STANDARD STi for about £1k, (but for £1k, an STi is an awful lot quicker than a modded WRX) the WRX is a bit more civilised if used as a daily driver, although the STi isn't as bad as some say, just a bit crashy over our sh1te roads due to the stiffer suspension, i own a '07 wrx, but if i could have afforded it, i would have had the STi, as you will always be and feel slightly, and i mean only slightly second best to an STi, although the WRX is incredibly quick in standard form, and with a few simple mods like sportscat or decat, and remap, it is breathtaking, 0-60 in less than 5.0s. look past the interior build quality, after all, it is never going to be an audi, and look at the driving and handling, as that is what the WRX and STi and various special editions like the RB320, P1, C-spec, Type RA-R, RB5, 22b, uk300, wr1 et al are about. (my fav would be the WR1, 0-60 in just about 4s, and arguably the best looking)

[Reidy10_0]

I am also in the warranty trap. I would not pay prodrive for a performance pack as i am told it is only a new exhaust and chip.
it just shows you how choked the car must be at the exhaust.
Not sure how true that is but like you i think it could be done as good on a budget.

I need to wait on warranty running out in 2 years before i do any mods also the wife might leave if i am caught sniffing around scooby world website again.

[Evil.soup]

Bungleaio said:

Thanks for the help guys. I have found out that they are in band G for road tax, I don't want to be paying that, I also fear that this high tax band may harm the resale values.

I'm now looking for a WRX that was registered before the end of march 2006, theres a few about surely?

On to the test drive next

I was in exactly the same position as you. I couldnt afford an Sti so went for an 06 WRX, and i love it!! Iv spent the last 18 months on careful mods (see profile) and it now looks, handles and stops like an Sti. I have no trouble staying with the Sti on the runs i have been on through the twisties but i am still going to spend a couple of pounds to get more power. A de-cat/sport-cat with a re-map can see the WRX produce more power than the standard Sti also.

What im saying is, its a great car!! Oh ye, and there are WRX's out there that missed the £400 tax band, mine was registered on the 3rd March and missed it by about 3 weeks

[Reidy10_0]

[quote=Evil.soup]

I have checked your profile, I have always liked that colour.
It looks good.
I may pick your brains next year about your mods.

[Bungleaio]

Everything is pointing towards the WRX at the min, I've got a test drive booked in for tomorrow.

I've been looking at the upgrade options and it looks like it is possible to get a good increase for reasonable money so that makes the wrx even more viable.

Evil soup, I like what you've done with your car mate, it looks like you got a bargain as well! The sti spoiler makes the car look a lot more purposeful, the wrx spoiler lets it down in my opionion.

Am I right in thinking the impreza's have got 3 cats?

[ScoobieWRX]

Correct on the Cats.

You just need to get rid of the OEM uppipe for a stainless steel decat one (as i did yesterday ) and then replace the main exhaust itself with a single high flow 100 cell cat stainless steel system. To get through MOT's you only need 1 cat on a WRX or STi come to that, and the exhaust/uppipe alone will give you anywhere from 20 - 30bhp on it's own but you will need to get some mapping done to get the full benefits and further power.

Add to that a performance flat green panel air filter and do the snorkus mod and you're away. That should see you better than an STi at about 275 - 280bhp

[Reidy10_0]

Just worked out what a snorkus is.

http://www.fastwrx.com/insnre.html