WRX or Mazdaspeed3

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gibbsj87

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I am between a WRX and a Speed3. I live in upstate NY so winters vary. I would like your opinions on what car to get. Obviously the MS3 is cheaper but the WRX is AWD.

Let me know what you think. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
 
What about MS6 since it's AWD? Also have you driven both of them? Which one do you prefer more?
 
Brand new or used? If used what years? Not a big fan of the current styling of both of them but like previous years.
 
I say WRX but I am kinda biased! :D

I agree with inyadreems. Need more info on what you are looking at and budget. I will still say WRX however! :laughing:
 
I am staying out of this one after the Maxima vs Speed3 mess, but I'll let my sig tell my answer...........:)
 
Jkc213 said:
Evo x
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:)

Totally depends on what you are looking for. I am a bit biased, but I don't like the WRX's at all. Mostly because I think Boxer engines sound terrible, but to each his own. If you are looking for a car that can pull it's own weight very well and has a nicer interior go for the MS3. The WRX interior is crap, but I like the looks of the WRX much more than the MS3.

AWD won't be much of a difference if you know how to drive in the snow well with a FWD.

I can be corrected on this too since I'm not familiar with the modding scene on either car, but I'm assuming the WRX will have more options than the MS3 because it's a baby STI.

If it was my decision between only those 2, I would get the non-hatch WRX.
 
Sweet another person in upstate NY! I actually drove both a 2011 WRX and a 2009 MS3 before I got my Mustang and I have to say I definitely enjoyed the WRX much more. The AWD really helps although the MS3 is quite impressive for being FWD.

I'd say the interior of the Mazda is better although if you're looking for performance go with the WRX. Slap a nice exhaust on the WRX and it'll sound pretty sick as well. The boxer engine is the only 4-cylinder I enjoy the sound of. Unfortunately neither has that great of an exterior design although the new WRX's do have a wider body than the old ones if my memory serves me well.

Make sure you test drive one of the new V6 Mustangs though. As soon as I drove mine I was sold. There's nothing like 300+ horsies under the hood. RWD is fun as hell too. :D
 
Snow tires on the MS3 will greatly help in the snow for sure, I mean nothing beats AWD but IMO the MS3 offers a more complete package as far as performance goes.
 
Here's a pic of mine for reference on exterior styling. Interior is crap but can be made better. The Limiteds look nicer inside compared to base model IMO.

8ddf6344.jpg
 
Well, I am trying to decide what would make more sense. I love the fact that the WRX is AWD. To me that is a HUGE bonus. I hate getting stuck in snow. My Maxima right now is FWD and it's very annoying because I can hardly get up hills some days when it snows. AWD would be very helpful. I do have to admit, the Maxima does its best to keep light footed driving, feeling like light footed driving.

I am a bit of an interior snob I guess, I don't want a lackluster interior but I have heard in many reviews, the MS3 interior makes a TON of squeaks and rattles. I have driven a WRX before and I liked it, but my dealership wont let me test drive a WRX. They said I would practically have to BUY the car to test drive. People who apparently buy WRXs don't want any miles on the car.
 
Pic reference on the Speed3:

425759ff-bdf9-01d9.jpg


Interior Shot:

picture.php


The interior squeaks no more than an Chevy, Ford or Saab I have ever owned. :)
 
gibbsj87 said:
Well, I am trying to decide what would make more sense. I love the fact that the WRX is AWD. To me that is a HUGE bonus. I hate getting stuck in snow. My Maxima right now is FWD and it's very annoying because I can hardly get up hills some days when it snows. AWD would be very helpful. I do have to admit, the Maxima does its best to keep light footed driving, feeling like light footed driving.

I am a bit of an interior snob I guess, I don't want a lackluster interior but I have heard in many reviews, the MS3 interior makes a TON of squeaks and rattles. I have driven a WRX before and I liked it, but my dealership wont let me test drive a WRX. They said I would practically have to BUY the car to test drive. People who apparently buy WRXs don't want any miles on the car.
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AWD is a huge benefit, I'm actually looking forward to driving my Evo in the snow, maybe...once. I HATE SALT.

I would look to see if you can find a used WRX to test drive. It's true with dealers, when I went to buy an Evolution X, they would only let me sit in it. Even Ralliarts. Personally, when I bought my car, I know I wanted to be the ONLY person who had driven it.

As far as creaky and squeeky interior, you aren't going to have any difference in either choice. Both are based off of econoboxes and the materials they use in the interior will be the same and will squeek no matter what. If you're looking for a non-squeeking interior you will have to look at higher end cars, and even these will start to creak sooner or later. Nothing a bit of searching and pieces of felt won't fix :dblthumb2:

EDIT:Gretsch308 Great picture!!!
 
Thank you for the pics :). It's reassuring to see someone else who owns one. I think you have said this already, but how many miles do you have on your MS3?
 
IMHO:
I really don't understand the hate for the WRX interior. It is extremely plain...but I like it that way. To me the MS3 interior is very cheap looking. The red and black Pokadots just doesn't do it for me.

For reference I drive a 2010 Wrx and a coworker drives a 09 ms3.


Sent from my SCH-I510 using AG Online
 
gibbsj87 said:
Thank you for the pics :). It's reassuring to see someone else who owns one. I think you have said this already, but how many miles do you have on your MS3?
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I have 41,000 miles on my car!

I don't think you could go wrong with all 3 be it an Evo, WRX/STI or Speed3. It just depends on what feels right for you and your wallet!

If you guys thought the last Impreza was ugly (I don't mind it) feast your eyes on these beast!!!! Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! My eyes are buring!!

2012_subaru_impreza-thumb-530x353-11093.jpg
 
spardavr4 said:
AWD is a huge benefit, I'm actually looking forward to driving my Evo in the snow, maybe...once. I HATE SALT.

I would look to see if you can find a used WRX to test drive. It's true with dealers, when I went to buy an Evolution X, they would only let me sit in it. Even Ralliarts. Personally, when I bought my car, I know I wanted to be the ONLY person who had driven it.

As far as creaky and squeeky interior, you aren't going to have any difference in either choice. Both are based off of econoboxes and the materials they use in the interior will be the same and will squeek no matter what. If you're looking for a non-squeeking interior you will have to look at higher end cars, and even these will start to creak sooner or later. Nothing a bit of searching and pieces of felt won't fix :dblthumb2:

EDIT:Gretsch308 Great picture!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks! The interior is very creaky and noisy in the WRX. I actually like it that way. I added a pitch stop mount that made it even noisier! As far as winter and getting stuck, I live in Maine by a lake. We get pounded with snow. I think any car that drives in the snow should have dedicated tires for snow. I have Hankook iPikes for the winter and this thing was a beast in the snow. Pretty unstoppable if you drive smart. Take it to a snowy parking lot, that is a different story! :coolgleam:
 
why do i feel like you (very) recently posted about car decisions and ms3s. i believe i gave my rundown of my ms3 ownership experience in that thread or at least somewhere on this forum within the past week or so.

anyway, i bought a 2008 ms3 12/07 and kept it for a few years; i traded it 11/10.

a couple weeks ago i bought a new STI hatch.

i am very impressed with the STI but it's also a much more expensive vehicle and there are reasons for that which become very apparent as soon as you spend any time it.

ultimately it depends if you feel you want/need awd and, on a related point...are you ok with the fact that the ms3 is pretty much near the useable torque ceiling for a front engined, front wheel drive car (FF).

quality...a wrx limited is about on par with an ms3 with the tech package. the base wrxs are very VERY close to their econobox roots in terms of materials and such. i'm not saying the ms3 isn't close as well, but the base ms3 vs. the base wrx will show most people that the wrx has the worse interior quality.

the best overall values are the ms3 with the tech package (formerly the GT package) and the wrx limited.

in terms of paint, both cars have extremely thin paint (typical late model econobox paint) but the mazda paint, at least on my '08, was much harder than the paint on my subaru. but listen - opti-coat 2.0, clear film and very careful driving are wonderful things.
 
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