Subaru WRX Wagon vs. RX-8.
 

I was suprised to find that when I did a search, these two cars weren't compared. Why is that? The 24K WRX (Sedan or Wagon) is probably the closest competitor to the RX-8 performance wise. At least that is what I thought. To those familiar, which car is faster? What about handling, etc.

Well, for the price of most RX-8s you can get an STi, so that's what you'll see discussed most often. From a dig the WRX is faster, from a roll it's about even until 100+ where the RX-8 should walk away slowly. The WRX doesn't handle as well stock for stock and is more setup as a daily driver. The suspension on the WRX is a little softer, and the tires it comes with are all seasons, but that's easily fixed. It's also very cheap to make a WRX faster... You probably don't see it comnpared very often because they appeal to totally different buyers and are in different price categories. The WRX is kind of a no frills car, where the RX-8 is all about frills in many respects even though it does have more going for it than that.

The RX8 is more luxury, performance, handling focused. The WRX wagon is more for daily driving, hauling semi large objects, bad weather, and dirt roads. I would definitely like to have both cars.

There's now that 1.9% financing deal for 63 months on the WRX Station Wagon. With that financing, it looks like a pretty sweet deal. I wonder when Mazda will offer 0% financing for 60 months on the RX-8.

At the same time that wagon can become a very formidable track car. The current SCCA Solo/Solo2 national champion in STX drives a silver wagon.

Yeah but its still a wagon. :)

What's wrong with a Station Wagon? That is probably the most effiient car design there is from a functional point of view.

Well a WRX is cheaper than a RX8, but not by much if you actually want similiar items inside. If you load the WRX up with most of the interior options (moonroof etc) it gets as expensive as an RX8 (and almost as much as the STI). The financing deal is nice on the WRX, but if you have good credit (meaning decent rate from bank) the cash back option is better.

Secondly, I found the RX8 dealers a little easier to bargain with than the WRX dealers in our area. Your results may vary.

As far as the performance etc. Their both dam nice cars and fun to drive and very close. I almost got a WRX (WRX, RX8, G35 were my main list). But I liked the overall package of the RX8 more, and the deal was very good. I don't think you can go wrong with either car.

The WRX STI, plain and simple, is a rocket on wheels. Its a little spartan stock, but if you just want performance for not a bad price, its the ticket to speedsville.

I don't blame Ike for keeping his WRX, but I am keeping my RX8 (my precious) :)

Yes its very functional but its also extremely ugly to me. I just couldn't get excited about my car if it was that unnatractive no matter how fast it was. But if you have to have the space and still want speed then its about the only way to go.

You can get one fully loaded for 22-23k, I don't think that's happening on a RX-8 with the GT package which is what it takes to get the leather and roof.

The US WRX comes with a bevel gear center differential (50/50), instead of Subies 35/65 planetary. The weight distribution stinks (60/40) due to the engine being way out in front (part of Subies crash strategy) Struts at 4 corners, cool for long travel rough-roading.

IkeWRX: Fully loaded for 22-23K Where ?? No really, I'd like to know. Invoice on "fully loaded" is at least a 24000 (minus the cargo nets and crap like that) and thats for the Wagon only (Sedan is more). I just verified with Edmunds.com on that.

A WRX sedan's manual with Premium Package (read 3/4 loaded) starts at invoice of around 23,948. Like I said, still less than an RX-8, but you get more features on the RX-8. And I couldn't find any local WRX dealers willing to close to invoice. Its probably just dealers in this area since WRX's are popular here in Austin (we have 3 at our lot at work out of 60 ppl).

Subaru raised the price during the last year. Thats one of the reason it wasn't on Car and Driver's 10 best again. Its still a great car for the price though.

I saw another thread first and posted there:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=1

60/40 distribution is pretty good for Front engine cars. The Boxer engine is actually layout like a rear wheel drive car pointing to the rear so the transmission is actually behind the front wheels.

I forgot about the price increase, I think it was about 4% so you're probably right. I'll still take a WRX over the stripped down RX-8 simply because I prefer AWD and a turbo which makes it really cheap to mod, besides I don't like leather (at least not in performance cars). But with the 1k price increase it certainly is a little less appealing.

Yeah, the price increase was a bummer for me. It made the choice that much harder :) A base RX-8 with a few options isn't too much more. Then you get into the looks vs functions vs performance and all hell breaks loose. A decent used WRX (hard to find still) would be a great deal. Couldn't find many around here.

I have to say I really like the AWD on the Scoobs. Can't say that for all cars. Its just seems to feel right most of the time.

The mod-ablility of the WRX is a nice feature, but it did take a while for that to happen (we didn't have it in the US until it had been out for quite some time). You can go crazy with it, or just get a simple boost controller for a small kick in the pants. The jury is not even out (hell, the jury hasn't been selected yet) on the RX-8 modability.

I generally agree about the leather, but I really like the RX-8's. Especially my Red-Black two-tone (though I could do without it on the doors). I think it just looks awesome. Didn't think I would like it, then I saw it in person. Course, I wasn't going to get Silver either :) As much as ppl (including me) bitch about the interior of the WRX, its not that bad. If they did leather, they would have to change a lot of things as it wouldn't "fit" with the leather. They could get some better patterns though (or lose the pattern part altogether).

Most ppl tend to mod the WRX a little to make it more suitable for themselves (all 3 coworkers did in different ways). Its not too costly though.

Subaru needs to work on its paint color choices. Silver is the best, black is decent (but black bites here in Texas due to dust and heat), blue is ok/could be better. The others are somewhat horrid in my not so humble opinion.

I really think its a personal toss up between the two cars. Gotta drive em both (multiple times if you were like me).

Leather is included in the premium package on the 04 WRXs, it seems like you're unaware of that. Also the cloth seats were changed and don't have a pattern anymore really, it's more of a texture than anything else. The paint and colors are totally subjective so I won't touch that other than to state that I rather like the new red and of course the white one :)

Err, not to be a jerk, but there are NO Leather seats in the premium package for 04. Not in the one I drove, not listed on the subaru website, and not on edmunds. Is there another model (half year) slated for 04 ? Or are there differing premium packages. I know some dealers have aftermarket solutions (just like the RX-8 cloth colors). The Momo steering wheel has leather ...

Secondly, just for WRX Wagon buyers, there is no premium package on the Wagon. It only comes on the Sedan in 04. I would bet that if its a popular option it will eventually show up on the wagon.

Third, you are right. They did make the pattern much better in the 04 version. Its much classier and less wearing on the eyes. Still has a small pattern in it that I'd rather not have. But each person has their idea of whats good and not, so they probably chose the happy medium.

Finally, forgot you had the white :) I really didnt like the red. Hard to put a finger on why, but just seems off. White is rarely my cup of tea. It has to land just right, and it didn't on the wrx for me. Counter to that... I've never seen the JDM white RX-8 in person, so I couldn't compare it. Suffice to say we (rx-8ers) don't have even the option for white in the US. I do think the colors for the RX-8 are pretty dam nice all around. Even though I didn't choose red, I definitely like it (same for other colors). But YES... it is most definitely subjective.

I have both cars and they fill entirely different needs of mine. Both perform reasonably well in acceleration and handling (the 8's brakes are so superior it is not even amusing). For me, these cars tend to compliment each other, but if I had to be in a position to have one of the two, the decision would be based upon what was important to me. Styling, braking, clutch and shifter feel, cornering, interior fit and finish, rotary engine and maybe status = Rx8. Cargo and interior room, driving in bad weather, straight forward acceleration, AWD and basic practicality, price and a six CD changer = WRX wagon. Just my opinion.
Of course for flat out balls and styling without any shred of practicality, forget either of them, and let me have my FD!

60/40 isn't good, when an Acura TSX can do it with out any rear drive hardware. But that is as good as subaru can do (sedan wise)
I just hope that the Legacy 3.0 R spec B come to the US, for <=$30. A foil to the G35 manual.

If you think about it the RSX has all the weight right on and in front of the front wheels which causes understeer due to the amount of weight on and near the overhang.

The WRX has the weight distribute more evenly on and near the overhang despite its weight distribution measure from the front and rear.

I've got a WRX Wagon and an RX8... WRX gets winter driving chores.

Brakes on the WRX are a joke next to the 8. Performance is almost identical, although testing on my "proving ground" has the 8 edging out the WRX by a couple MPH. Likely a different story with a tranny-shattering launch in the WRX, but from an agressive not abusive start the 8 will take it.

The 2 cars complement each other well in my opinion; either would make a terrible replacement for the other. :)

Bleh, foiled again, just goes to show how much I've paid attention to the 04 models and how much I care about leather. My local dealer had 04s with leather, but it appears to be a dealer installed option. It looked nice and very professionally done so I didn't notice it was dealer installed through some aftermarket supplier. I can show you some pics of the leather package if you're interested.

As for the cloth in the 04s I like it better than the old cloth but the seats aren't as nice, the new seats are designed to be more comforable for larger people which takes away some of the support. Though the integrated headrest is better, so there's give and take. I think the only reason I liked the red is because it was something new, and because of how much I hated the old red.

IkeWRX: No worries. Only reason I know is I was just at the dealers a few weeks ago trying the WRX's (yes, even got behind an STI .... booya) out. You may have also gotten confused since (I think it was) the Legacy got Leather in their Premium Package this year.

Side note, the dealer options for both WRX and RX-8 for interior are pretty sweet. The local Mazda dealer showed me a Silver RX-8 with what they called the "Titanium" cloth interior with "RX-8" termed on it. It was more dark silver, but it was the best looking cloth interior I have seen. I almost got that. The Black-Red was just slightly better, but I would have been quite happy with the special cloth. (Note: I am reliving some really tough buyers decisions here .... need some pills for the nightmares ... j/k)

The old WRX red was really flat and bland. It seemed like it was a "red-ette" (similiar to leather-ette :) ). New one is better, but I like the "arrest me" red's or shiny mettalic (i like to call them "distraction red"). I wish they sold the "rally" version of the car in the dealers. It has the inverted scoop (awesome looking, course it needs in intercooler and special intake), and a really cool deep blue paint job. Or at least the one I saw in Cali a year ago did. Much better looking than the "Finch nest" WRX, and the "Squirrel hut" STI :P (Ok, ok, i'll stop with the WRX ugly stick snipes .... but come on, this is a RX-8 forum... heh)...

Back to the regular scheduled program... Once again, both cars are nice. We have a 3-2 margin for WRX vs RX-8 in our parking lot (looking more like sportscarville here lately, got a 911 and M3 and Z as well).

1 blue WRX Wagon ('02), 2 WRX sedans (silver '02 and black '03). 2 sunlight silver RX-8s (beatiful, but 2 silver ... .doh! ... at we have different exteriors and interiors) both manual ('04 of course). All the owners hem and haw over both cars. I love messing with their turbos and boost, they all oogle over my smooth yet tiny engine and nice interior. AWD vs RWD is a toss up (both have merits and fun factor). Its a sports car love fest 1960's style. Ahh, I'm so glad the 80s and 90s are over (and the lack of choice of nice cars for this price range). We all win.

The leather aftermarket segment seems to be growing quite a bit, and I've seen a few WRXs with similar 2 tone leather arrangements to that of the RX-8. The Legacy may have confused me a bit, I've been reading about that car more than I have the WRX, which is pretty typical for me. I always read more about other cars than the one I own.

I would describe the old WRX as something that only belongs on a family car, it just doesn't fit on a sportier car. I have seem one that looks amazing with some very well done exterior modifications, the fact that is was a stage 4 probably added to the appeal :)

Completely agreed on the last statements you made, it's a wonderful time to be a car enthusiast! If only more of us enthusiasts had the money to enjoy several of these cars at once.

Cheers,
Ike