BlueThunder

You guys are comparing 2 totally difefrent cars that cannot be compare simply because are TOTALLY difefrent!

A station wagon and true sports car! Hello!! enouph said already.

Hou-TX-RX-8

I refuse to buy a subaru because the way I was treated at the dealership. I drove my 2001 Lexus into a local dealer and wanted to look at a STI and was told we don't test drive these cars. I said it is a $30k car not a Viper or Vette. He said the reviews on the car speak for themselves I said I don't buy cars without test driving them, and if that is your policy I am not buying anything from you. When he saw I was going to walk out he offered to schedule a test drive on Saturday but added that if I test drive the car that is the one I am going to buy. I told him see you later I have never been treated this way in any dealership I have been to and I am not buying **** from you. I walked out. I went to mazda the following week and was treated great I got to test drive the 8 no problems and vola I have an awesome RX-8...

Senseny

Blue Thunder, I would say the WRX wagon is as much a sport wagon as anything. And calling the Rx8 a true sports car is pushing it a little bit isn't it--a pure sports car has two seats. I do think the Rx8 is very close to a sports car, so don't everyone start attacking me, but it is certainly not pure with the extra seats and doors. I think the comparison is valid especially since straight line acceleration is similar and although the 8 certainly does everything else better, it is not a lot better.

boarder

No, a pure sports car only has ONE seat

Senseny

Fair enough Boarder, but that means I have never even come close to driving a pure sports car.

taino211

This is true for most high performance sports cars that have a lot of "street credibility" with your typical street racers (well, at least its true for the STi and the EVO). Try visiting ANY Subaru or Mitsubishi dealer and ask them to test drive an STi or EVO. Most of them will laugh in your face. The reason is because you have so many kids going to the dealers asking to test drive these cars that they have no intention of buying. They do it just to see how it feels to drive one of these cars (and at the same time, beat the crap out of the car on the test drive). This would dramatacially decrease its sale value.

The same thing is true for the Nissan 350Z. Not that many dealers will let you test drive one.

What these dealers should do is try to obtain some type of proof that you are seriously interested in purchasing one of these cars.

My .02 cents...

taino211

Ha, that's funny... Actually TEST DRIVE a WRX and then tell me that its a "station wagon".

I don't know which part to laugh at the most... the comment that a WRX is a "station wagon" or that the RX-8 is a "true sports car".

In any case, most people will agree that the WRX is more of a sports car (performance wise) than the RX-8.

-taino211

pelucidor

A similar thing happened to me several months ago. But in my case the same dealership sold both Subaru and Mitsibishi (and Honda) and I wasn't allowed to drive the Sti (got time in a WRX instead) but had no problems getting to test the EVO.

See here for my review of the cars and my treatment by the dealership.

Ike

While I agree with some of your comments, lets not go overboard. Just because the WRX is faster in the 1/4 mile and 0-60 doesn't mean it's "more of a sports car than the RX-8."

taino211

Sorry, I guess I did get a little overboard. But basically, what annoyed me was that the guy was comparing a "station wagon" with a so called "true sports car". The guy was just speaking out of ignorance.

My main point is to have respect for other cars, not just your own.

-taino211

Ike

That's a rare thing on this board at times, it seems to go in phases and certainly depends on the member. But there are WAY too many people on this board that enjoy bashing anything that isn't an RX-8. But there's no need to stoop to their level.

Ike

Boozehound

I think most people on here are reasonable when it comes to looking at other cars too, but disagreeing with opinion isn't necessarily "hating on it."

Now who wants to get the guitar out, sit in a circle, and sing kumbayah?

tschangrx7

The WRX wagon really is a station wagon but the RX-8 is more of a cheap BMW 330 competitor than a true sports car.

boarder

Since its hockey playoff time:

Must be a Calgary "Flames" fan

Senseny

tschangrx7, please no disrespect is intended, but what the hell are you talking about? The WRX wagon is by definition a station wagon, we know that. I think the arguement is more about its performance and feel, which I think puts it more into the sport wagon category than traditional family hauler. And as far as your Rx8 comparo, well you have a right to think whatever you like.

tschangrx7

True, it is a sports wagon but it is perfectly acceptable to refer to it as a station wagon. Just as the Lancer Evo is a sedan, etc.

I don't think the RX-8 is a "true" sports car because I imagine that type of car to make very little compromise in the name of performance. However, the fact that the RX-8 has a performance-comfort compromise is the very reason that most buyers here are so enthused by it. I mean no disrespect by these comments but I feel that neither the RX-8 nor the WRX are all-out sports cars.

Senseny

tschangrx7, I agree, neither cars are all out sportscars. And the Subaru (because it is a wagon) is less of a sportscar. I will still argue that they are both very "sporty" though.

taino211

Agreed, but I definitely don't believe that I "stooped" to his level. I just stated that he should actually drive a WRX (whether it be a sedan OR a wagon) and then see if he can compare a WRX to a typical "station wagon" in the connotation that he evoked. He basically made it seems as if the WRX was a heavy behemoth no better than your average gas guzzling family station wagon.

The WRX is no slouch and just because it isn't as "pretty" as the RX-8 doesn't mean that it should disrespected.

Ike

Hey, I totally agree with you there. I don't look at a wagon any different than my sedan. In fact sometimes I wish I had gotten a wagon, there's just something really appealing about it's sleeper aspect, not to mention the practicality of it.

fluque

A station wagon is a stations wagon, doesn't matter how fast it goes.
I like the WRX sedan but the wagon looks bad IMO.
My friend has one and she calls it the "Scooby-Doo mobile".

taino211

... and a Ford Lightning/Dodge SRT-10 are just trucks... an F-15 is just an airplane. Get a clue. Of course the wagon looks bad. Everybody agrees with that. We are talking about performance here.

So, I'd like to see the look on your face when the "wagon" zooms by you with a bumper sticker on the back that says "You just got beat.... by a wagon".

:p

It's all about respect. Give respect to where its due.

Senseny

Amen Taino211, I remember the look on the guys' faces in the Porsche 911 SC and another in a modded 944 who I smoked in the wagon (along with some other cars I won't even brag about making look silly). Now I am not arguing that either of those cars are that fast, but obviously the guys in those cars thought they were faster than the wagon and it was fun teaching them lessons. Not many other vehicles on the road are as practical as the wagon, yet so fun.

fluque

taino211, get the point.... not because stats are similar (rx8 vs. WRX wagon) you can compare the incomparable: sports car/coupe vs. wagon.

Ike

And it's a wagon that many people have more fun driving than you ever will a sportscar. SCCA rally, track days, autox, rallyx, make it run 9 second 1/4 miles, haul stuff, put the dogs in the back and go to the park, roadtrip, whatever... I think the perception that a sportscar has to conform to a certain mold is ignorant. If it can do all those things a sportscar can do and more, then why can't it be a sportscar, the mold for a sportscar was broken long ago some people just haven't quite figured that out yet.


I believe this is from KC's wagon, who is the current STX national champ in his WRX wagon.

taino211

Man! It seems that some people in here are very DENSE! The original post asked how these two vehicles compared PERFORMANCE wise, NOT how "pretty" they both look or what type of vehicle it is.

And the fact is, they both ARE comparable performance wise.

So, once again, GET A CLUE...