As you say, the WRX has been around for a while. Has anyone caught the Subie yet as a bang-for-your-buck performance favourite?
In the dry, a Mini Cooper S is still the cat's pajamas. The new Volkswagen GTI is a serious sports compact contender, and its $5k cheaper and a lot more refined overall than the WRX. However, despite being four years old, for the dollar, the 'Rex is still your best choice as an all-weather road

(Photo: John LeBlanc, straight-six.com)

weapon. Even when pitted against the likes of a $40,750 200-h.p./207-lb-ft of torque Audi A4 2.0T quattro or a $42,900 215-h.p./185-lb-ft of torque BMW 325xi.

Better than the similarly priced, yet more-powerful Mazdapseed6?
Once again, the Subie isn't as refined. But it has a slight advantage being smaller (i.e. more nimble). Bottom-line: If you love to drive, and the new styling (yet, again!) doesn't put you off, the WRX is still a driving enthusiast's object of desire.

- John LeBlanc is an automotive critic and Publisher of www.straight-six.com


Photo Credit : John LeBlanc