I’m a Subaru fan. We’ve owned four and they’ve all been great. Well, maybe except for the entertainment center in my current ride, a 2018 Outback, but that’s a story for another blog. To get back to this one, Subaru announced their latest WRX and I think it’s awesome. I don’t need another car, but I’d sure like to own this one. 271 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat four, 4 wheel drive, and an 8-speed automatic. Yeehaw!
The first time I drove a WRX was when good buddy Tom let me drive his STI. That thing was a rocketship and I knew I needed one.
My first Subaru was a 2006 WRX and I loved it. The thing was a go kart with air conditioning and it was fast. I owned a Z06 Corvette at the same time and the Subie was way more fun to drive. Sue and I went all over in it, including a trip up to Oregon where we grabbed quite a few cool photos. Here’s one among the giant redwoods.
Here’s a marigold farm north of Santa Barbara. I was on a business trip and when I saw those marigolds I stopped for a photo.
Here’s one on the Oregon Coast Highway. The car made me look good, I think. The Subie was an exceptionally photogenic automobile. It was my first ride of any kind along the Oregon Coast Highway, and in my opinion that road is even more scenic than California’s Pacific Coast Highway. We included this stretch when we took the Chinese and the Colombians on CSC’s RX3 Western America Adventure Ride a few years later.
And one more, this time on the 395 just below Bridgeport. The 395 is a scenic drive, too.
I haven’t cared for the WRX body styles that followed mine until this latest 2022 version. Subaru got it right once again, I think. I don’t need a new car, but man, I’m tempted. I could apply Bidenomics to it, pay for the thing, and explain to Susie that the cost was zero.
In their advertising Subaru shows only two colors for the new WRX. There’s the orange shown at the top of this blog and a more sinister-looking gray. They both look good, but I’d go for the orange. I had an orange Subie CrossTrek, and what I liked best about that color is I could instantly spot it in any parking lot.
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I own a 2012 Legacy. Bought it for my son a couple months ago to drive while in college. It has the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Does the new WRX have that? What are your thoughts on CVTs?
One thing I’m not a fan of on the Legacy is that you have to take the front bumper cover off and remove the headlight assembly just to change the low beam headlight bulb. Also, to change the oil filter, you have to reach through a “doughnut” hole in the exhaust pipe that is just slightly larger than the diameter of the filter.
Other than that so far it seems to be a good car. Hopefully it will last him through college.
Dirk:
We currently have two 2018 Outbacks, and before that we had a CrossTrek. All have had CVT transmissions. I’m okay with them and I haven’t had any problems. Haven’t had to change any headlights on any Subie, but from what I hear about other makes, changing a headlight on them is difficult, too.
I’m pretty sure your kid’s car will last through college. They seem to last forever.
Thanks for commenting.
My wife’s car is a 2021 Crosstrek. First car in FIFTY that doesn’t have a bi-level setting on the cabin air. That’s weird. And why does the radio ALWAYS have to come on when you start it up? Other than that it works fine. I miss my Chevy Volt and my Victory Red 2003 Cavalier LS. And my 1984 Fiero…..
Sorry to hear that problem still exists, Fred. I have the same thing in my 2018 Outback. The entertainment unit/nav system in my Outback is its weak point. On the plus side, that CrossTrek has plenty of YooHoo storage space.
Joe, you have been drinking the California Kool Aid for too long! “I owned a Z06 Corvette at the same time and the Subie was way more fun to drive.”???? REALLY! There is no way that would happen. In fact, I recall a great event in LA when two guys opened up a Z06 in front of a CHP unit, and got away with it. No way could you or would do that in a WRX.
On advice of counsel, I wish to invoke my 5th Amendment rights.
I had a 2011 Nissan Cube with cvt. I really liked the van but the cvt started causing problems at 76 000 miles. I traded it in on a 2013 Ford Transit Connect with 46000 miles made in Turkey. Had a few initial gremlins but got them all fixed and it’s a very utilitarian vehicle now.
My brother has had 2 Suburu Outbacks. Likes them alot.