2024 Subaru WRX TR vs Audi RS3 | Baby RS3 on a Budget?

[@akediord]

i just picked up a '24 S4 Prestige, all options, last week. i was cross-shopping a '24 WRX TR (in order to keep a manual) for three months, but could not convince myself to place an order that had it priced out to ~$48K. i've had four STIs in the past, and i AM that guy that cross shops cars in completely different strata. lol. i had an 8V '18 RS 3 and didn't want to do that again, but in the end, i was not willing to "downgrade" from my '21 718 Cayman T 6MT, hence the S4 pickup. keep enjoying the RS 3! that five-pot is pure magic.

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Oh pretty cool! All great cars for sure and you’ll love the extra refinements from the S4!

[@akediord]

@@BrosFOURRSpeed Yes! Extra refinement is the key, plus a bit more room for passengers. A Stg I tune will make it near perfect for my needs.

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

@@akediord Fun car! My friend had one years ago and it had an APR tune and exhaust. Was so nice!

[@Silverbulletzx3]

@@akediord can't beat music that the turbo 5 produces for sure!

[@karmahunden]

I started Mazdaspeed 6, then Challenger SRT8, then C63 AMG (tuned), then downgraded to a Fiat Abarth 6MT - and it was the best decision ever (not from a resale value, though). Fun truly comes in the scenario, and if you find yourself constantly driving in a track, then a fast car is an obvious choice. But driving around town... cars like the Kona/Veloster N, Fiat Abarth, Miata, GR86... are tons of more fun than any of those fast cars. The TR feels like a good middle ground when you can't have a smaller car.

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Glad that's what you enjoy!

[@davidnilles3117]

Hi Brian. I think you nailed it. The WRX-T does make a very good baby RS3. Great comparison. Thanks for the video. 👍

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Yeah it was cool to film these!

[@CRatcliffe]

I don’t see how these can be compared in any way

[@akediord]

both AWD and blue? 🤣

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

As mentioned in the video the WRX is a baby version of the RS3. Meaning if you want an RS3 but need to stay closer to a $40k budget. You get a lot of similar aspects. AWD, Turbo, sedan. But on the level below the RS3. Just like if you want an M3 Comp, but $90k is out of budget, the RS3 is a good more affordable option. WRX is a good budget friendly car if you really want an RS3. Also seems like a ton of WRX owners go for an RS3 when they move up to the next level of car

[@shawncey2424]

Both awd

[@shawncey2424]

Both awd

[@anthonykiedis1765]

Awd, sedan, turbo.

[@Silverbulletzx3]

WRX base or premium with a few addons and a tune puts you in the same power range as the RS3, with enough money left over for an STI trans swap, for when you want more power than the RS3. All cheaper than the RS3. The RS3 is a sweet car. (Who doesnt love that sound!) Not knocking it one bit. But if you want a manual, the WRX is the go to. Especially no mark ups, and widely available

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Yeah a more base spec would be a cool choice. The TR costs a bit for sure.

[@akediord]

is there a single VB WRX that has crossed over into the 3s, 0-60 with, "a few addons and a tune," because I certainly haven't seen one.

[@Silverbulletzx3]

@akediord I never mentioned matching 0-60 times. Just power. As the SavageGeese channel said (literally on their VB review) "There's more to driving than a spec sheet. You don't drive a spec sheet day to day" Having a fun to drive manual to me personally, beats having a really good DSG/auto day to day. Even if it's slower.

[@akediord]

@@Silverbulletzx3 what good is a power brag if the car doesn't perform exponentially better? i'm not interested in "gym muscles" on a VB. as you've seen in my other reply, i traded in one of the best driver's cars in history for no reason other than a winter driving requirement and wanting more space/amenity/practicality. i am a manual snob of the highest order, but the VB was going to eventually be a let down after owning the 718 because it's a subaru, and subaru has lost their way with performance offerings. i had previously owned an '04 GD, '08 GR Hatch, '12 GR sedan, and a '19 VA (Series.Gray) before picking up the 718, and once you turn that corner, it's all but impossible to go back. the subaru clown show of offering the TR for 2024, killing it after one year and then coming out of nowhere with the Ts (the T stands for tacky. LOL) for 2025 instead of starting with a proper STI in 2022, is sorta unforgivable to me. they are incapable of producing the STI of yore and meeting current emissions standards because they spend all of their time working up seven different versions of the underpowered Crosstrek. /rant 🤣

[@FromPlsNerf]

I love my WRX and I would pick a manual transmission over a faster car any day of the week.

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Fun car for sure!

[@shawncey2424]

My 15 wrx fbo ethanol runs low 12s qtr mile the 24 audi rs3 stock is fast. Can't wait for ethanol. The new wrx had better engine makes more power with less ad ons than my 15 wrx. And it's manual 6 speed. Miss manual but the 25 rs3 paddle shiters growing on me. I just put in utronic mid pipes

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Oh nice. Yeah the 2025 looks pretty cool with the new steering wheel

[@ericgonzalez3897]

So where would you place the Type R and Type S? Civic Si is a great car at the price it is.

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Type R I’d say is in between the WRX and RS3. Great car for sure.

[@dwarnke72]

The Golf R runs mid 12s stock, you can put your mountain bike in the back, and it doesn’t have ugly black cladding all over the exterior. Load an e85 tune and run side by side with a stock RS3.

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Yeah not a bad option. Those are some fun!

[@juanticimo]

God damn really?? thats impressive, must be the DCT tho.. but Golf Rs are pretty pricey. Honestly the wrx is really only good in the lower trims, once you get to the TR/GT they arent worth it. A base wrx can be had for 28-29k, and simply dropping 15k into it for bolt ons and an STI drive train will have you smoking that RS3 all day.

[@Barricade2008]

I mean honestly at this point unless u live where you need awd...is the wrx even beating the Elantra N in any category?

[@OOOnanana]

brand.... rather own a Subaru

[@Silverbulletzx3]

Drove both, bought a '24 WRX premium. My work brings me to northern states alot. Plus, the aftermarket is great. A bone stock car with the Cobb tuner and a Dmann OTS 93 tune puts you almost in the 12's. (Ran 13.1 @105). Keeping reliability without sacrificing anything while driving normal. Still get 31-32 real world Hwy MPG.

[@Barricade2008]

@Silverbulletzx3 tuning on bith does the same, lap tuning does great numbers for the N also.. u in Northern states so awd is good for ya.. I have a s3 and awd in ky has been practically unnecessary and I'm stage 1

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

I havent been in the new Elantra N. But I've heard great things!

[@Barricade2008]

@BrosFOURRSpeed I'm surprised ya haven't but then again the N is for the poorers 😭😭😂😂😂 the cars you review are well above peak poor lol

[@OOOnanana]

WRX Base for 31k same engine half the cost .... worth every penny

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Yeah a base is a pretty god way to go!

[@ricktrue8441]

Why do people always plant a tree in front of their garage light?

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Not too sure. The cookie cutter home builders do the same thing on every house. One tree on the garage corner. A large bush on the porch corner and a small tree in the year. Our yard tree must have died before we moved in. But we have a garage light on each side of the door, so it's still functional

[@mattlawrence1783]

Wouldn’t you say the S3 is the real baby RS3?

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ_cfoSLfd2tf8U Yes here's my video comparing the S3 to the RS3. The S3 is the literal baby version of an RS3. But for people wanting a true budget version, the WRX undercuts an S3 by a lot of money. So its a cool perspective to see the WRX as the next step down when you are truly wanting to spend a lot less money

[@ricktrue8441]

WRX is easily available, RS3 not so much.

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Yeah ours was an 18 month wait!

[@eugeniocurtis6848]

Subaru can’t even compare to the rs3

[@BrosFOURRSpeed]

Obviously. THat's why the WRX doesn't cost $65k. For half the price you can buy a nice spec WRX and get a fun car. This comparison isn't comparing two direct competitors. As talked about in the video, the WRX is a good baby version. So if your budget is closer to $40k or less, but you want an RS3, a WRX could be a good option