SUBARU'S BIGGEST MISTAKE

Discussing the mistakes subaru is making with the wrx
0:00 Intro
0:59 Rally History
1:19 Impreza WRX Launch
2:37 Later WRX Generations
4:30 WRX Culture - The Good
5:55 WRX Culture - The Not So Good
6:34 Subaru's Evolution
8:14 Current Gen WRX Issues
11:56 Subaru needs the STi
14:05 Closing

[@megaluckydog1212]

2004 STI is the best street legal racer for Subaru. Subie has been backing away from performance since, imho because of the idiots who keep having ridiculous accidents, bad press from furious driving that the growing company does not need. I saw rating third from worst once in accidents and we all know how competent they really are, day to day. Keep 'em stock, well maintained and their value will only rise. Just quality tires, a clear head and enjoy, lol.

[@rootbeer4492]

I was talking to the service rep at a Subaru dealership while I was getting the fluids changed in my Outback. He told me every Subaru vehicle will only be offered in a CVT, no more manual transmissions by 2030 or possibly sooner. Which sucks because I love my manual Outback.

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Such a bummer

[@Kosoku63]

That's impossible for the BRZ and WRX, 85% of WRX's are stick shift. I'm sure they made the GT WRX to try to persuade people into increasing the amount of CVT WRX sales, but it looks like a lot of people are just choosing the lower trims for the stick shift. They may remove the manual option from the other Subaru models like the SUV's, but removing the manual option from the BRZ and WRX would actually decrease sales and make them lose money.

[@rootbeer4492]

It's not "impossible". When you take CAFE standards into account, it's probable. Infract, I would expect Subaru to hybridize both the BRZ and the WRX taking advantage of the ECVT systems that other brands like Honda are introducing. A hybrid with an ECVT system can easily make 200 wheel horsepower and keep average MPG within US CAFE standards.

[@firezemissle6656]

Having driven an STI and own a VB wrx. I can say the VB is much more livable day to day. The STi has a more connected drive….but I’m sure with a few mods the VB can be right there next to the Sti.

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Totally fair, just wish the sti was an option

[@enmass90]

I’m not sure how anyone can make the argument that they watered down the VB. It’s the most powerful and best tuned WRX out of the box. Look at the dyno charts… it dynos at the same power level at the wheels as the GR Corolla which has 300hp. Driving dynamics are better than the VA. It’s faster than the VA STI. They clearly put in a ton of effort into this generation so I would hardly call it watered down.

[@KeltonKozlowski]

So just imagine how great a VB STi model would be

[@carsnanime4719]

Fax, stratified did some testing and the vb dyno'd 30-35whp higher than their VA stock for stock. STI transmission would be nice but it's just a swap away

[@UrbanRally]

What an awful comment. Anyone screaming about dyno charts cant afford these cars and has never driven the old ones to know why they were good anyway

[@enmass90]

@@UrbanRally the first part of your comment doesn’t make any sense, the second part is pure conjecture. What does looking at a dyno chart have to do with affording a car? How do you know that I haven’t owned a previous version of the WRX? Literally everyone shits on the VB until they drive one. I would highly recommend you to do so.

[@FATmenDRIVEtrucks]

​@@enmass90it's also the most boring and ugliest absolutely no car reviewer likes them

[@SCraig-Handsome]

Porche just announced the Macan 4 and Turbo, both are EVs… the same is happening for the WRX STi. The Turbo was removed from the lineup in 2023-24 and is coming back for 2025 as a full BEV on a new platform. It’s only a matter of time

[@32srt32]

EPA is killing the small performance car or any small car.

[@TheHonda6211]

No the EPA is killing performance cars. We are killing small cars. Most people nowadays want an suv or a truck.

[@UnknownMaster21]

Subaru was definitely something which told about your persona and character... GTB Legacy and GC8 Impreza... 555 Blue Mica. Both cars were sure for boosting ego and status, but that's actually society's fault... Both cars were for something else instead... as long as they were reliable enough.

[@HAMMER-V100]

The two reasons they can't release an STI is because not only are the boxer engines very inefficient, and a power bump would kill fuel economy, but it would dig into Toyota's sales for the GR Corolla. Toyota owns 20% of Subaru, and if they bumped the horsepower up to 310 and gave it the LSDs it would completely shit on the GR Corolla and there wouldn't be much reason to choose that over the theoretical STI other than the hatchback design. A large reason it's not being made is because of Toyota pretty much ordering Subaru not to.

[@dishonestpanda-1106]

You are absouletly spewing nonsense about the GR corolla. The GR Corolla is a limited production run vehicle 6500 each year vs a mass produced WRX. Toyota sells over 2 million cars vs Subarus 800k and their scaried of a Wrx lol. Toyota has no say in the WRX or the STI. The only reason toyota has shares in subaru is 1 Subaru doesnt have the funds for Hybrid so they sold shares to Toyota for the technolgy and 2. was a vehicle manufacturing plant that Toyota owned. You have no credible information about Toyota saying that cant build it because it isnt true or you would present it . The dumbiest rumor and morons like you keep it going.

[@omarnanana]

vb wrx one of the best cars ive had and ive owned 2 Subarus with STI badges

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Glad you like your vb, now just how imagine how great a true sti one would be

[@peterwindle4453]

With Toyota poushing the GR models and Hyundai pushing the N, it may be something Subaru might want to re-think their strategy... like can and should compete in this market. The new platform has the potential. But, if they do a WRX Hybrid - please keep the manual

[@KeltonKozlowski]

I hope they reconsider

[@peterwindle4453]

@@KeltonKozlowski I test drove the new WRX about 2 months ago. I felt it was a little soul-less. Bring back the 90's when you could interact with the car, not the computers

[@letzgow6110]

The issue is their low sales. When you look at the numbers, you can understand why the Legacy is gone now and no point to make the STI. Subaru doesn’t have a large financial pocket book like Toyota and Honda to make cars that don’t make them much profits

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Honestly I didn’t dig deep into the financials. But with Subaru’s volume they should have the cash on hand to have a loss leader

[@inevahdie]

When WRX is pushing 280hp, what do you want from STi 380? 400? From a 4 cylinder engine? Are you prepared to pay AMG maintenance money for a Subaru?

[@lucasokeefe7935]

For gods sake we just want an even 300hp as a warrantied starting point.

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Yes

[@Duuhvis]

I planned to buy a new STI if they made one. However they didn’t, and Toyota made the car I wanted( the GRC) and I took my business elsewhere to Toyota. I agree this is a mistake but Subaru

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Exactly, I think a lot people had some thought process

[@rcp9ty]

Toyota has a large share of Subaru Stock, companies need to follow the desires of their shareholders the GRC would directly compete with the WRX STI so they cast their vote as shareholders to tell Subaru what they can and cant sell.

[@UnknownMaster21]

Ok, I am 62nd Subscriber.

[@-----------------------------]

The brand is better off without WRX bros. In fact no brand is safe for these WRX bros.

[@J03Y27]

Subaru would rather be safe than fun. Current WRX and STI owners will likely find themselves in a Toyota or a Honda in the future unfortunately. This would be a great time for a fun car company to come out and take full advantage of this moment as there will be a lot of displaced car enthusiasts.

[@Itsdjsigi]

The brz, gr86 and type r.. lol

[@MARTINRIGGSS]

@@ItsdjsigiI skipped over the wrx for a gr86 lol.

[@voltcolt23]

Trust me bro

[@KeltonKozlowski]

🙌

[@Boneso1982]

I owned a 2005 Impreza WRX STI Colin McRae 555 Limited Edition. Great car but it blew up and I couldn't afford to fix it so let it go for next to nothing. They are worth over £25k now. PS I think it's pronounced "im-pret-zah" rather than "im-prez-ah".

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Awesome car but unfortunately the engines tend to do that

[@sloppyonexpo8258]

someone had to say it

[@KeltonKozlowski]

Got you

[@Lionaljohn]

My VB dynos the same WHP as the carolla GR. I think its great. Also subaru still Rallys here in the US., Lastly, the STI while cool, was priced in a catagory with other vehicles that would blows its door off. That atm is not the case with the regular WRX. The STI didnt sell enough sorry. There are way to many other vehicles in the 40k price range that destroyed the STI. Which means, people would rather get better performance for their money as the STI was clearly not the the case. The GR Carolla IMH is stupid. It should be priced in the mid to high 30s to even compete. Good luck finding one cheaper then 40k. The Golf R and GR Carolla are overpriced. Why get that when you can get a mustang that will destroy both of those vehicles? Good luck finding a Golf R at msrp as well. Personally, the moment a WRX hits 40k, they are priced wrong. Same with the Golf R and the GR Carolla. You dont put lower power vehicles in the same price range as higher end muscle cars like the GT Mustang or Camero. Thats like the idiots who buy a 75k half ton pickup (Besides the Raptor of course) when that same price can get them a 3/4 or 1ton diesel.

[@carsnanime4719]

True story, even looking at the old sales numbers 2011 and 2012 sold 13.6k per year, 2013 they sold almost 18k, and 2014 they sold 25k units and this is WRX and STI numbers combined since they never separated them out. Peeps dumping 40k into their WRX builds to make 600 whp when a 2015-2023 Mustang GT will make 800 whp for a good 6k or so and reliably. I love my VB but I'm already pretty much at the limit without having another 7k on standby for an STI drivetrain swap, which is like 20% of the cost of the car lol

[@FATmenDRIVEtrucks]

​@carsnanime4719 true you can get a brand new base 5.0 for $38k discounted. They still need make a sedan version though 😢

[@carsnanime4719]

@@FATmenDRIVEtrucks Supposedly in the works! Would be nice for the family men

[@HavokR505]

bro there hasnt been a real WRX since like 2014 lmao. these are all Hyundai's

[@KeltonKozlowski]

What

[@jeremyjackson8643]

Huh?