Bankie

the stock stereo in the WRX sucks, just so you know.
It's probably the worst sounding factory unit I've heard.

glowck

The WRX are the new Hondas everyone has them in gosh darn BLUE. If I could take my protege5 and use the boxer engine with AWD I have a fast kick *** car. Instead of a fast ugly duckling of a car. Thats just me. The new head lights for 2004 least make it look a littl better.

Mach 1

wouldnt all wheel drive be a no brainer , huge advantage for autocross?

I stay away from AWD in a car because of additional maintenace costs and headaches down the road, but im assuming it would help pulling out of the corners in auto cross, although the extra weight has to be a negative factor..

UCSBgeek

The modern subaru AWD systems seem to be pretty reliable, really...

03SpeedLSD

I'm not talking about track times. Straight line times mean nothing unless your just a drag racer. Which I am not, so I go for all around racing. I have ran 3 diff WRXs with 3 diff drivers, and have beat all 3 (from a stop or a roll.) Yes, it is pretty nice to buy a 14psi car straight off the show room. I haven't looked at the aftermarket for the SRT-4 lately, but I'm pretty sure it's market and the MSP market are pretty close. Also consider intercooler size and efficiency on all these cars. The MSP being the shitty one of all 3. Intercooler is smaller than a bag of bread, and I'm not going to even go into the details about the backward *** plastic pipes it comes with from the factory. There is room for improvement in all aspects of all 3 of these cars. All 3 have very Great potential. Just depends on how deep your pockets are and what personal interests you take in a car. I personally chose my MSP for the color,handling,stereo, and rarity of production...Later,

UCSBgeek

So, you have not beat them in a drag race, how have you beat them?

Mach 1

Even if it is reliable, Im sure theres added maintenace costs with transfer case fluid changes, additional CV joints, half shafts, etc...which is all good, but do you really need it to drive down the street? If you live in a snowy area, sure, (i have a truck for that) or if your into drag racing (great traction off the line) , but then again, I would go for a v8 if i was looking for a drag car, and a truck for snow or off road, so I dont care for the subys AWD setup, but thats just my opinion

UCSBgeek

Aye, good points...I'd have to see how the costs of my dad's subaru and my brother's add up... I don't think either of them have made it to the major service points yet... they haven't needed any out of the ordinary maintenance, though, as far as I know. I really wish I had known about the Mazdaspeed before my dad got his WRX... He would still want the Subaru because he takes it skiing, but ...

Mach 1

Well, I wouldnt buy a MSP, the car just does nothing for me. If I was looking for performance, go for the Suburu over the Mazda.

why does it matter what your dad drives? Does he base the car he buys on your advice?

UCSBgeek

I'm sorry that the MSP does nothing for you. For me, it would be a blast, enough fun for me. He does listen to me on some things, or at least gets ideas. And it matters, 'cause when I come home to visit I get to drive what car he has.

Mach 1

So drive the WRX. Its faster and has AWD. Am I mising something? You think the MSP is better so you wish your dad would have bought that instead?

JAC

The stock stereo shouldn´t be an important factor when buying a car (under 50k), they usually suck and can be easily upgraded. The MSP system isn´t all that, I´d rather have them take 600$ off the sticker price and sell it to me without it because I would upgrade it anyway.

Bankie

Obviously, you've never done an AWD drift.

UCSBgeek

Yes, I've driven both, and I like the MSP a lot better... and being the "fastest" isn't everything...he likes the AWD though because the CHP will let you go through chain zones (snowy roads) without chains...which I admit is a good reason to get one.

kenchan

a wrx will offer far more potential when you mod it.
far more appreciation for a performance car.

if you dont want to mod your car or cant afford to,
go with a msp. there's no shame in a msp, you will be
much happier cause it's a fairly completed package out
of the box...you could be racing vs minicoopers and
other midget cars and actually win unlike a pro5!

but if you ever come across a well modded wrx with a
good driver, dont even bother racing it. ive come
across a msp with some kid in it asking for a race
and i just gave him what he wanted to see...my
tail lights getting smaller and smaller through the
tight s- entrance ramp and lost him after getting on the
expressway.

edit: thats with a 15.1 psi with plenty of room for more boost
but no need.