About the Subaru WRX
R H purchased this Subaru WRX new with additional options for $57,500 (including all on-road costs). R H would buy this car again because: “It is a great daily driver. It is comfortable for the commute, yet fun on your favourite piece of country road! I didn’t buy it for economy, yet it still returns decent figures given it’s an AWD, turbocharged Subaru.”
How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.
There was an initial fault with Apple CarPlay disconnecting after a period of time but that has been fixed with a software update – this was a worldwide problem. There have been no other issues with the car whatsoever.
What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?
My ownership experience has been mostly flawless. Apart from the aforementioned issue with Apple CarPlay there has been nothing to complain about.
It is definitely my favourite car that I have owned and always puts a smile on my face
How has the purchase and aftercare experience been with your car?
I initially wanted to buy from my local dealer, however at the time they didn’t seem too interested in doing a deal.
I spoke to someone I know at another dealer two hours away and got a deal done. The communication was top notch, I knew when my car was built, when it was on a ship, when it landed in Australia, when it landed in Launceston.
I even got photos of my car before it was detailed and accessories fitted. Once it was detailed and fitted with its accessories I got more photos.
The entire process was seamless. This was my first time buying a brand new car and it couldn’t have been better. So much so that my Mum bought her new car there too!
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
I believe for what you get with the car, the price was quite reasonable.
An equivalent GR Corolla or i30 N could have cost more, with the latter not even being AWD. I think the RS is the sweet spot in the range, giving you the sunroof, heated seats, Harmon/Kardon sound.
Yes, the TS gets adjustable dampers, but you also have to sacrifice a manual transmission, something I wasn’t willing to do with this car.
What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?
As I mentioned before, I didn’t buy this car for its economy. Performance wise, it is great for a daily driver. Could it be faster? Sure. Does it need to be? No.
From an economy point of view, it’s surprising. A long highway run will see the figures plummet, yet daily driving around the city still returns decent figures.
What do you think of the technology in your car?
I love the massive centre screen. It has the all important volume knob, and seamlessly integrates the HVAC controls with hard buttons for the temp, and also ensuring the controls stay at the bottom of the screen permanently.
The software update also meant the heated seat controls were not hidden in a sub-menu.
Very important for those cold Tassie mornings! I do have to admit that the driver display could be digital, rather than two analogue dials but they’re sufficient. The small display in the centre does show some good info.
What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?
For what is Subaru’s flagship sports model, the WRX rides and handles very well. The ride can be firm at times, but it’s a good balance.
The tradeoff is that it handles like its on rails. You easily learn the car’s limits and you know exactly what it’s going to do… and you know when you’re on the limit.