It is done.

[kicker22705]

nice review. its nice to have an unbiased review of both cars, especially from a daily driver's standpoints. good luck w/ your car.

 

[cyomega]

Find a way to change the bias of that center differential, and you'll have a daily drifter.

 

[Wha'Happened]

I just took an 05 WRX for a test drive, and I was pretty impressed but not blown away. Everything you said in your comparo is exactly how I felt. I feel that our shifter, clutch and brakes felt much better in comparison. 1-2 shift was a little indirect and weird, but Im sure you can get used to it. I have kartboy bushings in my MSP and would do the same upgrade to the WRX. To me the MSP feels much more "squirely" and "racey". The WRX has more of a refined feel, it's more comfortable. The interior on the 2005 WRX beats the MSP hands-down IMHO. The new 3 spoke wheel rocks, although I felt it to be a little low. The brakes are much softer than the MSP and I didnt really like the feel of the brakes at all to be honest. The engine in the WRX rocks though, but it's power delivery is much different, it feels more like a turbo motor than the MSP and I liked that a lot. Pre-3000 rpms its a little sluggish, but when turbo kicks in it's more of a rush than the MSP for sure, although I didnt take it too far up past 4000 rpms. Overall, I liked the WRX alot, it felt a little bigger and heavier than the MSP which I thought would bother me at first but I prefer it now. It just feels more muscular I dont know.

 

[mspdfreak]

Hmm, I'm gonna have to look at the '05 WRX interior...the '04 I drove didn't do a damn thing for me. (interior wise...damn motor was nice.)

 

[Wha'Happened]

http://www.subaru.com/servlet/research?model=IMPREZA&trim=WRX_SEDAN&command=photos

 

[MazdaDryvr]

You're right WH. I forgot to mention that in my ramble. The brakes on the MSP grab faster and harder than the WRX. I thought there was something wrong at first. Your other observations about the overall feel and power delivery is also on par with my own feelings. I had my MSP stock and the shifter on the WRX is somewhat more notchy, especially first. If I could make a list of what I like about each of these cars we would have one helluva car!

 

[Wha'Happened]

MazdaDryvr, that car would be called an STi (dance)

 

[MazdaDryvr]

Lol, you are probably right.