did someone say a non turbo wrx?
Umm.. yea. the wrx is a 2.0 Boxer 4 Turbo, with top mount intercooler, see: hood scoop
Yes i said boxer, meaning horizontally opposed, or "flat"
They make a 4 door sedan, and now a wagon, also with 4 doors.
So please dont ever tell me you raced a non turbo wrx, because well.. you didnt.

Sorry to sound like a jerk, but just giving some good info.
Ohh yea, stock for stock, wrx pulls in a straight line, 227hp, vs 170, and the beauty of awd launch. Cant over come 57hp, and awd from a dead dig. Well with similarly skilled drivers, anyways
in one of the last autocrosses here, a stock msp, did better than a modified wrx. WRX mods, downpipe, chip upgrade, and full coilover suspension. The driver also owns a grand national, and is an excellent driver, ive riden with him, and hes scared me shitless in it. The wrx lost by half a second on one run, and upwards of a full second on others.
SO in a straight line, a wrx will win, but in the twisties, the MSP is where its at.
Back to on topic. Your friend with the advantages of 6 gears vs , and 5 more hp. tell the kid to learn something about cars, and then ask him to race. Wipe the floor with him, a few times, and then tell him to follow you through a road you know is twisty. To be safe, dont even push your car, and tell him to try to keep up, or just take him for a ride in it. He wont talk s*** anymore.
Have a nice day!