I was almost convinced with the looks of the TC but I knew that I wanted more HP. That's why I even considered the SRT-4, discussed on another thread. I went and test drove the 06 WRX while I was looking for an 04-05. Dealer was sold out, so he let me drive the 06 with the 2.5 engine. Amazing. Now I'm really confused. The cost difference is about $8,000. Thoughts?

 

If you can swing the extra $8,000 go with the WRX.

 

WRX requires premium gas with less milage per gallon.
have you looked at the price of gas?

going fast is getting old. especially when stock Evos and STIs can kill almost every compact out there. or the SR powered 240's that will do the same for alot less money.

 

Thought about that too. The low end torque that the 2.5 with the turbo puts out is so addictive, it blinds you. I drove it 2 minutes after driving a 2003 EVO and did not looked back. You might be thinking I'm crazy. Evo below 3,500 rpm is a Lancer and the handling was way to sensitive for my taste. Perhaps on a track but not for daily driving. I had to be extra alert, it was a tense drive. 06 WRX with the bigger displacement engine puts you ___ on the seat as soon as you step on the pedal while listenning the the tunes of the turbine. Stock airbox sucks hard, a reason why CAI are not popular among these cars. The curves at 80 mph were so easy, I thought it was an STi. Wait, back to reality...gas gas gas. Yes, premium is high and WRX is rated like any other sports car. Damm it. I should drive a stock TC since the only I drove was a S/C. Not too impressed by the TRD kit for the price. I too can make the TC look sick with the extra cash. Low end torque is playing tricks on me, not hosepower. Some said "Horsepower gives you speed, torque wins races." Im not a racer, but damm, that feels good. I guess Im so stoked since I drive a family sedan 4 cyl 626....ahahahaha.

 

i test drove the 05 wrx but wasn't impressed. i guess i'm just bias against anything that isn't honda or toyota. i don't do much of anything besides going where i have to go with my car. but i do want better handling and more speed. i might switch to the Si next year...

 

If you can afford it, as in gas, maintenance, insurance, then go with the new WRX. The $8000 difference might be a bit bigger if you factor all that in.

Pick the one you can comfortably afford.

 

I own an 05 WRX. It's a great car, though it doesn't have the low-end torque of the 06. Despite rising gas costs I have to say I don't regret getting this car (though I do wish I had gotten a Legacy GT instead. The car obviously costs more than the tC but it's worth every penny. You can get a screaming deal on a Subaru in the southern states (where they are less popular).

The tC is a great car too, so it depends what you're looking for really.

 

Nobody ever seems to mention that the 06 Civic Si requires premium gas too with its 10:1 compression pistons and overal high reving engine. Even though overal the Si gets a better mpgs during daily driving, but that difference diminshes if there is a lot more city or highway half involved. The Tc seems to be more ably aimed at those who want the best bang for their buck when it comes to interior comfort and exterior quality rather than performance.

Other cars to consider, if new, would be the Caliber SRT4 which seems to have the same fuel efficienct as the normal WRX but with STi power, probably accompanied with ample torque steer. Then there is the Mazdaspeed3 which is said to have 250hp and based on what the MSP6 gets in mpg would rival the Civic Si but beat it in the torque department. However, there is already a coupe that rivals the Si in both departments, the Cobalt SS, if interior quality and plastically body panels is not an issue. There is also the rumor that the Opel Astra VRX will be sold in the US rebadged as some sort of Saturn Redline.

If someone wanted a truely fuel efficient vehicle that is sporty and street legal one would either go with the Honda Fit, wait for the Suzuki Swift, Mazda MX-5, Pontiac Solstice or just opt for a motorcycle instead. Some kit cars also seem rather appealing.

 

The other thing about the civic is that all of the fun hp is above 6k rpm. who drives there? and what kind of mpg would you get doing that all of the time?

 

For obvious reasons I'd go with the wrx. When you get a little older and you still like hooking up cars and making power you realize how much fwd sucks ___. With awd it's addicting, you just floor it and never have traction. It's awesome in any conditions. As far as modding goes for the 2.5 stock you're looking at 13.8 @ 97-98 mph. Intake, turboback, tune they are hitting 13.1@ 102-104 mph. Now for the good one. With and intake, turboback, sti turbo, sti intercooler, and a tune someone hit 12.3 at I think 111-112 mph. That's absolutly nuts, and you still have a completly streetable, full interior, still not spining your tires like a mad man, low 12 second car. I don't know about you but I think having a high hp fwd car is pretty much usless. You can race from a roll, throw slicks on. You can have fun at anyspeed with a wrx. Toss some summer tires on a wrx and twisties are amazing. The stock tires on the wrx are complete trash. Good luck with your decision.

 

I don't know what you're talking about, but my Evo pulls very nicely at about 2700 rpms. And as far as daily driving, the sharp handling isn't for everyone I guess. But to compare a Wrx to an Evo is not feasible. STi to Evo makes more sense. Don't get me wrong, I love Subaru's as well. I say go with the Wrx. AWD is awesome.

 

I don't know if it's the same for 06, but I do believe the Wrx comes with the world famous Bridgestone RE92's same as the tC's.

 

if your going any route, swing a sti.. if i had the money i would go that route.

 

yea WRX fo sho. I'd get an s2000, but thas jus me.

 

wrx will crap on an s2000, though an s2000 is much better looking.. they have an impressive engine, alot you can do with it, its just untapped though.

 

slap on a comptech supercharger on tht baby and its a monster.

 

s2000 was the car i was about to get..if i waited couple extra days i would of gotten it....it was the same price as my tC with only 19500 miles on it....in black..

was beautiful...just wished i would of waited

 

Go for WRX or STi, forget about tC

 

yup, screw the TC. im picking up a used s2k. Go wrx man, yea its a lil more, but ull be alot happier, ill never get a TC again . . .

 

Aww....that sucks. I didn't realize they came on any other car besides the suby and older maxima's. Before I could consistantly afford SO3's I would but 4 tires with maybe 2k miles on them for 100 bucks or less from people imediatly taking them off their wrx's. Was a good deal but I'm glad those days are over. They sucked in the rain hard core but it was fun getting it nice and sideways sometime other then the snow. :D