4 Reasons Why Subaru WRX is on Top-10 “Owners Can’t Wait to Get Rid of” List

The new Subaru WRX is on the top-ten cars list that are sold by their owners the quickest after driving off the dealer lot. There’s 4 reasons why. Would they affect your decision to sell?

2017 Subaru WRX, 2017 Subaru WRX STI, 2018 Subaru WRX

The Subaru WRX is a performance car some owners love to hate. At least that’s what iSeeCars.com found when they analyzed which cars are sold the quickest after they are driven off the dealer lot. The study found that on average, 3.3 percent of all Subaru WRX buyers trade them in within the first year. The study didn’t reveal if the performance-tuned WRX STI was lumped in the with the sport-tuned WRX, but we will assume it’s the milder WRX, since more first-time Subaru buyers would likely choose that model.

Why do 3.3 percent of all WRX buyers get rid of it after such a short time behind the wheel? The rally-bred WRX isn’t for everyone. The Japanese automaker’s goal to grow beyond the current loyal customers and attract a new generation of buyers to WRX/STI is working. Subaru of America reports, 60 percent of their buyers are first-time Subaru buyers. Some of these buyers are drawn to the WRX because it’s sporty and it looks cool.

There’s 4 beefs with WRX

The Subaru WRX is a true performance car and it comes standard with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a sport suspension that doesn’t ride like a typical sedan. New WRX buyers aren’t ready for the firm rally-bred ride. 6-speed manual buyers get tired of the constant shifting required and it can be a real pain in stop-and-go traffic. The 2.0-liter turbo engine also requires premium unleaded fuel for top performance and that can add up to 50-60 cents more per gallon. The cost of insurance is much higher on the WRX too because it’s a performance car, and it begs to be driven fast. Insurance companies know their owners are likely to get more tickets than a typical compact sedan owner and they get to pay more for the coverage.

You add up all the extra costs along with the ride, and many new-to-WRX owners aren’t ready for the performance breed. Even though the WRX is resold quicker than many other models, it’s not the quickest to come back to the dealer.

Here’s the top eleven cars iSeeCars.com found are sold the quickest after they are driven off the dealer's lot. #11 is the Nissan Versa (3.2%), #10 Subaru WRX (3.3%), #9 Chrysler 200 (3.8%), #8 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (3.9%), #7 BMW 4 Series (3.9%), #6 BMW X3 (3.9%), #5 Dodge Dart (3.9%), #4 Nissan Versa Note (4.0%), #3 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (6.1%), #2 BMW 5 Series (7.1%), and #1 BMW 3 Series (8.0%).

The new Subaru WRX retains its value better than most other vehicles, so these new owners aren’t getting dinged as much as the other cars when they are traded in. The rally-bred sports sedan sells at a 6.2 percent discount as a year-old used model. So if you are thinking of buying a new 2018 Subaru WRX, make sure you understand what kind of machine it really is before committing to a long-term relationship. Would the 4 reasons affect your decision to sell?

Photo credit: Subaru