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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
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Comments
Best way to get a lot of
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Subaru owners don't like the shifter, did they drive the car before buying? Same for the stiff ride. odds are a few dopes will buy something cause they think it's cool, then realize they want something else. Then repeat this process till they croak. I bought a 17 WRX base, the only regret is not getting the premium. I'm too tall with the sunroof. SAD.
i love my car!
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i love my car!
I'm pretty damn sure anyone
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I'm pretty damn sure anyone that buys a manual WRX or any all wheel drive turbo car for that matter knows what they're getting into. Unless you're the writer of this poorly written article.
Obviously whoever wrote this
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Obviously whoever wrote this article needs to be fact checked because insurance on a WRX is hardly anymore than a regular car. The insurance difference was like $15 a month more than a regular car and that for me a 21-year old male. Now the STI which this article is not about is supposed to have a significant increase in insurance but the base WRX is basically the same insurance price as a regular car.
It depends. I drive a Mazda3
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In reply to Obviously whoever wrote this by Mike (not verified)
It depends. I drive a Mazda3 and got a quote on a base WRX. It was about $400-500 more a year. Clean driving record and almost 40yo.
It's the sound system " Radio
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It's the sound system " Radio/ CD Player" you got to upgrade or option . The Harmon Kardon speakers! With the driving dynamic of WRX/STI. Win! Win! Situation. Basic sounds? 'What was I thinking? This thing gotta go! That's why!
Not one real mention of why
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Not one real mention of why it remains a niche car for young "driver" types. I have one and love it, but it's not a low-effort car to drive. Probably the biggest turnoff for most people is the turbo lag coupled with a manual transmission (and light flywheel). Even I have a bad take-off every now and then with the typical off-boost loss of power. Most utilitarian people have no use for such downfalls...even with the rush of power to offset the turbo lag.
So first impressions...noisy
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So first impressions...noisy interior from the road with back seats down. I kept checking the back windows thinking they were open. Jackass tire guy took my car for a joy ride after I took it in for winter tires on day 3. Clutch very fussy when new, therefore causes car to lurch. I found out what a 'lead foot' I really am as I shift only at 5k rpm. The car takes off unexpectedly at that range. Too low. Not everyone needs that much downforce, as a rally car/offroad vehicle it'll need a liftkit. Speed bumps are a problem. Short throw on the 6 speed. Down shifting I slip into 3rd instead of 5th, very annoying. Shifting gears the engineers didn't dampen shifter plate so it makes a "sporty" clunky sound. Backup camera annoying, I mostly ignore it except for the tightest spaces. I can manage without it.
Otherwise everything is honkey dorky.
All the comments above are
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All the comments above are valid points. However most car buyers who buy or lease a WRX know what they are getting into. Not many performance cars today give you the rally bred mechanical feel that a WRX gives its owner. Coupled with full time AWD and an exhaustive aftermarket modifications industry that market to WRX owners you have a car in a class by itself .
Another WRX hater article. …
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Another WRX hater article. Top 10 "Owners can't wait to get rid of"??? Many people ditch cars in the first year, and ALL performance cars probably top the list. If you are buying a white-bread SUV like a CR-V and decide a few months into it that you don't like the stereo controls you probably still keep the car as it is simply transportation.
When someone buys a performance car, they like DRIVING, and when something isn't quite to their liking it is a bigger deal to keep the car.
I'm over 50 and I just bought a '23 WRX Premium 6spd. Absolutely my favorite car I have ever owned (list includes CRX Si, Integra GS-R, Jetta GLS, Audi A4, and so on). The car is just a fun little go-kart with a completely flat torque curve. You barely have to slip the car to take off, once you learn to tip the throttle as you release the clutch it can be automatic smooth. Yes, the ride is not like a CUV or luxury car, and if you made that mistake of thinking the WRX would be like that after your test drive, it is your fault, not the cars'. I don't care that there are faster cars and Subarus have never been easy on the eyes (I actually LIKE the looks with the cladding and all) it is built to drive. Paid $32k. Find me another car with this much performance, all weather traction and Subaru reliability for that money.
They only become unreliable when you tune them haphazardly. I'm only putting a cat back on mine, the car is fast enough for my tastes, but if you tune it, always do your bolt-ons first, drive conservatively, and then get a PRO TUNE to make sure you are not running lean or have other gremlins in engine management. Our dealer is somewhat tune-friendly, and the issue they see is when people don't understand the factory tune can only handle so many variables, and when customers put intake X and downpipe Y in combination with OTS tune Z bad things can and do happen.