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2013 civic Si or 2013 Subaru WRX

36K views 48 replies 27 participants last post by  Jxu  
#1 ·
I am currently looking for a new daily driver. I live in New England and our winters can be pretty bad. I have a 2010 Toyota yaris. Great on gas and fitting into small spaces but it is not a safe car to take a hit or drive in the snow. I've narrowed it down to the new si and wrx for a car but i just don't know witch way to go. I test drove both and the wrx felt strong and safe but a bit choppy. I hope that was because I'm just not used to the transmition. The si was not as aggressive but it was super smooth and easy to drive. More options in the interior for the 25,000 rather than the wrx base for 26000. I know the wrx will be great in the winter and put me in my seat the way I want but 17mpg will hurt my student pockets more than the si's 25mpg. I love the look of the wrx while I would need to do work to the 9thgen si to get it the way I want. Considering my needs what is the better car for me ?
 
#12 ·
I'd say it depends on what you want. I really liked the power in the WRX and the AWD but thinking that I'd be eating premium to the tune of 20 mpg wasn't as appealing as eating it at 28 mpg with the Si. The Si was almost as fun sometimes more, because it's just at the point you can push it to the limit without totally blasting all laws so quickly. I love my Si, but sometimes yearn for more power.

Also, the Si will land you a few grand cheaper to start, which leaves you a nice budget to put more power into it if you wish, like a supercharger. At that point, you have 300+ whp (see Millions-Knives) and into the car for the price of a premium WRX, getting yourself some better gas mileage to boot.
 
#13 ·
I had a 2011 WRX before my Si. The WRX was an awesome car, and beats the Si in basically every performance catagory (plus the hatch is nice on the 5dr). That said, the Si gets far better mileage, is cheaper to insure, and was about $4k cheaper new (I paid 21,8 for my Si and the WRX was ~25). The Si is also plenty of fun to drive, even without the higher performance envelope compared to the WRX. If you plan on autox or tracking the car, Id go WRX, otherwise the Si is a better daily driver. With snow tires the Si is no slouch in the winter either.
 
#14 ·
Both cars have a completely different experience. I'm coming from an extensive Subaru background and can tell you, though I've only driven cars on the lots, the si is a good compromise for fun and budget.

I'd say drive both, then make an educated decision based on your feeling, not what other people think you should do. Also, a good set of winter tires would be more than adequate for harsh conditions in a fwd car. Once you are moving along awd means a lot less.


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#17 ·
Glad to have you! and I was in the same mindset as you. Freshman in college, and looking at WRX and Si. The reason the Si pucshed me over the edge was, no need to worry about turbo needing a rebuild, cheaper maintenance, and definitely cheaper insurance. MUCH cheaper. I paid for my Si with 8yr/100,000mile warranty 22400 before tax.
 
#18 ·
I'd get the WRX... This was my first new car, and I've always wanted to have an si since I was back in middle school, wo I was pretty biased on this... I didnt do enough research on the wrx or brz even at the time since what I was looking for was actually a civic lx but ended up getting an si for a good deal.

Cost of ownership is a lot higher for the wrx though, although I've put almost 2g into my sled and its nowhere near as fast

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#20 · (Edited)
The Si handles more like a BRZ than a WRX, that's the main reason why cross shopping the Si and WRX is like picking between cereal and steak... You're usually in the mood for only one. Your first test drives should solve that one. Plus the WRX is due for a massive redesign so I wouldn't go for the old model. And I'm not a fan of the boxer engine and Subaru's typically high road noise cabins.
 
#21 ·
Si handles more like the brz??? What??? FF vs FR are totally different.

Either way, either car is good.
 
#23 ·
Even if you did have it for 1K miles, FF, FR, 4WD are all different in handling. Different in stock form and different with aftermarket support. Stock, our 9th gen sits too high, lots of body roll, shocks/struts/springs are soft as well. And this is just the basic. But you can't go wrong with either car.
 
#25 · (Edited)
I'm not saying they are exactly alike, just more alike than a WRX. The Si and BRZ seem to be after the same budget nimble modestly fast driving orientated experience, abit go about it different ways. FWD vs RWD being the biggest. And I agree that the stock BRZ suspension balance is better. But they are both of similar weight, power, naturally aspirated, high revving, steering, MPG, shifters, etc. Despite the drive train difference, and a suspension that needs upgrading to match the BRZs, stock for stock my exuberant drives to work feels largely the same in an overall feel, if not an exact drive train feel. Note I didn't say my day at the track. Part of that is clearly that 200 HP just isn't enough for RWD to really show off just how much fun it can be. Where as the WRX is a different beast in feel entirely. It's a fast turbocharged AWD rally car that feels nothing like the first two, from what I've read. AWD is not RWD, both are not FWD, I get it. But that's not the only thing to consider or I'd still be in a BRZ. The engine, utility, cabin noise, and interior in the 2013 Si Sedan is so much better it isn't even funny. I miss the BRZ stereo though. That was a touch better. And the seats were a touch better in the BRZ. So for me my Si with a stereo, suspension, and seat upgrade is a better car for sure. And all that upgrading is still better than that boxer engine with that annoying engine chirp defect. I don't like Subaru anymore, but clearly the BRZ is a more natural competitor to the Si than a WRX in overall driving feel. Note that's not the same as saying the Si is a natural competitor to the BRZ. Without the WRX part of the three piece comparison, the statement I am making loses its meaning. You guys changed my 3-way comparison into a 2-way :)
 
#30 ·
Talk of comparisons between our cars and others are viable threads and have a place here. We don't live in a bubble.
 
#33 · (Edited)
Hopefully you realize you are asking a bunch of Honda owners if you should get an Si or a WRX. This is a Honda Civic forum, after all.

I recommend you drive them both, and then decide which better fits your budget and is worth the money. Also, with an Si you can get FlashPro and a tune which will make the car much more aggressive - take this into consideration as well.

Personally, I would not buy a regular WRX over an Si. I would however consider purchasing an STi over an Si, if the dealer would be willing to bargain. But at nearly $40,000 for an STi, that's insane... I can get a much nicer vehicle for that amount of money. That's also a couple years at my university (tuition and housing).
 
#34 ·
The wrx is turbo 262hp n awd>si fwd 201hp however the si tranny n clutch is so smooth n perfect for a first time manual owner


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