Used 2018 Subaru WRX Consumer Reviews
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Treat yourself
Great fun at a reasonable price. Not a sports car, but handles well. Very capable in ALL weather. I put 290,000 miles on my '02 with no engine work. This is my third WRX, it has 26,000 miles on it after just over a year of ownership. I've driven it in two ice and snow storms this winter and it has been very stable.
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Value buy! What do you compare the WRX against?
All the comparisons are against 2 wheel drive cars, and many are front wheel drive. If you want all wheel drive, great handling, and good engine performance..look around. You are now comparing against Audi, BMW, and a couple of domestic models, and they will be much more money to get the same feature set. Better quality interior materials? yes. But for a great driving experience this is a great car, and an even better one for the price!
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- STI Limited Sedan w/Low Profile Trunk SpoilerMSRP: $33,99098 mi away
- Premium SedanMSRP: $22,99168 mi away
- STI SedanMSRP: $26,931In-stock online
No regrets!
I am very happy with this purchase. Just to give you background my previous vehicle was a BMW 335i. The 335i was a power plant for a small sedan, had quality interior, and was a quiet ride (luxury feel). The BMW had most of the features that this new vehicle is just now offering (except the backup camera and blind spot monitoring) so I was on the fence on whether to upgrade or not. The problem for me was the long term maintenance cost. For the amount of money I was putting into the maintenance I could have well make monthly payments on a new car. (Maybe it was my bad luck that I received a bad one off the production line? I did keep up w/the scheduled maintenance fyi) I spent time researching the subcompact category since this will serve as my everyday commuter and I didn’t want to feel like I was driving a boat. I wanted something small enough to slide into tight spots when driving in traffic as well as when parking in tight spaces in the city yet have enough acceleration punch when required and would have lower maintenance cost in the long run. Being able to drive in rough weather would also be a plus. I visited different dealerships looking @many vehicles including the Focus RS, Civic Type R, and Golf R. I was concerned with Ford’s reputation for reliability (the recent head gasket issue) and VW’s maintenance cost (Being a German vehicle). The Type R is only a 4 seater (this alone is not an option for me). I then visited Subaru and my initial thoughts were negative in that I felt I was getting something less than the BMW. It wasn’t until I test drove the WRX STI that I understood the attraction (they are fun to drive). You really do feel more involved and although it wasn’t as quiet & luxurious as my BMW it definitely wasn’t boring. The 335i felt like it had much more torque than the STI during startup. I did experience being a passenger in a 2015 WRX and it was a much harsher ride than the 2018 STI. In my opinion my STI is more bouncy but not as hard a ride as my 335i. I’m not sure if the run flats on the 335i is the reason for this. Summary: Cons- horsepower is mediocre by today’s standards, no passenger side power seat, no climate control/vents for rear seat passengers, seat heaters toggle on/off instead of staying on constantly, only 19mpg. Pro’s- fun to drive, manual 6 speed (keeps me awake during traffic 🙂), great handling, very good visibility (@least w/out the large rear wing for my situation), folding rear seats, cargo capacity, spacious seating (compared to my 335i), recaro seats (love the red accents & seatbelts), spare tire (yes! No more run flats!), highlighter colored brakes (I actually like how these look different from the typical Bembo red), 19 inch wheels (could be a con if you are traveling in snow as it comes w/summer tires). Bottom line is that I have no regrets In buying this car. This is worth consideration if you are searching for a compact car that’s fun to drive (by this I mean visceral and more involved) yet practical. I hope that the maintenance cost will be lower than the BMW as I have only put 3k on this vehicle so far.
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NO CONS!
I came from a 2017 VW GTI, which was totaled recently. While i loved that car.. the 2018 WRX is in a whole different league. The handling is magnificent on turns and curves. The acceleration is fun and solid. Yes, the road noise is *slightly* louder than other vehicles, but I doubt anyone interested in buying an AWD, 270HP car that isn't a luxury brand is extremely interested in a purely silent cabin. I'm sensitive to noise and it's fine for me. Love this car and finally do not have any buyers remorse or looking longingly at other cars. Go take it for a test drive and push it!
Almost 3 years of owning since brand new
2020 Update : 22,xxx miles on the car now and it's given me absolutely no issues at all where the drivetrain is concerned. Still drives and handles amazingly. I bought some Titan 7 T-S5's forged wheels and some Michelin Pilot Sport 4's to replace the OEM wheels and tires and what a difference it makes. Car handles much sharper and a good amount of understeer is eliminated. We drove this car from Santa Cruz, CA to Eugene, OR and back over the course of a week and it was amazing. I love driving this car every time I get into it and it's exactly what I wanted from a car - to be able to look forward and be excited about driving. The only minor flaws: -Area of the dash between glove box and windshield can rattle sometimes - doesn't bug me and given the aggressive suspension on this car I can't say im suprised - the roads in CA are terrible. -If you take your seat belt off and move the car the buzzer will sound, this buzzer will stay activated even when you've come to a stop and the car is in neutral. It will only turn off if you plug your seatbelt in or turn the car off. -Seats are still a bit big for me, I'm 5'9" at 155 lbs so I'm not a big guy, the seats could be a little more bolstered for my liking. The CG lock I have on my seatbelt helps this issue but doesn't fully alleviate it. This is a real car! I ordered my 2018 from the dealer as soon as ordering opened up in early 2017 and I took delivery in late June. I did my research and test drove a lot of different cars. My top 3 choices were the 2018 WRX STI, a 2017 Chevrolet SS, or a 2013-2015 used Camaro ZL1. I decided on the STI because it was still a blast to drive but retained some functionality the other two choices lacked. This car has been fantastic and I couldn't be happier with my choice. Daily driving the STI is fun, it makes you look forward to your commute (although I must say sitting in gridlock traffic is kind of lame with a manual), and it connects you to the road in a raw pure form. The steering is heavy, the gearbox is firm, the pedals are spaced perfectly for heel-toe downshifts, what more could you want? I have almost 9,000 miles on my car now and I've enjoyed them all. I'm not saying this car is perfect because no car is. This car is a great all-around vehicle. I've packed 5 people in my car with no complaints. I have fit all of my firefighting gear in the trunk with no issues. So far the car has been extremely reliable and never failed to do anything I've asked it to. Front, side, and rear visibility is great... very easy to look ahead in corners. After driving the car for quite some time the only beef I have with the STI is this: the Recaro seats don't grip me as much as I would like (I'm 5'9 150lbs) but a CG seatbelt lock fixed this. The chassis could easily support 350 hp, the EJ motor is great in my eyes and it is NOT slow, but it could easily use more power. If entertainment/head units/gas mileage is an issue for you, you might be saddened because the STI doesn't have the best of any of these... but that's not what this car was built for. This is a great car and I encourage anyone looking to buy one to get out there and test drive one!
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Welcome to the modern world!
The 2018 Subaru WRX is an absolute blast to drive. Thanks to the twin-scroll turbo, you have low-end torque that is perfect for city driving and overall better fuel-economy compared to the previous generations. The WRX shines on winding roads and wants to be pushed; If you're a car enthusiast and have a family, then this is a great option. Where the car drops in rating is the rev-hang, which is almost unbearable at times. Good luck driving smooth in first gear or shifting from 1st to 2nd. The throttle mapping will make a veteran driver look like a beginner. You almost have to ride the clutch in order to ensure a smooth shift. The interior is not the best, but for a Subaru, they've come a long way. Long road trips are comfortable with the stock cloth seats, and the new FA20 allows you to get 30+mpg on the highway. Overall, this is a fantastic car for any enthusiast that wants the practicality of a 4-door, but doesn't sacrifice performance. Would give a 4/5 review, but that rev-hang has got to go.
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The Best WRX yet
I drove 2018 WRX Premium with Performance package. Outstanding! This car handles like a king and the RECARO seats deliver great support and firmness. Shifting is precise and steering gives you a great feedback. I would recommend to test drive different trims and packages before you make your decision. Now Subaru has a car for every driver
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2018 WRX Premium: 12K
Pros: Exterior appearance and design is appealing; performance is reasonable given the displacement; suspension is stiff and responsive; interior design is appealing; sporty comfortable for a rally type vehicle. Cons: Interior rattles from rear deck lid no revision on the part so you'll have to deal with this on your own; door panel rattle and no revision for this issue; quality of the sound system is disappointing even with speaker upgrades; rear brake/wheel rattles at 0 miles that the dealer still cannot pin-point; and the most frustrating is knocking/ loose sounding of front strut; I've had both front struts warranty out at 5K and only temporarily fixed the issue. Thus again, no revision on the struts so your stuck with it out go aftermarket performance, Overall: It's reasonable car based on its performance and appearance, but significant corners have been cut on quality initiatives. For a vehicle that has supposed to have performance suspension to experience strut failures at 5K is absolutely unacceptable. Subaru design engineers and supplier of the struts should had developed a revision for this issue long ago. I'll most likely drive the vehicle a few more years, but unfortunately quite possibly my first and last Subaru.
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My Affordable Dream Car
Check out my YouTube channel on realistic ownership perspectives and how to buy a Subaru WRX under MSRP @ YouTube.com/TomVangTV. I saved up 3 years to finally be able to afford this WRX. It is very refined, pretty quick, and an all-around Jack of all trades. I can’t praise this vehicle enough. Get behind the wheel of this car and you will understand what I mean. I average 28-30+ MPG on a full tank premium at 400 miles off this car. It is fast when I want it to, and tamed when I want it to. It gets attention and there’s no buyer’s remorse. I promise you this vehicle is very solid. And worst case scenario if this car doesn’t fit your need, the slow rate of depreciation will help get you back on your feet.
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My new ride
I highly reccomend the upgrade on the shifter.
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I can finally review a WRX!
Wanted one of these cars for a long time now. Had a 2015 Impreza Hatch and when the lease was close, I went and got myself the WRX (of course I had to get in the iconic WR Blue!) I love this car, great acceleration, smooth shifts, great steering, glue like handling! My only cons (and I'm being nit picky) are: 1. The poor infotainment system. While it is better than the one in my 2015 Impreza, it is still lacking the advancement of other systems. It can be slow and buggy, sometimes taking a few miles to connect to my phone etc. There have been many times I have just turned the stereo off and listened to the exhaust! 2. Its not a hatchback....come on Subaru.....everyone wants it back. 3. The hard plastic rear deck. Mine rattles and squeaks over bumps. 4. The economy based computer programming. The revs stick when shifting from first to second, there is no turbo spool in first unless you are near 6000 RPM, and the dumb MPG meter on the dash. I didn't buy this car to save fuel! 5. Its not a hatchback......two sets of golf clubs barely fit in the trunk. 6. The USB ports are in the center console....which is also the size of a child's shoe box.
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2018 STI
Let me just say one doesn’t buy a car like this expecting top luxuries like a Lexus. This is a driver focused car and LET ME TELL YOU, it definitely delivers on that. I’ve had my ‘18 STI for about 7 months and surprisingly it’s still stock which is how I’m gonna keep it. The power is plenty, the room is plenty. I’m about 5’9 (your average joe) and from my driving position I can still sit super comfortable in the backseat. Handling is outstanding but of course could use upgrades ;). I don’t ever feel scared when it rains out because all wheel drive baby!!!!!! The trunk... super huge. The suspension is perfect for me (as in I don’t mind feeling most bumps on the road) and the seats are super comfortable. This is my daily driver so with these gas prices, it may not be the best but I drive mainly freeway getting about 24 MPG but I gotta baby foot the gas pedal but boy oh boy when you step on it it’s smiles per mile. In love with my car and always super excited to drive it everyday.
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Transmission problem update!
It passed almost 8 months after my transmission problem, it is never accured again, but I still feel bad taste, because when you buy a new car you don’t want to have any problems right away. Manual transmission is made almost more than 100 years and it should be already perfected, I don’t know why Subaru still have problems. It is still shifts not like on other cars, Subaru should revise the transmission. To be honest I am afraid to keep this car for long term, after this transmission problem, I don’t want this problem come back when my warranty ends, I hope Subaru company would give me more warranty because of they fault. Otherwise for other side car is very fun to drive. Only winter time when freezing temperature was below 20 Fahrenheit windshield was making noise like cracking noise. Also when you put on the reverse gear & after to 1st gear back up camera still on about 10-seconds. If Subaru company are not going to take attention to my concerns I will replace this car and go back to my Toyota company, because my other two cars is Toyota’s and never gave me any problems.
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Most exciting car I've ever owned!
My husband and I recently bought a 2018 Subaru WRX Limited with a CVT transmission. I have to say, the tuner in me wanted a 6MT, however, the Mom in me really needed the CVT. I have to say we made the right decision. I love this car! I love that, in a world of bus SUV's, my car stands out. This car is by far not a cookie cutter ride.
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STi Type RA is a fun ride!
Lots of fun! Track car for everyday use. 6 piston Brembo brakes stop in a dime. Bilstien shocks keep STi firmly planted in road. Carbon fiber roof and spoiler are functional too. Fast, drives great, handles like its on rails and looks good too.
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Two weeks in...
After reading reviews, I was hesitant about buying the WRX. I read things about "tinny" feeling when closing doors, painfully harsh ride, etc. But I test drove and bought the car anyway. Two weeks in and I'm not a bit sorry. It's a stiff "sports car" ride...and that's great. Acceleration is good, even though I'm still in the break-in period and not exceeding 4K rpm. I bought excellent quality snows (Michelin Alpin PA4) and the car rides great, feels solid on the road, and handles great, too. I previously owned a Honda Civic SI with the V-TEC engine. Loved that car but it was FWD only. The WRX is every bit as good, with 4WD.
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2018 wrx base model review
This review is within my 1st 1000 miles. The only thing I'm not liking is the shifting,clutch catch point, and the sloppy throttle response. Along with the a.c. going full blast EVERY TIME you turn on the fan. But as far as the transmission, it feels a bit clunky, heavy pedals, heavy shifting. Which is something I'm new too. If you purchase this vehicle you won't be sad. That said make sure to test out clutches on them. Try over 10 models, they all feel different. At least for me they did.
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Totally Surprised Me
Ok, let me warn you first that I'm a car guy. I love researching them, driving them, and I'm a bit of a snob. Knowing all this, I'm still going to give my 2018 Subaru WRX Limited 50th Anniversary Edition a 5 star review. Is it totally perfect? No, of course not. The only car I found to be close to perfection (for me obviously) was a new Golf R and I didn't have $40k. When I broke everything down, the WRX simply gave me the most perks for the money. Perks: I had never driven a WRX before this week and within 30 seconds of driving it, I was impressed. I didn't expect it to be slow, but it was actually a bit "punchier" than expected. I'm not kidding when I say it has power in virtually every gear. The handling is also beyond what I anticipated and it's going to impress you the second you dive into a turn. I wasn't familiar with all-wheel drive and it's a new experience to actually give the car MORE gas in a turn and have it shoot out super quickly. It's seriously crazy, and you can even do this in the rain (more on this in a moment). The day I bought my WRX it rained cats and dogs. The car simply laughed at the weather and totally owned it. You cannot fathom the level of confidence. This is no wimpy afterthought all-wheel drive. It's the real deal. Cons: The technology, even in my Limited trim, is pretty bad. No Android Auto and the infotainment is woefully behind class leaders. It's buggy, slow, and not that useful. The sound system was totally fine, and the upgraded Harmon Kardon system is pleasant enough. Keep in mind that I am NOT an audio officianado. It feels a bit cheap. The doors weigh 5 pounds, the cabin is noisy, and the vehicle feels dated. Rev hang. Yes, this is well known, and yes, it's real...especially between 1st and 2nd gear. I heard it can be fixed with a tune, but I don't know if that voids my extended warranty. All in, you're not going to find a more complete package if you're a driving enthusiast. Not for the money. It's quick, it's fun, it's safe, and it's practical for dads like me. I actually look for reasons to drive! And unlike the muscle cars I've driven, this car can actually be driven to its limits. You're not going to be winding out 3rd gear in a Mustang GT lest you visit the jail every weekend. If you're in the market for something fun, go drive it.
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I don't feel the same way as when I first got it.
My car seriously turns heads, but now that I have hit my 2 year mark with this car, the excitement and joy over it is about gone. My wrx is now at 25,000 miles and I have been in and out of the dealership for repairs quite a few times. Performance wise, my car is completely stock. At around 5k miles, my clutch began to squeak very loud and the clutch started to feel rougher when i engaged it. I took it to Subaru numerous times and each time they told me nothing was wrong. Now at 25k miles the problem has only gotten worse and the clutch is very rough and I frequently smell burning. It is my daily car, I drive it to work and back, I don't race the car and have tried to take good care of it. At 18k miles I had a major fuel leak and needed injectors, fuel lines, and sensors and regulators to all be replaced. These are just the major issues, I have come across numerous other smaller issues, but I have gotten to the point where I am tired of wondering when the next issue will come. This is my full and totally honest review on the WRX. I give it 3 stars because of how good looking of a car it is and how I still think that it is the best car compared to its competitors. Just be sure you have a warranty.
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Great all season car
This car literally has everything I was looking for from all wheel drive to 4 doors, manual transmission. Perfect family car with power when you need it.
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Too Much Fun!
I love my WRX. It is fast and handles well, but gets reasonable gas mileage and has plenty of trunk space for trips and errands. I have a lot of fun on winding roads. I only wish I had gotten one sooner.
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Good
I love it
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Love my Subie!!
The car has been great. I bought it used from a dealer in February 2020 with 21k miles and now has 55k miles. Only two issues that came up in ownership. First was the inside of the headlight housing was melting…randomly stumbled across it on a forum and checked mine and saw it. Completely covered under warranty and I believe there was a slight redesign to the headlight in 2019 to address the issue. Only other issue was the AC compressor crapped out in the summer of 2023. Just stopped on a whim, compressor clutch seemed to be actuating however no cold air. Dealer replaced out of warranty and they raked me over the coals for it, nearly $1500. Could have done it myself but was time strapped a week out from vacation. Outside of those issues, nothing else to complain about..the car has been reliable snd consistently returns 21-23 mpgs in mixed driving. Been through one snow storm and the awd worked flawlessly. I was able to stop completely on an inclined stretch of road covered in snow and kept going with limited slippage on all season tires, mind you there were trucks that were sliding and unable to climb the same hill all around me. Overall very satisfied with it. Engine is peppy, you can hear the turbo when step on it, and overall raw driving experience. To note, I consistently change oil every 3k miles and flushed all fluids at 30k and plan to do so again at 60k.
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Great DD. (Not boobs)
I have had my red Subaru WRX STI for around 4 years. Went from stock, to built motor, full bolt-ons, E85 dyno tuned. Still my DAILY DRIVER through all four of Iowa's seasons. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. So fun in winter with snow tires. Just aim, and press gas peddle firmly. Lots of room inside. The stock headunit was junk. Same with the stock speakers. Get some Memphis Auido speakers in all 4 doors, and upgrade tweeters to whatever, dynomat the whole thing inside. All the doors, floorboards. All 4 wheel wells sprayed/coated with a truck bed coating that has acoustic properties. It will sound hella inside. These cars are a solid platform with a very easy to follow line of progressive modifications to turn it really into something special if you really experience the journey from stage 1, stage 2, ect. Love Subaru. Woot! It is seriously really good I think.
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2018 WRX STI
Great performance car, but aging in technology.
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2018 Subaru WRX LTD Issues so beware
Issue with headlight freezing, building up while driving when it is snowing. not suitable for long driving or out of state especially when it is snowing (i mean not even continuous snowing). Very dangerous so do not ever do that. Gas tank keeps freezing, again when it snows, just a little cold temp outside and it always happens every time. Very inconvenient and unreliable as you have to fix that before you can put gas. Snows build up underneath. This snow should clear up or melted away already as the car's been driven 40 miles 2 way already. I have 2 2004 cars and one is a 2005 Subaru STI and never experienced any of this issue with the WRX LTD. Contacted dealer when it happened a month after driving it in OCtober and was just advised to just pour water or use credit card to take out the ice build up around the gas cap and put w40 or wipe with it on both headlights when driving in snow or when you know it will be snowing later...the headlight i can figure that out because it is all LED and it was flushed inside and not mounted so this should be recalled and fixed. It just like the stop light here in illinois that they have so much issues when they all get replaced with LED. Not enough heat to melt the freezing snow (snow and wind), it caused accident because drivers could not just see it. I wrote Subaru like 5 times already about this all they said is check with the Dealer??? They are both incompetent dealing with the customers once you purchased the car but they will answer all your questions when you are still buying it...just buy something else, for reliability I have a 2004 Subaru STI and a 2004 Toyota Sienna LXE LTD AWD that are still on the road. Probably cars built in the past last long than newer ones. I'll trade this overpriced car and will just start leasing...
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