so i went w/ my dad and brother over the weekend to test drive these two cars. my dad wanted to know what is the big fuss about this car. i want to get the wrx, but he doesn't want me to get a turbo. my dad and i drove both cars. the rs is definitely louder and not as appealing(no scoop, drilled pedals, tach on the side, almost everything). the wrx was nice, but i hate that slowness to 3,000rpm. i know it is turbo lag, but it should still climb a little faster than what it does. my civic gets to 3k rpm faster than the wrx. my dad drove both cars as well and he thinks the 350z and 6-speed accord are faster because they pull from the start.

i told him how the turbo works and everything, but i still like the car. he drove the 350z and accord 2 weeks ago and he says he would rather put 26k-27k into those cars than the subaru because the subie has no sunroof, leather seats, no luxurious stuff. i know that all these cars are in totally different classes. i wouldn't pay what my dad said either, that is why i'm hoping to get the 04 wrx next year on clearance around 21k. hopefully he will like the car then.

the one good thing he liked about the car is during the test drive there was a wavy entrance on to the highway, it was raining, and those cars stayed on all fours at high speeds. you guys have any comments?

Once you go ***, you can't go back ~generalwrx

The 350z the accord, blah blah blah... Its all about AWD.. The only competition for the WRX is the evo, the r34, and the s4...

with a few mods (turboback and uppipe) the wrxs low end torque is amazing and the turbo spools faster...plus is has much more potential for power...

get a 350z

i agree if you have the money and can afford the insurance get the 350z in orange

It really depends on your needs.

The 350z and WRX are pretty similar performance wise, but to get the 350z optioned to equal the WRX you will be spending quite a bit more..but if you've got the cash...

WRX has 4 doors, AWD (you can drive this mofo in the snow), all options are standard. The '04 model actually does offer a sunroof and heated seats as an option. Why one would want leather in a performance car is beyond me - it's too cold in winter, too hot in summer and slippery when you try to drive fast. Not to mention some increased maintenance, although leather rules all for spill cleaning as it doesn't absorb whatever fun liquid your bastard friend decides to spill on it. The WRX is also VERY safe, has a kick ass on-line community and has a huge aftermarket that is only getting bigger. Big power does not equal big money.

The 350z, obviously, is two doors. Good luck fitting anything in the back - the rear shock tower support bar pretty much kills any of the utility of a hatch, though it does look pretty cool. The base 350z is pretty empty of options and getting all of what you want may cost you quite a bit. Does the 350z offer a sunroof? dunno.... Still a very cool car, quick, handles well. On-line community seems pretty good for these cars, but putting out big power will require forced induction, which will require lots of greenbacks and time.

pick what's right for you. I was in your shoes, and for me the WRX just fit the bill.

I would have to say that the WRX is the way to go if you want to do mods. The 350z has a chip that gets used to a mod and adjusts its self to go back down to stock horsepower. The only way to get big horsepower is major mods and that could be costly along with the hefty price tag of a z in the first place.

Nice quote by the way.

Get the accord if you want something that isn't so flashy, still is pretty fast, won't cost a fortune for insurance.

Get the 350z if you are cool with 2 seats, RWD, is fast without turbo lag.

Get the WRX if you want that extra 4 door space, AWD, turbo :D , speed, superb handling, great aftermarket support, great forums to chat with other owners, safety (good crash ratings), and there is moonroof, heated seats, etc offered with the 2004.

Good luck choosing the right car for you.
:)