WRX was at stage 2 at one point.

I have the 2.0. Here's APR for example.

Audi A3 2.0T FSI - APR ECU Upgrade
The ultimate chip upgrade for the A3 2.0T FSI engine is available from APR. After months of long nights and many hours of dyno work we are pleased to offer you chip tuning that is second to none. We have worked hand in hand with many customers to deliver a chip that works. Expect huge increases in low-end torque, improved throttle response and a smoother, more powerful top end.

Stage I ECU Upgrade

Not only does our Stage I software give you higher peak numbers of 252 horsepower and 303lb-ft. of torque, but also gains of up to 61 horsepower are available at lower rpms! This software is the ultimate upgrade for the new A3 and gives it just the extra edge these cars lack from the factory, without pushing the limits. With factory like smoothness and drivability, the new power will fill the void in an otherwise excellent car.

APR chips are available in an octane specific version for the octane of gasoline that you typically run in your car. The power that the chip makes also depends on which ECU is in your vehicle.


2005-06 A3 2.0T 91octane 246hp/282lb ft torque- 93 octane 252hp/303Lb ft torque $599


I'm thinking A4 wagon after the A3 as well. Those things are NICE!

 

I beg to disagree,Kyle. We've had our Mazda 5 for more than a year now and love it. We downgraded from an Odyssey because the tranny on the Ody went out.
The 5 has a sportier look than the "Box", but, to each his own. You're a young kid,no family. Us family guys go for space.
Our 5 handles like a car, I kid you not. That's all 3 underneath it. Underpowered, yeah it is, but it still has enough spunk going up to Tahoe, trust me.
Have you ever test driven one ? C'mon over and you can test my wife's "Premacy".

 

Jason, I'm with adizon, why not an A4 wagon 2.0T Quattro?

 

I'm in a similar position. Baby on the way. Gotta sell the wrx. 1 question tho.. All the cars you are considering are small. Similar in size to the WRX. whats the point of selling your WRX to buy a car of the same size? I mean, the Mazda3 can definately hold more stuff in the back, especially with the rear seats down (We have a Mazda3 and it's pretty amazing what it can hold), but the cabin space is about the same.

The Mazda5 is an interesting car as it can seat 6 or, if you fold the seats down, hold a WHOLE LOTTA stuff. My father in law has 1. Its comfortable for the grandparents also.

It's hard to find a sporty, mid size family car in that price range (mid 20s-30K). You either have the slow japanese family sedans (camry, which has an amazing amount of interier room, accord etc), SUVs, or maybe the small european luxury cars (which often are too small for families). IMO to get a decent sized euro family car you gotta skip the low end (3 series, a4, g35) and go to their mid sized cars (5 series, a6, m35) but thats a pricey way to go.

 

I rented a mazda 3 2.3L when I went to canada a couple weeks ago. I flew in to buffalo and drove it to Toronto in **** pooring rain. It handled extremely well in the rain for a FWD car. given these were mostly flat roads, but the on ramps were fun.

One of the requirements I have in a new car from now on is it has to have a stock HID option. The headlights on the mazda 3 were useless in the rain and I had to drive like a blind person feeling for the lane pucks.

As far as family safe vehicles go, check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/
This should be your buyers guide for buying a safe vehicle for your family. We all like to think we are great drivers, but accidents do happen. Subaru definitely has some of the safest vehicles, but you need to go for what you believe is the right choice for your families safety.

Good luck Ted, let us know what you end up with.

 

hey lookie who's still around You still in DC?

The A4 is nice, but the A3 is a bit more compact and still roomier than all my other options.

 

There's a few considerations for selling the WRX. 1) I don't have time to deal with smog stuff any more, and I don't think I could drive the WRX without crying every time when putting it back to stock. In the Mazda I get a platform that beats the WRX hands down, including a good chunk of engin power. 2) Although I have all the powertrain parts, I gave away my stock suspension parts. The TEIN BASIC is too stiff for my wife. 3) I can sell the WRX now and still get a good chunk 'o change and then some for the powertrain part-out.

Speaking of which, I've got to figure out how to position selling my WRX with the hopped up suspension... how to word it in adverts?

Yeah, if my wife was gung ho for the Mazda5, we'd prolly get it. Its too chincy for her But still... I'd miss the power... where, oh where is a Mazdaspeed5!

Well that's the thing. The Mazdaspeed3 is much of that. Its not a slouch. Euro stuff certainly has a nice balance of all those feature, but after having a mid-range Mercedes slowly fall apart at only 75k, I'm not impressed by German engineering. I've heard stories about Audi and VW too. I've never had a problem with a Japanese car... but then I never had a problem with my Saturn (which I gave to a friend some years back and at 13 years its still running perfectly... hmm Saturn VUE? LOL NOT!).

 

Mazdaspeed3 comes with HID, standard.

Who's Ted?

 

I hear you about the horror stories and so far, I've had no issues. I hope to never have any.

 

The new WRX has better power delivery than my 02.. you can feel the additional low-end torque - it's a big difference. What I didn't like was the 'I'm hunkered down in a bunker' low seats/high dash feel, and it sure isn't a looker.

Audi A3 Quattro RS...with a big fat wing. That's the ticket. Or a '90s era AWD Civic Wagon with the white steelies. That'd be sweet.

 

 

Well from that angle, event the Caliber looks good

 

 

I love the a4/a3 avants.

The mazdas are so so. I don't like the way they feel. The test you're refurring to was very biased. The tires make a HUGE difference and the testers clearly weren't looking to push the wrx. Besides the fact they have a HUGE power difference.

My advice...don't ask...go drive.

I hated the 08wrx until I went and drove one. Power comes on quicker. The tranny feels much more mature. The handling is nice and crisp while still being VERY comfortable.

With springs, sway bars and wheels/tires the thing will definately be a different beast.

Go drive all of them.

 

I'm not sure which test your referring to. One 6-way test on Edmunds(6 cars, including the MS3 and WRX), they pushed the crap out of the WRX, you can see and hear it.

I have' I'm looking for experiences and perceptions of others... and playing a bit of devil's advocate. Test drives don't give you months or years of experience with a vehicle.


I hated the 08wrx until I went and drove one. Power comes on quicker. The tranny feels much more mature. The handling is nice and crisp while still being VERY comfortable.

With springs, sway bars and wheels/tires the thing will definately be a different beast.

Go drive all of them.[/QUOTE]