now its between these two, i mean idk why i am even bringing this up but i just like to see what other people think, i think the A4 is a much better looking car, but the subaru is more fun. and im talking about the 1.8t A4, yes quattro

 

Not a valid comparison. The car to compare to the Audi A4 is the Legacy GT, which in this case is a larger, faster, "sportier" and (perhaps) more reliable car.

 

Correct.

Audi = prestige, luxury, heavy, more quiet, more expensive to buy and maintain.
WRX = Fun econo box, raw, louder, more rattles, less expensive to buy and maintain

I disagree that the A4 is better compared to a Legacy. The A4's size is much closer to an Impreza than a WRX. Two totally different beasts, though, and not really "competitors" of one another. Having said that, I looked at A4's, A6's, 330Xi's and Volvo XC before I bought the WRX.

 

Depends on what year? 01 and below were overpriced and underpowered..the new ones on the other hand are alot better.

 

Buddy had a 2004 A4 1.8T with the Ultrasport package (ground effects, suspension mods, and 18s). It was nice looking, quiet, handled better than my WRX, but it was pig-slow. He even forked out big bucks for computer and injector upgrades, but it still couldn't get near my stock wrx.

If you are looking for performance, you'll need to get an S4 to out-do a wrx.
If, on the other hand, you want a pimp, quiet ride, the A4 does the trick.

 

the a4 is just an overpriced name imho. heavy and shares the same 1.8T as the jetta and golf. haven't been in the V6 one, i'm sure that one is a lot better than the 1.8. it's zippy, i guess, but still slow due to the weight. the tiptronic has a mind of it's own. it's a plush car... but you can't compare it to the WRX, they're just two totally different cars

 

Read it again, I said the Legacy GT was better

The A4 is the exact same size as the Legacy GT, I've seen the two cars side-by-side.

 

I haven't been in the back of a new A4 or a new Legacy, so I am admittedly talking out of an area of my body that is less than savory.
However, the older A4's had less room in the back seat than my WRX, both of which have far less room than the previous generation Outback...that was my only point. They may have substantially increased the rear seating area of the new A4, but I would guess the A6 is still closer to the Legacy in terms of room.

I agree the LGT is a closer competitor in terms of creature comforts, but the Audi has it beat if things like a nav system, HID lights and "status" are important to you. I'd definitely opt for a LGT over an Audi any day for a number of reasons, but again, it boils down to personal preference.

 

The S4 is nice. The clutch is smooth. I wasnt impressed with the speed. I didnt seem to have the pull my STi does.

If I was a few years older, I would get the S4. Right now, I dont mind the harsh noisey ride.

my 2 cents.

 

I have both! I have an Audi A4 1.8T Avant (Wagon) Quattro (04) and also a WRX Wagon (04) and there are great differences between them.

A4
- Smooth ride
- Super quiet
- Luxury (sort of) with a whole ton of features and buttons u won't know what to do with. I swear there's a button to kiss my butt.
- Major turbo lag, kinda dopy (it's a good thing it's my wife's care )
- I also have the ultrasport package with the modded suspension and 18s, and its worth the money. Their suspension is comfortable as well as responsive. I did a highway clover (highway on/off ramp) rated for 25 at 65 and this thing stuck like "**** on a blanket".
- Looks impressive, you won't have the folks who drive BMWs and Lexus look down on you (it didn't matter to me but it might to you).
- It's not that cheap to maintain, the regular service is included in the buy price though.
- If ur like me who listens to the rev of the engine to shift, I have a hard time in the A4, too darn quiet.
- If you can afford it and willing to understand that you are buying a car less reliable then I say go for it. You won't regret it since Audi A4 has the most bang for the buck, unlike BMW ($700 for HID lights after paying 35K+ for the care sheesh!).

WRX
- I'd say you pretty much know it already that this thing is a *** crotch rocket.
- The handling is tighter and more responsive.
- You get folks in G35s and BMWs looking down on you, right till the point you smoke them. Had a 5 series guy with a small peepee try to tell me his car was faster and tried to show me the ropes.. guess who was left holding their small peepee in tweezers.
- There's a lot of mods for the car and it's fun.
- The one thing I hate!! NOISE NOISE NOISE! Try going to Northstar using Hwy 80 and u'll understand.

That pretty much sums it up for me.

[Mechanical Eng Rant]The design philosophy is completely different, Audi is from Europe and they tend to me more socialistic and liberal. What does this mean? Well, they tend to design everything with human comfort and safety in mind. Thats why when you step into an Audi you feel like you're wrapped in comfort and luxury and safety. Till this day, my wife's a4 seem more safer to me (*Shrugs* don't ask me why). They did alot of ergomonic work and everything is beautiful. Now Subaru is from Japan. They are very utilitarian. They design parts to almost never fail and they make them as simple as possible. That means you are going to have the most rigorous design possible that functions the way it needs to as well as cheap. This means the WRX is going to be raw but fun and reliable.[/Mechanical Eng Rant]

my .02$
WRXDad

 

Me and my wife have both also...but we have sedans. She has a 2001 A4 2.8L V6 non-Quattro and I have the 2004 WRX sedan.

It's already been said over and over here in this post so I won't rehash it. My wife doesn't like the strange noises and creaks in my car that comes from less insulation that you can't hear as much in the Audi. Her ride is also much more plush as she has 205/55-16 on a FWD car and I have 215/45-17 wheels on an AWD car with fat COBB sways and strut tower bars which make the Subaru a bunch stiffer.

We both feel the Subaru has more rear leg room in the back seats than the A4. Can't really prove it, but it seems that way when we have had people in the back. Overall length of the two cars are similar. The Audi is maybe 6-inches longer at most. Her car has more niceties than the Subaru (HID's, etc.) but I like the nimbleness of the WRX. Anything missing from the WRX can easilly be added using STI (HIDs) parts or aftermarket (leather seats, etc.). I prefer sports cars and she prefers luxury rides. She was part of the decision making when we bought the car and she likes the Subaru even with it's "shortcomings"

If you like the Audi's styling and luxurious amenities...go for it. There are tons of tuning options to turn the wick up on power and handling on it.

 

^^^*off-topic* I'm an ME too what industry do you work in? I'm a few years out of school and have been doing HVAC design. I looking to get into something else...

 

[Offtopic]Semi-Conductor Equipment Manufacturer Industry. I design machines that are used to make chips. I designed one that is used to make the Intel P4. The P4 is sort of "WRXDad inside" I have worked in both oilfield and semiconductor. [/Offtopic]

 

I here more creaks and rattles then my wife does. She isn't that much into cars so she thinks I am going crazy with the noise issue. I swear I hear a rattle from the front left side when I come to a stop and both my Wife and Kevin (Carlsen Subaru Fame) thinks I am loco!

She actually has 18" Ace Desire wheels with the 235(Ithink/40/18 Yoko ES100 and she thinks my ride with stock everything is worse then hers. Wait till we go to LA next weekend with my new 18" A-Tech Erasers that came in today!! lol

 

I was hoping you were in automotive design/r&d. Your job sounds interesting anyhow!!! thanks for the info.