05 vs 06 suby

06 has a 2.5 liter, 05 has a 2.0 liter. While there were some initial tuning problems with the 06, I'm pretty sure they have been remedied. If you want the one with the best starting platform, go for the 06.

Edit: this was all assuming that you were talking about a wrx. If you're talking about the STi, I don't think there is any notable performance difference between the two.

 

There's no question about it. To date, the 06 (and 07's which are pretty much the same) has been the baddest WRX to hit US soil.

The 2.5 liter engine and the little stock turbo are an easy recipe for LOADS of torque. With the right bolt-ons and ECU tuning you can easily get 320 ft. lbs. and around 250 horses to the wheels. The 2.0 doesn't even come close with these relatively simple mods. And don't forget the (incrdible) upgraded brakes, same steering as STI's 2.5 turns from lock to lock, STi side skirts, 17 inch rims... the list of upgrades goes on and on and on. Whoever told you the 2.0 can make better power than the 2.5 was smoking meth or something.

You wanna see how to do it right? Check me out. Lol http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6380

 

Then again, styling aside, the 08's should be much better performers, handling wise, then any previous model year, and make power comparable to the 06-07 while being 50lbs lighter...

 

for the price on an 06 you could probably grab a used STI. If I could do it over again thats the route I would have taken. Better platform to start out at.

 

yup!

 

blasphemy...

 

It seems to me the 08s will be downgraded in some ways. smaller brakes,tires, alot more plastic in the engine bay, i am unsure if they will cheapen the suspension.

 

Engine:
The 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four Boxer engine in the WRX delivers its maximum torque and horsepower earlier than the previous model, with 224 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm and 226 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2,800 rpm, a full 800 rpm earlier than the previous generation WRX. Low end torque and fuel efficiency was improved through the addition of a new intake manifold, intercooler and
turbocharger.

Just as the previous Impreza was built on the previous Legacy platform, this new Impreza is built on the 2nd Legacy platform (debuted in '05). The platform is shortened in wheelbase resulting in less passenger room (than the Legacy), but retains the same forward chassis members and suspension pickup points,.. just like last time. The new Impreza's wheelbase is still 3.7" longer than the current one, which should translate to more interior room. (and probably will help with better handling)

Suspension:
The rear suspension is now more compact which means a wider & lower cargo area. This is made possible by the use of rear dual A-arms instead of the previous car's rear Chapman Struts.

Plastics in the bay:
The important question is, "Why not?". Modern plastics used for manifolds are extremely strong and much cheaper to produce than metal, are better at insulating heat, smoother on the inside (for better flow) and, best of all, lighter. Currently, aluminum prices are skyrocketting. Most carmakers, including Subaru, are reducing the amount of aluminum used to build their cars... the old intakes were made out of aluminum.

Brakes:
While the 4-pot brakes are nice, they don't provide any more braking power than the 2-pots. The number of "pots" or pistons that a brake caliper has, only affects the feedback to the pedal. The 4-pots were added to the 2006 & 2007 WRX to add interest to an old chassis. This sort of de-contenting is perfectly normal for carmakers to do when introducing new vehicles. As the car ages, Subaru will add more features again to boost sales. For now, take solace in the fact that the mighty Honda/Acura NSX.. the only supercar designed with the help of Ayrton Senna and hailed as having the best brakes short of a Porsche 911, sported sliding calipers at all 4 corners.

Wheels:

The wheels on the WRX will be 17"...better than my 04...

Steering:
Steering ratio has been improved to 15:1 (up from 16.5:1) which is the current STI's ratio.

Fuel Economy:

Subaru is estimating a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency!

Just trying to limit the misinformation...


*Most of the info was from the FAQ on NASIOC, and more info can be found here***http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1230616

 

05 wrx

 

:ugh: 06 all the way unless you are waiting for the 08 then 08 is better

 

If it's a choice between an 05 STi and up then go with the STi, but for WRX's the only reasonable choice is the 06 and up WRX. There are literally too many upgrades to list and too many new options on the cars to ignore and the ECU's have been completely cracked now, aside from the newest version on the newest 07's that that'll only be a little longer I'm sure, if they haven't already got em'

The newest cars are going to be the bomb though. I'm sure they'll be really hard to get, even though I know people will automatically argue with me that it's "just an Impreza" or something. But to be completely blunt if you want one when they come out, you might want to start working on it right now.

 

i know they changed the ratio of the steering rack from 04 to 05 wrx, it's quicker.

 

or you can just wait for the new ones to come out and see how prices fall on the older ones