Posted Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10:49pm
Subarus and I go way back. I learned how to drive at age 11 on a GL wagon in the woods in Maine. Later, I built my own rally course out there and borrowed a cast-off Fast & Furious WRX STI to relive my childhood (but better). I’ve ridden with rally god Petter Solberg in Spain and driven the current WRX TR on the Targa Florio roads in Sicily. So, perhaps the 2024 WRX Premium that’s now in my driveway was preordained. When I signed the papers at the dealership, I told my wife, “I guess this is my midlife-crisis car.” She replied, “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. You’re probably past midlife.” Honey, put down the actuarial tables and help me bolt on this cold-air intake.
The WRX has always been a flaming bag of poop on the doorstep of civilized automotive society, and the current one, introduced for 2022, continues in that tradition. Slamming the door no longer sounds like a steel-drum concert, but the WRX still doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s got a hood scoop, bulging fenders, and a manual hand brake. And nearly every WRX we saw on the dealer’s lot had a manual transmission. On cold starts, it sounds like the mufflers fell off (yes, there are two, leading to quad tips). Granted, the redline is lower than it used to be, and there’s no STI model, but the WRX still knows how to have fun. Instead of viewing it as a lesser STI, think of it as a Volkswagen GTI with a parole officer.