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29/05/2009
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Subaru's WRX, also known simply as the Rex, is an iconic high-performance machine worldwide, and nowhere more so than on the Australian market. It has been sold here since 1994 and has gained a strong following amongst those who like plenty of performance at a relatively modest price. The WRX has tremendous performance from its turbocharged boxer engine and road grip is greatly enhanced by the use of all-wheel drive.
 Though the WRX first sold in Australia in February 1994, the model year 1997 was the one that really put the Subaru WRX on the map. It all began midway through 1996 with reports that thieves were stealing the hot Subarus to use them as ram raiders. The stories initially began among the car-nut set but gradually the mainstream media picked it up and suddenly the WRX went from semi-anonymity to serious notoriety. All the more so when the police discovered that a V8 Commodore couldn’t outrun a well-driven Rex.
The WRX has always had loads of personality. The flat-four engine has a very distinctive note and an exhaust throb that appeals to all who love their engines to be hot. This is a car well suited to brash teenagers – of any age.
Subaru's flat-four boxer engine has a capacity 2.0 litres until the introduction of the MY06 car in October 2005. Though there wasn’t a huge increase in power, up a mere 1 kW from 168 to 169 kilowatts, with the larger engine the torque improved out of sight. Going from an already good 300 Nm to 320 Nm and, most importantly, with a much wider spread of pulling power, the 2.5 is a brilliant powerplant.
The ‘bug-eyed’ body of the all-new MY01 for 2001 didn’t do the WRX a lot of favours, all the more so since the car became more refined than previously, losing some of its bad-boy attitude in doing so. The same criticism of the car becoming slight tame was made for the 2008 model year that was launched in mid 2007.
 Subaru soon rectified that complaint, and more power was added to the equation for the MY09 WRX. The 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine puts out 195 kilowatts, up by a very healthy 26 kW on the MY08. This results in the Subaru WRX being able to complete the sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in only 5.3 seconds, acceleration that would have once have required a megabuck Italian or German supercar back. So great was the improvement that this is often recognised as the pick of the standard WRX bunch.
Turbo lag can be frustrating at times in all WRX engine, so take it for a decent drive on your favourite bit of winding road to see how the throttle response suits your preferences. Control freaks don’t like turbo lag, but once the engine is developing its full potential are likely to forgive the delay as they experience that superb push in the back.
Interestingly, automatic transmissions can improve the turbo lag by keeping the engine on boost due to faster gearchanges. An auto doesn’t make a huge difference to early acceleration, but makes it more pleasant once the car is up and moving.
Quite a few special edition WRX models have been imported. In particular you may care to look for the Club Spec variants. One of our favourites is the Petter Solberg special of 2004.
The two-door Subaru WRX STI coupe and WRX STI four-door sedan were only imported as limited editions during 1999, but from late 2001 the STi four-door became a routine import. The STI is a real rocketship in a straight line, but turbo lag is even worse than in the standard engines. To the extent that the STI can be a real pain to drive if you spend a lot of time in traffic. On the open road it’s just sensational and all is quickly forgiven.
 Don’t even consider buying a Subaru WRX without picking up that phone or computer mouse and checking on insurance costs. These can be frightening, all the more so if you are a young or inexperienced driver living in a risky region. Talk to your Subaru dealer about insurance as they may be able to put you in touch with the more reasonable insurance companies.
Similarly, routine servicing and repairs aren’t the cheapest around, primarily because this is a complex semi-competition machine that requires an expert touch.
Subaru is long established in Australia and has a highly regarded dealer network. One that's widespread and often found in comparatively remote areas, not a common feature amongst Asian imports.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Have a full professional inspection of any WRX before buying the car. These are complex machines that often lead a hard life.
Be wary of a WRX that has been a rally car – or has been used as a traffic-light dragster, not an uncommon vehicle.
Check the condition of the clutch by deliberately trying to slip it. Do so by depressing the pedal suddenly without taking your foot off the accelerator. Slow takeup means there's likely to be a problem. The clutch is deliberately designed to be the weakest component in the transmission, a bit like a fuse, so as to protect more expensive items. But don’t assume that a good clutch means there are no other troubles.
Look for oil smoke from the exhaust in a car that has been idling for a while and is then accelerated hard. This could indicate general engine wear.
Listen for a turbo whine, some sound is normal, too much could mean expensive problems. Take a few different cars for a run and you will get a feel as to what they should sound like.
Check for crash repairs and if there's any doubt at all arrange for a panel beater to check it completely over and give you a quote.
Look over the interior and be suspicious of any car that has modifications such as extra gauges and sports seats. The standard trim stands up pretty well to wear and tear, but it's smart to give it a good once over.
CAR BUYING TIP
Odd as it may seem, hot cars often lead a more pampered life than standard ones. But make sure you differentiate between the hot cruisers and the hot bruisers.
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