SUBARU WRX VS. MAGNUM R/T

**02FAST** · 09-27-2004, 03:42 AM

on my way to get gas this sunday night when in my mirror i see a subaru trying to get next to me. well he did and made is first mistake we went FROM a 40 mph roll. stayed close but had him by 1 1/2 cars at 120.(nobody on the streets) well after we slowed down we came to a signal . he roles his window down and says lets go. i said i dont know (did this because cant beat him out of the hole.) the light turned green and we roled to about 15 mph looked over and told him GO. he did all i could her is turbo wastgate dumping at every shift. he jumped me by 1/2 car but the R/T started to pull. he ended up with his front bumper at my drivers window.thats why i could her is turbo dump.(sounded good).went to 110 then shut down .all he could do is give me thumbs up.i think it was a stage 2 with all the side stickers and the big hood scoop.had no plates was brand new.you could tell he was shocked, he thought he was going to eat the R/T. ended up the other way around.

**duglas** · 09-27-2004, 08:55 AM

My brother has a 2002 WRX with $600 in mods, boost controller, chip and STI intercooler.. His car stock is 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds, I am sure he is close to 5 seconds now..
I raced him FROM stop, FROM 15 MPH, on the interstate, and anywhere else I could and can not touch his WRX in my Magnum..

My only saving grace is I have a 97 Supra with 450HP at the wheels and can tear him up with that...

When I was looking at the Magnum, the WRX wagon was my second choice, but it is a POS Enco box with a hot engine.. the magnum was a nice big car with a hot engine.. Still very happy with the Magnum, just want to get a new rear end gear for it BAD!!!!!!

**schmeky** · 09-27-2004, 09:36 AM

I think in a year or so FROM now a proven exhaust, intake, and microprocessor chip will have the Magnum making a good 10%+ more HP.

**DMAG** · 09-27-2004, 11:20 AM

My brother has WRX wagon. Fast car. He loves it. I've only driven it once, but it is pretty impressive. He has done some mods on it (exhaust, boost controller, and a few others I can't remember)

**OA-5599** · 09-27-2004, 11:48 AM

There was a time, four years ago or so, when my now ex-wife T-boned an SUV in her Outback. Both of the Subaru's airbags deployed, she walked away FROM the accident without a scratch (both cars totaled). Now, years later, thousands of dollars in lawyer bills paid out, countless thearapy sessions for my kids to try and unwind years of her abuse, I have come to the conclusion that I hate everything Subaru, and cannot wait to find myself in a situation siilar to 02fast.

**JJS** · 09-27-2004, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by Theweeb

There was a time, four years ago or so, when my now ex-wife T-boned an SUV in her Outback. Both of the Subaru's airbags deployed, she walked away FROM the accident without a scratch (both cars totaled). Now, years later, thousands of dollars in lawyer bills paid out, countless thearapy sessions for my kids to try and unwind years of her abuse, I have come to the conclusion that I hate everything Subaru, and cannot wait to find myself in a situation siilar to 02fast.

Not sure I follow this...your first part speaks highly of the Subaru's ability to protect...then you go INTO hating them because of HER? Hey, don't get me wrong...I would love to see my ex's obituary sometime, but I don't follow the connection to the car.

**Tzar007** · 09-27-2004, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by 02FAST

on my way to get gas this sunday night when in my mirror i see a subaru trying to get next to me. well he did and made is first mistake we went FROM a 40 mph roll. stayed close but had him by 1 1/2 cars at 120.(nobody on the streets) well after we slowed down we came to a signal . he roles his window down and says lets go. i said i dont know (did this because cant beat him out of the hole.) the light turned green and we roled to about 15 mph looked over and told him GO. he did all i could her is turbo wastgate dumping at every shift. he jumped me by 1/2 car but the R/T started to pull. he ended up with his front bumper at my drivers window.thats why i could her is turbo dump.(sounded good).went to 110 then shut down .all he could do is give me thumbs up.i think it was a stage 2 with all the side stickers and the big hood scoop.had no plates was brand new.you could tell he was shocked, he thought he was going to eat the R/T. ended up the other way around.

That must have been a great fight. It's pretty much what I would have expected FROM a WRX vs Magnum RT. I have a friend who has a WRX and I have driven it. These cars have a similar performance range than the Magnum.

So a WRX is a fair fight, but don't try the WRX STI version. This one pumps up over 300 HP (compared to the 227 HP of the standard WRX) and will burn a Magnum RT. The STI are easily recognized with their ugly airplane wing on the trunk.

**Blanchman** · 09-27-2004, 02:00 PM

Yea Tzar, was just going to say the same thing....

The WRX's are pretty amazing machines. Whether you like the Jap Crap or not, those things haul balls.

Four wheel drive helps em out too. But like Tzar says DONT MESS with the WRX STI versions. 300 HP and 1000 pounds lighter !! They will smoke U !!!

I can always tell the STI's by looking at the HUGE front air intake, the seriously funky wing, and the Gold anodized BREMBO brakes. The BREMBO's should be a clue that no expense has been spared !! Think Magnums have it bad, the STI has been going for 5K over sticker because of rarity.

**leaknoilpms** · 09-27-2004, 02:04 PM

Few of Sti for sale around me but, they are all blue for some reason. I'd buy one if it wasn't for that ugly wing and they are sooo cheap inside. Wonder if that goofy spoiler comes off cleanly. That is an amazing amount of car for the price.

**mhartwell** · 09-27-2004, 06:10 PM

This is my first post and I can't believe I found a Subaru - RT comparison thread. This is great. I'm in CA right now but on my way back to Austin tomorrow to close the deal on Magnum RT for my wife - a happy medium between a larger suv crossover for her and some PERFORMANCE for me. As for Subaru, I have one of the ultimate sleepers - a de-badged, bone stock looking (even removed the color matched mud flaps and roof racks, and put slightly taller tires on), tree hugger Forester XT. Problem for most people that tangle with it is I'm putting 331 ALL wheel hp to the ground. The monster turbo upgrade and everything that goes along with that helped all this happen. I dust porsches, sti's, nos vtec's, m3's, all kinds of stuff all the time. It is a very FUN sleeper and it's my daily driver. Also have a 647hp 67 Chevelle in the garage that gets the front wheels up but that's just our nice weather weekend cruiser.

That said, I haven't been as fired up about a car like I am about the RT since I bought one of those new RX7's back in '93. Can't wait to get the thing and do some subtle mods. This will be Mom's car, so I have to be careful. I know the 360 air box is a good choice. I've already been in contact with Jetchip and they say early next year for their stage chips. Gibson says they're working on headers. The borla exhaust is available. This is going to be one sweet ride. It will keep Mom happy and me thrilled. And it is such a fine looking machine to boot - so well designed. Test driving one - that was my downfall. After that, they knew I'd be back to get one. I'm closing the end of the business quarter here, but hope to get back to nudge that end of the month deal :D

Best to all,

Mike H.

**Glazeworld** · 09-27-2004, 11:08 PM

Mike,

It sounds like you're a guy who knows how to have fun. I'd love to see that Forrester of yours in action! That sounds great. Welcome to the boards and enjoy your Mag!

**Tzar007** · 09-28-2004, 10:53 AM

Yep, definetely Mike, you've got one hell of a sleeper !

Other guys that try you must be wondering what's happening :D

**Xen** · 09-28-2004, 04:05 PM

Being an owner of an '02 WRX and soon-to-be owner of an R/T, those of you slapping the subie as 'jap crap' or a 'POS econo box', man is that attitude towards auto makers is dated and tired my friends.

Anyway, the WRX, for the money when released, was untouchable. Price vs. Performace, let alone the Subie safety. As for build, compared to other Japanese Imports and more than 85% of US interiors the quality was far superior in many aspects. There are no perfect interiors, other than the Audi TT IMO

**DMAG** · 09-28-2004, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Xen

Being an owner of an '02 WRX and soon-to-be owner of an R/T, those of you slapping the subie as 'jap crap' or a 'POS econo box', man is that attitude towards auto makers is dated and tired my friends.

Anyway, the WRX, for the money when released, was untouchable. Price vs. Performace, let alone the Subie safety. As for build, compared to other Japanese Imports and more than 85% of US interiors the quality was far superior in many aspects. There are no perfect interiors, other than the Audi TT IMO

I think if you re-read the thread you'll find 99.9% of the comments on the WRX are positive. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've seen on any forum a domestic vs import thread this civilized or unbiased.