I have an 02 wrx and an 03 s2000. As above, 365 days of driving fun. The s2000 is new, so no vtec, but i've driven a few. The wrx is about as fast, but doesn't handle nearly as well. But for less than $24K, it is one hell of a car, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS BAD, which is the best feature, imho. Up north, if you have a sporty (mustang, supra, rx7) car, you need to 1. not have fun, and 2. take it easy -anytime the rain or snow falls. The wrx allows me to still have some fun, and gets me where I need to go with minimal fear and minimal chance of getting stuck. However, with the s2000 as a "really fun" car, I would consider getting rid of the wrx - but only for an Infiniti FX45 (at this time), if I had the $$$, which I don't. It would be nice to have a quiet, comfortable, luxurious, fast 4wd vehicle with some room in it. Overall, though, I'm pretty happy to have the cars I do. For a car that I expect to be very capable in the bad weather and still be fun all 4 seasons, and at a good price, the wrx is hard to beat.
Mike

 

I don't understand why people (both Honda people, and Suby people) are always comparing the WRX to the S2k. I mean come on think about it just a little.

Suby = 4 doors, turbo, AWD, 26k (sticker)
S2k = conv, NA, RWD, 33k (sticker)

How much more different can these two cars be? Its like the Civic people always comparing their Civics to Mustangs. Geez.

Currently I own a WRX, and am strongly considering adding a S2k to my driveway soon.

I can tell anyone that the WRX is not "cheap". The WRX might not have leather, and a flashy digital display, but most real race cars don't. You also must realize that the WRX costs less meaning there is less money to be spent on the fancy interior stuff.

The WRX tranny is not weak. I tell you what happens. These kids rev up their AWD Subys, and drop the clutch. Well, with most any AWD performance car, the tranny is gonna take the damage here. It is not a WRX issue. It is a issue with all AWD performance cars.

Saying the turbo cars don't last as long as S2k is like me saying since the S2k revs to 9k it will break down quicker than my 7k redlining Suby.

Internet car boards always amaze me. Sometimes you get some really good info, but most of the time the info/opinions are so biased and uneducated......

Here is my Suby..... It will soon be joined by a S2k.

 

Loved my WRX.. Only thing that bugged me was I always was looking for 6th.. BUT THERE WAS NONE!!!!.... AWD was real nice, in the rain, nothing could touch it, and on dry payment it wouldn't slide and you got no wheel spin.. The car needs a lower suspension to handle at High speed though.. Lost mine at a buck fifty!! Spin out, not tread marks, it was all air time!! Car was T-bone and totalled!!

 

Lightspeed,

Well said. I have S2K and I like the WRX. My friend has a WRX and we are pretty close when it comes to driving. We are with in 1/2 a second on the big track at Willow Springs when we both drive the NSX. But when I race him driving his WRX in my S2K that bastard always beats me off the line. The down fall of the WRX is on the FWY after 100 MPH it really does hit a brick wall...just like Mustangs. Have you taken the WRX 120+? It really takes a long time to get to 120 or more. This is where the S2000 shines....as it doesn't take much time to go from 90 to 118 in 4th and 118 to 140 in 5th, even 6th pulls hard right up to 150+.

So if you like going fast from Stop light to Stop light (that

 

It's funny.. when I bought my s2k.. it came down to either this, or a wrx!

It's a phenominal car (i've owned 2 subaru's and 2 VTEC preludes)

and since I live in NY.. i'm searching for the right Subaru to act as my winter car

Wish I could afford the wrx (wife would shoot me

Both great cars, purpose built to do different things well....

and I'm still alive thanks to my old 82 subaru!!!

 

Just look at my sig and search for posts under my name. It will tell you much about the WRX vs S2K debate....

-Gabe

 

Unless the laws of physics have changed recently ( ) I don't think it's such a huge stretch to say a turbo engine, any turbo engine, will have a shorter life expectancy than a naturally aspirated one. You're cramming more air and fuel into the cylinders, which will result in greater wear/shorter life of any parts involved. And I'm not even considering how fast the turbo impeller spins (many tens of thousands of RPM) to make this extra pressure.

Perhaps it's not valid to say a WRX engine will die before an S2000 engine with its stratospheric redline, but in general, Forced Induction will have shorter life than Natural Aspiration. "The Candle that burns twice as bright, only burns half as long". Think that was from Blade Runner.

 

Engine life has to do with internal forces (cylinder pressure, crank pressure, etc) and wear(correct lubrication and cooling). It does not matter if it is a turbo car or an NA car.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gabedude
[B]Engine life has to do with internal forces (cylinder pressure, crank pressure, etc) and wear(correct lubrication and cooling).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tchang03
[B]I always come across with kids driving wrx that like to race my s2k.