Trade my CTR for WRX, looking for opinions

NapalmEnema

Senior Member
First Name
Alex
Joined
Nov 13, 2018
Threads
45
Messages
2,934
Reaction score
3,791
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
2017 M2, 2022 Audi RS3, ex2019, now 2021Type R!
Country flag
I think you're nuts but different strokes for different folks. I had an STi and an EVO - I didn't think the Type R would exceed them, but it has - easily. Stoplight racing - not on the menu - but been there done that - who cares lol. Everywhere else? This thing flies and feels a billion times more nimble than a Subi of any level. I even drove that limited edition STi they had with the giant wing and gold wheels? Type R feels much better (though to be fair I didn't push the Subi as it was brand new and not broken in)
Sponsored

 

Zeffy94

Senior Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Threads
77
Messages
1,850
Reaction score
1,486
Location
Doylestown, PA
Vehicle(s)
2017 Mazda3 GT Hatch 6AT, 2018 Honda Civic Type R (traded in)
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
Any way for your GF to let you drive her WRX for like a week or so and she can drive the CTR? Maybe having it for a few days as your daily might help you come to a consensus.

I will say this though - remember that some people find more enjoyment in a vehicle that doesn't get as high marks as the top dog in the category. It's all subjective - you know what you like best, just don't make the decision lightly.
 

Hollywoo0220

Customer Service oriented (most of the time) :-)
First Name
RJ
Joined
Feb 10, 2019
Threads
5
Messages
744
Reaction score
524
Location
WA
Vehicle(s)
Dihatsu Charade, BMW, Various Hondas, Focus ST, and VW GTI
Country flag
Seems like I've been hearing that since this time last year...
Yeah, some manufacturers don't let the cat out of the bag until they have committed to the final logistics of things....don't know why. I'm guessing a 2.4L turbo with Dual Scroll? Something that an 86 might also see in the near future?
 

jasonjm

Senior Member
First Name
Jason
Joined
Jul 29, 2018
Threads
33
Messages
932
Reaction score
481
Location
Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s)
Type-R
Country flag
After almost a year with my CTR I still find it lacking. Even with Hondata 93 oct tune. I find I enjoy my girlfriends bone stock WRX a lot more. The CTR is only fun when pushing it. Normal driving it feels slow. Her car feels so much more responsive in daily driving conditions. A tune will make it even better. Also the steering in my CTR always feels like there's play on center. I always found this strange after all the praise it gets for precision steering. I still love the way it looks and it is a great car but it just needs a little more I guess.

Would a custom tune improve things a bit? Any idea if rigid collars will help the steering?
You need the full power in 1st, 2nd, along with improved throttle response on your map.
 


BryanCO

Senior Member
First Name
Bryan
Joined
Nov 7, 2019
Threads
3
Messages
916
Reaction score
625
Location
Colorado Springs
Vehicle(s)
2019 SGP CTR, 2007 GT3, 1993 Miata
Country flag
CTR > STI > WRX

But if you’re not thrilled by the CTR, sell it and move on.
 

tinyman392

Senior Member
First Name
Marcus
Joined
May 21, 2018
Threads
14
Messages
3,265
Reaction score
2,082
Location
Illinois
Vehicle(s)
'18 Civic Type R (RR)
Country flag
After almost a year with my CTR I still find it lacking. Even with Hondata 93 oct tune. I find I enjoy my girlfriends bone stock WRX a lot more. The CTR is only fun when pushing it. Normal driving it feels slow. Her car feels so much more responsive in daily driving conditions. A tune will make it even better. Also the steering in my CTR always feels like there's play on center. I always found this strange after all the praise it gets for precision steering. I still love the way it looks and it is a great car but it just needs a little more I guess.

Would a custom tune improve things a bit? Any idea if rigid collars will help the steering?
Regarding the normal driving feels slow. One thing to keep in mind is that the WRX does make peak torque at 2000 RPM and probably doesn't have as many heat soak issues either. The CTR requires you to hit 2500 RPM to hit peak torque. You do feel it, but not before it drops a little and comes back fuller force at 3500 RPM. That's almost a full 1500 RPM sooner than the Civic. On top of that, it makes more power at anything below 4000 RPM compared to the STI even. So it makes getting out of the shoot at any light plenty of fun.

If that's all the thrill you're after, then the WRX is the answer, even over the STI. But I'd also ask you to consider downgrading to an Si as well to test out, you might enjoy that as much as a WRX (though you'll have to push it a little). With a tune and turbo, you'll get a very playful car that wants to get up and go as early as 1500 RPM, but since its front wheel drive, you'll need to learn how to control it (it kind of acts like an out of control dog, it's a ton of fun). Like the Si, the WRX's torque seems to die around 4700 RPM as the STI and CTR both continue climbing. If you want to rev it out, however (past 3-4k), you'll have a ton more fun with the CTR. Rev it to 4k and you'll see what I mean.

Regarding the steering feel. How new is your GF's WRX? If it's relatively new, then the steering's play on center will get just as bad as time rolls on as it does with any car. The steering on my CTR had no dead zone when I first got the car nearly 2 years ago, but it's kind of developed a small one. Just about every new car I've had has developed one because it's just one part of the car that wears. The shifter doesn't feel as tight or nice as it was new either (though replacing the shifter brought back memories when I had it done). Things on a car wear and if you're complaining about worn items, it's not fair to compare to a newer car simply because a newer car will feel tighter and better in build because it hasn't worn yet.
 

Night Fury

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2017
Threads
17
Messages
1,043
Reaction score
745
Location
Chicago
Vehicle(s)
Black Type R
Country flag
After almost a year with my CTR I still find it lacking. Even with Hondata 93 oct tune. I find I enjoy my girlfriends bone stock WRX a lot more. The CTR is only fun when pushing it. Normal driving it feels slow. Her car feels so much more responsive in daily driving conditions. A tune will make it even better. Also the steering in my CTR always feels like there's play on center. I always found this strange after all the praise it gets for precision steering. I still love the way it looks and it is a great car but it just needs a little more I guess.

Would a custom tune improve things a bit? Any idea if rigid collars will help the steering?
I think you rather like the twin scroll turbo feel on the WRX, than the NA like feel on the Type R ( I don’t think the car falls short), if that is the case, just stay on your 93 tune, anything else might make the car less attractive to you- You will have more top end & noticeable tardiness on the low end. Keep in mind this is almost a track car, it’s all about momentum. ( If not pushed hard the Type R, some people describe the same on cars like the Focus RS- just like your description”feels slow”)
As for rigid collars, no needed yet, just downgrade to a lighter wheel size, stress & sway bars, and default to R mode for a stiffer but jarring steering. When pushed, the WRX turn spiritedly (Undercovered understeer) :Ddue the AWD, but not near clear or sharp the Type R.Hope this helps :thumbsup:
 

frtorres87

Senior Member
First Name
Frank
Joined
Dec 4, 2018
Threads
16
Messages
788
Reaction score
826
Location
New Jersey
Vehicle(s)
2017 Honda Civic Type R
Country flag
A WRX over a CTR? No thank you! But you should drive whatever makes you happy so go for it. I personally came from a 2015 400whp Supercharged Civic Si, it was very quick and handled nicely. But the second I got into a Stock Type R I immediately felt like it was better in every way. I don’t even miss my old car.

Honda Civic 10th gen Trade my CTR for WRX, looking for opinions E3F9C171-F44F-402C-8713-38D720F83840
 

omar0123

Senior Member
First Name
Omar
Joined
Apr 21, 2019
Threads
16
Messages
856
Reaction score
388
Location
Puerto Rico
Vehicle(s)
2019 type r
Country flag
Ive had both wrx sti and evo from stand still is all i give these cars other than that the ctr is just superior
 


MonkeyConQueso

Senior Member
First Name
Armand
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Threads
20
Messages
390
Reaction score
255
Location
Seattle
Vehicle(s)
2017 CTR
Country flag
As a previous owner to a 2015 WRX that moved on to a CTR... I wouldn't recommend it. The fuel economy is about the same, the dashboard rattles are the same, the disappointing sound system is similar... But the suspension, the weight, gearing, rush hour traffic clutch work, etc... the CTR wins out IMO.

I can understand the appeal of the WRX (I know, I loved mine until I didn't), but there were so many little things that irked me over time.

Ultimately though, if you aren't happy with the CTR, then it's likely time to part ways. Think about what you want from a car first though, and then find something that fills all those buckets. See if you can figure that out without a car in mind.

As an example, I wanted something at/under $40k, 4 doors, ~300HP geared for daily use and aggressive driving, sporty styling, and from a company with good history at supporting its warranties. The Subaru WRX STI almost landed in that camp until I found the CTR, which fit those requirements better for me. And I'm in the PNW, where the STI is extremely popular for good reason.

Either way, good luck! Finding a car you want to keep for a long time is difficult.
 

LURK-R

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2019
Threads
1
Messages
226
Reaction score
227
Location
PHX
Vehicle(s)
Civic Hatch
Country flag
A WRX over a CTR? No thank you! But you should drive whatever makes you happy so go for it. I personally came from a 2015 400whp Supercharged Civic Si, it was very quick and handled nicely. But the second I got into a Stock Type R I immediately felt like it was better in every way. I don’t even miss my old car.
That looks damn good. Built an Abarth in the same color combo.

It handled nicely on THAT setup?
 

idragmazda

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2018
Threads
43
Messages
643
Reaction score
474
Location
CT
Vehicle(s)
Fk8
Country flag
My brother has a WRX with a basic cobb tune. In slow speed, stop-and-go 1st and 2nd gear traffic, the WRX does have more "go" as its AWD and gets moving much quicker. FWD kills the CTR to the point where you can't really move fast until you're going above 30-40mph. After almost 2 years I am also planning to get out of mine. I rented an R35 and tasted what proper rear-biased AWD feels like and now I can't go back.
 

Zeffy94

Senior Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Threads
77
Messages
1,850
Reaction score
1,486
Location
Doylestown, PA
Vehicle(s)
2017 Mazda3 GT Hatch 6AT, 2018 Honda Civic Type R (traded in)
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
My brother has a WRX with a basic cobb tune. In slow speed, stop-and-go 1st and 2nd gear traffic, the WRX does have more "go" as its AWD and gets moving much quicker. FWD kills the CTR to the point where you can't really move fast until you're going above 30-40mph. After almost 2 years I am also planning to get out of mine. I rented an R35 and tasted what proper rear-biased AWD feels like and now I can't go back.
You going for a GTR or something more sensible? :confused:

I got to experience my friends Audi RS5 over the weekend... shit is FAST, comfortable, the transmission was nuts quick with shifts, and... I strangely prefer my car to it. An RS3 might be more of my calling though.. but I can’t afford one.
Sponsored

 


 


Top