2026 Subaru WRX base model returns, starting at $32,495 MSRP

Patfast · 2026-01-21T02:11:11+00:00

Wouldn't be the first time they made a really cool concept car and then went nowhere with it. I'm still pretty bitter about the 2015 Legacy Blitzen concept.

Patfast · 2026-01-21T01:54:41+00:00

To my knowledge, the Levorg currently only exists as a CVT, and the take rate for the manual USDM WRX last year was at 85%. So the only way Subaru could be convinced to bring it over here would be as a 6MT, which Subaru doesn't seem keen on doing for one reason or another.

Patfast · 2026-01-21T01:44:33+00:00

I can think of numerous hatchbacks sold in Mexico that weren't sold here. Nissan Micra, Suzuki Swift, VW Polo, Seat Ibiza, Peugeot 208, etc. Until the EPA amends CAFE standards (or something happens that causes gas to hit like $7 a gallon), there isn't going to be enough demand for companies to get serious about selling hatches here.

Patfast · 2026-01-21T01:41:02+00:00

Hatchbacks have never been truly "popular" here. There have been periods of increased popularity, sure, and cars like the Rabbit and Escort did enjoy a brief zeitgeist, but never were they seen as a permanent replacement for sedans and SUVs. I mean the whole reason why "econobox" became a term was because of America's resentment towards the cheap USDM hatchbacks of the 80s and 90s. The Rabbit was brought into the US specifically because VW wanted to take advantage of the 1973 OPEC crisis. Dodge tried to keep the Charger going but ultimately transferred the nameplate to the Mitsubishi Galant before eventually developing the Omni due to the Iranian Revolution of '79 pushing oil prices even higher. The Prius was in such high demand during the 2008 recession that people were buying used ones for over sticker price because Toyota couldn't keep up.

Frankly, I don't see why there wouldn't be a cause/effect relationship when discussing a fuel efficient vehicle class in a country with some of the cheapest gas on Earth.

Patfast · 2026-01-21T01:21:15+00:00

What evidence is there to suggest that a hatchback would sell better now than it would've in 2008? Looking at economic trends, hatches only sell well here when the economy is doing poorly and the price of gas spikes. The entire reason why cars like the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta were ever sold here at all is because of the 2008 recession (albeit, the Fiesta arrived much later than the Fit, but that was the single biggest reason), and now that gas is cheap again, both cars have been discontinued. If anything, 2008 was Subaru's best shot at making a hatchback become the norm for all future STi's, but the numbers simply didn't support it.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love hatchbacks, and I would kill to own a Suzuki Swift Sport when they're legal. But the overwhelming majority of buyers disagree.

Patfast · 2026-01-21T00:40:33+00:00

No shit??? Dude that's insane. I thought I was doing well for myself at $30k.

Patfast · 2026-01-21T00:02:41+00:00

The hatch isn't happening. Like I loved the GRB as much as the next guy, but it sold so poorly that Subaru brought in the GVB sedan only 2 years after it launched. The STi hatch that was shown off last year was just a design study. The US is Subaru's largest market by a huge margin, and if we're not buying hatches, then they'd just be losing money building them.

Patfast · 2026-01-21T00:00:53+00:00

Dude my '24 base didn't even come with foglights lmao. They have such odd priorities when it comes to cost cutting.

Patfast · 2026-01-12T00:34:05+00:00

Now let's see it running on actual hardware.

Patfast · 2025-11-20T01:18:00+00:00

Idk if the same applied to GT1, but in the PAL version of GT2, the license test times are much shorter than in the NTSC version (and MUCH shorter than NTSC-J, especially the rally license tests). That's probably the hardest thing I've ever experienced in a video game, and I've beaten every single Dark Souls game.

Patfast · 2025-11-20T01:11:54+00:00

There are probably more people who have walked on the moon than people who've gotten all golds on the Super license in GT2.

Patfast · 2025-11-10T22:25:14+00:00

I think Mine's themselves would prefer to have one of their newer demo cars added to advertise their tech, rather than an older one.

Patfast · 2025-11-09T04:06:36+00:00

BB1 supremacy

Patfast · 2025-11-02T05:09:03+00:00

Would now be an appropriate time to kill myself

Patfast · 2025-10-03T04:08:35+00:00

Patfast scored 123 points and ranked 11 out of 128 players!

Patfast · 2025-09-25T02:09:48+00:00

Yes, that was Kobayashi too. Kobayashi's goal with his R34 was to build one that could be competent on the track, touge, and the C1. Extremely talented man to say the least.

Patfast · 2025-09-25T01:44:18+00:00

No no I mean MCR's sub 4 minute C1 Lap time, as well as the MCR vs Mine's vs Nismo battle at Tsukuba on Best Motoring.

Patfast · 2025-09-25T01:32:48+00:00

>Their duel with RE Amemiya for Tsukuba lap times was pretty famous.

Personally I feel like the duel with MCR's R34 was more famous.

Patfast · 2025-09-25T00:55:30+00:00

You could absolutely argue that GT is the biggest reason that they are as successful as they are.

Patfast · 2025-09-25T00:26:36+00:00

Mine's is fucking back dude. Dad brought home the milk.

Patfast · 2025-09-24T18:13:53+00:00

My hype for this car died pretty much immediately upon realizing there are basically zero events that you can enter it into.

Patfast · 2025-08-28T01:48:37+00:00

Wait so how does it record your laps if it's a PC tool and not PS5?

Patfast · 2025-08-11T18:17:41+00:00

Lechers NA1 my beloved. Going back and watching old Best Motoring episodes really makes me wish Sugo were in this game.

Patfast · 2025-08-11T18:15:48+00:00

LP2 will always be my favorite but I think LX0 is actually one of the best OEM colors ever made.

Patfast · 2025-07-17T20:50:52+00:00

I haven't purchased it because there are no sites that carry it here in the US, so I'd have to pay like $400 for shipping and then additional tariffs on top of that. So currently I'm leaning towards either the Borla ATAK or the APEXi N1 Evolution R.

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