Why isn't the WRX a popular 'tuners' car in japan?

[predator]

Always wondered this a little.. and discussed this with a few friends on occasion.

They've been around for 10 years now, and yet why aren't they that popular as a "tuning car" in japan?? Just wondering some of the exact reasons. Hopefully with some people in the know can tell me exactly why. Is it just the drivetrain - or are there certain restrictions imposed by the boxter engine or otherwise(??) that really stop them being a true japanese "hero" car: such as the EVO, skyline, 180sx, silvia, etc?

I know I *have* seen a couple, but its a very very small minority. I mean subaru is a japanese company, "most" (well read: UK, america, Australia) seem to have a big thing about them - so why not the japanese themselves?

I have been in a couple of modified ones and never really ticked *my* fancy, but I guess this is just a little irrelevent

I thought maybe some of you in Japan may be best placed to answer this question

[DaiOni]

They are. It's just your perception.

[DaiOni]

...and I'd say they have a bigger level of hype in places like australian and the US due to competition - in the new import market in the US, there hasn't been that much to choose from. Likewise oz - s14 and (to a much greater extent) the wrx dominated the ('cheap') sports market in the mid to late 90s.

But japan - do I really need to state what is (was) available? (you've already listed a small sample).

[Rezz]

...and I'd say they have a bigger level of hype in places like australian and the US due to competition...

Right on the money there...

The WRX is a popular car to tune, I mean, me and Troy have seen more than our fair share of modified ones on our weekly escapades down Route 43, 171, 2, the Wangan etc... but I think alot of the 'hype' is drowned out because of the much much more popular Lancer Evolution 7/8 (for cicuit mainly, even drag in some cases).

Troy?

[DaiOni]

Also, I think the liberty (legacy) takes a fair chunk of their potential market (4 door performance sedan/wagon) - they're a very, very popular vehicle. It's one of those cars where the older hoon can fit the family in and still drive at light speed when he wants to - outshining the rex in terms of size and equipment (and it's not much slower).

[mcnamg]

would you say that the average japanese driver other than your hardcore speed phreak would go for a slightly plusher performance car over a slight cheaper one even if it means sacrificng a little performance?

i ask this beacause japanese cars seem to have more computers and gadgets in them than an electronics shop does

do you think that the subaru is a little disadvantaged in the fact that there is not as much history there as some of the other company's like prince/nissan and mitsubishi?

[CircusMonkey]

Aren`t Trial quite big with tuning Impreza WRC`s ?

[topi]

In the UK, most Impreza drivers are assholes that think they own the place. Seems that most of the guys that want to actually drive thier (4WD) car buy EVOs or Skylines.

[hayes_666]

Your right there are thousands of subaru drivers over here,all of which think they are god, but only a select few know how to drive them, my mate in his evo2 loves playing with subaru owners as they think that there car is far superior, then he just nudges the throttle on leaves them for dead , hehe love it.

Nathan

[SLIM V 2.1.0]

Always wondered this a little.. and discussed this with a few friends on occasion.  

They've been around for 10 years now, and yet why aren't they that popular as a "tuning car" in japan??  Just wondering some of the exact reasons. Hopefully with some people in the know can tell me exactly why. Is it just the drivetrain - or are there certain restrictions imposed by the boxter engine or otherwise(??) that really stop them being a true japanese "hero" car: such as the EVO, skyline, 180sx, silvia, etc?

 

I know I *have* seen a couple, but its a very very small minority. I mean subaru is a japanese company, "most" (well read: UK, america, Australia) seem to have a big thing about them - so why not the japanese themselves?  

I have been in a couple of modified ones and never really ticked *my* fancy, but I guess this is just a little irrelevent

I thought maybe some of you in Japan may be best placed to answer this question  

because they stink?

[Evo_Lee]

Right on the money there...

 

The WRX is a popular car to tune, I mean, me and Troy have seen more than our fair share of modified ones on our weekly escapades down Route 43, 171, 2, the Wangan etc... but I think alot of the 'hype' is drowned out because of the much much more popular Lancer Evolution 7/8 (for cicuit mainly, even drag in some cases).  

 

Troy?

Here I'm...

The WRX/STi are popular in Japan, they are light and make just as much horsepower as every other sports car...only thing is they are not as popular as the Evos....why?

Well I don't want to sound like a bias Evo owner but purely the fact the Evos dominance and success left the STi living in the shadows throughout the 90's. Obviously the last couple of years they have lifted their game, both in performance and motorsport indicating they no longer want to be seen 2nd best.

As you know Japan loves circuit racing and while the WRX/STi are great circuit cars, they still haven't been crowned the circuit king...yet to break the all famous Tsukaba time battlen record. While on the other hand the Evo de-throned the god or Japanese driving machine the GT-R. IIRC back in 99, the JUN Evo then ran a 1min 5sec or something I forget to beat the Mines BNR32 and since that day no other car except the Evo has held and continually improving that record .

[predator]

All interesting comments.

So its just my perception that is a little whack then I do notice there are quite a few less specific aftermarket parts available in some of the magazines, websites, etc I see here in Australia compared with the nissan and toyotas - but they are available.

With respect to the "feel like they are gods" - guess that can be true from what I sometimes see, and driving a rex does feel like a bit of a no brainer as it is pretty much point and shoot. For the short drive I had in one I felt like I could really hammer it into the corners, brake late, and shoot out. Could imagine it would be easy to get carried away

Here in QLD WRX aren't actually too common, but where I came from (melbourne) they were dime a dozen. Could be something due to the crappier wheather in VIC and people think they need a WRX to get by - but no idea.

[CerealKiller]

In the UK, most Impreza drivers are assholes that think they own the place. Seems that most of the guys that want to actually drive thier (4WD) car buy EVOs or Skylines.

same here (Sydney).

[Evo_Lee]

Popular doesn't mean people tune them...

I have to kinda agree I have not seen too many tuning shops specialise in WRX/STi over here compared to the other performance cars. Just flipping through HyperRev, shop demo cars seem to be on the mildly tuned side compared to what you see in the HyperRev for Supras, RX-7, Skylines/GT-R, Silvia, MR2s and Evos...tuning them out to 700++ps

Also parts will always be more readily available for performance cars which are more popular.

I still wouldn't mind a early WRX wagon...with STi internals power and lightweight

[predator]

are there any really hyper WRX in japan? with the big HP you are talking about evo_lee ? I don't see any "show" cars from any of the big workshops like you are saying.

Are there many 10second WRX or things like that?

[Rezz]

Jun GC8 Impreza? You know, the 300km/h one...

[DaiOni]

a wrx is not a particularly good car for 0-400m - most japanese accept that fact. A little bit different in australia, where it is more popular (per capita), and workshops need to sell themselves

very, very, very fast

[DaiOni]

[DaiOni]

This one is a 310km/h car too (done in NZ??)

[DaiOni]

zerosports is another big subie tuner