Many good thing here that people should know about the wrx being posted, the tranny is crap I'm at 12,000 miles and am on my second one, going to get a new clutch tomorrow got to love that warranty, my dad has a 997 turbo and every time I can beat him up tell 80 mph then the car really falls off, same with the vet my roommate has one but I can stay ahead of that tell almost 100, the tires ya the ones that came one the car just plain do not work in the snow at all!!! They are like slicks haha, so had to get snow tires but not a big deal. Yes my 400hp gti was faster if I was stating from a roll around 40 or 60 but the 99% of the time the wrx is faster because of the traction and low speeds around town. All this being said givin the choose again I would have got a gti-R ( when it comes ) over the wrx, need the awd, cuz VW's ate just so so so much better build and refined cars, I'm 22 and have had 10 different cars ranging from amg Mercedes and m bmw's to subarus and Hondas, VW is deffinaly my second favorite brand, first is Mercedes! I will not be getting another Subaru again lol