Buy a Subaru WRX if You Want to Save Money
Article Highlights:
- The Subaru WRX might save you some money
- Is gambling with automotive assets worth it?
- Can WRX ownership pay some financial dividends?
Losing money on a car you just bought is practically a fact of life. Often, if you listen closely, you can hear the invisible hands of depreciation ripping cash out of your wallet as you drive off the dealer lot. However, there are a few exceptions. The Subaru’s on the whole have long since been an exception, but the Subaru WRX is perhaps the best example of this.
The Subaru WRX holds its value
The ‘Rex is, at the end of the day, a hopped up economy car. That’s what makes it so appealing. Low cost of ownership is just one of may upsides to life with a WRX (save your head gasket jokes). A recent study by iSeeCars also found that incredibly low depreciation rates among the ranks of the WRX are yet another upside. Overall, the small Subie leads the small cars segment of the study for lowest depreciaton rates.
In fact, the WRX has a bit of a reputation for being a solid buy. Here in Colorado, it’s often joked that there’s a sort of “Subaru tax” when buying Subie models in Colorful Colorado. A lot of that is down to the appeal of AWD in a winter climate, and the Subaru WRX is a car that delivers that in spades. It’s also true. Values of WRX models here are several thousand dollars more than a similar car in, say, Miami.
Subaru’s most popular small car is a steal
The other aspect of the WRX’s market appeal is value. Despite how well models hold their value, losing only an estimated 29% of their value over five years, the Subaru WRX and STI manage to remain a bargain. Heck, a brand new one can still, even in this market, be had for under $40,000. You can’t say that about a Civic Type R. Sure, we can attribute some of that to the current market, but this has been the case for ages.
Of course, those two aspects are what make it a smart buy for that very wrinkly brain of yours. But the Subaru WRX is an enthusast’s car, and therefore also a matter of the heart. People love these, and short of the Porsche 911 it’s hard to think of a car with a larger cult following. AWD, rall-bred, stick-shift performance is certainly a favorite of the masses, helping to curb depreciation.
A used WRX is a practical daily driver in high demand
And that leaves us with the last depreciation-fighting aspect of the Subaru WRX. Mass appeal for these models is there because of its practical sedan (and sometimes hatchback) layout. This is a sports car you can put child seats in. They grow with you and run reliably. If that’s not a recipe for success, we’re not sure what is.
