I am very close to selling my 02 G20 because it is pig slow. 3000 pounds and 145 HP aint cutting it. I was thinking of an 03 WRX. I need a 4 door. This will be my wife's DD to schools so I wan't something that will be dependable yet have a some spunk when I drive it too. Car would be kept stock or probably an air filter only. If the WRX is a bad choice for dependability I am up for suggestions. Thanks.

 

Not only is a WRX dependable, but it has superior crash test rating.

Get the WRX. It's quick, safe, reliable, modable, and the Subaru group is the most close-knit community on TR. Very cool guys!

 

great choice for dd. The only problems that happen are when idiots start modding incorectly. You said you were goijng to keep it stock so there will be no problems.

 

Subaru dependable!!! Of course they are. Check Consumer reports, all Subaru models are and always have been dependable and they keep their value. A stock WRX will last forever. My parents had a 1981 Subaru GL when I was born, that thing is still running and running strong, they sold it to a friend of the family about 14 years ago and he still has it for a daily transport, granted it is now in the dominican republic and people down there I guess don't have the money to be changing cars every few years, but the point is that it is still going.

 

Yes, it is dependable as long as you do proper maintenance to it.

 

+1 I never had a problem with my car so far and it's stage 2. Subaru's are great cars and you will be happy

 

it just depends what are your plan for this car. If you purchase a wrx it takes good money to make it fast, also parts are not cheap. So if you want a fast cheap car get a honda, but if you want a fun daily driver buy a wrx and be ready to spend so cash

 

+1 and insurance is cheap, my policy went down like $100 for the 6 months compared to my 2001 civic ex

 

My 93 Impreza with 132,000 miles is a dependable daily driver. It all depends on how thourough and often you do your maintenence.

 

Honda 4-door = not many options, and very few that will be better than an '02 G20.

If you keep it relatively stock (maybe intake/exhaust with OEM turbo, suspension, internals, etc) then you will have no problems. Common maintenence things are head gaskets and oil pan seals, but I only did them on my Legacy around 100k (at 150k and running like a champ even with RWD conversion and welded rear diff).

I'm sure people could fill this thread to the brim with endurance stories, so I will keep these short:
-Tried to blow up an EA18 by unbolting the halves ot the block from each other and running it on a bench for an hour at WOT - didn't blow up.
-After being in a flood up to the dashboard, my Legacy Turbo still drove for 3 months, and even went 0-60 in 10 seconds on 2 cylinders.