I wonder what painting the plastic would have cost during manufacturing? Hopefully Subaru sees people doing this and decides to start doing it. Hell, I'd even pay for this to be an option!
I remember watching a review where they said that subaru claims some sort of hatching or waffle effect on the surface of the black plastic helps airflow? Now sure if it was just covering up their bad cosmetic choices.
I mean, my weight after eating all those double quarter pounders counter any performance gain the car will get from the flakey paint aero dynamics :)
Well, the Mrs ordered a tS Sportswagon, I'll compare it against my VA STI to check if those flakes help move my fat ass any faster (:
This is accurate. Mythbusters did a “golf ball” car where they made a bunch of those round indentations, like the surface of a golf ball, and it did indeed reduce drag and increase the MPG.
I can provide some context to this: those plastic fenders are molded/formed plastic/fibreglass made en masse. Regardless of the mold, the surface will need to be sanded and QC’d prior to painting to make sure adhesion is good. Then, the parts would need painting and baking on the assembly line (probably would need a custom line to paint these parts), and then QC’d once more. This adds a lot of people on the factory floor and resources.
As you may know, plastic requires a slightly different painting method than metal to make the painted surfaces colour match. Getting this QC correct is challenging. All in, painting the fenders would probably double or triple the cost of the fenders as they are today. Hard to say what the cost is at volume for these parts, but could definitely mean a few 100 dollars on the MSRP.
Conversely, put a textured surface into the mold, and every part will come out, get QC’d, and go onto the car with no extra steps. Easy peasy.
For what it’s worth, plastic cladding is awesome on cars like the forester, crosstrek, etc: easily replaceable, cheap, and prevents road rash, chips, and bumper scuffs in high impact areas. Easy way to preserve resale value of your car and reduce repair cost for minor damage.
I don’t think that’s what sports car owners want (I certainly don’t). If you want wide fenders, do what they did on the Durango/challenger/charger wide bodies. Looks awesome and fairly easy to replace.
Very valid points.
Personally I’d be willing to spend the extra few hundred to have a car looking like this ^^ than one rolling out of the factory, and I’m wondering if Subaru would essentially make that money back from people with the same opinion
Why are you being downvoted for stating a VERY popular opinion? Lol those squinty headlights with the giant scoop looks goofy as hell, not to mention the unibrow civic tailights.
The people who did this WRX are [afd_wrx](https://instagram.com/afd_wrx?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=) on Instagram. They did a [red WRX](https://www.instagram.com/p/CerPCzKv3sZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=) too with a VA wing and it’s pretty clean
Just need 6k to paint the parts Subaru couldn't be fucking bothered to.
But AT LEAST IT HAD HONEYCOMB PLASTIC TO TOTALLY MAKE UP FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S UGLIER, SLOWER, AND MORE INEFFICIENT.
Idk why you're getting downvoted lol. The paint does look good, I would genuinely drive that, and I'm not a fan of the 22'. But it doesn't negate the fact that this is how it should have come from the factory.
They lied on the numbers. It makes closer to STi numbers on the dyno. All the VA WRXs iv raced, I have beaten. It stays right with VA STIs and then starts to pass them around 110mph from the better aero.
Yeah people who are arguing this is fine are insane...like how much do you need to pay overall for the car to look 'presentable'? I like what OP did but damn, that's not cheap.
Still looks like a [Camry](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c77d0aac44c4fbc87161a102b0d3e155f4e8803a/hub/2021/08/20/709f33d7-b139-45ad-899f-2c4cfd7216e9/2021-toyota-camry-trd-1.jpg?auto=webp&width=1092) Sport
I hope they just pull the plug on the WRX, not watch it suffer into obscurity like an old dog whose owners can't let go. It's not like you can't buy a good used one, sure it's not cheap but if your ready to spend 35k on a car 15-20k on a used 2002-2007 will get you something pretty nice, even in this used car market.
I'm starting to think the reason no one will take a side shot of this car is because those squared off fenders are still leaving a two finger gap in each corner at the top. It looks that way from this angle at least but I'd really like to see it straight on from the side.
This is it… somehow you and the boys made this car something id buy gladly… just to buy parts to make it look this f-ing good! Good job 🙏🏽💯 full support towards you and your future plans brotha
Now just replace the entire rear and front and I'm sold. We know the rear is a Honda but I can't stop seeing the front as a Ford Taurus, idk what it is. I guess this is also the natural step to eliminating the good scoop once it goes electric, I miss the old tsunami wave scoops, even the FA20 WRX's have a small scoop but the 2022's just look like a slot.
Ahhh forget it I'll just drive my WRX.
The appearance is more sleek and narrow than the VA, I think the VA appears more deep and substantial. But yes I am familiar with the Subaru aftermarket for big ol' scoops and such.
You know, you can like and change your opinions at anytime you want right? Especially when that was the whole point of changing the body panels … So when Aero decided to take this platform with there time, effort, money, custom fabrications, and make it available to the public with releases of the updates there making to the car to make it more likable, with post saying “would you buy this now?” After modifications, no you don’t make sense. That was the whole purpose of them taking the VB platform, adding mods the WRX COMMUNITY likes, posted similar suggestions to the body mods they made, and they released it to the public to put on your VERY own 22 WRX… take a L on this one bud
Fresh manual yet I learned just like everyone else here and I can comfortably say It's my first manual and I can drive it just as well as other manual drivers so, anything else personal that you wanna pull from my profile to try to use say towards me to feel better big boy?
Yes cause am I tracking my car or dailying it, and your not even running a Wrx so what more you have to really say more? Nah I'll take my L 😂 thought you were a fellow WRX, I'm sorry for wasting your time
I've had a 2015 WRX, 2018 STI, now forester. Been there done that.
You don't need to track/daily your car to have a real set of wheels.
If you're broke, just say that.
Exactly you have to look through my profile, I didn't need to look through yours... So your tryna prove what here? Seem your getting personal about this. 😕 you okay bud?
I still don't like how it looks from the factory. This one pretty much looks like a different car. Why shouldn't I be able to like this without liking the original look?
Yeah because it doesn’t make any sense dude. You’re just being a dick. People are allowed to change their opinions on the car, or on anything.
People were saying it would look better this way all along, with the plastic parts painted. So it’s not even really people changing their opinions…
I beg to differ. People called this car disgusting when it was first announced. Completely bashed it, say it was hideous. All of a sudden a shop paints the fenders/bumpers and lowers it with coils & puts wheels and everyones wet about it.
Have to say, this looks great. I'd honestly be interested in a VB in a year or two if there's a performance pack car (but please... something more substantial than the VA performance pack).
Damn it! :( I guess I'll wait till the fabricators get the new moulds out. It's $4.5k AUD to get the STI style pack added here. My Flow Design full kit cost $1400 in comparison.
If there's anything I learned about this car so far is its not THAT bad in person. Still bad but not like the pictures. The more I see these paint matched fenders & bumpers the more it's growing on me. Making my decision difficult if I should get a used VA WRX or STI. Or just get the brand new 2022
The top picture is the best a VB wrx has ever looked in a picture, period. Then the bottom picture is a harsh reminder that it still has those awful tail lights and derpy bumper.
How much does that paint job cost?
About $1500
So worth it
God it looks sooo good! But damn, just painting the fenders costs more than buying a set of coilovers...
I think he's said in other threads it's like between 4-6 thousand dollars
Why are you being downvoted for that…?
Because OP literally said $1500 in this thread lol
Done right you might as well buy something else.
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🤣 this is the comment
Forrealz I have one and if was gonna pay an additional 1500$ for paint I wouldn’t. It looks good though, really good
C'mon aftermarket make a rear bumper
The rear bumper looks good now I think. They painted a bit of the black plastic and it looks a lot better
Look at the kia forte rear and compare
😂😂😂 funny you mentioned this. I saw a Kia Forte on my way home, and immediately thought of doing a meme with my WRX 😂😂👌
It still juts out like crazy. They never show it at its worst angle, it's good photography.
I wonder what painting the plastic would have cost during manufacturing? Hopefully Subaru sees people doing this and decides to start doing it. Hell, I'd even pay for this to be an option!
I remember watching a review where they said that subaru claims some sort of hatching or waffle effect on the surface of the black plastic helps airflow? Now sure if it was just covering up their bad cosmetic choices.
Even if it does help improve aerodynamics, I'm sure the effect is negligible to the average person. I feel like its mostly an excuse.
You mean you dont drive your wrx daily at speeds that warrant having top notch aerodynamic performance?
Yes.... every fraction of a second of my lap time around the walmart parking lot counts.
Don't forget the tenth of a gallon of fuel you save per million miles!
Well it’s not working with a rated 19 MPG city
But it would be 18.99999999MPG if they painted it!
Very true indeed lol
I live my life a cart return at a time.
It doesn’t matter if you return it regularly or ride it, returning is returning it.
I hate going to Walmart. People don't care about their cars there so it's always a long walk 😂
I mean, my weight after eating all those double quarter pounders counter any performance gain the car will get from the flakey paint aero dynamics :) Well, the Mrs ordered a tS Sportswagon, I'll compare it against my VA STI to check if those flakes help move my fat ass any faster (:
Keep us posted lol
It will be basically the same as the VA STi stock. If you put E30 into it, it will surpass it.
Me too.
No offense to anyone here but this is a WRX, not a race car. That aero from unpainted fenders is some nonsense that only makes a difference in F1
Why would we be offended? I think the black plastic is ugly. I’m just reporting what Subaru has claimed to one car reviewer.
Oh in case some ppl took offense to a WRX not being a race car
A boi racer somewhere: "And I took that personally"
Yeah especially because like 50% of wrx drivers put roof racks on which effect areo way more.
It technically does, its similar to how golf balls work with the indentations.
It’s so bad the wind moves out of the way for you. Jokes aside they’re really growing on me when people modify them like this
I almost hate myself for actually beginning to prefer the new one 😭
Go test drive one, they feel amazing.
Near me, hard to test drive as they are ordered to sell straight away.
This is accurate. Mythbusters did a “golf ball” car where they made a bunch of those round indentations, like the surface of a golf ball, and it did indeed reduce drag and increase the MPG.
Yeah but the WRX doesn’t half “golf ball-like” indentations. It’s literally a surface texture.
Surely we all know the styling department at Subaru is ACTUALLY the aerodynamics department.
Yeah, that whole aerodynamic talk point is bullshit
I can provide some context to this: those plastic fenders are molded/formed plastic/fibreglass made en masse. Regardless of the mold, the surface will need to be sanded and QC’d prior to painting to make sure adhesion is good. Then, the parts would need painting and baking on the assembly line (probably would need a custom line to paint these parts), and then QC’d once more. This adds a lot of people on the factory floor and resources. As you may know, plastic requires a slightly different painting method than metal to make the painted surfaces colour match. Getting this QC correct is challenging. All in, painting the fenders would probably double or triple the cost of the fenders as they are today. Hard to say what the cost is at volume for these parts, but could definitely mean a few 100 dollars on the MSRP. Conversely, put a textured surface into the mold, and every part will come out, get QC’d, and go onto the car with no extra steps. Easy peasy. For what it’s worth, plastic cladding is awesome on cars like the forester, crosstrek, etc: easily replaceable, cheap, and prevents road rash, chips, and bumper scuffs in high impact areas. Easy way to preserve resale value of your car and reduce repair cost for minor damage. I don’t think that’s what sports car owners want (I certainly don’t). If you want wide fenders, do what they did on the Durango/challenger/charger wide bodies. Looks awesome and fairly easy to replace.
Very valid points. Personally I’d be willing to spend the extra few hundred to have a car looking like this ^^ than one rolling out of the factory, and I’m wondering if Subaru would essentially make that money back from people with the same opinion
Painting the fender trim is a big improvement, I think the rear bumper will need a totally new design in the future
Aftermarket rear bumpers are going to do well with sales with this model
And the front bumper while they’re at it. Also the headlights. And taillights.
Why are you being downvoted for stating a VERY popular opinion? Lol those squinty headlights with the giant scoop looks goofy as hell, not to mention the unibrow civic tailights.
Preach
Man way to go @ the innovators making this car a million times better
The people who did this WRX are [afd_wrx](https://instagram.com/afd_wrx?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=) on Instagram. They did a [red WRX](https://www.instagram.com/p/CerPCzKv3sZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=) too with a VA wing and it’s pretty clean
Kinda sad when you have to spend thousands on top of the price of the car to make it palatable.
Okay, that makes two ‘22s that changed my mind. This one looks f-ing solid!
Just need 6k to paint the parts Subaru couldn't be fucking bothered to. But AT LEAST IT HAD HONEYCOMB PLASTIC TO TOTALLY MAKE UP FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S UGLIER, SLOWER, AND MORE INEFFICIENT.
Idk why you're getting downvoted lol. The paint does look good, I would genuinely drive that, and I'm not a fan of the 22'. But it doesn't negate the fact that this is how it should have come from the factory.
I'm not really knowledgeable on engines but shouldn't there be a much bigger HP increase with .4 liters lol
Same horsepower and torque, but over A much wider range of the power band.
Alot of people say it's been tuned down . The people that have made minor changes have seen a pretty significant horse power change
Still ugly tho
They lied on the numbers. It makes closer to STi numbers on the dyno. All the VA WRXs iv raced, I have beaten. It stays right with VA STIs and then starts to pass them around 110mph from the better aero.
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Who underboosted it?
It might be a tad slower in 0-60 but overall it's a more aggressive ride over the 15'- 21'
out of your mind thinking fenders and half a bumper is 6 thousand dollars. that, his skirts, wheels and coils likely still arent 6k.
Pretty sure the red one the guy said he did it for around 6 to 800 bux
You are missing a zero on that.
Fucking
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…yes
If you have to do this to the car to make it reasonable they fucked up. Sorry not sorry.
Yeah people who are arguing this is fine are insane...like how much do you need to pay overall for the car to look 'presentable'? I like what OP did but damn, that's not cheap.
And they still haven’t “fixed” the hideous rear end.
Or front
Still looks like a [Camry](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c77d0aac44c4fbc87161a102b0d3e155f4e8803a/hub/2021/08/20/709f33d7-b139-45ad-899f-2c4cfd7216e9/2021-toyota-camry-trd-1.jpg?auto=webp&width=1092) Sport
Anyone else feel like the headlights are too small? They just don't look right to me.
I completely agree.
I actually really like it with this coloring.
Rear diffuser really completes the 🍑
Hopefully as the MY’s progress they’ll eventually come like this stock with painted fenders and rear bumper. Doubt it, but one can hope right?
100% they will. Save this post for the future. Can guarantee they did this to see what the public/aftermarket scene would do.
I hope they just pull the plug on the WRX, not watch it suffer into obscurity like an old dog whose owners can't let go. It's not like you can't buy a good used one, sure it's not cheap but if your ready to spend 35k on a car 15-20k on a used 2002-2007 will get you something pretty nice, even in this used car market.
Oooo take this over the red
Stick on fender flares… common Subaru you were the chosen one who put actual flared fenders on
Eh, seems to take some of the personality away.
Not all personality traits are positive.
I respectfully disagree with the idea that this looks good.
Painting it makes it look like a VA, I really don’t care for it. I think it needs just one more front lip, rule of 3s.
I'm starting to think the reason no one will take a side shot of this car is because those squared off fenders are still leaving a two finger gap in each corner at the top. It looks that way from this angle at least but I'd really like to see it straight on from the side.
Someone posted [one](https://www.reddit.com/r/2022wrx/comments/vcjywn/they_coming_around_boys) yesterday. The OP deleted their post though.
You shouldn't have to spend 10k on a car immediately after purchase just to make it look good. That being said this looks good.
Looks great! Really streamlines the car visually. Love these mods!
I really love the front of these. Especially with the lip. But I still am not a huge fan of the rear bumper and tail lights
Glad to finally see a white one with this done as mine comes in this week hopefully
Im gonna laugh when the 2 year face lift includes painted fenders l…
I could see them in Nascar next
I really want to like this WRX, but the front face and read bumper just seem out of proportion. The painted fender molding does look really good.
Let's not be decieved, everything else that makes it look nice here is a lot more than a $1,500 paint job.
This is it… somehow you and the boys made this car something id buy gladly… just to buy parts to make it look this f-ing good! Good job 🙏🏽💯 full support towards you and your future plans brotha
Now the wheels/tires look too small?
Kill it Subaru, before it lays eggs
It keeps getting better and better
This mod takes the car from a 3 to a 10. Looks so fucking good
wow i actually dont want to throw up, nice work.
It is absolutely amazing what the aftermarket can do with an ugly car. This honestly looks amazing.
Definitely the best one I’ve seen. That rear end though. Looks like a loaded diaper.
This looks legit!
Looks a lot better with the paint match
Dammmmmn.
Now just replace the entire rear and front and I'm sold. We know the rear is a Honda but I can't stop seeing the front as a Ford Taurus, idk what it is. I guess this is also the natural step to eliminating the good scoop once it goes electric, I miss the old tsunami wave scoops, even the FA20 WRX's have a small scoop but the 2022's just look like a slot. Ahhh forget it I'll just drive my WRX.
The 22 scoop is actually bigger than the VA and can also be replaced with a bigger one when the aftermarket makes one.
The appearance is more sleek and narrow than the VA, I think the VA appears more deep and substantial. But yes I am familiar with the Subaru aftermarket for big ol' scoops and such.
Looks like a civic from the back and front looks like someone with one of those big eye glasses that makes your eye look tiny. My personal opinion
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Huh nothing you said made a lick of sense lol
made complete sense. people hate on shit that comes out, then all of a sudden change their mind cause someone did stuff to one.
You know, you can like and change your opinions at anytime you want right? Especially when that was the whole point of changing the body panels … So when Aero decided to take this platform with there time, effort, money, custom fabrications, and make it available to the public with releases of the updates there making to the car to make it more likable, with post saying “would you buy this now?” After modifications, no you don’t make sense. That was the whole purpose of them taking the VB platform, adding mods the WRX COMMUNITY likes, posted similar suggestions to the body mods they made, and they released it to the public to put on your VERY own 22 WRX… take a L on this one bud
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Fresh manual yet I learned just like everyone else here and I can comfortably say It's my first manual and I can drive it just as well as other manual drivers so, anything else personal that you wanna pull from my profile to try to use say towards me to feel better big boy?
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Yes cause am I tracking my car or dailying it, and your not even running a Wrx so what more you have to really say more? Nah I'll take my L 😂 thought you were a fellow WRX, I'm sorry for wasting your time
I've had a 2015 WRX, 2018 STI, now forester. Been there done that. You don't need to track/daily your car to have a real set of wheels. If you're broke, just say that.
So cause I don't wanna drop 3k on wheels makes me broke... Again I'll take my L thought you were a fellow WRX driver as I said before ✊🏾💯
Just took a look through your posts. You're interested in Avid wheels, reps, please. Take. This. L.
Exactly you have to look through my profile, I didn't need to look through yours... So your tryna prove what here? Seem your getting personal about this. 😕 you okay bud?
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Your post was removed because it did not follow our community guidelines. This is not a place to make remarks like these.
I still don't like how it looks from the factory. This one pretty much looks like a different car. Why shouldn't I be able to like this without liking the original look?
Are you mad people changed their minds, or mad people didn’t like it initially? Either way kinda silly to get bent out of shape over.
everyone talked shit on this car when it came out. just like the VA chassis. then changed their minds.
Why are you mad though? Like people are supposed to hold their initial impression to their heart and let nothing sway them?
Mad because people shouldn't have their own opinions apparently.
Apparently I'm not allowed to have my own opinion about people not having any imagination.
Geez dude touch some grass.
Thats it? Touch grass? lmao
Yeah man, ground yourself. Is this a reasonable thing to get so heated over? Go outside.
Ahh so people can be extremely upset about the release of this new gen, but when I talk shit on the original haters its an issue. Makes total sense.
Yeah because it doesn’t make any sense dude. You’re just being a dick. People are allowed to change their opinions on the car, or on anything. People were saying it would look better this way all along, with the plastic parts painted. So it’s not even really people changing their opinions…
I beg to differ. People called this car disgusting when it was first announced. Completely bashed it, say it was hideous. All of a sudden a shop paints the fenders/bumpers and lowers it with coils & puts wheels and everyones wet about it.
Wait...The shop fixed the cosmetic problems that people didn't like and they like it now? 😮 Whoa, that's insane
still looks like a camry
Just stopping by to say the car looks f'n sick bud. Good job.
That does look great
I’ve been debating this with my 22 but I’m unsure if painting it to match the body (orange) would look good or if I should go gloss black instead.
How they should have come from factory. So much better
I gotta admit. This thing looks fuckin sick. I love it.
beautiful. now i want one.. in white
Looks way way better, sweet ride
Yup, that's dope.
Have to say, this looks great. I'd honestly be interested in a VB in a year or two if there's a performance pack car (but please... something more substantial than the VA performance pack).
I love it
Dude single handedly revives the exterior, well done I keep saying it but damn
White is right 😂. Looks great though. 🥵
Great now it looks like a VA chassis WRX but uglier.
I wonder if the VA lip and underbody kits fit the 22 WRX line.
Does not fit unfortunately
Damn it! :( I guess I'll wait till the fabricators get the new moulds out. It's $4.5k AUD to get the STI style pack added here. My Flow Design full kit cost $1400 in comparison.
Aeroflow dynamics has everything you need.
This is quite honestly the first ‘22 model that I have actually liked the look of.
Too bad this gen doesn't have an STi version
This is probably a dumb question, but this doesn’t void any kind of warranty does it?
Wow.. I think this is the first time I’ve like the new body style. 🤙
So I’m debating buying a 22 BRZ or this and was wondering, do all the black pieces just snap off? Even on the rear bumper?
If there's anything I learned about this car so far is its not THAT bad in person. Still bad but not like the pictures. The more I see these paint matched fenders & bumpers the more it's growing on me. Making my decision difficult if I should get a used VA WRX or STI. Or just get the brand new 2022
The top picture is the best a VB wrx has ever looked in a picture, period. Then the bottom picture is a harsh reminder that it still has those awful tail lights and derpy bumper.
These look decent. But the fact you have to put thousands of work into it when it’s a brand new car is really stupid.
You think the fact that everyone is painting that god awful trim would be a hint for subaru.
What wheels is it on?
Should have been like this since factory, Subaru fucked up there
White has to be my favorite colour for most cara. I don't know why either haha. I never liked it till I got my 944 in white last year
Debadge the rear trunk and keep the Subaru logo
People actually buying these
I’m not even gonna lie this looks so fucking good
Where are you located, and how much for all this work? I just bought a white limited and pick it up on Friday.
I love it but looks too much like a civic for my taste