What do I need to know about automatic WRXen?

We've decided that we're going to severely cut down on the number of cars we currently have and make do with three to four for a little while[1]. Basically, the wife's Range Rover, my HPDE and fun driving Miata and, well, something else that I can use as a year-round DD. Essentially I just don't have the time to maintain as many cars as we have right now so we're trying the "fewer but better" approach.

Anyway, the third car we're looking for would be sporty, AWD and ideally automatic[2]; one of the cars that would fulfill the requirements would be an auto WRX. Are these even worth considering compared to a manual one? Does one lose a lot performance-wise with these? How do they hold up to mild tweaks?

The other two options are a 996TT with tiptronic or an Evo 8/9 (yeah, I know they're manual only).

[1] Anybody want an '88 BMW 325ix or a C4 Convertible [2] Wifey refuses to drive anything that doesn't have a slushbox

The 4 speed auto in the WRX is pretty bad, I'd look towards a Legacy GT with the 5 speed auto instead.

toconn wrote: The 4 speed auto in the WRX is pretty bad, I'd look towards a Legacy GT with the 5 speed auto instead.

Totally agreed with this. The shift programming and the boost lag do not play well together. 80% of the time the car felt like it had no steam at all; the other 20% it was wailing its lungs out because boost and downshift both arrived at the same time, after a notable delay for both.

What toconn said. The 5speed auto in the 2005+ legacy is much better for a daily/fun car.

I guess that's the WRX out. Don't want a Legacy either.

Uh... yunoaudiA4?

Really, sounds like the perfect candidate. And if you wanna have fun, you can really wake them up (like the wrx) with a few simple mods. And the avant is downright sexy IMO.

My wife considers a station wagon grounds for divorce.

Plus, I'm not a big fan of Audis, not to mention that I haven't found someone up here who specialises in them.

OK, I admit it - I'm intrigued by the idea of the early 2000s RS6, but that's more or less it. Maybe an S8 that was looked after really well, but that's already pushing it.

just sold my auto wrx, the trans isnt programmed well at all, turbo lag is really bad

I know most people arent comfortable with autos and wouldn't tear into a car they just bought....but if you are still thinking about an auto wrx, there is a Transgo shift kit for the 4eat. It works pretty good on the 4eat and can be had for we'll under $200. It doesn't do much on the Forester Xt 4eat though.