The Subaru WRX delivers an impressive 235 HP for the road while staying within the average household’s budget. Its design would eventually change how people embraced the tuner car market, especially with the ease of customization that comes with the design.
Although several different versions of the WRX are out there, waiting to be driven, three of them stand out to Subaru fans. They are the Bugeye, the Blobeye, and the Hawkeye.
These three versions stand out as a performance car design because the parts availability for the vehicles is enormous. You’ll discover an extensive support network, along with plenty of coverage in movies and TV shows.
These three WRX models have developed a cult following like few other vehicles have ever managed. That’s why it is essential to understand the differences between them.
The Subaru WRX: The Bugeye, Blobeye, and Hawkeye
Subaru started making one of the most modifiable and recognizable sports cars for the road in the 1990s. The WRX eventually featured three redesigns that changed how the headlights look when viewed from the front. The Bugeye, Blobeye, and Hawkeye terms describe the vehicle’s physical appearance.
WRX stands for “World Rally Experimental” to honor the automaker’s rally heritage.
One of the unique attributes of the WRX design is the unequal length headers on the 2.5L EJ 205 engine. It might not be considered as reliable as some passenger vehicle engines, but it is an impressive specimen compared to performance cars and turbo engines.
Although that means you don’t get the perfect fit and finish for each model, you’ll still get everything you want for a high-performance outcome.
Virtually every effort Subaru made with the WRX lineup emphasized the motorsport industry. As a production vehicle, those qualities separated it from almost every other make and model offered to consumers at the time.
When you take a closer look at each model, you can see the benefits that come from driving each one.
◼️ What Is the Subaru WRX Bugeye?
The Subaru WRX Bugeye was offered for sale for three years: 2000, 2001, and 2002. It’s out there as the second generation of the Impreza, delivering the automaker’s fresh take on a high-performance design.
The Bugeye features the EJ205 Boxer engine. You’ll get a max HP rating of 247 while using either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. It comes as a sedan or a wagon, allowing Subaru to market to almost everyone.
If you want the rarest version of the Bugeye, you’ll need to get a first-gen model from 2002. It was sold in the United States for a brief time before the next design refresh went out to the dealerships.
This WRX delivered the proof that Subaru knew what they were doing when they released this vehicle.
◼️ What Is the Subaru WRX Blobeye?
These WRX cars made their debut at the end of 2003. The style is intended to provide something that says it is fast, sporty, and modern.
The Blobeye WRX also created a new aftermarket body design market. Since it naturally sits lower to the ground and uses squared parts, you could adapt the rally-inspired look into virtually anything.
It would become the first Subaru of its type to create more tuning markets for off-road use. Not only does it function well as a racing vehicle, but it also offers the comfort you’d expect for a trip that requires all-day driving.
The quality control structures for the Blobeye are more stringent than they were when Subaru introduced the Bugeye. You get an upgraded gear shift throw with this investment, high-performance seating, and tons of personality.
Arguably, the best feature that comes with the Blobeye WRX is the different traction setups. You have several options that let you alter where power gets delivered. It would be the first vehicle to create commercially viable options that let drivers set up the chassis of what they drive.
◼️ What Is the Subaru WRX Hawkeye?
The Hawkeye WRX received its introduction in 2006. It was only sold through the 2007 model year, but it got lots of updates.
The car has an entirely new front-end design from its predecessors. The EJ225 engine is another improvement, giving drivers a 2.5L, 250 HP beast to use that delivers 5,800 RPM on the highway.
Subaru changed the look of the WRX at this time to give the vehicle a more aggressive stance. It’s squared-off more, similar to a classic sports car, with improved braking.
These elements produce better stability within the chassis for a performance-oriented experience with added rigidity around turns and curves.
If you went with the Hawkeye STI, you’d get a power increase all the way to 300 HP, giving you about 10% more than the automaker’s closest rival. The STI offers a more substantial transmission and clutch with an upgraded center differential to handle tons of hard driving.
When you want the best WRX to drive, you’re almost forced to buy the Hawkeye or the STI because of how well it goes.
Potential Problems with the WRX Lineup
Although the Hawkeye STI is often considered the best model in the series, all the WRX versions face a similar slate of potential problems to manage.
That starts with the reliability problems that creep up in the vehicle and engine once it hits 100,000 miles.
Some drivers are forced to replace the engine or change different components because they don’t get the same performance outcomes.
If you have a WRX at home or want to own one, these are the common engine problems you can expect to possibly manage.
1. Internal Engine Failure
The moving parts within the WRX engine can sometimes overheat because of the race tuning or overuse that occurs. You’re more likely to see this issue develop when you work outside of the stock settings.
For most drivers, the weakest points for the engine are the pistons, rods, and rod bearings. As you get closer to 100,000 miles, you’ll want to be more proactive with your approach with this vehicle because it can throw a piston ring without much warning.
It’s such a common problem that Subaru has even faced some lawsuits regarding the engine quality included in the WRX lineup.
If you want to stop this issue, you’ll want to stick with a conservative setup to avoid the pre-detonation problems. Some owners decide to upgrade the pistons, bearings, and rods right away as a proactive measure to prevent a breakdown.
2. Turbo Problems
The older WRX models tend to have some issues with the turbo, especially after tuning and modification. These vehicles were at the top of the industry at the time, but this technology has increased exponentially over the past decade.
When you put extra stress on a stock turbo, you can often end up coasting to the shoulder from the engine failure. They’re subject to a lot of wear and tear, which means they naturally stop working around 120,000 miles.
If you buy one of the latest versions of the WRX, you might get 240,000 miles out of it. That’s how much research and development Subaru has managed to incorporate into this lineup.
3. Engine Oil Leaks
Although every engine can potentially leak oil, the WRX models tend to have it happen more often around the main seals and oil pan gasket.
Subaru also has some problems with leakage coming from the valve cover gasket.
Most drivers experience these problems around 75,000 miles. If you live in a dry climate and don’t drive very often, the leaks could happen at any time.
You’ll want to have the Bugeye, Blobeye, or Hawkeye go through a thorough mechanic’s inspection before purchase to ensure you won’t be dealing with this problem right away.
I’ve found that it helps to keep the oil changed on the maintenance schedule to ensure the driving results meet my expectations. That’s why I stick with the Subaru SAE 5W-30 engine oil.
Since the bottle gets sold per the gallon, you’ll need to get two for the first fill since the WRX needs about five liters. Other brands offer something similar that they say are compatible, but I don’t risk it.
I never use anything by Subaru motor oil, which helps me avoid the leaking problems associated with the WRX lineup.
4. Engine Stutters and Misfires
The WRX rarely misfires because of that one specific issue. It’s a symptom of another problem that the Subaru engines tend to develop as they age.
Turbo engines are more prone to misfires than others because they can burn through the ignition coils or spark plugs faster.
If you experience an engine misfire, those two parts would be the first items to review when diagnosing a problem.
Most WRX drivers consider spark plug and ignition coil replacement as a standard maintenance task. I’d think about a change once I hit 50,000 miles on the vehicle.
Two additional concerns that cause engine misfires are carbon buildup problems and fuel injector malfunctions.
If your engine has 100,000 miles or more on it, you’ll want to inspect for carbon issues. This problem happens more often on the direct injection engines, but it is still an issue for everyone to review.
The fuel injectors can also perform inappropriately, which requires a replacement when performance starts lacking.
Since there isn’t any fuel flowing over the intake valves to clean them with direct injection, you might want to cover this issue first in some WRX models.
A Final Thought on the Subaru WRX Lineup
After driving all three versions of the WRX, the one that stands out the most is the Hawkeye. That’s because the Blobeye and Bugeye ride on similar platforms, use the same engine, and compete with the same rivals in the marketplace, such as Honda and Mitsubishi. The Hawkeye received many more new additions.
Subaru dropped the Impreza moniker from the WRX lineup in the 2015 model year. That’s why you often see the designation offered alone today, even though the Bugeye, Blobeye, and Hawkeye still have that name.
There is no question about the sporty nature of the WRX lineup. It’s a fun car to drive with its stiffer suspension, all-wheel-drive format, and turbocharged four-cylinder engine. If you can manage the potential difficulties that come with ownership, you’ll find that getting behind the wheel is a great time.
If you plan to modify or tune the car, I highly recommend staying on the conservative side of things unless you’re willing to upgrade the internals.