Well according to the previous owners dyno numbers the R is faster. It put down 300/320 and my wrx was on a street tune that came in at 284/302. Butt dyno tells me the R definitely pulls harder, but the top end feels to be a little less powerful. As far as driving impressions go the R is in a different class. I love everything about the R so far, but i think that also comes from me being tired of the "race car" feel from the wrx...there really was no comfort to the thing and it was pretty loud. The clutch I put into the wrx was too rough and shifting wasnt nearly as smooth as it is in the R.