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Subaru Impreza WRX
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Comments
-mike
PS: I have an auto.
You'd really have to get used to it and anticipate the delay in traffic. Once the turbo gets spooled up though, you are firmly planted into the seat with a big surge of power. :-) The rear seats only have a pass through.
Dennis
That really showed me what a safe car it is too. I watched it fly all the way down from the top of the cliff. It didn't explode and none of the debris hit me. Safest car to to push of a cliff while unoccupied I've ever seen.
Anybody know where I can get some uses struts for an XT6? Mine are shot now. (Among other things.)
What does this have to do with the WRX forum? I don't know, but the names both have 3 characters, so I thought at least one person would find it interesting.
-mike
Comparing the WRX to my above mentioned cars,,is like comparing a 1974 Gremlin to a Viper. If you haven't bought it yet,,, don't buy it. You'd be better off with a Real SUV and your MR2. Good Luck.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/central2.cfm
I think it beat the Ford Escape's record
-Frank P.
I think I'll keep my MR2 for another year. I can afford to keep it and the WRX. The WRX is already ordered and will replace my Civic. I know that AWD doesn't assure good snow handling, but I just can't see the WRX being as bad as jackyl says. I guess I'll get to try it for myself and see how it is. I don't expect to get beaten by many Mustangs when the snow flies though. It's hard to take that one seriously.
Thanks
1) He was gunning it through the snow, spinning the tires all over the place, even awd will not work well if you are well into the turbo zone and not driving properly
2) The more likely item is the tires.
-mike
Dennis
I am the Auto WRX Wagon owner, who is deliriously happy with the Auto WRX. There is noticeable turbo lag (which would be noticeable in a manual transmissioned car too !!), but that does not detract from the driving experience, since the power comes on strongly, once the lag is overcome, which is near instantaneous. Also, if you plan to "really step on it", then the Automatic transmission has got an in-built "Power mode", which would propel the car forward with authority (I tested it during my test drive at the dealership with a demo car), while holding the gear. The sophisticated VTD AWD system of the Auto, certainly comes in handy for handling finesse. Incidentally, no other Auto Subaru (with the exception of the VDC H6 Outback), has the VTD AWD system, since they (other Auto transmission equipped Subarus), generally have a 90/10 Front/Back split in the power, unlike the 45/55 front/back split of the WRX Auto. Gives a slightly rear-wheel drive performance driving feel.
The handling of the car is GREAT and I love it. As for yourself, I would suggest that you take a test drive at a dealership and decide for yourself if you like it. Preferably, take it on a long drive in various road conditions.
Later...AH (Platinum Silver WRX Wagon owner - 555 miles)
PS: Incidentally, I also own a Torquey, refined and powerful Acura 3.2TL with the kick-[non-permissible content removed] DVD Navigation, which is slowly becoming my wife's car. :-)
PS: I finally drove an AT WRX that is broken in. Very different than the Green one I drove the first week they arrived from japan.
-mike
I saw the other day a ponk driving a WRX with 17" wheels on and it did look very nice. But for $28K spent on WRX, that ponk was starving because I saw him chewing a tarred Hamburg in a evening tinner time.
The new Outback sport wears the exact same tires I think. I wonder if Subaru has been using them for a while. Maybe someone with another Subaru model with the same tires has been through a few winters and can shed some light on what to expect.
WRX stock Potenzas snow performance and got
a lukewarm "they'll probably be OK". Was
planning to just wait and find out for myself but now I wonder. I've been reading about Nokian
NRW all seasons being a great true all season
performance tire. Anyone have any first hand
experience?
I was lucky enough to break my wagon in by putting
1100 miles on it in 4 days. I then did the first
oil change with Red Line Synthetic. The engine
sound seemed immediately smoother and the performance increasingly enhanced every day. I
just got back from another 850 mile trip through
the mountains and the car just keeps getting
better and better. I've now got 3200 miles on
my SKIREX and think I did the right thing.
Both stink in snow next to my current ride, a Forester. My Miata is pretty useless in the snow, too.
-juice
A 1995 $3000 Neon ACR can beat a WRX on most autocross courses. Doesn't mean I would choose it over the WRX.
And what is this about a WRX being poor in snow?
Saw a nice blue WRX wagon outside of Harvard Square today, still liking silver better methinks...
-B
-B
-mike
Here are the results...
NASA Auto-x, 2nd in class
http://www.nasanortheast.net/results/NASA-Autox8-9-29-01.htm
SCCA Auto-x Event #5 2nd place car in GStock, Event #6 2nd place car car in Gstock, Event #7 2nd place, All 3 times ahead of all but 1 WRX in class.
http://www.mohud-scca.org/Solo/2001/2001Season.html
Palisades auto-x, 2nd in G-stock, fastest subaru ahead of many WRXs and RSs
http://www.wscc.org/results/2001/ax20011021.htm
It's a shame you guys have the same attitude of the Honda crowd of wannabe racers we thought subaru people were above.
-mike
TWRX
Is it possible jackyl had the 17 inch ultra-wide low profile performance tires? They'd be worse than the 16" All Seasons for sure.
I'm seriously considering the WRX, when I get rid of my 95 Mazda Protege DX (its given me great service for 2 years, can only hope the replacement is 90% as good!) next spring.
My cousin has an 02 RS, and he drove through 5 inches of snow and it was nothing. He was absolutly amazed at the car! Ive seen plunty of videos of Imprezas in the snow to know that its a great snow car, RE92's or snowtires alike. Ive driven my car on a beach, and was amazed at how well it tracked and I am specifically planning on taking my car up to the snow this winter just to check it out
With the S4, I switched back and forth between Dunlop SP9000s and Dunlop Winter Sport M2s but, frankly, there are a lot of "in between" months in upstate NY where neither a dedicated summer nor winter tire will be optimal.
The way I see it, no matter what you do, you have to compromise and it's not worth the hassle and expense of switching back and forth, especially if you drive an AWD car.
The WRX wagon will simply use 16" Dunlop SP5000s all year round on the stock rims. I'm satisfied with them after 3500 miles. The SP5000 gets very good reviews for snow performance and they don't cost very much. I'm running 35 psi front and 32 psi rear and that works pretty well for handling vs. ride comfort.
Maybe BMW should team up with Subaru to obtain super high tech goodies. Like a working thermostat! :P
The WRX has more than 6" of clearance. The Audi A4 has only 4". So even with Quattro, the Subie has the edge.
Also, my wife's 626 V6 had RE92s and about 5" of clearance, and the FWD made it through more than 3". That's FWD, open front differential, so really it's 1WD at times, and I made it. It wasn't good in the snow, but you could make it.
Any one with a hint of driving skill could easily navigate a few inches of snow with a WRX (AWD and rear LSD with 6" of clearance).
-juice
I'll report back after a few more storms, but I've decided to go with Blizzak LM22's as a dedicated winter tire. The tread seemed to be the best for pushing away snow, where tires like the Pilot Alpin or Winter Sport are better for ice (which we don't see much of at 8,000 ft.)
We all know, it's the driver. With AWD and H-rated snow tires on the Rex wagon, I'm looking forward to a white Christmas, Halloween, Easter... heck, even 4th of July here. It's the tourists in the rented Ford Excursion's us locals worry about.
BTW, this is my first post, but I've been following along for about 6 months. Thanks to everyone for their advice and constructive criticism, it was tough to give up the bomber Outback, but I still have my AWD, still have a wagon, but have added FUN to the package.
-juice
The Michelin Pilot Alpin is the all around performance winter tire and is available in the stock WRX size. The Michelin Artic Alpin is the dedicated winter tire but I did not see it available in the WRX size.
Just wanted to clarify that the models you listed are winter tires just not as good in snow/ice as the additional ones I listed.
Stephen
-juice
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Stephen
However that car already handles incredibly well (better than the Impreza TS Wagon, AWD notwithstanding!) IMHO. And the engine is sweet, if a mite underpowered.
The MP3 (which spanked all competitiors in a recent (albeit limited) handling comparison, including the WRX, in autoweek, I think) will return in a year as an MPS (Mazda Performance Series) with an engine that whistles (Mazda's 2 litre turbocharged engine?) and should be pretty interesting. Especially if they decide to put that engine into a P5 body, or give us the engine the Familia Sport 20 (what the Protege 5 is caled in other parts of the world) has - 165 or so HP.
Hopefully they'll do away with the love-it/hate-it MP3 music system for something better looking/easier to use!