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Comments
Ken
There are 100s and 100s of pics of subies off-road with the big boys down in the pine barrens of NJ.
-mike
And all it took was about 100 more horsepower than Mike, Ultra-High Performance tires on 17" rims, upgraded brakes and new swaybars.
Yes, a very small victory, I know.
Frankly, in its own stock class, we WRXs get pretty consistently owned by Integra Type-Rs. And even GC8 RSs with good drivers (like Billy and Zeph). Unless a WRX has new coilovers and R-compounds.
Anyway, props to Mike for encouraging me to start. I'm pretty hooked. Thanks, Paisan!
-mike
After burning my fingers on the hood prop rod I figure this engine does get HOT and dino may not be the best thing if I want to keep this car a long time!
Interestingly called 3 dealers to see what they charge, one doesn't carry synthetics in stock (!!) but will charge me the usual oil change price if I bring my own (Its $18 for 5 qts Mobil 1 at Walmart right now or 4.50 for quart bottles). Another charges $50 which seems like regular oil change plus half decent cost of the oil, third was $67, major markup!
Since I got a 2yr Subaru service contract thrown into my purchase I think I will go to the first dealer and bring my Walmart Mobil 1. I should check out Costco first though. Actually if anyone knows of any retail chains which sell Redline or Amsoil I'd appreciate it because every car place I have checked in my area don't or they never heard of it!
Nice to have met you :-)
... I know I met you at the AutoX
Sadly, now I can't put the name to the face :-( [Getting old].
You going this Sunday?
-Dave
ah yes, now I got the face to the name
I'll see you there too. I'm registered, but I've got to wait and see if my jammed index finger (all swelled up) will bend by then. Otherwise, I'll just be spectating.
-Dave
Bringing in Series2000 oil may cause some red tape (warranty if there's a problem) to appear, as it is not API certified whatsoever.
That's a question for Patti and company, even though the answer is pretty obvious.
My dealer installed Amsoil Series 2000 in the rear diff for me since I couldn't remove the plug.
You have to get Redline and Amsoil from a performance shop or online. Check their websites or do a search on i-club.com.
-Dennis
At 80mph I'm running about 3000+ rpms and the car seems to be asking to be shifted one more time.
Are there any aftermarket or JDM kits available to get a six speeder?
Have a good 4th all!
Sean
IIRC, I've seen some recent posts about 6-speeds
-Dennis
I swear that everything runs better but it could be just my imagination. Regardless, it makes me feel good that I am giving my cars the best chance for a long life.
Mike
Jim
-Dennis
As for automatic....for me, no matter how sweet the deal, I wouldn't be tempted. Manual all the way!
Jim
I have to wonder if they will continue to offer it in the US at all. I've only heard two people give it good marks. One of them, an owner, is very vocal here; the other posts on occasion but has told me offline that it's better than its reputation.
As the vast majority of vehicles sold in the US have ATs, either those who post online are disproportionately MT owners or many are closet AT owners.
Ed
Most of the "bashers" that I have seen (both here and elsewhere) have a very rudimentary understanding of what they get with the Automatic equipped WRX (unlike all other Automatic equipped Subarus) and thus indulge in bashing, without much factual basis to back up their arguments.
There was a fellow on i-club who was bashing the WRX-Automatic as a FWD, "since it drives with 90% of the power on the front-wheels" !!! The ignoramus had to be corrected that unlike the other Subaru-Automatic-equipped vehicles, the WRX gets something special. It drives with 55%of its power on the rear wheels, unless more power is needed, front or rear. It transfers 85% of the power to the rear wheels while accelerating, and does the reverse while braking, something that that ignoramus and most other MT posters in that forum was completely un-aware of. It also has a Torque-sensing Center differential working along with 6-plate heavy-duty electro-mechanical transfer clutches (a lighter duty version of the Rally hardware which no other Subaru - including the Manual-WRX gets) - again something another ignoramus was un-aware of, since he had only heard of "other Auto-Subaru" systems, which can be converted into a FWD vehicle by disconnecting a fuse, unlike the Automatic-equipped WRX that is always and permanently in AWD.
So, basically, take all this "bashing" with a few bags of salt. It may be out of ignorance.
Later...AH
Ed, I think it was you that said you were surprised at the number of autos at the RalliSpec meet (100 total Scooby's!).
At the last Woodbridge meet I attended, two out of 20 or so WRX's were autos. One guy auto-x's his and another is a tech at a Subaru dealer. He told me he got the auto because he has seen too many repairs on the manuals.
AH - I'm still waiting for a source for the 85% rear power on the VTD. ;-)
Someone recently posted (Crew-Future Models IIRC) an Australian newspaper article about the Liberty with VTD (our Legacy). It said the torque split can go up to 50/50, which is the same thing that Patti posted a while ago. http://www.autoweb.com.au/start_/showall_/id_SUB/doc_sub0207011/article.html
-Dennis
Dennis: you not only agree with me, but you also remember my observations. Very astute! ;-)
I may go out on a limb a little and jump to the conclusion that an automatic WRX isn't a bad choice for many people. It's very apparent that the car isn't meant to be a stoplight or quarter-mile drag racer, but an all-weather road car designed to do more than go in a straight line. However, for those times that you're forced to go in a straight line - very slowly - the econobox nature of the car may actually be to your benefit.
The majority of people can't afford to have a stable of cars at their disposal. I feel very lucky to own two even though one is 40 years old and really more of a hobby than a reliable daily driver (though I've been tempted to put it into service that way). A WRX - manual or auto - may not be all things to all people but IMO it can come pretty close. That's why so many people of all ages have begun to flock to it.
Ed
The AT isn't that bad, but it is especially rough on a non-modified WRX who wants fast launches. After having driven both on the auto-x the AT was difficult to get into a groove with for that type of racing.
-mike
-mike
How does it compare to Mobil 1?
I getting ready to switch over to synthetic and am wondering which way to go.
I've used Penzoil for years with no complaints, just want to be sure to use the best I can get.
Thanks in advance!
Ken
Do any of u guys hear a sound out of the front suspension? Sound more like that of a rusty suspension. I have suddenly started hearing this sound from my 2 month old wrx. It basically happens whenever the suspension comes into play. I can hear it when it's quiet outside and i am driving at a low speed. Like in the evening when i get into my apmt complex compound.
I got the car checked by the service guys. After driving a couple of new wrx's from the lot, the servicing guys concluded it was a normal sport suspension sound. I personally never heard it bfore in my car. Comments??
-mike
-juice
Do any of u guys hear a sound out of the front suspension? Sound more like that of a rusty suspension. I have suddenly started hearing this sound from my 2 month old wrx. It basically happens whenever the suspension comes into play. I can hear it when it's quiet outside and i am driving at a low speed. Like in the evening when i get into my apmt complex compound.
I got the car checked by the service guys. After driving a couple of new wrx's from the lot, the servicing guys concluded it was a normal sport suspension sound. I personally never heard it bfore in my car. Comments??
PadreWRX's is modified. He has a torque-stall converter if I remember correctly.
Stephen
Be careful with those brake stands folks. One auto i-clubber blew his tranny doing one of those. IIRC, he had made a few runs on the drag strip and did brake stands in the 8 second range. The service manual says it shouldn't be done for over 5 or 6 seconds.
-Dennis
Do some WRX owners have that invincibility mentality some accuse SUV owners (having AWD)?
THe reason I ask is, because my friend has always been an aggressive driver. Since getting the WRX, he's even more aggressive.
One rainy day, he was coming around a curve and lost control and slammed into a telephone pole. He blames the tires (Potenza RE92), but not his driving habits.
I'm not sticking up for the RE92's, but I believe these accidents would happen the same way with better tires, just at higher speeds.
Hope everything is ok with your friend.
Just my .02
Rachel
I liked the feel of the gears although that titanium knob was too small. Plus, I noticed that because the car I test-drove had been sitting in the sun, the knob got way too hot! So I decided to get the short-throw but have the dealer put the old knob back on (got everything installed yesterday).
However, the new short-throw feels really stiff when shifting. I know it requires more effort but the one I test-drove (and that car had only 28 miles on it) was not as stiff. Is this something that will ease up as time goes on? For those of you with short-throws, have you noticed this?
--Sonya4
Before you push a car, know and learn the limits of the car, the tires and yourself.
Do you know if your friend stayed on the accelerator? That usually helps keep the car under control in a slide.
Sonya - I believe a few people have said that the short-shifter requires slightly more effort.
-Dennis