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Comments
Ross
The GT would have trouble light to light due to wheelspin, and I'm sorry but unless you get special 'performance packages' (i thought it was stupposed to be a performance car?) the handling isn't there.
Yep, gotta love a car that still uses a solid rear axle in 2002.
Yes you can can very easily drop a supercharger into a mustang and get some really good speed, but it's still not as balanced a car as a WRX. I'm sorry, in overall performance it wins hands down.
The WRX is not a muscle car like a camaro and mustang, it's a performance car. Skidpad and 1/4 mile times do nothing to illustrate overall performance. A good skidpad rating doesn't mean the car can transistion well or has good balance. If you were to take these cars down a twisty country road, the WRX would leave them behind, no question.
The only think i see when I look at mustangs and camaros are bland styling, horrible interiors, and technology that couldn't be bothered to join the present day (i'm not talking about the engine, i'm talking about body and suspension).
Anybody can go fast in a straight line. There aren't many that have the balance to keep the performance once you get off the racetrack or dragstrip (i.e. real life).
I get what you're saying about the WRX being "different" in very satisfying ways (technologically advanced, nice styling, AWD) but I simply can't agree thats it superior. Too much of a blanket statement.
In the real world, sure there are going to be conditions where the WRX is going to have some advantages over a RWD car like the Mustang or Camaro. Like in the rain, or over incredibly bumpy pavement, or on a dirt road. But having owned a 5.0 Mustang AND the WRX, I can tell you which one I would chose to win a race, and I wouldnt chose the WRX unless it was in one of those 3 conditions.
I have raced a Camaro (regular Z28, not even the SS) and had a very hard time keeping up on a twisty road. That is some real-world testimony that those cars kick [non-permissible content removed]. I personally think the guy wasnt driving his Camaro as hard as I was driving the WRX. I had to late apex, and drift the corners to keep with him.
If you want to see some pics of the road I was on, go here;
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/rex_ruthor
Ross
However, this is hardly a defensible position. The best performing cars will tend to have high levels of grip and/or be fast in the quarter. Thats just a no-brainer.
Saying that handling is all about one measurement is of course, not a true statement either.
But to put down a Mustang or a Camaro for its handling capabilities...well that just seems like it would have to come from someone who is unfamiliar with the car, and who has an ill-informed bias against it. To paint them as quarter milers with poor handling is an inaccurate description at best.
Take a Z28 and a Mustang and a WRX to any racetrack and this will be the finishing order:
1. Z28
2. Mustang GT
3. WRX
Sorry, but thats just reality. I love my WRX as much as the next WRX owner does, but its not the only fast, good-handling car out there.
I would think the WRX would kick [non-permissible content removed] in the "Bomber" class, but I'm not sure about the "Sportsman" class or above. What are your thoughts on this?
Ken
I'm probably biased because of where i live. I basically live in the area that the WRX was made for. State roads that are falling apart, and have many decreasing radius turns, very steep hills, and narrow lanes. These type of roads are what 99% of my driving is done on. They are also the type of roads that cause a RWD car without IRS to loose control if they go too hot in or out of a turn. One nice bump and your drive wheels loose traction with the road surface and you are fighting for control.
That's not to say that they wouldn't perform better than the majority of the cars that are on the roads, just that I would take my WRX in these conditions any day over these cars.
And I do agree with you...for bad roads and inclement weather, a WRX is the perfect car.
(especially for your winters, with the snow and ice)
WRX = sitting sipping hot cocoa @ the lodge
Vette = in a ditch awaiting a tow-truck
Stang = sitting on the side of the road awaiting Ford's Road Side Assistance for tranny or other FORD engine failure
Also on just about any road that isn't a track-like surface the WRX will outlast the vette or stang, at the very least it will keep up with them if the vette/stang plans on staying on the road.
-mike
On dry ground, the Supra stayed flat as a board when hard cornering, but the WRX is way more fun, more manueverable, more responsive, feels much quicker through twisties.
BTW, it is amazing how much the boy racers are willing to pay for Supras. Thank you "Fast and Furious".
Mike
DjB
I think NBC Dateline is supposed to air crash test results tonight - I thought they said the Impreza was one of the contestants.
-juice
They gravelled the roads. My poor WRX's front end got chewed up big time. I've never seen paint do this. It looks like I tore through a gnat swarm, but it's actually paint that's been chipped off the bumper.
On the plus side, the packed snow/ice didn't even cause a twitch in the car, even with stock tires.
Speaking of which... has anyone here switched to the Dunlop SP5000s? I have heard good things about them.
Oh, and hi. This is my second post, although I've been reading for a couple months.
aric
I'm not sure how it's applied (I think it's one of those things best done by an installer) but there appear to be a few different levels of coverage (from "just front bumper and hood edge" to "all surfaces visible from the front of the car")
DjB
Anyway, Stongard is the "deal". I plan on getting on my WRX in short order. I also noticed a lot more rock chips from the gravel (they call in sanding, LOL) that is used during the winter snow spells we have and in the mountains. I also was the unhappy recipient of another windshield crack due to this crap. Oh well, I already have to replace the windshield from an earlier event so...
Stephen
I remember the discussions of this strongard before... did anyone determine whether or not it affected the paint long term?
As far as broken windshields: mine broke in september, about a week after I got it...
Is there a good compromise out there between road noise and performance that anyone has uncovered or am I asking to have my cake and eat it too?
Thanks for your input!
Ed
Stephen
When I chose my tires, the most important thing was performance followed closely by noise level. My research concluded that Toyo T1-S tires and Dunlop SP9000's will offer better performance than the RE730's with less noise than the RE92's. Of course, these are more expensive than the RE730's but if you want your cake eaten, that's the price to pay. I'm definitely a Toyo believer as I have outfitted my Miata and WRX both with a new set of T1-S tires. And the other big benefit, the Toyo tires are lighter than average. Less weight -> better wheel control over bumps.
As far as 17 vs 16 inchers, I opted for 17's. Allows a wider tread tire, looks better, and more choice of nice lightweight wheels. I echo the sentiment that the WRX was *made* with the 17's in mind since that's the standard wheel size in many other markets outside of N.America.
-mike
He followed me off the expressway and fortunately we found ourselves a red light. Was the Car and Driver test bonafide (S4, vs WRX, vs 330i)? Is the WRX as fast to 60 mph as the S4? I got a good start at the light and a half car length lead with a good 1-2 shift at 6800.
By 55 mph, he was still the 1/2 car length behind.
CD was right on about the test results - granted I'm biased but the WRX is one heck of a performance bargain for the price!!!
-mike
Ross
a few things that increase risk:
intoxication
young and/or ineperienced drivers
crowded streets or bad road conditions
poor judgement
Stephen
If you can't comment about "exercising your WRX" here - where can you you?
Let's all drive 90 hp cars and excorcize all our evil speed demons - wouldn't the world be boring!
Ed
-mike
See if they have an import night. You'll even get a time slip to earn bragging rights, and you'll have a helmet plus all the safety equipment you'd ever need should something happen.
Capitol Raceway near DC charges just $20, and you can usually get at least 4-5 runs in a day. Plus, win two races and you make your money back. Win three or more and you actually start to earn money.
Which is good, because you'll need a new clutch after a few visits! :-)
-juice
What factors? The light turned red, they went, the WRX was ahead of the S4. What more do you want? You track enthusiast people need to relent a little bit. Last time I checked you dont need a million dollar liability policy to drive on the street. So which is more dangerous?
Not only is street racing illegal, it's quite dangerous, and yes it is far more dangerous than driving on a track. Period, end of story. The Track is a controlled environment with safety personel on hand in case of anything. Do all the street racing you want, just don't post about it and brag about [non-permissible content removed] like that.
-mike
Ross
Where can you do such things? Performance driving schools for one, preferably those that will let you use your own vehicle. The autocross crowd gets a good chance at that too. Some manufacturers will even let you do that if you pay enough for your vehicle (BMW's course in Spartanburg comes to mind). Unfortunately, most of us have that exposure limited to doing donuts in an empty mall parking lot during a snowstorm.
Shifting gears: I still have yet to drive a WRX, but was a passenger in one for the first time yesterday. That was not a good thing; I was afraid I'd like it too much and I did.
Ed
Stephen
-mike
Stephen
I've never driven the car, but love it anyway and want one. My wife is actually the one who really wants it, having formerly owned small, fast yet somewhat practical cars (CRXsi and Integra). Then we started having kids and she's about had it with the Accord.
My only concern is roominess -- how's the WRX for two small kids plus the usual groceries, weekend trips, etc.?
Also, I'm on the tall side and can't remember the last car I drove where my right leg doesn't constantly bang against the center console.
Thanks for your help and watch out for those S4s!
Good luck!
Bob
Stephen