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Comments
I have to admit, I think ABS is a great technology, but these comments make me nervous. My current car has no ABS and I've never locked the brakes, but have had some serious threshold stops. I would think that if the companies spent 1/10 the time looking at intelligent ABS that they spend on variable valve timing to get an extra 5 horsepower at 6500 rpm that the problem would be fixed already.
We all want more Umph but forget it has to stop some time.
-Dave
Second - Here in (sometimes too) friendly MN, almost every Rex owner I pass gives the standard issue nod/wave/thumbs up. Not sure if there is a special signal for "Let's race", but the only folks I've found trying to drag are the S4 owners trying to justify their expense. For the record, I did "lose" to a hopped-up, "riced-out" (why do this to a German sports car), blaze yellow S4. The kid looked like a confused, trust-fund baby fresh from the N'Suck style studio. I digress.
--Sean
-mike
Honestly I wish the WRX styling would remain the same. The bug-eyes have grown on me and distinguish the car from anything else on the road. (Somehow the look is acceptable on the new Mini and various Mercedes, go figure.) I wish the new Forester's looks would grow on me as well.
Would a "riced out" German car be "spaetzled out"?
Ed
-mike
The new '03 MB E-Class is a perfect example of how to execute the oval headlight theme properly, IMO. The main difference between the MB E-Class and the current Impreza headlight execution is:
• The E-Class front fender has a more pronounced taper, and the headlights are raked back at a slightly more sever angle. It's a very subtle change, but the results are astounding. You need to see a current Impreza along side a new E-Class, to really see what I'm talking about.
• Also, the new E-Class is a longer vehicle, which tends to make the profile of the car look even sleaker. There's not much Subaru can do about that, except make the front-to-rear profile-taper even more extreme.
All the so-called new images of the restyled new WRX *do* indicate a much more tapered front fender, which is good; I just wish they also incorporated the oval headlights into the new fender profile.
Bob
OT-
I saw Blue Crush last weekend and your comment kind of makes sense. There was a sort of close-up scene on a big wave. The shot didn't look like the star, nor her double (more bad digitizing?). The stunt double has a few cameos in the competetion part of the movie. Saw a Subaru or two in the movie too. :-)
-Dennis
-mike
Stephen
http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,777678,00.html
On topic, many if not most WRXes are blue.
Ed
Bob
rsholland "Subaru Crew - Future Models II" Sep 5, 2002 11:17am
Stephen - looks sharp, clean and still OEM, good job. The switch to clear looks real nice.
Yes the bug eyes do grow on you. When the WRX first came out I thought of it as real ugly. But after sitting on my heels nearly a year before splurging, they started to look better and better. Now that I have one, I say "my car is so ugly it looks pretty". Go figure. Gotta love the car.
Stephen
Yeah, that works. A bulldog on speed!
I don't know if Edmunds has a decal, it was just a thought. I think they have T-shirts, and I'd love one of those (hint, hint, hosts!).
The Impreza GC8's face looked nice dressed up in the RS, but the regular Imprezas looked very plain. Check out an old Impreza L, they were totally generic Corolla/Civic/Protege look-a-likes, not that that's necessarily bad.
I a summer with no great action flicks, IMO Blue Crush was among the better ones.
-juice
Ed
The styling is a bit overwrought, but it's all in good fun. Sure looks better than the current RS.
-juice
Anyway I love those bug eyes, never thought the WRX was ugly. Seems to me there are uglier cars on the road, if we want to go in that direction!
The vents could even be considered functional since they help cool the engine bay.
-mike
I'd spend as much seat time in a WRX as you can before committing your hard-earned $$. Then make a decision.
Bob
I had light pressure on the brake coming down a moderate hill, then braked harder just before the light. The asphalt was a little cracked at that spot but not real bad. My previous experiences have been on almost rippled concrete on the approach to some rail tracks.
Have had ABS in probably a dozen vehicles and the WRX is the only one to have this weird behaviour.
1. It is a fast car, (even if it's no muscle car).
2. It holds all my stuff and people, (not a muscle car strong point).
3. It rides great.
4. Excellent steering, Shifter, brakes.
5. It's squeak and rattle free.
6. It's different, quirky, it's also a homologated rally car.
7. Fun to drive.
I hope this provides some insight. My point is, you CAN transition form torque monster to small displacement turbo and still have fun but there is always a trade off somewhere. Incidently, that is a good price for a WRX. Maybe you could keep the 'stang for those days when you want to hear that V8 burble.
Good Luck!
-jimmys2
"thecat--how would you compare build quality and reliability between the RX and the WRX?"
The RX7 had a luxo feel to it. Very well built, solid, & tight. In the 3.5 yrs I owned it, I didn't have a single problem of any kind. The WRX, while very comfortable IMO, doesn't convey the same feeling. That said, I don't think it was designed to. To me, the WRX feels more purposeful. As regards reliability that remains to be seen. So far, so good.
- Hutch
Compared to a Mustang, it'll be quieter, more refined, and ride better because of the long-travel indy suspension (sort of the opposite of what the Mustang uses).
Engine feel will be night-and-day different. Mustangs have sort of an abrupt throttle tip-in, and immediate torque. They are easy to drive fast, but hard to drive smoothly. A WRX will build torque with rpm, though driven with skill it'll outrun the Mustang. They are smoother but require more skill to drive fast.
Just my 2 cents'.
-juice
Ken
Thx
its quite frustrating, i really want a WRX
October is traditionally the "fire sale" month for last year's models. Make sure the dealer has your number and tell him to call when he's ready to deal.
Make them come to you.
Give it a shot.
Don't just sit around waiting for your local dealer to lower his price. You may be missing out on a good deal just across the state line.TC
DjB
I'd consider taking the train to DC and driving back, seriously. It'll be broken in when you get home, as a bonus.
-juice
Can somebody explain the key differences between the AWD system of Subaru and Audi. Am I comparing apples with oranges or is the same thing. Can a quattro A4 be as quickly as a Impreza with tuning packages.
THX
The WRX also has a rear LSD which also splits torque and power between the two rear wheels.
I am not sure what the setup is on the quattro system, but know Subaru is very good when it comes to AWD systems since they have been doing it for quite a while and all their cars have AWD.
The WRX is much more sporty than an A$ (unless we are talking about the S4) but the A4 is much more luxurious with a nicer ride.
Audi used to have 3 torsen diffs, center, front, and rear, but that was heavy and costly. They now have a center Torsen and let traction control manage the front and rear axle.
But we went to a BMW Event with those ramps off roaders climb to test their locking diffys, and the Audi failed to make it up.
Then again, the WRX would too, because the front diffy is unmanaged. The VDC is the only Subie that could make it.
-juice
Also thx for the 10th digit info.
DO YOU KNOW IF THE 03 IMPREZA HAS ANY CHANGE FROM THE 02 MODEL.
tHX
Check out Subaru's homepage at www.subaru.com for a good description of VDC.
VDC is basically VTD plus a traction control system that can individually brake a wheel. VDC is probably the most advanced form of AWD Subaru offers today.
The 03 Impreza has very few changes -- a new color (yellow) and the addition of a key ring light.
Ken
Bob
At $22-23k, the WRX is just plain awsome if you don't mind the crappy interior. Although, this is not meant to be a luxury car, so its not a big deal.
Imagine this car with a chip... Phat!