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Comments
GM touts quadrasteer and has this guy doing a dangerous parking manuever that could kill the cows around him. Animal cruelty?
Nissan has Frontier ads where it's tossing mud every where. Tread lightly? Hello? Not to mention it's hilarious to see that live rear axle bouncing around uncontrollably.
The RSX ad is almost a carbon copy of the WRX.
What about Nissan's ads where the Maxima runs near the speed of light to keep up with the sun and even shed its paint? And Altimas spin out and do a 180 on a public road?
IMO the Subaru ad doesn't stand out nearly as much as most other ads. It's pretty tame in comparison.
-juice
bamawrx--Like your new ad concept. We could all work on it together!
juice--If you're 34 and considering yourself a "geezer," what the heck am I at 44?
Whatever, I don't think I was responsible enough to drive something like the WRX when I was in my 20s. You get a whole different perspective as you age. And I enjoy it even more now that I'm older.
--sonya4
When I wanted something fast, all I could afford was fuel efficient cars. Now that I can afford something fast, I want a practical and fuel efficient car.
-juice
sonya4-
Boys will be boys no matter how old. I don't think we ever grow wiser as we age. We just accumulate "battle" scars enough to remind us to not go there. ;-)
-Dave [geezing @ 43]
So when do you all use fog lights?
--sonya4
Yes, you are only supposed to use them when weather conditions dictate.
The only other reason people use them is because they think it looks cool.
I think I used them three times total in 11 months.
43 and soon to be behind the wheel of my silver WRX Sport Wagon too.
-Dave [patiently waiting]
We only have heavy fog a few times a year, and I don't find any value in the fog lights in actual fog, because the main headlights remain on, causing glare. I would think real fog lights would allow you to have only them on and the main headlights off.
Just my $.02
Paul
Several people had this strange need to race me as I passed them in the fast lane. One Chrysler, with some young punk driving, decided to move back into the passing lane in front of me and proceed to slow down, of course delaying my forward progress. Repeated flashes and left turn signal signs did not get him to move over. I decided to fall back in traffic where I then turned off my fogs and began to slowly move back up the line. I am sure he didn't realize it was me coming again this time as he moved over to let me pass. I could only shake my head in wonder.
I am all of 35 years old myself and I agree that I enjoy my wrx wagon more now than I would have in my 20's. Having three kids gives you a new perspective on life and how beating the guy next to you at a stop light is not the most important thing you can do (although it still is fun giving a bmw a view of my taillights now and then).
John
They do help a lot in the fog, mostly for seeing the edge of the road, (low, wide, beam).
Often, we can't drive around with our high beams on because of oncoming traffic. So fog lights light up the sides of the road better without blinding the oncoming drivers. Note: Fog lights go out when you turn on your high beams.
In this part of the country, there are nearly as many deer as there are humans, and when they are on the move, they don't look both ways before crossing the road. There are litterally hundreds of deer hit each year around here. Most the time, it's just the deer that is killed, but sometimes the results are worse. But there is generally always a lot of damage to the vehicle that struck it. Not counting, big trucks. They just need to get washed.
You can't drive 10 miles around here and not see a deer carcass laying on the road, or a huge blood stain splattered all over. And that's even considering, most of the carcasses are picked up and butchered.
Foglights have saved my butt many times. You see, fog lights, light up the sides of the road just enough, that usually you can see the deers' eyes first, (they are excellent reflectors) before he jumps out in front of you. It gives you just a little more time to react. They also help you see other animals and people thay may be walking or riding bicycles along the edge of the road at night. (this happens a LOT around here).
I ALWAYS have my fog lights on at night, and it's not because they look cool.
The idea behind fog lights is, they are supposed to cast a beam of light under the fog to allow you to see the road better, they are not (and they can't) designed to allow light to penetrate the fog to make it go away. Fog, naturally, reflects light, which is why you can't see past it.
Fog lights are GREAT!
Happy driving,
Ken
Long-winded, I know, but I'd still like to have them hooked to the parking lights.
JW
Ken brought up a really good point.
I have used fog lights occasion when there are a great deal of cars on the road at night, so that I am seen better. Sort of like with the third brake-light above the trunk, 4 lights tend to get noticed much more easily than 2. I tend to notice I get cut-off less at night with the fog lights on. Of course, once the road clears a little, I turn my fog lights off.
What I wish Subaru would offer in the US are rear fogs. I'm not a fan of two (looks too much like brake lights), but one single rear fog is very visible in poor weather.
And finally, as John mentioned, fogs do come in handy when you need to establish a stronger road presence at night. A set of four lights coming up behind one definetly says more than just two.
Ken
Now if you want some REAL fogs you need to look at Cibie, Hella, IPF in the aftermarket to get some actual usable fogs/driving lights.
-mike
I also like rear fogs. They really help the drivers behind you see where you are in heavy snow and rain. I don't like being rear-ended
I made my own rear fogs. I tucked 2 red LED clearance lights under the rear bumper next to the license plate. They are brighter than the tail lights. I switch them on when it's snowing hard to give me a little better visibility from the rear.
By the time the EVO comes out, the WRX Sti should be announced also. Then the real decisions begin.
-Dennis
Now's a good time to buy, I don't think you'll gain much by waiting. I've seen WRXs for as little as $22.1k new.
Try fitzmall.com. Sure enough, they have one in stock for that price. And that includes freight by the way.
-juice
I heard that the 2003 has a valve on its clutch that limits the clamping force, so that even with a clutch drop or speed shifting it won't fry the trans.
I also heard the 2004 would get an entirely new design, more robust.
-juice
He said there really wasn't a whole lot of difference between the new WRX and the new STi, until you get above 5500 rpm. The WRX sort of gives up at that point, were as the STi continues to build power. In either case, it sounds like both models should have excellent power characteristics for "daily driving" (unlike the S2000).
Bob
For Manuals, there will be less of a turbo lag, but you will have less of an RPM range to work with. Also, MPG will probably suffer with the lower level power band (more use of the turbo when cruising.).
I find that subzero upgrade pretty interesting. Figure 1K installed for 30-50 more HP. Seems like a neat add-on if it doesn't affect the reliability of the car or cause it to die an untimely death!
What are your opinions of upgrades like the Vishnu subzero?
Definitely sounds like the new engine is tuned for better power with an automatic. But I'd prefer it even with a manual, 'cause you'll use the 2000-4000rpm range even in casual driving.
-juice
They can't void your entire warranty if you do something to a certain part. But if that part causes any problems, or they suspect it does, you would have to replace the stock parts.
Vishnu is highly respected for reliability and service. Shiv, the owner, really stresses tuning and testing (i.e. - not just throwing on 300 hp and not worrying about it
Back to the warranty issue. If you do any mods and your car starts running funny, you should contact the vendor to sort it out. Some dealers will at least look into the problem and charge you accordingly, some won't even look at the car if it's been modified.
-Dennis
Bob
-juice
How's everybody doing ? Haven't been around for some time.
You almost had me, I was starting to get the chills!
I was gonna ask you to check out a '99 Miata for me in Joppa, but lost interest when I found out the mileage was really high. How are things? You get any show yet? We might on Friday.
-juice
I think you're right on that. 2003's are already for sale.
I recall reading somewhere that the MYO4 should arrive as early as March. I sure hope so, and with more options too (like a winter package).
-Ian
-juice
However, I bought the WRX not just because it can run fast in a straight line, but because of the total package. Subaru Impreza's are known to be very solid dependable cars, with racing heritage and an AWD, all of which makes it a unique car in the market. The Neon is still a FWD car which automatically compromises its driving feel. FWD cars inherently have limitations that are beyond the numbers and specs. My brother owned a Neon and the quality of that thing was pitiful. The new ones aren't that much better.
Car and Driver said it was fast and handled well, but seemed crude, stiff riding, loud, very rough around the edges with gobs of turbo lag and some torque steer. They made it sound like a boosted and stiffened Neon (go figure!).
- One final thing, because of being FWD with no LSDs, it is easy to spin the wheels when putting the pedal down and turning.
If the late 60's early 70's didn't teach us anything else, simply putting a bunch of HP in a car doesn't create anything but 0-60 #'s. The "N" may have potential but the couple I've been in were tinny & noisy and sure didn't handle well.
- Hutch
- Hutch
I wouldn't buy it, but I'm glad it's out there as a competitor
I traded the Neon for an Outback Sport in 1997. The Dodge service depts. were lousy and so was the car. Automobile magazine even regretted naming it as car of the year a few years later.
-Dennis
-mike