Subaru Impreza WRX

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Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oops, my fault!

    The WRXs there were quicker still, and much quicker than those other sedans, FWIW.

    Experience? Wasn't that his first time?

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    But first time experience at auto-x doesn't mean he's on the same level as others. He's a pretty enthusiastic driver on a daily basis :)

    -mike
  • bruticusbruticus Member Posts: 229
    My dad just sent me a text-paste from Subaru's site, announcing 0.0 financing on all '03 models.

    I assume 0.0 is for 36 months, but have asked my dealer if rates have been lowered for the 60 and 48 month groups (say, from 3.9 and 2.9 respectively to 2.9 and 1.9)

    Anybody have any info on this?

    DjB
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Tried a Forrester already, albeit a 2000 or 2001 model. It was very short of front leg room for me. Just can't find a happy medium, can I?? :)

    With all the snow we've been having lately in MD, an AWD car might not be a bad idea...
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Subaru.com doesn't specify length, they just say length is limited.

    "...Now through February 28, 2003, all 2003 Subaru Legacy®, Outback®, Impreza® and Baja® models are available with special financing as low as 0.0% APR*. All 2003 Subaru Forester models are available with special financing as low as 0.9% APR. In addition, any Dealer Incentives available may increase the savings on select models! ...

    Hurry, you must take delivery from dealer stock between February 1, 2003 and February 28, 2003. See your nearest dealer for details.

    * 0.0% APR available on all 2003 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Impreza, and Baja models. Length of contract is limited. ..."

    -Dennis
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Since we're driving Pat crazy with OT, you guys can go to the Subaru Crew Cafe (an OT forum).

    It's just natural. Car nuts like to talk about all cars.

    -Dennis
  • sergemeistersergemeister Member Posts: 7
    it's 0% for 24 months.
    1.9% for 36
    2.9% - 48
    3.9% - 60
    There's a $500 dealer incentive on all Imrezas combinable with financing. However, this promo is from Subaru of New England www.subaruofne.com
  • bruticusbruticus Member Posts: 229
    My dealer just gave me the same info.

    Still, I could almost swing the combination of big down payment and big monthly payment in exchange for a fully-owned car after 2 years. I'd have to give up going out entirely, switch to generic foods, take a part-time job...

    Of course, if I finance over 5 years and pay as much extra as possible, I should be able to pay off the car in a lot less than 5 years without being under a financial proverbial Poesian Pendulum.

    DjB
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Serge will be happy to know. :D

    -Dave
  • vonbondsvonbonds Member Posts: 12
    Hello all. I have owned my WRX for 20 months and have 39K miles on it. It has a few scratches and makes a few noises but is running quite well considering the miles I am putting on it. Anyone else have a high miles WRX...what are your thoughts on it?

    Tom
  • ruralsubieruralsubie Member Posts: 2
    I have 43,000 miles on my 2002 RS. Yes it has a few scratches and one minor dent from who knows what. The ECU was re-programmed. Otherwise it has been an outstanding car. Love the handling and safety.

    sjs
  • crikeycrikey Member Posts: 1,041
    Anyone know how long the terms are for this APR?
    Also, what's the going prices of WRX Wagons these days?
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Another Serge????????? Cool! Welcome to the WORLD of SERGE !
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    I knew you'll be elated to know. :D

    -Dave
  • xcskierxcskier Member Posts: 34
    I just hit my 1 year anniversary on a WRX 2002 silver 5 spd wagon. I have about 21,000 miles, most of it highway commuting to work (32 miles one-way).

    So far, I love the car and have had no driveability issues at all. It went to the dealer last summer for a look at the A/C. At that time, it "chirped" loudly every time the compressor cycled on. I thought it was a belt or the clutch, but the dealer replaced the whole unit. Since it was under warranty, who was I to argue?

    Handling in mountain snow has been great. I put on true snow tires in the fall, and switch back to the RE92s in spring. The downside of this is that I'll take longer to wear out the RE92s before I can upgrade to something better.

    No noises or rattles to speak of. No drivetrain complaints.

    If I really rack my brain for problems, the only thing I can think of is that the in-dash cupholder routinely sticks or jams in cold (<10F) weather.

    I know... real WRX drivers don't drink coffee at the wheel!! :)

    I love the car and still grin occasionally when I get a chance to push it a little. I'm an old fart (43) with 3 kids 12, 10, 10 (twins) who whine when riding in anything else. The twelve year old is counting the months until he can have a turn.

    With a ski rack on top, the whole family of 5 fits for a day at the slopes. We look pretty darn zippy next to all the SUVs in the parking lot. I enjoy being able to maneuver around all the badly parked cars at the end of the day without having to jockey back and forth 10 times.

    I would buy another WRX in a second, if something happend to this one.

    Enjoy.
  • thedog4thedog4 Member Posts: 14
    I posted this on the problem page as well, but this page is read by more folks.

    I have a new 03 WRX Wagon that I have had for 2 weeks now. I am at the 500 mile mark (1/2 way to turbo-time!).

    I have noticed that during harder braking, there appears to be some violent shaking of the front end, as if the rotors are warped. Is this an ABS thing that I am not used to? Or have I found something strange?
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    Maybe this discussion has been had already, I don't know because I don't come here often.

    I am thinking that Subaru is about to blow it with the STI. They are about to introduce a wonderful ride affordable only to middle aged drivers yet with looks that only a 16-year-old could like. Who do they think they are gunning for? They need to tone it down so that those who can afford to buy it won't be embarrassed to be seen in it.

    Just MHO.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Bob,

    It may be warped rotors, or just rotors that are out of variance. I had a new Outback that did that too at about 500 miles, and it turns out that the rotors were not warped, just thicker in a few spots. The dealer machined them (took off very little material) and they were fine thereafter. If this is the problem, the brakes will feel fine at first, and then the vibration will appear as the brakes heat up from use after driving and stopping.

    Did you have any braking emergencies that would have led to warped rotors? Generally, you need to go real easy on the brakes in the first 1000 miles. If you had to do a panic stop, I can see this causing warpage.

    Either way, it's an easy fix and should only take a few hours at the dealer.

    If it was ABS kicking in, you would feel a light buzz/vibration through the pedal, but that's it.

    Craig
  • thickersthickers Member Posts: 15
    cinosweive, I wonder about the same thing. But it's easy to fix, since the main problem is that over-the-top wing -- just offer a sleeper trunk lid, or a WRX-style spoiler. They could even make it optional and extra. I'd have no problem with that.

    The greedier hood scoop is totally functional and I don't think it's particularly garish. The wing isn't functional except at performance limits, and how many are gonna buy the car for testing those?

    In case they don't give us the option, I talked to a dealer recently and he said the trunk lid of the redesigned 2004 WRX will fit the 2004 STi. I doubt we'd have to wait long for someone to usefully total their 2004 WRX and donate one of its organs to a parts retailer.
  • corkfishcorkfish Member Posts: 537
    This is something I've been complaining about since the introduction of the WRX. Mitsubishi has done the same thing with the EVO. They want to charge a price that would be appropriate for someone in their 30's, 40's or 50's, but they style it for a 20 year old who's seen the Fast and the Furious to many times. Unfortunately, there are enough teenagers and college kids with parents who'll buy these cars for them. I'm 43 and with the massive hood scoop on the STI, I'd feel downright silly driving around in it. People don't know or care if it's functional, all they're going to see is a grown man getting into something with a big scoop on the hood. Real shame.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I sometimes feel the same way about my WRX -- I'm 33, but sometimes it throws off the image of a teenage tuner car. Fortunately, I can leave those wannabes in the dust! My neighbor's kid has a 97-ish Civic, all tricked out with the big muffler and ridiculous (for FWD) wing. Still only has about 100 HP, but the kid thinks he can race Corvettes. Oh well, he's 17, and I was probably delusional at that age too. Of course, I had a Dodge Colt Turbo, and it really was fast!

    Ironically, while shopping for the WRX recently, I passed on the Nissan 350Z because it felt like a mid life crisis car -- too flashy for me. In comparison to that styling, the WRX is relatively innocuous.

    Now, I'm not sure what sports car grownups should be seen in!

    Craig
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    Bob, been there, done that. At 12000 miles on my wrx wagon it got the front end shakes upon hard breaking. Subaru paid to have the local dealer machine them. Only major problem to date (22,000 miles at present.)
    TWRX
  • thedog4thedog4 Member Posts: 14
    Thanks folks,
    I will take it in to get the rotors turns. Should not take too long, and it will save my tires.
  • sergemeistersergemeister Member Posts: 7
    Hi all,

    I have a question for the WRX owners who had the short throw shifter installed. I test drove about 5 WRXs and noticed that some cars had imprecise stick shifts. None of the cars had come even close to Honda/Acura precision. Does the shifting in WRX get better with time, or the short shifter can cure it ?
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Well, the short-throw shifter in my WRX is about the same as the one in my 97 Prelude, if that helps at all. I did test drive WRXs with the regular shifter, and thought the regular shifter felt a little less direct. The short throw shifter clicks right into gear. But, this kind of thing is subjective. I suggest you test drive a car with the short throw shifter to be sure.

    No doubt, Honda/Acura shifters are pretty much the benchmark for comparison.

    Craig
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    are slightly sloppy and rubbery. New shifter bushings and/or short shifter kit puts it back on par with the better shifters out there.
  • nschulman3nschulman3 Member Posts: 125
    My wife and I went to Cape May New Jersey this weekend. We live in northern nj and the ride was about 150 miles. The 2 feet of snow was no problem driving back. In fact, driving around the suburbs (stopped off at my friend's house in Toms River) was great fun. The car just goes. The only difficulty I had was leaving the bed and breakfast parking lot because it was unplowed with about 20 inches of hard snow. Still, just a few minutes and i was out of there.
  • sensei1sensei1 Member Posts: 196
    There will always be a kid in everyone. The good part is at this stage, drive what makes your clock tick, gives you an adrenaline rush and still have some money in your account for gas, insurance and maintenance. ;-)

    I've got the stock short throw on mine and like Craig said, you can feel it "click" in place. Though it takes some getting used to or maybe it was still too new at the time. My first month of driving around I'd miss 4th from 3rd every now and then but I think that was more because of being all pumped up with my new WRX. Now, 13k later, the car is still awesome IMO, even @ stock.

    Hey, you folks up in the north east, how's your WRX holding up in all that snow? I'd love to read some good WRX snow stories from you. I see nschulman had a great time in NJ.

    The WRX made front cover again in the April issue of the SCC mag. This time it did an all AWD head-to-head testing with the EVO VII, R33 Skyline, and the Audi TT (even had a wagon Bluesubie). Good reading, granted none of them were your everyday street car and none of the tests an average driver would do during commute hrs. on city streets. The picture of the Cobb Tuning WRX looked awesome with those 285/35ZR-18's.
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Yeah I saw that. :-) Unfortunately, the Cobb Tuning WRX crashed into a water truck. :-( I saw that nice wagon! :-)

    Not much excitement for me in the snow. I had a lot of things to do in the house so I didn't start digging out until 4:00 p.m. I was digging for 4 hours and I'm still not done!
    Drove to the train this morning on some partially and unplowed roads with no problems.

    -Dennis
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Having seen the STi in the flesh. It is not at all boy-racer looking. In pictures it looks very "racy" but in real-time once it's a bit dirty it'll blend like the rest of the cars.

    -mike
  • kevin111kevin111 Member Posts: 991
    I have the short-throw shifter. When I first got the car, it was stiff, seemed a little imprecise, and did require effort. after about 2000-3000 miles, the shifter smoothed out, and was more broken in. It seems to be more precise and quicker now.

    In terms of comparing it with Honda/Acura. After test-driving an RSX. You can not beat a Honda/Acura shifter! They are sublime! Of all the cars I test-drove, the RSX was the best, even over the BMW 3-Series I test-drove.
  • stoner420stoner420 Member Posts: 165
    We just got about 18" of snow here in Norwalk, CT, and aside from the shoveling part, I love the snow!! My car rocks! SUVs can eat my shorts! The WRX is the most awesome car I have ever driven.. my wife and her Accord are totally jealous!

    Why does every driver in a 2wd car feel the need to cut in front of me at every possible opportunity on snowy roads?!?! WHY WHY WHY!! GET THAT POS OUT OF MY WAY -- AWD COMING THROUGH!

    Frankly, I don't see why everyone is so down on the RE92s. I personally feel like they handle rather well, especially with the stress test they've been given with all the snow in the last few weeks.

    (and oh yeah, I want an STi wagon *SO* badly! :-(( Please Subaru please!! Pretty please with sugar on top!!)
  • robmarchrobmarch Member Posts: 482
    The S2000 is the best shifter I've experienced. If the short shifter kit gets close to the E46 M3 shifter, I'll be happy. Not as quick and precise feeling as the S2000, but had a solid, positive feel.
  • fslaugtsfslaugts Member Posts: 36
    I test drove the WRX last night. I don't usually drive standard shift but I wanted to purchase something that was fun to drive. I was not very comfortable with the shifter in the WRX. I had previously test drove Honda Accord, Si, Civic and Ford focus svt. I thought they all shifted better. I will try the short throw shifter in the wrx next because I really like the car other wise.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    So how does the WRX handle 24" of snow? Anyone in MD care to reply?? :)
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    The Civic Si has a real good shifter, as does the Accord, but I have a hard time believing the Focus SVT shifter is even in the same league.

    Civic Si is a decent car, about the same as a base-level Acura RSX without all the niceties, but it takes a lot of wringing to extract power from the 160HP VTEC engine. However, you can buy an Si cheap these days ($15K-17K) because nobody is buying them and dealers are anxious to unload. Some of my local dealers still have 02 models on the lot, selling for $15K.

    I have to say that the short-throw shifter in my WRX is quite good. I had a 97 Prelude and test drove the Acura RSX recently, and feel like the WRX shifter is right up there with those guys. As far as the overall driving experience goes, the WRX wins out by a long shout with me.

    Craig
  • anthony123anthony123 Member Posts: 3
    Hello Everyone,

    I guess I should feel lucky that it took almost two years of constant highway driving before I'd have a nick large enough to warrant windshield replacement on my WRX, but it finally happened this morning. Anyone here have any comments about their experiences with dealers and windshields? I'd like to stick with the Subaru OEM part, but it does appear to be a bit thinner than most glass I've seen.

    What has been the going rate for the part/labor? Thanks in advance!

    - Anthony
  • celica115celica115 Member Posts: 169
    You had better have it done by Subaru dealer. Outside should cost about $350 with part and labor. I had this happened on my Celica. The guy did not do a good job. The windshield was not completely sealed. The rain and wind noise was coming from the windshield when driving above 45mph. I think the labor is more important than the part.

    Luk
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    I don't think there is an "OEM replacement" windshield. My dealer uses the same glass shop that my wife has been going to for years (although different location). :-)

    -Dennis
  • infarctinginfarcting Member Posts: 1
    Just picked up a new Silver WRX for $3500 below MSRP, 1200 below invoice MSRP $25,728 and the Subaru 3.9 for 60 Month... The whole deal took 20 min after a 5 minute phone call..Here is the link if anyone is interested the the Cleveland Ohio area!!!! http://www.ellacottsubaru.com/en_US/AdWizardMainMenuNew_1.chtml
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Congrats on your new WRX! Now go back and hit "Delete" on one of your duplicate posts. :-)

    -Dennis
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I can tell you from experience that there is no OEM Subaru windshield. When you take your car to the dealership for glass replacement, they 'oursource' it to a glass shop as well, they don't do it right there.

    I would have no fear going to an outside place. If you have problems, you can always take it back to them and get them to fix it. Use a well-known glass place though, like Safelite or something, and you shouldn't have any problems.

    I had a loaner Outback wagon, and a pebble that was thrown up from the road put a 'starburst' in the windshield. I have had this happen to me literally dozens of times in my VW Jetta, and the windshield doesn't have a mark on it. Subaru has very weak glass.
  • redkey1redkey1 Member Posts: 270
    Anyone know of a reputable installer in the NorthEast who can do a WRX. I was planning on waiting for a 2004 w/ a factory roof, but with the deals available + financing I am not sure I can wait. From the info I've gathered, adding a MR cannot void a warranty and will not noticeably (I'm not a rally racer) affect the handling.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I went through the dealership and had a sunroof put in my 1999 Protege. The cost was about $1000, and it looked really good when done. It never leaked within the 38K miles and 2 years that I had the car, and I went through carwashes all the time with it. Also, it closed automatically when you turned the car off! :) The warranty was for the lifetime of the car too. Cost was about $1000. Ask your dealer for more details about it.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We used Adler & Mandell in Rockville, MD for ours. $900 got us a power roof that you can program to close when you remove the key (it impresses the heck out of my kids). It's also one-touch open/close/tilt, something no Subaru OE roof can do.

    Ours is an ASC model 750, a well known make and it offers a lifetime warranty. We love it. Follow this link and click Next a couple of times to see pix, you may need an ImageStation account.

    http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291761427

    -juice
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Mine was similar in operation, but it wasn't an ASC. I can't remember the brand name of it actually, but I liked it when I had it. The roof also slid outside the car too, which was better for me because I am 6'3 and didn't lose that much headroom with it.
  • redkey1redkey1 Member Posts: 270
    I would assume that it is a bit more diff to get one in a WRX than a Protege or Legacy.....
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I can order a windshield glass replacement for the SVX from a dealer...

    http://www.subaruparts.com/diag/?model=2&year=1992&style=- 4WD&body=&scn=6&category=650-A

    Not sure but I bet you could get OEM glass for the others.

    -mike
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    How would it differ in a WRX? A car is a car. The car might lose some structural integrity, but probably not enough not to be safe. Otherwise, no one would put in aftermarket sunroofs for fear of being sued.
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