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Comments
As far as the short shift option, I've only read of a couple of experiences w/it (on i-club)and those have been positive but to what degree it is an improvement is not clear.
The 17" wheel/tire aftermarket combos (not the obsurdly expensive BBS...) have been pretty much an across the board improvement. Actually, just upgrading the std 16"tire to something other than the Bridgestone Potenza is an improvement.
I opted not to get the upgraded sound system as the std system was fine enough for me and I could upgrade later w/aftermarket for much less money.
I did get the upgraded security system because I wanted the alarm. I didn't see myself spending the time & $ to get an aftermarket one...kind of the contradiction compared to the stereo question, :-)
I also got the auto dimming rearview mirror/compass combo. I had this on my 00'OB Ltd and learned that I didn't want to live w/o it.
The cargo net and crossbars I may get at a later date. I didn't consider anything else. The diffy protector wasn't even a concern for me as I plan on staying mostly on pavement. Hope this helps. BTW, I have a silver 5spd wagon and have about 1100 miles on the odometer...loving every minute of it!
Stephen
RE:Ateixeira
I once read a motor trend or somewhere saying the high silicone content of the new tires causes the shock , who knows i had just not heard of it in a cloth seat before, but i never heard of any one's g/f with silicone giving them a shock either :x
Btw, while at the Dallas auto show salesman told me he had a WRX as a demo, so i can't see how the dealers would refuse u guys any test drives ,,,,
regards,
DL
As for not going that fast, I personally know of several rather long stretches of road that are GREAT for high speeds (No on/off ramps, cant see the other direction, so cops unless its a aircraft just cant catch you :P)
When I was in Hawaii, Kawai to be exact, I saw THE FLATEST stretch of road I have ever seen! Great spot for speeding :P
The SVT is my #1 on list of "Must See and Test drive" cars... (My #1 choice is still the 2002 RS, but the SVT looks apealing, but the rental focus we have right now is disapointing... mostly cause of the seats)
I have nothing against a Leather seat option for the WRX/New Impreza since there was one before... But, I do have problems with people insulting what I consider to be the most cozy and best seats I have ever sat in.
The Differential protect is mostly for off-roading... so a piece of wood or large rock doesnt take off your diff :P
Huh? Why would the "feds" be on SOA because the WRX could top 130? Do they get on Acura if the Type-R tops 130? NO. Do they get on Ford or GM if their pony cars top 130? NO. What POSSIBLE reason would the "feds" have to get on SOA? And why would 130 be the magic number that the magazines were "told" to say? And who would "tell them" to say that? SOA? And why would the magazines listen?
Has it occured to anybody that there may be a speed limiter on the WRX which limits the car to 130 because of the tire rating? Hmmmmmm? Gee, I wonder what tire comes standard on the WRX.....oh, lookee here, its a VR tire. They carry a maximum speed rating of 130, don't they? I would think it collosally stupid of SOA for them to equip a car with VR tires and NOT include a speed limiter set to 130.
I would suggest your friends reporting top speeds in excess of 130 are simply reading an optimistic speedometer.
-Frank P.
Andy
V-rated is ok up to 149. 130 is H-rated.
-juice
right now i have 240sx, it has 24mph at 5th gear at each 1000rpm... it's kinda long, b/c it means that my car doesn't drive below 60mph on 5th, engine doesnt like it, but speed limit in NYC is 50, so it's bad... but it's not as bad as 4000rpm at 80!!!
I'm going to call the dealer who was most helpful during my initial scouting trips and see what he says, and if he says "NOW NOW NOW" I'll call a couple other dealers and see what they say.
Thanks
DjB
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
-juice
Stephen
You guys were right: the VR's are rated for 149 and not the 130 I had posted. What was I thinking......
I guess I was a little fired up about the comment regarding the magazines being "told" what to report to keep the Feds off of SOA's back.
peace...
p.s. it all started getting to me when my speedometr broke down and the only way to know for me what speed i'm at is to calculate gear x RPM
someone here btw said that redline on WRX is 140...
All: Has the second alocation came out yet?
Anyone: Is the rear stabilizer bar the same on the RS and WRX. Looking for a bar, and all there are is WRX parts out there.?
Thanks
Being a nice customer, I only pushed it to 4000rpm on the on-ramp for a brief moment (the engine is warm...). All I could say is that this thing can be very scary and the grin factor is out of the scale.
I was just trying to think of SOME reason why they would post an incorect number... We still dont have one though, so your guess is as good as my "off-the-wall-not-really-practical" reason :P (It wasnt intended to be realistic!)
Anyway, I was just thinking that maybe they didnt actually get to test the car up to full speed and they called up SOA and they gave them a number... Who knows!
I'm inclined to believe that most auto mags actually test the top speeds of the cars they review, or at least someone does (maybe the factory) since some (super)cars have estimated top speeds, esp when they're in the 200+ range. That should imply that some official person actually made it to the listed top speed using some sophisticated equipment. (I think they used to use a 5th wheel, but I imagine now they use some sort of optical sensor, ... imagine an optical mouse strapped to the side of a car reading the ground, or maybe even a sort of radar gun).
I'm looking at the April Car-and-Driver and it lists the top speed for the WRX as a drag limited 140 mph, which makes sense with the info that's been posted here about RPM x Gear, and i-club people reaching more than that. Since it's drag limited, you don't hit redline at top speed, but you don't have enough power to overcome drag (which I think quadruples as your speed doubles) so that you can accelerate. It also means that the top speed can vary depending on wind conditions, so with a strong tailwind, I wouldn't be surprised with people clocking over 150. I'd think they were insane, but I wouldn't be surprised. Of course this assumes no speed governor, just as listed in Car-and-Driver.
Why would some mags say the top-speed was governed? I think it's because with lead times of maybe 3 months for a magazine, give or take (my guestimate), in order to get a review on newstands just before the car goes on sale (as in the case for most reviews of the WRX), writers must test a preproduction version of the car where some features (such as speed governor, etc) either aren't finalized, or the writers are misinformed. The tested cars might have had speed governors and SOA just decided not to include them in production vehicles, or they might not have had them but the writers might have been told that production cars would.
In any case, if someone went above 140, then it's pretty likely that the car doesn't have a speed governor (at least more likely than a really really optimisted speedo). But, I don't really care. I doubt I'll ever go above 130 anyway in any car.
That's just my theory on why car mags would list a lower governed speed, when there isn't a governer.
(hmm... pretty lengthy first post... but I suppose that's what's needed for me to break my shell)
(Breath in, breath out)
First of all, if you'd take the time to read the posts here, you'd realize that not one person here mentioned the desire to take his WRX off-road, not here and especially not in Austrailia.
Secondly, the WRX's hood scoop is not stupid. It is highly engineered to strict tolerances to perform a specific function, namely feeding cool outside air to the intercooler. Now as I don't suppose you know what an intercooler is (since as great as your Jeep must be, it doesn't have one), let me explain. (All you Subie fans can skip this) An engine needs gas and air to run. If it gets more gas and more air, it gives more power, but you need to feed it gas and air at a specific ratio. Feeding more gas is easy, but it won't give you power if you don't get the air. To such effect, Subaru uses forced induction via a turbocharger. A turbocharger uses exhaust gases to spin a turbine which in turn spins a small fan at the air intake which compresses the air and forces it into the engine at nearly twice the pressure of atmosphere in the WRX's case. As I'm sure you remember from your high school Chemistry class, PV=nRT. From the equation, it's clear that temperature is proportional to pressure which means that as the turbo compresses the air, the air gets hotter. Hotter air (as you know) is less dense than cool air, so that hot reduces the effectiveness of the turbo. Now this is where the intercooler comes in. That compressed hot air is fed into the intercooler which is something like a radiator: a twisted pipe with a bunch of fins. Cool outside air comes in through the HOOD SCOOP, flows over the intercooler cooling the air inside the intercooler, which then flows into the engine. So what do you have? Air compressed by the turbo, cooled in the intercooler by air from the hood scoop fed into the engine. Dense, compressed, cooled air = really, really good air. The result is 227 hp from a 2.0 liter flat 4. If you do you're math right, that comes out to 113.5 hp per liter, which is phenomenal for a production car. Now you might be thinking to yourself that a huge American v8 can make more power than that. Maybe, but it's also bigger, heavier, and less reliable (just like your Jeep). What does a smaller, lighter engine do for the car? Smaller engine means shorter, smaller hood increasing visibility and more compact proportions overall (which makes for more nimble handling) with increased interior room (which makes for more comfort). A lighter engine means less weight overall and espcially in front which contributes to more nimble handling, better power-to-weight ratio, and better mileage. So what you think of as a "stupid little hood scoop" is actually an example of one of the most finely engineered automobile engines.
Thirdly, AWD is not just for off-road. Audi Quattros (e.g. the S4) have AWD. The Porche 911 has AWD. Heck, even the Lamborghini Diablo has AWD. Just because the Subaru AWD system was engineered on a rally course does not mean that it only works for rallies. The Quattro system (which the Porche also uses) was developed on the rally course way back when, and I don't think you expect Audi or Porsche owners to be eager to find the nearest dirt road. So are they also stupid for having AWD? No, sir! AWD has a multitude of benefits for on-road use. It provides more neutral and predictable handling than front or rear wheel drive cars. Less understeer mean faster turn-in coming into a corner, less oversteer means faster acceleration without spinning out coming out of a corner. That means you take a corner faster without your car sliding off the side of the road. That's a benefit of AWD that's completely lost on your Jeep which is bound to rollover if you dared to explore the limits of its handling capabilities. On top of that, AWD provides more stable handling in slippery conditions such as rain and snow. In fact, AWD provides such a benefit for sports cars that many racing events (such as F1) outlaw it.
So let's see... we have more power from the engine, better handling from AWD... I think that makes this a sports car. Are you starting to get the picture?
Fourthly, the spoiler reduces lift at high speed (above 100 mph). Lift causes the tires to lose traction with the road cause high speed instability. A spoiler reduces lift allowing for more predictable handling at high speeds. But since your jeep can hardly keep up with traffic on the freeway, you don't need one.
Fifthly, laugh all you want since we won't be able to hear you as you'll be a tiny speck in our rearview mirror.
The point is this, the WRX is a sports car designed for the WRC, one of the most brutal forms of racing. So what we have here is one of the fastest, best handling, durable cars in North America. Can your Jeep do 0-60 in under 6 seconds? Can your Jeep take corners at twice the warning speed? Can you drive your Jeep without friggin blinding the person in front of you with your headlights? Oh, so your Jeep is real tall and has real big tires. Whoop-de-doo!
All you have to do is understand that some people like fast cars. You don't have to like fast cars yourself; just understand that some people do.
Just the facts, please.
(Hmm..... I have way too much time on my hands...)
The
Did you notice he thinks Subaru's are Australian? ROTFLMFAO!!!!
bearbear where in fla? any suggestions on dealers willing to "deal" on the wrx? when you mentioned "debris" on the road, wasn't that a tad disrespectful to the immediate family members? sorry i was reverting back to my south fla days!
how much waiting time should i expect?
i'm getting antsy, trying to hold off till the fall, but i'm fading fast.
great talk on the leather...wouldn't be a bad thing to have it as an option, but certainly not going to make me shy away!
later
jbreez1
In any case, glad you decided to start posting. So, is a WRX in your future?
-Frank P.
-Frank P.
In any event, love your Cherokee while you still have it, because it will soon become a dinosaur after the new Jeep Liberty arrives.
Bob
I have no personal experience as I have been with BMW for nearly two decades with only a C 4 Z 51 Corvette (the feds literally bought it for me under the ACRS acc'ting tax code), and a '90 Volvo 740 Turbo wagon among the now eleven Bimmers. However, my sister had a '90 or '91 Audi V 8 Quatrro 5 sp for many years (she bought it with 13K mi/2yrs old for $21K in MN - thank the news media for that price) Wonderful, powerfull and beautiful car: her husband has an A 4 Q, and she has just dumped the worn out Audi for a MB 430 AWD - lots of USDs there! lol! M
Mine is modified: Dinan chip, K&N air, Hella Halogen (not DOT approved, but hi's out to 5200 ft) H/L; Eibachs/Bilstein Sport shocks, Ate gas slotted rotors, Pagid pads, kevlar/steel brake lines, Eibach front strut brace, gauge pack, M shifter, Plus One OZ Monte Carlo 15X7" 5 spoke wheels with Dunlop 205/55/ZR 15 S/P 8000 (about)4K mi. I have used mostly Castrol Syntec 5-50; Red Line MTL, BMW LIM SL gear Oil, and Ate RB Brake fluid changed quite regularly. In mid '99, I pulled the head, ported and polished, replaced several worn valves, and replaced all of the belts/tensioner/front seals/and hoses, and all of the INSP I and IIs have been done on schedule as you might guess. As I think of this as one of my children or retired greyhounds, it will go only to a very caring new home! Mike
Yeah, I think the WRX is in my future, but not in my near future, unfortunately. I'm a college student and couldn't possibly afford one. I think I'll probably get an STi when it comes out, and when I actually have a job.
The fact is that I don't have a car now (hence thepedestrian) and my younger brother uses the car that I'm insured to, a '91 Mazda MPV which is what I've done basically all of my driving in.
To chem123(#1437), don't forget about the RX-8, and for a lot less money, the upcoming Sentra SE-R which is supposed to compete directly with the Type-R.
-I am shopping for a car with reliability as the number one decision-making point
-I am looking at newer cars (esp. 98 GSR)
-I don't plan to but until Sept.
But geesh, your car sounds so appealing! Oh yes, did I forget to mention that I am 17 years old and my parents are helping me pay for this next car so their input about reliability being key pretty much overrides whatever automobile lust I have for other cars? Don't get me wrong, I know exactly what mods you are talking about as I work on my friends' cars all the time. Just curious: Is your car in the Morning News classifieds? Where are you located in DFW? What kind of offers are you considering? Your list of mods evoke a feeling that you do autox... do you? Am very interested...perhaps we should conduct this conversation via email in order not to boor everyone else?
I like to hear more opinions from manual/auto owners. I think the issue of auto/manual awd is one that is hardly addressed. Like to hear from the autox camp too. Why did Subaru took different approaches with stick/auto transmission wrt awd system and Audi keeps the same Quattro system regardless of stick/tiptronic? What are the subjective/objective advantages of either system? Didn't the SVX have a manual system coupled to the auto trans?
Just getting the ball rolling..... :-)
Drag is proportional to speed squared, while power required is proportional to speed cubed.
-Bryan
Have you guys seen the STi brake kit that Cobb tuning is selling? I think it's around $900. They would probably be the only thing I would add to the car other than the short-throw shifter and possibly wheels/tires.
Whooh! I couldn't agree with you more .. and you said it so succinctly. Felt like I was there.
Love ya man ! You're on a roll .. what with Rally Bread and all.
- hutch
About the Lancer, I've read reports that we're getting the Lancer which would be sort of a sporty econobox like the RS without AWD in the not too distant future, while the Lancer Evo (the 280 hp rally monster everyone talks about) is a little iffy. If we do get it, it'll probably be at least a year or so after the base Lancer arrives. But seeing this fervor to pick up the WRX, I can't imagine why Mitsu wouldn't bring it here ... except for the fact that (I've read) it wouldn't meet safety regulation specifically because of the placement of the intercooler directly under the bumper (supposedly all engine parts are supposed to be behind the bumper), and my guess is that it would probably take a bit of work to get it to conform to emissions regulations, just as we saw Subaru do some creative things with the exhaust to get that LEV status. Despite that, I'm expecting to see the Evo here in maybe 2-3 years, but in a toned down version.