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Comments
Quality of Legacy's interior? Haven't been paying much attention - been preoccupied with enjoying the drive and the scenery. I have both OB and OBS, and my observation (how little time I spent on looking) is the Legacy is just a tat better or maybe it's just the illusion from it being roomier.
ob
http://homepage.mac.com/jcampisi2/PhotoAlbum.html
I gave up on trying to get the image to load directly.
me the answer is yes. Second, given the cost, has Subaru allocated the
resources correctly between building a performance car and building a comfortable
car with a high quality interior. Again, I find their compromise a fairly good one
(though I'd have taken 17" wheels over the Momo, cruise control, and power windows).
For someone looking for more comfort than the WRX but less luxury than the
Audi S4, they're out of luck. I don't consider the Acura a contender since it doesn't
have AWD; different car entirely.
Personally, I got sick of heavy weight doors and sick of the bruises from having to hold them open while im trying to do something in the car, causing brusing and other painful events (fingers for one). I much enjoy the light weight doors on the Impreza and even the legacy, especially when parked next to another car in a parking lot where they are much easier to operate without raming someone else's car in the process...
All the stuff works - no problems. Sub-par materials are used on the visors, floor matting and trunk matting (vs. a Honda, Toyoyta product). The stereo really is so-so, but on par with the stock Toyota stereo. The layout for a sports car is A-1 - beautifully functional tach/speedo layout with attractive faces etc. The seats hold you firmly in place (as they should with a car of this pedigree) but can be tiring after 3+ hrs on the open road. I've got black leather installed (from my dealer) which looks and works very well.
So, for $40K Canadian, (added rims, tires - Potenza 730s, leather) I get a car with some sub-par materials and I also get a car with some above-par materials - i.e. a killer chassis and engine. This past weekend I had a 30 min romp down a fabulous road in Ontario's cottage country, two lanes, narrow, very steep roller coaster type hills, tight turns through heavy forest - a stone and tar type surface - would make for a great WRX commercial! My escort was driving a 2000 328 - all stock with an automatic. Without a doubt the WRX was much easier to control through the corners (I'm no race car driver but we slowed to 35-40 MPH for the corners and ramped up to 80 mph on some brief straights - I know, not that fast but this road twisted like a Boa Constrictor!) and with the correct choice of gear (so you had at least 3500 RPM on tap exiting the turn) the car tore out of the corner with its classicly addictive turbo scream - yes it's deliciously fast!!!
I don't really care that the car is a bit sub-par on certain materials because there 0 cars for under $40K Canadian that will (a) handle fabulously in DRY and WET and SNOW and, and... (b) give Audi S4 straight line peformance as well as haul my 3 and 6 year old girls around. Simply put, you have 2 cars in the WRX, a credible family sedan for medium length trips and one ripper of a back road sports car!
For what I wanted in a car and for my money, I rate the car a 9 out of 10 value. Thanks Subaru!!
and feel like something of substance is nothing more than a cheap cloth laminated to a foam and hard fiber backing. Once the foam starts to crumble, the fabric on the ceiling liner and the visors will start to let go and sag. If you don't
keep a car for more than 8 years and it is out in the sun every day you may not see the problem. But the person who buys your trade in will.
The material used on the Subarus does not have foam lamination and will outlast most luxo cars.
-mike
I came from a compact car (99 protege) and trust me, the impreza interior is a step up from it. I sat/drove in civics, corollas, focus, contour, neon.. and my wrx interior is a step up from it without a doubt. It is true that rsx has a nicer interior, but remember.. it doesn't come with AWD, LSD, better horse power/torque, better chasis. RSX is cheaper, but when you compare the stuff I just mentioned above, it doesn't seem like such a good deal huh?
Group number one is just the average Subaru fan who knew what they were getting into before they got into it, and could care less about fit and finish, and even consider most everything a step up from the last impreza (minus the headlights)
Group number two is the people who came from the American car/Cheap Asian car corner, and consider the WRX something amazing for the price, and the interior a step up from their last car.
And Group number three is the folks who came from the Euro car/Expensive brand japanese corner, who find the materials in the WRX disapointing compaired to their last car, and find all sorts of things to complain about... But absolutely rave about the performance.
There's bound to be a dealer somewhere that will come down on the price.
Kosta Demographics - Not bad. :-)
Dennis
TIA
DjB
- hutch
Bob
I also think the carpeting, headliner, and sun visor are a bit cheap. Same as on my 1998 Forester, with no significant improvements. It's fine to me, but some people want more. I don't think it would cost too much to at least bring them up to Legacy standards, which seem a bit higher.
But yes, Subaru definitely put the money where it counts - in the powertrain.
Nice rims, John.
Short shifter? Try Kartboy or Cobb. There is a big debate as to which is better - both are fine.
Though the WRX does not cost any more than an RSX-S does. Fitzgerald has a bunch of them, almost all are from $23-24k. A base RSX-S costs $23650, and I doubt Acura is discounting much right now, so the prices overlap.
-juice
Bob, interesting you should ask this. Lynn and I just took such a trip this past weekend and we chose the Forester. There are a number of variables involved here .. amount of cargo, number of people, etc. As regards RPM's at highway speeds, we are comparing apples and oranges. The Forester is an auto and the WRX a 5 spd. That said, the WRX turns slightly less RPM's at any given highway speed and is an excellent highway cruiser .. for front seat riders. I have no idea what the back seat is like on long rides. It is very quiet and the front seats provide very good support. As an added bonus, you can pretty much blow the doors off of most other cars when pulling away from toll booths
- hutch
Regards,
Matt
Regarding long distance travel, I was in the WRX saddle for 9 hours this past weekend, (4 on Saturday, 9 on Sunday), by the third hour on Sunday my behind was a bit sore given the lack of padding on REX's seats, 3-4 hours seems to be the limit before stiffness sets in. Clearly the REX's seats are not those of a mini-van - that said, I wouldn't trade them for anything else since they do their job so well when your out jammin!
Regards, Ed
You guys are right on the money--you have to put this car up on a lift and look at it from underneath to see where all the production money went.
And there it is--an aluminum alloy boxer engine (more expensive to make than a conventional engine and better design) and an all-wheel-drive system that's as good as any out there and better than most.
You will find this setup on only one other production car made in the world today--a Porsche Carrera 4 and that will set you back about 80 grand or so. OK, the Porsche has 2 extra cylinders (but no intercooled turbo) and some nice aluminum suspension pieces, but Subaru gives you the goods for 1/3 the price. Plus you're getting a suspension very similar to the one that won the WRC. This car is a phenomenal bargain if you ask me, cheap visors and all.
Actually, I've come to love the spartan interior of this car with the cheap floor mats and zip-out seat covers. What this car says to me is Get In and Drive! The floor mats are just gonna get crudded up anyway with slush and grime, so why bother putting in anything fancy?
That Momo steering wheel and neat instrument cluster are as nice as anything I've seen out there and make you feel like your in a serious racing machine--I bet they don't put any expensive carpeting in an $800,000 LeMans race car either.
In short, this car speaks to me loud and clear--it could care less about impressing your girlfriend (to paraphrase pfiffer, this car IS your girlfriend) or the country-club set. It's all about getting out on a good country road and getting the adrenaline pumping and having one helluva good time.
week. I've negotiated accessories and parts to
be added by the dealer, the most significant of
which is the short throw shifter. Anyone have
any direct experience with it and can offer an
opinion pro or con. Would an aftermarket product
be a better route to go? Thanks
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=d827ce7f45d2f6d6e374904105f5c4c3&threadid=84534
I think you are talking about the turboX stage 1 kit, it comes with turbox chip, exhaust, k&N filter. That will put you about 265hp or so. Which is a pretty good bargain for an almost 40hp gain.
I am going to wait out on the upgrade tho. I don't think I will install it before the warranty runs out. I want to see what the long run effects are.
As for the Unichip, there are a couple ways to get one...
First, you can get theyre package, which the chip is tuned for (with the K+N and BPM(?) exhaust)
Second, you can just get a chip and tell them what you have in your car aftermarket wise, and they will attempt to tune it right for you car.
Or, you can actually go to the place where they tune the Unichip at, and have your chip specially made with your car using the Dyno and tons of other mechanics to get it to work just perfect with your individual car
DjB
I live in a town with 80,000 people, and I doubt there are as many cruisers as you have.
I thought only the SEDAN had the rear-seat armrest. Does the wagon have it too? Your original message:
"...but i'd give the WRX wagon a definite high mark for the back seat comfort (especially w/ that armrest!)"
Bob
I'm glad I read these pages before purchasing my new car.
However, I am basing my statement on experience with 2 of my own cars ond my brothers car. All were USA built. 1988 Caraven/ 1981 olds Delta 88
and Pontiac Grand Prix.
-mike
You had to get a top-of-the-line just to avoid the mismatch.
In fairness, though, most base Japanese cars at that point had 4 speed manuals, vinyl seats, and no passenger side mirror.
-juice
mudflaps?
-juice
Definitely a car that will bail you out if you're in over your head
For those of you with a Rex - you owe it to yourself to autocross it at least once. You'll see what Subaru really intended it for...
- Rexman
My black WRX interior is driving me crazy! I have, unfortunately, a short hair dalmatian. I'm lint cleaning my car ever three days to keep it from looking like a bad pet store.
Anyone have any experience with this type of problem? I've thought about seat covers, but most everything I see is : a) cheap, b) not sure impact on the side air bags.
Thanks for your input.
Jerry
-mike
Ed