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Subaru Impreza WRX

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Comments

  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Stephen - Did you drive the OB as hard as you do the Rex?

    John - "flogging the car pretty hard thru some twisties " ?

    ;-)
    Yeah, the Bridgerocks probably don't help matters though.

    Dennis
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Sounds like the brakes were working. If you slam on the brakes in a turn, wouldn't you be able to steer around the problem rather than lock em up? I dunno just seems like people are pushing their cars hard and the abs are working, but I haven't experienced it so it seems viable that there is actually a problem.

    -mike
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It sounds to me that there is something in the ABS system, that under certain conditions, isn't working right. There are too many people here who've experienced this same problem for it to be just an isolated case, or a malfunctioning unit IMO.

    Bob
  • freespecfreespec Member Posts: 25
    Just read C&D online version of the review on SE-R V, Jetta 1.8T, and other three(no need to mention their names). Very funny to see the final rankings. You may start to wonder what's heck going wroning with Nissan and VW? Can't they even beat only 150 horsed MP 3? Well if you have read the article, you may start to wonder if the testers were out of their minds. It just re-enforced my thought to go either with a SE-R V or a Jetta 1.8T, with former for pure performance, race track or highways; and latter for style and inside/outside quality. Geeze, I've driven RSX-S, 1.8T, WRX, RS and am waiting for SE-R V to come around. WRX has the best handling in the class but 95% of my drive is on a friendly highway and luxury is more or so a must in the most of doll drving times. At $25K, WRX has way too much to ask just for its handling.
  • cupholder1cupholder1 Member Posts: 231
    Nothing quite like entering a long clear freeway onramp in a WRX... but stop and go driving in the WRX seems pretty harsh to say the least.
  • freespecfreespec Member Posts: 25
    I guess every car under $35K is not perfect(many not even come close to it). So every manufacturer seems to cater a special cult of drivers. For example, I think WRX is too much expensive for its turboed 227 hps w/o a trace of normal luxuries but others consider it a best buy for the money. I would rather have a sunroof and leather in exchange of extra 40-50 hps while maintaining a still very spirited drive. Case closed.
  • cupholder1cupholder1 Member Posts: 231
    why are people so obsessed with sitting on some stanky cow hyde?
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    ...again, a lot of drivers (WRX owners or not) will tell you that leather is slippery and hot. I had a Corrado VR6 with Recaro leather seats and I don't miss it a bit.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Freespec, just because you don't like the WRX, or think it's too much money for what you get, there are a lot of people here who respectfully disagree with you. I for one would rather have the extra horsepower than leather any day of the week.

    The case may be closed in your mind, not ours.

    Bob
  • bluewolfbluewolf Member Posts: 101
    The 2.5 RS is in my price range and looks like a great car. Does it share much with the WRX? I figure the 165HP engine is great for an all around car that will still get up and go. What year did these first come out? Thanks!
  • mirthmirth Member Posts: 1,212
    I agree with cup. I'll be forgoing a few amenities on my next car to avoid having the leather seats that go with them. I don't find it more comfortable, it's too cold in winter, and too hot in summer. My $0.02.
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    Sorry for the "Ireland" confusion. I changed my place of residence in the profile to reflect my heritage not where I actually live. I "actually" live in Seattle, WA. Pretty much the same weather as Ireland but a totally different place. :-)

    Stephen in Seattle
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    freespec - *yawn* (He's really trying hard with the flame bait.)

    The 2.5RS first came out as a coupe in 98 and as a sedan in '99.
    The best thing is a test drive.

    Dennis
  • freespecfreespec Member Posts: 25
    Hey, I have a family car with a leather that is heatable so I don't have "cold" feeling in the winter. Looks like you guys have a leather but not a garage at home or a shaded parking at work(I have both). No wonder I said earlier you guys are just little car maniacs long for horsepowers but short on money. Maybe I am in the wrong board but I like the argument/fight though. Ask for a $500 refund next time to your car dealer for stripping the leather from your car.
  • freespecfreespec Member Posts: 25
    You know, sitting on or touching another skin(or leather), even though it is from another species such as a cow, is a very intimate experience. I am a doctor by trade so I like skins. I went ahead to like leather too. Don't you like a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift nob?
  • wrxguywrxguy Member Posts: 51
    leather is nice and may be the deciding factor for many who choose and that is the freedom that the perspective buyer has!
    there are many isolating factors in buying a car. The WRX has power yes! It has AWD yes! It has four doors yes! It handles wonderdful yes!
    to value one doesnt mean to put down the other unless you are confused!
  • cupholder1cupholder1 Member Posts: 231
    why would i want heated seats? it rarely gets colder than 60 degrees out here in La La land.
  • cupholder1cupholder1 Member Posts: 231
    okay, i am feeling weak minded. just can't make up my damn mind. why should i get a WRX? convince me that its crappy shifter won't make me miserable in LA's stop and go traffic.
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    The 5 speed in the WRX is exellent. I now have 5000 miles on my WRX and love it. Clutch and shifter are among the best. I find it funny that everyone who gets on here to try to convince that the WRX is not worth it always cite the "luxury" problem. Most find it hard to deny its performance. So as an owner here goes the rebuttal. I could care less about power, heated, leather seats. I do care about nice touches like remote entry, a really easy to use in dash CD changer, map lights, VERY comfortable seating postion, etc. This thing has all of the features I want and it really fits the bill. I need a small wagon for travel and hauling things but I want a sportscar. = WRX wagon, WR Blue 5 speed.

    TWRX
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    quit yo' whinin' and just take the plunge! :-)

    Seriously though, I live within Seattle city limits, about 7 miles from downtown. I have bumper to bumper traffic (2nd worst rushhour in the US of A per USAtoday) and my 5spd WRX wagon handles it w/no problem. The shifter is great and the clutch take-up allows me to leave it in 1st in some seriously slow creeping commutes. Also, under 3k rpm this thing is docile and easy to blend w/all the other poor commuters. :-)

    Stephen
  • wrxguywrxguy Member Posts: 51
    I have spent many hours on those freways the 210,the 605 the infamous I-5 and I-10. They are no fun at rush hour so true> I live now in sacramento wich is no picnic either! I agree with the other posts that the shifter is Superior to many. The gears are easy to find and the car creeps along well at slow speeds as earlier stated! I will one day own a auto tranny when my hand eye cordination slows down like my DADs has! but im not that close to 76 years old. FUN was a big factor in considering a vehicle and an auto tranny isnt part of fun, Commfort yes FUN no!..
    unless your are drinking alot of Coffee (CUPHOLDER?) hmm
    and on a cell phone a la LA style reading your wallstreet journal ....behind the wheel.....then.....the WRX is for you! im a 43 year old city boy with a WRX not even broke in yet! YOU WILL NOT SUFFER FROM BUYERS REMORSE TRUST ME,,,JUMP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • bedabibedabi Member Posts: 149
    I live and work in NYC and endure stop and go traffic everyday. I personally find the shifter easier to live with than my old 99 Maxima, which was like stirring a pot of pudding. And as I've said before on this board, the car's lack of low-end grunt is a boon in bumper to bumper traffic. I have to admit though, the AWD manual transmission is trickier to work than 2WD cars, especially on the uphill portion of bridges, which are now only allowing you to crawl through given the safety checks all around.

    And Stephen, if I do get my hand on an Impreza Turbo over there, I'll write about it here. That is, if I survive those windy roads with the stickshift on my left! :-}
  • cupholder1cupholder1 Member Posts: 231
    but i find i have to do a lot of 1st 2nd shifting in LA's stop n' go. seems that other city slickers here don't find the shifter too much of a problem. i am more used to the silky smooth VW Passat shifter. swish swish swish... could shift the Passat with my pinky/
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    Cupholder: You may need your aforementioned pinky and a couple of extra fingers to shift the WRX...after all, it's a drivers' car. :-)

    BTW, a little confession here...I'm able to dial and talk on my cell while shifting the WRX...just once in awhile in town though. :-)

    Soo-young: Yes, let me know your Ireland experience so I can live vicariously through you. I've always wondered how it would feel to drive a righthand-drive manual tranny car, shifting w/my left hand, and trying to stay on a side of the road that seems a bit unnatural going the direction they do. :-)

    Stephen
  • wrxguywrxguy Member Posts: 51
    very comfy luxo smooth. had the V-6 too! 4-motion too. But was more of FAMILY vehicle. stop and go is time to put in a CD or??? no make it a cassette. Have you extensively test driven? that is really what helps all decisions ! words on this forum are just words from people you dont even know. I test drove many. The second test drive in WRX and I was sold. The Passat was nice, as was the MAXIMA. I even test drove the mazda milleina. My buddy works at a dealership so He just tossed me the keys to MAZDAS, HONDAS and Toyotas.. Make your shopping choice from Your experience!!!!!dont let the information highway deprive you from more test driving!,,,
  • nschulman3nschulman3 Member Posts: 125
    I was just wondering. I agree that the Bridgestone re-92's on the wrx with the standard 16"rim are inadequate given the car's performance. However, I live in a large city near New York and the road is paved with potholes and other rough stuff. since i do the majority of my driving in the city, shouldn't i just switch to an agressive 16" tire (potenza re-730). It seems to me that i would greatly increase the grip without sacrificing much in ride quality. I had an a4 and changed to 17" rims and tires and the car was much less pleasant in the city. Any thoughts? I realize the 17" rims look better, but how necessary are they?
  • severianseverian Member Posts: 1
    Does snow and ice have to be cleared from the hood scoop before starting the engine? Any trouble with snow build up during operation?
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Since no WRXs have seen winter here state-side. I'd guess it wouldn't be a big problem but I'd clear it anyway. I'd also put a screen inside to prevent any from getting in the engine compartment

    -mike
  • sajohnsonsajohnson Member Posts: 48
    To NSchulman3:

    Go with RE730's on the stock 16" rims. That's exactly what I have done, primarily to protect the rims from potholes with more sidewall. Also, it saves you the expense of buying new rims. I'm very happy with this setup. I run 35psi front/32psi rear.
  • kostamojen2kostamojen2 Member Posts: 284
    Freespec, for $25k you can either get Luxury, or you can get Performance. You obviously have picked what you want. Now stop bugging us and get a life!
  • pfifferpfiffer Member Posts: 47
    My strong guess on this is that there will be no problem whatsoever with ice/snow in the engine compartment. The scoop is present to force air into the intercooler - some aftermarket tuners even sell water spray mechanisms that the driver controls to lauch a spray onto the intercooler to improve engine performance. Everyone driving a WRX knows just how hot these puppies run and I'm sure that any ice/snow that makes it's way to the intercooler will go up in vapor within seconds. Hell, the engine will likely run even better in the winter with all that cool air!
  • pfifferpfiffer Member Posts: 47
    My original setup upon delivery of the car was the BBS 17" rims with Bridgestone Potenza 730s-215 and 3 days ago, at 4500 kms, I put the RE92's back on for the winter (I know I might be crazy but given that we get moslty slush/snow here and I was going to get next to nothing for the RE92s I thought I would give them a try). Here's a quick summary of my experience.

    RE730 - Fabulous, go-cart like handling. Eliminates much body roll during hard cornering and would give you an extra 5 mph during any on-ramp before the tires break loose. When they do break loose, the squeal is not very loud. Tracking at high speed is much improved (cornering or lane changes at 80-90 mph+. On the downside, the ride is quite harsh - most bumps are noticed with an extra THUG. And these tires are NOISY. There is quite a bit of tire whine at all speeds and after 2 hrs in the car noise fatigue will set in.

    RE92 - just the reverse of the 730s - handling limits are compromised - any quick turn of the steering wheel at speed produces more body roll right away. Tires are quieter and better riding than the 730's.

    So there it is - choose your priorities well. If you are going to a different tire - check out Tire Rack on the internet. Each tire they sell has a section allowing consumer comments and most tires have 30-40 or more comments from people just like us who have used each tire on various cars. I did not do enough research on the 730's before purchase and had I, I would have chosen differently because of the severe noise factor. In fact, most commentators listed noise as the #1 problem for the tire. I suspect that ride/noise issues are not as much a factor for the younger crowd as they are for us older family geasers!

    Examine your priorities, do your research and choose well!

    Ed
  • rex_ruthorrex_ruthor Member Posts: 140
    As huge a fan of the WRX as I am, and with the caveat that I really like my WRX 5MT Sedan, if I had to face LA commute traffic on a daily basis I would opt for some other car arrangement entirely, like an Accord with AT or something. Thats just me...maybe you have more patience and endurance than most people, but I cant see it being much fun at all, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic with a performance car. The posts from the other guys who have the commutes in downtown Seattle and New York, well, all I know is thats not LA. Theres no such thing as a seven mile LA commute.

    FYI, the WRX is a giant pain in the [non-permissible content removed] when the traffic is like 2-6 miles per hour. What do you do? First gear bogs and lurches at speeds that low. Its seriously frustrating because there is no gear that will allow to you drive at the pace of a brisk walk. Anything under 1500 rpm is a precarious range in the WRX and very annoying to have to continually modulate with gear engagement.

    I'd probably buy two cars....both used, likely. One with AT and lots of amenities for the commute, and a used RX7 or corvette or something for my weekends.

    You could buy both a used Honda Accord and a used 3'rd gen RX7 or C4 corvette for the price of a brand new WRX.

    Dont get me wrong. I think the WRX is a great all around car. I just wouldnt prefer to drive ANY manually equipped car in commute traffic.
  • jim_loves_carsjim_loves_cars Member Posts: 190
    freespec-"You know, sitting on or touching another skin(or leather), even though it is from another species such as a cow, is a very intimate experience. I am a doctor by trade so I like skins."

    LOL! what ARE you doing in your car?! Are you dating it or driving it?

    Perhaps you'd like some fatha beans and a nice kiante...
  • wrxguywrxguy Member Posts: 51
    Is good and makes a good general argument with a nice solution, with the results of two cars for the same price.(of course insurance costs too$)
    must be in the equation
    it challenged me to think and add another piece of info to consider. Just how much time do you spend in rush hour traffic? do you commute 30 minutes each way? or more? it boils down to fun derived from pleasure in WRX (when not battling the(INTENSE) LA commute) and what value you place on convience in an automatic over time behind the wheel in the WRX with a 5 speed

    I have not really owned my WRX long enough to battle intense stop and go like the distance on the Santa Monica Freeway from Santa Monica to the harbor freeway at 5pm on Friday evening (yeech)

    I don't expect to be living in any large metro area like LA again. I have been a driver (truck) and having an auto tranny in that area with hours on the road is nerve saving!
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    rex_author: My WRX creeps along just fine in first gear for a manual tranny car. I was actually pleasantly surprised, so I don't think you can make a generalized comment about a WRX lurching and such. My commute maybe only 7 miles but trust me, it's definitely bumper to bumper and less than 10 miles an hour. We have long commutes here, distance wise. Combine this with our constant drizzle (just starting now) and folks that still don't know how to drive in the stuff....well, you do the math. :-)

    Stephen
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Anyone who can afford to drive into manhattan for work doesn't own a subie, mostly BMWs, Jags, MBs, etc. Parking in NYC for a monthly spot is >$500.

    -mike
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Noticed that the Japan-spec WRXs get a sunroof:


    http://www.subaru.co.jp/impreza/wrx/utility/img/photo_11.jpg


    http://www.subaru.co.jp/impreza/wrx/packaging/img/photo_04.jpg


    Perhaps it'll be an option in future years for the US?


    Ken

  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    I contacted Nick Duncan in the UK and ordered the rear cupholders. They are offered through the UK Subaru dealers but not presently at the stateside dealers. The total price w/shipping was $65. Just a FYI for those that may be interested.



    http://i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102689




    Stephen

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    If I'm not mistaken, that's the new updated WRX-STi; at least I think it's got that new front grille.

    I'm sure we'll see a moonroof here before too long.

    Bob
  • hunter001hunter001 Member Posts: 851
    "Dont get me wrong. I think the WRX is a great all around car. I just wouldnt prefer to drive ANY manually equipped car in commute traffic."

    Did it ever occur to you that there is an AUTO WRX ??!! With a better AWD system (compared to the manual WRX) and a 45/55 torque split front/back ?

    Later...AH
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Bob,

    I think that's the regular WRX NB, if I'm not mistaken.

    Ken
  • rex_ruthorrex_ruthor Member Posts: 140
    Yah, I can putt along in first fine too, but not at 2-6 mph..... Im talking about a speed around a brisk walk, which is what you wind up at a lot in stop and go traffic. My speedo needle doesnt even move until about 7-8 mph, but I can still estimate how fast i am going, and at what rpm, and the speed is such that the car cannot maintain an engine speed without bogging and lurching...ie, faster than idle, but not enough to avoid bogging.

    Maybe you're slipping the clutch, but I cant drive my car that way.

    Hunter, Im aware of the AT option, and its just personal opinion, but the idea of a slushbox 4 banger is totally repellent to me, especially in a "performance" car. I would never buy one.
  • kostamojen2kostamojen2 Member Posts: 284
    Then how do you drive it? Droping it every time you shift???
  • rex_ruthorrex_ruthor Member Posts: 140
    no, of course not. i merely meant there is a low speed condition where you cannot maintain a given speed/rpm with the clutch fully engaged and that its a very prevalent speed in traffic.

    surely all of you urban dwellers have experienced this. Its easily reproducible and just go look up in the manual the max speed in gears. like if first is 36 mph, (im just guessing, i dont have it in front of me) for example, at 7000 rpm, then dividing that by seven is about 5 mph at 1000 rpm, which i defy anyone on this board to be able to just put along between 2-5 mph with the clutch fully engaged without their engine bogging and the car lurching. Go ahead, try it. you will see that its impossible.
  • cupholder1cupholder1 Member Posts: 231
  • cupholder1cupholder1 Member Posts: 231
    Actually, I took another test drive today and allowed the WRX to just move along at idle speed with my foot off the gas... it did not lurch or bog down. It seems about the same at extremely slow speeds as my 5 speed Passat. The downside is the shifter isn't nearly as smooth as the VW. Kind of odd that you'd have a lurching problem. I know what you mean though... saw that happen with the Mustang GT.
  • barresa62barresa62 Member Posts: 1,379
    this is what I've been saying all along...are you w/me rex_author. :-) Maybe some WRXs are a little different but I can definitely duplicate what Cupholder was able to do. I know you like the WRX rex_author and that's why I insist that you stop generalizing and acknowledge that some of us can achieve what you can't in your WRX w/o slipping ye ole clutch.

    Stephen
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Stephen- I gotta agree with rex_author, at a certain speed, a manual transmission equipped car is no fun to drive (this applies to any car, not just the WRX). The specific speed where a car in 1st gear will bog down will vary from model to model depending on the idle speed and the gear ratio. For instance, your car may proceed fine idling along at 1000 RPM and moving forward steadily at 4 MPH. But if the traffic is moving at 3 MPH, you've got a problem. The only way I know to drive in those situations is to put the clutch in, coast a ways, let the clutch out for a sec or two then clutch in, coast and repeat constantly. This certainly gets old after a while and depending on the amount of pressure required to engage the clutch, can get quite tiresome.

    How much lurching is involved depends mainly on the driver. There's obviously a certain amount of skill involved but I believe that driver attentiveness in letting out the clutch plays a larger part in avoiding jerkiness. Also, since the driver knows when the transmission is going to engage, he/she can anticipate any sudden changes in forward momentum (aka jerk) and therefore often doesn't notice when they occur. For instance, I am far more likely to "pop" the clutch when I'm alone. So, if it's been a while since I've driven with a passenger and I then drive with one, I sometimes catch sight (out of the corner of my eye) of my passenger's head jerking backward when I'm pulling away from a stop sign. I can certainly accelerate smoothly but it takes added concentration to do so (sensitivity of the clutch also plays a big part).

    Sooooo, to come to my point, if my commute were in miles of very slow stop and go traffic, I'd probably not be paying a lot of attention to how smoothly I engaged 1st gear and would probably have a few jerky starts. In fact, that kind of commute is one of the few times I'd agree that an auto tranny would be the better choice. However, I agree with rex_author that an Accord type sedan with all the conveniences of home would be the better choice since the idea of owning an AT WRX is abhorrent to me.

    -Frank P.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    freespec Oct 19, 2001 1:55pm

    freespec- Do you drive naked? I can't imagine how else you could get a ri.. , um.. "high".

    -Dave
This discussion has been closed.

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