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Comments
-mike
The stock shift lever is relatively long and has rubber isolating any vibes from the drivetrain. Check out this photo:
The bottom shows my Forester's stock lever. I believe the WRX has a similar one, only with a slightly shorter lever. The top is the STi shift lever. It's the same length as the WRX shifter, though the STi shifter gives you more leverage for a slightly shorter throw.
But a bigger difference is the stock lever has that wide cylinder with rubber for isolation (reduced feel).
Now, you could go from a WRX shift lever to an STi, for a small change in throw and more feel. Or you could go a step further, and get a Kartboy or Cobb shifter. These have a shorter lever as well.
Beyond that, you could swap the bushings from rubber to urethane, and then you'd get a snick-snick shift feel like a Miata/MRS/S2000.
Any how, these are cheap mods, maybe $100, a little more if you want the bushings, too. It's a half day project.
-juice
There are 10 photos and instructions too.
-juice
3 more weeks till this:
Hope I can make it.
(Nothing wrong with imitating a design that has caught everyone's fancy, and does strike a good balance between utility, and looks!)
BTW what is that - I thought the WRX wagon has been out a while alerady! (assuming WRX because of the hood scoop - unles its ANOTHER fake hood scoop like the older Imprezas!)
Oh - and if you created that in Photoshop, you forgot to add the B pillar :-)
And if you didn't, I can't wait to laugh at the side-impact scores of that figment of someone's imagination!
About suspension travel, the WRX has 6 inches of ground clearance, and most springs ive seen like H+R and Whiteline, lower the car 1.5 inches or less. So thats still 4.5 inches of clearance, still more than your average BMW, honda, etc. Ive ridden in several last-gen Imprezas with lowered suspensions (including struts, i havent seen any cars in person with just springs surprizingly) and yes, its harder to negotiate speed bumps, dips, and the like (considering I take speed bumps at 25mph+ in my Impreza without problems :P) but its not any harder than driving around a miata or corvette, etc.
But yes, if you want to lower the car, its usually better to get some struts to go with the springs... However, the WRX struts are surprizingly good, and lots of the springs like H+R, Cusco, Whiteline, etc. will work just fine with them.
-mike
http://www.tirerack.com/upgrade_garage/WheelSearch.jsp?&autoMake=Subaru
pick the WRX wagon and pick your color and wheels..it's pretty cool
Looks like that photo has dark tinted windows disguising the blacked out B-pillars. The hood scoop is pure function and houses a rather large intercooler.
Other than the tint and custom wheels, it looks stock. You could have bought that as far back as April, while the P5 just arrived now.
-juice
The B-pillar trim is black and the windows are tinted dark black. Hello? Is this thing on? :-)
Dennis
It looks pretty good though. I might have to get those wheels and tint the windows once I get the car.
-juice
Protege5 ripoff ? LOL.
Later...AH
The P5 has been out for years (since 98, IIRC) in Japan, (other parts of) Asia, and possibly Europe and Australia in the form of the Familia Wagon and the Familia Sport Wagon (which is an AWD 180+hp dream machine - that 'I' would prefer over a WRX wagon any day). In Europe, its called the 323 wagon, I believe.
So what if it was released later in North America than the Impreza wagons.
I'm sure both Mazda and Subaru are the only remaining pioneers among [non-permissible content removed] car designers, and car shoppers everywhere are the happier because of that - lets just leave it at that!
-mike
I really don't think either car ripped off the other at all...just a minor coincidence due to the growing trend toward sportwagons. Certainly the P5 is a great value but there's no beef to it (which I hope they will fixed *someday*)
Bob
Whats the deal with Subarus, are they also assembled overseas (outside Japan) now?
True, Mazda was revived by Ford money and their (IIRC) 40% stake in it in the early 90s, but its Ford that is undergoing a 'Mazda-isation', with Mazda designing the global compact and midsize platforms for use by Ford, Volvo, jaguar and Mazda. And most of the engines too (I'm talking about 4 cylinders, the Ford Duratec V6 is used in most 6 cylinder Mazda vehicles, but that engine is truly one of the few things Ford has ever gotten right!)
Oh, and wait for the Mazda 6, RX-8 and the new van-like utility behicle (I forget the name) coming out soon - more power to car shoppers everywhere!
Here's the link to the U.S. operation:
http://www.subaru-isuzu.com/sia.htm
Bob
The Impreza line which includes the WRX and also the Forester are built exclusively in Japan with 99% Japanese components.
Currently, no Mazda product excepting the Miata interests me at all. The "626" and Millenia are pure jokes in their segments. The Ford escape twin, is a good design for its market segment but I am not interested in "SUV look-alike wagons". The protege is an econo-car in the Civic/Corolla segment, where it has been fighting a miserably losing battle for years, even though the Protege5 and other econo-products with good styling elements (no substance underneath) have been doing the rounds. I am told that the new "6" is a good looking car.
Later...AH
Impreza in built in Gunma, Japan, along side the Forester. The Protege has remained pretty much Mazda, but the next one may be a Ford Focus clone. That would be a shame, IMO.
Mazda has let Ford creep in to their products, but I wouldn't be surprised to see GM creep in to Subaru products soon, either.
At least the Mazda 6 is mostly Mazda:
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/preview/articles/47610/article.html
Only the basic engine block is Ford, though I wonder about the transmission. The current 626 has a Ford CD4E notorious for problems.
-juice
2) Do the aftermarket chip or exhaust systems do anything to improve the low torque at low RPM often inherent with low displacement engines?
Thanks,
Norman
The unichip made by APS does increase the low-end torque a bit but to realize a greater low-end push below 3k rpm one also needs to go to a turbo-back exhaust. Basically a freer flowing exhaust utilizing only 1 performance catalytic converter right after the turbo instead of the more restrictive stock exhaust system w/the 3 cats. As a rule w/turbo cars, the more you can free up the intake and exhaust, the more power across the range is realized. Hope this helps. You can also check out the forum section of www.i-club.com There is a lot of information regarding aftermarket exhaust systems and "chipping" Two companies that come highly recommended are COBB and TurboXS.
Stephen
Norman
-mike
Patti
That's interesting. I know the WRX uses a different type of clutch (push vs. pull) compared to other Subies, but I wonder if there are other differences with the tranny.
I think you are supposed to be gentle when shifting so that you don't end up wearing out the synchros. Never rush a shift -- let the machine do the work.
Ken
I've been gone from the group for a while - forgive me if this question has been asked before. Is Subaru finally offering mud flaps for the WRX? I want to get a pair on mine before the winter sets in.
- Rexman
The new model protege P5 with the body kit that looks like a WRX, or an EVO depending on perspective, came out last year. There have been other Protege wagons, but they look nothing like the WRX/EVO.
I was looking at either the Dunlops or Michelin Pilot Sport Ultra-high performance All-seasons. The Michelins are more pricier ($178 per tire - www.tirerack.com vs $101 per tire for the Dunlops) but have a higher load-factor (1323lbs vs 1279lbs for the Dunlops) and have a higher UTQG rating (400 AAA vs 340 AAA for the Dunlops). I have had lots of good experiences with Michelin before but the price of the Dunlops ($101 - www.tirerack.com) is certainly tempting, especially since both of them are rated Ultra-high performance All-seasons.
Later...AH
Thanks!
Patti
Bob
Plus, anyone know where I can see a more complete picture of the underspoiler package on the Web? I've been looking for some and have only found a few that aren't that great. Thanks!
http://www.subaruparts.com/
the mudflaps for the nonWRX Imprezas will fit in the rear and the front flaps will net a bit cut out of them to fit neatly over the WRX side sill. It's actually cheaper to buy the set of 4 than to just buy the rear ones.
The underspoiler kit can be viewed at the link above as well under the appearance section for the WRX.
Stephen
what kind of Dunlop is on yer Subaru>?
and do you have 17 rims too>?
no noticable road noise too eh?
Im assuming that its a max perform tire
and not an all season?
Thanks .................in advance!
wrxguy:
The Dunlops he spoke about are Dunlop Sport 5000 Asymmetrical that are classified as Ultra-high performance All-seasons"...
Later...AH
Bey
When I drive the WRX, it reminds me of my beloved 1998 Integra (Purchased in October 1997 and sold a year back). Of course the WRX goes a step beyond the Integra, but somehow, the "feel" is remarkably the same.
Later...AH
I like my armrest but agree that the fit varies by the driver's height, so try before you buy.
-juice