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Comments
so a helical differential could be a torsen, but it could also be a quaife or several other things.
thank you, drive through. :-D
also-- the Prelude SH didn't use a helical LSD at all. it used the active torque transfer system, which was an active differential that biased torque for turning. they say it didn't do much in a straight line though, and so it shouldn't technically be considered a "limited slip" differential. I say "bah", it might suck for straightline traction but it's still an active LSD. ;-)
-Colin
http://forums.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=227548
I recall you mentioning in previous posts that the 4EAT WRX has a torque-sensing AWD system. The thread above basically debunks that theory by showing that the gearset is, in fact, not torque-sensing, but more an open differential.
Ken
-Colin
http://www.rexilla.com/
I'm considering the bigger sway bar, though, just because my car's front end can easily overdrive the rear. Wheee!
I picked it up late Saturday afternoon and put 250 miles on it.
Options: cross bar, cargo tray, bumper cover, cargo net air filtration, armrest extender upgraded sound and alarm.
Purchased at Flemington Subaru in NJ and it was the easiest buying experience I've ever had. Everything was done via phone and fax so it was very quick when I picked up the car.
My first little complaint is that the flat cross bar is too low to the roof. I have a pad and straps that I use to carry my surfboard, and the front pad nearly touches the roof. It's fastened with a velcro strap the rubs the roof when I attach it. I may end up getting the round bars.
I LOVE this car!
-Dennis
I recommend picking up the Yakima round bar set from REI. Yakima makes Subaru's OEM kits and, if you're an REI member, there's a patronage dividend kickback for you.
Ed
Bob
Sorry, had to be said since you mentioned the surfboard. ;-)
Congratulations Dennis, I know there's a lot of fun times ahead for you.
-Colin
No digicam, so pics might be a while. Or I could just go to a meet where paisan is.
-Dennis
Any changes from the 2002? The Subaru magazine did not indicate any changes to the 2003s.
so a helical differential could be a torsen, but it could also be a quaife or several other things.
Actually, the Quaife etc have a helical cut set of gears while the Gleason Torsen uses Invex cut gears. Functionally, they behave almost the same but the hardware is slightly different. The Acura Integra Type-R uses a Gleason Torsen while the Honda Prelude Type-SH (with the ATTS) and the Acura 3.2CL-s (with 6-speed trans) uses a helical-cut Diff, which aids in the Torque distribution. I drove a Prelude Type-SH a while back and had trouble distinguishing it from a RWD car. Torque-steer was completely absent, even with a powered launch !
As an additional heads-up, diffs like the Quaife are very transparent (eg. Honda ATTS) in terms of behaving almost like an open differential in a straight line while kicking in when negotiating a curve/corner.
Later...AH
Later...AH
AH - Actually, my wife has the Legacy OB and I had a 97 OBS. I upgraded by 90 h.p.
I got the manual, but I was undecided for quite a while. I was primarily considering the auto because of a knee problem (chondromalacia) and the "wife factor".
I test drove the auto about five times and the manual twice. I decided that I would just endure the occasional pain and maybe get some physical therapy. As for the "wife factor", she has her own car, and said she would consider manual lessons (from an outside party
Had the Sportshift been available, it's possible that I would've bought that.
-Dennis
the most crucial lesson that often gets overlooked is learning the engagement point in the clutch travel. sit in the car in an open lot and start it up. (the engine should be stopped after shifting to reverse, so push in the clutch and take it out of reverse into neutral.)
with clear road ahead, depress the clutch a few times just to learn the feel. now depress the clutch fully and shift to first gear. release the clutch slowly *without* applying throttle and when you feel the vehicle begin to move, depress again. repeat this exercise often, like every time before you begin driving lessons.
the idea here is that you get very familiar with the clutch action without distractions of trying not to stall, trying to shift smoothly, or trying to fit in with normal traffic. all those things are soooooo much easier when you know the clutch first.
-Colin
Congrats Dennis.
Black paint? I hope you're not a member of the OCD club, you'll be washing it twice a week!
-juice
Why? Because that relaxes the professor! ;-)
-juice
In our house, a happy marriage means getting someone else as a teacher.
I had my manual OBS for 5 years and she tried once and said that was enough.
One day I lost my contacs in the ocean and forgot to bring my glasses. We were racing against the sunset while I still had decent daytime vision. :-)
-Dennis
Bob
- Last three girls I have dated drove a stick!
.....
Er.... never mind, forget I even thought it ;-)
-Dave
I think she will warm up to the WRX if I get one.TC
-Rachel
apparently I'm an anomaly! I love cars, and will only drive stick.
Sometimes I still have trouble shifting smoothly in my Subaru. Worse with a/c on (don't know why). Does anyone have any suggestions? I try to keep my movements fluid and measured.
juice - congrats!
Caroline: my wife had the same complaint until I looked at the throttle pedal closely - notice the top of it is hinged and does not actually increase the throttle until after the first inch or two of travel.
But - press the bottom of the pedal and it does, right away. I don't know why it's that way, maybe for a gradual throttle input? Either way, just knowing that and adjusting how you depress the throttle makes a difference.
My wife is a smooth (clutch) operator now.
-juice
I think the A/C is pretty wimpy in general. Luckily, tinting the windows makes a big difference.
I generally stay comfortable in the WRX with the temp setting at about 75% and a 2 level fan. Except for initial cooldown, I do very little adjusting.
Mike
-Dennis
http://www.autoweek.com/ and read the second story on the board, regarding a juiced (sorry juice, no pun intended) Legacy B4 with twin turbochargers... not that I would trade my WRX wagon. But my wife's 97 OBS wagon could be leaving the stable in 2004. Drool....
My Forester has tint, so I can never stay above the "1" fan setting. Our Legacy uses 1 or 2, rarely higher.
Make sure you put it on recirculate, so you're not continuously cooling hot outside air.
-juice
the starter problem has been discussed over there also, I don't remember the conclusion.
vw/audi? doesn't sound like a reliability upgrade to me.
best of luck! perrito
Jim
-Dennis
Actually, I never ever use my cellphone while driving. Eating/drinking/smoking are also banned in my car. I just concentrate on the driving sensations. :-) Incidentally, after fitting on the high-performance Subaru STi suspension (What they term in the Subaru brochure as the "Performance suspension"), along with a variety of bushings that came with it, the handling has grown much more sharper, without any noticeable degradation in ride-quality. 17" Prodrive P1s (Prodrive is the company who prepares the Rally race cars of Subaru) with 215/45ZR17 tires have just added onto the fun-factor.
Later...AH
-juice
AH, sounds nice. I've been considering the P1's for a while now. I need to start saving.
-Dennis
Also, when you push down on the regular WRX, it goes down by quite a bit; but with the STi suspension, it barely budges, but magically has not affected the ride by any noticeable amount. I think this is where the difference between an aftermarket suspension and a Subaru factory engineered high-performance suspension (engineered to work as a package with the WRX chassis) comes in....without degrading the ride-quality, they have achieved much crisper handling. I am re-adjusting to the car's new handling capability. No photos yet.
Later...AH