Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon

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Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'd say VERY well, because that chart does not account for real-world pricing discounts.

    Here is an excellent example:

    WRX Wagon 64% 44% $24,545 $15,709 $10,800
    MINI Cooper 61% 46% $16,999 $10,369 $7,820

    That makes it look like the Cooper has better resale after 5 years. But no way.

    People pay closer to $22,500 for a WRX wagon, while Minis are demanding MSRP or even markups. So in reality the WRX wagon has far, far better resale than the Cooper.

    Thank you for bringing up that link. I try to make this point to a lot of people, and some folks just don't get it. Resale is usually calculated based on MSRP, not real world prices, so get a big discount on a new car and actual resale is much better than published results would have you believe.

    -juice
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    All of the thefts in this area had one thing in common - They wanted a WRX.

    The thieves didn't discriminate. My friend's WRX was completely stock and had a club and auto-lock.
    My car was free of visible valuables and had tinted windows. It was parked about 50 yards from Sears Automotive garage entrance and was stolen in broad daylight.

    A recent attempted theft happened around lunchtime at Best Buy. The thieves are getting around factory alarms, aftermarket, lock devices, etc.

    In hindsight, tinted windows are bad IMO. It allows cover for the thieves while they are destroying your steering column. It also muffles the glass if it's shattered.

    -Dennis
  • nixomosenixomose Member Posts: 95
    either there's an order for a part or somebody's going for a joyride. The joyride people somebody mentioned correctly, make it inconvinent enough that they'll take somebody else's car.
    When my gti was stolen it was because they needed red parts. There was a black and a white gti in the SAME ROW as mine was in the parkinglot, but they needed red parts. So they took mine. If there's an order for a particular part, they'll take it, all anti-theft devices notwithstanding.
    even the flame thrower thing.
  • nixomosenixomose Member Posts: 95
    oh yeah, do you guys get a lot of mail from subaru. I've gotten more mail from subaru in the one year I've had my wrx than everything from VW in the 10 years I've owned gti's.
    They sent me another survey on the dealership I service my car at. (am I the only person who does his own service? not that you can do much on the wrx yourself, ever look in the manual about how to change the spark plugs?)
    There was a phone number at the bottom so I called it to ask about any existing mods to the drivers seat to make it move back more. They said, I'm probably the first person to complain about it. and they'll write it up for a possible fix in future models. Hmmm... maybe I can buy the parts and put them in my wrx if they make them...
  • twrxtwrx Member Posts: 647
    I got the service survey in the mail and responded to it!

    TWRX
  • wrxsoon1wrxsoon1 Member Posts: 158
    twrx,
    They ought to enjoy that reading! I hope you didn't hold back!

    -Ian
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    I ended up purchasing the leather/aluminum shift knob from my Subaru dealer (they matched the SubaruXtras price). Feels great and looks great, but it gives off a buzz/rattle sound at higher rpms. I've tried screwing it on a little further and it is still doing it. Have you noticed anything similar?

    Chris
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    hmmm...my shift knob feels solid. I haven't noticed any unusual noises coming from it, and I commonly drive around town without the stereo on. Are you really sure it's coming from the knob? Perhaps something in the ashtray or console is vibrating at high rpms? Did you get the knob with set screws or, like mine, the one that just screws on OEM-style?

    brian
  • merrycynicmerrycynic Member Posts: 340
    JWILSON1, with all due respect, I think your missing the point. It's exactly those narrow minded prejudiced preconceptions that we're trying to eradicate. Don't let the Madison Avenue image demons decide what defines an appropriate youth apparel/vehicle. You may be in the rest our collective circumstances one day too. You may have a family or the need to cart around some things including some cool toys of your own one day. You may soon learn to appreciate the fact that its a lot easier to walk around dressed like Clark Kent than it is to walk around dressed like Superman. Just because life circumstances may change doesn't change the fact that you may still love a well engineered performance car. This is not new ground. Volvo raced wagons. Audi made (though never brought it State side) a super RSA4 wagon. Subaru could once and for all shake the notion that performance cars are silly impractical toys. A practical, go anywhere, anytime, super sportwagon could probably do more for the marquee name than anything else I could imagine. It would certainly trump anything that any one else has brought to the US. There will be no more excuses, you can have it all! Talk about an ad campaign. They won't have to shape an image. They will respond to every need and desire!
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    It's definitely coming from the new shift knob. When I put my hand on it to shift, the buzz/rattle stops. It just screws on OEM-style, no set screws. I tightened it another full turn when I got to work this morning, and it seemed better on the way home. I am wary of over-tightening it and damaging the threads on the inside (it seemed to have plastic inside where the threads would go). Did you screw it on until it would go no further, or did you just do it 'reasonably' tight?

    Chris
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    I'm thinking of purchasing a rear cup holder and snap-on clear fog lamp covers from Subietech.com. These are Subaru accessories imported from the UK. Has anyone here tried either item? With the fog lamp covers, I'm wondering how noticeable they are (what I'm looking for is protection without changing the appearance), and also how they might stand up to sub-zero winter temps here in Nebraska. With the rear cup holder, I'm wondering if it will hold anything larger than a 12oz bottle/can (say a sports drink bottle). Thanks.

    - Chris
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Chris-
    I have the foglight covers and I'll be putting in an order for another set. The passenger side was called into duty and took a nasty hit [cracked but still intact]. The next set, I'll probably laminate it with 3M clearbra material. Well worth it.

    Oh, they're hardly noticeable. :)

    -Dave
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    Dave,
    How would you rate using the 3M clearbra material on it's own? StonGard do a foglight set for $30, or foglight/headlight set for $60. The snap-on plastic covers from Subietech are around $60 just for the foglights.

    -Chris
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Chris-
    I got my covers from SPI motorsports, aka Irvine Subaru, @ $32.00 ex-dealer ($40 C&F New York).
    SPI Motorsports - Foglight Covers

    Between 3M clearbra material and StonGard, they are the same. I know a guy local that does the clearbra so I'm going to make like a puppy and pick up scraps from him to do the foglights and covers :D

    -Dave
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    Dave,
    Thanks for the link. Their foglight covers are half the price of the import ones, so I'll go with those and save a few $$$.

    -Chris
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    I have the headlight and foglight covers, as well as the rear cupholder. A friend picked everything up for me from a dealer on a trip to England.

    Most people don't notice the covers unless I point them out. The headlight covers are a little more noticeable, but they don't stick out that much. They should be removed regularly for cleaning (especially in rainy/snowy weather).

    The rear cupholders only hold a 12 oz. can or a small bottle (52-66 mm can per the installation instructions).

    Another ordering option is to find a UK dealer that will ship. I believe Ace Kensington is one.

    -Dennis
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    I tightened the shift knob until it was tight and the sticker was lined up, but it's not screwed down all the way I'm sure...there might be another turn left on it, but I was afraid of damaging the threads.

    Brian
  • ctwrx1ctwrx1 Member Posts: 34
    I checked again with my dealership parts department to see if a shop manual is available for my 2002 WRX. The parts man recommended picking up a Chilton's manual at an auto parts store. I'm not interested in buying a pirated CD. Anyone had any success locating a genuine Subaru WRX shop manual?

    Also, after several visits to my dealership, I'm still getting a hot oil smell through my AC vents. The smell isn't continuous but occurs when the car is warmed up, stopped and with the damper set to fresh air. The problem started at about 9K and with 17K it's not going away on it's own. My service department thought they had found the source of the odor when they replaced a defective transmission that was leaking a little around the axle seals. I noticed a difference between the smell of burning/hot engine oil and transmission oil. The transmission has a hypoid gear oil smell. Now that the transmission leak has been eliminated I'm back to square one.

    I can see two small leaks around what looks like a plastic crank case breather bolted to the top of the passenger side valve cover but everything else looks dry. I added leak detector but some of the engine is too covered up to squeeze a black light in. Has anyone had this problem? It smells like crank case gas odor more than the smell of oil burning off on an exhaust shield.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hmm, could it be old oil burning off? Is the block totally clean?

    Climb under neath and inspect all the gaskets, the O-ring up front (oil pump seal), those are the usual suspects for leaks.

    -juice
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    Anyone replaced their steering rack bushings with harder ones? I've ordered some replacement bushings by Noltec from Oakos parts but I'm just curious how involved the replacement proceedure will be. I'm not incredibly handy with the tools, so I don't want to get in over my head with this project.

    Any suggestions from those who have replaced their bushings would be greatly appreciated. My hope is that this $25 mod will help keep my steering wheel centered better than the OEM bushings.

    Brian (04 WRX, by the way...in case that matters)
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    It's a PITA, we've done a few.

    -mike
  • ctwrx1ctwrx1 Member Posts: 34
    It looks as though I will be able to start enjoying my WRX after eleven months of smelling crank case gases. As I mentioned in my 10-16-03 message, what smelled like crank case gases continued to come through my ventilation system after a transmission leak, mistakenly thought to be the cause, was corrected. Today I discovered the crank case recirculation hose to the driver's side valve cover was disconnected and the spring clamp missing. On 12-23-02 my dealership replaced the oil pump and a leaky driver's side valve cover gasket. The mechanic failed to replace the hose. If I had a shop manual I would have discovered the disconnected hose in minutes. I always suspected a disconnected hose and told the dealership so. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the boxer engine and some of the plumbing is not visible.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, nice catch!

    -juice
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    Is this easy to do and why do people do it? Any pros or cons now that my WRX has a few thousand miles on it?

    -Chris
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    The only con I can think of is that if your car is not running properly, resetting the ECU will erase the trouble code.

    There are a few different reasons for doing it. Making an engine mod, clearing a simple check engine light or if you happen to use bad fuel.

    Basically, it's a quicker way for the ECU to learn something new (new fuel, new air filter, different driver, etc.).

    There are a couple of variations, and this is one of the first that I read on-line:
    http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm#2.4.1.1

    -Dennis
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Hmmm... they've got a write-up on the ABS too.
    http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm#3.12

    -Dave
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    There's no reason to do an ECU reset if your vehicle is running fine. Like Dave wrote, some people do it to allow their ECU to adapt to a new set of conditions quicker. Your ECU is continously averaging it's settings so any change will eventually become accounted for. When it's reset, it has no history so it just adapts quicker to the current state.

    Ken
  • knichols007knichols007 Member Posts: 10
    Hello, have a 2000 subaru impreza wagon L. Now that my warranty is almost over i'm looking to deck it out a little. First I want to figure out why it makes a clonk when I brake when stopping from going slowly. The dealer said it was a suspension thing that was normal to the car but I'm suspciousa nd I wonder if you know or can advise me as how to address the issue. I looked at the prodrive website following you previous threads but dont know if those suspension parts willwork on my older model.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Bad wheel bearing, maybe?

    -juice
  • knichols007knichols007 Member Posts: 10
    Hello, have a 2000 subaru impreza wagon L. Now that my warranty is almost over i'm looking to deck it out a little. First I want to figure out why it makes a clonk when I brake when stopping from going slowly. The dealer said it was a suspension thing that was normal to the car but I'm suspciousa nd I wonder if you know or can advise me as how to address the issue. I looked at the prodrive website following you previous threads but dont know if those suspension parts willwork on my older model.
  • knichols007knichols007 Member Posts: 10
    The sounds doent really moan its more of a dropping sound. And it doesnt matter which direction the car is moving. Do you still think it may be the bearings?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hmmm...prolly not. Bearings would be a speed-dependent whine, not dependent on the braking.

    You might have some debris caught in the braking system, I'd check it out ASAP before you ruin the rotors.

    -juice
  • lady_mcselady_mcse Member Posts: 1
    I called the dealer where I got my 2002 WRX wagon with the intention of ordering a hitch for it that I could have installed in a week or two.

    The guy I talked to said there is no such hitch for the 2002 WRX Wagon, that there are ones for the Outback, for the Impreza Wagon non-WRX, and for the Impreza WRX car non-Wagon, but nothing for the WRX Wagon.

    This puzzled me because I could swear that the day I left the lot with it, I got a price on it and remembered it was around $250.

    So I called back and asked again, hoping I'd get a different guy, but I think it was the same one because he acted all pissy with me saying again that it doesn't exist.

    I called two other dealers who said they could get one for $260 and $214 respectively, installation not included.

    I've found some subaru parts websites that seem to have them for around $180-200. But some say max towing capacity 2000lbs and a couple do make it sound like "not for WRX" -- I can read English, but it's darned confusing.

    Bottom line -- has anyone else out there done any TOWING with hitches, or is everyone else just using the hitch to hold bikes?

    All I want to do is make a 1500 mile trip with a little U-Haul trailer on the back. I have no idea how heavy the trailer is to start, but 2000lbs doesn't sound like a heck of a lot.

    --LM
  • merrycynicmerrycynic Member Posts: 340
    I'm not sure, but, I think I remember seeing a WRX wagon with a hitch parked at Subaru headquarters in Cherry Hill, NJ.
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Do a search on nasioc.com, and you should be able to find pictures.

    -Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    A place like Trick Trucks or Pep Boys will have universal hitches and can install them for you for less than $200 for a Class I, which is all you can tow anyway.

    That guy is partially right - it's the Forester and Outback that come pre-wired for a hitch harness. So with a WRX some wire cutting might be required (at least there is no plug-and-play harness plug).

    -juice
  • ctwrx1ctwrx1 Member Posts: 34
    I replaced my stock air filter at 17,500 miles with a K & N from Pep Boys. It replaces the stock unit but K & N recommends removing the air cleaner box to install it properly. My WRX runs the best it ever has.
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    I just finished my favorite, best ever, mod. I disabled that goddamned "feature" that makes the AC compressor come on every time you try to run the defrost. Now I can experience the joy of clear windows w/out suffering the performance hit and exterior window condensation (read - reduced visibility) caused by the AC on-by-force policy that Subaru pushes. Had I known it was going to be so easy I would have done it in the dealer's lot:-)
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    Please share details of what you did to disable the defrost AC 'feature'. Any impact on the way the regular AC works?

    -Chris
  • pathstar1pathstar1 Member Posts: 1,015
    A switch might be nice on the mod. The purpose of the A/C coming on when in "defrost" is to lower the humidity of the air. The defrost works better/faster then.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It works well for the first minute or two, if interior humidity is the problem.

    But I agree, if it stays on too long, you only get condenstation and it makes the problem worse.

    -juice
  • 1hokie1hokie Member Posts: 36
    Ok, tell me about this mod too, as it's been bugging me since I realized you couldn't turn off the a/c with the defrost on! I can only imagine how crazy it would feel to be running the a/c in the wintertime to defrost the window. Please share this mod!!! :o)
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Do a search on nasioc in the Electrical forum under the user name "mulder". Rules here prevent posting a direct link.

    -Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Noticed the A/C working on my wife's Legacy yesterday when I used the defrost at Vent setting 1.

    To be honest, it worked like a charm to clear up the fogged windshield. I just left it on. We've been having a bit of an Indian Summer so it was fine.

    -juice
  • 1hokie1hokie Member Posts: 36
    I looked it up on naisoc - the ol "clip the purple wire" trick... hehehe One question, if I hit the "a/c" button after doing this mod, when I have the defrost on, will it turn the a/c on? I would like manual control of when the a/c is turned on. Thanks!
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    ... but, from what I understand, is that you have full manual control of having the A/C coming on anytime you press the A/C button, and only when you press the A/C button. :-)

    IIRC, when you have the foot vents selected a little bit of air still flows through the defroster vents without a/c. Sort of giving you a defroster without a/c function.

    -Dennis
  • redscoobyredscooby Member Posts: 55
    Another way to get a little bit of air through the windshield vents (without a/c) is to select the 'windshield only' vents and then turn the fan speed to '0'. There's not enough airflow to clear a fogged windshield, but sometimes enough to prevent it fogging up in the first place.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Actually, do that and crack a moonroof open, you're Golden. The air flows in from there and out the moonroof.

    If you don't have a moonroof, try a rear window.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    E-mail em to me I'll post em on my website and you can link to them.

    -mike
  • gottawrxgottawrx Member Posts: 18
    Who knows if the subaru ski rack fits with attachments to the crossbar kit? I have the crossbars and want a ski/board rack. Or should I go through a Yakima dealer. Also I dont think the crossbars have a lock so someone could remove the whole thing by removing the crossbars. What have the fellow skiers/boarders done.

    13.5K on my white wagon.
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