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Comments
My dad saw one at auction and loved it. He'd never seen one and thought it looked exotic.
I'd love to see a SVX with a 3.6 or turbo 2.5 swap. Drooool...
C&D has a listing of the mods.
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q2/2011_subaru_impreza_wrx_sti_sets_nuerb- urgring_lap_record-feature
and pixs
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q2/2011_subaru_impreza_wrx_sti_sets_nuerb- urgring_lap_record-feature/gallery/2011_subaru_impreza_wrx_sti_n_c3_bcrburgring_- prototype_photo_47
Bob
It sounds like Subaru has always tested non-production prototype cars, and now they have this ever-shrinking number that they're aiming for, so they can't publish the numbers for normal cars.
It would be a lot more helpful if they just ran production cars with no changes, except possibly tires.
PS, I bet the 320 HP number is *highly* understated. My Evo makes more than that on a smaller turbo. The turbo in question could easily support 400 HP.
I had a Subaru mechanic give it the once over and flush/change all fluids over to synthetic, flushed changed the brake fluid to ATE blue, make sure the tranny was good. Amazingly, no rust underneath the car- was reasonably well taken care of, although cosmetically on the outside and inside it's got some issues.
The 3.3 L H6 is a sweet engine- nice growl to it. Supposedly it's pretty easy to massage to 500hp! The problem is the tranny can't take that kind of power and would need to be swapped out. (lots of 5 speed swaps have been done)
It is amazing how well engineered and put together this car is- it's actually much better than my current STi or my LGT was. Very solid (but VERY heavy too)
I think it will make a very nice GT car once it's all fixed up!
tom
Although it sounds like most of the mods were suspension and aerodynamic (makes sense- my STI has the aerodynamics of a minivan!).
I agree Collin- I do wonder about the hp rating too. Maybe it was a typo and they meant "420" ?
tom
http://media.subaru.com/index.php?s=13&cat=141&mode=gallery
Bob
Still got that EVO?
We have an 09 Forester now, plus a minivan. Oh, and I finally traded the 93 Miata in on a new hard top model, though I still wonder if that was the right thing to do.
I still have my Evo and it has gone from 4 miles to 91,500 with absolutely no repairs, just basic maintenance. Stock clutch is even doing well. But I don't expect it to go another 90k without putting money into repairs, so right now I'm looking around at likely replacements. The decision will be made solely by if I'm able to sell it for what I think it's worth. (Trade in $10k, private party $13.5k, retail $16k.) I think I can get $14k or more for it from the right buyer.
Anyway, I'm thinking about a TDI Jetta or Golf 5dr. I'd love a TDI CC, but unless they are a surprise for 2011 I don't think that is in the cards. I've driven the TDIs with DSG. They're really nice... awesome powertrain.
Might be a bit of a step down in terms of performance for you, though!
I guess fatherhood has been good to you! You haven't been too domesticated though, I hope!
It's ok, when you get old like me you can buy fast cars again.
tom
I presume that father hood has cut out the bike? or are you doing the kiddy on the back thing?
Cheers
Graham
I'm ok with a step down in performance. I drive Arika's Suzuki in town a few times a week and we have taken some trips in it. It's actually tolerable. She bought it last year with huge incentives for $16,000 new (unsold '08) and it's been a great upgrade for her over a beater '98 Jimmy.
I didn't form any opinions about the VW turbodiesels before I drove them-- 140HP isn't a lot, but the 236lb-ft of torque does well. It turns out to be great for commuting or highway use and I didn't feel wanting for power at any time. However, I'm still not 100% sold that I *need* a vehicle that gets this kind of economy so I'm shopping other small & midsize sedans and hatchbacks as well.
I do still have my motorcycle but I rarely get to ride it. I've ridden dirtbikes and ATVs a few times this year though, and I'm thinking that next summer Evan will be big enough to start out on a 50cc peewee bike.
I've had some work done to my 2002 Wagon..same car, got approx. 80,000 miles. I put in an APS turboback exhaust system, a Grimmspeed uppipe, new DBA 4000XS rotors all around with Hawk AP pads, stainless steel lines and Motul 600 brake fluid. I bought a Cobb Accessport, but currently have the car tuned to the Cobb stock level, which is definitely a bit different than Subaru stock. Eventually, I'll put in Whiteline F/R adjustable sway bars and new endlinks just to tighten up the chassis. It also has 1998 gold RS wheels on it, and I'll be picking up a set of 2004 gold STi wheels on the way back from NY.
I'm glad to see that you are doing fine...those kids grow up fast; mine is 20 already.
My car is insane fast, really quick in the winter but it loses (what feels like) quite a lot of horsepower in this 95+ degree 50+% humidity summer heat.
If I weren't getting married and buying a house I think I might scoop up a CPO Audi S4. I found some great ones for low-mid 30s, but I don't want to finance more than 10k or so. Based on the value of my Evo, I will probably not go much above 25k for a car.
I heard bad things about the 2.7T, but the V8 would be nice.
I drove up and back from Philly with a guy who worked for VWVortex, in an S4 cabrio. Swee-eet!
Horrid gas mileage though. And the S4 didn't get the DSG until 2010, I believe, so the older ones have a conventional slushbox. Most likely I'd get a manual and then I have another car my fiance' cannot drive.
I think I'll just wait 4 years and buy a CPO 2010 with DSG at that time.
*officially, 'direct shift gearbox, but a better description is 'dual-clutch sequential gearbox'
Like VERY short life for the auto trans. The V8 has a completely different automatic.
My W8 Passat had the same trans as the 2.7t. To prevent the failures (unlike in the 2.7t) it was programmed to permit absolutely no engine rpm above idle from a start.
But evidently they figured Audi owners could afford a new $10,000.00 trans.
Glad fatherhood has been good to you. Wouldn't trade it for the world!
Those VW diesels are pricey! How many years (niles) before you break even?
How old do kids have to be to start riding dirt bikes? I always wanted to as a kid but my dad would never let me.
tom
About 4 or 5 to be able to sit on and control the smallest ones. They have a slipper clutch and automatic or single speed. Usually they don't mess with a clutch lever and gear changing until they're 6 or 7.
Those VW diesels are pricey! How many years (niles) before you break even?
Break even versus what.. a gasoline engined VW (1), a competitor's gas engine car (2), a competitor's hybrid (3), or my current car (4)?
They're actually not that expensive at all. They're about $2k more than the SE trim. (The stripped down S trim doesn't count. It has cloth seats and steel wheels with hubcaps! :P ) But since you guys have surely been missing my overly wordy posts...
1. The Jetta SE gets 22/30 (170hp gas inline-5) and that is reasonably accurate. The Jetta TDI is rated at 30/41 but many owners claim this is much lower than their actual economy. They do see 30ish in town, but 45-50 on the hwy (even at 75ish) is typical. FWIW, I set the cruise at 70 on a test drive and saw 52 mpg. Anyway, payback on that $2k would be less than two years with my yearly average of 16,000 miles.
2. There definitely are some competing cars that I should look closely at. I can't bear to think of a Ford Fusion four cylinder, but the test reports and numbers are outstanding. Several bigger sedans get great mpg as well, like the new Hyundai Sonata. But this isn't just about mpg, and neither of those particular cars do much for me at all. (Obviously a CPO S4 isn't very comparable to a Jetta TDI at all, other than price.
3. There's no way in heck I would buy a hybrid. The real-world economy at 70+ is not that good, most of them have poor cargo space, they handle like crap, they're boring to drive, and most of them command $5,000+ over their gas equivalents. Ain't happening.
4. Certainly my Evo has the best economics. It has been paid off for 2 years and even if 'everything' major broke I would pay no more than $7k - $10k on it over the next 4 years, far less than any new or used car I'm considering. But once a car becomes unreliable no one wants to live with that.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/23/hyundai-new-2-0-turbo-hits-60-in-6-5-seconds-- returns-34-mpg-hi/
Sure it's FWD but you can always do donuts in reverse.
The real kicker? It runs on regular octane.
All these 'low-pressure' turbocharged cars that claim to run on regular unleaded have me very suspicious. (How can a 2.0L inline 4 making 270+ HP be anything other than high boost, btw?)
There's a few naturally aspirated cars like that too, such as my co-worker's 2005 Acura TL, which 'suggests' premium for optimum power and fuel economy 'but requires only 87 octane'. He says that people report about 2-3 mpg less but he goes ahead and puts in premium to be safe.
Anytime the knock sensor is active and timing is being retarded, that's not good. The consumer isn't being done any favors here; if it needs premium, just say that! Instead, we have forums where people ask what this strange rattling noise could be, that they only hear under hard acceleration. Hmm...
When my wife was my fiance, I said the same thing. Now both of our daily drivers are manuals (hers a '10 Forester and mine a '98 Escort) and she scoots around in her car quite well.
When I was eight, I hit a barbed wire fence once when trying to make a hard turn in a corner of a field. The fence tore me up pretty badly and freaked my mom out, so she put the bike away and I never got to ride it again.
I don't think I would let my son, who is six, ride one though! Maybe, if he was a little more dependable/responsible. I have an '84 Honda Big Red 3-wheeler, but it will be a LONG time before he gets any solo rides!
I saw a local dealer here selling a Jetta TDI wagon for $29k!!!! I almost fell over! I didn't realize it was only $2k over a gas version (but why should it cost more other than they can charge for it? I doubt a diesel costs more to build like a Hybrid) It would be nice if Subaru brought their diesel here.
The new Ford's are impressive- they actually seem to be well assembled- better than my last Camry Hybrid. May be worth a look.
tom
Big accidents are a risk, and certainly moms are likely to put a kibosh on riding.
The normally aspirated version has DI and makes 198hp, so that's not bad.
Subaru needs to update their engines soon. 170hp was competitive 2-5 years ago, but it's time to bump that to 180-200 or so, even for base engines.
Both that and the turbos could use a dose of DI.
It's possible to option a Jetta Sportwagen TDI up to $29k.. $25k base (more than the Golf or Jetta sedan), $1k for the DSG, $1k for sunroof, $800+ for 17" wheels (several choices), and so on. Plus some dealers are marking up; the TDIs are selling well nationwide, and seem to sell much faster than the gas models.
Starting in 2007 the US requires very low particulate exhaust which mostly was achieved with ultra-low sulfur fuel. (BTW we pioneered ULSD more than 10 years prior, but no market existed until the govt decided to mandate its use.) The rest of the particulate was removed with filters for smaller displacement engines and for larger ones they use a urea treatment system. (Yep-- it's in fullsize trucks.) These things add cost over a gas engine but your intuition was right-- nowhere NEAR as much cost as a hybrid powertrain.
It would be nice if Subaru brought their diesel here.
It seems like if they have a car that can meet Eurozone standards it could be made to pass US diesel standards as well. But as I said above, the US standards are pretty tough. I believe that Subaru's 2.0L turbodiesel makes like 150HP and 240lb-ft which is very similar to the VW engine. And honestly, I haven't praised the TDI enough in my comments here. It is a very good powerplant.
I think Subaru better be working hard to bring their diesel to the US... It will be a big success. I also read the rumor about Subaru bringing a diesel STi. I doubt that very much in the near term, but I could see a diesel WRX making 250ish horsepower being a success.
Here's the STI diesel link from nabisco:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2004011
Bob
I just can't see there being a 150hp diesel impreza trim and then the next jump is all the way to a STi diesel. And I doubt the STi diesel will be able to match the gas performance in the near term, so it will be hard to compete with other performance cars if a diesel becomes the *only* STi.
I realize 0-60 isn't everything but that's what consumers notice first.
Wait, what? How could that be possible? Both 2.5L DOHC.. one has a bigger turbo and more boost. Oh wait.. the STi has a 6 speed. If it's geared too low to hit 60 in 2nd, that would be a problem. Not in real life, but on an instrumented test. And people do look at that stuff, for sure.
(Google.. read, read.. read)
Yep, the STi hits the rev limiter at 56 MPH in 2nd. Ouch.
Still, my real point was that if there's a diesel STi surely there would be a more pedestrian diesel WRX.
I finally got it cleaned up and detailed with some new tires and wheels. Here it is!
Bob
The car looks fantastic, especially given its age and I assume mostly or entirely original paint.
You should be proud, Mr. Pumpkinhead.
Bob
Bringing over a manual transmission would be pretty easy. Even if the bellhousing didn't match, an adapter plate wouldn't be hard to fabricate. The 6MT should be strong enough, but I wouldn't dare try the 5MT 'glass box' (of club rally infamy).
My son was driving so I "smiley faced" him out.
The car looks great from 10 feet. Just had it detailed and they did an incredible job. It's got a number of dings and I'm sure it will need to be repainted.
The tranny is holding up well- it's got a tranny cooler Subaru added later but it's definitely the weak link. The H3.3 is a gem though.
People have linked up 5 spd and 6 spd trannys with success. I read that the OBD II cars will throw a check engine light though.
People have swapped the auto with the 4.44 auto tranny from the outbacks with good success. I'm planning to do this if the tranny goes.
Car is totally rust free and mechanically sound amazingly. Hopefully will be so for a long time.
tom
Nice to see you guys!
tom
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