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Comments
I am toying with the idea of finally unloading my 1999 Isuzu Trooper, and picking up the WRX, STI, Hatchback. Everything I read says it is dated. Waiting and getting a new 2009 sounds nice, but new model years always have problems.
I love the trooper, but it is going to need a few thousand + the next year and I am just not sure it is worth it. I had originally planned to drive it until the wheels fell off. Now...at 9-10 mpg around town, I am starting to shop.
Any opinions on getting the current year vs. waiting?
Bob
Bob
-mike
Did you know the Impreza+Forester by themselves outsell all of Mitsubishi? Cars and Trucks?
Any improvements Subaru makes will only stretch that advantage.
Bob
I'm sure it helped both the EVO and STI a lot that there were about 3,874,456 reviews that compared the two directly. I don't think the M3 got as much press, to be honest.
Then again...the Mustang actually thrived even when there was no Camaro. Sales were strong a few years ago when the current model came out and there was no direct competitor.
I am really on the fence with this. I am not sure there will be enough for me to wait for a 2009 model. I like the idea of a model line-up that is tried and true. New years with different engines and drivetrains sometimes take time to work out. From what I read the current model is still a great car.
How is the clutch? Some sports cars I have driven have a high/long throw and can be jerky with all the torque in 1st. My wife will occassionally have to drive this car and she is not keen on a manual transmission as it is. One that is quirky will not go over too well.
What about winter?
* If I do this, I will probably negotiate for a really good set of all season tires versus the summer biased tires it comes with, I think I have that covered
* What about driving it year round? I park outside year round. Will I have to cover the scoop to keep snow out? We don't get a ton, but occassionally we get a few inches over night with a few 10" days here and there too.
With a good set of all season tires, I assume this will be a good winter car as well, provided the roads are plowed without much on the ground. The low front seems like it might be a problem for more than 2 inches of snow.
Bob
Here in Minnesota, where the winters are not something to be sneezed at
Sure, snow tires would have given that extra edge in the winter (frankly, nothing beats dedicated snow tires in the winter) but I don't have any problems with my current setup. The last thing I want to have happen, is to change my snow tires for my summer tires and then have a freak snow-storm hit (here you could very well have a storm in april or May) and then be completely stranded (AWD or not).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KC5ePoBsNM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxtly0YhVd4
Other than those seemingly minor, but very annoying problems, the car is great. It replaced a 2007 BMW 335i that was bought back by BMW under the CA Lemon Law. I would say this car outperforms a BMW and gets much better gas mileage anyhow.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
So I am trying to justify and talk myself into a 300 hp 6 speed...a pro - I used to go 4-wheeling on weekends with people from Edmunds Forums a few years back, that was cool and a lot of fun, but not so much for the family, so it dropped off. Now, I think weekend getaways with a decent drive on Saturday/Sunday wouldn't be too hard to pull off. However there is the whole $$$ with a drive and overnight thing...Might be cheaper than flying if it replaces vacations? Then there is the whole bike thing, it isn't vacation if I don't bring a bike. So does an STI do that great with a bike on the roof? Maybe I should just get a wrx, save some money, and be more practical?
I think I can convince my family to go for overnight trips on weekends for at least a year. I think that is enough of a plan for now. Perhaps further out I could take the car to a track.
Ahhh. Decisions, I like shopping for cars...It is paying car payments for 5 years that bothers me. Fun. Fun.
You wouldn't even have to buy an electrical harness to do that.
I will gladly take you to the track up at Pocono!
-mike
I don't think Subaru sells one for the 2008 models and I would wonder why ? They did sell one in the past for the 2007 and prior year models.
Is this an add-on or standard? I feel like I am not getting a straight answer. I emailed subaru, but haven't heard back. If I can nail this down, there is a good chance I will pick it up Saturday. They said they would put all seasons on at no charge. Unfortunately I am not sure which tires they were going to swap on...I will find out tomorrow. They said dunlops. I want to review the price difference too.
-mike
There is in fact a shorter throw shifter for the STi. Basically the STi has a shorter throw than the WRX, and then on top of it there is an even shorter throw one that they are selling you. So you aren't getting the run-around.
-mike
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I finalized the details today and I pick it up tomorrow.
Add ons...I am contemplating swapping in all season tires...I have arranged a deal for Michelin Pilot A/S Sport tires for $950 ($1250-$300 for stock) trading in the stock tires. I am not sure it is worth it....Going through the dealer and doing it now means I cannot get to tough with the negotiations...It seems reasonable with profit for all involved as well, essentially like I am throwing out the stock tires (ugh).
I can get them for about the same price at tirerack...and keep the stock set around...I did that before with my Isuzu and had an old set of tires around and in the way for years...I think it is probably easiest to just do it all now rather than wait until November to put another set on. They are letting me drive on the stock tires for a week while they order the other ones...so I can change my mind on this one.
I am opting for the bumper to bumper extended warranty (7 years/70,000 miles) for $1700. I feel that with a high pressure turbo an extended warranty is worth it.
I am getting dealer cost pricing, so it is about $33,300 + $1700 + $950 + tax...all in.
Wohoo...great way to end 2 weeks off in the summer. I probably should have bought it before I took vacation, but would never had time otherwise.
If you really want an extended warranty, get longer mileage (like 7/100K) and deductible - much better choice. Also make sure your anticipated annual mileage matches the limits. Subie extended warranties are fully refundable in 30 days, so you can redo the deal on the spot.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
-mike
PS: I'm still contemplating the Trooper, trying to figure out how to get it past the wife....
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I think I will keep the tires anyway...essentially I am giving them away. It would be good to have a set of track tires.
The Trooper has a short shelf life. Check your email. I think I am getting at least a reasonable price from the dealer so it will go with the deal all things being equal. I am happy to be moving on. Not that I don't love it, but it will need repairs to be a compliant PA vehicle...and I don't want to spend money on it.
Any other recommendations for final sale options? Do I want paint protection? Do I want undercoating? etc. I pretty much told them I don't want anything but was interested in an extended warranty. Right now I have a final workup on pricing, but nothing final until I sit down tomorrow.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
The car is great. There are a few minor issues. It looks like the rear bumper is missing 4 (2 on each side) plastic plugs that hold it in place, it isn't loose, but there are holes with nothing in them and it wiggles there. The stock stereo isn't bad as some reviews have said, I have my ipod plugged in so I haven't heard the radio yet. It isn't a BMW or Audi...lots of plastic...but that is fine with me, especially weighing cost/performance.
After getting it and reflecting a little...It is quite fast...silly fast. I think the regular wrx power would be sufficient, but the reviews read that the STi suspension ride were worth the difference. I didn't drive the regular wrx so I can't say for sure, but the STi is great, comfortable around town, over road bumps/holes.
As for the deal... ~$32k out the door. That is with $3k trade in. I opted out of the extended warranty and tires. At the end...I asked the manager..."So, the deal is done, you're the heavy around here, where did I mess up? Where did you get me?" He said that he didn't get me at all. I pretty much got cost. He also said that "I almost got you with the extended warranty"...there is some profit built into it. He offered me a discount of $1500, which he said cut into his profits, but by getting more than a certain percentage to sign-up, he gets a bonus from Subaru which would even out the discount he offered.
Overall...I am very satisfied. I will miss my Trooper, but not too long, this car is great and it seems like there is an equally good community around this vehicle brand as well.
I look forward to new tires, not the cost, but getting a set for everyday...and then a set that I can try burning up on the track...I definitely will have to try that out. I am still going to research extended warranties...I think a car like this could/will have something break...but will I keep it more than 5 years? hmmmm...
Thanks to everyone's help and advice. I hope to get more involved with Subaru events, so I will probably start more postings here.
Welcome to yet another car community! This one may be even stronger than the Isuzu one you came from.
-mike
The stock stereo doesn't stink...the radio does. It is reasonable with CD's and my ipod hooked in.
On the highway...there is no overdrive...65 mph (of course I don't go any faster) it revs close to 3000 rpm's...it would be nice to have something like a highway overdrive switch so you could cruise at low rpms and save gas mileage. I appreciate that revs are up in 6th gear...since if you are racing...you want to access the power band between 3000 and 6500 rpms, so if it didn't rev like that at 65...you couldn't launch it from there.
Also...while the power is supposed to kick in over 4000 rpms...at 3000 it has good pickup and it picks up very quickly until you hit maximum boost later on in the rev cycle.
With the stereo off...I am reminded that this isn't a Porche, Audi, BMW, Lexus, etc. It is a little noisy, there is some 4 cylinder like whining from the engine while cruising around in second gear at low rpms...oh wait...it is a 4 cylinder :-)
None of those things bother me...it is just my first impression after owning it a few days. It is a great driving machine and very comfortable.
My only complaint...are the low beams. They are not much good over 30 mph, and that is adjusted all the way up. I will have to figure out how to adjust them slightly higher at the max setting. The lowest setting is like my old off road lights in my trooper...lights up the road for 20 feet in front like daylight, but nothing else.
The STI is the only Subaru Impreza (in fact the only Subaru vehicle) I would consider today, among the Subaru range. Hopefully the prices will come down a bit more, with gas prices being the way they are.
The 2008 WRX is stinking up the reputation of what was once an all conquering model that put Subaru on the cross-hairs of many an enthusiast.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Bob
Please - have some mercy on my eyes :sick: Things like that should be punished with $1000 fines :lemon:
2018 430i Gran Coupe
The lights are bright and do light up the road, just not far enough out.
I find that driving with low beams on a standard 2 lane blacktop where the speed limit is 45 mph is not possible with low beams. Switching high to low back and forth isn't really possible since there is a good amount of other traffic. I find myself relying on other peoples headlights to see and being very afraid around corners I have never driven on.
I am not looking to raise them a lot...but I am looking to raise them so the max setting is better...not blinding level. I am open to suggestions or other ideas.
The "toxic fumes" argument applies to old clunker cars too, who pollute more and counter-intuitively, their owners get to pay a lower tax. Some countries tax the heavy polluters like old clunkers more, thus making it more expensive to keep them running, which in turn incentivices their owners to get rid of them. Good for the environment and good for the auto industry !
For once I am glad that the high gas prices will slowly get rid of those dinosaurs from the road. Good riddance.
-mike
And what about folks who need them? For instance I tow an 11,500lb boat trailer with my Armada, there are lots of folks who tow boats, RVs, etc. I guess they should all be jet-setting, but not everyone can afford to jet-set.
-mike
OTOH, we run a Yukon XL and I make no apologies. For the overwhelming majority of its mileage it gets better miles per person per gallon than a single person driving a Prius. Since we keep it well tuned and it has cats, there is no evidence it is any dirtier than other vehicles.