2008 Subaru Impreza WRX

sbcooke

My MDX is a ULEV. States have emissions testing...where are all these smoke belching vehicles? Is it a real problem?

Back to my question...I can appreciate blinding other people with headlights...I am sure my Isuzu didn't blind people (and passed its emissions testing). The lights were weak, aimed higher, but also aimed directly in front of my vehicle and down to the right.

I find it hard to believe that HID low beams are only good for about 30 MPH...is that the way it is supposed to be? I have been driving 2 lane backroads for years and never had an issue driving with low beams at speed limits. If buying a race car means I have to go below the speed limit at night...that seems odd? Though Lightning McQueen doesn't even have headlights :-)

bkaiser1

Wow -- this little piece of info almost got buried in the posts! Assuming this is really what we're going to see in 2009, I think the WRX will finally be able to regain some of the respect it's lost in the latest redesign. The changes you mention here are exactly what the WRX *should* have had from the outset...the current model is such a letdown (coming from the former owner of a WRX wagon). The 09s can't get here soon enough!

Brian

volkov

Remember too that there is a very large variation in people's night vision acuity which dictates a varying need for headlight intensity. My wife feels very uneasy driving on rural roads at night and would need rally lights to feel comfortable. Add in on-coming lights and she's practically blind. Luckily I have very strong night vision and recover quickly from light flashes. But it does bring up a good point wrt test driving a car. We took the Forester out overnight, but since it was June and it doesn't get dark until 11pm, I never assessed the lighting.
Comparatively, my 04 WRX low beams are pretty tepid (they just never bothered me) but the newer models and the STI in particular do have stronger lighting.

merrycynic

That is encouraging! I wish there were more details re: the "upgraded suspension".

volkov

Yes, it will be a good thing if the items in that report are true and it's what the WRX should have been from its intro. Wrt the suspension, it was knocked for excessive body roll but at the same time, all pro tests showed it to be faster in the slalom indicating that it was holding the road better with the new set-up and felt more refined at the same time. Who knows what the suspension upgrades could be. Although the butt-o-meter of most drivers preferred the stiff feel of the old set up, it was still based on a very old passenger vehicle design which had inherent limitations. My dealer had traded for a Newport Forester Limited but the dock wharehouse goofed and sent him the wrong vehicle. Now I will need to wait for a month or two for the same vehicle. Who knows, if the 09 WRXs come out in the interval, I may have to reconsider.

sbcooke

Well, I looked under the hood and there is no easy way to adjust the low beams. I guess I will just have to get used to them...or at least try living with it and see how good/bad it is over time. I have great night vision, so that isn't an issue for me.

The lighting is powerful and I can see how raising them too high definitely would affect other drivers.

I have put about 400 miles on it so far and am liking it a lot. It is a great driving car. The radio is not good, but the overall sound with CD or IPOD is fair to good. I am starting to shop for a replacement, I was looking at the JVC KD-NX5000 which is an in dash nav system too for ~ $500. I will have to wait a little while before I can leverage more out of savings to purchase one. Has anyone else upgraded their STI stereo and with what?

msolomons

The MSRP on the 4 door sedan standard transmission WRX with the premium package is $26,350. We just received a quote for $300/month with $2000 down for 36 months and 12,000/year, not including tax and registration It seems to be a good rate but I'd like some validation; I know that Subaru is offering incentives this month on many of their cars.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Mary

sbcooke

So, I have done some radio testing. The MP3's via disk, CD or IPOD all play failry good. The stereo crackles a little at high volumes, I don't use the radio that much...and I think it is the tuner that stinks. The amp isn't terrible, actually it is quite fine.

I think I am just going to upgrade the speakers vs. the head unit. I only really listen to the radio when I listen to 880 going over the George Washington Bridge; The performance via both mp3 sources is pretty good.

BTW...so when I have given friends/neighbors rides, they all say wow this thing has a lot of pickup...but what is even more impressive, is how it stops. Medium hard braking from 50 MPH, I can feel the blood rushing to my head. It is amazing. It stops on a dime. I guess that is race car breaks...you probably need to be able to go from 110 to 30 on a curvy track a lot.

Also...how many miles should I have on it before I take it to the track? I was thinking about Nov. That way, I can toast the tires/breaks before winter, since I was planning on getting a set of all seasons anyway. I figure I will have maybe 3-4K on the car by then. Is that too soon?

paisan

We've taken new cars on the track with as little as 700-1000 miles. I wouldn't hesitate.

Brakes will be fine as well as tires on-track, especially in group 1 you won't be wearing them out too quickly.

Which event are you thinking of attending? We have a Watkins event in Oct, and a NJ Motorsports Park event in Nov. Both are great tracks and I'll be at both!

-mike

sbcooke

Thanks. Either Jersey or Poconos. Watkins is a little far. Who are you with? Is it better to sign up through a club? I have never done this before so I could use all the help I can get. NJ in Nov would be perfect I think.

sbcooke

I went out today to try out one of the 4 lane roads around here that is really narrow and has a lot of switch backs. Most of the time you see cars doing 50, crossing both lanes hanging on trying to go as fast as they can, breaking hard and accelerating in and out of corners, etc.

I was doing 50 cruising along pretty much at a constant pace without so much as a hiccup from the car. It wasn't all that much fun to drive, which I was hoping it might be. The STi eats up the road so easily that i hardly noticed I was on one of the normal white knuckle rides around here.

I put together a Jazz mp3 disk to try out the stereo some more and it is clear that the stereo is fine, just the radio stinks, which is good. I really like to have good tunes when driving. I may eventually upgrade the radio, but it isn't an emergency.

paisan

You can only run with a club at the tracks in this area. The NJ Motorsports Park does have a country-club style membership which costs $15k to get in, $2500/year dues, and $150/day to use it.

I am an instructor with NASA-Northeast/PDA and am the Chief of Timing and Scoring with them. I generally don't instruct anymore, except for "special" students that I know and request me to specifically instruct them.

NASA is worth it to join for the year cause you get a free subscription to Grass Roots Motorsports which is the bible of Road Racing and Auto-xing!

-mike

sbcooke

Yikes, joining a park seems a little expensive. I am looking to get out once and then see if I want to do it more. I will do some club searching. Thanks.

paisan

I think NASA/PDA is like $35 to join for the year.

-mike

sbcooke

I was wondering if I should think about a subaru specific club since I will probably only go to a track once maybe twice for the foreseeable future...but I see myself probably doing a subaru specific event more often.

harvpt

I am looking at a 08 WRX Sedan, Live in the Northeast. The brochure states the car comes with all weather tires, but one dealer said it came with performance tires and would need snows. I am planning to lease so want to be sure re: winter driving. Any thoughts? Thanks

rsholland

They're high-performance all-season tires. They marginal in the snow. I know, as I own one.

Bob

paisan

There are no Subaru specific track or even auto-x clubs. At any given PDA/NASA-NE event you'll find several Subarus there, and in Timing and Scoring, we usually have 2 or 3 subies there ourselves!



-mike

harvpt

So, How marginal, Did you get snows? if so does that improve the winter driving?

volkov

Any tire that leans towards higher performance on pavement will suffer in snow. The difference between even regular all-seasons and snow tires in the winter is significant. To minimize the impact, you can still get high performance snows. Pirelli, Michelin, Dunlop,and Goodyear all make options and for lower investment, Kumho and Hankook have models. They are not expensive, and I would not want tires that are capable as all season tread on any car that aims towards sport or performance.

rsholland

No, I didn't get snow tires. If you're careful, you can get by. They just don't grip very well, so expect more sliding.

We also have a Forester and Outback Sport. The tires on both those cars are better than the WRX tires in the snow.

Bob

sbcooke

I plan on replacing my tires in the fall for some good all season high performance tires vs. the summer performance tires that come stock. I still haven't figured out if I am doing tires and rims or just tires. I don't want to have to worry about weather and driving...and still be able to drive the car in a fun way even in winter months.

I tried negotiating with the dealer to get a different set on when I bought it...but the deal wasn't that good, so I opted to go on my own.

sbcooke

A woman I work with is an instructor for NASA and PCA, she was recommending NASA for me. I think that is the way I am going to go.

rsholland

The current '08 WRX does not come with summer tires; they're high-performance all-season tires. The STI comes with summer tires.

That may change for '09 with the WRX, however. Should know for sure later this week.

Bob

sbcooke

I am having a hard time with break-in, well not really that hard other than I really want to drive it.

I have driven it hard a couple of times, but am trying to keep the rpm's down, but at 600 miles it is hard for me to wait. Also, it revs so fast past 4000 RPMs in first that it is difficult to start.

I want to take it on a road trip this weekend, but don't want to put 3 hours of highway driving on the engine. I am not sure of the right procedure vs. the manual 1000 mile break in period, etc. At 700 miles is it too soon to take on a highway trip? Some web articles have said highway driving is OK, just don't use cruise control.

BTW...the car came with 109 miles on it...I am sure the test drives weren't all low rpm trips.

sbcooke

Yeah, you're right. I was reading too quickly.

paisan

Yeah PCA you have to have a porsche or be a "guest" of a porsche owner.

I'm sure that I probably know her since I've instructed with NASA/PDA for a long time.

On tires, I'd go with a dedicated "performance" snow tire. We'll talk more as winter approaches.

As for a trip at 700 miles, I wouldn't worry. Just don't use cruise on the highway.

-mike

bkaiser1

Well, it turns out the initial specs shown on here last week were correct and the 09 WRX is vastly improved from the 08 version (see Inside Line post this morning). It's a shame that the 08's were allowed to slip through the cracks...the 08's lack of focus and general "softening" certainly damaged the WRX's image and I'm glad to see many of the shortcomings addressed with the 09s. Now if they would just get rid of those ridiculous clear lens tail lights we'd have the complete package!

rsholland

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2008/07/2009-subaru-impreza-wrx-and-25gt.h- tml

All the rumors were true folks. I feel sorry for '08 WRX owners, as they must feel like early iPhone owners. They buy a new a product—only to be upstaged a short time later with a newer and much more desirable product.

Bob

dino001

Now if they would just get rid of those ridiculous clear lens tail lights we'd have the complete package!

Ditto. Add 6-speed transmission to that. Don't need all STIs fancy helical AWD with DCCD (or whatever it's called) and stuff, but 6 speed is really due. Pretty much everybody else in that size/speed/price class has it.

Same with GT. I think leaving 4-speed AT with low-end AWD is probably going to be even a bigger deal than 5-speed MT on WRX. In world on $22K+ speedy "family" car (which GT will pretty much be competing with), 4AT is antique.

I think WRX has a chance to go back to small incentive world now, say financing and/or just 500 bucks cash (of course it really depends on the sticker pricing), but GT will probably stay stuck with 2 grand cash - unless they restrict supply to collectible level, or lower stickers, which I don't see happening.

dino001

That's why I'd never ever buy first model year from manufacturer with Subaru's track record. They're not alone with those undercooked releases, but certainly quite consistent. WRX was probably worst of them all, even worse than Tribeca which was hard to imagine in 2006.

To be fair though, Forester and STI seem to be a smashing hits from the start - only a few "lacking" areas, but no dealbreakers, like in WRX.

In any case, it almost always pays off waiting a year or two from new release, Subaru or not.

sbcooke

I shopped the impreza a few times over previous years and it was just too small for me and my requirements. I went for the WRX model this year since it is the first year I really fit comfortably in it and it was in a nice 5 door package.

However reading the reviews and test driving, I decided to move up to the STI. Not quite what I wanted, although I am not complaining about the STI...If this new model was available when I was shopping, I might not have made the same choice. I wonder what '09 will bring for the STI.

All the comments about the hatchback...I actually like the looks a lot, at least of the STI, the additional styling outside works for me. I realize its looks can be at called "critically acclaimed".

dino001

I realize its looks can be at called "critically acclaimed"

I think you meant the opposite, din't you? Critically acclaimed means receiving overwhelmingly positiive response from professional critics.

ateixeira

Well, I called the moonroof.

I'm a bit shocked at the long list of improvements, though, especially just one model year later.

Let's see if they start publishing the sales spread between models now.

sbcooke

Yes, I was joking...there has been much critiscm...and some acclaim. I personnally like it. Sometimes my sarcasm doesn't always translate into words the same.

volkov

I thought I called the moonroof. I was the first to get it confirmed. Given I now have no chance of seeing a Forester before the fall, I think I will be tempted by the new WRX when it's available.

ateixeira

I predicted it when the 2008 came out and people complained it was missing.

That's what Subaru does. A year later they add a moonroof. After that, they'll add leather. For the last of the 5 year cycle they will have the perfect content (example: 2008 Forester XT Sports).

volkov

I am with Bob a little in having concerns re. peak torque not showing up until 4k rpm. I'd like to see the engine torque curves and hope it is not returning to the rubber band feel of my older 2.0L.

rsholland

From what I understand, there may be a bit less low-end power for the '09 WRX. I don't think it will be like the 2.0 WRX; probably somewhere in between the old 2.0 WRX and the 224 hp 2.5 WRX.

Bob

dino001

Using quotations or winks would help in better understanding your sarcasm.

dino001

Now - knowing how much Subaru koolaid you drink each day ( :P ), I'm just afraid to ask... But I will - do you think it's a good thing when Subaru comes with perfectly packaged product in last year of its run? :sick:

paisan

I'm kinda laughing at the whole "09 is significantly better than 08" thing.

Everything is a bolt on. So unless the price stays the same, you really haven't gained much, except maybe the warranty.

Springs - Bolt on
Sways - Bolt on
DP/Turbo Back - Bolt on
Turbo - Bolt on
ECU Tuning- for a small amount of money you can get over 300 crank and 350+ torque
Tires- You will get some crappy summer tires or at the very least be forced to go buy another set of tires and rims for winter, I am gonna stock up on 09 rims so when the little punks go out in the snow and smack curbs I can take em over the coals for rims at my shop
Spoiler - bolt on
grill - bolt on

I would be out looking for a bargain basement deal on an 08 and doing the bolt-ons myself! If I were in the market for this car right now.

-mike

merrycynic

Perhaps, but it's bolt-ons with warranty. I have my doubts too. Subaru seems to win the war on paper, Mitsubishi seems to win the war on the track. We shall see.

paisan

They only did it for the sole reason of getting better writeups from the auto-rag magazines. So some reviewer can say "Subaru now has it's grip back and stiff handling" Meanwhile it's just stickier tires and stiffer springs!

But hey whatever sells cars

-mike

dino001

Well, even if it's bolt on and even if it costs more than original, it would still be significantly less than buying it aftermarket and having installed. The total would probably run above couple of grand easy, especially if somebody else was bolting it on.

paisan

Yup, but lets see how much more they charge for the car. Also add in that anyone buying a wrx north of most of the country will need to buy about $1000 worth of tires and rims for it, as summer tires are only good to about 45 degrees ambient.

-mike

merrycynic

Gotta agree! Part of the appeal (at least for me) of the original WRX wagon was that it was a terrific all season sporty car.

paisan

Come to think of it, this may work out real well.....

I'm friends with my local dealer, I'm gonna work out a plan to buy all his summer tire take offs if they are good summer tires, because I'm sure that most dealers will offer a "swap the summers for all seasons for $700" dealio. I will then pickup the summer tires cheap to use on my own car and at the track and to resell to my customers!

Thanks SOA for the great idea!

-mike

dino001

There is nothing "all-season" in RE92s - they are crappy even in rain (at least mine were) - with new summer tires one will at least know right away to get a set of winter shoes and not play Russian roullette when first snow falls.

merrycynic

That's true. The RE92's were just awful in the snow, but I'm guessing they were still better than Summer Only tires..