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Comments
Letters are still trickling in so I think I'll wait 'til Tuesday to submit the letter.
-juice
The rally blue WRX was up first. Firm road feel (blaming some of that on the overinflated tires). Seat was fine, comfy. Car felt bigger from inside. Feels very nimble and solid. Hood scoop takes some getting use to seeing up there. Can hear turbo starting to spool up after 2.5k RPM's. It's like saying "Psssssssssst, hold on!" While I didn't take the tach above 5k, it does throw you back a bit in the seat. Below 3k, it doesn't feel sluggish (or no more sluggish than my Outback). Did I mention it kept whispering to me?
Up next was the XS. I picked this one since it's the closest to an XT right now content-wise (minus the engine). The moonroof it friggin' huge. Opens 75% first, then a second push opens it fully. Could definately feel the ride difference over the WRX - the XS was a bit softer, but still felt nimble and solid. Engine/tranny made it feel just like my Outback. Wasn't cramped inside, felt roomy. Driving position was fine, seats were comfy.
Lastly was the VDC. The leather is nice and soft. McIntosh radio is something too. First thing I noticed when I started driving was how quiet the car was (H6 Outbacks have extra insulation). Could barely hear the H6 with the moonroof open. Feels heavier than the Forester and even my Outback. Driving position no different than my Outback either. Engine power wasn't neck snapping, but it surprised me. Definately the softest ride of the bunch. I'd have to say even a small turbo or a manual tranny would give the VDC a nice edge, probably won't happen though.
I can't justify a WRX with 2 car seats in the back. Although, it would be fun.
I'll have to take a Forester XT out later this year and see how it compares. At this point, it still is on the top of my list due to it's 'sleeper' personality and family versitility.
I could live with a VDC as well. Maybe it was just the sedan that was getting me hooked in. Could have been the leather as well. The body style and interior is too similar to my Outback - and I think my next vehicle should be different. (C'mon, work with me, I'm trying to justify the XT, or is it the WRX, or is it...)
BTW, the route I drove the vehicles on is heavily wooded. Guess what I saw on the way back with the WRX (besides 3 state troopers)? A doe! Crossed in front of the car ahead of us.
*sigh* back in my 'plain ol' Outback I go for now.
-Brian
Nice write up and wow -- you certainly got some test drives in. Kudos to the dealer!
I agree that the WRX doesn't feel too bad under 3K RPMs. Perhaps it is because I have a Phase I engine and I already need to rev past 3K to get some power.
That turbo spool up does sound sinister, doesn't it. I had a blast on my loaner WRX when I had my Forester in for service.
I'm also debating what my next vehicle would be. While the practicality leans towards the XT, I'm still enamored with the WRX handling. I'll just have to drive both again.
BTW, did you see the new Legacy?
Ken
We're probably in the same boat as far as decisions go for the next vehicle. Decisions, decisions.
It would have been nice to see the boost I was getting (I know it was low as I wasn't really pushing it trying to stay under 4-5k RPMs). It was almost like the turbo was tempting me with it's whispers. LOL!
The back seat of the WRX sedan sure looked like I could throw 2 car seats in it. But that moonroof in the Forester XS (and XT for that matter) is just huge! That's really swinging things towards an XT.
While my old '86 LeBaron GTS turbo was fun at that time, I can't remember having as much fun driving the WRX today. For any of you who thought the WRX has turbo lag, you likely never drove a GTS turbo. The WRX has no lag compared to the GTS.
Also, this dealer had all of the STi's allocated except for 1. Guy backed out due to financing problems. And they won't let any of the salespeople drive 'em unless they sign a waiver that basically blames them if anything happens to the car in the future.
-Brian
-Brian
Greg
Strictly, the Hill Holder is not a clutch, but rather a further brake interlinked to the clutch system. When the brake pedal is applied and the clutch pushed in the brake remains actuated until the clutch pedal is fully released. They are very reliable and have been used by Subaru around the world for about 20 years.
I would guess that you hit an isolated problem which just needs to be adjusted.
One issue is that some drivers find it hard to adjust to the Hill Holder although I found it is instantly picked up.
Cheers
Graham
'04 WRX, too, one of the early ones.
Check out that new Legacy! Sweetness, man. The wagon gets one huge moonroof a la Forester, too. The sedan's is smaller, so Subaru continues it's emphasis on wagons. Let's move this to Future Models, but boy am I ever excited about it.
-juice
Cheers Pat.
Did you get to try a manual WRX? Quite a different experience, IMO.
Ken
In the end they decided against the Premium model, because she really only wanted the moonroof, not the heated seats and alloys. They saw the plain X as a better value, and can always add a moonroof later, like we did on my wife's car, for $900.
IMO it makes more sense, since it's her first new car, to shop for value vs. loaded up content.
The rain has persisted so the Camry became less and less attractive to her. I swear, the planets have a certain way of aligning themselves whenever a Teixeira is shopping for a Subaru!
Pat: yes, got it a while ago, actually. Got Ed's priority package too.
-juice
When I get around to testing an XT, I'll make sure to drive the MT WRX that day as well.
-Brian
Thanks for the info; I'll give it another try. I really enjoyed driving the MT Forester in the mountain pass.
Greg
Jim
I signed up for mysubaru.com when I got the VIN but before I had purchased my used Outback. I got in ok the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. The original owner had never registered there and her dealer didn't participate in the maintenance recording stuff. It did tell me that the recalls had been done.
Steve, Host
Since I do most everything myself, this is a way of getting "official" papers. I also keep receipts but this makes it specific to my Forester and not just any car.
-juice
It was pouring rain somebody cut them off and the truck did a 180 turn then flipped and rolled 4 times, she is banged up some but thank God she walked away from it.
Cheers Pat.
Curious - what kind of vehicle were they in? Side airbags deploy (if it had 'em)?
-Brian
It was a 01 Chevy silverado extended cab no side airbags, but they were all belted in, truck is completely totalled.
Just shows, we were worried about her going to Iraq but you can be killed just as easily in a stupid traffic accident.
Cheers Pat.
Bob
My "Get Well Soon" wishes I send
-Dave
But its a fair bet she will be sore for the forseeable future, but as you say it could have been so much worse, as least she is alive to feel pain.
Cheers Pat.
-mike
Cheers Pat.
Jim
Ed
Bob
Cheers Pat.
So instead of going to war, she's in a car wreak! Sounds like Murphy's Law is alive and kicking.
Bob
And on top of that, the Senators lost. :-(
DaveM
I cracked a rib while snow sledding a few years back. Took about 2 weeks to feel normal again, but sort of had to re-hab myself back into shape after that. I'm sure she'll bounce back, she's gotta be in better shape than I was.
Tell her friend to buy a Baja next time, please!
-juice
I was taken by the news, but glad to know that she wasn't hurt badly. You must have flipped out when you heard the news. I hope the best for you and your family.
Ken
FYI: A fatal accident locally in the past week certainly proves the value of seatbelts: Woman driver ran off the road and was ejected from her car into thick woods. They actually had to bring in a cadaver sniffing dog to locate the body which turned out to be 60 feet from the vehicle!
-Frank P.
Sorry to hear about your daughters accident, but am glad to hear that she (and her friends) came out with no major damage. I'm glad they were all wearing their seatbelts.
Mark
Steve
PS: Let her commanding officer know - don't want them chasing her down as AWOL! ;-)
Steve- that is taken care of, I think she has to give an update on her condition in 48 hours.
Bob, yeah we were glad she did not have to go, but as I said in a post to Brian, we were really worried about her going to Iraq, but this incident shows you are not safe anytime, we could just as easily have lost her in this accident.
She said she will send photos of the wreck when she is up to it, her friends father took some pictures, so when I get them I will try to post.
We are in town this week as we have some friends arriving from Ireland today, so after today do not know when I will get back on the boards.
My wife is upset that because of our company she canniot fly down to be with our daughter, but it is impossible to be in two places at once.
Cheers Pat.
There is always next year, they now have what it takes to go all the way,not like is previous years.
Cheers Pat.
-Dennis
Craig
de_juice_man@hotmail.com
Please send it by 3pm Wednesday, then I'll send it off to SoA. The holiday weekend caught me by surprise, and they're still coming in, but I'd like to beef up the package as much as possible. I have 11 or so now, but I'd like to send 16 or so.
So any quick e-mail, we support Patti, bring her back, blah blah blah, a quick note is OK.
Thanks folks.
-juice
Serg, Susan, and Michael
On a sadder? note, my mom passed away last week, thus, the reason I haven't been around. She went into the hospital 3 weeks ago with a mild heart attach and things went downhill from there.
Greg
Bob
Thanks for your kind words.
Greg
-Brian
DaveM