By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
-mike
~alpha
But that was a new RAV4 vs an old CR-V. I wouldn't be suprised that 06 CRV's were in short supply as they geared up the production of 07's.
b) Changing the brakes from the 4-pot setup to a 2-pot setup in the front - big step backward, since brakes are the last thing they should have compromised on (assuming there is a compromise by this move).
c) Retaining the 4EAT (in the WRX), when the whole world has moved on to 5EAT and beyond, for pretty much anything in the near-30K **sub-compact** class. If they really wanted to retain the 4EAT, they should have done it in the lesser Imprezas. The WRX truly deserves a significant step-up, lack of whose presence is especially galling, since an off-the-shelf 5EAT is alive and kicking in several Subaru models operating in roughly the same price segment.
d) Reduction of space by going to a steeply sloped hatchback rear design from the less-sloped wagon design. The overall length has not changed much (less than 2" ?)
e) I like the outer design of the current Impreza wagon. The new one (hatch) does not thrill me, from an exterior-looks perspective. One specifically nasty aspect is the clear-lights on the WRX (hopefully can be cured by switching with the other Imprezas).
The steps forward by the new model, were already listed by Bob's previous post above.
Right now the 07 CR-V is outselling the RAV4 easily.
I'm guessing that the STi will get flared fenders so it can run wider tires.
-mike
2 pots vs. 4: paisan thinks it's good as it'll mean an easier brake job. I had to buy a special tool to do my Forester's brakes, and the Miata is definitely a lot easier. My pads wore at a slight angle so it didn't distribute the braking power as evenly as I hoped. I'm torn on this one. :confuse:
I moved from a WRX 2-pot caliper on the Legacy for track days to the FHI 4-pot caliper not only for the better braking (no caliper deflection), easier pad replacement, but the fact that the pads were $20-30 CHEAPER for the 4-pots v. the 2-pots since they are the same pads used on the 300zx as well as the FHI caliper.
I belive Hawk HP+ for the 2pots are around $125 for the 4-pots they are $85.
-mike
You don't even need to pull the bolts off them at all!
-mike
-mike
Maybe they're quieter? That's the only reason I can think of.
Bob
-mike
Also they would have a slightly taller sidewall if people thought the ride was too harsh (it wasn't).
Unless they go back to the old fake scoops? Doubtful.
-mike
205x50% = 102.5mm vs 215x45%=96.75mm...leading to a sidewall height difference of 5.75mm between the "new" and the "old". Not that significant !
Then again, it's more narrow by 10mm, and that's at the widest point (section width).
It's possible the tread width difference is less than 10mm, depending upon the design of the tire.
Perhaps also to permit the wider track in the same total body width while maintaining a tight turning circle. Fuel economy improvement for CAFE may also be critical with the huge penalty inherent with all wheel drive.
Dave
Think of the tire's position with the steering at full lock, it would be very nearly the same.
The base Outback apparently no longer has the steel wheels from the Forester. It now has black steel wheels, with wheelcovers (boo!). Also, it looks like the cruise control has been moved to the steering wheel with buttons. Not sure how I feel about that, as I've felt the current CC control stalk was perfect, so why they're changing this is a mystery?
Pics over at nabisco.
Bob
Much agreed. I did not really feel I was sacrificing anything going with the Basic in terms of the steel vs. aluminum wheels. I very much dislike covers, though, so had they not been decent looking, silver painted wheels, it would have been more of a consideration.
-mike
So now it's 07 v. 08 LGT 5MT. or Spec B, not sure if I can afford the Spec B though.
-mike
I mean, why? It ends up heavier, more unsprung weight, more fragile, easy to break/steal, some times fall off.
Frustrating.
On another note, anyone been to Bill Kolb Subaru? They have used 06 Tribecas dirt cheap. They're very tempting at $22.8k for Ltd/7 pass/NAV with 20 something k miles. They have one with NAV and DVD in the $24k range with fewer miles, too.
A new one would mean about a $8-9 grand jump in price, with the same equipment.
I hope the 08 wows me.
Looking like Quartz Silver Metallic or Diamond Pearl Gray '08
Now it's a matter of SpecB or LGT 5MT
Cost difference of about $5k-6k
Pluses on SpecB:
6-Speed
Torsen LSD Rear
VDC
Navi
18" Wheels
That's about it. The question is....are they worth 5-6k?
Discuss.....
-mike
Bob
-mike
Bob
-mike
6-Speed: solid upgrade, because all the hardware is beefier. Not practical to add this to the other car, but it's gotta be worth $1200 or so.
Torsen LSD Rear: ~$900 just for parts, you could install a front diff yourself and probably get better results. But still worth it.
VDC: Stand-alone this is a few hundred, call it $400. The way you drive you might leave it off all the time.
Navi: You're a techie and will use it, but it's not the best system. I love the voice, and knowing you, you'll find a way around the "safety" feature that doesn't let you or even a passenger use it while in motion. Priced at $1800 stand-alone, and integrated does look nice. I'll say it's worth it just for Becky's voice, she's far more sensual than the lady in my Garmin.
18" Wheels: tough call, because it's an incremental cost here. Plus you're in NYC, so pot holes may eat them up. I don't think they add a lot of value for you, but let's say the set is worth a $600 upgrade price.
That adds up to roughly $4900 of extras. You'd have to add the cost of the Bilsteins, which are surely better than stock. Then there are the black/blue two-tone leather seats, again, if you like them.
So it's arguably worth the extra cost, if, big IF, you want the extras that it comes with. The bonus is that it's a special model that will always be respected. One lapped a road course quicker than BMW/Audi/Infiniti in a R&T comparo.
If Subaru offered the GT with the 6 speed it would be a no-brainer, but as it stands now it's a much tougher call. I think I'd get the spec.B if I thought I could afford it easily.
That's MHO. :shades:
Sure, just sell rides on that boat of yours.... :P
Boo indeed!
Believe it or not the VDC on the Armada isn't too intrusive and I only turn it off when I'm doing a burnout!
-mike
These came from Road & Track.
Bob
-mike
-mike
Bob
For me, there are a few things that enhance the driveability experience, which includes aggressively bolstered seats (relegate the weak bolstering to the lesser Imprezas and the Outbacks), quick/heavy/accurate steering and the tractability of the engine/tranny combo. I guess I will have to wait for the real deal to appear, to make a decision one way or the other.
Bob
I think the perception of good bolstering varies from person to person. A friend has a 2002 WRX, whose bolstering I find to be near perfect. The newer WRX models (2004+) and also the current Legacy GT, don't impress me too much from the bolstering angle - seats are too wide and the bolstering is weak at best (JMHO). Even the regular Honda Civic coupe (not Sedan) has better bolstering, with the Si version having even better bolstering. My wife who is not a sports-car afficionado by any means, also noticed this "weak bolstering" aspect of the newer WRX, right away, after comparing it with our friend's older WRX.
Among the econo cars, the Mitsubishi EVO's bolstering is what I would consider as excellent, even though the overall car is a bit too raw for my taste.
Bob