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Subaru Impreza WRX
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Comments
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Cara...unfairfight.xml
Subaru can be proud. I love the quote .. "We only decided to send it to the wolves after we looked at other similarly priced sedans and realized that matching them against the WRX wouldn't be a comparo, it'd be a slaughter. So we called in the German sharks."
-hutch
Jon
-mike
Going 80-100mph on a brand new car, ever heard of break in period? hehe.
-mike
-mike
That's exactly how I feel about it too!
Re sunroofs: if the dealership had an aftermarket one installed they're of course not going to admit that the structural rigidity was compromised. However, I'm a bit skeptical with Subaru's argument against putting in a sunroof. I just can't understand how the WRX's design can be that much different from virtually every other model in the marketplace, all of which at least allow a sunroof as an option.
-Frank P.
I take it that those who don't like traction control also disable your air-bags, anti-lock brakes and a # of other features?
-mike
Having said that, I do have an aftermarket sunroof in my Forester .. but that's another story.
- Hutch
-mike
And yes, I'm not a big fan of either ABS or airbags. IMO a good driver applying threshold braking can stop in a shorter distance and with better control than your avg driver with ABS. Regarding airbags, I know for a fact that they were designed for drivers who refuse to wear their seatbelts. IMO all of these "safety" devices are really just evidence of the dumbing down of the average driver. But of course since the avg driver is yacking on the cel phone and paying no attention to his/her surroundings, I can see the need for devices like this to protect the driver from him/her self.
-Frank P.
Probably wouldn't cost $10K, but you get my point, that they would need to put significant time and effort into keeping the weight down and rigidity up while incorporating a moonroof. For example, they could cut out a moonroof, and then add more structural materials in front and behind the moonroof, but that would weigh more, so they would need to then use lighter stronger material to do that, which in turn would cost more $.
I've never said the WRX wasn't the best value this side of an S4. I just don't like the lack of torque in the low end is all. If I could have an SOA 227hp '01 RS coupe with a 2.5l, and the rigidity of the WRX, I'd take that in a hearbeat over the current WRX.
-mike
PS: No airbags nor ABS nor traction control in my '88 XT6
Just those annoying automatic seat belts that
nearly chop your head off. :-)
Dennis
-mike
hutch
It doesn't work for me either clicking on it in your message, nor copying it from your message and pasting it into another browser window.
Perhaps this is what you've already done, but my suggestion would be to go to the correct webpage, then highlight the URL in the "Location" bar, right-click, and choose copy. Then come to a message window here, right-click and choose paste. That should get the address copied into your message exactly the way it should be.
I hope this helps.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Wanted to share another quote from the Car & Driver (Oct) comparo test between the Audi S4 sedan, BMW 330xi, and Subaru WRX sedan.
"We're still arguing the Subaru's second-place finish. Two of the three voters put the Subaru in first place, with the Audi second. But one - and he'll remain nameless-put the Audi first and the Subaru last, so when we averaged the scores, the Subaru missed the top spot by just one point."
Oh yeah and the verdict: "If you can find a better $24,520 car, buy it"
All this is pretty lavish praise, but I have to agree being the objective owner that I am (ok, my tongue is permanently stuck to my cheek!) :-)
Stephen
Prodrive had a hand in creating the new Impreza. I'm sure a sunroof was the last thing they were thinking about.
Dennis
-mike
Stephen
-mike
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/comparisontests/2001/october/200110_comparisontest_unfairfight.xml
-mike
So have any of you WRX owners noticed high noise levels, especially at freeway cruising speed?? I recall that one post said that the WRX was very quiet, while another said that the noise was as loud as the WRX commercial.
--- Moonroof --- A salesman told me that most imports (not Subaru or Honda) have 3rd party moonroofs installed at the port before they arrive at the dealer. That's why, according to the saleman, Subaru and Honda moonroofs are better those of other imported cars.... anyone believe this....
BTW, what do you want to bet that a moonroof is not available on the WRX next year.
Regarding stability control, air bags etc. Thanks for your input...The reason I am interested is that when I was a much younger and admittedly less mature driver, I had an accident in which I lost control of my car. The road was wet, I realized that I had to slow down going into a curve.... the car fishtailed a bit and kept going straight rather than negotiate the curve. I missed a telephone pole by about 6 inches. I was very fortunate. Now that it is time to replace my car, I am "obsessed" with researching what features would help me avoid such an accident. I know that technology cannot overcome stupidity, recklessness, or carelessness. The best way to arrive safely at your destination is to be a responsible and alert driver. However, that does not discount the idiots I see every day that are more engaged in their cell phone conversation, newspaper, or personal grooming from hitting me with their vehicle (most likely a monster SUV).
I also can't say enough about how important good tires are. But that's another topic.
Also in my area of the country, we are subject to several snowfalls each winter. Not enough to have a white winter, but enough to be annoying and create panic among the general driving public. I could categorize these drivers into 3 groups.
1. The "I can still drive like its the 4th of July" crowd. These usually are over confident SUV drivers. I wave to them as I pass their vehicle, stuck in a ditch
2. "I can't go faster than 10 mph" crowd. These people are worse than group 1. At least group 1 does not create traffic jams, especially on hills. This group enjoys not having enough momentum to go up a hill.
3. The rest of us.
So I want a car that does well in winter weather. That's why I'm only considering AWD. But I also wonder if ESP would also help to keep you going and not sliding vs. not having ESP.
D.J.: I own a 2002 REX with Bridgestone 730's and had a chance to drive the car with stock tires. The car with the stock tires was reasonably quiet. I traded in a 1999 Honda Accord for the REX and I thought the noise levels in the REX were a bit worse than the Honda, both with stock tires. With the high-performance tires, noise levels are increased substantially. From a noise-level standpoint, I would not call the REX a really good "long hauler" - especially when I compare it to our Toyota Sienna. But, this all depends on your ears! If you are really noise sensitive (as I am - and beginning to advance in years!) , the REX may upset you if you depend on it for continual long trips. The fact that we own another vehicle allows me to put up with the noise in the WRX in exhange for the best driving fun I've had in years!!!
Regarding driving safety, I agree with other comments indicating that safe driving is really the function of the driver, not so much the car. That doesn't mean driving slow but smart. Having said that, when the going gets fast, the REX sure does give you confidence. I recently had an experience where I entered an unexpected turn at a speed higher than I would normally have. The REX, with the Bridgestones 730's, just plowed right through with a bit of tire squeal. Had I been in my old Accord, I would have been ?????
Personaly, I like a car that I can hear what its doing... Not blaring high-pitch loud like a civic or even low-pitch loud like a Mustang/F-body, but I do love the Boxer/Porsche sound
Who'd of thunked it?
- Hutch
The short shifter has a little more notchy feel to it but it's a good kind of notchy like you get with a Miata. The Miata has the best shifting feel (more directly tied to tranny) but that's to be expected because it actually *is* more directly connected (less linkage).
The dealer was able to disarm the horn when you lock and unlock the car. You can still hear the doors lock and the lights blink. That beeping got on my nerves, especially in parking garages. BTW, the security alarm is fairly sensitive. A big clap of thunder shook the ground and set it off, but the brave little Mercedes (also armed) did not get upset.
As for the C&D comparo, here's a link. Some fool (I'm asserting 5th amendment rights) poked fun at the WRX and the S4, but the comments were accurate even if they were a bit over the top. The S4 gang took it in stride and made some perceptive comments, especially about the difficulty of comparing the cars directly. To be honest, I think their counterpoints were well taken.
http://forums.audiworld.com/s4/threads/403458.phtml#471583
You can take off the horn feature or bring it on whenever you want.
1. Keep doors open.
2. Press Lock & unlock button simultaneously.
3. It will beep.
If you had the horn feature on, it is turned off now or vice versa.
As to the safety issue which was raised some time ago. I suspect that the WRX is extremely safe. The active safety of the 4 wheel disk ABS with the AWD together with the new chassis should be enough. But add in the front and side airbags... Remember how good the legacy scored with the insurance industry test? In their review of the legacy they noted that Subaru had used the results of previous tests to engineer a far safer car. If you look at a WRX brochure you will see a picture of Subaru's in house test of the WRX. Is it any surprise that WRX in the picture is running into an offset barrier like the insurance institute test does?
TWRX
About rally, you guys never heard of the Corolla rally car? You do know that there are Focus rally cars too right.. hmm.. most of the the famous rally cars are compact cars. I think Subaru reinforced the chasis so they can brag about it, not because it is a rally car. They use a whole bunch of cage reinforcements in rally cars anyways. So it doesn't really matter what they use in production cars.
Subaru, like Volvo, takes great pride in saftey these days.
The rough idle of the WRX is standard in all Subaru boxer engines that ive been in.
Thanks.
Bey
The following is a cut & paste from the I-Club.
You can adjust the sensitivity by finding the control unit which is under parking brake handle under the plastic. This is what it says in the instructions for the alarm:
1. Carefully remove the seal covering the the shock sensor adjustment hole on the top of the security control module.
2. Using a #0 flat-tip screwdriver, CAREFULLY AND GENTLY adjust the sensitivity.
Clockwise - INCREASES sensitivity
Counterclockwise - DECREASES sensitivity
3. With each adjustment of the control, retest the shock sensor (leave the window down and hit the steering wheel). To determine if the desired sensitivity has been reached.
4. Upon completion of the sensitivity adjustment, place a small piece of electrical tape over the sensitivity adjustment hole to prevent dust and/or other foreign material from entering the unit.
You might also check the following link to the installation instructions for the system.
http://subaruparts.com/install/2002isecsys.pdf
Please post your results if you pursue this. Good Luck
- Hutch
Are you sure your WRX isn't just sensitive to being parked next to the BMW because it doesn't like it? Another WRX should keep it happy. :-)
My current insurance company doesn't even have a separate quote for the WRX. My agent said they'd just quote me on the Impreza and add to the premium based on the higher MSRP...
Anyhow, what worries me is that with all the 20-somethings out there who will be crashing this into telephone polls at 100 mph, the insurance prices are bound to skyrocket in Camaro land, which would turn this relatively inexpensive car into something quite costly to own, coupled with the premium gas requirements...