Subaru Impreza WRX

barresa62 · December 2001

I have it on the front. It started well under 1000 miles.

Stephen

Karen_S · December 2001

First fifteen people in the chat door get a free Swix Knitted Ski Hat from Subaru!

KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs

bedabi · December 2001

I had it for a little while and then it went away. I'm at 13,000 miles now. Only complaint is that the front passenger seatbelt squeaks when my girlfriend's in it. Doesn't happen with anyone else who's heavier. And that's it. Pretty minor complaint, eh?

Take the gripes and complants on i-club with a bit of salt. The whiners will always post their grievances while the happy and content are too busy driving or reading the i-club boards for more info on our cars.

And Mike (Paisan) is right. When I go to Tri-State i-cub meets there are lot of members so overeager to modify their cars that it's done haphazardly, and in my opinion, too soon. I mean the car's only been here since March. And when things don't work out, they're quick to blame Subaru.

[aside] Hey Silver Bullet! You've been on this board from th beginning as long as I have! Bite the bullet already! I KNOW you want to! (I'm thinking of that funny new VW ad with that car growing like a tumor on that guy's head.)

freespec · December 2001

Now with Subaru releasing a new version of WRX, STi, next year, don't those who rushed to buy WRX feel they wrote their check a bit too early?(your beloved WRX will be out of date and laughed at several months from now and you are left 0 to brag about).

Also with Lancer REV VII scheduled to make debut in US in 2002 with far superior horsepower(272HP), better in-and-out fits(such as leather, 17" and wider tires) priced around $20K to $25K, don't those who bought WRX at MRSP and still claimed a good deal(ya compared to BMW-3s) feel a little annoyed?

HaHaHaHa....for those who still remember me......

bedabi · December 2001

yeah, whatever....

paisan · December 2001

Also I've heard that most of the mod $ people spend could be better spent on driving schools rather than minimal performance upgrades. Other than tires and sway bars most rex mods are minimal effectiveness compared to a good performance driving school IMHO.

-mike

silver_bullet · December 2001

You are right - I've been on the fence for so long I've got a groove in my butt

I really want to think I'm doing the right thing by buying a WRX, since it isn't chump change for me. The Sti doesn't tempt me - too much money and crazy insurance rates I'm sure. I really like the sleeper look of the current WRX sedan without the rear wing, and that's what I'm looking at now. Maybe I'll get off the pot soon

Still thinking about opting for a 2.5RS sedan instead... decisions, decisions.

esqknight · December 2001

I had been thinking about enrolling in a course, after my WRX is delivered. I live in NYC and am wondering if anyone knows of any good performance driving schools within a reasonable distance.

Thanks
Eric

paisan · December 2001

I'm in NYC and so is Bedabi. NNJR auto-x runs a school as well as NASA Northeast. I'll post links later.

-mike

freespec · December 2001

So solute you. Check out the most recent Motortrend online article about EVO VII. I am sure you will be kicking your butt when reading....

1subydown1togo · December 2001

you back again?..seems you're the one who didn't learn their lesson...

freespec · December 2001

So solute you. Check out the most recent Motortrend online article about EVO VII. I am sure you will be kicking your butt when reading....

p0926 · December 2001

Hey Freespec, if you really believe "Lancer REV VII scheduled to make debut in US in 2002 with far superior horsepower(272HP), better in-and-out fits(such as leather, 17" and wider tires) priced around $20K to $25K", then I got a bridge I want to sell to you ;-)

If you ask me, it sounds like somebody's got a major case of new car envy.

-Frank P.

bluesubie · December 2001

Eric - There's a Skip Barber school in Lime Rock, CT. I at think the beginning of the auto-x season, most places have an instructional course that you can sign up for.

freespec - The Motor Trend article is old news. Even if the "Rev" does come here, you can be sure that it will be de-tuned. Even if it matches the STi's h.p., who cares? I've got two words for you - Subaru reliability.

-Dennis

esqknight · December 2001

I'm not really looking to race or off road, just looking to learn to be able to have ordinary driving fun a little more safetly.

On another note, I never understand folks that waste their (perhaps not so valuable) trying to bash cars, for what seems like the goal of just getting a rise out of people.

ateixeira · December 2001

I don't think many will regret their purchase.

Look at it this way. For many young buyers, they are already stretching to afford a $25k vehicle. A $30k vehicle may be out of reach.

Another point - if you can afford a $30k toy, odds are you're not so tight, financially. If you have the dough and bought a WRX, you can afford to trade up to an STi, I'm sure.

Or as they say, if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it.

-juice

lark6 · December 2001

I looked at it during lunch and had to shake my head. They are very snotty and down on Subarus generally, especially the H6 Outbacks and WRX. Granted many of their criticisms are valid (for example, quality of interior plastics and fabrics), but it really reads like a bunch of people who are trying very hard to justify the additional money spent. Some of them have Foresters as second cars, though, for when they feel like slumming.

Ed

ateixeira · December 2001

Threatened, perhaps?

-juice

lark6 · December 2001

Threatened, no doubt.

Ed

paisan · December 2001

They may provide on-the track driving experience, but 90%+ can be applied to daily driving situations. Auto-x has made me a better driver IMHO.

-mike

dill6 · December 2001

a "solute" is that which is dissolved in a solution, which is apparently what some folks around here have sloshing around between their ears...

rsholland · December 2001

Check out the latest issues of Automobile (2002 Car of the Year) and C&D (Top 10 list) magazines.

Bob

pat · December 2001

... chat LIVE with the official Subaru cross-country ski team!

Andrew Gerlach and Peter Vordenberg are our featured guests in the regular Thursday night chat beginning at 6 pm PST/9 pm EST.

The first 15 folks in the door win a free gift from Subaru! Come one, come all - this is not to be missed!!

Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board

bedabi · December 2001

I just joined National Autosport Association (NASA) Northeast myself. It looks like a lot of fun and a great way to better familiarize myself with the car's limits safely. I really don't like to push it on city streets. Maybe eventually I'll get Paisan to stop gloating about his XT6's success on autocrosses.

Here's the link to join up:

http://www.nasanortheast.net/

twrx · December 2001

Will the EVO be available in a wagon so I can replace my inferior WRX wagon?

twrx

jdbtensai · December 2001

i read audiworld a lot. i don't think people there look down on the wrx. it's is a less expensive car, that is a fact. the interior isn't as nice, that is a fact. but the wrx is awesome at what it is, an inexpensive little four door rocket.

ateixeira · December 2001

Probably a few loud voices hurting the signal/noise ratio.

-juice

lark6 · December 2001

I did see the acronym "ONR" (just go one letter forward like "HAL" to "IBM" in 2001 and figure it out) and "Subaru" in several threads when I used the search engine, as in "I parked next to a ONR Forester today," or "the Subie AWD system is a real ONR compared to quattro." juice is probably right - signal/noise high like i-club - but I sensed a real defensive tone in there.

No one denies that the quality of interior materials is higher in the Audi product line than in the Subaru line. The entry level Audis are competitive with mid-to-top-level Subarus in price. I know; I shopped A4 Avants before choosing the Forester. Long-term reliability and maintenance/repair costs are what swayed me to Subaru over Audi.

Ed

ateixeira · December 2001

The euro magazine Car took an Audi allroad quattro off road with a Forester S Turbo, and they liked the Subie better. It was quicker, cheaper, and more capable, their clear choice.

Some ONR, eh?

-juice

lark6 · December 2001

I have that issue of CAR and admittedly pull it out to reread the article whenever I doubt that I got the best value for money in the class. There was some quote in there to the effect that, for the UK price of an allroad you coud buy two Forester S turbos and have enough money left over to insure them both for 10 years.

Ed

ateixeira · December 2001

I'd be happy if I could have access to buying ONE Forester turbo!

-juice

sarny · December 2001

I don't want an STI, I want the WRX. If I could afford a $35,000 car, I would buy something else. There is no mistake by me buying the WRX next month. Its the best car anyone could buy for around $26,000. And if I want it to be close to the STI version, I need to only spend another $1000 on mods for an additional 35 horsepower.

dbreaux · December 2001

hey sarny just checking to see if you went with the vishnu ground 0 kit or just checking it out. Seems to be a great mod for the money without changing too many factory items especially for 265 hp.

sarny · December 2001

I don't want an STI, I want the WRX. If I could afford a $35,000 car, I would buy something else. There is no mistake by me buying the WRX next month. Its the best car anyone could buy for around $26,000. And if I want it to be close to the STI version, I need to only spend another $1000 on mods for an additional 35 horsepower.

sarny · December 2001

Dbreaux,
Sorry about the double posting, I am not sure how that happened. When I get the WRX I would really consider the Vishnu stage 0, it sounds like a lot of performance for the money.

paisan · December 2001

I only gloat cause you guys *should* be kicking my can all over the place! Just some nice prodding to motivate yous. Next season I'll have a 5-speed XT6 so I shall be even speedier (hopefully) than this year.

-mike

barresa62 · December 2001

Sorry...couldn't resist the prod(even though it's not directed at you) :-)

Stephen

paisan · December 2001

Well I will be able to test that theory out, since I'll have identical cars one MT and one AT

-mike

corkfish · December 2001

Won't happen. Closer to $27 or 28K ( No one will spend 35K on a Subaru). Nice thing about the STI is that you get a warranty. Look at some of the I club postings, dealers are already balking at kids coming in with vehicles which have obviously been abused ( yeah, go hire a lawyer for $200 an hour). Oh and the XT6, I'm kind of sick of hearing about how it beats everbody in auto cross. I don't know and don't care what autocross is. All I know is that my beat up old Sentra with the same horsepower and 500 ponds less weight will kill it in everyday driving.

paisan · December 2001

Care to race, c'mon down to NYC and we'll race pal!

-mike

sarny · December 2001

There is no way that the STI price will be under $30,000. It would kill the regular WRX business at $27,000. The rumors that are going around are it will be in limited production and that means heavy dealer markups. That is why I am saying around $35,000. If you compare prices in Europe and Japan for both cars, a price around $30,000 seems very possible.

WarpDrive · December 2001

...for the STi or EVO7. I'm 100% confident that any EVO or STi will be around $30K USD which would be comparable to the premium that the cars go for in other countries.

tristessa · December 2001

Like many, I was initially turned off by the bug-eyed look. So I ended up with a Legacy GT Ltd. I love the car and there is only one other vehicle on the road that would make me want to trade it in. However, had I known (this was in Mar 01) that this was possible, I would have bought a WRX.

www.scoobysport.co.uk/index.asp?page=wrx

I love the morette headlights and that WRC wing. the gold 17" Speedline wheel helps too. Easily the best looking WRX I've seen. (And I've seen a number of modded ones in mags.)

Sarny: Adding 35hp doesn't make it an STi. No, I'm not a rally racer by any means. Heck, I barely know how to drive stick. But, there so much more to a car than power. Performance brakes and tuned suspension setup can shave lap times as much as adding raw power. Mind you, 35hp for $1000 is damn cheap. (But I am skeptical of cheap mods. I've read too many stories of messed-up cars from people not using proven parts, not necessarily WRX related)
The STi is a complete package, and for a competent and skilled driver, there's no substitute.

corkfish · December 2001

Time will tell. The current WRX can be bought for $22,000. If all they do is drop in in a different engine and tranny, does that rate a 15k bump? Especially with the EVO VII as competition on it's way. The Subaru does not have the fit and finish of a car costing more than 30K. Not to mention the fact that you're ignoring demographics. How many 30 year olds have 30 to 35k to spend on a car. Guys in their fifties and probably even forties aren't going to drive these.

XT6 0 to 60 9.2 seconds
1/4 mile 16.7 seconds

Sentra 0 to 60 7.4 seconds
1/4 mile 15.6 seconds

paisan · December 2001

STI isn't engine and tranny alone over the WRX.

As for #s. On the street those #s are meaningless. Stats are worthless when you get to the real world pal. Besides there is no skill in drag racing, no suspension or handling is taken into account.

-mike

tristessa · December 2001

I think there's more to a STi than a different engine and tranny. I'm glancing over the UK spec STi and it reads something like....

different ECU, larger cat, Brembo 4pot front 2pot rear brakes, a quicker steering rack, a more sophisticated AWD system with Ltd Slip Diffs at front and rear, a single large diameter tailpipe, larger bonnet scoop, better bucket seats trimmed in blue suede-effect material with red stitching, 17in wheels and other obvious cosmetic treaments

But like I said, that's the UK one, coming out in Jan.

esqknight · December 2001

I must have over paid for mine by alot, I didn't realize they there now going for $500 under invoice

Also, I have to say that the regular WRX is more then sufficient for having fun on regular roads, can't imagine needing 0-60 in 4 second or whatever the STI times are except for the auto-x folks and the handling on the current model is pretty damn good already.

Eric

corkfish · December 2001

Not necessarily. Take out the Brembo brakes etc., etc. Put in a higher hp engine and six speed gearbox, charge $27,000 and will sell a lot. Check Van Bortel Subaru website. No haggle price of $22,200 on a base WRX. Oh, and "those numbers are meaningless in the real world". Yeah, ok , whatever you say.

beanboy · December 2001

For a WRX wagon including shipping. Close enough to 22K for me,

http://www.vanbortelsubaru.com/impwrxwag.html

bedabi · December 2001

Hey! This is great! Now you have to learn how to drive a stick, since you don't already know. Now I just have to learn how to autocross for my first season at NASA.

And stop fronting already. I've seen the more recnt autocross results where plenty of WRX's have beaten your times. Hold on, for th enjoyment (and perhaps vindication) of so many of us here who have heard you repeatedly about your autocross successes, let me scrounge around and find the links. Hehehehehe...

Subaru Impreza WRX

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