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Subaru Impreza WRX
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Price isn't everything though. I was able to get $200 over Van Bortel prices with the options I wanted, and I'd like to think that 14 hours of my life is worth $200.
http://i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=113955&highlight=results
Last PCA auto-X - beaten by 3 WRXs (including a wogon) and 2 RS'!
http://i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107917&highlight=results
Beaten by 4 WRXs and 2 RS'!
http://i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=107651&highlight=results
No hard feelings Mike, but it had to be told!
PCA was a wide-open course.
Oh and the last one you posted was the same as the PCA one.
All I said is that On a tight Auto-x course I can beat the WRXs if they are running street tires v. my R-compounds.Never claimed to beat RSs since they have the same low end power that the XT6 has.So I haven't been showboating there pal. I'll get a bunch of links now for you.
Mo-Hud Event #7- 2nd in G-stock
http://www.mohud-scca.org/Solo/2001/2001Season_files/sheet013.html
1 WRX w/5-speed and R-compounds ahead of me
2 WRX w/5-speed and Kumho 712s behind me
Mo-Hud Event #6- 3rd in G-stock
http://www.mohud-scca.org/Solo/2001/2001Season_files/sheet011.html
1 WRX w/5-speed and R-compounds ahead of me
3 WRX w/5-speed and Kumho 712s behind me
Mo-Hud Event #5- 3rd in G-stock
http://www.mohud-scca.org/Solo/2001/2001Season_files/sheet009.html
2 WRX w/5-speed and R-compounds ahead of me
3 WRX w/5-speed and Kumho 712s behind me
NASA Event #8
http://nasanortheast.net/results/NASA-Autox8-9-29-01.htm
2nd in F-class, behind an MR2
No other subies showed up
NASA Event #10
http://www.nasanortheast.net/results/NASA-Autox10-11-24-01.htm
2nd Fastest Subie of the day, behind Joe Lee in His 2.5RS (Ahead of all other WRXs on the day) running corded R-compounds 1/2 the runs in the rain. 1st place in F-class.
Palisades Auto-x #6
http://www.wscc.org/results/2001/ax20011021.htm
Fastest Subie of the day. 2nd in G-stock
ahead of 2 WRXs (running in mod-classes)
Palisades Auto-x #7
http://www.wscc.org/results/2001/ax20011111.htm
2nd fastest subie of the day (behind a legacy L)
ahead of numerous WRXs
'nuf said.
-mike
-mike
Of course my review of the dealership could change in the future, since I don't have my car yet.
Eric
-mike
Ed
That’s why the front seat covers just zip out for when they get covered in mud and gunk. That’s why there aren’t any expensive carpets and floor mats—they are just going to get crudded up anyway! This is a car that will hustle you down roads that have big potholes, dead skunks in the middle of the road, freshly laid asphalt and God knows what else you might run across.
This is a car for driving in the “real” world--it don’t need no stinkin’ Connelly hides and burled walnut on the dash, Mmmmm-KAY? Just give me the keys and let’s go drive!
Oh all right—there is one thing I wouldn’t mind having. Momo makes about a million beautifully crafted shift knobs that would look great in the Rex. Only problem is, can’t decide on which one to get . . .do they give a discount for buying a half-dozen? :-P
--RA
BUT, you did not merely say that, "All I said is that On a tight Auto-x course I can beat the WRXs if they are running street tires v. my R-compounds." You also just said: "As for #s. On the street those #s are meaningless. Stats are worthless when you get to the real world pal."
Real World:
**WRX and XT6 fighting for merged lane on highway on-ramp. Advantage: WRX.
**WRX and XT6 fighting for open lane after red light because of NYC's ubiquitous double parkers. Both start at high RPM launch. Advantage: WRX.
**WRX and XT6 on highway both attempting to pass big-haired woman tawking on cell-phone in weaving Expedition. Advantage: WRX.
**Tight course of pylons in mall parking lot on 45 second course. Advantage: XT6 with auto transmission. (Frankly, I think Paisan in a Miata would be even better.)
[Ha ha! When I start as a novice next year, you're gonna spank me!]
Oh, I also like the sleeper look of the exterior(sans the headlights which I also like), but I know that many people will disagree.
Eric
He was comparing my XT6 to his Sentra, not a WRX and that is where I'm referring to #s don't tell the tale.
The NYC advantage would be the XT6. Unless the WRX owner is Al Fried Eggs cause in a case like that my $1000 car will nudge out the WRX due to scratch and dent factor meaning I don't care if I get another dent in it
On any open road where the WRX is in it's rev band, there is no arguement from me that it will whip the RS, XT6, or just about any other car on the road. If you scroll through my 100s of posts you'll see that I've posted that before.
-mike
PS: can't wait for auto-x season to start.
P.S. All Fried Eggs' driving style left him carless!
-mike
The Momo steering wheel is wonderful and the instrument layout is superb, as good as anything out there, IMHO.
Don’t know why everyone seems to have a problem with the headlights. I think they are fine, in fact very distinctive. The Porsche 996 and Boxster have headlights that are a little peculiar, IMO, they give the cars somewhat of a cross-eyed appearance. But no one ever complains about those.
--RA
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=124621
Stephen
Sti: Not the least bit interested, even if it were to cost the SAME. Too loud (bigger scoop, wing, rims, coffeecan exhaust tip, etc.) I would already prefer a more sleeper look to my WRX, which is why I won't be getting the Morettes (but I couldn't resist that beautiful spoiler). 'kay, at 32 I'm getting semi-practical finally.
WRX: Got it because it RIPS, doesn't have $5000 of unneeded interior gadgetry & a sunroof that I won't use after 3 months & leatherette seats (when I was a kid, it was called VINYL), and works well as my daily commuter. There are other very NICE cars, but this one fits me perfectly.
Dave C.
ps: freespec, do you even *own* a car? Certainly you haven't even driven (or seen?) the cars that you are "comparing".
TurboXS, which features a harness for instant plug and playability without cutting any wires.
http://www.turboxs.com/
Coob Tuning, which has partnered with Aussie APS, who has a strong reputation for modifying Imprezas for years:
http://cobbtuning.com/
Vishnu Performance, owned by a very well known tuner in California, Shiv Parthek:
http://www.vishnuperformance.com/
M2 Performance, whose suspension system on a WRX set a Sport Compact Car slalom speed record:
http://www.m2performance.com/
And of course, Prodrive, the English tuning house that actually builds Subaru's rally cars, with their Prodrive Performance Package (PPP). While not really available here in the U.S. yet, this is a WARRANTY backed package in the U.K. that calims to produce 245 hp and 261 lb/ft with some exhaust changes and a remapped ECU. However, a Prodrive rep did say on i-club that Prodrive is presently developing a PPP for the U.S. He didn't say whether it would be warranty backed here though. But check out the package:
http://www.subaru.co.uk/uk300/wr_sport_nf.htm
Of course, any of these packages will probably void your warranty, unless Prodrive manages to give us the same package as in the U.K. But the packages will keep any WRX owner from any STi or EVO envy should either ever make it over!
Stephen
Mostly just curious.
Thanks,
Eric
The WRX on the other hand, does not have the VDC but has the LSD, which enables the side to side transfer of power, in addition to the front/rear transfer by the center differential.
IMHO, I would prefer the LSD setup in the WRX to the VDC setup in the VDC-Outback, since the brakes are not taxed at all in the WRX. In the Acura TL-s (equipped with a brake based stability system - VSA), people driving it, would give an arm and a leg to have an LSD in place of the VSA. The VSA is generally switched off (by Acura TL-s enthusiasts) due to its intrusive nature during enthusiastic driving. The LSD on the other hand, aids enthusiastic driving.
Later...AH
Thanks
Ryan
Cheers,
-wdb
-Brian
Bring your car into the dealership for a check. Chances are the fuel sensors need to be replaced. This can be done by re-programing the onboard computer. I had the same problem which was handled quickly and efficiently by Subaru. Haven't had a problem since.
Hope this helps.
Don
If you think you have a problem, I had to drive a 85 Audi 4000S Quattro for about 15K miles from new with CEL lights on nearly all the time before the dealer worked out what it was. My 87 Integra always lit up if the temp was greater than 90 and the sun was out!
They also showed a "winter" wiper with a cover so that the snow and ice would not stick to the wiper.
-mike
I entirely agree with mudpie and paisan. Certainly the STI looks great and relatively easily I could up the performance of the WRX I have now. The WRX is more car than I'll ever need. People at work as me why I "settled" on the WRX. Difficult to explain, especially after showing them the car. I get to drive it home though and they don't. I love this car.
Well, there is something I don't like, and no it's not the cupholder about which I really don't care--it's the trunk. I know this isn't a premium car but man that trunk cover is cheap. Can anyone point me towards an Imprezza trunk matt, or any suitable matt for that matter. I know it's a small thing.
I guess the high insurance premiums is other thing that sucks. The WRX for me is more expensive to insure than any of the "premium" cars I was looking at. Price of admission, I suppose.
IMO, people who look down their nose at this car probably aren't having much fun in life, and don't want you to have any either.
After I had my WRX for a while, other people's reactions to the car became sort of irrelevant--I was just having too good a time driving it to really care.
Give it a year or two and the word will really start to get out--you may be surprised to see one of your formerly poo-poohing co-workers pull up in one!
The sedan has those tre-cool blistered fenders, weighs less and has 20mm wider track, so it's a little better for track and club events. It also has better visibility out the rear.
The wagon costs less and has more cargo capacity. My wife is always sending me to the store for something, so the wagon is perfect for me. (Also,the lady next door thinks our wagon is adorable and has got her thinking about an OBS, so that's a plus.)
If we had the dough, wouldn't mind having one of each!
Stephen
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=68907&referrerid=767
-Dennis
On the other hand, the seats are fantastic, side air bags are standard, an in-dash 6 CD changer is standard (lacking on many full blown luxury cars), and the dash uses mostly soft-touch materials. Ergonomics are very good and the gauges are big and easy to read at all times.
The other thing is the structure feels very substantial, and NHV is very well controlled.
If you ask me, Subaru spent the money on the hardware (drivetrain, chassis), where it counts, and not on fluffy add-ons. That's OK with most people, especially younger and more performance oriented folks.
-juice
Unless you really want to see us both get lynched, saying something like "saw a WR Blue Sedan with STi exhaust in traffic the other day and it looked really, really cool" might be appropriate right about now
:-))).
I picked up my WRX sedan in black on Nov 3. I then drove it 2K miles from Philadelphia to Steamboat Springs, CO to train for the Olympics this year. After arriving and washing the car the next morning, I found the clear coat had hairline scratches in it all over and the car was only 72hrs off the lot. Since then I've kept it washed once a week to keep the road grime to a minimum. Last week, I drove to Denver where it was in the 50's to wash and hand wax the car even though the dealer said they did it when I picked it up. After 3hrs of washing/waxing the car, I found it was covered in hairline scratches that clearcoat polish/glaze/wax would not take out.
As I said, I spoke to friends who have the same car in various colors and they've experienced the same problem from things as minor as setting a stack of papers on the roof or wiping errant gas off the filler door and was wondering if anyone else had experienced this.
Thanks,
Ryan
I'd visit the polish threads and see what products people recommend. Subaru's paint isn't the sturdiest, though I haven't had much of a problem with mine.
-juice
Stephen
Still I liked black better than the other colors offered for the Forester, and I like black better than the other colors offered for the WRX. It's a shame Subaru couldn't improve paint quality; not all R&D money need go into the drivetrain.
Ed
I like my grey cladding, it's like teflon. Subaru should cover the whole exterior with the stuff. ;-) Talk about a utility vehicle.
-juice
-Dennis
When driving in the rain I get a check engine light. It has happened at 20 MPH, 30 MPH and up to 70 MPH - a total of 12 times. In addition to the Check engine light, the AT Temp light starts flashing.
The dealership has read the codes several times and say that it is saying that a Mass Air Flow Sensor is malfunctioning.
They have replaced the Mass Air Flow sensor, O2 Sensor, Engine Control Unit and Transmission Control Unit. All of this has not cured the problem.
What I would like to know is. Other than this dealership (they say six WRX sedans are having this problem) is anyone else experiencing this problem?
-Frank P.
Michael: I've heard of one CEL here, another there, but never as many as you describe from the same car. Do you have another dealer close by that can give you a 2nd opinion?
-juice
Seriously, I dropped a small metal part while installing the roof rack on my silver WRX that wasn't very large or heavy. It glanced off the passenger side door and took a chip right out of the finish coat, down to what looks like the primer. That's pretty funky, and would never have happened on my Integra from such a small impact.
So I'm resigned to this paint looking old before its time - that's not to say I'm happy about it. At least they've finished all the pre-Olympics road work here in Salt Lake - a friend's base Impreza wagon has been here through the past four years interstate rebuilding period and his paint looks really, really, bad.
Hey, what event are you training for? We're starting to get pretty excited about the games.
If it is a wide spread problem, what is the possibility of painting or having the car painted after a few years? I know that the orginal paint is for sale at subaruparts.
Eric