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Subaru Impreza WRX
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Comments
Stephen
-mike
Paisan, I know i've seen you in the Vehicross board. I just wanted your opinion, which do you think is a better car, the WRX or the 2001 Vehicross? I was surprised that Consumer Reports gave the Trooper good ratings (I thought all Isuzus sucked in reliability and safety) so it gives me some hope that the Vehicross might be a more reliable/safe SUV. Just wanted an opinion. Thanks.
riley
Stephen
o What will you be using it for? What kind of driving? How much stuff do you want to put in it?
o Gas milage a factor?
o Offroadability?
o Do you like sedans or trucks?
o Hand built v. factory?
o AT v. MT
I have an XT6 which is the great great grand father of the WRX and a Trooper which is mechanically the same as the VX. Both great vehicles, but for different purposes.
-mike
Oh yeah, the reason I decided not to pursue the Vehicross was because the manager of the dealership was mean. I called to see if I could bargain a price a bit and she raised her voice and said, "Then don't buy a Vehicross!" so I just didn't want to give her business. But my parents dealt with this other sales guy who was nice to them and he's the one who called my parents like 4 times in the past month to ask if they were still interested.
riley
I also want a car that I can drive from the east coast to the west coast and back with no problems. While the gas mileage of the Vehicross would make that more expensive, I hear you want a lot of space if you are going on a road trip so the larger capacity to hold stuff would be cool.
Stephen
riley
paisan - aren't there some build quality issues with the VX? like the window coming out of the track after some use?
Does the Vehicross have more or less usuable space than the WRX? I know there is very little space between the backseats and the back door. Only if you fold down the back seats would you have any cargo space. I think the WRX might actually have more space since the Vehicross only seats 2 in the back?
Are the Recaro seats comparable to the WRX sport seats? Because I really like that high bolstered sport seat. I feel snug.
riley
If you want a sports car though the WRX is what you want, the VX is not a sports car. Based on my trooper experiences though, once on the highway it will haul butt, i've had my trooper up to 115 w/o much effort and usually cruise at 80-90 on the interstates.
My old rodeo ('97) went 120K miles with only oil changes, 1 replacement of tires, 1 replacement of brake pads. No other maintenance was done and I beat the snot out of it on a daily basis. So far I have 37K on the 00 Trooper and it is running like a charm, in fact gave someone a testdrive at my dealership and they bought one based on test driving mine with almost 40K on it.
-mike
The auto dimming mirror would cut the glare of the guys behind you and blinding you at night on the freeway. I dont have one but having one would make it easier on my eyes. I've heard many positive things about that one.
riley
My Auto-WRX did not come with the Auto-dimming mirrors and so I placed an order for it, to be fitted on, next week.
I also ordered for the Security upgrade and the rear diff protector, even though a rear-diff protector is not really a requirement on a car that is mainly driven on paved roads.
Later...AH
I would also consider parts availability into the equation too. If you ever get into an accident (hopefully not) the body panels will be much harder to find and they'll be expensive.
Overall, the WRX Wagon would be a MUCH better choice. If cargo is not in the equation, then the sedan will do too.
The dealer invoice price on a Vehicross is ~27k so if you can get it for 22k that's a steal! Also the gas mileage is also a factor. Driving the WRX conservatively will give you 25 mpg. The Vehicross will be lucky to get out of the high teens. Factor in the FUN the WRX will bring and it appears the Vehicross is NOT the clear winner in this equation.
here are some links for some very crappy digital pics.
http://home.attbi.com/~amremai/mud1.jpg
http://home.attbi.com/~amremai/mud2.jpg
It was pouring down rain and I was driving around on gravel/muddy roads up near Meadville PA. Quite a few twisities as well.
I also managed to exceed the handling capabilites of the car. I rounded a corner too fast on the mud and started developing some yaw. I tried to correct but it destabilized more and more. The car finally spun around and came to a rest in a swampy grass field off the side of the road.
I couldn't stop laughing, at no time was I scared and it was a blast.
I had no trouble getting out of the field even though the car sunk up to the rims in the mud. Just put it in first and drove right up onto the road. Damn these little cars are tough. I had my fiend with me that is a sports car enthusiast. Those trips into the mud sold him on the car (if he hadn't of just bought a $200,000 condo). His exact words were "In cars like a corvette, the road and the car need to work together. With a WRX, the road becomes the car's [non-permissible content removed] and the car eats it up no matter what."
I think you missed it. They are having trouble giving the things away - BIG discounts - despite the limited production. I would not hurry to buy an overweight, ugly, lame-duck SUV? from a manufacturer that may be going out of (N.A.) business. But that's just me. Spend your (parents) money anyway you want.
Ross
DjB
Until you people have driven one I'd prefer your "body roll" "overbloated SUV" comments to be kept to yourselves.
I agree it is a weird comparison, but then again I had a deposit on a Legacy GT Wagon before I bought my Trooper.
-mike
At 22, insurance is a big factor. I suggest you call and get quotes, there may be a large difference.
VX should be very durable. Trooper wins awards from JD Powers in 5 year durability, and there is a 10/120 warranty. The trucks hold up, period. They are rare (good and bad) and should be discounted if any are left. While some find the cladding ugly, it will be far more chip and scratch resistant that Subaru's paint, by a long shot.
The WRX is more my type of vehicle, because I prefer lighter, smaller cars, but let's not dismiss the VX just because of its styling - he obviously is drawn to it.
-juice
paisan - you work for an Isuzu dealer? could you give me an honest idea of what the best deal i could get on a new 2001 vehicross would be? the last quote i received was either $23,300 with normal financing or $26,500 with 0%financing for 5 years and tax was already added on that price. I'm thinking since they had a lot and called my parents back 4 times or so, they are willing to go even lower.
BTW, I just took my WRX wagon into the local mountain here near Upland/Ontario, CA, and did essentially a tarmac rally stage... There's a road called Glendora Ridge Road, it's paved, but there's no yellow lines, and very very lightly travelled, and my friend and I tried to go through the road as quickly and safely as possible, and I developed a whole new respect for the abilities of this car, even on stock rims. I doubt the VX would be as fun on this road.
That's true that the VX has less cargo room, because it's two door. I believe Isuzu had a prototype VX 4 door, but they never actually made it production. That would have much more room than the WRX. The VX is a unique SUV though, and the WRX will be available for a while...
The Vehicross guys are a bit psycho about how well it handles. It is probably the best handling SUV and handles better than 90% of the cars out there, but it isn't a sports car. The shocks are available on the Troopers sold in Japan. They are essentially Baja Racing Shocks that have an external resivoir and therefore don't heat up as quickly as conventional shocks.
From my read of your driving style, the VX is probably going to give you more utility than a WRX.
-mike
It's 0% financing OR $X,XXX cash-back, but the dealer can only submit 1 claim per vin #. You have to choose which works out better for your situation. A lot of people take the 0% financing, I took the $4,000 off on my truck.
-mike
riley
If the model even has a $2000 rebate, that's proof that demand is not such that they can ask for more. I realize you want the financing, but I'm talking supply vs. overall demand.
-juice
riley
-mike
AN has the rebate at $2000, but it may vary be region so we could both be right.
-juice
If you didn't already know, there's an Isuzu Owner's Forum here as well. Also, check out these pics of myself, paisan and some friends off-roading in Subaru's, VX's, etc.
http://isuzu-suvs.com/events/pb02-17-02/pics/index_5.htm
-Dennis
Ross
-mike
-juice
What's funny is, I was first posting on the Vehicross board at Vmag.com, but then I heard them talk about the WRX there and so I decided to buy a WRX. Now, in the WRX board, I am thinking of buying a Vehicross again. Hehe, and I just go to the VW Jetta board and say how I'm not going to buy their car because of reliability and how these other two cars are better. I'm bad, all mixed up, lol.
riley
Savor the shopping experience. It doesn't get much better than this.
Ken
-mike
But since your parents seem to be drawing you towards the VX, and they happen to be financing (??) the deal, I think VX is the vehicle meant for you.
The WRX would have been a lot more "fun" however if you drive mostly on paved roads, IMHO.
Later...AH
I think it should read...
"The WRX would have been a lot more "fun" however if you drive mostly in areas where it has enough ground clearance."
Paved has little to do with it.
-mike
:-)
Ross
The WRX isn't too popular yet, but IMO it will get to that point.
-juice
Lets say I am driving in a parking lot, and I am going in 2nd gear at like 15 miles per hour. If I lift off the gas completely, and the rpms begin to drop/car starts to slow down because of engine braking, I hear this low scratching noise. This noise is fairly quiet, but not very quiet, although with the radio on you probably wouldn't hear it. It occurs as the rpms slowly drop as they would in the situation i just mentioned in a parking lot. Its kind of like a chrchrchrchr, if that helps at all.
The thing is, my Old legacy I had before the WRX made the same noise, I'd just never noticed it before on my WRX. Am I being paranoid??
Stephen