Subaru Impreza WRX

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Comments

  • dop50dop50 Member Posts: 162
    I forgot to mention the most important factor. FUN!

    If you DRIVE it, you have lots of FUN!!!!!!!!

    It is really hard to obey speed limits. But you must, or the cops will start to recognize them as potential speeders, and start watching us close.

    Ken
  • sonya4sonya4 Member Posts: 92
    Here's my 2 cents. Yes, there is a lag below 3K rpms, but it's a matter of practice. (See dop50's post above.)

    I have never felt more confident in a car, because it's more responsive than any other car I've driven. It can do almost anything just about anytime. Just today a Ford Focus was tailgating me and I took a turn fast--the rear end swung right around for me, left the Focus a little behind. Then I gassed it and left the Focus in the dust. :)

    So yes, it's fun and with a little practice with the 5-speed, you can have even more fun! (By the way, a few of my friends--and my fiance--say they'd probably be compiling speeding tickets if they drove the WRX, and they wonder why I haven't gotten any yet. I tell them you just have to know when to behave!)

    --sonya4
  • mikenkmikenk Member Posts: 281
    I agree with Ken and Sonya. I am a little older (like 61)and have been driving manuals starting with a 52 Studebaker. At first I was disappointed in the WRX low end, but quickly my shifting adjusted where I easily amd smoothly can keep it close to the power band. To me, most of the bitching about lag is really a statement about shifting inexperience.

    I really like that this car demands driving excellence to achieve its performance potential.

    Mike
  • artgeckoartgecko Member Posts: 78
    Been gone for a couple of days, and missed replying to some questions.

    WarpDrive: When I got the sti shifter trim back in March or so, it was $99 if you could find one at all. Now I think they have vendor deals on iClub for $69.

    Celica 115: That *is* what the trim piece is. Nothing else. It mounts around your existing boot. I also have the MOMO Race AirLeather shift knob. Maybe you thought it was all one kit...

    Stoner 420: Actually, I did take my plastic trim off of the boot. I followed the instructions about trimming the console with the Dremel. Then When I did a test fit, I didn't like how low the boot mount fit. So I took it off of the plastic, belt sanded the top lip off of the plastic, and then superglued the boot back to the plastic trim. Then I fit it all up, clamped it, and drilled through the plastic trim and boot. Then I screwed the whole thing together. Real nice fit, but did take an entire afternoon.

    Steve
  • 4wdisfun4wdisfun Member Posts: 55
    Guys, what is the iClub website. Thx
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    http://www.i-club.com/ ..the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club
  • thecatthecat Member Posts: 535
    Hummmm ... real or not?


    <http://users.bigpond.net.au/pepper/Rexilla/MY03_impLARGE.jpg>

    - Hutch

  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    That image is one of many that has been floating around over on the I-Club. Most folks over there seem to think it's a Photoshop job, with the headlights copied and pasted from an RSX onto the WRX, then clipping off the bottom to fit the WRX's bumper format. Obviously there was a lot of Photoshop(?) work to get the fenders and hood to work, too.

    Having said that&#151;it could also be real. There's no way of knowing. I'll tell ya what though: this facelift of the WRX is reaching a state of frenzy over on the I-Club. It seems every other day a "new" image crops up, and the discussion goes non-stop... There's even a guy over there begging any I-Club members who are expert computer geeks to hack the SOJ server, to get answers! It's unreal!

    Check out the latest issue of Road & Track. There's different image there (also found on the I-Club), that is also supposed to be real!

    Bob
  • thecatthecat Member Posts: 535
    Subaru .. pay attention. This version looks pretty darn good.
    - Hutch
  • stevernstevern Member Posts: 41
    Hi all, I just wanted to pass on an observation from the subaru.com website. If you click on the request a brochure link, a menu pops up on the right side of the screen of .pdf online brochures. If you look closely, the impreza headlights are indeed different from the current model. However, when you click on the link, the 2002 brochure pops up. Very interesting. It looks like the Subaru website has been updated with new pictures for 2003 for all models except the Impreza, WRX, and Outback. Just some food for thought....Steve
  • kevin111kevin111 Member Posts: 991
    Just look at the rims. Same exact rims used on the current car, just blown up slightly. Different rims below. Looks very fishy.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    It looks good but the alcheeeezas have to go on that photochop edition.

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Saw the WRX commercial this morning with the 2 kids driving and they turn down the radio for the twisty section. It's like tha anti-Civic commercial where the kids get in to listen to the radio but never leave the driveway! I love it!

    -mike
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    anti-Civic ad...
    it would also imply there's money left over to buy gas ;)

    -Dave
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    The impreza with the different lights is the older body style..known as GC8.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Interesting twist, mike, I haven't seen that ad yet.

    Anyone else notice that in the C&D braking test, stopping distances were shorter with the ABS off (with the stock brakes)? Comments?

    -juice
  • thecatthecat Member Posts: 535
    The general misconception is that ABS = shorter stopping distance. The reality is that ABS = controlled stopping and you can still steer the car.
    - Hutch
  • bruticusbruticus Member Posts: 229
    I strongly dislike the look of that image purporting to be the next-gen Rex, and hope it's merely some enterprising auto journalist hoping to stir up discussion (and issue sales figures)

    Further, I don't believe that Subaru will make any major changes to the WRX, unless they really have NO intention of bringing the STi to North America. Here's why I think that:

    1: Having been in North American showrooms for only a year now, following the large media presence marking the debut, if SoA makes major changes to the WRX it would be a tacit admission that the current WRX has problems (which it does not!). Even GM kicked and dragged its heels about changes to the Aztek (reducing the plastic cladding, etc) even after the press and buyers had roundly condemned the vehicle. GM had neither the budget to alter the vehicle, nor the willingness to admit a mistake.

    2: SoA, like all auto mfrs, operates on a budget that is planned years in advance, with hard&fast allocations for each vehicle line. If SoA is working to "Americanize" the STi, I would assume that that project is allocated much more in the way of resources than any changes to the WRX.

    2b: in the course of normal vehicular affairs, a vehicle model must demonstrate its ability to pay for itself before it is given a new slug of funding for changes/refreshes. Ford chose to kill the Blackwood rather than pump money into it and make changes, because it could not demonstrate that it would pay for itself even WITH those changes. Even with the media attention and strong sales figures it's earned, the WRX has sold "only" ~12K units (nevermind that the WRX sold "only" as many as it did because that's all SoA brought over here), meaning it probably has a ways to go before it generates positive RoI and will justify more spending on updates/refreshes.
    3: Making the WRX any more powerful, or providing other upgrades to engine/powertrain, would force SoA to up the price and would also engender the sensation that the WRX is in competition with the STi. If the STi will have 270hp and MSRP at 30K, giving the WRX 240hp and raising MSRP to 26 or 27K would have a lot of prospective buyers saying "if I spend just a little more, I can get the STi," and WRX sales will suffer. If SoA improves the WRX but holds the price, they will lower their profit margin AND threaten to boost the WRX's price/performance ratio high enough that potential STi buyers decide to get the WRX as it's "almost as good." It's common practice to have a particular vehicle model that is available in many different packages (eg the dizzying array of ways to outfit a full-size Chevy truck, or the engine choices for the Mustang) but I believe SoA wants to treat the WRX and STi NOT as to differently-outfitted versions of one model, but as two separate models.

    DjB
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    A lot of people consider that a "face lift" isn't a major change at all. If you look at the previous generation Impreza, it was updated and restyled with minor changes two or three times over it's lifespan.

    I also believe that small horsepower jumps are probable with the WRX, since Subaru has done it often in the past. Maybe not big h.p., but easily 5-10 IMHO.

    -Dennis
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    Yes I noticed that about the distances, but it was reversed for brake upgrades. Keep in mind that they are professional drivers though. I doubt most drivers could come close to their figures. Certainly, their wacko wheel package (245's on 18 inch wheels!!!!) adds way more grip than the stock wheels and the ABS might not have been optimized for that setup.
  • bruticusbruticus Member Posts: 229
    DjB
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    2003's are unchanged. A change for 2004 would be in line with a mid life cycle upgrade after 2 years. My 94 Accord was facelifted in the rear for the 96 model year. Changes every two years is not uncommon to keep the interest high.
  • dop50dop50 Member Posts: 162
    I tend to agree with Bruticus on this one, not that it matters at this point, but he makes a lot of sense in that it takes sales to justify changes.

    The only thing he didn't take into account was World Wide Sales, they do sell these vehicles elsewhere besides the USA.

    Any visible change in sheet metal is "big bucks" when you take into account what's involved, you have re-design, plus new tooling involved, in even the smallest changes. So, you can't really say it's not a big deal. Maybe to you or I, but to the mfgr. It is a big deal, and it must be justified by sales. We're not talking a few hundred bucks here, we're talking hundreds of thousands for just a small change. Plus the hundreds of hours involved in getting it done.
    And anyone who knows anything about design, knows you can't just change one part, that part will affect several other parts. And we haven't even thought about testing yet.

    Just my thoughts... :)

    Ken
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    closer to 35,000 units...see this prior post with totals from SoA
    fxs Jun 18, 2002 1:06pm
  • robmarchrobmarch Member Posts: 482
    Subaru has sold ~34000 WRX's, according to thread 2348 in the wagon discussion. I don't think that's too bad. How many fewer WRX's have they sold in the international market due to the "ugly" design? Not to mention, it's probably more financially accurate to look at total impreza sales, since the outback sport, impreza RS and TS share the round headlights.

    I guess, if they really want to change it, they'll change it. I would guess they might leave the WRX styling the same, and debut the new styling on the STi, to get some more mileage out of the round light design.

    I think it's a nice looking car or wagon, though, so I guess I just don't understand what everyone's upset about. Actually, as good as everything else in the car is, it would have to be super ugly or have some great competition for me not to consider it. 227hp, Manual Tranny, AWD, great driving environment, wagon option, what's not to like?
  • sensei1sensei1 Member Posts: 196
    My first WRX long trip so I thought I'd share it with my WRX cousins. Went up and down I-5 to WA and back to CA over the long weekend. Had a great time driving and had a little of all road conditions - stretches, mountain curves, fog, heat and left lane residents.

    And yes like many of you would confirm, everyone seemed like they were driving slower. ;-) Thought about investing in a good detector before the trip but opted for good ole' fashioned luck and did fine. Saw plenty of smokey radars along the way too.

    My opinion still hasn't changed. The car is still a driver's car (IMHO) begging for input. Going through the mountains (4 pax + full trunk) was literally a blast. Barely downshifted at all and those curves, wow. So I could only imagine at this point if I had 17's like most of you do. Yes the new WRX commercial is only fitting. You definitely want the tunes off to savor the twists, turns and the revvvsss. Just don't go stupid like the previous posts and discussions on invincibility.

    Agile and amazing is what I could think of as I handled those left lane hogs. I'm sure they know what the WRX logo looks like on my trunk. Saw plenty of Eclipses, Acuras, Camaros and Mustangs - from my rear view mirror ;-). And yes one has to keep an eye on the speedometer coz all your other senses will not indicate how fast you're going.

    I also found it kinda amusing that throughout the whole trip I only saw 2 blue sedans and 1 silver wgn. Of course we did the customary (we know what they don't) salute to each other as well. I averaged about anywhere from 24mpg to 27 mpg/tank.

    The car never disappointed me at any time. I just now have all these battle wounds (bug splats) on my front end to deal with.

    Gotta love this car. Anything else beyond stock is a plus and not a must. Happy motoring folks. Sorry if I still seem wired. I'll blame it on the caffeine.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    In the US, the WRX has been a huge hit&#151;because we never had it before. In other markets, which had the previous generation model, sales are down, way down. The R&T article goes into this in much greater detail.

    I've said it before, and I'll say it again; The WRX (here in the USA) is a success, in spite of its looks.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I hear you Hutch, but in this case it was measurably longer with ABS. The ABS-off test was shorter than even the shortest distance with ABS.

    I say face-lift it. The people that like the ovals will buy one now, and the ones that don't will wait for the new look. But both customers will buy, which is what Subaru wants.

    -juice
  • dop50dop50 Member Posts: 162
    Sensei1

    Glad to hear you enjoyed your road trip. I'm planning mine for next week. :)

    Hope to verify all your positive comments.

    Battle wounds.... Hope all you have is bug splats and no chips. I've seen comments on this board about how bad the paint is, although I disagree, I've had my WRX for close to a year and don't have any chips whatsoever that I can find. Unlike domestic cars I've owned. I personally think the paint is holding up really well. I've hit a LOT of those nasty bugs, especially driving at night, here near the Mississippi River, we grow'em big here.

    I've seen other WRX's on occasion (not real often) and waved at them, but nobody seems to be paying attention, my guess is that they are enjoying the experience so much they don't pay much attention to others. :) It appears to me that the WRX gets more attention from the people who don't have one. Hehe!

    I intend to record our mileage also, not that it really matters. :)

    Later,

    Ken
  • sensei1sensei1 Member Posts: 196
    Thanks Ken, hope to read about your road trip also. Yeah I haven't cleaned the car yet so hopefully they are all bug splats (cringe) and nothing more. I lived in Memphis a while back so I know what you mean about big splats.

    One of the WRX sedans I encountered was merging on the onramp as I passed by heading for a mountain climb. He was about 10 cars behind as I glanced back. I was keeping pace with a Merc Marquis heading the pack as the road started twisting and lost sight of the others behind. A couple turns later, here was that blue brother on my tail. Kinda chuckled thinking "well who else did you expect?" I guess we all drive with the same smile on our faces. Kinda expected 5th to bog down a bit on the climbs but it did just fine, not too high and not too low. Later, f.
  • aa717driveraa717driver Member Posts: 41
    thecat--I had an accident(not my fault) a few years ago and my truck left "dashed" skid-marks. I told the cop that it "anti-locked all the way to the crash". She said ABS really does decrease stopping distance. Riiight. I didn't feel like getting into a pi**ing contest with the officer who is writing up the accident report, but....

    ABS was developed to prevent blown tires on aircraft and has been shifted to the auto industry to increase controllability at max braking--not to shorten stopping distance.

    dop50--When my dad got his new RX-7 in '79, fellow RX-7 drivers would wave as they passed. This continued for a couple of years until the novelty wore off.TC
  • aa717driveraa717driver Member Posts: 41
    On the 'build your Subaru' website, they offer air dams or something like that--should be called skirts, maybe. They are the fiberglass aerodynamic add-ons on all sides. Anyway, does anyone have them and do they look good?

    Will they get in the way while driving in snow? Thanks.TC
  • dop50dop50 Member Posts: 162
    Does "Snow-Plow" sound familiar. :)

    Another thing to consider is driveways, ever turn into a drive and hear that awful scraping sound? And don't forget about those parking lot blocks that stick up just far enough to create havoc.

    Just a few thoughts on the subject. :)

    Ken
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    The facelift was confirmed by the GM of Subaru Australia a few months ago. You could probably find it with an internet or i-club search.

    sensei - Thanks for the trip report!

    -Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I agree with what everyone is saying about ABS, i.e. to keep steering control and avoid skidding, but what I found curious was that the stopping distances are longer with the stock pads.

    Perhaps a pro using threshold braking and perhaps even a little skidding can simply stop shorter than a computer pumping to lock/release the brakes.

    -juice
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    I'm no pro and the last time I drove (Auto-X) with the ABS fuse removed on the OB, I didn't stand a chance. Before the brain cells could register... total lock-up, can't steer and dead stop in less then 10 feet. I'll keep the ABS and keep my distance. :)

    -Dave
  • sonya4sonya4 Member Posts: 92
    sensei1--Glad to hear you enjoyed your road trip. I also collected a lot of bugs during my road trip--had to clean the windshield every morning--and had the car washed when I got back. No chips that I can see yet, though I haven't inspected the paint thoroughly.

    As for waving to other WRX drivers...Around here they just tap their horns at each other. I had one guy wave at me but that was about it. Do people wave more in other places?

    By the way, I was asked yesterday by a delivery person if I wanted to sell my WRX! I said not yet, but I'd let him know in a few years...

    --sonya4
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    I do that very carefully nowadays :)
    hypov "Subaru Impreza Outback Sport (Wagons & SUVs Boards)" Jul 28, 2002 6:46pm

    -Dave
  • sensei1sensei1 Member Posts: 196
    sonya4 - Acknowledgment come in difft. forms. I just make sure I can see more than one finger up ;-). No, generally a wave, light flash, horn tap or a nod if they're close enough.

    TC - wow you're talking about your dad's RX7. I still have my '80 RX7 bought in '80. dop50 has a good point. And yes, airdams they're called. They were a popular aftermarket add-ons for RX7's back then coz if you've driven one, they needed it. The car felt light up front once you went >75mph. The WRX I don't think needs it unless you're heavy into looking coooollll. The car is pretty stable let's just say 75mph and beyond. It even kinda taunts you to find out. Yeah the waving will probably wear off too but for now, hey, we'll enjoy the moment.

    hypov - Can't blame you there, instinct is still a good gauge. Gotta make sure first it is a hand that's being waved ;-).

    Have a good day folks!!
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Dave,

    I read your post -- pretty funny! Perhaps the OBS thought that you were pointing out something wrong with their vehicle and stopped?

    Way back in early 98 when I got my Forester, we Forester owners would just nod at each other. We simply "got it" from back then. ;-)

    Ken
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Ken-
    I'm pretty sure they had thought something to be wrong with their vehicle. It was spanking (using it politely) new. Guess they wasted no time and missed my thumbs up gesture.

    -Dave

    p/s I think I'll just go with the thumbs up. :)
  • jwilson1jwilson1 Member Posts: 956
    The polite wave, nod, and so on, is part of the automotive tradition. Back when there were few cars on the road, everyone did it -- but it was a tip of the cap (not baseball:-)

    Generally, when any group has a vehicle in small numbers (new, or limited edition: WRX or Ferrari), they will greet the other drivers who have "seen the light." While the Miata still had pop-up lights, drivers would say 'hi' by raising/lowering the headlamps. Sometimes, people in Corollas who admire your new (or specialty) ride will wave.

    But ... drivers of new BMW lines (Z3 when it first came out, for example) and also of Porsches of all sorts ... ignore pretty much everyone. I guess they're real special, but only to themselves;-)

    Go Bluejays.
    Joe W.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Right when they came out, I gave a thumbs up to a WRX driver and asked how he liked it. He waved me off, impolitely.

    That was the last time.

    -juice
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The WRX is not the cult car that a lot of the other subies are. @ ~35K units sold it's too "popular" to have a tight knit group as the GC8s, SVXs, and XT6s.

    Oh well.

    -mike
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    WRX is a cult car to the Subaristi, but not to those people who suffer from "first on the block" or "flavor of the month" syndrome. You'll no doubt see the same if/when Mitsu's Lancer Evolution 7/8/9/whatever shows up here.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'm sure that's the group that guy fell into. So now unless I see an i-Club or Edmunds decal, I won't bother.

    -juice
  • sensei1sensei1 Member Posts: 196
    Sorry to learn about your bad experience Juice. Maybe he thought you wanted to race and he brushed you off? Just a thought.

    I'm just a subie newbie compared to most of you. But I've also been around the block a few times. I usually hang on to my cars >10 yrs.

    Just wasn't as jazzed with my '80 RX7 when I picked it up as I still am with this one.

    So what about that Edmunds decal you're talking about. Haven't heard of that one?
  • cptpltcptplt Member Posts: 1,075
    had the ABS not do anything again today, just coasting downhill to a stop at a light! First time its happened since I had the 17in wheels put on. Since I had it a few times before (ok so I was trying to replicate it by going over some train tracks after it happened twice) I instantly recognized the problem, came off the brake and back on and it was over. Guess I'll have to stay further back from the car in front! Wish Subaru could fix this "problem"!
  • thecatthecat Member Posts: 535
    sensei1 - I had an 84' GSL-SE that I still regret selling.

    cptclt - I'm with you man !

    - Hutch
  • aa717driveraa717driver Member Posts: 41
    thecat--how would you compare build quality and reliability between the RX and the WRX?

    I drove my dad's 79, had an '81 "S" and an '86 "GS". The '86 is still the best car I've owned--the quality was the equal of the Lexuses. It had an extremely solid feel with great balance. Needed more motor, though--couldn't afford a turbo model.
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