Subaru Impreza WRX

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Comments

  • kevin111kevin111 Member Posts: 991
    Black and Silver look very good on the Wagon. I have not seen a white wagon though. Yellow is probably the brightest of the colors.
  • lippoldslippolds Member Posts: 39
    The local dealer has a white one but to me the car looks so much better in black.... the only thing is keeping it clean which is why silver is appealing
  • pbaldypbaldy Member Posts: 15
    Invoice for a 2003 sounds like a good price. I just got one for 200 over, but I'm out west, so maybe the market is a little different here (or you're just a better negotiator!).

    Paul
  • robmarchrobmarch Member Posts: 482
    sounds like a good deal to me!

    the red is not a bright red, it's more of a dark red. It's very nice looking, and not too common.
  • dop50dop50 Member Posts: 162
    Most vehicles look fabulous in black. But keep in mind, it is probably the hardest to keep looking good. Aside from fade problems, black is going to show every speck of dust and dirt, along with any chips or even fine scratches will show like a sore thumb. (Ask anyone who has ever owned a black vehicle.) They will say, "Looks good, when it's clean!"

    In my opinion, Silver is the easiest to keep looking nice, and the new silver paint is loads better than it was just a few years ago. It looks better longer between washes. Next, would be white, but brite white shows dirt quicker than some reds.

    There is a blue WRX sedan here locally, that I see once in a while, but it always looks dirty also. Maybe they just don't make an effort to keep it clean, I don't know. But I like a car that looks good, even if it is a little dirty.

    Later,

    Ken
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    ...for fifteen minutes after you wash it. The rest of the time, it looks dirty.

    You couldn't pay me to own another black car.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Trust me, get silver.

    We have 2 Subies, one dark green (Acadia Green Metallic) and the other a sort of silver/light green (Wintergreen).

    I wash them both at the same time. A week later, the dark Subie is filthy, the other one looks clean.

    Get silver.

    -juice
  • wannawrxwannawrx Member Posts: 22
    Has anyone in nor cal area recently purchased a 2003 or 02? Im in the Sacramento area looking to buy real soon. I too am looking at the silver. thanks all.
  • sensei1sensei1 Member Posts: 196
    to the eyes anyway. I've got a silver sedan. Ken, Juice and Warpdrive summed it up. Not to mention scratches in the long run. Dark colors also tend to be hotter as it absorbs heat.

    Invoice price sounds good, just make sure what they give you is the real invoice price!!

    Yeah Mark I'm from NCal. Check out Stevens Creek Subaru online to buy. Service is another story from what I hear.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, be careful of any fees they might tack on, like for processing, advertising, or dealer-added accessories, stuff like that.

    In fact I'd call in advance to ask if there are, and what those cost.

    -juice
  • sonya4sonya4 Member Posts: 92
    I've had 4 black cars in a row, and yes while black requires frequent washes, there's nothing like it when it's clean (for more than 15 minutes!). My second choice would have been the silver. I don't like the metallic blue, and red and yellow attract cops' eyes. The white is a sort of off-white, like a cream, but I never wanted white anyway in a car.

    Kevin111--you have a black one too? Notice how there's a hint of dark blue in the sun at certain angles? I think it's really nice and unusual.

    --sonya4
  • pbaldypbaldy Member Posts: 15
    I just bought an 03 from the Santa Cruz dealer, and I'm in Reno. Santa Cruz is very highly thought of in I-Club, etc, which is part of why I went there. I got a good price and there was no bs when I went down to get the car. Talk to Sandy (sales mgr) or Charlie (salesman). Any questions, feel free to email me at pbaldy72@yahoo.com. Even if you decide to buy from Sac dealer, get info from others to make sure you get the best price.

    Edit: Stevens Creek is NOT well rated by the people in I-Club.

    Paul
  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    As others have said, true invoice would be a super price if the dealer doesn't throw in a slew of fees. WRX is so hot here in MN that CarsDirect.com (a big discounter) is selling WRXs at MSRP, about $2K above invoice.

    Steve
  • lippoldslippolds Member Posts: 39
    Yes it is true Invoice (matches Edmunds) and another dealer will even do $500 under! The total fees for Title, doc etc are around $225

    There are a ton of dealers in New England so I imagine there is just more supply
  • himilerhimiler Member Posts: 1,209
    Maybe most folks who really wanted the WRX already got the '02, and now the dealers are seeing some slowdown in sales.
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    Another Reno-ite? Me too. Enjoy the WRX...I'm envious!
    Brian
  • pbaldypbaldy Member Posts: 15
    We Reno-ites are taking over this board! I'm up to 990 miles, so the official break-in period is almost over. Truth be told, I've been slowly building up the revs since around 500 miles. I'm up to 5,500. The car is a blast so far. Part of me (the driver) wants it to snow so I can see how it handles, part of me (the golfer) doesn't want any snow.

    Do you have any experience with Lithia for service? I'm going to go out to Stead Sunday and check out the SCCA autocross.

    Paul
  • mgreene1mgreene1 Member Posts: 116
    Click on "Evo: Northern Exposure" link in the first post. The "garden variety" WRX and MINI S held their own (and then some) vs. the factory "wringers" but what surprised me the most was how easily they said the MINI stayed with the WRX on wet pavement.

    http://www.minicooperonline.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file=index&action=viewtopic&topic=2096&5
  • wannawrxwannawrx Member Posts: 22
    all the way to SC for the wrx huh? Baldy did you check on any Sac dealers(maita, roseville.) and since you mentioned golf, how do your clubs fit in the sedan. this is one issue with me. i also board in tahoe so with the sedan i may need a rack. i like the sedan but the wagon seems more practical with a dog(weimeraner) and the golf thing. comments?
  • wkhanwkhan Member Posts: 1
    www.rexilla.com
  • robmarchrobmarch Member Posts: 482
    wow...that's a very good price. Maybe they're trying to move the 2003's quickly to make room for the new headlights quicker? Either way, the 2003 WRX at 500 under invoice is a very good deal, in my opinion.
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    Hi Paul,
    I've been using Lithia since 1/01 when I bought my Outback...if they weren't the only dealer in town (and if the oil changes weren't included in the price of the car) I would not be going there. I've not been really impressed with their service (mechanics or customer service).

    Little things irritate me -- like insisting the tires get aired up to 40 psi every time it goes in, like forcing me to wait 1-2 hours for the "courtesy shuttle" driver to get off his [non-permissible content removed] to drive me to work, like pretending the clutch shudder in Subarus is "normal" every time I go in...I could go on.

    I guess most people complain about their dealerships, so this may not be news, but I really liked the Honda dealer's service here in town...they were always so much better to deal with.

    My partner lives in Sac so I'm think I'm going to check out one of those dealers over there...I'm over there almost as much as here, so I may see how their service guys are in dealing with my grumpy clutch.

    Anyway, enjoy the WRX!
  • corkfishcorkfish Member Posts: 537
    Are the changes to the 2003 WRX only in Europe? The photos with the revised changes to the styling state they're for MY03, but the US imports appear to be unchanged
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Europe (and the rest of the world) are on different MYs than we are. We should get the revise as an '04 model.

    Bob
  • pbaldypbaldy Member Posts: 15
    Roseville was close in price, but didn't have what I wanted at the time. I guess Santa Cruz seems far, but my dad lives in Monterey, so we visited him and played golf at Poppy Hills (we're NCGA members).

    The clubs fit fine in the sedan. We dropped off my Honda with my daughter in Chico, so coming back to Reno we had 2 sets of clubs plus a couple of duffle bag type suitcases in the trunk. It all fit easily. Your dog however, might prefer the wagon! :-)

    On a side note, the dealer in South Lake Tahoe was willing to sell an '03 for $500 over invoice, so they weren't too bad in price. SC had what I wanted for $200 over, so I ended up there. Thought you might want to consider Tahoe, since you go up there.

    Let's play golf!
  • patilpanpatilpan Member Posts: 11
    Guys,
    I believe subaru does not provide any ski rack as part of the wrx sedan accesories.
    Has any of you put a ski rack on the sedan? Which one? Price range??
  • outbacker2k2outbacker2k2 Member Posts: 24
    You're going to need to pony up for an after-market roof rack if you want to put skis up top. Expect to spend about $ 220 for the full set-up, including Ski Rack and locks. Check out either Yakima or Thule sport racks.
  • devil_tazdevil_taz Member Posts: 21
    Are there any GTA/canada wrx owners here? I would like to know how long you've waited for your rex to arrive at the dealership.

    Thanks.
  • kevin111kevin111 Member Posts: 991
    That is why I love the color! It looks like a shiny black from a distance, but at night will show the blue a little. It is a cool effect.

    - Maybe it is me, but I really like the Black color, sort of has a mean-conservative look to it. Yeah it stays clean for a week, but I usually do not care unless I am driving someone else besides me. Also, car washes are not that expensive.

    - Silver was tempting, but a little too dull for my tastes. The blue and yellow were too bright for me.

    - Black, with that hint of Blue, seemed perfect, so I bought it!

    - To each his own. Which ever color you choose, happy motoring!
  • katee2katee2 Member Posts: 1
    Went to test drive Subarus today..especially wanted to drive the Baja(no power...won't work in the mountains), and fell in heavy like with the Impreza. Most fun drive I've had in a long time. Normally drive a GMC truck which is fun but on a much different scale. I kept chirping the tires in the truck at take offs after the Impreza. Dealer gave me price of 25K fully loaded. Good deal?
  • pbaldypbaldy Member Posts: 15
    Depends on what fully loaded includes, wagon or sedan, etc. I bought mine there, for $200 over invoice (2k under MSRP). I paid 23.5 for a 5 speed sedan with some options. Santa Cruz dealer is very well thought of, so odds are they're treating you right.

    Good luck; if you get a WRX, you'll enjoy the heck out of it! Say hi to Sandy and Charlie from Paul in Reno.
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    My car took me three months to get because I wanted a specific color, options (none), late last year from the autobytel.ca program in GTA. That is the standard time if you order a car. You can probably get one sooner if you take a car from a dealer's allocation, but you have less choice of colour.
  • sonya4sonya4 Member Posts: 92
    I encountered the "slippage" feel today, over a bump in the road before a stop sign. I was braking to slow down when I hit the bump. There was another car in front of me so I floored the brake pedal and came to an abrupt stop, a respectable distance from the car in front. Is this common in ABS or WRXs? Can anything be done about it? I wonder what would happen if it had been raining or snowing.

    --sonya4
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    The "issue" with the brakes is that some people reported a complete loss of pressure in the brake pedal. Your ABS kicked in as the wheel stopped rotating over bump. The slippage you felt is due to the ABS system releasing one wheel to allow the tire to continue rotating. Some people feel the ABS sensor is a bit too sensitive. Maybe you didn't expect the "slippage" so that's why it might have felt odd. Your situation sounds more or less normal, however. I have felt this slippage also but I don't feel it is detrimental to braking distances (as you reported, the car still stopped very quickly). The key to making sure you stop as quickly as possible is to floor the brake pedal as hard as you can and not let up. ABS brakes don't work if you let up on the pressure. If there was snow, the car would have still stopped (although ABS brakes sometimes adds another 15% to braking distance in loose snow). For what it is worth, having better tires seems to lessen the times when the ABS kicks in.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Also, don't forget that ABS works that way to also allow you to steer out of harm's way. While stopping distance might be shorter in some cases, you retain a lot more control with ABS. Remeber what Motorweek says "stomp, stay, steer".

    Ken
  • WarpDriveWarpDrive Member Posts: 506
    While it's still always debated whether ABS is actually better than non-ABS for stopping distances, what we do know about it is that ABS *will* stop shorter consistently whereas you have to have perfect threshold braking technique in order to nearly match it. That is very difficult or impossible to do in panic situations and especially in mixed traction conditions. Unless you are a race car driver, you will always be better off with ABS in 99% of real world situations. Car and Driver magazine used a WRX to test aftermarket brake kits, and they stated that the WRX's brakes are very good with or without ABS.
  • cptpltcptplt Member Posts: 1,075
    I found that test very useful. I had always thought such aftermarket brakes improved most parameters of braking but that test seems to suggest that the only parameter consistently improved was fade, some of the aftermarket ones were worse than stock on non fading tests! Since I don't plan on doing a lot of racing etc, probably not an upgrade worth having!
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    Boy, that is something that I'm not sure I could remember in a panic situation. After some 30 years of driving experience telling me to pump brakes and let up while steering, the ABS technique seems to violate everything I have been programmed to do.
  • lippoldslippolds Member Posts: 39
    I am considering getting the optional arm rest extension with my new WRX. It looks like it will add more comfort when driving long trips. I am getting the manual (of course) and wanted to see if anyone had any comments on this item or any other factory accessories
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    I have the armrest extension and it took some getting used to. In the beginning, my elbow hit it a few times. I just had to adjust the way I shifted and now it's fine. I definitely needed the extra storage space. The map pockets are even shorter than on my 97 OBS.

    -Dennis
  • allythomallythom Member Posts: 11
    I have it too, it doesn't really get in the way (compare to the one on the Ford Focus which is so annoying I nearly pulled it off). It adds some useful storage space but is expensive for a lump of plastic.

    I find that I don't really rest my arm on it much though, my right hand is either on the wheel or on the stick (BTW, Subaru advise not leaving your hand on the stick as it can cause transmission wear apparently).

    Try a car with it and see if you like, alternatively get the car without and order an extension cheap from Subaruparts.com -it looks like an easy fit.

    Alun
  • bouncingbobbouncingbob Member Posts: 19
    I purchased my WRX Wagon last October, and went through the same decision process as you. This was the most difficult decision I had to make. I tried the armrest in the showroom, and it did appear to interfere with shifting. I also tried a Subaru without the armrest, and this too was uncomfortable. The price ($140) was not part of my decision. I could use the extra space, so I opted for the armrest.
    In actual practice, after owning my WRX for a year, I can tell you that I often avoid using the armrest when in traffic. The end of the armrest in right in-line with my elbow. I had wished that Subaru had an armrest with an in-between height - this probably would have been optimal. Even on a long trip, the awkward height can lead to discomfort, and I end up alternating between using/not using the armrest. I don't regret buying the armest, however, but it is definitely a matter of personal preference.
  • sonya4sonya4 Member Posts: 92
    For what it's worth, I'm fine without the armrest extension, but then I'm short (petite?). I have gone on 5-hour trips and it doesn't bother me. Like allythom said, I either rest my hand on the stick or on the steering wheel. It sounds like if I did get the extension, I wouldn't be comfortable with it anyway. Guess you just have to try it.

    --sonya4
  • edge01edge01 Member Posts: 28
    Hey folks:

    As luck would have it, I had a random stone on I-70 in Denver crack the right fog light lens into pieces this weekend. I called the local dealer who wants to charge me 170.00 for the whole assembly. Does anyone know an aftermarket supplier for these things?

    Thanks

    Ryan
  • hunter001hunter001 Member Posts: 851
    I don't think it is a good idea to drive with your hand resting on the stick. I used to do that years back and I was advised against it by someone.

    Later...AH
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Resting your hand on the stick will cause wear on the brass synchros.

    Ryan - Try www.subaruparts.com. They are a Subaru dealer with good prices. Another dealer is www.subaruwrxparts.com

    -Dennis
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    << Resting your hand on the stick will cause wear on the brass synchros. >>

    Like riding the clutch, it's not a good idea.

    Bob
  • nowakj66nowakj66 Member Posts: 709
    I have long arms and I did find that the arm rest gets in the way of shifting when I test drove a wagon with the arm rest.
  • sonya4sonya4 Member Posts: 92
    ...just some of the time, like in city traffic when you have to shift constantly. Otherwise it's on the steering wheel.

    While we're on that subject, I notice a lot of guys put their left hand around the 12 o'clock position on the steering wheel when driving (if they drive a stick). In these days of airbags, that's not a good idea, is it? If an airbag deploys, it would hit your arm and fling that back at your face/chest.

    --sonya4
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    sonya4,

    Since the shift lever is directly connected to your transmission, even a little pressure on it can misalign things and cause premature wear over the long run. Just don't use it as an arm rest and you'll be fine.

    The 12 o'clock position is more for show than function -- seat waaaay back, left hand on top of steering wheel right hand on shifter. Not only does this style interfere with being able to react quickly, it can be dangerous if an airbag deployed. Look at rally/track drivers. Both hands are always on the steering wheel and the right hand only leaves momentarily to complete a shift.

    Ken
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