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Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon

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Comments

  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    It's time for new tires. Anyone have any experience w/ the BF Goodrich Traction T/A? How about the Bridgestone Potenza RE950?
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    I've driven the RE950 on a friend's car a number of times and ridden in it a lot.

    Good performance all-season. I'd consider the Dunlop SP 5000 as a competitor, but not the BFG Traction T/A... IMHO there are only two BFG tires I'd buy-- KO and KD. Totally different tires than what you need, but leaders in their market segment.

    ~Colin
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    The reason the Traction T/A looked good to me was the user reviews on Tirerack. It scored slightly better than the RE950. Even the Tirerack road testing found the T/A on par w/ the RE950. I just don't know how good those reviews are.
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    yeah, you never know what someone's frame of reference is. comparing the customer reviews of dissimiliar tires is really bad on tirerack for example-- otherwise you'd think that the best touring all=season is close to the dry performance and handling of the better summer tires, and of course that's far from the truth. but the all-season might have high 9.x ratings! :)

    ~Colin
  • r34r34 Member Posts: 178
    Some people might have mentioned this before. When I looked at MSRP of these 2 cars, I didn't think I should pay the premium for a rebadged WRX. However, the incentive from GM ($2000-$3000 ??) is closing the price gap between these 2 cars. I received a flyer several weeks ago saying a 9-2X Linear was around $19K, I expected the Aero would have similar incentive to lower the price.

    It seems that better noise insulation, better looking (at least to me), available moonroof and heated seats, and 2 years free maintainence services from the 9-2X may make the car to be more attractive than the WRX wagon.

    I like WRX wagon because the sedan does not give me more enough headroom and trunk storage.

    Any reason I should buy a WRX wagon instead ?
    (I wonder if I should bring a 9-2X to a Subaru dealership or a Saab dealership after the warranty expired...)
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    I had read a car mag review where they felt that Saab had improved the suspension a tiny bit for slightly better handling - but also added weight which reduced the speed a tiny bit. I agree that Saab has made a nicer WRX by adding insulation and offering the moon roof - but you may also want to consider where it will be serviced. I might go w/ the most conveniently located dealer.
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    Yup.

    yeah, you never know what someone's frame of reference is. comparing the customer reviews of dissimiliar tires is really bad on tirerack for example-- otherwise you'd think that the best touring all=season is close to the dry performance and handling of the better summer tires, and of course that's far from the truth. but the all-season might have high 9.x ratings! :)

    ~Colin
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    The TR reviews I love the most are when people say that summer tires suck in the snow. Duh!

    IIRC, the suspension of the 9-2X is supposed to be a little softer instead of better handling. I'm sure you could search some of the early magazine reviews.

    You get a longer bumper-to-bumper warranty with the Saab 4 yrs vs. 3 yrs, but Subaru's powertrain warranty is 5 years/60k miles. Subaru techs might be more knowledgable, but I'm sure that varies dealer to dealer. My dealership has a few Senior Master Subaru techs and they also have some nOObs. :-)

    -Dennis
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Saab dealers are short on parts, check the 9-2x thread.

    I'd stick with the original.

    -juice
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    Man, this place is a ghost town. What happened?
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    - Just not too many WRX owners hanging around.
    - They're out driving and never came back.
    - They're driving the FXT or LGT now.
    - The craze simmered down.

    :)

    -Dave
  • andmoonandmoon Member Posts: 320
    I too am thinking of going lgt.
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    They're driving the FXT

    Thank you, drive through. :)

    -Dennis
  • l8apx3l8apx3 Member Posts: 5
    Consumer Reports did a updated test of Performance All Season tires last fall. They liked the Bridgestone, but warned that it had poor performance in the snow. I installed the Falkens on my wagon last summer and would agree with their reviews. I purchased mine at the local Sears.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    We're still here, just not much to talk about.
    No way I'll be switching to an F-XT or LegGT.
    Now a F-STi or Leg-Sti wagon, that could be a different story...or maybe just an urban myth.

    But a 6sp in the WRX would be most sweet, and would address one of the commonly voiced weaknesses. Rumour about jumping up to the 2.5T in the WRX would also be nice. They could tune it to the 250 of the Leg and it would put the WRX well out in front of the competition the way it was in 02 when it debuted in NA.

    Nicholas - still lovin' it.
  • r34r34 Member Posts: 178
    I think that's true. Couple weeks ago, the salesman at the dealership told me Subaru will replace the 2.0 with the 2.5 in the Legacy.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    I'll just get the engine.
    I'm keeping the bugeye :-)

    -Dave
  • cptpltcptplt Member Posts: 1,075
    so I'm thinking of getting a Forester for the in law, she is fed up driving a Windstar and really loved her 92 Legacy but likes the higher ride of a van but is fed up bumping into things as the van is too big.
    Can I put my stock WRX wheels on a Forester??? I know the offset is not exactly the same, but how much problem can there be with , what 5mm difference???

    How about if I get a new OB(probably be the VDC so she gets all the safety gizmos), can I put 16in WRX wheels on that(for snows)??
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    It'll work for pre '00 MYs OB/Legacy [+55mm offset].
    Not likely will work for the Forester or the '00+ OB/Legacy [+48mm offset].

    -Dave
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    I'd likely upgrade if the only new offerings were a moon roof and a 6sp. I drove the F-XT, and I was not impressed. No Momo, and the road feel wasn't anything close to the WRX. An LSTI wagon would be interesting, but I can't imagine a larger car than the Imprezza having anything close to the manuverability. The way the WRX can hop around a bumpy right-angle turn never fails to impress me. I just don't think that a larger car could do that.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Forester is pretty close in weight, so that's not the problem per se.

    They need an STi suspension under it to keep up with a WRX, or at least come very close in handling.

    -juice
  • path4path4 Member Posts: 24
    Just came back from a dealer. Since he has no WRX available there, he told me to wait until June for the new 2006 WRX, which will have 2.5T 250hp engine and 5sp Auto with "+" "-" buttons to shift. That is going to be hot.
  • hypovhypov Member Posts: 3,068
    Ooooo engine/transmission swap :D

    -Dave
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hope you're right, that would be a great upgrade, especially for the auto models.

    -juice
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    Does anyone here know what Subaru's typical re-design cycle is for their cars? If it is 4 years, like Honda, we could be looking at a brand new WRX next year.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    It's more like a 5-year cycle with Subaru, but that's not engraved in stone.

    Bob
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    My 04 WRX has been grinding 1st gear lately -- ever since the 30k mile service I had done a few weeks ago. I know the fluid was changed to Castrol (non-synthetic) and I'm afraid that it's causing the syncro to grind. I specifically didn't go with a synthetic because of all the horror stories I've heard from others who have switched and ended up with grinding syncros, but now I'm wondering if even the regular dino oil is suspect.

    It seems to be grinding regularly as I exit the freeway, come to a stop at the light, then try to engage 1st again...it's like the transmission is still spinning even when I'm stopped, so when I try for 1st, it grinds. It also seems to be doing it in parking lots when I'm rolling too slow for 2nd and try to get into first.

    In all the previous 30,000 miles, I've probably ground the gears enough to count on one hand...now it seems to be a daily occurance. My driving style hasn't changed, only the fluid.

    Any suggestions?

    Brian
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    One way to find out if it's the fluid is to swap it. I haven't heard of any issues with conventional gear oil though.

    Your synchros might be bad. The 1st and 4th gear synchros were replaced on my FXT. When I would get the grind, it didn't sound like a typical missed gear grind. It was more of a crunching sound.

    -Dennis
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    um... the input shaft of the transmission IS spinning when you're stopped and the clutch pedal is up, with full force.

    it spins with mediocre force when the clutch pedal is down, too.

    I'd use the Subaru gear oil. doesn't grind, even if it is a little like churning butter on a really cold winter morning.

    ~Colin
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    I have noticed the shifting, particularly into first, on a cold morning is arduous. Can be difficult to even find, much less get into 1st. I also noticed that I have to depress the clutch alllll the way to the floor to get into 1st when things are really cold. Is that the Subaru gear oil that causes that?
  • locke2clocke2c Member Posts: 5,038
    Yes it absolutely is the gear oil and it's not unique to Subaru. My Evo shifts the same way and a few others cars have been similar.

    ~c
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    my F-XT can be a bit stubborn to shift into 1st or 2nd first thing on 2nd or 1st seems to always do the trick.

    -Brian
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    I went with Motul synthetic blend about 1k miles ago and I'm very happy so far (knock wood). Cold shifting is much better now.

    -Dennis
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    No Momo, and the road feel wasn't anything close to the WRX.

    Not sure what you mean here, but the FXT's steering wheel is indeed a Momo wheel. It just doesn't have the Momo logo stamped into it. I really like the three-spoke wheel in my '05 FXT - fits really nicely to hand - and I don't find I spend that much time looking at it.

    As for road feel, it's a matter of horses for courses. Foresters are taller, less aerodynamic, have a higher center of gravity, greater ground clearance, longer suspension travel and are more softly sprung than WRX wagons. The idea is that Forester owners may take their cars onto surfaces other than billiard-table-smooth pavement.

    You don't throw a Forester around a bend the way you do a WRX but you learn to compensate. The right wheel/tire combo plus suspension bits can help reduce body roll and understeer but in the end you're still going to have to deal with the differences in body type. Take that too far though and you lose the Forester's rough road ability.

    OTOH with the FXT you do have more power to put to the pavement coming out of the bends than you do in the current WRX wagon...and there's something to be said for that.

    Ed
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Keep in mind the WRC team uses the Forester to pre-run the toughest rallies and take course notes. It's more comfortable!

    -juice
  • oneduckstwooneduckstwo Member Posts: 34
    I posted this in another Subaru forum and had 0 response to it despite their previous chatter about it so I'm going to try here:

    So I picked up a 02 WRX wagon with 30k from a L.A. dealer about a year ago and have frequently noticed a noise on "colder" mornings that I would assume is this "piston slap" as it goes away after a few minutes and is matched to rpms. I now have 45k and I'm not sure if I should be nervous about it or not? It would seem after "mrk610"s post that I shouldn't but I don't plan on living in the warmth of L.A. forever and would imagine it would get worse? Any thoughts?
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    The official line from Subaru is that so long as the noise goes away after a few minutes/miles of driving, then the noise is okay. Both my 01 Outback and my 04 WRX have made slight clicking noises when they are cold, but I suspect not as bad as some have reported. For what it's worth, my previous Honda engines have also been noisier in cold conditions until they warm up, so I've never been worried about it. A little noise should be fine...major clatter might have me worried.

    Brian
  • andmoonandmoon Member Posts: 320
    I posted earlier that my 03 with 28,xxx miles makes a humming noise from the rear right at 60 to 62 mph in any gear. Today I went to the dealer and they confirmed the noise was from the rear diff. They pinpointed it to the pinion bearing and replaced the diff. Yes they had one in stock.

    Of course the noise is still present. Now it hums from 58 to 61 mph in any gear load or no load.

    Any Ideas? By the change in speed at which the noise is generated I still suspect the diff. I wonder if it was installed wrong or if I got a bad one (I doubt it).

    Don
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    There are two sets of teeth in the gears, I wonder if the other one was worn as well?

    Fluid level OK? I assume they used dino 75w90?

    -juice
  • bkaiser1bkaiser1 Member Posts: 464
    Are you sure it's not the tires? I had cupped tires on my Outback that made a humming/warbling noise in a certain speed range...I know it's a long shot, but if they replaced the diff and it's still noisy, perhaps there's a chance it's the tires.

    B
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Maybe see if rotating the tires helps.

    -juice
  • andmoonandmoon Member Posts: 320
    I will rotate the tires when the weather gets a little warmer.
    How does the rear LS work? It doesn't require a LS additive so I am GUESSING no clutch pack.
    My left tires are worn a little more than the rights (darn onramps only go in one direction) but they are well within the 1/4 inch limits when measured at the center of the tread. Measured at the outside edge it is still under 1/4 inch but close....what happens when the baby spare goes on?

    Thanks for the ideas fellas.
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    Sorry - I stand corrected. I didn't mean to knock the FXT. I think that when I drove it I was expecting a WRX w/ a bit more room and ground clearance. That is not what I got out of the test drive so I wrote it off. As SUVs go, it is probably the best there is (CU apparently agrees). So you are right, one's opinion should be based on intended use of the vehicle.

    But I gotta disagree w/ your implying that billiard-table-smooth roads are required for the WRX. IMHO, the outstanding feature of the WRX is its ability to handle aggressive driving on very bumpy roads - something most other performance cars can't do.

    (The other outstanding thing is easy heal-toe shifting :))
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I believe the rear LSD is viscous. Is that right?

    -juice
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    But I gotta disagree w/ your implying that billiard-table-smooth roads are required for the WRX.

    Understood, no harm no foul. Having driven both I do believe that the FXT is better suited to rougher roads, stock-for-stock; but either is better in handling the rough stuff than most of their competition.

    There's a growing number of people who've discovered and bought FXTs, then lowered them with struts/springs from WRX/STi takeoffs, Forester STi (via Japan) or aftermarket (Tein is the primary source IIRC?). Don't get me wrong, I'd love for my FXT to go flatter through the corners but I think something inherent in the FXT's character would be lost in the process if you "drop" the car too much.

    Ed
  • bluesubiebluesubie Member Posts: 3,497
    Did you ever get your STi swaybar installed?
    I'm [___] this close to getting STi springs. My main concern is my bigger tires though. Someone on nabisco did it with 225/55/17's and is getting slight rubbing (on the frame??) at full lock.

    oops, turned this into a Forester discussion. ;-)

    -Dennis
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    No, nothing installed. Between the weather and a 15-month-old whom I can't turn my back on for 30 seconds I don't know when that will ever happen. Example: our driveway is covered with a 1/2- to 1-inch thick sheet of ice this AM. Hockey anyone?

    I know about the STi springs guy; he PM'ed me over at nabisco a couple of times looking for advice on the 225/55-17s with that setup.

    Ed
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I thought suspension travel was the same on both the Impreza and Forester, but that the difference was the mounting points which determined the increased ground clearance. Anyone know for sure? The fact that the WRX is arguably the best "rough condition" pony car is the reason I drive one. The gouges in my front OEM pan cover do suggest that the Forester's ground clearance has it's advantages, but that's what my aftermarket aluminum plate is for. I don't remember a significant ride quality difference between the OBS and the FXT when I test drove them on gravel roads. Double track would be a different story.
    Although I'd love to drive the F-STi, I expect it would be worse off pavement than a stock WRX given the lowered, stiffer suspension. Still, I'd love the chance to find out.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Nope. Drop Impreza springs in a Forester and you lower it significantly. So the springs are taller for sure.

    -juice
  • cinosweivecinosweive Member Posts: 166
    F-STi - That I could live with. How much more stealth could you get?
This discussion has been closed.

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