Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon
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http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=41&article_id=8310
-juice
Not that I wouldn't want one.
-juice
Course then they'll probably bring the F-STi on it's heels and further ruin my life.
Nicholas
Your call
-Dave
No way am I gonna "pull a Dan Rather".
-Dennis
Unfortunately, I had no time to do my normal research on tires and took what they recommended and had in stock, the Kumho Ecsta ASX. They drove really nice on the way home. Hopefully, it is a reasonable replacement tire.
Since I haven't been on this forum in a while, as an update, my 02 wagon has 32,000 miles with absolutely no problems so far. Ditto for wife VDC Outback after 40,000 miles; its still on original tires.
Mike
your alignment is definitely off.
~Colin
I drove at least four other loaner Subaru's while I was having warranty work done on my original transmission. Not one of them had piston slap in cold weather. The noise is aggravating, sounds a bit like bad connecting rod bearings and is unacceptable by today's standards. It's my understanding that not all WRX engines have cold weather piston slap.
Even if the sound is benign it does make one wonder how the engine will age.
My new transmission is better but behaves the same way when shifting from first to second in cold weather. But lately it's developed another issue. The shifter has always felt sticky pulling out of first gear in cold weather for the first few shifts. But over the past few months it has gotten noticeably more difficult to pull the shifter out of first gear for the first few shifts. Occasionally, it even seems to be more difficult shifting out of first when the car is completely warmed. I replaced the transmission oil with 75/90 Mobil I last week and the shifting improved some.
Anyone had similar issues shifting out of first gear in cold weather?
I was conecerned about the same thing with my 98 Legacy. I checked the oil at 70K, engine was fine, I'm close to 120K now, will send another sample before spending money on another big service and timing belt etc etc.I send mine to Blackstone labs.
Re: piston slap
As long as it goes away when the car has warmed up, it won't be a problem. My wife's 99 OB has done it from the beginning. Thick or thin (and Mobil1 xW30 is thin) oil doesn't make a difference. I did an oil analysis through Blackstone-labs.com and they said the engine was in great shape. If it doesn't go away, you might have a cambelt tensioner or other problem.
This is for the 2.5 engines, but may be of help.
http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/EngineNoiseSum04.pdf
-Dennis
Mobil I has always been loved by some and considered trouble by others. I've been happy with the motor oil so gave the gear oil a try. Shifting smoothness has improved noticeably once the car is warmed up. Getting into reverse is easier, too. Having had serious transmission problems with this car, I pay very close attention to how it shifts.
The oil was dark with metal particles. This is with less than 300 miles since installed. Well the new one they put in today also makes the noise although it is much lower in volume.
Either the diffs the dealer has in stock are all from a bad batch or there is something else that is making the diff. die. Is there a mount or bearing the driveshaft sits in that could be out of alignment causing undie stress to the diff.?
Tires, tow hitch and muffler have been ruled out. A mechanic also listened to the bearings with a stethescope and declared the bearings healthy (car on lift, wheels spinning at 60 mph). Plus the quick disintegration of the new diff seems to point to the diff.
Don
did you check the circumference of your tires?
-Dave
The bit about being out of alignment is more or less right. If a limited-slip differential is not shimmed carefully to the proper specifications, it will wear quickly.
I would open a case with Subaru through their 800 number if you have not already. If I were in your position I would want to consider the possibility of a different dealership performing the next replacement. Or if your existing dealer does it again, perhaps a SOA technician (not a management/sales/marketing person) should be present to oversee and assist.
~Colin
The tires are within the 1/4 inch spec.
The diff was new in box but not with axles.
There are only 2 dealers close by and the one I went to (Flemington) seems pretty willing.
I did a search over at Nabis?o (thats not listing another forum is it?) and it seems like I'm not an isolated case...WRXs and Foresters...interesting bit is the 60mph speed at which they all heard the noise. There was no clear definitive fix.
This is a real bummer because I was going to start modding the car in place of trading in for a LGT (and then spending more again). I'd hate to have to replace the diff every 30K miles.
I can see from what's going on here that I've been absent from the boards for too long. However, when I started dealing for an '05 STi, I decided I'd better see what you had to say about the '05 STi vs the '04.
At any rate, Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you!! Once again you've come through with important information: Upon seeing the "Subaru Document" and reading about the test drive of a FXT STi, I asked my friendly Suby salesman about it. He confirmed that SOA had just told them at a meeting to explain the new models, that the 2.5 turbo engine was indeed going to be offered in the WRX and Forester. When I asked if they would be available in the Jun-Jul time frame, he said that it would be a little later than that?? He also said it would be worth my time to wait!
So, all of you who feel as I do and prefer the wagon to the sedan, it appears that we'll have our wish in a few short months. Start saving your coins!
Once again, thank you! I'd have had a new STi within the next few weeks; and I'd have been kicking myself when the '06s hit the mkt!
Hope my return to the boards finds all well, happy, and keeping the wheels pointed at the pavement side of the globe............Terry
I hope they come through with the 6-speed in more models, because I have an STi and I will tell you that it is one sweet gearbox. And the 2.5L motor will doubtless improve the numbers of the WRX, especially low-end torque. But an STi is a *whole* *lot* *more* than a WRX with more horsepower and torque. The WRX is quick, sporty AWD funmobile with excellent road manners. The STi is a fire breathing, road devouring beast.
If what you really want is an STi wagon (so do I, for what it's worth), your only current option is to build your own. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that will be true after the '06 introduction.
Regards,
-wdb
That's the one draw back to the WRX: It takes too long to get the turbo working, and it runs out of oomph too soon. I have two of the WRX wagons: an automatic and a 5-sp. I got the 5-sp because I was not happy with the auto, and it is a definite improvement in the fun factor; but I quickly found myself yearning for the power band of the 2.5 turbo engine.
As you pointed out, a 2.5 turbo WRX = STi; but I don't really think that Subaru will do that. I'm guessing that they'll give the WRX a 250 or 265 HP tune, keep the 5-sp, maybe add the triptronic Legacy type auto, and keep the road manners similar to the current models.
As you may know, they've saturated the mkt with the current WRX models and have had to offer incentives to move them. Many of us would like more power, but do not really want to sacrifice the WRX tamer road compliance for the race tuned suspension of the STi. Walla! Subaru listens and finds a way to create new demand for the WRX.
I could also see them retreating from the changes in the '05 STi to something that would compete head to head with the EVO, given equal driving skills. The racing purests would love it, and those of us who just want excellent handling with some comfort and added power thrown in as the frosting, would also be very happy '06 Suby owners!
As mentioned in my previous post, I've already talked to my salesman about the '06 WRX wagon, and I'll be one of his first customers in line when they become available. Anyone lookin' for an '05 WRX wagon with auto, or an '03 Bugeye WRX wagon with 5-sp??:-))
Of course, all this guessing is worth exactly what you paid for it. It's just MHO...Terry
However, I do have plans for sometime down the road to move the 2.5l with the 5EAT into her
-Dave
but I quickly found myself yearning for the power band of the 2.5 turbo engine.
I too find myself developing the yearn/urge for more power, but whenever it comes around I drive Mom's '99 OBS for the day.
-Dave
Terry
deceitful? not at all, IMO. they're human and they have biases.. so to avoid that, treat this like a whole new issue for them.
if they ask if it's been replaced before then obviously you don't lie.
~Colin
I guess I can go to the other dealer here but my experience with dealer #2 has never been good.
so, this noise is coming from under you rather than behind? because front differential noise should be a lot different than rear...
btw, I've never heard differential noise in stock subaru. aftermarket, sure. FWIW my Evo's transfer case is really noisy when decelerating in gear so I get to hear that sound pretty often.
~Colin
-B
They didn't think that the Castrol gear oil that they put in would have any effect on the syncros (it's non-synthetic) but they DID think that the clutch felt very odd and could be contributing to the grinding problem. To me, it feels the same today as it did brand new, but they asked if it was an aftermarket high performance clutch (it's not, the car's totally stock). The clutch IS much different than any other car I've ever driven, including other Subaru's, but I assumed that it was just a characteristic of the WRX clutch.
I know the 04+ clutches are different from the earlier WRX units, and since the technitian that drove mine has an 03 WRX, that could explain his perceptions, but now I'm worried that I might have a clutch going bad on the car. The clutch is very heavy, much more so than my 01 Outback's, and has an unusually "springy" feel to it. That is, there feels like there's a TON of clamping force that hits all at once at the very top of the pedal's travel (rather than a smooth, progressive engagement throughout the pedal stroke). I'm sorry if that's not specific enough, it's hard to describe "feel" with text.
The car has been driven quite easily its entire life -- I don't usually wind the engine up, I don't launch it away from intersections, and I don't ride the clutch in traffic -- so I'd be shocked if the clutch was really going bad at 32k miles. Does this sound like normal clutch-feel for this car? I wouldn't have thought twice about it, were it not for the Subaru mechanic's raised suspicions.
Brian
Would that be Ed? I've used my fair share of dealers (Sansone (rip), Bell (rip), Hillside, Somerset, Myrtle Beach (on vacation) and nobody has come close to Flemington for tech knowledge.
I have noticed slightly more drivetrain noise with synthetic gear oil, but nothing I would even see a dealer about. Good luck and keep us posted. It's in your record now which is a good thing.
-Dennis
Last time we mentioned names we got repremanded. So I'll say the techs name rhimes with Ted.
I have dealt with 3 dealers and Flemington is the best so far. I just wish they wouldn't try to add on so much other stuff with their 30K service.
so...
I am in the process of doing the 30K myself. Dino in the trans, synth in the rear diff, coolant with Subaru's snake oil additive. I am waiting for some SS brake lines to get here before I do the brake and clutch flush. Do the 02-03's use the old big oil filter or the newer smaller one?
Now why did Subaru put the PCV valve UNDER the intercooler? I took the intercooler off and am thinking of drilling out the old pcv valve ( it's threaded), connecting a hose and placing the new valve in a more reachable location. Will this affect the performance of the new pcv valve?
The manual does not give a maintenance schedule for the power steering fluid. I have never replaced PS fluid. Is this something that needs periodic replacement?
Don
Should have let us know, 30ks we've been banging out lately...
-mike
I wouldn't do the hose idea, though, you don't service it often enough to need that, IMO. Unless you drive 30k miles per year.
-juice
Phil
Now that that's out of the way, back to the Subies!
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News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
-mike
I am new to this forum, and to the 2005 WRX Wagon which I have just taken delivery of. Overall I am very happy with the car. Except the rather excesive turbo lag and the rear end body role. I have just ordered 2 urpated sway bays, which hopfully will sort the body role out. I have also ordered a set of Prodrive P1 wheels in Anthracite 17x7. I am considering fitting the STi tires RE070.
Any suggestions would be helpful. particually on tire size. Subaru recommend 215x45 17 ???
Regards
Terry
Alberta
I have an 04 wagon with STi wheels on it, which I absolutely love. The STi tires, though, were poorly suited to my driving conditions. Aside from being a "summer only" tire (ie: NO snow), they were amazingly stiff and heavy tires. The ride was terrible on the highway, which is where I spend all my time, and the noise they generated was unbearable. The grip and handling they provided was simply amazing, but since I'm a relatively conservative driver I just didn't like the RE070's.
I put a set of PZero Nero (225-45-17 M+S) tires on the STi wheels and was amazed at the difference. The car handles much better than with the OEM 16's, but (surprisingly) the ride is also much better with the 17's -- credit the light weight of the STi wheels and light Pirelli tires. Compared to the RE070's, the handling is not as razor sharp, but it's a tradeoff I'm more than happy to accept. I've got about 15,000 miles on the Pirelli's now, and they have worn very well (I expect to get at least 30,000 miles out of them at this rate) and will absolutely buy them again. Snow traction, which may or may not be important to you, was really good with these tires, too.
I know that Subaru recommends 215-45-17's instead of the 225's, but I have not had any issues with them in that size...only if you plan on lowering the car should you be concerned.
Enjoy the new ride!!
Brian
Thanks for the informative reply. It seams that all these issues are a trade off, must admit dont like the sound of noisy tyres, but the razor sharp handling sounds good. I will let you knoe what I do.
Kind regards
Terry
Said I'd would get back to you. Have decided to buy Bridgstone Pole Position SO3, good reviews.
Kind regards
Terry
Regards
Terry