Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon

cptplt · May 2005

Tirerack.com sometimes have take offs, I got them with my snowtires for US$79 each, dunno about shipping to Canada though.

searcherboy · May 2005

Saw the following article posted on Sky News, a British news website. Competition between Mitsubishi and Sube in the UK must be very serious indeed if Subaru is willing to provide free retrofit performance upgrades to WRX/STI models - using Prodrive components, no less.

The article does not mention which model years qualify for the free upgrades, but the performance numbers cited are tantalizing. Go to:

http://www.sky.com/skynews/xml/article/0,,40000-214922,00.html

SB

searcherboy · May 2005

Not a free retrofit available to all - it's a special offer, valid May 1 - July 31, for all new WRX/STI buyers in the UK.

Details on Subaru UK website:

http://www.subaru.co.uk

locke2c · May 2005

click me for direct link

ateixeira · May 2005

265hp for the stock WRX, with a factory warranty - offer that over here!

-juice

cinosweive · May 2005

I was trying to figure out a way to mount bikes on the wagon roof and still have a usable tailgate. Yakima suggested I mount the bikes backward, but that doesn't sound too aerodynamic. I thought I could move the rack forward some by mounting only the rear crossbar to the rails, and then using the gutter/door "Q-towers" to mount the front crossbars. Has anyone tried this? Does it get the bikes forward enough to allow opening the tailgate when bikes are on the roof?

bkaiser1 · May 2005

I have a LoadWarrior on my WRX wagon with 3 bike mounts (Yakima Boa) on it...it raises the bikes enough that the rear tires do not interfere with the hatch spoiler.

With regards to the aero-efficiency with backwards mounted bikes, it's no more efficient on my car to mount them front-facing or rear facing...it's still incredibly loud and inefficient with 3 bikes up top. MPG with the bikes on top is usually 20mpg, and it drops off precipitously (into the mid-teens) if there's a headwind. Compared to my Outback, which hardly ever flinched with a full load up top, the WRX seems to be significantly impacted by roof top loads.

Adding the extra crossbar on QTowers is an interesting proposition -- I actually bought the hardware to do just that on my Outback, so I could increase my total capacity up top. I never actually got around to mounting it before I sold the car, though.

Brian

andmoon · May 2005

I looked into roof mounts and ended up getting a hitch mount. The Hidden Hitch only has the actual receiver portion visible and ended up being cheaper than the roof mounts. There is no gas mileage penalty with the hitch mounts.

saintviper · May 2005

I've posted this before, but here it is again. If you mount the bike attachments outside the towers, you will have no problem opening the rear hatch.

ateixeira · May 2005

I've had 3 bikes back there, no problem. The OE rack tilts out of the way so you can open the hatch also. And no lifting.

-juice

ateixeira · May 2005

odg · May 2005

I'm looking buy either an OBS or a WRX Wagon within the month. Of course I want the WRX but I drive about 30,000 a year and need a vehicle that will last me a good 150,000 + miles. I have no doubt the OBS fits the bill but what about the WRX? I'm concerned about the reliability of the turbo and the costs associated should I have to replace it.. I'm curious of the mileage some of you have on your turbo engines and if anyone has experienced or head of any problems?

Thanks
Mike

ateixeira · May 2005

If anything, the EJ20T has been historically more reliable than the EJ25, which had head gasket issues from around 99-01.

-juice

saintviper · May 2005

I had about 96,000 miles on my 2002 WRX wagon when I sold it. Not a single problem with it. FWIW, I had a 93 MR2 Turbo that I sold when I got the WRX. Completely different car an engine, but I never had a problem with the engine or turbo on that car either. It had 145,000 miles on it when I sold it.

I think a few poorly designed and implemented turbo engines from Saab, Volvo, and Ford in the 80's have given turbos a poor reliability reputation that they no longer deserve. IMO, turbo engines today are just as reliable as non-turbo engines. I would look more at the overall reliablity of a particular engine manufacturer than the specific technology of the engine itself.

andmoon · May 2005

You can but a new wrx specific turbo for around $400 and a slightly used one for around $150. Easy to replace with simple hand tools. I have seen an abused one go over 100K miles.

I have heard the weak link is the transmission and that is only if you really really abuse it.

I wouldn't worry about a wrx reaching 150K miles under normal use.

ateixeira · May 2005

And most of those were due to clutch abuse, back in 2002 when it came out.

In 2003, Subaru added a force-limiting valve on the clutch to prevent clutch drops, and claims on the tranny all but disappeared. You don't even hear complaints any more.

-juice

j0elboy · May 2005

HI FOLKS,
I'VE BEEN READING THESE, WITHOUT POSTING FOR MONTHS, AND NOW WANT TO ASK IF ANYONE HAS LUCK GETTING THREE KAYAKS ON THE SUBARU/YAKIMA RACK ATTACHMENT? ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE TOTAL WEIGHT? AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I AM CONSIDERING ONE OF THOSE VERY LIGHT WEIGHT TRAILERS FOR THE KAYAKS. WHAT'S THE UP AND DOWN SIDE TO TRAILERS W/ THE WRX WAGON?

JOELB0Y

ateixeira · May 2005

Hey Joelboy, why are you shouting? :P

3 bikes, yes, on my hitch rack. 3 kayaks I have not tried.

-juice

j0elboy · May 2005

WHOOPS... Wasn't shouting as much as was trying to hurry up typing without having to go to that shift key thing... sorry.
j0elb0y

saintviper · June 2005

Don't want to jump to any conclusions. Sometimes a picture doesn't do justice to the in person view, but my initial response to this picture is:
Good Lord, that's really ugly.

searcherboy · June 2005

The post above refers to a link I posted here yesterday to a site with pictures of the new 2006 Impreza/WRX/STi. The post has been removed because third party links are not apparently not allowed on this board. This is news to me, as I posted some links here 3 weeks ago which were left up. Still, rules are rules, and we all agreed to them when we signed on. I am happy to abide by them.

Anyway, pics of the 2006 models are available online at NASIOC and elsewhere. I tried to upload a couple of them here, but couldn't get it to work.

Curious to know what others think of the new design. I think it's just plain ugly. As someone on the NASIOC board put it, the new Impreza looks like a Pontiac Grand Am.

Subaru can do better than this.

bluesubie · June 2005

You can link another site as long as that site does not have a discussion forum. Unless that changed. You should have received an email from Edmunds that explained the problem.

-Dennis

j0elboy · June 2005

I'm thinking that those front end spy shots of the '06 WRX remind me too much of a 1963 SAAB model 96 i had when i was in college. Looks like pinched nostrils....
j0elb0y

dh_cruzer · June 2005

I've had the same problems with the wind noise from the side mirrors. Did you get yours fixed and if so what was the resolution?

pat · June 2005

if anyone ever has a question about what may or may not be posted, all that is necessary is a quick review of the Rules of the Road (link at the top of the page). I think everything is spelled out quite clearly there, but if any questions remain, feel free to email a host at any time. All discussions name the host in the discussion header and include a link to the host's profile.

And yes, if a post is removed for whatever reason, the poster is notified of the issue by email.

Hope this helps!

dupes01 · June 2005

Does the WRK wagon have 'fold flat' rear seats like most wagons? I am pretty sure the sedan doen't have folding rear seats. It would be a shame if the wagon did also. Considering a purchase

ateixeira · June 2005

The wagon's seats do fold.

Same with the Legacy - no on sedans, yes on wagons.

-juice

dupes01 · June 2005

What kind of fuel economy have WRX owners out there been getting?

I currently own a zx3 focus and get 30 mpg overall on regular. I am thinking about a WRX and am wonderin how much premium fuel I will be putting in it. I drive 100 miles everyday.

bluesubie · June 2005

When I had my '03 wagon, I usually got 19-21 city and would get around 25 highway. There have been some folks here that have squeezed out 30 mpg highway so it's not unusual. Depends how heavy your foot is.

-Dennis

philwang66 · June 2005

02 WRX wagon with 40k miles. Averaging just above 21mpg overall in mixed driving. High of about 26mpg on a tank all highway, low of 7.8mpg for a tank during a track day :surprise:

Not terrible on gas given the AWD and power, but you're NOT going to average 30mpg.

irnmdn · June 2005

Will the 06 WRX wagon offer roof and leather, with the redesign I am torn between 9-2 and WRX

bluesubie · June 2005

The roof is optional, I'm not sure about leather.

Seriously, no official specs but I believe that I heard leather will be available on a special Tuner Ready model. Of course, things change so you'll have to wait for the official word. Actually, I think that has already changed.

Maybe someone else can confirm.

-Dennis

bkaiser1 · June 2005

My 04 wagon (with 37,000 miles) gets about the same as reported above -- 20-21mpg in pure city driving, 25mpg on the highway. In CA, the gas here really does lower our mileage by about 2mpg over other places, though. I live here in CA but work in Nevada, and there is a noticable and consistent increase in the MPG on tanks when I fill up in Nevada. My best ever tank was 28mpg (filled up in Las Vegas) and a couple of 27mpg readings, but otherwise it's rarely achieved better than 25 on the highway. Also, having the bike rack on the roof lowers the mpg another 2-3mpg if you leave it on all the time (which I don't).

Brian

bkaiser1 · June 2005

I checked out the pricing on Saab's website under the "Employee Discount" program they are offering thru the first of July -- oh my!! Those Saab's are going for a few thousand LESS than a comparable RS or WRX, which seriously tilts the scales in favor of the Saab at this point. Something to consider...

ateixeira · June 2005

And you gain 2 years of free service. You do give up roof rails, though, so it you use a roof rack take that into consideration.

Prices are so good that rumors say they are out of Aeros with manual trannies.

-juice

nixomose · July 2005

Maybe it's me and my expectations, but in the good old days, on a really humid day, my airconditioner in other older cars would blow snow at me.
Now Irealize that was the old freon days, and the new a/c units probably can't do that, but my wrx has really... questionable A/C. When the compressor is on, it shoots out really nice cold air.
When the compressor shuts off, less than 2 seconds later, very not cold very humid air is blowing at me.
All the recirculating in the world doesn't help.
I mean it's better than nothing, but it would be nice to have the compressor on a lot more.
Is it me or is there something wrong with my A/C.
I've heard rumors that some cars you can change the temperature or pressure at which the a/c compressor will go on and off. Can I change this?
help?

merrycynic · July 2005

While I'm not overly impressed with my '02's ac, it's certainly adequate. Perhaps you should bring your's in for service? This is an area that might be considered for improvement in the next generation Impreza.

ateixeira · July 2005

First, they no longer use freon so systems are slightly less efficient.

Second, the piping runs next to the hot engine, some folks has gone as far as to insulate the pipes, which might help some.

Any how, the A/C in my Forester puts icicyles on my nose so maybe yours does need service.

-juice

hypov · July 2005

Insulating the pipings.
Ya, that's my next project, that and resetting all the cooler's fins and give it some protection from stones/debris.

-Dave

ateixeira · July 2005

Take pics, please. I'm sure it would apply to many other Subies.

-juice

nixomose · July 2005

Tat's the thing, when it blows cold, it blows very nice cold, it's just that the compressor shuts off a lot. I'll take it in, thanks.

joem2 · July 2005

I just got my wrx wagon 05-and I would like to upgrade the headlights as my night vision is poor. Can you folks guide me in the right direction.

Thank you, joem2

hypov · July 2005

Hella Micro DE Xenon

-Dave

subarist · July 2005

Tired of loading bikes into the back of my WRX wagon, I want to get a 2 inch hitch fitted for the bike rack that's been collecting dust in my garage for too long.

Any recommendations for where to get the hitch and should I let the pro's fit it? I'm in Indianapolis.

Cheers,

andmoon · July 2005

Hidden Hitch is what I have on my 03 wagon. Most of the hitch is hidden. It took me 30 mins. to install.
I forget the site but it's hitchonline.com ehitches.com....in that neighborhood of names. Around $80.00 IIRC

ateixeira · July 2005

Does that include the harness?

The OE one is about $180 and come with a harness. Bolts on with 7 bolts. Careful removing and replacing the vacuum canister - a loose tube will trigger a check-engine light.

-juice

andmoon · July 2005

harness = electrical connections?.....No not included. I only use the hitch for the bike carrier.

I spray all my hitches w/ bedliner spray...keeps the rust away and the slight decrease in the reciever itself prevents potential rattles.

subarist · July 2005

Your hitch sounds just right for my bike rack.

The hidden-hitch.com website claims that they don't do a hitch for a 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX wagon (they do for Legacy and for Forrester). :confuse: Do you have a part number?

I need a 2" input but no electricals.

ateixeira · July 2005

That's because Subaru doesn't rate the WRX for towing (no harness pre-wiring either).

The Forester's hitch should fit, though. Better yet - look for one for the Outback Sport.

-juice

jutjut · July 2005

Hey all,

I'm on somewhat of a limited budget, but over time, I would like to upgrade my 03 WRX wagon with stuff that will not compromise reliability. Anything that will benefit, handling, steering, and especially low end torque. Is it wise to change out the exhaust? Is a chip worth it for low end torque, if so, which one? Is upgrading the sway bar beneficial? I can't do it all at once, but I want to take my time and slowly upgrade my vehicle as I plan on keeping it a good 5 or 6 years.

Thanks for any and all help,
Justin

Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon

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