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Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon
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Comments
TWRX
Now, if you get a ding or scratch, and leave it untreated, then yes it'll rust. But if you're careful with your paint, and fix any blemishes, you ought to be fine for at least a decade.
-juice
-juice
TWRX
The WRX is so brash that it does not want to stay under 4k rpm. This car is really fun; it really wants to go.
FWIW, I paid about $1000 under MSRP. That was the best I could get from two dealers on a short time window.
Now onward to the owners manual.
Mike
With a turbo if something goes wrong it will be even more expensive than a NA engine. Its always a difficult choice these warranties. One reason I have gotten them in the past was because a/c repairs etc can be very expensive too. In your case with 4 years that may be less of a problem and then its just the engine /powertrain you need to worry about.
the only award which you can earn is the official Subaru OCD certificate...it may take years of OCDness...or as little as waxing the underside of your hood...I shall say no more (nudge, nudge)
I took the stock stereo on the WRX. To my listening ears, it passed my test cd's with about a B grade, certainly not up to the McIntosh standard on the OB, but good enough to be enjoyable and to save my money for awhile. The receiver seems to be very functional.
Mike
-mike
Thanks
Mike
Anyone pulling a light trailer with the WRX? I have a light 2-kayak trailer and have ordered a factory hitch for the WRX. Opinions?
http://www.epinions.com/content_51148263044
I think you missed the part about the 7000+ ft altitude. All Porsches, excepting the Porsche 911 Turbo, would be gasping for air at that altitude, assuming it has not struck you till now. I can attest to the fact that the Auto-WRX is a fantastic machine in the mountainous regions that I drive around in.
I don't want to start the old argument about your smug "with an automatic?" comment by laying out the weaknesses of the WRX manual in its most vital aspect - the AWD system itself. The Auto-WRX has one of the most sophisticated AWD systems currently available in the market. Period. Can't say the same about the manual-WRX, can we ?
I think we should all refrain from making ignorant smart-a-- comments about something you do not own. Why do you gleefully point out the speck of dirt in your brother's eye, when you are ignoring the presence of a log of wood in your own eye ?!!!
Later...AH
-mike
-mike
But the rapid and efficient torque transfer characteristics of the Auto-AWD system (with a combination of both a Torque-sensing Planetary gear center differential and an electronically controlled 6-plate clutch pack) - and terrain sensing built-in capability, along with 22% additional power to the rear wheels (when compared to the manual-WRX), does make it a lot better than the manual-WRX in the eyes of many people. 0-60 or any such straight line statistics be damned !!! I hope you do not start to equate handling finesse with manual gear selection capability, are you ? If that were so, then a FWD econo-box with a manual should handle better than a RWD BMW with an Auto ! Handling needs the appropriate amount of power on the right set of wheels on the right side of the car, which in the case of the Auto-WRX is way better than the VC equipped Manual-WRX.
If rowing your own gears is a priority, then there are many other better choices including the Acura RSX and few others, which shift like butter when compared to the notchier Subaru stick-shift.
I see a lot of these characters jump in with ridiculous comments, just because they dislike anyone else driving anything else, other than what they decide everyone else ought to be driving. They decide the definition of "sporty" for the rest of the populace and anything other than "their definition of sporty", is something which in their blinkered perception, is to be ridiculed.
Also, as far as the future of Automobile transmissions are concerned, I would predict that the Automatics of the future would get more refined and better (with clutch-less Auto-manuals like the BMW-SMG) and the pure manuals would be on their way out (extinct like the Dodo-bird) and could possibly be visually appraised in an Auto-museum or something. Hell, even the current Audi CVT Automatic is faster than the corresponding manual Audi A4. And that's now. Give it a few more years and the manuals would become an oddity for quirky individuals to feel good while working out the muscles of their left leg during driving; and swallowing the dust left behind by the Automatics (of the future), which just breezed by.
Later...AH
Later...AH
Later...AH
-mike
I drove an auto WRX wagon a while back, and fell in love with it. Except for one thing...the seats. I'm a big guy (6'2", 245 lbs.) and I found the side seat bolsters to be a giant pain in the @**, literally. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions, or aftermarket ideas to take care of this problem. At this rate, I'm even considering buying the car and sitting with a pillow on the seat, to reduce the effect of the bolsters. I already asked Subaru, and they claimed that no adjustments to the seats are possible, through upgrade or special order. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
In regards to auto vs. manual, I'll stay out of that one, as I've never driven a manual. I have found it entertaining and infromative, though, as I'm trying to chose between sticking with the auto or learning the manual. As one of my friends put it: "Owning a car like that in an automatic is sacrelige." As I read on through these posts, I'm seeing that's not necessarily the case.
Thanks for any advise you may be willing to give.
Rich
-mike
As far as today's choice, auto vs. manual in the WRX, I'd take the manual but would envy the more advanced AWD in the auto models. It would be nice if Subaru would offer that center diffy with the manual trans -- even nicer if they'd make it a 6-speed tranny, and put a little dial on the console for controlling f/r bias ala the WRC racers :-)
Cheers,
-wdb
Bob
rsholland "Subaru Crew - Future Models II" Jan 1, 2002 11:55am
-mike
Corkfish - There is really no need to attack someone for their choice of transmission. So someone may exaggerate a little. Who cares?!? Get over it. And every time, AH posts lines upon lines of VTD this and that.
AH - Here we go again. I know that the VTD is the most advanced Subaru system. But I would like to know exactly how long it takes for the VC to transfer torque. Give me numbers. How much real world experience do you have driving a manual in slippery conditions? Where do you get 22% for the difference? It's more like 5. (VC=50/50, VTD=55/45). Like paisan said, don't forget that your rear LSD uses the viscous goo as well. ;-)
-Dennis
-mike
I just bought and installed Yakima locking cross bars for my WRX wagon on New Years Eve. I was going to order through subaruparts.com but knew that I wouldn't get them by this coming weekend when I'm planning to do some skiing. I figured I would just go to a Yakima dealer since this is what Subaru uses anyhow. I actually got better cross bars than what Subaru offers. The fact that the bars can lock to the rails is the single biggest difference. My total cost was $220 w/tax (8.8%). Now I have to dig around in my basement to find the ski attachments. This may prove to be the more difficult task. :-)
Stephen
It's broken in now and your foot will get heavier. :-)
-Dennis
Manuals offer much more control whether it be downshifting going into a corner or to pass on the highway. You can keep the revs where you want them to optimize power output of the engine. In a car like the WRX that makes most power above 3000 RPM's, this is an important factor. Gas mileage is marginally better. In addition, those of us who drive one now will agree that it's much more fun to row-your-own. I inherited an automatic Contour V-6 and got so bored that I traded it right away. Certain cars (including the WRX) ought to be manuals. Automatics are for Lincolns and Cadillacs. People who get a car like a WRX with an automatic are either incredibly lazy, women, or pansies. No offense to you Paisan, your Subaru was not available with a 5-speed to the best of my knowledge.
My experience when doing this is that the AWD system in the Audi does react a little faster and gives a better launch. In the WRX, it take just a little bit longer for the power to transfer to the rear wheels.
In the real world, I think that what difference there is really doesn't matter very much. Both systems work very well and unless you test them under controlled conditions, you'll never know the difference.
This is a well documented and discussed topic on Miata.net. Early Miatas had a viscous LSD, while later ones got a Torsen LSD. The earlier ones are better on ice, but the latter is more suited for the track.
Audi addresses this by making traction control standard.
In Subaru's case, it makes sense that they chose the systems that works best in snow, given Subies sell so well in the snow belt. Can't blame 'em.
-juice
-Dennis
Not to beat a dead horse... My AT XT6 BEATS MT WRXs in Auto-x... So you can take that as an affirmation of the AT performance not hurting that much. Like I said before--- Driver Skill --- is more important than most other factors.
-mike