Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
This discussion has been closed.
Most popular vehicles
Popular New Cars
- New Acura MDX
- New Acura RDX
- New Audi Q5
- New BMW 3 Series
- New BMW X3
- New Buick Enclave
- New Cadillac Escalade
- New Chevrolet Equinox
- New Chrysler 300
- New Dodge Challenger
- New Ford Edge
- New Ford Escape
- New Ford Expedition
- New Ford Explorer
- New Ford F-150
- New Ford Focus
- New Ford Mustang
- New Honda Accord
- New Honda Civic
- New Honda CR-V
- New Honda Fit
- New Honda Odyssey
- New Honda Pilot
- New Hyundai Elantra
- New Hyundai Santa Fe
- New Hyundai Sonata
- New Hyundai Tucson
- New Jeep Compass
- New Jeep Grand Cherokee
- New Jeep Wrangler
- New Mazda 3
- New Mazda 6
- New Mazda CX-5
- New Nissan Altima
- New Nissan Maxima
- New Nissan Rogue
- New Porsche Cayenne
- New Ram 1500
- New Subaru Crosstrek
- New Subaru Forester
- New Subaru Impreza
- New Subaru Outback
- New Tesla Model S
- New Tesla Model X
- New Toyota 4Runner
- New Toyota Camry
- New Toyota Corolla
- New Toyota Highlander
- New Toyota Prius
- New Toyota RAV4
- New Toyota Sienna
- New Toyota Tacoma
- New Volkswagen Jetta
- New Volvo XC60
- New Volvo XC90
Popular Used Sedans
- Used BMW 5 Series
- Used Chevrolet Impala
- Used Chevrolet Malibu
- Used Chrysler 200
- Used Dodge Charger
- Used Ford Fusion
- Used Ford Taurus
- Used Honda Accord
- Used Honda Civic
- Used Hyundai Elantra
- Used Hyundai Sonata
- Used Tesla Model S
- Used Toyota Camry
- Used Toyota Corolla
- Used Volkswagen Jetta
Popular Used SUVs
- Used Acura MDX
- Used Acura RDX
- Used Ford Edge
- Used Ford Explorer
- Used Honda CR-V
- Used Honda Pilot
- Used Hyundai Santa Fe
- Used Jeep Compass
- Used Lincoln Navigator
- Used Mazda CX-5
- Used Nissan Rogue
- Used Subaru Crosstrek
- Used Subaru Forester
- Used Tesla Model X
- Used Volvo XC90
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Yes, Carr does has a lot of inventory, but feels old-school as do nearly all the Dealers in Beaverton.
Lithia of Oregon City has a much nicer sales policy and fewer complaints on record.
Anyway, wrt the Impreza:
any suggestions how I can get more comfortable seats (I make occasional long trips) ?
The ones it now has only tilt up from the rear (old VW design), and the black interior color is not particularly appealing.
Should I consider a Recardo or something?
Walking in off the street at any dealer is an unpleasant experience. I've found the same sales experience at all the Subaru dealers in the Portland area. As long as you deal with the internet guy or have a weekend ad price you get a pretty good sales experience.
I've seen a lot of the new Impreza's around. I'm really starting to like the look.
also, +1 on the seats not being all that comfy. I really need something with more lumbar support as there was absolutely none. I can deal with the black cloth, I just need to get more tint put on the windows. Other than the lumbar, they felt OK.
But the A4 2.0T manual trans is available with quattro...at not too different a pricefrom the A3 That said,if you are going to keep the Audi beyond its 4 year everything-covered warranty it could turn out to be expensive to own. As an X owner of many Audis and VWs, I know too well.
It's not really the Audi Quattro system (Torsen). It's a Haldex system, FWD based. Although very responsive, I believe Subaru's Symmetrical AWD is more sophisticated, and will probably react quicker.
Subaru dealer told me the WRX seats and black interior are built for "sport", not trip comfort. Uh Huh... :surprise: I almost asked back "Just how short are trips supposed to be in the WRX - a lap around the track?" :confuse:
Still looking 'em over...
If it is Haldex, there is one notable advantage: No flatbed tow is required unlike Torsen and most Subaru models. And yes I had a flatbed tow on a Torsen-equipped VW W8.
The latest Haldex versions that engage rear drive proactively are not bad.
A4 2.0T quattro starts around 35, so probably won't happen without the Audi Premier Plan (conventional financing with a balloon payment at the end). And they've really softened the A4, way more so than Subaru did to the WRX.
I think the Audi price point just isn't as good as the WRX and the seats and suspension can be fixed/adjusted.
The latest Haldex versions that engage rear drive proactively are not bad
Never said they weren't. They are actually quite good. Personally, I find it a bit deceiving when Audi placed the "quattro" badge on a Haldex equipped vehicle, when in fact their Torsen equipped vehicles are what made Audi receive praise for the "quattro" name.
I would assume it is just a advertising or marketing ploy to use "quattro" on everything with AWD.
how can the '08 Impreza seats be improved?
As of 2007 the 4 year included maintenance is gone on Audis. Only BMW still offers this with new cars.
After more research on the A3, I'm back to leaning away from it. Reliability is hit or miss, it's overall more expensive, and only one '07 in Texas equipped the way I would like...
Ford/Volvo use Haldex systems in their cars too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haldex
They are offering it on 08 Tribecas up here in the Great White North. Nothing south of the 49th?
You can purchase some aftermarket seats. Probably fairly in-expensive too. Try Recaro, Sparco there are probably others out there as well.
-mike
And Torsen is superior on the track, in conditions where you have grip and can take advantage of their ability to send power where there is more traction.
However...Torsens have an achilles' heel - in frictionless situations they fail completely, and basically act like an open differential.
So I wouldn't say it's always "superior", in fact on black ice it's the opposite, i.e. completely useless. In certain conditions (dry track) it's best, but not on ice.
Where I live (lots of asphalt road hills, one audi dealer for 150 miles) would probably make life with an Audi miserable. :sick:
but then again...don't the most recent Audis have systems that try to minimize wheel spin in those conditions where the torsen can't do it on their own?
Hope you enjoy your WRX... I'm still considering one...
Similar to Haldex, but, Mazda builds it in house. They do not source it from Haldex.
Ford/Volvo use Haldex systems in their cars too.
Volvo more so then Ford. Ford just uses is in their Taurus/Sable. The AWD system in the Edge / MKX /MKZ / Fusion / Milan are built in house by Ford. Not Haldex. The Mountaineer uses a full time AWD system, also built in house.
I would stay away from Wiki as a source. I can go there right now and change any info they have.
Similar to Haldex, but, Mazda builds it in house. They do not source it from Haldex.
Ford/Volvo use Haldex systems in their cars too.
Volvo more so then Ford. Ford just uses is in their Taurus/Sable. The AWD system in the Edge / MKX /MKZ / Fusion / Milan are built in house by Ford. Not Haldex. The Mountaineer uses a full time AWD system, also built in house.
I would stay away from Wiki as a source. I can go there right now and change any info they have.
FWD based part-time systems are fine for the type of people that buy those cars, i.e. they just want a little bit of extra traction when needed.
Every system has its trade-offs. All of them. Cost, weight, extra drag, etc... there is always a catch.
Also, some react faster than others (the GM systems are nortoriously slow to engage, while the VW/Audi system is supposed to be relatively quick).
My queries have tried to be towards whether the part systems _brake_ spinning wheels to let the __other__ wheels do the job, or (mostly) do not.
I know that Subaru lets VDC act first, to transfer torque, and only then will let the traction control go to work.
Some, like Consumer Reports, see this as risky, as the tail can slide out, while others will see this as fun and unintrusive.
It's up to you as to what you prefer.
I can say that my Sienna has VSC, and Toyota's system acts a bit too early. I was climbing a snowy ramp and it would retard my momentum. I made it, but next time I may turn off VSC before trying to climb a steep slope.
I have VDC with ABLS on my Armada and it works real well for a street car. It'll brake a wheel if it slips creating a limited slip on both front and rear axles. If that doesn't control the skid it then limits power. Quite un-intrusive even when pushed to the limit. I wouldn't use it on track, but for street it's great.
-mike
When making cross-country trips, there are places where the best obtainable fuel is 87 Octane. I put it briefly in my WRX (in Iowa) during a trip a few months back and drove along at low rpms, till I got to a station that sold premium, around 120miles away ! Don't know if the STi would have tolerated that fuel, for so long.
Also, the flat seats are a BIG turnoff in a high-performance car. The previous generation was nasty from that perspective and the new one is also no different on that score. The whole world gets great sport-seats in the STi and the US alone is saddled with a "flat stool". Hopefully Subaru will provide a more higher performance seat as a option, since there have been some murmers along those lines in Subaru forums like Nabisco.
Obviously price is also a factor when considering the STi, since at the $40K mark, there are several other alternatives, even though for sheer handling and high-perf equipment levels, the STI is hard to beat. We'll see.
Bob
http://www.carspace.com/blogs/speedzone/08-Subaru-Impreza-STi-First-Drive
-mike
If so, can they tell me if the WRX has a broader powerband (I.e., engine responds earlier in the torque curve than the XT does)? ((I'm trying to find time to drive a WRX auto but have not been successful as of late)).
I'm considering the Forester '09 which is using the same powertrain as the WRX.
If Forester/Impreza engine's more tractable, that would be good reason to hold off on the Outback.
The Outback is also a much nicer and much roomier vehicle, but it's also much more expensive. It won't be quite as nimble and fun to drive as the WRX, however.
Bob
Driving both Outback XT and H6 5-spd autos around town revealed annoying hesitations below around 3 K rpm. On next/last test drive I'll try some posted forum suggestions that will minimize that.
On the other hand, I drive my friend's 5-spd 02 WRX quite a bit and find that the engine is afflicted with what I term as the severe rubber-band effect. Nothing below 3000rpms and then WHAM....very frustrating to drive, when you need to squirt into tight spaces in a hurry.
The pre-07 WRXs (among all the Imprezas including the Forester XT Auto) with the Auto, came with VTD, which is an AWD system that drove with 55% of the power going to the rear wheels (as the default) and came with a planetary gear center diff and transfer clutches (like the Legacy GT Auto and Outback XT).
The 08 WRX auto on the other hand, lacks a center diff and drives with most of the power on the front wheels. If you disconnect a fuse, you can even make it 100% front-wheel-drive, since it does not have a Center Differential. Obviously unlike the 07 and earlier WRXs, the 08 also lacks the rear LSD, while it comes with the stability control system (VDC).
So how does the '08 Impreza divide up power between front and back? By use of a pair of electrically operated clutches?
And does the VDC now handle all traction control issues?
The Outback is also a much nicer and much roomier vehicle, but it's also much more expensive.
Have to disagree. When I tested the 08 STi we purposely compared the interior cabing space between my 05 LGT wagon and the STi. STi (same size interior as the WRX) was significantly more roomy especially for my rather large frame. Rear seats also provided more leg and foot room as well.
Rear hatch space however was about 1/3 in the Impreza compared to the LGT Wagon.
-mike
So how does the '08 Impreza divide up power between front and back? By use of a pair of electrically operated clutches?
And does the VDC now handle all traction control issues?
80/20 torque split on the 4EAT transmission AWD systems, variable to 20/80.
VDC essentially puts in place both a front and rear LSD via brake application, this system is far superior to a traditional rear LSD in all but track conditions. I have this on my Armada.
As for hesitations, I was working on Bat1161's car on saturday and took it out for a ride after doing the brake pads to bed them in. It's an Outback H6 LLBean. This was my first drive in an H6 3.0 and it was very very linear with no hesitation. Quite impressed with it. It's got 22k miles and is fully broken in so my guess is you should look for a fully broken in car to test drive.
-mike
And does the VDC now handle all traction control issues?
The 08 Auto Imprezas (including WRX auto) uses haldex-type transfer clutch packs to transfer power rearward when needed. More along the lines of a PTO (Power take off) than a center diff containing product. More of a Honda CRV type system than the more effective/expensive Acura RDX SH-AWD. Some power is constantly send rearward (thus technically making it full-time AWD) to keep the system primed for quicker transfer when needed. But as stated earlier, you can make it full-time Front-Wheel-Drive but pulling a simple fuse (not possible in pre-08 WRXs, since it is a true AWD with a Center diff and a Rear diff).
VDC, like all other stability control systems, applies brakes and cuts engine power to keep the vehicle on course during slippery conditions. I have one in my Front-wheel-drive Honda Odyssey minivan. I think there is even a Government mandate to have all vehicles equipped with VDC-type stability systems by (2009?). So everything from a $10K Kia to the $100K+ Mercedes S63 AMG will now come with VDC.
The STi comes with VDC AND front (mechanical), center (planetary gear and transfer clutches like prior year Auto WRXs) and rear (mechanical-torsen-type) differentials, while ALL 08+ Impreza Automatics (including WRX) comes with VDC and the clutch-pack based AWD system that can send power rearward when needed but Open diffs in the front, center and rear. ALL 08+ Impreza manual-shifted vehicles (except STi) come with open front and rear diffs and a Viscous coupling type center diff. The pre-08 WRXs had a viscous type LSD in the rear, which has been removed in the 08.
VDC essentially puts in place both a front and rear LSD via brake application, this system is far superior to a traditional rear LSD in all but track conditions. I have this on my Armada.
The views expressed in the above message are the opinion of the host and not necessarily the opinion of anyone else on the forum,
-mike
But sounds like, at least in the '08 Impreza (and I suspect the '09 Forester), VDC has allowed them to reduce costs by eliminating limited slip diffs and go fully reactive, like other AWD makers.
Would be good to know why a traditional rear LSD (which I guess the Outback still has) is better for track applications. Less brake wear?.
And I also wonder if it was the Outback's rear LSD that made the clunking sounds I ran across in an H6 test drive. I remember now that LSD's are nortorious for making occasional clunking sounds as their clutch packs readjust to varying conditions.
Which makes it the opinion of said engineers...facts require data and proof. Limiting power by applying brakes is never going to be the best solution.
eck AMG Equipped MB cars also have VDC style rear LSDs, if it's good enough for them, it's certainly good enough for you ON THE STREET.
Actually I haven't found any info saying they use this system, everything I have found so far says they use a clutch type system for their limited slip.
I am not personally worried about it at this time, my Subaru has the 2 limited slips (although the clutch type would be cooler than the torsen, but seems fine for the street and the meager power output involved).
Actually I haven't found any info saying they use this system, everything I have found so far says they use a clutch type system for their limited slip.
See this is where my experience comes in handy. We were at the RACETRACK when a few of the MB Engineers were out running a current gen E55 AMG out at Pocono Raceway. They happened to be in the garage stall next to us and out on track with us. They kept cooking the rear brake fuild during some very hot laps they were running with us because they use the brake-style LSD in the rear of the AMGs.
To clarify the 80/20 torque split on the 4EATS uses electronically controlled clutch packs to transfer power from front to rear. This is the same system that Subaru used when they first started makeing AWD in 1988 right up until post 2000. So it is in no way a "reactionary" system as some people on this board may think. Subaru built their reputation on their AWD systems in the 90s on this system.
-mike
And as you so eloquently put it above, this happens to be YOUR OPINION.
Having both front and rear axles with ability to shift power left and right is in my opinion a far safer method of putting power down for the average street driver than having only the rear axle able to shift power between the left and right sides.
-mike