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Subaru Impreza WRX - READ ONLY

11554 messages,  Last post on Nov 07, 2006 at 12:41 PM

You are in the Subaru Impreza Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Sedan

Messages Page 1152 of 1156

#11505 of 11554 Re: Leasing price for Impreza WRX wagon? [angy168] by dino001

Jun 16, 2006 (10:17 am)

Replying to: angy168 (Jun 16, 2006 10:13 am)
Would you use lease on base Corrolla to get an "idea" mid-trim Camry? That's the price difference between 2.5i (frmr RS) and WRX. On top - the lease rates (money factor) may not be as great either. 2.5i lease is subsidized, WRX may or may not be. Your WRX payment for similar conditions (no down, no sec. deposit etc.) is likely to be in very high 200s/low 300s.

#11507 of 11554 Re: WRX and STi info [corewrx] by rsholland

Jul 18, 2006 (7:45 am)

Hi corewrx. I have a '06 WRX Limited wagon, with a 5-speed. I have a bit over 10K miles on it at the moment. Here are my comments:
 
Likes:
 
• Front end styling. I think Subaru has hit upon a good "family" look for the Impreza, if not the whole Subaru lineup.
 
• The overall package is pretty well thought out. I'm talking about the never-ending battle between vehicle content vs. MSRP. I think it's a very good value.
 
• Love the looks of the new 17" wheels with red brake calibers.
 
• The handling is SUPER!
 
• Love the quick steering.
 
• AWD! Love it!
 
• Good power—and a good usable powerband.
 
• Reasonable gas mileage considering it's a performance car.
 
• Inclusion of All-Weather-Package (heated seats, mirrors & windshield) and moonroof in the Limited trim level.
 
Dislikes:
 
• There is waaaaay too much road noise coming from the tires. On certain types of roads the tire noise drives me nuts! I would like to see Subaru offer more sound-proofing in this vehicle (maybe as part of the Limited package?). This is especially needed if the brand is to move upmarket—if even only slightly upmarket.
 
• The moonroof is also noisy when open.
 
• The ride is very harsh on bad roads.
 
• Needs just a bit more content. See below.
 
Recommendations for future models:
 
• It needs more power outlets up front.
 
• I have the optional front center armrest, and it needs more padding, as it is very hard.
 
• I would like to see a "gear indicator," like that found on SportShift-equipped cars, as a reminder as to show what gear you're in. I would place this digital readout gear indicator at the bottom of the tach. Because of the relatively tall gearing of the '06 WRX, I often find myself cruising in 4th gear (thinking I'm in top gear), and a gear indicator would just remind me to upshift into 5th. I also know from experience driving various 6-speed manuals, because of the close-ratio gearing, that I've found it confusing to figure out if I'm in 3rd or 5th. Please note that Acura has just such a gear indicator on their 6-speed TSX models—and it's a great feature! Many motorcycles also have this feature. One more thing about this: a gear indicator would/could help owners drive the vehicle more efficiently (get better gas mileage), by cruising at lower rpms.
 
• Speaking of gearing, I would like to see the WRX get a 6-speed manual from the Legacy Spec.B (or STI) and the optional 5EAT SportShift.
 
• It needs more rear passenger legroom. A longer wheelbase would cure that.
 
• Offer a navigation unit on WRX Limited and STI Limited models. Actually, I would like to see it offered on ALL Subarus as an option.
 
• I'd like to see it with a larger fuel tank. The tank range is only so-so.
 
• I would like to see an STI Limited wagon offered.
 
Competition:
 
As to the other models you mentioned: If it doesn't have full-time AWD, I'm not interested. As to the EVO: I think buying any Mitsubishi is a risky thing to do. I'm not sure they will be here in the USA in 5 years.
 
Hope that helps.
 
Bob

#11514 of 11554 WRX Service - Beware by scottl

Aug 08, 2006 (10:10 am)

I have one of the first '02 WRX's; I bought it in April of '01. The 105K mile service on the WRX requires the timing belt plus a raft of other 'goodies' for the dealer bottom line, to the tune of $1200.
 
The timing belt on this car is a PIA, requiring the turbo wastegate plumbing to be removed. Apparently it is rocket science, because it took my dealer (who admitted this was their first WRX timing belt job) no few than SIX tries over a six week period to get it back together properly, with all the parts intact. There is an airflow restrictor inside one of the wastegate vacuum hoses. After they gave the car back to me after the service, the car was seriously overboosting (18psi)and the electronic controls were cutting in to prevent engine damage. They decided the cause was cracked vacuum hoses, and proceeded to replace the hoses and THROW AWAY the restrictor valve. Without the valve, the car then would never generate more than 8 psi of boost. This led to the four week odyssey on their part to first claim the car doesn't boost over 8psi, then blame my boost gauge, then try everything in the book except what I told them they had done in the first place. I found it on a WRX forum.
 
In the process of all the monkeying around with the turbo, the car now throws a 'misfire on cylinder three' code and misses under load or when hot. Of course, nothing they could have done in the service or the six tries at fixing the turbo has anything to do with this....It seems pretty obvious that it is a bad plug, a bad plug wire, a bad coil or primary circuit wire or a bad computer connection, all of which they dorked with.
 
Anyway, if you are looking at T-belt replacement on a WRX, you might want to ask the dealer how many they have done....

Messages Page 1152 of 1156

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