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Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon - READ ONLY
5922 messages, Last post on Nov 07, 2006 at 12:44 PM
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What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Wagon
#5077 of 5922 CEL on WRX -> Forester XT loaner by socprofinblrex
Mar 20, 2004 (3:54 pm)
I have one of those early WRX wagons (2002 purchased 11/2001) that gets CEL's with no noticably running problems. Though I thought the dealer had diagnosed and addressed the CEL on a previous occasion as a computer that needed replacement the dealer had no record that the computer had been sent in previously (I don't think I dreamed doing this before), so we did it (again). I hope this fixes it, but at least a correctly operating computer will give an accurate code if another CEL occurs and their is an actual problem.The upside turned out to be the opportunity to drive the Forester XT. The dealer provides a free rental during this service and has their own rental agency within. They are always short of Subarus as replacement rides as rentals/loaners (I guess the other Subie owners ask for Subie loaners, too), but before they went to get me the usual Kia due to lack of Subies, I told them I really wanted a Subaru. The service area had a Forester auto XT that they pried out of someone's hands and let me use for two days during service. Only 1500 miles on it so not even broken in.
Limited Review:
It was a nice ride I guess. Nice excelleration, decent handling, decent breaking. I liked the sightlines out the rear sides compared to the pillars in the WRX wagon. If I were going on more trips and had more roominess issues I might think hard about getting this vehicle as it felt like a decent combination of space and sportiness, but...
I missed my WRX wagon. My wagon handles better, maneuvers better, has more feedback, and I'm doubting the auto XT can out-run the manual WRX even with my lesser low-end torque. The XT sure felt a lot heavier and it seemed the turbo didn't just add some zip, but worked to overcome the additional weight I was wielding around.
All in all, I think its about preference because the XT sure feels worthy (though it sure was thurstier than my WRX). I made the right choice out of the Subaru stable (for me) and I guess I'm glad there is a Forester and Forester XT.
The only serious Subaru upgrade for me in wagon form might be the turbo configuration in a legacy wagon unless Subaru wants to listen to people on these boards calling for a WRX sti wagon! The size of the Impreza and the wagon version work best to my tastes so the 2.5L turbo would be the best upgrade over the 2.0L turbo.
IF you have a Forester XT you must be enjoying it, but, like I said, I still really enjoy my WRX wagon with 46,000 miles.
Thomas in Mpls
#5078 of 5922 Amen brother! Testify! by volkov
Mar 20, 2004 (6:09 pm)
I just left a very similar post over at the XT board. Just got back after picking up my new WRX wagon. Had been hanging around the boards as I tried to decide between the WRX vs a Forester/CR-V as the final fun versus function decision. The F-XT was an alternative. I was disappointed on my first try with it, because it wouldn't accommodate a middle booster seat properly because of the seat belt latch spacing. Anyway, I shopped around until I found booster with a narrower frame track, and went back. Test drove the XT and liked it, but I'll still take the WRX. Yep it is a touch slower on a straight line 0-60, but who drives like that? Come do timed routes on my local rural roads and the 'Rex will destroy the XT. Even at the same speed the WRX "feels" faster and a heck of a lot more stable. Anyone remember the original Civic Si? It wasn't that fast, but it felt fast. I loved that feeling in my Civic and just got it back when I test drove the WRX. Don't get me wrong, I'd kill to have the XT's low end torque in the WRX wagon.Still, if I had decided on the Forester I would have stuck with the XS. No matter how big or powerful an engine you drop in that puppy, it's no sports car. I actually found the handling worse in the XT than the XS - big surprise right - more power means the car gets thrown around more. I just hope we don't have a bunch of kids modding Dad's old F-XT to run like an STi in a couple of years. That could get real scary if they don't do the suspension upgrades, then Foresters will become the Ford Explorers of the new millenium. Roll, roll, roll.
Kevin: Yeah I know I get a lot of other unseen ugrades for the cash, that's why she handles sooooo sweeeet. But couldn't they offer the 2.5T as a WRX upgrade too?? I'm not sure if I'd have bought it, but I'm sure others would and I doubt they would be cannibalizing full blown STi sales given that car is in another price range all together.
#5079 of 5922 Legacy GT by beanboy
Mar 20, 2004 (9:01 pm)
I'm thinking the Legacy GT will be for me. Handling and sporty feel of a WRX with the low-end grunt and overall greater power of the 2.5L turbo with 250HP. Of course, it should for the extra $$$. How much extra will be a big factor.-B
#5080 of 5922 Curious Exhaust Rattle by mluko
Mar 21, 2004 (5:33 am)
My 2002 WRX Wagon has an irritating rattle that sounds like its coming from the exhaust system- maybe a heat shield touching a pipe or the catalytic converter. This always occurs at 3200-3300 rpm. I had an ordinary 2000 Impreza wagon with the identical problem. Otherwise, the car is tight and solid for a 2 yr old car. Has anyone else heard this? Fixes?#5082 of 5922 Update from my favorite dealership by nixomose
Mar 21, 2004 (9:31 pm)
Remember my broken mirror? Well, I went back and had a chat with the service manager to basically told me to stuff it. But he said he'd take the mirror (I'm glad I kept it) and show it to their roving field rep (apparently a subaru guy comes out and checks on them every few months) and they'd see what he said.Well, apparently he overruled them. They called me up and told me they'd be sending me a check for the $280 I paid them. Haven't seen the check yet, but I expect they're good for it.
Meanwhile, last year when the strut broke, I had rented a car (they paid for it) while they were working on the strut. Well, 11 months later (and curiously the same week as the fiasco with the mirror) enterprise rent-a-car calls me up and says subaru never paid for the rental so they're charging my credit card, thank you have a nice day.
So I called up subaru of america and just screamed and screamed (I was still quite fuming about the mirror) and after very colorfully explaining why I didn't call the dealership he sent me a check for the cost of the rental car.
So kudos to subaru of america, stay the hell away from curry subaru in yorktown, new york.
As for reliability, well, the mirror broke and the strut leaked. in 19K miles in 2 years. Flukes, maybe, but my piece of mitsubishi never had a problem in 8 years 140K, you decide.
#5084 of 5922 by andmoon
Mar 22, 2004 (7:18 am)
volkov,Congrats and enjoy! Many here will flat out lie and tell you otherwise but it is a fact that the silver ones are the fastest and best handling.
Don
#5085 of 5922 Previous manual WRX wagon to auto F-XT comparison: Manual XT possibilities by socprofinblrex
Mar 22, 2004 (7:42 am)
My rough comparison to my current ride (manual WRX wagon) and the Auto F-XT I had for two days shouldn't be considered a slight to the XT as I liked it a lot and it could clearly do more than most other vehicles on the road for its body style, engine, handling, and price.As suggested, comparing a manual XT since I have a manual WRX would be worth checking and the added control of the transmission in a manual XT would, I imagine, be fun to experience when making this comparison, but I fell into this comparison and I was more interested in the handling differences of Forester to WRX which I found to be pretty significant and favor the WRX wagon.
The fact that my WRX and the XT have as much horsepower as they respectively do seemed to allow for some comparison of driving experience and handling across the differences in body styles. The sporty handling differences between WRX and XT are going to be influenced more by body style, center of gravity, and overall weight, it seems to me, and I believe it explains more of the differences in driving experience than did the manual to auto difference in transmissions.
The extral horsepower of the XT is cool, fun, sporty for a Forester to Forester comparison just as I'd imagine the extra horsepower from the WRX to the STI would feel even more cool, fun, and sporty in the Imprezas (though I'm betting the latter is a greater differential in driver experience). But my WRX wagon (due to body style, center of gravity, etc.) is what wins me over when I compare the sportiness and handling.
To get the horsepower, handling, etc., at the max its obvious the current choice is an STI, but its only in a sedan. I'm sold on the wagon format for now and so my dream Subaru would be a WRX STI Impreza wagon. I gladly wave to my fellow Subaru drivers of all kinds (Foresters, Imprezas, Legacies, Baja's)in turbo or non-turbo versions as its still one large family. We've made some good choices because Subaru has provided some with more on the horizon (just not a WRX STI wagon).
Thomas in Mpls
#5086 of 5922 re: WRX vs. XT by bluesubie
Mar 22, 2004 (8:00 am)
Wow, some very biased subjective comments in these threads.I drove a WRX wagon for a year and I've put 4,000 miles on my new XT. Yes the WRX can outhandle the XT, but the difference is not as great as some of you make it out to be.
And volkov: "Come do timed routes on my local rural roads and the 'Rex will destroy the XT."
Sorry, but that's just plain wrong.
-Dennis
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