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New Subaru Impreza Owners - Give Us Your Report!

321 messages,  Last post on Jul 01, 2012 at 6:12 AM

You are in the Subaru Impreza Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Car Buying, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 20 of 33

#184 of 321 Re: looking to buy 2009 impreza 2.5i w/ premium [plainane129] by xwesx

Aug 18, 2009 (1:56 pm)

Replying to: plainane129 (Aug 18, 2009 8:02 am)
No, it will work okay with the stock tires. But, if you want phenomenal performance, put winter tires (Nokians, Blizzaks... good studless winter tires) on it. If you live in an area with a lot of ice (like mine, where we drive on ice for six months), winter tires make a huge difference. There are places the car will not like (or simply will not) to go with the stock tires, but those places are very difficult to find with winter tires.
 
For occasional winter conditions, dedicated winter tires are difficult to justify.
 
That said, I have never owned a Subaru with winter tires. I always had all-season (four different types, including the Potenzas) tires and did just fine with them. However, the Potenzas were the worst of the bunch. The best? Goodyear Assurance Tripletred. Those tires were fantastic.

#185 of 321 Re: looking to buy 2009 impreza 2.5i w/ premium [plainane129] by janice96

Aug 18, 2009 (2:39 pm)

Replying to: plainane129 (Aug 18, 2009 8:02 am)
No you don't. I use the Potenza tires in winter. If you live in a state that puts gravel out for traction in winter as I do, a winter tread throws the gravel and will chip your paint off the bottom part of front doors and rear panel.In summer I have a set of Legacy GT wheels that has Cooper Zeon 2XS on them.

#186 of 321 Potenzas by kyfdx@Edmunds HOST

Aug 18, 2009 (4:47 pm)

Mine suck... Do I need snow tires? No.. I grew up driving rear-wheel drive cars with crappy tires...anything better is just a bonus. Do I wish I had snow tires? YOU BET!
 
Really, it's criminal to put these crappy tires on an AWD car.. and, to top it off, they are lousy in the rain, as well.. It takes all the fun out of it..
 
Okay... rant over..

#187 of 321 Re: Potenzas [kyfdx] by xwesx

Aug 19, 2009 (9:34 am)

Replying to: kyfdx@Edmunds (Aug 18, 2009 4:47 pm)
applause
 
I need to get to where I can say so much with so little. Well done.

#188 of 321 Re: Potenzas [kyfdx] by ateixeira

Aug 19, 2009 (12:22 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx@Edmunds (Aug 18, 2009 4:47 pm)
With all-seasons my 98 Forester was very good in the snow.
 
With snow tires, mounted briefly, it was virtually unstoppable.
 
Caveat - snow tires were actually LESS FUN because it was much harder to begin a slide.
 
Intentionally, of course.

#189 of 321 Re: I agree... [nippononly] by aaykay

Aug 23, 2009 (2:51 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (May 26, 2009 8:35 pm)
=====================
  
I find it intriguing that reports of braking for the 2.5i with rear drums range around 138 feet from 60-0, yet the one report I can find of a 2.5i Premium (tested by Edmunds in fact) with rear discs lists a distance of 122 feet. Can the discs really make that much difference? If so, it would affirm my previous vow not to ever buy another new car with rear drum brakes.
 
=====================
 
There are 2 primary factors that aid braking performance:
 
a) Disc vs Drum brakes: Essentially the efficiency of brakes are dpendent on transferring the frictional energy (during the braking process), into heat energy and dissipating that heat into the atmosphere. The quicker the brakes can dissipate that heat, the longer it retains braking effectiveness. If the heat dissipation capability of the brakes is not very efficient, over time (or during repeated brakings) the heat builds up and you lose braking effectiveness. Disc brakes and well designed drum brakes (especially when the drums are in the less stressed rear of the car) will stop the car, roughly equally, during the first stop. But after that, the Discs (due to their design) are MUCH better at dissipating that heat from braking, into the atmosphere and the follow-on brakings are much better with disc brakes. So if I have a choice, I will go with disc brakes all around.
 
b) Tires: These are an often ignored part of the braking process. A tire with very little grip, will of course not brake as well as tires that can grip better. Tires work hand-in-hand with the brakes in stopping the car. Many a time, dramatic braking improvements can be seen when the OEM tires are replaced with grippier tires (with a proportional hit on MPG ).

#190 of 321 Just bought my first Subaru!! by sounder4life

Sep 09, 2009 (8:52 pm)

Hi everyone. I just bought my first Subaru and I'm loving it. I went in thinking it was going to be the 2010 Forester but, after test driving it, I wasn't convinced. So, I went with choice number two the Impreza Outback Sport. This is a great vehicle and really handles well. Its a sharp looking car and I look forward to enjoying it for many years to come.

#191 of 321 Re: Just bought my first Subaru!! [sounder4life] by nippononly

Sep 09, 2009 (10:41 pm)

Replying to: sounder4life (Sep 09, 2009 8:52 pm)
So I'm curious - what made you reject the Forester and go with the OBS (Outback Sport)? I knew going in I wanted the smaller car and never wavered, but was there one major turn-off for you with the Forester or was it just lots of little things?
 
I'm loving my OBS so far. It's the perfect road trip car for two or three people, spacewise and powerwise. It's so much fun to drive and no matter how you throw it around it just seems to go right on sticking to the pavement like glue.

#192 of 321 Re: Just bought my first Subaru!! [nippononly] by sounder4life

Sep 10, 2009 (7:27 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Sep 09, 2009 10:41 pm)
Well, when I had narrowed my search down to getting a Subaru, I thought since I had a truck prior that I would want something where I sat higher up. However, your last point nailed it. The OBS seemed to hug the road and just felt like it handled better. Along with that it was around 2k less, I got more with the OBS than what I could get with the Forester. I got the premium all weather package in the OBS. I test drove a Premium Forester and I don't think my mind would have been changed even if it was a Limited. I was just really impressed with how the OBS handled. I think you have to go to a Limited Forester to get fog lights as well. One last thing...can you tell me where to get seat covers for my OBS that don't break the bank? Thanks!

#193 of 321 Re: Just bought my first Subaru!! [sounder4life] by sounder4life

Sep 10, 2009 (7:29 am)

Replying to: sounder4life (Sep 10, 2009 7:27 am)
I just wanted to clarify a point I made. I got more with the price I paid in the OBS than I could have gotten with the Forester in my price range.

Messages Page 20 of 33

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