09 WRX specs out
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 103
From: Redwood City, CA
Car Info: '02 silver WRX sedan
ya know, I was thinking about this the other day. I kind of doubt this article (I don't know autoblog's success rate though). Here's why I doubt it though. Subaru toned down the WRX to make it appeal to a wider market (ie: grocery getters and female drivers), so why would they give it 6 months and then decide to make it available in only a manual? That makes no sense. No company would give a new prospect like this only 6 months to prove itself. It just makes no sense! They tone down the image and performance, and then 6 months later decide to beef up the performance a little bit (any suspension upgrades? I forget if it mentioned that) but leave the look toned down? I just don't buy it.
If you're asking "why", I would wager it's from the negative feedback they're getting and the fact they're losing a bit of the market that made the WRX a success in the first place. Comparison reviews for the WRX aren't the same as they used to be. It would hurt Soob to stop being competitive. Going from the 02-07 sedan styles which you see everywhere on the road to the new sedan style which is simply not selling. They need to do something.
Regarding the look, Subaru is adding swelled fenders, an STI grill and interior touches like red stitching, which should make the WRX a sportier looking car.
With the cheaper "GT" auto-only version, they can still reach out to the grocery getters while now having a sub $30k offering for the more performance-oriented buyers.
But I guess we'll just have to see. I would be very, very surprised if Subaru doesn't take some major action over the next 2 years to help put the WRX back in the spotlight...
Last edited by rvenosa; Jul 21, 2008 at 03:59 PM.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: I was up above it, now I'm down in it
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It is pretty hard to tell at a glance. I either look for the bulge on the hood, wheels, or the ground effects on the rear bumper. Mazdaspeed vehicles are supposed to be easily identifiable from a 50 distance. The MS3 meets that qualification at a standstill, but it's much harder to pick it out of a moving crowd.
If you're asking "why", I would wager it's from the negative feedback they're getting and the fact they're losing a bit of the market that made the WRX a success in the first place. Comparison reviews for the WRX aren't the same as they used to be. It would hurt Soob to stop being competitive. Going from the 02-07 sedan styles which you see everywhere on the road to the new sedan style which is simply not selling. They need to do something.
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From: No So Co
Car Info: '00 BRP RS Sedan / '04 PSM FXT (RIP)
Who gives a shi7 about the quarter? We drive Subies for god's sake. I'm one of the few who actually think the new Impreza looks a million times better than the '02 - '07s though.
-Brian
-Brian
I'm not suggesting it's an important metric for a daily driver. It's just one example of a performance metric, though, where the cheap fast and fun WRX would be expected to beat the stodgy, safe Mom's Car Camry. That's what the brand is (was) all about.
It is pretty hard to tell at a glance. I either look for the bulge on the hood, wheels, or the ground effects on the rear bumper. Mazdaspeed vehicles are supposed to be easily identifiable from a 50 distance. The MS3 meets that qualification at a standstill, but it's much harder to pick it out of a moving crowd.
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