WRX automatic performance (need other car recommendations)
Guest
Posts: n/a
WRX Auto Performance
Hi all,
We have an STi (which is mine!) and a wrx wagon with the 5spd for the wife..
Well she's getting sick and tired of commuting in 1st gear gridlock, in and out with the clutch for an hour every night and really wants a "step n go" auto trans..
But, she still wants the speed , or very close, and the handling, AND the gas mileage.
(for the weekends, and getting to the mall (:P
So a few questions..
What exactly is the performance of the AUTO wrx wagons? What's the 0-60, the passing, etc..
Next , and ideas on a non-subie car? Is there a car with an auto trans, running stock which can handle well, do sub 6 sec 0-60 , and get comparable gas mileage?
I havent been ble to think of a solution for her yet..
Any help appreciated
G
We have an STi (which is mine!) and a wrx wagon with the 5spd for the wife..
Well she's getting sick and tired of commuting in 1st gear gridlock, in and out with the clutch for an hour every night and really wants a "step n go" auto trans..
But, she still wants the speed , or very close, and the handling, AND the gas mileage.
(for the weekends, and getting to the mall (:P
So a few questions..
What exactly is the performance of the AUTO wrx wagons? What's the 0-60, the passing, etc..
Next , and ideas on a non-subie car? Is there a car with an auto trans, running stock which can handle well, do sub 6 sec 0-60 , and get comparable gas mileage?
I havent been ble to think of a solution for her yet..
Any help appreciated
G
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,004
From: Northern Bay Area: Larkspur
Car Info: 02 Silver WRX sedan. Eibach springs, Blitz NUR cat back, Rota 17" Attacks, Cobb AccessPort/DP
Price range?
What's the price range? There are several more expensive cars out there that will do what you want.
When my 2002 WRX 5spd sedan was stock, I went up against my buddies 2002 auto wrx sedan. I killed him every time.
Do they make an auto SRT-4?
Have you thought about something with a V8? Maybe an old school ride with a beefed up suspension/transmission. How about a used Z28?
When my 2002 WRX 5spd sedan was stock, I went up against my buddies 2002 auto wrx sedan. I killed him every time.
Do they make an auto SRT-4?
Have you thought about something with a V8? Maybe an old school ride with a beefed up suspension/transmission. How about a used Z28?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Well,
We really want to keep similar gas mileage, and I dont beleive a v8 will do that.
We could go more more expensive, but we want to stay around 20K at the highest for used. Which more expensive car were you thinking?
Also, the Auto WRX must be noticeably slower, since I have never seen anyone post its times..
We really want to keep similar gas mileage, and I dont beleive a v8 will do that.
We could go more more expensive, but we want to stay around 20K at the highest for used. Which more expensive car were you thinking?
Also, the Auto WRX must be noticeably slower, since I have never seen anyone post its times..
How about a BMW 3 series? Could find one w/ the tiptronic and that way she could still have some of the functions of a manual, but just put it in automatic mode for traffic.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,168
From: EBAIC- Wondering if I should have taken the blue pill...
Car Info: 03 WRX wagon type RA
Road and Track tested an AT WRX wagon and they recorded a 6.8 second 0-60 sprint and almost a whole second slower in the quarter mile than the 5 speed WRX at 15.2@91.8mph. They also said it got 20mpg but I believe my friend's AT WRX gets more like 22 around town. Hope this info helps!
VIP Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,023
From: Phoenix, AZ
Car Info: Subaru Impreza WRX 2002
Originally Posted by FUNKED1
Chrysler 300C
Actually, I've always felt that a lack of a good automatic transmission is one of the primary elements holding Subaru back. The 4EAT in the WRX and Legacy are terrible; slow, slushy, unpredictable under load and shifting far too soon for a turbocharged vehicle. I drove the new Legacy GT and immediately decided it wouldn't be my wife's next car, based on the transmission alone. Many, many other car makes and models in the Legacy GT and STI price range come with sophisticated, performance-tuned five- and six-speed automatics, such as the Tiptronic in the entry-level BMWs, Audi's excellent autos and Acura's very nice automatics. Heck, even Pontiac has a car in that price range with an auto that can be paddle-shifted (steering wheel controls) on the fly. Subaru's auto transmissions are falling WAY behind the times.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 462
From: Arcade, NY
Car Info: 2004 2.5TS manual
My brother has legacy 2.5i with the sport shift. Yeah its a slow car (no turbo), but in my experience the "auto" shifting is slow to react.
Shift....... changes.... shift...... changes
Not something I'd use for drag racing. But great if you don't need carefully timed shifts.
Shift....... changes.... shift...... changes
Not something I'd use for drag racing. But great if you don't need carefully timed shifts.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks for the input, I know I am reviving an old thread here, sorry I went out of town a few days , BUT.....
We appear to be left with :
Audi
Acura
BMW 3
Chrysler 300C
Which one of these, even approaches the 0-60 in 6 flat?
I think just the 300C., which I think is going to be just a bit too much money, we were looking to spend 20 to 23K used.
As I am trying to tell my wife, an AUTO trans that can keep up with her WRX and match it's gas mileage , I think will set us back closer to 30 K. You are right guys, Suabru's Auto trans is behind the times..
Again thanks for the help, I think she'll just have to get a strong foot and deal with it..
G
We appear to be left with :
Audi
Acura
BMW 3
Chrysler 300C
Which one of these, even approaches the 0-60 in 6 flat?
I think just the 300C., which I think is going to be just a bit too much money, we were looking to spend 20 to 23K used.
As I am trying to tell my wife, an AUTO trans that can keep up with her WRX and match it's gas mileage , I think will set us back closer to 30 K. You are right guys, Suabru's Auto trans is behind the times..
Again thanks for the help, I think she'll just have to get a strong foot and deal with it..
G
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 293
the answer is....
Volvo S60 T5. Infiniti G35. 2004+ Nissan Maxima
Those are the cheapest cars with an automatic transmission that can come anywhere near a 6 second 0-60 time. A 330i (RWD by the way) with A/T would probably would be too expensive, but also might do it. An A4 would have to be the new body style 3.2, which is nowhere near 20K.
S60T5 is mid 6's, FWD, gets around 25 HWY, and you can get an 02 with decent miles for 20 easily.
G35 M/T I think is 5.6sec, but the A/T is detuned, so it would definately be slightly over 6, and it is also RWD, but you can get a decent used one for mid 20's.
Thinking it over, your best bet is probably the new (2004+) Nissan Maxima, or 2002+ Altima 3.5SE. This is the same engine as in the 350Z and G35, it's FWD, gets 28MPG HWY, and would probably notch about the same time as a G35 A/T (it may be a FEW pounds heavier, but makes essentially the same HP). New, they're high 20's low 30's, which means you can almost certainly catch a used one in the low 20's
Those are the cheapest cars with an automatic transmission that can come anywhere near a 6 second 0-60 time. A 330i (RWD by the way) with A/T would probably would be too expensive, but also might do it. An A4 would have to be the new body style 3.2, which is nowhere near 20K.
S60T5 is mid 6's, FWD, gets around 25 HWY, and you can get an 02 with decent miles for 20 easily.
G35 M/T I think is 5.6sec, but the A/T is detuned, so it would definately be slightly over 6, and it is also RWD, but you can get a decent used one for mid 20's.
Thinking it over, your best bet is probably the new (2004+) Nissan Maxima, or 2002+ Altima 3.5SE. This is the same engine as in the 350Z and G35, it's FWD, gets 28MPG HWY, and would probably notch about the same time as a G35 A/T (it may be a FEW pounds heavier, but makes essentially the same HP). New, they're high 20's low 30's, which means you can almost certainly catch a used one in the low 20's
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iTrader: (20)
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,019
From: Northern California
Car Info: 2018 Forester XT Touring (Dark Gray Metallic)
Originally Posted by meilers
The 4EAT in the WRX and Legacy are terrible...
Electronically-controlled 4-speed Automatic Transmission:
http://www.subaru-global.com/lineup/...gy/tr_4at.html
Electronically-controlled 4-speed Automatic Transmission
(SPORTSHIFT* E-4AT)
Transmission technologies trained for the job
SPORTSHIFT* E-5AT
SPORTSHIFT* E-4AT
5MT
This direct-control type system not only improves fuel consumption and gear change quality, but also is more responsive. E-4AT also comes with SPORTSHIFT * which provides two additional shifting modes, Sports Mode and Manual Mode. The Manual Mode helps control acceleration and deceleration as desired to ensure driving pleasure in all conditions. The Manual Mode allows the driver to shift up or down manually via the lever, providing a sportier drive whenever the driver requires it.
* SPORTSHIFT is a registered trademark of Prodrive Ltd.
(SPORTSHIFT* E-4AT)
Transmission technologies trained for the job
SPORTSHIFT* E-5AT
SPORTSHIFT* E-4AT
5MT
This direct-control type system not only improves fuel consumption and gear change quality, but also is more responsive. E-4AT also comes with SPORTSHIFT * which provides two additional shifting modes, Sports Mode and Manual Mode. The Manual Mode helps control acceleration and deceleration as desired to ensure driving pleasure in all conditions. The Manual Mode allows the driver to shift up or down manually via the lever, providing a sportier drive whenever the driver requires it.
* SPORTSHIFT is a registered trademark of Prodrive Ltd.