I upgraded my '96 Impreza Outback for a 2011 Impreza 2.5i Premium and have two questions.

1. What's up with the new pedal layout where the brake pedal sits higher than the gas pedal? Heel-toe is much more tricker now and having to raise the foot a lot to get to the brake pedal seems stupid and unsafe. (can this be adjusted?)

2. What's the deal with the ECU keeping the revs up artificially through the shifts? I suppose it makes sense if you are super slow on the shifts and are lazy to blip the throttle when the rpm drop, but if you are in moderate hurry, it just results with more rpm than needed when engaging the clutch for the next gear.

I also sort of expected a bit more power, but I guess I am spoiled by a '04 Z06 and most cars seem slow to me.

 

Wow... These are the things that bother you? I don't know what you can do about the brake pedal. But I do know that the revs being held is because of the drive by wire system. There is a little bit of a delay when you lift off the throttle. You can eliminate the delay with some fancy tuning which has been discussed on NASIOC.

 

Driving in LA the frequent brake/gas deal is pretty annoying as you have to move the foot quite a bit more compared to the older car.

The throttle by wire I guess is not a big deal, but it is just weird (vette also has a throttle by wire but does not do any of such nonsense).

 

spend 2k more and get the sexy new wrx!!

 

WRX is more than extra 2K. The premium was 19,300 for me and I already have a car that gets terrible gas mileage with 91 octane and is faster than an STi. Maybe if I change the vette for a baby mobile I will get a WRX or an STi.

 

What?! Where are you finding WRX's that are 2k more than 2.5i's?

 

Thats what i'm sayin! If they were 2k more I would've gotten a wrx!

 

Wow dude, I paid 17k OTD for my 08 WRX new.

 

Ok... How did you do that?

 

Well the year was 2009, and I was in the hunt for a WRX. I went to Stevens Creek and offered 17k OTD for an 06 WRX listed at 21k and 25kmiles on it. I looked up on KBB and my offer was fair, especially since it was a TR. I got a call later in the day and the offer was rejected, but the dealership had to move out inventory to refresh the lot with 09s. And since the dealership pays out of pocket on the used cars, they can't afford a loss, so they offered me a brand new 08 WRX base model with the full warranty for 17k out the door. I wan't really paying attention to what the sales guy told me but what I remember, something with the bank owning or having something to do with the car so it wouldn't be a loss to them and etc. Long story short, I drove home the next day with a brand new car, I wasn't super siked with the body styling, but overtime it grew on me now I love it. I remember doing the paper work with the guy in the back and he told me I got a really really good deal. I just got lucky with timing and the economy.

 

That makes sense. I ended up with about 21 OTD, the timing was terrible, but I did get about 4k worth of warranties and maintenance.