to WRX, or not to WRX
Guest
Posts: n/a
to WRX, or not to WRX
This Sube forum is AMAZING-
as expected though, it leans to the rex...
I am getting ready to buy a new car, and I'm pretty certain Sube has won me over. But I am torn on the WRX...
I'm 30, and my driving is mostly a "spirited" comute; no ricin' or racin'. I thought I wanted to plunge into the performance of the rex, but after much detective work, still can't decide.
Is it REALLY worth it?
The clutch feels very heavy to me, and half my driving is in the city, will I be putting around under 3500rpms? Will i be just as satisfied with the OBS or TS (need a wagon), maybe more so with the lower payment and insurance? Can the lower models be brought "up-to-snuff" down the line with minor mods? Does the 2.5 engine feel zippy in the day-to-day grind?
and finally, WHY is the TS so overlooked in the Impreza line???
thanks for any help- Hopefully I'll be able to offer help soon as a proud Subie Newbie!
as expected though, it leans to the rex...
I am getting ready to buy a new car, and I'm pretty certain Sube has won me over. But I am torn on the WRX...
I'm 30, and my driving is mostly a "spirited" comute; no ricin' or racin'. I thought I wanted to plunge into the performance of the rex, but after much detective work, still can't decide.
Is it REALLY worth it?
The clutch feels very heavy to me, and half my driving is in the city, will I be putting around under 3500rpms? Will i be just as satisfied with the OBS or TS (need a wagon), maybe more so with the lower payment and insurance? Can the lower models be brought "up-to-snuff" down the line with minor mods? Does the 2.5 engine feel zippy in the day-to-day grind?
and finally, WHY is the TS so overlooked in the Impreza line???
thanks for any help- Hopefully I'll be able to offer help soon as a proud Subie Newbie!
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have driven a 2.5 RS and they are very quick for what they are. I believe the suspension is the same so as far as handling is concerned you still have the advantage there. Maybe an automatic is right for you since you do half your driving in the city? But if you are like me and get bored very quickly with automatics and like to race around when you feel the need, then an automatic is out of the question. I wish I could help you out more with your post but, I myself don't have a Subie yet.
NASIOC Slut
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,723
From: Roseville, CA
Car Info: 1995 Subaru Impreza 1.8 L
Ya, the 2.5 in manual form is great to drive around town. Its slower of course, but its very peppy IMHO. Lots of torque for a 4-cylinder engine.
You also might want to check out the Forester Turbo (XT) as it uses a 2.5l engine albiet with a turbo
And yes, the lower models can be upgraded to be equivelant to a WRX in terms of handling and such. Not that difficult to do at all (exept for the engine, which I presume you are excluding from this part anyway and are talking about suspension/handling/interior)
You also might want to check out the Forester Turbo (XT) as it uses a 2.5l engine albiet with a turbo
And yes, the lower models can be upgraded to be equivelant to a WRX in terms of handling and such. Not that difficult to do at all (exept for the engine, which I presume you are excluding from this part anyway and are talking about suspension/handling/interior)
Guest
Posts: n/a
there ain't much below 3,000 rpm. you're just as fast as that camry next to you at that engine speed. but i doubt that camry driver next to you can hear a little turbo whirring in front of him . the TS and OBS are GREAT cars. my friend has a 2.5 and he is more than satisfied with its zip around town. but at the end of the day, you may kick yourself and say: dangit, shoulda gotten a wrx.
the rex's ability to make you smile makes up for the price difference.
in any event, good luck with your choice!
. the TS and OBS are GREAT cars. my friend has a 2.5 and he is more than satisfied with its zip around town. but at the end of the day, you may kick yourself and say: dangit, shoulda gotten a wrx. the rex's ability to make you smile makes up for the price difference.
in any event, good luck with your choice!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 307
From: Burbank, California
Car Info: 05 CGM FXT STi
I sit in an hour of traffic to and from work every day (damn you Los angeles!) ...the clutch isnt bad at all, just takes some getting used to as it shifts very well at high RPM's, but is kinda hard to master at low RPM's. its always nice to have that little extra zip when you need it, if you know what I mean 
If I were you I would buy the rex, its definately worth the extra cash, and beleive me, most of the people that drive rex's are not teenagers...most of the people I see look to be in their early 30's.
either way, mountain driving in the winter time is so much nicer with the turbo and AWD...I doubt you can go wrong whatever model you pick...the rex is and will always be slightly more popular because of the huge amount of aftermarket parts available. car and drivers top 10 list 3 years in a row aint too bad for a this inexpensive little beast.
If I were you I would buy the rex, its definately worth the extra cash, and beleive me, most of the people that drive rex's are not teenagers...most of the people I see look to be in their early 30's. either way, mountain driving in the winter time is so much nicer with the turbo and AWD...I doubt you can go wrong whatever model you pick...the rex is and will always be slightly more popular because of the huge amount of aftermarket parts available. car and drivers top 10 list 3 years in a row aint too bad for a this inexpensive little beast.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 570
From: Nor Cal
Car Info: 2010 370z Roadster, 2008 Frontier CrewCab
You might be better off with an AT if you're uncomfortable with a clutch in traffic. Personally, I'm stuck in traffic more than an hour per day in my commute and don't mind the MT in my WRX. I will say the shifter/clutch was easier to drive in my previous car (Acura Integra).
Guest
Posts: n/a
to wrx...
this forum rules, thanks for all the feedback!
although, I showed my girlfriend, and she thinks it's kinda dorkey!
"to wrx" seems to be the overwhelming concensus, and I figured it would be. So I guess my search is over???
I am excited!
by the way, for an interesting (and not entirely positive) review of the rex, check out Click&Clack's (from NPR's CarTalk) test-drive from their website: http://cartalk.cars.com/Info/Testdri...-wrx-2003.html
feel free to post any reactions!
I will schedule another test drive, and keep ya posted!
James
"posted", I just noticed that. hah!
although, I showed my girlfriend, and she thinks it's kinda dorkey!
"to wrx" seems to be the overwhelming concensus, and I figured it would be. So I guess my search is over???
I am excited!
by the way, for an interesting (and not entirely positive) review of the rex, check out Click&Clack's (from NPR's CarTalk) test-drive from their website: http://cartalk.cars.com/Info/Testdri...-wrx-2003.html
feel free to post any reactions!
I will schedule another test drive, and keep ya posted!
James
"posted", I just noticed that. hah!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: to wrx...
Originally posted by jamester
by the way, for an interesting (and not entirely positive) review of the rex, check out Click&Clack's (from NPR's CarTalk) test-drive from their website: http://cartalk.cars.com/Info/Testdri...-wrx-2003.html
feel free to post any reactions!
I will schedule another test drive, and keep ya posted!
James
"posted", I just noticed that. hah!
by the way, for an interesting (and not entirely positive) review of the rex, check out Click&Clack's (from NPR's CarTalk) test-drive from their website: http://cartalk.cars.com/Info/Testdri...-wrx-2003.html
feel free to post any reactions!
I will schedule another test drive, and keep ya posted!
James
"posted", I just noticed that. hah!
i've never read their column before, but i don't get their taste. they seem to like the rsx-s but dislike its peakiness. why criticize the wrx? i'd rather have my torque peak at 4,000rpm than 7,600?
Guest
Posts: n/a
I don't understand why they are so harsh on the WRX, i didn't find many of their supposed negative points to be major issues, and flat out disagreed with many of them.
I highly suspect they just wanted to be different from just about everyone else to start out, and biased their review to be negative.
I highly suspect they just wanted to be different from just about everyone else to start out, and biased their review to be negative.
Originally posted by ronin_roy
I don't understand why they are so harsh on the WRX, i didn't find many of their supposed negative points to be major issues, and flat out disagreed with many of them.
I highly suspect they just wanted to be different from just about everyone else to start out, and biased their review to be negative.
I don't understand why they are so harsh on the WRX, i didn't find many of their supposed negative points to be major issues, and flat out disagreed with many of them.
I highly suspect they just wanted to be different from just about everyone else to start out, and biased their review to be negative.
Re: Re: to wrx...
Originally posted by nick van exel
wow, that's review's a bit harsh for the 2002 automobile mag's automobile of the year, automobile all star, car and driver '10 best' 2 years running, motorweek 2002 sports sedan driver's choice and edmund's editor's most wanted.
i've never read their column before, but i don't get their taste. they seem to like the rsx-s but dislike its peakiness. why criticize the wrx? i'd rather have my torque peak at 4,000rpm than 7,600?
wow, that's review's a bit harsh for the 2002 automobile mag's automobile of the year, automobile all star, car and driver '10 best' 2 years running, motorweek 2002 sports sedan driver's choice and edmund's editor's most wanted.
i've never read their column before, but i don't get their taste. they seem to like the rsx-s but dislike its peakiness. why criticize the wrx? i'd rather have my torque peak at 4,000rpm than 7,600?
Guest
Posts: n/a
The turbolag issue is certainly there until you figure out how to compensate for it (give a little more gas than you are used to as you release the clutch). That took me 5 minutes. Or until you put in the right mods, which took a couple months.
But getting back to WRX or no WRX. I like the WRX because it does everything the no-turbo Impreza does, but it has saved me a great deal of time and frustration by giving me the boost that is so often needed to keep from getting stuck behind that school bus going 10 miles under the limit for the next 5 miles, or getting stuck behind that column of cars like I used to do 3x more often before I got the WRX.
It is just fun to be able to avoid most of that kind of crap that used to bother me, or in some cases even scare me when I'd merge onto the freeway in the morning going 25 miles slower than traffic. Now, barring someone like my former self getting in front of me, I get onto the freeway going freeway speed. Nice!
But getting back to WRX or no WRX. I like the WRX because it does everything the no-turbo Impreza does, but it has saved me a great deal of time and frustration by giving me the boost that is so often needed to keep from getting stuck behind that school bus going 10 miles under the limit for the next 5 miles, or getting stuck behind that column of cars like I used to do 3x more often before I got the WRX.
It is just fun to be able to avoid most of that kind of crap that used to bother me, or in some cases even scare me when I'd merge onto the freeway in the morning going 25 miles slower than traffic. Now, barring someone like my former self getting in front of me, I get onto the freeway going freeway speed. Nice!