I drive my 05 wagon every day, cobb stg 2(soon to be 2.5), tons of suspension toys, and it's ok for commuting and long hauls. The only time I get annoyed with it is in stop and go traffic with it being a stick and that I have two pins in my knee(on the clutch leg) from a little spill on a crotch rocket. I will admit my previous 01 accord V6 was much more comfortable for the commuting bit, but the subbie hangs just fine, and then I feel like being ornery it's there for me. It's been to AZ and back, two trips to pismo, and two trips to tahoe(3rd trip next weekend) and it handles the long hauls very well. Set the cruise, crank up the tunes, and let the good times roll

 

[QUOTE=gotwrx] The one big criticism I have of the wagon is that the rear view has lots blind spots and the rear view mirrors don't really do the job. This can be a bit frustrating when manouvering in traffic.QUOTE]

Hi!! I have been lurking for a while before I take the plunge for a WRX or RS wagon as a commuter/beater. How bad are the blind spots, really? I would be using the car to drive in heavy traffic for a commute to Philadelphia from Princeton.
Before I start on a visibility rant regarding cars today in general - why can't they still make something like an BMW 2002 or E30?? I was thinking that the Impreza was one of the better cars for visibility in heavy traffic. Most of the coupes are incredibly bad on visibility - for example, an Acura RSX might as well have plywood over the rear windows. I don't understand how anyone could make a lane change in heavy traffic with one of these unless they have ESP or a hyperactive guardian angel. Most of these cars are no better than a roadster with the top up.

Mostly, I need to see out of the back seat windows to check for cars on my quarter before making lane changes. Have others been having problems with this?

 

I'm not sure if anyone gets a WRX especially (to a lesser degree STi as well) to NOT be a daily driver. That's the whole benefit of these cars compared to RWD is that they are daily drivable. If you want something that's a summer car, check out 3si.com. That was my last car. About as fussy as they come, but very good looking and VERY fast. About as daily drivable as a convertible with the top stuck down though.

 

I'm not someone else but since you asked, here's some more.

Part of the problem with the 2002 at least is the bulkiness and general opacity of the head rests. I believe they have changed in subsequent years. The problem may also be improved by removing the rear head rests assuming you don't regularly carry passengers back there (unless they are of the shorter variety). But the basic problem is that the rear gate pillars are fairly wide and the rear quarter panels are not big enough to usefully compensate. The sedan was much better.

I doubt its as bad as a coupe or a converted convertible. I am used to a 94 Camry station wagon and my previous car was a 1984 civic sedan. Both these cars have/had very good rear visibility. Both my wife and had similar problems driving the WRX wagon and have both unintentionally connected with exterior objects while backing up. This was not our prior experience.

I don't think I have had the "lane change suprise" experience any more with this car but you do have to do the "bob and weave" to check the lane a bit more energetically.

Unless it is a pet peeve I don't think it's a reason not to get the car but you should check it out if you are considering one for close combat.

Tim

 

~45k on my WRX, about 1/2 of it road trips, the rest daily commute. The only rattles are the stuff INSIDE the glove box, not the glove box itself. Built like a tank.

 

I'm jealous. I have lots of rattles and creaks

The one from under the dash
The one from the corner of the dash where the VIN tag is
The one from the instrument panel
The one from inside the drivers side center door column
The one from the seat belt swivels

Think these are fairly common and probably fixable if you can be bothered.

 

not a daily driver . . . had my 04 wrx for about 8 months and im ALMOST at 4k miles.

 

02 Wagon, Vishnu Stage-1, driven everyday with no worries.

I had the opportunity to drive both an STi and an EVO and found both of them to be easily handled on the road. The EVO, however, was a bit jerky in low gears and the gas tank was the size of my cat's bladder.

 

i USED TO drive my WRX daily (55K in 2 years) until i bought the civic hatchback. the WRX is okay for a daily driver, but frankly, i got tired of driving it. sitting in bumper to bumper traffic with a relatively heavy clutch is kind of a pain. now it sits at home and i drive the hatch everyday.

call me silly, but life has gotten easier and more carefree: lower gas prices, light clutch, (civic's) gearing is more suitable for commutes, no longer worried about thin subaru paint/metal, and i'm not as concerned about theft. my WRX is a little bling though.

...oh, and now i consider some serious mods for the suby!

 

Not silly at all, I've been thinking about either a hatch or a teg for my commute for the same reasons.

 

I drive my sti every day and it has many mods and it has never done me wrong it's a road warrior.

 

yep my sti is a daily driver... ~9000 miles in about 6 months... its gone on a road trip from boston to atlantic city with no prolems... my only regret is not getting a clear bra as the subaru paint chips off way too much for only being 6 months old... and here's winter