I'm new, got questions.
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I'm new, got questions.
Picking up my new '04 WRX today. I was surfing the net, and I found your website. Good thing too because I have a ton of questions:
1. Oil? 10W-30? 10W-40? I was going to use Mobil one Synthetic after the first 1k miles, just not sure on weight.
2. All wheel drive has extra drivetrain loss. Anyway to lessen it like switching to synthetic tranny and rear diff lube (eek out a few ponies)? Would there be any adverse long term effects.
3. Yes, I was already looking at mods for it. I found Subydude, Cobb Tuning, and Vishnu so far. They all offer various power bundles, but which one actually works better (I would prefer reliability over the top power possible).
4. Wheels. I would like to eventually put a set of 17's on it since the stock are slightly unpleasing to the eye (more underwelming). I was thinking of 215/50/17, but all I've seen available are 225/45/17. Opinions and suggestions.
5. Ideas on making the radio not suck on a budget.
6. Back to mods. What would be a good place to start?
In the end, I'm glad to be here. It was down to the WRX and an SRT-4. I wanted the neon a little more, but it just wasn't as practicle for me right now. Besides, the Suby (stock for stock) is almost as fast, and just as fun.
1. Oil? 10W-30? 10W-40? I was going to use Mobil one Synthetic after the first 1k miles, just not sure on weight.
2. All wheel drive has extra drivetrain loss. Anyway to lessen it like switching to synthetic tranny and rear diff lube (eek out a few ponies)? Would there be any adverse long term effects.
3. Yes, I was already looking at mods for it. I found Subydude, Cobb Tuning, and Vishnu so far. They all offer various power bundles, but which one actually works better (I would prefer reliability over the top power possible).
4. Wheels. I would like to eventually put a set of 17's on it since the stock are slightly unpleasing to the eye (more underwelming). I was thinking of 215/50/17, but all I've seen available are 225/45/17. Opinions and suggestions.
5. Ideas on making the radio not suck on a budget.
6. Back to mods. What would be a good place to start?
In the end, I'm glad to be here. It was down to the WRX and an SRT-4. I wanted the neon a little more, but it just wasn't as practicle for me right now. Besides, the Suby (stock for stock) is almost as fast, and just as fun.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 307
From: Burbank, California
Car Info: 05 CGM FXT STi
http://www.subarureview.com/
this might help you get started, its a review page on pretty much everything subaru. Check all the links on every Suby page, search for cobb tuning on i-club (very reliable tuning and relatively inexpensive) and take a visit to www.vividracing.com
www.gruppe-s.com
http://www.mattrandolph.com/wrx/WRX-...nce-stages.htm
anything to expect:
if you drag race your car and dump the clutch, your transmission will break. if you bang gears, your trans will break. If you mis-shift your trans will break (yes SOA district manager told me it only takes one mis-shift for the gears to break)
if you take your car into the dealership for warranty work on the broken trans, warranty work will be denied.
that is the only warning (watch out for) problem that you should be aware of. the WRX is definately a fun car, and so many steps above the SRT-4 on most levels (except 1/4 mile time and price) you made a good choice, have fun.
this might help you get started, its a review page on pretty much everything subaru. Check all the links on every Suby page, search for cobb tuning on i-club (very reliable tuning and relatively inexpensive) and take a visit to www.vividracing.com
www.gruppe-s.com
http://www.mattrandolph.com/wrx/WRX-...nce-stages.htm
anything to expect:
if you drag race your car and dump the clutch, your transmission will break. if you bang gears, your trans will break. If you mis-shift your trans will break (yes SOA district manager told me it only takes one mis-shift for the gears to break)
if you take your car into the dealership for warranty work on the broken trans, warranty work will be denied.
that is the only warning (watch out for) problem that you should be aware of. the WRX is definately a fun car, and so many steps above the SRT-4 on most levels (except 1/4 mile time and price) you made a good choice, have fun.
Registered User
iTrader: (11)
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,264
From: In my BUBBLE
Car Info: Rust bucketo
Not to mention, the wrx is a little harder to drive for newbies like *cough*me*cough*
I'm still not sure what banging through gears means though .. this is my first 5-speed car, not to mention an awd.
You should get to know your transmission, as subaru's 5 speed seems to be an outdated design with updates here and there, but the basic design supposedly is old. Every transmission is different, some people have minor irritating problems and some people dont; no one can explain why.
But for sure, you probably won't be able to shift into 1st gear very quickly. You must wait for the synchros to work, especially if you are moving pretty quickly. (generally 5mph or greater) Also, getting into reverse is a common problem for most subaru owners. It may not get into reverse all the time from a stop, that is it will go about halfway into the gate and stay there, but won't have the gear engaged and you'll just find out the hard way with a little gear grind. Once you feel it, you'll know when it is in gear and when it isn't. If it doesn't go into reverse, try putting it into neutral, letting the clutch go, and pushing the clutch in and trying it again.
Small quirks like this will take a little getting used to, but of course everything isn't normal. Use your warrenty to the full extent, if something just isn't right, take it in for service and describe the problem as clearly as possible.
My personal experience with a "clunk" noise that I always hear after releasing the clutch at neutral from a stop or under load, was that the service log stated: "Customer states: Clutch "thunk" when clutch pedal is depressed and released at idle." "Solution: Clutch pedal "thunk" from clutch pedal hitting the ground."
Yeah, they thought I was an idiot, but I guess sounds like that can only be easily heard when you are in your garage at home where there are walls around to reflect everything coming from the car towards you. : /
Otherwise, enjoy the car and don't crash!
I'm still not sure what banging through gears means though .. this is my first 5-speed car, not to mention an awd.
You should get to know your transmission, as subaru's 5 speed seems to be an outdated design with updates here and there, but the basic design supposedly is old. Every transmission is different, some people have minor irritating problems and some people dont; no one can explain why.
But for sure, you probably won't be able to shift into 1st gear very quickly. You must wait for the synchros to work, especially if you are moving pretty quickly. (generally 5mph or greater) Also, getting into reverse is a common problem for most subaru owners. It may not get into reverse all the time from a stop, that is it will go about halfway into the gate and stay there, but won't have the gear engaged and you'll just find out the hard way with a little gear grind. Once you feel it, you'll know when it is in gear and when it isn't. If it doesn't go into reverse, try putting it into neutral, letting the clutch go, and pushing the clutch in and trying it again.
Small quirks like this will take a little getting used to, but of course everything isn't normal. Use your warrenty to the full extent, if something just isn't right, take it in for service and describe the problem as clearly as possible.
My personal experience with a "clunk" noise that I always hear after releasing the clutch at neutral from a stop or under load, was that the service log stated: "Customer states: Clutch "thunk" when clutch pedal is depressed and released at idle." "Solution: Clutch pedal "thunk" from clutch pedal hitting the ground."
Yeah, they thought I was an idiot, but I guess sounds like that can only be easily heard when you are in your garage at home where there are walls around to reflect everything coming from the car towards you. : /
Otherwise, enjoy the car and don't crash!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 307
From: Burbank, California
Car Info: 05 CGM FXT STi
banging gears is usually done when you have a fwd or rwd car and you shift extra hard and get that tire chirp from say 1st to 2nd, or 3rd to 4th. You will find that to break the tires loose on a WRX, you will either break something (trans), burn up the clutch, or taking a turn too fast with the cheesy stock RE-90 tires.
another thing. this car shifts much nicer at higher RPM's. Once your break in period is over (1000 miles) run it through the gears taking it as close to redline as you seem fit or comfortable doing and see how smooth it shifts when it is driven they way it was meant to be driven.
another thing. this car shifts much nicer at higher RPM's. Once your break in period is over (1000 miles) run it through the gears taking it as close to redline as you seem fit or comfortable doing and see how smooth it shifts when it is driven they way it was meant to be driven.
I highly reccomend Subarureview.com I am a part of it and everyone is very truthful about what they post. Once you have something you think is interesting then you can run it by the rest of us in another topic and then the experts on say for example Turbo back exhausts will talk to you about what is more beneficial. Keep safe. Cardnal rule #1 of I-club you are one of the band of brothers now, so when you see another WRX or subaru for that matter. . . just wave. Cardnal rule #2 of I-club no drama. If you don't like what someone has said or done. . . either they dont deserve your time or they are just plain stupid. Don't let it get to you. Stay cool, and keep your new Subaru safe. Good luck
WRX Rush
WRX Rush
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