Shoppin' and Test Drivin'
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Shoppin' and Test Drivin'
Howdy all.
I've posted this in the clubWRX forums and thought I would share with you as well my experiences seaching out a new car. I've had the WRX wagon in the back of my mind for years now..... but I finally have some spendin' cash to shop with. However, it would be dumb to buy without seeing what else is out there.
Anyway, did some test driving today. I had driven the wrx wagon twice already.... really liked the handling, lag kind of bugged me. Trim wasn't great, but I drive a '93 Cherokee, so I haven't been spoiled in that department.
First off today: Volvo s40 T5 - they didn't have the manual so I tried the "manumatic". Incredible fit and finish. Interior is great. Love the looks. The low end torque was nice (full 236 ft-lbs at 1500 rpm) and handling was nice.... but not sporty, even though it had the sport suspention. Very nice, but nothing to blow me away.
Next: Legacy Outback XT - Once again, no manual to try, so I was forced drive the auto. Nice power at a lower end, once again. Trim wasn't as nice as the Volvo. Handling: not bad, but it is a heavy car. I guess there is no way to hide that fact. I skipped the Legacy GT since I would get an outback for the clearance and trim.
Then: WRX wagon. Didn't notice the lag much this time. Nice, light, and tossable. For some reason, I couldn't shift for sh**. I had to throw in the clutch twice to stop the power lunging (then put it in 2nd and recover). I drive a 5 speed currently and drove the rex twice before without problem.... so I don't know why I was retarded with that particular clutch. Anyway, walked away smiling and confident that I would be in one soon and started planning the accessories I would get with it.
And finally: I promised myself to drive an RX-8 before I purchased. I like the looks of them and the interior is great. You REALLY feel more like a pilot in one of these cars. (Kinda like that in the rex, not so in Legacy/Volvo.) I jumped in the driver seat and spun up the Rotary engine. This car is FUN. I didn't have to brake for corners. Power isn't through the roof.... but it is SMOOTH delivery. The wrx seemed so less refined in accelleration. (This is normal street driving. I'm not concered about "kills".) I really had fun in the thing. Wow. Great car.
So... now I'm confused. I can afford either car, but I don't know what I want.
WRX pros:
Quirky
Raw driving experience
cargo for camping/biking/road trips/sleeping/work(I'm a cameraman)
cheaper
been envying them since I say my first WRC race and outback sport's.
milage
doesn't eat oil
can put bike rack on it.
low maintenance (don't have to rev to 3000 to park it.)
RX-8 pros:
Beautiful sports car (subjective, but I like the look)
incredible handling
smooth power delivery
tons of fun to drive
not many out there
great interior
cockpit-like.... well... cockpit
gotta admit- the rotary engine has the coolest sound to it.
So... that's where I am at. Practicality isn't too much of a concern, since I'm keeping the Cherokee. All I can do is drive the finalists once again (rx-8 first this time) and figure it out from there.
fyi- I found a dealer to do a '05 wagon for 200 over invoice NOT COUNTING the $1250 rebate and the RX-8 is going for $500 under invoice. 22000ish versus 24500ish.
Any thoughts? (especially from those who were in the same situation)
-Yeeper
I've posted this in the clubWRX forums and thought I would share with you as well my experiences seaching out a new car. I've had the WRX wagon in the back of my mind for years now..... but I finally have some spendin' cash to shop with. However, it would be dumb to buy without seeing what else is out there.
Anyway, did some test driving today. I had driven the wrx wagon twice already.... really liked the handling, lag kind of bugged me. Trim wasn't great, but I drive a '93 Cherokee, so I haven't been spoiled in that department.
First off today: Volvo s40 T5 - they didn't have the manual so I tried the "manumatic". Incredible fit and finish. Interior is great. Love the looks. The low end torque was nice (full 236 ft-lbs at 1500 rpm) and handling was nice.... but not sporty, even though it had the sport suspention. Very nice, but nothing to blow me away.
Next: Legacy Outback XT - Once again, no manual to try, so I was forced drive the auto. Nice power at a lower end, once again. Trim wasn't as nice as the Volvo. Handling: not bad, but it is a heavy car. I guess there is no way to hide that fact. I skipped the Legacy GT since I would get an outback for the clearance and trim.
Then: WRX wagon. Didn't notice the lag much this time. Nice, light, and tossable. For some reason, I couldn't shift for sh**. I had to throw in the clutch twice to stop the power lunging (then put it in 2nd and recover). I drive a 5 speed currently and drove the rex twice before without problem.... so I don't know why I was retarded with that particular clutch. Anyway, walked away smiling and confident that I would be in one soon and started planning the accessories I would get with it.
And finally: I promised myself to drive an RX-8 before I purchased. I like the looks of them and the interior is great. You REALLY feel more like a pilot in one of these cars. (Kinda like that in the rex, not so in Legacy/Volvo.) I jumped in the driver seat and spun up the Rotary engine. This car is FUN. I didn't have to brake for corners. Power isn't through the roof.... but it is SMOOTH delivery. The wrx seemed so less refined in accelleration. (This is normal street driving. I'm not concered about "kills".) I really had fun in the thing. Wow. Great car.
So... now I'm confused. I can afford either car, but I don't know what I want.
WRX pros:
Quirky
Raw driving experience
cargo for camping/biking/road trips/sleeping/work(I'm a cameraman)
cheaper
been envying them since I say my first WRC race and outback sport's.
milage
doesn't eat oil
can put bike rack on it.
low maintenance (don't have to rev to 3000 to park it.)
RX-8 pros:
Beautiful sports car (subjective, but I like the look)
incredible handling
smooth power delivery
tons of fun to drive
not many out there
great interior
cockpit-like.... well... cockpit
gotta admit- the rotary engine has the coolest sound to it.
So... that's where I am at. Practicality isn't too much of a concern, since I'm keeping the Cherokee. All I can do is drive the finalists once again (rx-8 first this time) and figure it out from there.
fyi- I found a dealer to do a '05 wagon for 200 over invoice NOT COUNTING the $1250 rebate and the RX-8 is going for $500 under invoice. 22000ish versus 24500ish.
Any thoughts? (especially from those who were in the same situation)
-Yeeper
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Originally Posted by pissant
What did you do drive every freaking Subaru on the lot. Salespeople hate customers like you. Have some respect for the Salesperson time. He or she gets paid only on commision.
go away troll. Do your parents know you are on the computer past your bedtime?
Last edited by yeeper; Sep 22, 2004 at 09:02 PM.
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Posts: 168
From: San Francisco
Car Info: 05 LGT Wagon, 05 S4 Sedan, 05 WRX (sold)
dude so here are my 2 cents
my friend got a 04 RX-8, and I drove that - after which I went and got myself a WRX ;-)
reasons are:
while the rx-8 is a nice car - it feels like has NO TORQUE below ~5000 rpm, for city driving, starting uphill, etc - that gets on my nerve.
In the city i shif the WRX at 3000-3500, and I live in the most hilly parts of San Francisco ;-)
WRX is easy and cheap to mod - powerwise RX-8 looses for me.
Interior - nicer then WRX but too cramped for my tastes, plus the center console is fugly and laid out badly. 05 WRX is very nice inside compared to 02/04, center console laid out well.
handling: rx-8 sure handled nice, rear end can rotate into corner, and some people like that. However I find rx-8 stock suspension too hard, especially on the ****ty roads here in Cali. Stock WRX tires were the reasons you had to slow down when cornering on WRX, they are M+S tires, and rx-8 has nicer tires stock. With nice tires I like WRX handling over the rx-8, but thats a personal preference. (I like firmly planted AWD feel vs easier to rotate rx-8 feel) Also WRX sedan is faster and stiffer then the wagon - so try the sedan. There is AWD - nice in snow and rain.
So I was in the same place as you a week ago and now I have 05 WRX. Also,
that friend of mine that got the rx-8 is constalty saying that they should have bought an sti ;-). All that said rx-8 is a fine car, and you can get one with leather if you wanted.
my friend got a 04 RX-8, and I drove that - after which I went and got myself a WRX ;-)
reasons are:
while the rx-8 is a nice car - it feels like has NO TORQUE below ~5000 rpm, for city driving, starting uphill, etc - that gets on my nerve.
In the city i shif the WRX at 3000-3500, and I live in the most hilly parts of San Francisco ;-)
WRX is easy and cheap to mod - powerwise RX-8 looses for me.
Interior - nicer then WRX but too cramped for my tastes, plus the center console is fugly and laid out badly. 05 WRX is very nice inside compared to 02/04, center console laid out well.
handling: rx-8 sure handled nice, rear end can rotate into corner, and some people like that. However I find rx-8 stock suspension too hard, especially on the ****ty roads here in Cali. Stock WRX tires were the reasons you had to slow down when cornering on WRX, they are M+S tires, and rx-8 has nicer tires stock. With nice tires I like WRX handling over the rx-8, but thats a personal preference. (I like firmly planted AWD feel vs easier to rotate rx-8 feel) Also WRX sedan is faster and stiffer then the wagon - so try the sedan. There is AWD - nice in snow and rain.
So I was in the same place as you a week ago and now I have 05 WRX. Also,
that friend of mine that got the rx-8 is constalty saying that they should have bought an sti ;-). All that said rx-8 is a fine car, and you can get one with leather if you wanted.
Last edited by UrbanAchiever; Sep 23, 2004 at 02:28 PM.
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Posts: 25,095
From: Funtown
Car Info: A limousine with a chauffer
Originally Posted by pissant
What did you do drive every freaking Subaru on the lot. Salespeople hate customers like you. Have some respect for the Salesperson time. He or she gets paid only on commision.
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Posts: 25,095
From: Funtown
Car Info: A limousine with a chauffer
Since you're keeping the Jeep, have you considered getting a WRX sedan? With the sedan you get the fender flares, and you don't really need the wagon storage space anyhow.... 
I think the RX-8 is a pretty cool car, but I'd much rather take the WRX. You can pretty easily smooth out the power delivery in the WRX (~$400 ECU reflash will do this plus give you a bunch more power). Additionally, the RX-8 is getting pretty poor gas mileage and is rather anemic in the torque department.
I think the RX-8 is a pretty cool car, but I'd much rather take the WRX. You can pretty easily smooth out the power delivery in the WRX (~$400 ECU reflash will do this plus give you a bunch more power). Additionally, the RX-8 is getting pretty poor gas mileage and is rather anemic in the torque department.
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iTrader: (1)
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Posts: 422
From: Woop-de-doo-for-my-subaru
Car Info: 05 STI
Originally Posted by sonicsuby
I, too read your other posts. Please try to keep a good fellowship with other members.
What's the deal with this individual. Do you think he might be "Nerdy" or something?
At any rate to respond, you should try the legacy GT. It may be a great compromise on the cars you have driven. Eventually, I think the GT will have many aftermarket offerings. The base price is very attractive as well.
Good luck!
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Great advice
Urban-
Great story. Thanks for sharing. I actually noticed a lack of punch at high rpm in the rx-8 as well. On the freeway the dealer let me take it to the "ping" of 8500 rpm. Don't get me wrong, the thing is quick... but the turbo punch seemed more significant than what the RX could give.
As for the interior- you hit the nail on the head. I like new wrx layout except for the vents. I was spoiled once I drove my roommates RSX (great interior .... and love the vent style.)
Is there a faq for newbies as to what the basic mods available are? I would love to know what is out there (and what it does) to up performance....
Sonic-
Thanks for the advice. If I'm going wrx, I gotta do the wagon. I need fold-down seats for camping/road-trips/future camera gear transpo. Plus, as crazy as this might sound, I really like the look of the wagon. Sleeper styling.
Double-
Just tried the Legacy GT today. Wow. Great power. That thing can launch. I'm not a fan of the look of the legacy (non-outback) wagon. Plus, the toss-ability isn't there (since its heavier.) However, if I wanted a bigger car it takes the cake. Very fast and fun.
As for our friend pissant, I actually wrote a long response defending my desire to drive cars before I decided what I wanted to buy. Then I read his other stuff and realized he was just trolling for that kind of response. I guess whatever gets him off......
Anyway, once again thanks for the responses.
-Yeeper
Great story. Thanks for sharing. I actually noticed a lack of punch at high rpm in the rx-8 as well. On the freeway the dealer let me take it to the "ping" of 8500 rpm. Don't get me wrong, the thing is quick... but the turbo punch seemed more significant than what the RX could give.
As for the interior- you hit the nail on the head. I like new wrx layout except for the vents. I was spoiled once I drove my roommates RSX (great interior .... and love the vent style.)
Is there a faq for newbies as to what the basic mods available are? I would love to know what is out there (and what it does) to up performance....
Sonic-
Thanks for the advice. If I'm going wrx, I gotta do the wagon. I need fold-down seats for camping/road-trips/future camera gear transpo. Plus, as crazy as this might sound, I really like the look of the wagon. Sleeper styling.
Double-
Just tried the Legacy GT today. Wow. Great power. That thing can launch. I'm not a fan of the look of the legacy (non-outback) wagon. Plus, the toss-ability isn't there (since its heavier.) However, if I wanted a bigger car it takes the cake. Very fast and fun.
As for our friend pissant, I actually wrote a long response defending my desire to drive cars before I decided what I wanted to buy. Then I read his other stuff and realized he was just trolling for that kind of response. I guess whatever gets him off......
Anyway, once again thanks for the responses.
-Yeeper
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Posts: 25,095
From: Funtown
Car Info: A limousine with a chauffer
^^ I hear ya on the storage thing. Sometimes I wish I'd gotten the wagon, but one look at the sedan cures that for me . Good luck, man. Be sure to get involved with your regional forum, they can give you some helpful hints on who and who not to deal with in the sales world if you decide to go Subaru.
. Good luck, man. Be sure to get involved with your regional forum, they can give you some helpful hints on who and who not to deal with in the sales world if you decide to go Subaru.
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Jun 17, 2005 01:58 PM