Impreza TS automatic - why so gutless?

[Guest]

I've had Subarus since 1978 but have recently been test driving other
cars including the TS auto.

Given that the TS auto has 165 hp, where does it all go. This car is
really gutless compared to even a 130hp 2003 Corolla auto, and the new
Mazda3 with 160 hp blasts past them both (and incidentally is loaded
with stuff and handles really well too).

So is the Subie's 165 hp not calculated the same way, or is it all
eaten up by the AWD system, or what?

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester 165 goes very nice. Road tests claim 0-60 in 9.8 sec so
what's to complain about unless you drove a new, not broke-in vehicle.

 

[R]

Given that the TS auto has 165 hp, where does it all go. This car is
really gutless compared to even a 130hp 2003 Corolla auto, and the new

In a collision, Subaru will show who has the real guts. They are heavy
cars.

 

[CompUser]

In a collision, Subaru will show who has the real guts. They are heavy
cars.

No kidding....don't try to duplicate this guy's
experience in a Corolla, I think you'll end up
with more than "a black eye and scratches".

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/showthread.php?
s=&threadid=57398

Steve

 

[foxmon]

It's the automatic transmission.
It's pretty weak, try test drive a standard transmission one, you'll like it
a lot better.

 

[T]

CompUser wrote:

<http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57398 >

Steve

Steve-O,

Helps to wrap your links.


Damn, what a wreck.

TBerk

 

[CompUser]

Steve-O,

Helps to wrap your links.


Damn, what a wreck.

Indeed...but the "I walked away with a black eye
and a few scratches" is the testimony to the
"ring-shaped reinforcement zones" that Subaru
advertises. If he used a different posting name,
he might have gotten an offer from SOA, lol.

Verifiable by the local news link, too.

Wrap em? Who needs em wrapped...what kinda
steenkin' newsreader ya using, that don't
highlight URLs anyway?

Steve

 

[Mike]

The 165 HP is achieved by revving the engine to 6500(?) RPM. I've
noticed a decided lack of low end torque in my '01 OBW auto unless you
let the engine rev up. The car is heavy and the AWD carries a power
penalty too.

Mike

 

[T]

Indeed...but the "I walked away with a black eye
and a few scratches" is the testimony to the
"ring-shaped reinforcement zones" that Subaru
advertises. If he used a different posting name,
he might have gotten an offer from SOA, lol.

Verifiable by the local news link, too.

Wrap em? Who needs em wrapped...what kinda
steenkin' newsreader ya using, that don't
highlight URLs anyway?

Steve

Yeah but the wrapped portion gets strung out on a new line buuuuudy.

TBerk

 

[Bruce Hoult]

The 165 HP is achieved by revving the engine to 6500(?) RPM. I've
noticed a decided lack of low end torque in my '01 OBW auto unless you
let the engine rev up. The car is heavy and the AWD carries a power
penalty too.

The Subaru 2.5 engine has *huge* amounts of low end torque. I couldn't
be happier with mine. All you have to do is feed it sufficiently high
octane fuel so that the computer doesn't have to retard the ignition to
hell and back to stop it from pinging.

Try to economize with cheap fuel, and yeah, you'll get no low end power
at all.

-- Bruce

 

[T]

The Subaru 2.5 engine has *huge* amounts of low end torque. I couldn't
be happier with mine. All you have to do is feed it sufficiently high
octane fuel so that the computer doesn't have to retard the ignition to
hell and back to stop it from pinging.

Try to economize with cheap fuel, and yeah, you'll get no low end power
at all.

-- Bruce

In my (limited) experience driving an auto WRX I found it was a matter
of dropping the selector into the next lower gear to keep the revs up
(or at least from dropping too low) and the fun can be had.

This is in a context of driving in hilly curves, for fun.

The 2.5, being both naturally aspirated AND larger in displacement
sounds like it would have that much more 'grunt' down low. (Before the
turbo would kick in.)


Besides the heavier chassis/running gear there is also things like
gearing to consider re: perceptions of acceleration.


TBerk