Loads of Questions for Suby fans....might get quite a discussion going!

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I work in Boulder, and there are an awful lot of subarus in my office
parking lot. A disturbing number of WRXes (only disturbing because
it's weird to have a car that everyone else also owns). I think there
are at least 5 WRX wagons in this 150ish person company; maybe more.

It's not unusual here in the front range to see packs of 3-4 subarus
on the road; that's how common they are. While stopped at lights, I
like to play "count the subarus."

(In contrast, when I go back East to VA, I play "try to find even a
single car rack in all this damn traffic." It's a major big deal to
find one.)




It's true that there are tons of Subarus in these kinds of places, but
I don't know if that speaks to the effectiveness of their performance
or of their marketing teams. Certainly the sheer number of Subarus in
the area influenced my decision. They're also pretty affordable.

Yeah, when we go Co Spgs to vist my oldest daughter - there are as many
soobs in one block as are in my zipcode here in Texas!

Carl

 

[CompUser]

@i40g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
(e-mail address removed) says...

If that means in English: "You should've bought STi and did not bitch
about the bag of sticks
you got instead" I agree.

No.

It means "You don't know jack, about drivin' a
WRX".

 

[Body Roll]

No.

It means "You don't know jack, about drivin' a
WRX".

Probably. In any event, it was not my intention to insult your ride
WRX).
Sadly, you don't seem to take my critique well. If you check my posts
again
you'd probably notice that I'm lamenting mostly about lack of recent
menaingful updates
to transmissions of imprezas with normally aspirated engines: RS & OBS.

Carl wrote:
I agree with Monique - plus, if they upgraded the rest of the Impreza
line like the '06 WRX, it has a shorter shifter now and better first
gear synchros. I cannot comment about how it actually feels as it is my

The shifter feel is not my only gripe. The gear ratios on normally
aspirated impreza
are selected with fuel economy (far apart), not spirited driving in
mind (close together as on EVO).
Or maybe they are just inherited from WRX that has a very different
powerplant.
Maybe it's to help Subaru to reach it's combined EPA ratings?
Moot point now that Outback is classified as a truck.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Probably. In any event, it was not my intention to insult your ride
WRX).
Sadly, you don't seem to take my critique well. If you check my posts
again
you'd probably notice that I'm lamenting mostly about lack of recent
menaingful updates
to transmissions of imprezas with normally aspirated engines: RS & OBS.




The shifter feel is not my only gripe. The gear ratios on normally
aspirated impreza
are selected with fuel economy (far apart), not spirited driving in
mind (close together as on EVO).
Or maybe they are just inherited from WRX that has a very different
powerplant.
Maybe it's to help Subaru to reach it's combined EPA ratings?
Moot point now that Outback is classified as a truck.

That's a good point on the EPA stuff. The WRX does have a long second
gear (though not quite as long as my old Datsun SRL-311 !) I suppose to
allow a little lower first gear, probably too many broken trannies from
kids doing 5-6K drops, I dunno. No idea why they choose what they
choose. or why the EVO is different unless it just has to do with peak
torque/HP curves being a lot different or something. WRX is a little
anemic feeling until 3K or so - but torque comes in like a locomotive at
that point! then tapers off. maybe the EVO is more gradual?

Carl

 

[Bugalugs]

That's a good point on the EPA stuff. The WRX does have a long second
gear (though not quite as long as my old Datsun SRL-311 !) I suppose to
allow a little lower first gear, probably too many broken trannies from
kids doing 5-6K drops, I dunno. No idea why they choose what they
choose. or why the EVO is different unless it just has to do with peak
torque/HP curves being a lot different or something. WRX is a little
anemic feeling until 3K or so - but torque comes in like a locomotive at
that point! then tapers off. maybe the EVO is more gradual?

Carl

But shouldn't you be comparing EVO against STI rather that Wrx. That
apples and oranges thing.

 

[Body Roll]

But shouldn't you be comparing EVO against STI rather that Wrx. That
apples and oranges thing.

No, not really. EVO RS cost around $28k but nevertheless is a much
better value than WRX in
any trim. Better brakes, better transmission, better handling, proper
suspension, better warranty period. But I guess it heavily depends on
what you want.
It does not mean Impreza RS, OBS or WRX are inferior cars. I just
though I'm laid back
enough for OBS. Turns out I was dead wrong. It's only my fault. I'm
happy to hear that
some people bought what they really wanted.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

No, not really. EVO RS cost around $28k but nevertheless is a much
better value than WRX in
any trim. Better brakes, better transmission, better handling, proper
suspension, better warranty period. But I guess it heavily depends on
what you want.
It does not mean Impreza RS, OBS or WRX are inferior cars. I just
though I'm laid back
enough for OBS. Turns out I was dead wrong. It's only my fault. I'm
happy to hear that
some people bought what they really wanted.

That price puts it between my car ('06 WRX wagon) and an STI. At least
pricewise. And there are some that would argue the handling/suspension
issue with you - I can't having no experience with the EVO. It's very
well respected and seems to offer a lot for the money. And my brakes
work well enough. ;^)

Still, I think the general sense of what someone wants a transmission to
'feel' like works across almost all cars. My old Hondas were distinctly
high revving and the gear spacing and ranges were set up differently -
doesnt really matter that they were 75hp instead of 230 - the shift
points felt different ,probably, because of the power curves.

Carl