Question for WRX Owners

[psycovette]

I am going to be ditching my saturn with 180K miles soon I am thinking of getting a WRX. What are your likes and dislikes about the car. How does it handle, is it stiff. Does it get goo Gas Milege with AWD? I see a few arround I think they look pretty sharp for a little sedan. I like the blue on them it looks like good quality paint. Is the optional Exhaust have a good sound to it or is it just another Fart Pipe?

[mavery]

I have an 02 WRX wagon:

Likes: Amazing AWD traction even with crappy OEM tires, neutral handling, great midrange power, 6-disk CD player, wagon has lots of room in back for dogs and camera equipment.

Dislikes: Crappy OEM tires (upgrading soon), power drops off in top 1000 rpm, difficult downshift to 1st, noon sun glares off of hood scoop.

Well, it's no lexus, but I think the suspension is amazing - stiff enough for good cornering, but somehow manages to smooth out the bumps. It's much better than the harsh Eibach/Koni setup I had on my previous car.

Gas mileage isn't great. With a heavy foot, I get 18-20 around town. The best so far is 26 mpg on a long trip with the cruise control @ 75 the whole way.

The optional exhaust has a good sound.

[mikewrx]

The only real dislike I have with my WRX is NO SUNROOF...

Other than that I love the handling, acceleration, and power.
(I have only modded the intake so far.)
FYI - The interior is not of the same quality as the BMW 318i (Or lots of other cars in this price range) I traded in to get my WRX, but the performance improvement has more than made up for losing any of those sissy comfort and convenience options the beemer had. (You know, leather seats, lighted mirrors in the visors, seat warmers; WHO CARES, I'LL TAKE ACCELERATION & HANDLING OVER THAT OTHER CRAP ANYDAY)

[RCer]

Hey Mike, do you know why no sunroof?
Sunroof will make the frame less rigid, so it's bad for the handling of the car. Also, it will add weight, and that weight will be in a place that is bad for the center of gravity of the car, that is also bad for the handling.
So, as you said you take aceleration and handling over a lot of other things, be gratefull they don't put sunroof on the WRX (I think none of the imprezas will have sunroof).

Enjoy it!!!!!

[mikewrx]

I was aware of the rigidity issue with sunroof (less body flex), but the weight problem hadn't occured to me. The main thing the sunroof would do for me is: it MIGHT stop my wife from complaining about giving up the sunroof in the 318i we (I) traded in for the WRX. She has always liked the "prestige" (Or snob factor in my opinion) of the BMW's.

[Rex Ruthor]

The new Euro Spec WRX STi has a sunroof and a nicer interior. Thats the car we will probably get here in the states in 2003.

Dislikes: No sunroof..interior could be better, but is okay. I also am not a big fan of frameless doors. I think the car is a bit cramped for a 4 door sedan, but I am used to my 5 series BMW.
There is an odd ABS problem on rough pavement which can be kinda scary. Should come stock with 17's, comes with 16's and crappy all season Potenza's. Shifter isnt perfect.

Likes: good power, huge mod potential, boxer motor, AWD.

The suspension is fairly stiff for a stock car- great road feel, decent brakes, pretty nice ride too. The gas mileage is mediocre...not a great commuter car..has a tiny 15 gal tank too.
FYI the paint sucks...its a very thin paintjob. Prone to chips from road debris. I recommend StonGuard immediately after purchase...even better if you can get it delivered already done.

[4WD2NV]

Well the WRX in the new shape are alot heavier then the previous model but around 100 or os kilo.. But they do take better to mods then then the old version... a 2002 WRX with the same mods as say a 97 WRX, the 02 will be faster as the engine breaths alot better.. around a track the 02 is faster due to revises suspension and interior is also finished off alot better.. in Australia we can not have a SUNROOF damn it .. i was hopeing for one of them.. Lastly the gearbox in the 01 onwards are alot stronger

[border_project]

dislike. i want a little more power. the round headlights are still odd to me. tires arent the best


someone said downshifting to first is not good, but my question is why would you downshift to first? its not much of a good idea.