WRX Sighting!!

[1994SubaruSVX]

I was at the dealership Monday and I saw a maroon WRX. After reading all the hype I was really expecting something spectacular and to be honest it looked whatever. I was actually disappointed. The only thing I liked was the Momo steering wheel and the blue pedals. The interior looked tight and the entry/exit of the front doors is horrible. I like the big doors of the SVX because it makes it easy to get in and out of the car. The interior was average and beyond the pedals and steering wheel it looked like every impreza I have ever seen. As far as the exterior was concerned, it was fairly simple with big headlights and subtle wheel arches. The tires were 55's which seem inadequate for a car with all-wheel drive and 227hp. It needs at least the 50's the svx came with. They also did not seem wide enough. I cant imagine being able to corner well on those tires. Overall the car looked unimpressive and unless you saw the WRX badging on the back you would never know it was a high performance Subaru. I think the Legacy GT looks better and certainly the SVX. As far as I am concerned the SVX is still king in the United States. This new WRX really pales in comparison to the Juggernaught Japanese WRX's of the past. If they ever come out with another SVX I hope they do not ruin it like this latest WRX.

[svxxx26]

<<I was really expecting something spectacular and to be honest it looked whatever. >>

To me, that's the beauty of it. I don't suppose you drove it? That may alter your opinion somewhat. ;)

I'm really not looking at it as competition for the SVX anyway. WRX is a fast car based on an inexpensive body, not a luxury touring car like the SVX.

Me? I want BOTH of them! :)

[svxter]

I am HOPING that Tim at Earl Duff Subaru will have one or more WRXs on the floor for the April meet. I'm taking Maxine next week to get her oil changed, so I'll talk to him then.

[Rev Hard]

Untill I see a WRX STi in the states it is nothing more than a turbo market hyped imprezza to me. I had a turbo AWD car called an eagle talon (remember Eagle? haha im jokin) that would have walked all over the WRX. It just is nothing special to me.

And i have seen one in person. havent driven it but could it be better than a talon? doubt it

PAUL!

[micah]

Rev Hard - I love the DSM cars but help me understand how a car that is heavier and has 30 less hp is going to "walk all over" the WRX.

Tires - 55 is pretty low. I don't see how you would put anything lower on a car that is trying to be a rally car. This is not a Z28. Anyway, Car and Driver and GRM both loved the car. But then again they just drove it, what would they know compared to judging the car by looking at the tires and deciding that they seem too narrow and tall for the car to perform well ;)

I'm sorry to vent but here as well as on the I-club some people seem to live in some kind of la la land where sub-$25k AWD cars that run the quarter in the mid 14's, grow on trees. I don't consider that "ruined". The car is as good or better than any overseas-market WRX from the past, it's just not as good as the STI's.

/rant mode off
mbs

[svxxx26]

WELL SAID, Micah!

Look, it's an Impreza with a 227 hp turbo engine. Talk about Talons all you want, but I LIKE that concept!
As far as Talons go, I really don't care for them. But that's just personal taste, I'm sure they're great cars. :rolleyes:

[Rev Hard]

Micah,
Well sir its a simple concept. (and i wont even go into cost to effectiveness ratio) I bought mine for 2500$. spent 80$ on a tuneup. -plugs oil K'n'N filter- then did the required 'free mods'. went to dragstrip 14.7 e.t.

The talon was seriousely detuned on US shores. Argue it all you want, but, it has been proven. I wont go into serious stats as i have been out of the 'DSM scene' for a while but if you really need info got www.dsm.org

I spent $1000 on the car and it would have run 13's had i ever made it to the strip. (the car died due to a t/belt failure -my fault-)

so there you go.. and BTW i have a few freinds that will back up the fact that it is a remarkable car. 'as does your friendly SVX.net host Chris'

[micah]

Yes, a used Talon is cheaper than a brand new WRX and yes, a modified Talon is faster than a stock WRX. I really didn't think we were comparing used and modified to new and stock. In that case, yes it is "simple".

This is beside the point but were Talons exported from Illinois? What was different about the export ones? I looked at DSM.org and couldn't find anything about export market Talons so if you could just give me the basics that would be great. Don't worry, I'm not going to argue at all because I don't know anything about that. I will defer to what ever you say about the matter.

A stock WRX is a faster, arguably better handling, car than a 1G, 2G or _definitely_ a 3G talon, STOCK. I can make a Festiva faster than a Talon but you don't see me saying that a Festiva can walk all over a Talon.

<shrug> If AWD and mid 14's in the 1/4 is "nothing special" than that's fine for you. For those of us who don't all drive the "gold standard" of a used Talon that doesn't run, it sounds pretty darn good ;)

cheers
mbs

ps My father has a '93 Laser RS and I love that car. One of the worst trends about modern cars is the move away from tight "cockpit" style interiors and that Laser has one. It's one of the only fast cars that makes any sense in Maine too.

[Rev Hard]

<<For those of us who don't all drive the "gold standard" of a used Talon that doesn't run, it sounds pretty darn good >>

DROVE, car has been sold. Sold it for 2500$ btw. Plus I sold the performance parts for well over what i payed.
Uhm, now I drive a 1992 SVX LS-L 50k miles on the clock... and you?

Anyway. As for import talons being detuned, I geuss I did not state my "fact" correctly. They weren't "import" talons. I was speaking mostly of the motor and ECU. Since the same units can be found in the Lancer EVO.

The 4G63 motor can be found in the same form, (cams are different for more torque) in all the other countries that get the 280HP lancer. The turbo is smaller in the US (146 instead of the 16g which i believe is also on the US WRX)

The ECU has been well noted as detuned for US use too. Take for example the ability to use 89 in the car. This just proves that the stock 9lbs of boost is silly (and controlled by the ECU might i add). The fuel curves and ignition maps are totally different.

While you might say they are different cars. Yes that is true. But under the Skin the motors are the same.. be as it may one is detuned.

I geuss im off on a tangent here now since the US-spec WRX is arguably detuned also.. I dunno, I give up on this..........

<<1G, 2G or _definitely_ a 3G talon>>

there is no 3g TALON... hell the DSM community doesn't even consider the eclipse 3g a DSM...

going back to your first post... <<30 less hp >>
you are right and 4.5 lbs less boost.... (i can fix that for free... does that count as modified? it was free...) Anyway i will personally atribute the 30 less HP to this fact alone..

<<A stock WRX is a faster, arguably better handling, car than a 1G, 2G >>

1g yes... 2g uhm nah i doubt that... 2g's are excellent auto-x cars.. and faster well not on the freeway the WRX is a BRICK!

p.s. to all those reading this.... I would love to have a WRX. as for it being the be all end all to JDM import cars, that has yet to be seen. Im looking forward to the awareness the WRX will create in the aftermarket to Subaru. And will be happy they will get magazine coverage thus requiring me to read less Honda articles. (No i didnt say Honduh, WHY? because i own one of those its a CRX fyi) And i think that's a great thing. Will it be the next messiah of import drags? I doubt it because it does not hae the form for that.. does it have the potential to put out the power needed to drag . I dunno. But i would love to see someone do it. I like new things. I like the WRX. It is not a GOD



PAUL!

[Chris]

I am not going to be dragged into this without kicking and screaming. Lets just say this. If I was to buy a sports car to drive on a daily basis with little to no modifications in mind, I would go with the WRX. If I was buying something to race at the 1/4 mile track with nothing but modifications in mind, it would be a DSM. I coulnt compare these two cars. Also keep in mind, I have not drove a WRX and worse yet, the imported WRX into the states is NOT the same as the one sold overseas. I am quite familiar with what DSMs are capable of. One of the administrators here has a 13 second one, and our RAID administrator needs to take his to the track this spring. He is probably going to pull a 12. To top that off, the person who is going to do my twin turbo project (when I get a job and money) does nothing but build high speed DSMs. His personal one is a daily driver and still pulls low 11s at the track. I think I will reserve total judgement until I have driven a WRX. Probably the safest move for my opinion.

Chris

[Rev Hard]

i wasnt dragging you into it.. just stating...

that being said .. i agree..

PAUL!

[Aredubjay]

Hey, ain't it great! You guys can go at it about Talons and WRX's without hearing somebody piss and moan and yelling "OFF TOPIC." I'm liking this place more and more. Continue guys -- just clean the blood off the floor when it's over. Gotta keep our new clubhouse nice and shiney. :D

[Rev Hard]

you post too much randy...

PAUL!

[blonde_man]

Don't forget the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 guys. I'd say that is a better comparison to the WRX than the Talon. It still has pretty much the same engine and transmission as the Talon, but has a sedan wrapped around it. Also the Galant VR4 was an official World Rally Championship car before the Lancers (and Imprezas) came out.

So I guess you could say that the Galant VR4 was actually a competitor to the Subaru Legacy turbo, which was the predecessor for the Impreza WRX.

So how does the Talon/Eclipse fit into this? Well I guess Mitsubishi was smart, and realized that despite the Galant VR4's powerful setup, it's normal looks wouldn't be a big boost to sales. So they decided to wrap the rally car with a more sportier body, and the cash register rang up A LOT more often!

We can only hope that Subaru will also implement a similar business plan, by perhaps bringing back the SVX as a "super-styled" body with WRX mechanicals...

Only time will tell...

[Aredubjay]

Yes, Paul. And, your problem with that is . . .

[RRX]

I saw two on the road Saturday. A blue one and a white one. I think they look better in person, but nothing spactacular. They look boring. The old body style was much better and aggresive looking. I agree with 1994SubaruSVX. If they were to bring out another svx and mess it up like that, they would be better off leaving it alone.

[mohrds]

You can pretty it up outside or inside. You can make it quick as lightning. It will never be anything more than a fast neon/sentra/corolla.

I've seen a 454 in a chevette. No matter how fast it went, it was still a chevette.

I can't understand what all the fuss is about this WRX.

Just my opinion. That and $1 will get you an expresso.

PS. I'm mostly writing this to get the feel of posting on this new board.

Doug

[micah]

I'm guessing Car magazine didn't pay any mind to the fact it was "just an impreza" when they named it Car of the Decade.

The car is not just a big engine in an econocar body. It is a perfectly balanced, rally-bred, AWD car with a heritage of winning races.

People have different priorities, but to me an AWD car that goes to 60 in 5.5 and does the quarter in the mid 14's, stock, is worth fussing over. The car just blows away everything else in its class.

And, to be honest, I'm glad they didn't go with the boy-racer looks on this one. It's conservative looks will make it less appealing to the chrome rims crowd, making it more available to people who appreciate the mechanicals.

Just my $0.02
mbs

[Aredubjay]

Doug, first of all, I'll have to agree with you there. I think you and I are of the same opinion that form should compliment function. I mean, remember the Vega funny cars? Now that was a FUNNY car. But, like you said, that, and a dollar . . .

I'm glad you're giving the board another try. I think I've found a way arund your frustration with "new posts." I work it like this. I start at the "Subaru SVX forum." Then, I click "view new posts." When finished reading the first post I want and posting (if I wish), then, I return to "Subaru SVX forum", click "View new posts" again, and it takes me back to new posts and shows the post I just visited as "read" -- That way I can keep track. I know this sounds like a lot of steps, but, the time it takes to make the steps is often quicker than it takes for the "next" post to load on Yahoo (that's not a "slam" -- simply my experience).

[mohrds]

OK, I'm going to show my stupidity.

I went to the main forum, clicked on "view new posts"
Then I clicked on the right facing arrow that has a caption of "go to last post".
Then I read the message and scrolled up to the top where I clicked on "Home"
Then I clicked on "view new posts" and it still showed the same forum, thread and message in the list.

So I tried the whole process again and again, each time clicking on a diferent item in the "view new posts" area. I tried clicking on the Down Arrow "go to first post", the thread name, the forum, and the right arrow "last post" again. Each time I got the same results. The "view new posts" shows me the message from you that I just finished reading.

The only way I can get them to stop is to click on the "Mark all forums read" on the main forum page.

What am I doing wrong?

Doug

[Aredubjay]

First of all, don't click "Home". Scroll back to the top and click "Subaru SVX Forum." Then, click "view new posts." Then, click the post you want to review. Click the "down facing arrow" marked "go to last post." Once you've finished viewing, or posting to that post, scroll back to the top and click "Subaru SVX Forum" (Not Main Forum, or Home), then click "view new posts" again. The post you had just visited should now be marked with a "closed envelope" and the remainder of the posts you haven't visited will show open ones. Once you've reviewed all the posts, then go back to "Subaru SVX Forum" and click "mark all forums read." Then, minimize and when you come back, click the "refresh" button to see if your "green svx's" turn "yellow" to indicate new posts.

[mohrds]

Now I understand. That works, but it is kind of cumbersome.

If only I could get rid of the SVX logo off of the site. People walk by and wonder they are paying me small sums of money to look at an SVX site. With the Yahoo site, I had a favorite set up to open the message area full screen. Just text, No one knew what I was doing when they walked by.

I played with that here and it keeps formatting the screen with the whole site.

At least I can navigate through here now. Thanks RWJ. I'll have to buy you and the missus your 3rd round since Larry's got the first and someone else (I can't remember who) who was getting the 2nd.

Doug

[Rev Hard]

<<People have different priorities, but to me an AWD car that goes to 60 in 5.5 >>

cause 6.4 is what subaru is advertising and i hope they didnt misprint all those ads!

PAUL!

[Aredubjay]

Doug, I'll take you up on that round :) Meanwhile, we've been trying to recruit some GFX artists to put a new face to the forum. Although Chris did a great job, we really need some folks to submit some new and exciting graphics that will make this site even more beautiful. If you know of anyone, that's familiar with "what it takes," send them our way (prefereably an SVXer, since this site has been created by and for the SVXer). Submissions can be made by going to the "News" section, which can be accessed by clicking www.subaru-svx.net at the bottom of the page.

[RRX]

They don't look that bad, But Most people prefer the previous aggressive looks, no matter if they put chrome rims on thier car or not.

[svxxx26]

Back when I was lurking on the I-club board, it was pretty much filled up with the same sentiments about the WRX as I'm seeing here on this site: "Looks like a Neon", "not agressive enough", "looks like a corolla", "I like the old one better", "it's nothin' special", and so on.
I can't argue style with you - you either like it or you don't - but as for the rest of it, I gotta say "I DON'T GET IT".
Reading through the literature - mechanically speaking - it sounds like a baby SVX! Let's see: 227 HP turbo engine, AWD, MANUAL TRANNY, stiffened-up body structure . . . NO WAIT - it's sounding even better! And people are yawning???
I'll say it again, I won't be trading my SVX in for one - but I WILL get one, sooner or later.

[svxter]

DO NOT drive a WRX, as the experience is likely to create overwhelming cravings to buy one. You may experience uncontrolled adrenalin rushes, resulting in shaking, cold chills and sweating. It may also cause you to abandon your better judgement, and actually go Honda hunting. You make even be tempted to try to tackle bigger game, such as Mustang GTs and Pontiacs. In short, Wow! But then, maybe I'm just easily impressed.

As someone mentioned, the doors do seem small, compared to the SVX. However, I had no trouble getting into the car. The doors are much lighter than the SVX's, but then, so is the whole car. I found the cockpit entirely adequate for me, and I'm not a terribly small person (6', 220lbs.) The car strikes me as more nimble than the SVX, and I liked having a 5-speed manual (although my stick-shift skills need honing). I only wish I had the time to get a bit more confident with the car, and take on some of the windy back roads around here. When the aftermarket parts for this car kicks in, I think there's going to be a lot of nice bolt-on goodies, too.

And, the headlights do NOT look like a Neon's. No way, once you actually see the car, would you make that mistake. If you think the WRX's headlight are wild, wait until you see the ones on the 2002 WRC car.

Yeah, Jerry, I'm with you. I want one! (Whimper, whine)

[svxxx26]

Bill, I have the perfect candidate for "Official Meet Photographer": SVXphile (Don).
Don took some fantastic digital pics at the Snowshoe Meet, and don't let him tell you otherwise!

Oh, and BTW - your mention of Earl Duff's ultimate door prize had me breaking into the cold sweats!
This year, "probably not" :( but maybe he could hold onto it for next year? ;)

[svxter]

Yeah, Don tries to tell us he's technically illiterate, but we know better, don't we? I hope he will consent to being the official meet photog.

Don't know why Tim wouldn't do it next year - hopefully, there's be a 2002 WRX, or something else to get excited about.

Yes, I shouldn't have driven it. I just knew I shouldn't, but there you are. I want a blue or green one, without the spoiler. Makes it look even less impressive. But, it's the view from the driver's seat that counts, and from there, it's great.

[svxxx26]

I'm kind of partial to the WRX Sport Wagon, any color would do - but silver would be cool.
I have grown accustomed to the practicality of the Legacy wagon, plus it adds to the "sleeper" quality of the car.