First of all let me start off with a little background on the particular Subaru I owned. It was in a minor fender bender and the guy who posted the ad online scared away potential buyers by stating the title was not clear. I picked it up for $5,800 with 105,000 miles in very good condition when it was worth closer to $8,000. I was a little reluctant picking up an AWD turbocharged car, but a friend of mine has owned a few and assured me they are some of the most reliable cars… plus he was a certified mechanic and said he’d work on it if I needed any done. I was sold.
Performance:
The flat four-cylinder really holds its own throughout all of the rpm range. I was very surprised with the amount of torque you could feel even in the low rpm range for a four-cylinder. Once the revs passed about 3200rpms you could feel the turbo start to kick in.
The WRX seemed to have substantial body roll compared to most sporty cars. The suspension seemed loose and you could really feel the lean when taking sharp(er) corners on pavement, but when the car was offroad it seemed that the looser suspension made times of oversteer forgiving. Mind you loose or not it is a very balanced car on and offroad.
The AWD was really the forte of the car. You could launch at just about any rpm without slipping the tires (much). I believe this made the car very predictable in times of oversteer. You could basically put the pedal to the floor and aim the wheels where you wanted them to go without having to worry about inducing more oversteer (maybe a little understeer).
Build Quality:
Mind you my car had over 105,000 miles and even so there was not much noticeable wear on any of the plastic pieces. The only faded paint on the car was the hood, which I imagine was because it was replaced because of the accident.
The engine never had any problems for the 15,000+ miles I put on it before trading it in and I pushed it fairly hard daily. Then again I’m not a fan of redlining cars, slamming gears or dropping the clutch, so I could be exaggerating slightly.
The only problem that I had with this car was that the car never liked going into first gear while rolling, which from what I heard is due to having somewhat weak gears in the stock transmission so to anyone looking to drive your WRX hard refrain from slamming gears.
Appearance:
It’s a Subaru world class rally car, enough said. I love it, others hate it due to the “buyeye” lights. To each his/her own.
Cost of Ownership:
Spent a total of $600 in parts for regular maintenance (spark plugs, timing belt, water pump, thermostat, brakes, etc…) for the 15,000+ miles I put on. Luckily a friend of mine installed everything for only a few hundred dollars. Surprisingly Subaru parts are not nearly as expensive as you’d expect… then again I was not replacing the engine, transmission or a turbo.
Fun Factor:
This particular WRX had an intake and exhaust. When the turbo spooled the aftermarket AEM intake definitely amplified the sound from inside and the exhaust note on this car is unlike most four cylinders, it sounds beefy at any rpm. Not to mention the looks you get when you shift gears and the blow off valve releases pressure while passing those honda kids still waiting for vtec to kick in.
Overall this car is a fun car on and offroad and performs very well on all terrains rain or shine, but if I were to buy another WRX it will be an STI. I had the chance of test driving a 2004 STI recently and the difference is day and night. The suspension is much more solid, the extra 80hp+ makes the car feel like a rocket, you can adjust the torque distribution and the 6 speed transmission is more or less bulletproof from what I’ve been told.
Pros: comfort, awd traction, offroad ability, offroad handling
Cons:loose suspension, weak transmission
I have always enjoyed reading books based on the power of thought. I’ve found that many discuss the same topics, but none break it down as flawlessly as James Allen (This is actually a revised and updated version of As a Man Thinketh by James Allen). I feel that when I’m feeling down in any given situation and looking for enlightenment that this is the book to brighten my day and help me understand how important it is to stay positive as it directly effects the way we, as human beings, live our lives.