Even though i can drive it now because of my cast, sooner or later or at least when its time to get on to driving again, its gonna be snow, so the question then becomes do i need snow tires for my WRX? Do AWD cars with stabilization controls really need snow tires? what do you think?
Two weeks ago i worte a blog post warning about toping up the gas tank on the 2009 WRX 265 as it instantly over flowed with gas and spilled. While i was as writing it, i thought to myself surly i am not the only one who does this and decided to ask. I used ask500 (great service, and if you are on twitter integrates nicley @ask500) So I asked the world the following
http://www.ask500people.com/questions/when-you-fill-up-the-gas-tank-do-you-try-to-top-off-to-an-even-dollar-amount#votes
Here are the results
40% said they stop pumping when the pump clicks off
27% said they keep pumping until they get a nice even dollar amount (That is me)
12% said they pump until they get a nice amount (does not have to be an even dollar)
22% said they pump on a set budget x$ per pump
Great results, and very fascinating if one take a look at them by gender,age, etc… really cool stuff
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Well i had to go through surgery on my Achilles heal, its been two days days now since my operation. Here is what really sucks.
I am in a cast for 6 weeks, when that cast is done, i am moved to something called an air cast, and i stay in that for another 6 weeks. So 3 month in a cast, you guessed it. NO DRIVING. I cant imagine.
Mean while my wrx is parked in the drive way, So sad, I just want to get and drive it as fast as i possibly could…. My doc tells me that my insurance maybe void if i am in a cast.
Having the wrx parked is just painful to watch. Man.
I had intended on taking my 265 to the track this weekend. long story short, i was playing soccer and busted my achillies heel, and have to go for surgery. So nothing to report on the 0 – 60 or quarter mile runs or whatever.
But when i hurt myself, i fell down hard and eventually painfully made it to the car, of course i cant drive, and thank God my wife plays on the same team and thank God she drives standard. So my wife jumped behind the wheel, for this first time, she was a bit hesitant to drive it because she was worried it maybe too fast.
The Feedback from my wife:
1) Visibility is not good: Mind you my wife is tiny, 5 foot tall. She moved up the seat as much as possible, pumped it as high as possible and she still thought that the view was limited especially with the air intake being high up. My wife also had a hard time parking and backing up because the seats are built up high and get in the way for someone her size. When she turned around the seat was kinda in the way.
2) She loved the ride, she said that the one thing Subaru did well was to give you that sense of control, and that when she got to high speed (and yes she did, as we where rushing to the emergency room) you never lost or felt that you are going to lose control of the car.
3) She thought that the dials and instruments where great, because she jumped in the car and was able to manage things quickly.
In general she thought it was a fun ride, but not for her because of the visibility. I bet Subaru is not going after women my wife’s size with the wrx 265 anyway
Earlier this week I wrote about my 1st week with the WRX, i was actually behind a bit when i wrote it. Today I have a chance to do the week 2 review on time, so here goes.
Overall I am still extremley happy with the car, I can honestly say that this has been the most fun car i have had, and I am so glad that i actually went for it. The drive and the performance of the car are just amazing. If you want to feel a speed rush, this is a real good way at it. I am also still impressed with the gas efficiency of the car, its averaging arround 10L/100KM so not bad for a speed monster.
This morning i woke up and there was a bit of frost on the windsheild, its that time of year i guess, i did turn on the car, put on the heat, and was surprised how fast it defrosted the windsheild, i would say within seconds it started to warm up, so that is another think i like about it. I almost thought that I should turn on the heated seats, but thought i will save that experience until it really get cold to see how that does.
Earlier this week, i took a very tall friend on a ride, he sat in the front seat, and commented how much space he had, he said that he liked how Subaru designed the passenger side very well, because they curved it in and allows for a lot of leg room, he actually sat in the back and while yes a bit tight for his height he still managed to sit comfortably. Interesting as well how the back seats are designed in a curved way, gives those who sit in the middle a bit more comfort. well done with that.
On the “needs improvments” side of thing. The radio, i mean I already talked about the radio, i dont why the sound is not great, i should take it in and have them look at it. Plus that radio itself is not user friendly, or maybe its me. There are a couple of buttons that, well, i have no idea what they do. So one day, i will pull out the user manual and read it to see what those buttons are all about, for now i will go on believing that when pressed they will do miracoulous things. Of course the compartments, if you have read this blog, you would know by now, that i think the car needs serious compartment action.
Now on a different note. I was driving it yesterday on the HWY(a bit over the speed limit) going 120 KM/H or 75 M/hour, and i was looking at the dash and noticed that the car is driving with RMP at 3000. Now i gotta tell you the car makes a really cool noise at that level, i swear it sounds like a plane ready to launch, and if you do give it gas, it will launch. BUT BUT BUT, i thought to myself, hey i am just taking it easy, i really am not in the mood to fly, i was actually on cruse control, and though this cars is seriously missing a 6th great. I mean the HP of it warrants a 6th gear. If they had a 6th great you would cruse at much lower RPM which is just fine with me. When i have the kids in the car, i dont need to be going Moch 5. Plus it will be more gas efficient. Even the Mini for goodness sake has a 6th gear, the BMW 1 as well, etc… I dont quite understand why Subaru has not moved up in the 6 gear box format yet.
http://www.ask500people.com/questions/when-you-fill-up-the-gas-tank-do-you-try-to-top-off-to-an-even-dollar-amount
What is that saying, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. How about 3 times
Well it happened again, so shame on me but i am so used to my old car. You know, you pull up to the gas pump and start pumping, and then when the gas tank is full, the thing clicks off.
Now i don’t know about you, but i have this thing where i want to keep pumping until i have an even dollar amount. So lets say i put gas and the tank took $29.37 well i deally i would like to keep pumping (slowly) until i hot $30 or at least a nice number like $29.50 or $29.75. Silly I know, but that is me, are you like that? I should do a poll on this…. hmmm
Anyway, here is my WARNING: Do not do this with your WRX.
Apparently when the WRX is full, it really means it. unlike my other car, i swear i can go for a whole dollar after its “full”. With the WRX, you got pennies at best.
3 times now. I am not kidding 3 times now. I am pumping, and while i am trying to watch the numbers on the pump, trying to make sure that i dont go over. Like, it will be a moral disaster if i hit $30.01. I look down, and gas is gushing out of the tank. All over, what a mess. And now I am all worried that forever more i have damaged the car 
because it has gas spilling over it. Off i go into the car wash again…
On the possitve side, i must have the cleanest WRX265 out there
This weekend I am going to take the car to a local race track. The track opens up to the public on the weekends. You can go there and basically drag against, well against anyone who shows up, could be bike, could be a ferrari, could be a 1960 bettle. The track also lets you do quarter mile runs and 0 – 60 clocks.
Should be fun, plan to go take pics etc… and see what the 265 horses can put out.
Ok, so yesterday i head downtown for dinner with some friends, got to the parking lot and it is one of those no attendand parking lots. You get it, get a ticket, hang on to it, and then when you leave you walk up to a machine, put your ticket in, and pay. Once you pay you get another ticket which is what you use to scan yourself to get out.
I get in, get my ticket, no place to put it. As you know i already posted about the lack of compartments in the car. There is a compartment under the heat controls a good portion of it is taken up by the 12 volt adapter. I put my ticket there, kinda toss it in, and off i go to do my thing. I come back, i try to get the ticket, but you think i can get my hand in? nope, so this compartment is shallow and deep. I don’t think i have giant hands either. Anyway i managed to get the ticket out and get going, but those compartments or lack of, is getting annoying. I have now resorted to using a (well i wont call it compartment) more of a side thing, that is on the door, its working Kinda, but not the best solution.
Its been almost a week since I got the WRX, and still love it, I find myself finding excuses to get in the car and go for a ride. Yes I managed to put a few miles and a speeding ticket (HORROR) in just one week. I have a feeling this speeding ticket wont be the last.
So after a week with the car, one starts to realize things about the car that you won’t just find in your quick test drive back at the dealership. So here is my list of things that are well, not great and should be improved. Subaru are you listening?
On the down side
Compartments: Honestly the car has no compartments; I mean where do you put your change or parking garage badge or anything. There is only one giant, yet awkward compartment where you would put CD’s but that is it. The shallow compartment next to the cup holders (Subaru’s idea of a change holder) is not good because when you go fast around the corner, the change goes for a ride as well. So Subaru, Please some compartments next time.
Sunroof: It cute, but not sure the point of this thing, when you open it, it barley opens up. So Subaru, either make it bigger or get rid of it, no need to have a tiny sunroof.
The sound system: Not too great, actually I think it’s the most disappointing thing about this car so far. When you drive it, especially on the high way, you can barley hear the sound and have to crank it up real high to hear. But when you crank it up, the sound quality is not good at all. The sound is even more muffled when you plug in an iPod. Maybe its my car that has this problem. Curious what others experience, let me know.
On the Upside.
The drive: just pure fun, no need to say anything else, the car rocks. I need to take it to a track and let it loose. The drive, from speed, to handling, everything is just great.
Gas Efficiency: I was worried when I got it to be honest, because 265 horses can drink a lot. And yes, if you are just driving it in town and pedal to the metal all the time (as I did the first 3 days) it will burn up a lot of gas. I went through half the tank in just 150 KM or so, so no not efficient (but a lot of fun).
HOWEVER, this weekend I drove it like I would drive any car, and went out of town, I drove it about 450K on a HWY and that only consumed ¾ of the tank. So in my mind, that is very fuel efficient and a pleasant surprise.
One week in, no regrets, awesome ride, and a few things that can be improved