So next week will be a month, and I am now through the break in.
Dam this is one fast car. I can not begin to tell you all how surprised I have been with the power and acceleration.
I have to agree with previous complaints on the blog,
-I would love to have one more gear. In my SVT Focus (still for sale, I would love to sell it) I had a 6speed gear box, and cruising down the highway at a low RPM is quite missed now.
Other issues:
-The luggage/cargo cover in the back squeaks a lot! Drives me bananas! But I have mentioned this to Kyle at Budd’s and he told me he has a quick fix for it that we will do when I am in for my first oil change.
-The reverse gear like an angry house wife is very selective about when it lets you in. I guess it is a straight cut gear (based on its sound) and thus requires some coaxing. Has any one else had this issue?
On that note, those are minor. The list of pros would go on and on. I cannot get over how sure footed this car is in the rain. I normally would white knuckle in the rain on sport tires, but I have to continually check my speed when in this car even in the rain. It builds such a level of confidence. I am blown away constantly the power you can ease in mid corner. The mountain switch backs in Hamilton were child’s play. Apex’s were easy to hit, throttle response was world class and the car is so stable, although feeling a little soft with body roll.
I think I will be going to a stiffer lowering spring, and maybe upgrade the sway bars next season to reduce some of the nose lift/dive, and body roll. I will be very tempted for a track day.
(behave behave)
On that note, here is a question:
What have people been doing for winter tires?
Anybody running 16”s?
JT83
I read your comments and definitely agree with the ‘fast’ thing….I have a 2009 Blue hatch with SPT Exhaust(great sound with more power), Short throw Shifter(well worth it), Front Strut Brace(tightened cornering), Boost Gauge(same color as dash gauges), Red Foot-well Lights, Fog Lamp Covers, Dark Tinted Windows, the Headlights and Fog lamps have been protected with HID Blue Film from RVinyl and the tail lights with smoked tint film. I fixed the cover(which was squeaking) with felt tabs. Never had an issue with the reverse gear, other than double clutching like most sports cars I’ve owned. The cornering and quickness are exceptional. I live in Montana and have lot’s of places I can PLAY! I drove a STI and decided on the WRX because it rode so much smoother and was much more ‘street user friendly’, along with more ‘creature comforts’…i.e. heated seats, moon roof, red stitching ect…the acceleration on either model is ‘adrenaline rush fast’…I’ve had mine for about 5 months and am loving every time I drive it, hope your having a great experience too….
Comment by Mark — October 30, 2009 @ 6:38 am
In answer to your ‘Winter Tire’s question….I still have my summer tires on the WRX, but recently put Michelin 225/55R17 Primacy Alpin Performance Winter tires on our ’08 Outback and there great. Am seriously considering putting the same on the WRX. Another Winter Performance tire I’ve used is the P225/55R17 M&S Dunlap Winter Sports 3D HR.( on the Outback) It was a great tire too, but I think I prefer the new Michelin’s for performance on the WRX. There a great riding tire and have a stiff sidewall for cornering. They (the Michelin’s) were recommended by my Bridgestone Dealer that told me the sidewall on the Blizzak were pretty soft for my kind of driving. It’s all a personnel choice…..
Comment by Mark — October 30, 2009 @ 7:03 am
Thanks Mark!
I think that is the fix. some felt tabs. Because right now when I drive down a bumpy street, that cover sounds like a little man in a room on a ship signaling in morris code.
The winter tires, I would love to go to a 16″ package with a white wheel, but I think that is not gonna happen. The dealer has an amazing package for 17″ alloy wheel with a 215 45 17 dunlop wintersport 3d. So that might be what I go with, with the addition of a rally armor mud flaps.
We will see.
Comment by jt83 — October 30, 2009 @ 10:56 am
I have the same problem with my reverse gear on my 2010 4 door. Almost got hit tring to back in my diveway the other day. This is one fast car. I installed a turbo xs hybird bov. Sounds great and works just like the stock one. The hybird bov dont have the problems like a regular bov. Its a dircet bolt on part and took only 10 min to install.
Comment by mwrx — November 7, 2009 @ 9:13 am
mwrx- I’ve owned a few sports cars in my day and getting the tranny to go into reverse is all to common. I never really considered it a problem as much as it is part of the package with high end sports cars…’double clutching’, if you will, always seems to be the desired way to drop it in gear. a little patience never hurts either….Anyway, I was interested in the BOV and whether it affected the warranty. I’m going to my dealer on Monday and see what John has to say…He’s a Master tech, and actually just got back from Subaru’s school that he attends once a year. He’s got 20 plus years experience with Subaru and I have him, and only him, do any work on my Outback and WRX. Did you feel any gains in HP or a quicker response? I assume that it cuts down on the ‘turbo lag’ and makes the x-car a little ‘quicker’…I’ve been patiently waiting to see if SOA comes out with an intake system that keeps it in warranty and makes the appropriate adjustments to the ECU. I’ve got the SPT exhaust system and am ready for the intake portion of the package. Not really interested in after market intakes. John told me that without the ECU adjustments from Subaru, I wouldn’t realize the gains I’m looking for. Having a great time with X-car….hope you are too. Mark
Comment by Mark — November 8, 2009 @ 6:55 am
Mark, The turbo xs hybrid bov runs like the stock. Only difference is it has 2 small port holes on the back that let a small amount of air out witch gives you the noise you want. They came out with the hybrid because all the problems that come with a vent to atomosphere bov. It seems maybe a tad faster but I think that is due to like you said it does cut down on turbo lag. The car runs the same. Youre really just buying the bov for the noise or if you plan on running more boost you would have to replace the stock one anyway. Ill check on the warranty with that bov and let you know what my dealer tells me. I think somtimes the dealer makes there own rules on some warrantys. Just pasted the 1000 mile point and it has been a good time since. What year is you outback? My wife just bought a 2010 outback about 2 months ago and we love it. mwrx
Comment by mwrx — November 8, 2009 @ 9:23 am
Winter tires, I got a set last year from deals 4 wheels. I get them to put them on the same rims. I did not feel like going out and paying 800 on rims alone.
Comment by Samer Forzley — November 8, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
Just installed new Dunlop 3d winter tires on my 2009 wrx. I picked the 94V rating instead of 91H which is supposed to be a little stiffer. I put them on dedicated oem 16″ silver steel rims my dealer sold for a good price (half the catalogue). I can say that the car is not as “crisp” as with the summer stocks (duh?). Braking is somewhat easier but overall the car is softer. Hardly wait to test it in snow.
Comment by cata_o — November 9, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
I have the same cargo cover squeaking problem. Were you able to get it fixed?
Comment by 2010 STi — November 12, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Apparently it is quite common. So I have mentioned it to the shop, and I am going to have it fixed this weekend when I am getting my winter tires put on.
Kyle (service manager) told me it is an easy fix with a little felt tape. It is just the plastic of the foot and the plastic of the socket it fits in rubbing against each other.
So I will let you know how it goes when Every thing is done.
Comment by jt83 — November 12, 2009 @ 1:33 pm
Thanks JT83, let me know, ill book them for an oil change as soon as you know they can fix it!
Comment by 2010 STi — November 12, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
Any luck jt83 with the cargo cover?
Comment by 2010 STi — November 16, 2009 @ 6:50 am
We didn’t have time to get it done when I was in, but I am told it is an easy fix where they just put a little felt on in and it is solved.
I am in for an oil change soon and so I will be getting it done then.
Comment by jt83 — November 17, 2009 @ 10:52 am
This is my first Subaru…so I went with the WRX. I agree on the speed but the ‘quick fix’ with felt did not work. The dealer glued strips of felt to where you put the cargo cover. Then they replaced the cargo cover, and within a week, the tick tick tick was back. The latest cargo cover now sits in my garage.
I had a pile of other sweaks…very disappointed. Where the emergency tire is stored, there is more foam than reasonable. I ended up putting layers of towels to muffle the noise. I guess I had too many trips to the dealer.
Now I get a hum/buz from the winter tires (Micheline X-Ice 17″). If I go over 80 KM/hr…you hear a hum. I was told by the dealer that this is a Subaru, and that is the inteligent all-wheel-drive. True?
Comment by Claude — January 7, 2010 @ 1:11 pm