2009 Subaru WRX 265

The views below do not reflect those of the owner’s blog, but from another user and deals with the 2010 WRX Limited Edition, available in Canada

The 3rd generation WRX, the most hated and loved WRX to date.

When the 2008 model was released people were bashing the performance, looks, and engineering of the vehicle.

2008 Impreza WRX 5 door

It had the same power as the years before and adopted a Toyota look to it, remebiscent of a new Corolla. The drive didn’t feel like a WRX because it distanced the driver from the vehicle with increased sound dampening, softer spring rate, and a new look not everyone liked (especially the Chevrolet style grille)

When the MY09 was released Subaru tried to shush it’s haters by adding and extra 41 hp to the car, updated grille, lighter clutch, and 43% stiffer suspension. Although it looked great on paper, a few hundred owners came back complaining after the engine spun a bearing during/after the break in period. This repair required a new engine block and turbo equaling $7000 in loses for each car that required this service.

Post September 08 build date engine failures became rare, and the 09 started selling like hotcakes.

I myself had been waiting for a WRX 265 since May and the dealership couldn’t even find me one.

So I picked up a 2010 WRX Limited Sedan in World Rally Blue and had to wait a month for it.

First of all the main difference is the leather interior (which surprised my friends at the Mercedes dealership) is only available in Canada. The seats are extremely comfortable and soft. You could definately drive this car for hours without getting sore. The leather is smooth and compliments the rest of the car with red stitching as seen on the wheel.

The sound system has been upgraded from the base model to include an in dash 6cd changer, Sirius satellite radio, better component speakers than the 09, Usb, iPod and iPhone connectivity/charging with auxillary input as well. The factory equalizer setting leaves little to be desired but after some fine tuning the car actually sounds decent and just needs a sub to fill out the lows. It also has steering wheel controls allowing you to change songs and satellite/fm stations, or muting the system completely. My only gripe and I’m not sure if it’s the iPhone Os 3.0 update or the car, but when someone calls you can’t hear them with the car speakers, while my old Pioneer deck allowed that.

Along with this it includes a slightly updated sideskirts and a sunroof

From reading opinions online about the 09 it sure looks like Subaru has listened to its haters, and put out a car that has the enthusiast in mind.

When you step into the car, the first thing you’ll notice is the glowing gauges, a sign the car is ready, almost as if it has a soul and waits for your command.

The clutch is softer than most sports cars I’ve driven which has it’s adantaves and disadvantages. The catching point is very feint but the soft clutch allows easier and smoother shifts for daily use.

The power is amazing. First gear shoots you into the seat after 3000rpm with minimal lag and no surging, shifting into 2nd gets you that sigh of relief to breathe and once you hit the throttle again it takes your breath away. Car and Driver rates this car at 4.7 seconds for 0-60mph with a 13.5 sec 1/4 mile; similar performance as an STI in a straight line.

After owning this car for just over a week I noticed very few issues. One of them being that there was dry coolant near the rad cap, while it could have been spillage from filling it, I think it was from me showing my fiancé how to drive the car and getting out of first gear for an hour which could have been very stressfull of the car since it wasn’t getting any airflow to cool it down. Always monitor the coolant temp, the gauges are a good way but if you start to see heatwaves coming from your engine bay (evaporating coolant) while you are at a stop light shut it off and let the car cool down before driving it again.

I haven’t been able to reproduce this issue so it looks like the car is working normally again and the fiancé is able to drive better than I can now.

Winter is coming soon so we will see how the care fares with Manitoba winters (6 months of ice and snow with sub -40C). I’m picking up snow tires and steel wheels tomorrow because we will have snow by October.

-Eric Orbeta II

Hi All

When i first started to write this blog, i wanted to share my experience with the car, and while I love this car, my experineces with it is just one view.

I think it would be really cool if this blog has a couple of people writing about their experinces, adding their photos, videos, whatever.

So if you are intersted in writing and sharing your stories and have a 2009 wrx, let me know

Thanks

Well, I was driving along at got to a stop sign. Best way to describe the street, it has two main lanes, a left turning lane, and a right turning lane. I got to the light in the lane next to the left turning lane and got up behind a giant SUV, in front of the SUV was a car, and no one behind me. So light, car, SUV, me.

On the left turning lane there are 3 cars waiting for the arrow to go green, so they can turn. That particular intersection, the left turning lanes turn on green before the main ones.

Left lane lights go green, cars start to move, dude in the SUV decide he wants to go left, but he is too close to the car in front of him, puts in reverse and backs into me, at a fairly low speed I have to admit, problem is his car is so large and he has got him self a little hitch, which made a nice impression on my license and a nice little dent in the bumper.

WRX Bumper

Guys argues that this is a minor dent and he will not pay for the repair, perhaps, but the car is a lease and when if I take it back, I will pay, so why should I pay for something I did not cause? Long story short he is paying, but here is the deal. I feel bad for him, I do, and wanted to see if we can get this fixed cheap, no such thing

3 nation wide body shops, all in the $1200 – $1300 range, wow, for a bumper, kicker the bumper is only $300 its all the labor that kills. Could Subaru be cheaper, can they do this at a cost lower than the national shops? No way I thought? well yes way. I took it to the dealer and the guy there tells me, this bumper is fine, does not need to be replaced we can fix it for $770. Way to go Subaru!!!!

So next Monday into the shop we go.

When I got the WRX, I just thought its just another car, except its faster. But then on my way to work in the morning, I have to turn left to make it to a main road that will eventually take me to work. And every morning like clock work, i bump into the same blue WRX. The guy driving that car, waved hello first, and since then daily we exchange a quick wave. At first I thought this is just an interaction between me and him, but then later found out that this is something that all WRX owners do. At least where i live.

I have no idea who this dude is, if you read this blog hit me up man, for now I am gonna call you Bob. So to all the Bob’s out there, Hello!

Does this happen to you? is this something that happens in your neighbourhood? Do you have your own Bob?

Yesterday, the car was making a hissing noise, So i thought i would open up the hood and take a look. Of course I could not see anything, but I started to take a look around and noticed that my cooling liquid was extremely low, almost empty. Is this normal?

My previous cars never used up coolant, I think I drove my old Toyota for ever and never noticed coolant at such low levels. I am new to the whole WRX experience,  maybe this is normal, have you experienced this?

Started looking for information on whats new for the 2010 WRX. There seems to be rumors out there about 5 more HP and not much more, I will keep an eye out. But if I was Subaru, I will make the following changes ASAP

1. Fix the engine issue
2. Add a 6th gear
3. Fix the pop out of 4th gear issue
4. Add a wind shield washer fluid sensor
5. A better sound system.

What do you think??? Add yours here…

I went to Home Depot this Sun with the fam, wanted to buy some cleaner. We walk in, how do you quickly find the cleaner? You ask one of the workers. We get our marching orders, and on our way we go. Then we saw that the Home Depot is selling these tiny lime trees. COOL, we pick one up, and thought hey its tree planting season!!! Before you now it, an Apple Tree, a Cherry Tree, and on we go, before you know it, we have a few items in the cart, and no cleaner yet.

How do we get these trees home + 4 passengers?

I have a bad habit, when I drive, i keep my right hand on the gear shift.  But lately and maybe I imagining things, I noticed that while i am driving, the gear just pops out of 4th gear, and i find myself in neutral, with a nice rev

Does this happen to you?

Where does the time go, it has been 6 month since I got my WRX 265, and I thought it will be fun to do a review. I was thinking, I will give this car a grade, you know how fancy car magazines say this car is an A or a B or a D. And so here is the grade a B+

The ride: A+

This car is fast, do not buy this car if you are in the market for a slow Sunday stroll, this car wants to go, and will go. I am shocked that I dont have more speeding tickets. The ride is tight, Subaru did an amazing job with this car. The seats are comfy, the handling is perfect, the AWD is also awesome. BUT again, the speed, man o man

Subaru: A -

Even though i had some issues, the dealership i deal with where great, I have to say that they treated me fairly and well. Except for that horrible survey they sent out, and there not so great road side assistance program. So far my dealing with Subaru has not been painful, and that is more that i can ask from any dealership

Interior: B-

Dont get me wrong, the car is nice, and they did and excellent job with the dash. But the car can use a few fixes. For example:

The sound system is sub par

The Mechanics: D+

That is expected, what can i say, a blown engine. I mean I wont give them such a bad mark if I was the only one, but i am not, there are a lot of people out there with bad engines, so something is off, and Subaru needs to fix it

Overall the car is great, a lot of fun, and real fast. Do I love it, YES. Would I buy it again, YES.

WRX owners, do you agree, was I fair in my assessment?

It did not hit me until this week, i was driving, and needed to clean off my window. I hit the spray button and nothing. I thought hey, wait a min, does the WRX come with a warning light that tells you when the water levels are low? It does not look like it, i pulled up and filled up the tank and off I went.

Those sensors are cheap to install, most cars have them, why the WRX does not is beyond me. Anyone know if there is a good reason why Subaru thinks a low water level warning is a bad idea?