Alright, I'm sure this has been discussed but our wonderful search engine says "WRX" is too common and won't use it, so I'm starting a whole new thread. Lucky you. I've even decided to bold certain words for those among us who eaither don't have the time or ate all their medication the first night they got it.

I'm sick of sliding around New England all winter in my 97 CL. I also suspect transmission #4 might not be too far off. So I've decided to look for something that's a mix of power, all-weather handling and practicality, that will also, hopefully, be reasonably priced. Being a lesbian, my first instinctive response to this train of thought which I was mumbling aloud to myself was "Subaru WRX". Actually, my first thought was munching out Anne Heche in the back of a Wrangler, but I think that was only because of the rollbar.

Now a couple of additional details for anyone still paying attention - I want a wagon and the transmission is going to have to be an automatic. I'm actually into the wagon thing myself, but the auto isn't up for discussion as my woman can't drive stick, isn't willing to learn, and will basically have to drive her own self around town, twice a year at best if the past year is any indication.

So...the point. I know this is the first model year (2002 - I've seen a bunch, but not so many '03s) for it here in the states (I think), so I'm guessing there must be all sorts of bugs that needed working out, but I'm having trouble finding them. Almost all of the reviews I'm reading just gush on and on about this car. I vaguely recall hearing some complaints about transmission problems(?), but after looking around all day I can't find anything really saying as much. I drove a sedan years ago and all I remember is the interior feeling a little cheap and there being tons of wonderfully controlled power. Does anybody have any experience with these model years, particularly with an auto tranny? Things to look out for? The price range for these seems to have finally dipped down to my humble level, and as much fun as it was replacing the transmission in my CL the first two times I'd rather not get into that mess again. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for your patience with me - they don't let me out of Ramblings often and when they do I usually end up peeing on the rug, so consider yourselves lucky, unless... oh... sorry.

Yours,
Uncle Dirty

 

Good luck AD. Have you considered a Turbo Forester? It's got waaayy more granola-eating lesbian chic than a WRX does.

 

I was actually looking at the same car for my wifey and I found one for 14K an 02 automatic by my house, but I want a stick. I personally never heard anything bad about them that is why I figured one to be in the picture and like Speedy said a Turbo Forester is really a Masshole vehicle

 

Hey! Glad to see I made your sig!

They're starting to hit under $15k around here too and I figure now's the time. I actually just found a 2002 in black with 25k miles on it, factory certified for just under $16k. I'm thinking it's going to be the one.

I'd personally rather a stick, but it's not an option for me, unfortunately. I guess it works out in the end since I'll be driving it into Boston through traffic every day. Let me know how your search works out.

 

AWD isn't going to change your grip levels one bit; if you slid around NE in your CLS, you will slide just as bad in a Subie. The OEM Bridgestones (RE92 I think) on recent Subies are so lousy, you might even have WORSE grip in the WRX. AWD just helps you get power to wheels that DO have grip.

Winter/snow tires on a FWD car will get you through almost any on-road winter conditions. Of course, winter tires on an AWD car are even better, but a $600-$800 set of wheels/winter tires for the CLS is a lot cheaper than a $16k WRX.

 

the one thing i think about when i think of wrx is, how can you tell it hasnt been beat on. the turbo will prob last a lot longer than an acura tranny

 

Thanks for your idiocy!

 

Which is why I'm staying away from anything with any performance mods. I also think looking for an auto wagon will help in that regard, but you never know for sure. All I know is that it can't be any worse than the pile of shit acura sold me.

 

i thought wstevens sold you the feces?

All i can say is buy local and get that bitched checked out at your mechanic before even thinking about it. I just don't want my little dirty to get himself screwed in the 2 hole more than he can handle

 

ummm no.

sorry, but when it comes to snow, AWD > FWD (unless maybe you have blizzaks on the fwd and racing slicks on the awd)

 

fucking

 

Try to get one with low miles and see if you can find one where the owner is a bit older than your regular "just out of the high school" WRX owner. Autos are tough to come around in the WRX and specially an auto wagon. I test drove one when they first came out and the salerman said that autos are special order and not alot of people opt for them (). I am sure you can find a few if you look around towards ME and NH or may be even western Mass.

 

Wow, I never knew that the WRX had an option to get Automatic.

http://www.photoslave.com/journal/auto/wrxspecs.html

That must be very hard to come by.

 

Look for one with a rainbow sticker on the back window...

 

You could wait till January for the A3 quattro v6 auto version to come out.

That one is gonna be a sweet ass car. I wish it came in stick though

 

that should be too easy

 

Heres the one by my house
http://www.lynnessubaru.com/used_veh...57828d1fe7603b

 

I haven't heard anything about problems with the auto tranny. A lot of people complained about the manual, but they are usually the ones that constantly drop the clutch and then wonder why Subaru of America won't give them new trannys.

Auto tranny is supposedly solid, but laggy. Could easily mod out the lag for less than $1000. Parts are plentiful and cheap.

 

Thank you - I knew I had heard whimperings about the transmission, but it makes sense if it was the manual. And after a couple of days of research I'm starting to see just how plentiful and cheap the mods are. Now hopefully I'll be able to find the right one for the right price - there was one for ~$14k, exactly as I needed it (black, auto wagon) with only 27k miles on it, but it got sold on Saturday.

 

I know I will probably get flamed for this, but if its in your budget, look at the MB C class wagon with 4 matic, if handling is what you are after. My mom has a C320 and loves it. I am very impressed with how well it handles, and how quick it was for a wagon. Both me and my boyfriend actually have fun driving it, and you can haul tons of crap. It has awesome tiptronic-probably one of the smoothest out there, so you can sort of have the best of both worlds. Her only compliant is that she wishes she got the bigger wagon, so the stupid dog can have more room to drool, and get hair eveyrwhere. If you want something a little "classier" , give it a look. Just a suggestion-im not a suburu fan at all. My grandmother has a forrester wagon, and nobody is impressed with it. She's getting rid of it for a diesel MB wagon.

 

AD:
I was looking for a WRX as well (in fact I started a thread here about that asking how to spot a used WRX that wasn't beat on) and did not find any that didn't have performance mods. Seriously, whether it was Ebay, Craigslist or a dealers lot it was the same thing, "Oh this car was babied and never abused...blah blah...and it has a turbo timer and a high performance turbo waste gate and on and on..." Maybe the folks that bought them and have not beat on them are keeping them and the ones that bought them and beat them were getting nervous that all of their redline clutch drop launches were about to catch up to them? I eventually gave up my search because my wife didn't want one. From my research they are pretty reliable liitle cars and should serve you well in the snow in the NE. For peice of mind find one that is stock. Good luck with your search.

 

Funny, my woman and I were actually sitting in traffic this morning and one of these passed by and I commented to her on how nice it looked. I'll take a quick run through the classifieds, but I'm guessing they're too much $.

 

Thanks Fury. I'm guessing you're right about the majority of them being abused at some point. At this stage, 3+ years after their debut, I'm guessing quite a few of them out there, particularly at the dealerships, will be off lease. In some cases this is good, and in some it's bad. I know some people will absolutely beat on a leased car on the "it's not mine" mentality. But I'm also guessing that some paranoid people will have been afraid to run them too hard for fear of getting charged for it. Here's hoping I find the right one.

 

http://www.autobytel.com/content/buy...ch/WRX%20Sport

 

03 Subaru Impreza WRX
$15,000 See Saved Vehicles Kelley Blue Book Value
Save This Vehicle Get a CARFAX Record Check
Mileage 47,500 Engine
Body Style Wagon Transmission
Exterior Color Silver Drive Train


WRX WAGON '03 Silver, 47,500 mi., Stock. Adult driven Great shape. Must sell. $15,000. 848-459-7357


Listing Date: December 2, 2005

Listing Source: Asbury Park Press and Home News Tribune

Find Area Codes for Listings from Asbury Park Press and Home News Tribune

 

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...en&cardist=148

 

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...en&cardist=150

 

How about the Saab 9-2X i think. Just basically a re-worked WRX. You complained about the feel of the scoobie to be too low rent. I think the Saab is supposed to feel and look a bit more solid and upscale. Otherwise, you can't go wrong w/ a Legacy GT wagon. Those are pretty bomb.

 

or just check out www.Itakeitintheass.com... shouldn't have a problem finding what you are looking for there.

 

AWD isn't the silver bullet some people think it is. For instance, my TSX has winter tires on it right now, and my wife drives an AWD Saab 9-2X (rebadged Impreza) with the OEM bridgestones. I drove them back to back on the same patch of ice/snow yesterday, and my car with the winter tires on it didn't blink, yet the Saabaru had trouble braking and maintaining lateral stability, due to the poor snow performance of its OEM Bridgestone RE92s.

FWD+winter tires > AWD+all-season tires. I recommend a WRX over a CLS for plenty of reasons, but snow performance is only one of them if you use winter tires.

 

I looked at the 9-2x and the full package (engine) I wanted was too much $$ for the car.

Sooo... I all but pulled the trigger on a black, '05 Legacy GT wagon with 6k miles yesterday. Price is expected around $19k (I realized I have a connection at a local dealership ). I put a deposit down and the dealership owner is going to order it and ship it in for me.

<-- very happy/excited.

 

Agreed that the factory tires on the WRXs/9-2Xs are useless in weather - (plenty of threads on it over at NASIOC).

 

That looks like a damn good price! When do you think you be picking it up? Congrats

 

Dunno - he says he has a couple he can probably get his hands on, which he'll have to have shipped, so I'm told it could be anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. I wanted it yesterday.

 

What are the details on the 05 Legacy GT wagon? I'm pondering downgrading from my TSX to lower monthly costs and to get AWD. Wondering if I could get a great deal too but on a sedan

 

you made a good choice AD.

 

Congrats AD !!

 

nice!

 

Got the call today - my Legacy GT is in. I sacrificed the wagon in favor of the limited package. So excited, but won't be able to pick up until later in the week.

 

Meh, Automatic.