The New WRX: More like a Camry? Oh Dear!

[GTaudiophile]

Subaru: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE???

Article @ Edmunds

Off-center steering response isn't as immediate ? something Subaru readily admits, as it says it's after a linear ramp-up in reaction, even though the steering ratio remains the same at 15.0:1. We loved the old car's commanding bite while bending it into a corner and its willingness to adjust its line in the middle of the corner. Now we feel less like we're driving a rally car and more like we're driving a Camry.

And there's understeer. Plenty of it. Part of this comes from Subaru's new Vehicle Dynamics Control, a system for stability and traction control. Although it can be disabled, its presence in an all-wheel-drive package has forced the elimination of the car's limited-slip rear differential, which had substantially improved the cornering attitude of the previous WRX.

The brake pedal feels soft, and if you plan to use left-foot braking, be sure not to overlap with the throttle, as the pedal action goes rock-hard and unresponsive.

The engine has impressive boost response and midrange punch, but it runs out of steam fairly early. Revving it to redline requires patience in 3rd, 4th and 5th gears. Enthusiasts will find more reward by upshifting early and getting into the meat of the power band in a taller gear.

 

[Arkaign]

Maybe they'll keep the STi raw. One can hope, anyway.

BMW is guilty of much the same with the changing of the M3 from a lightweight track-ready car, to a bloated luxury sport cruiser.

 

[Alienwho]

What's the deal with the 0-60 time? I remember the original WRX commercials from years ago boasted a 0-60 in 5.4 seconds. This review says 5.9 seconds. Are they intentionally going backwards? What's the deal?

 

[Vic]

The 2.5-liter flat-4 power plant has only minor revisions for 2008.

even though the steering ratio remains the same at 15.0:1.

I'm not a big fan of Edmunds.com reviews, and this article demonstrates why. The 2 bits here are factually wrong. The engine has seen considerable revisions, the Impreza now gets the powerplant and drivetrain from the Legacy GT (but with the same old TD04 turbo and different tuning). And the steering ratio has been changed, on the previous model it was 16.5:1.


Motor Trend got slightly better numbers and gave a more favorable review: http://www.motortrend.com/road...008_subaru_impreza_wrx

It seems to me that Subaru is behaving somewhat reactionary with the new Impreza. Some of the complaints about the previous design were that:
- the body design was too quirky, so they went with a mainstream design;
- the 2.0L was all boost with nothing below 3000 rpm, so they upped it to 2.5L in 06 and then tweaked the new model for low-end torque at the expense of the top-end;
- the steering was too loose, so they tightened that down and now reviewers don't like the feel;
- the old strut rear suspension was too clunky (and it is BTW, speaking from personal experience), so they replaced it with a multilink set-up that reviewers feel is too soft;
- no electronic stability control, so they added that but at the expense of the limited slip diff.

Good news is that the brakes are showing much better numbers, and the manual transmission is strengthened version from the Legacy GT, but even those changes represent reactionary thinking from Subaru.

I think what happened here is that the WRX is a victim of its own success. It's too bad, and I blame Nasioc (the Motor Trend article quotes Nasioc, and Superglue WRX is a Nasico member). Internet mentality is all over this, i.e. people came to love everything about what they claimed to hate. Take away the quirkiness to complain about and there's nothing left to love. It's too bad in a way, but I still expect the new model to sell like hotcakes due to its mainstream appeal. Internet posters and magazine reviewers just don't represent the public at large.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Alienwho
What's the deal with the 0-60 time? I remember the original WRX commercials from years ago boasted a 0-60 in 5.4 seconds. This review says 5.9 seconds. Are they intentionally going backwards? What's the deal?

The 5.4 second time from C&D was only possible if you didn't love your car. A 6-flat time was always the more realistic number, and is still pretty impressive in itself if you ask me.

 

[NutBucket]

I'll have to drive one before I pass any judgment. Lack of LSD really stinks in my opinion though. I really don't have a problem with the styling anymore. Maybe it won't be all that different from a stock LGT? Never know since it has the same (or very similar) rear suspension setup now.

I seriously doubt anyone on NASIOC complained about lack of stability control. That's more of a marketing thing. Besides, it's going to be federally mandated for all cars in a couple years anyway.

 

[Vic]

Yes, the stability control is federally-mandated beginning in (IIRC) 2009.

An Edmunds staffer posted his own comments on Nasioc. His take was basically: same performance, better interior, less quirkiness, RE92's still suck.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Vic
Yes, the stability control is federally-mandated beginning in (IIRC) 2009.

And yet our licensing system is still a joke. Way to get at the root of the problem...gg government:roll:

 

[DivideBYZero]

TMIC looks tiny, interior nicer, outside looks like shit, exhaust exits on the wrong side.

Wank.

 

[Safeway]

Mmm, bloated luxury sports car.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Mmm, bloated luxury sports car.

Que?!

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
TMIC looks tiny, interior nicer, outside looks like shit, exhaust exits on the wrong side.

Wank.

TMIC is larger than even the 2.0 Impreza unit. Definitely larger than the 2.5L TMIC.

Plus, it has dual exhaust so how is it exiting from the wrong side?

Exterior styling could use some help, but its not bad.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
TMIC looks tiny, interior nicer, outside looks like shit, exhaust exits on the wrong side.

Wank.

TMIC is larger than even the 2.0 Impreza unit. Definitely larger than the 2.5L TMIC.

Plus, it has dual exhaust so how is it exiting from the wrong side?

Exterior styling could use some help, but its not bad.

Doesn't look it. It's square vs rectangular, I'd suggest it was the same surface area, from the way it looks in the tiny pic.

You must have some pretty good eyes. Check out pic 2 on the right of the article and show me where there is a pipe on the left. I just cannot see it.

Still looks shit, no matter how much you nit pick my post.

 

[NutBucket]

I know it doesn't look it but it is. I have a Legacy with the same TMIC as the '08 and my gf has an '05 WRX. Mine is definitely larger. The STi intercooler is still larger of course. Now, the difference might exist between what you get in England vs what I get here. I know the the intercooler on the 06-07 2.5L WRX is significantly smaller than the 02-05, for example.

And you're right; the sedan has dual exhaust and the hatch has a single.

 

[ayabe]

Other things I've read.

Much less body roll in the corners and much less tail happy than the '06-07's.

 

[DivideBYZero]

You could never call an Impreza 'tail happy'. They all came out of the factory with the understeer turned right up. I had mine tuned out with proper 4 wheel geometry to the Prodrive 'fast-road' settings. Much better balanced car after than and a Cusco Type OS front strut brace.

 

[SolMiester]

Man, thats a fugly car!

 

[NutBucket]

Sway bars make an otherwise stock WRX so much more fun

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Vic

The 2.5-liter flat-4 power plant has only minor revisions for 2008.

even though the steering ratio remains the same at 15.0:1.

I'm not a big fan of Edmunds.com reviews, and this article demonstrates why. The 2 bits here are factually wrong. The engine has seen considerable revisions, the Impreza now gets the powerplant and drivetrain from the Legacy GT (but with the same old TD04 turbo and different tuning). And the steering ratio has been changed, on the previous model it was 16.5:1.


Motor Trend got slightly better numbers and gave a more favorable review: http://www.motortrend.com/road...008_subaru_impreza_wrx

It seems to me that Subaru is behaving somewhat reactionary with the new Impreza. Some of the complaints about the previous design were that:
- the body design was too quirky, so they went with a mainstream design;
- the 2.0L was all boost with nothing below 3000 rpm, so they upped it to 2.5L in 06 and then tweaked the new model for low-end torque at the expense of the top-end;
- the steering was too loose, so they tightened that down and now reviewers don't like the feel;
- the old strut rear suspension was too clunky (and it is BTW, speaking from personal experience), so they replaced it with a multilink set-up that reviewers feel is too soft;
- no electronic stability control, so they added that but at the expense of the limited slip diff.

Good news is that the brakes are showing much better numbers, and the manual transmission is strengthened version from the Legacy GT, but even those changes represent reactionary thinking from Subaru.

I think what happened here is that the WRX is a victim of its own success. It's too bad, and I blame Nasioc (the Motor Trend article quotes Nasioc, and Superglue WRX is a Nasico member). Internet mentality is all over this, i.e. people came to love everything about what they claimed to hate. Take away the quirkiness to complain about and there's nothing left to love. It's too bad in a way, but I still expect the new model to sell like hotcakes due to its mainstream appeal. Internet posters and magazine reviewers just don't represent the public at large.

Exactly what I was going to say, but you did it so much better.

:thumbsup:

 

[Nyati13]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Mmm, bloated luxury sports car.

It's a couple of hundred pounds lighter than the current WRX, so bloated is not even remotely accurate...

I love how people here base everything on how something looks on the outside. Since when has a Subaru's outside ever been relevant to what's under it's skin?

 

[Gibson486]

Looks more like a civic.

That said, they are desperately tring to get 07 imprezas off the lot. After I bought my 3, this Subaru dealership kept hounding me to buy the impreza and he offered to sell at 15.9K. Too bad I did not like teh car that much.

 

[NutBucket]

A non-turbo Impreza is not an easy sell unless you want AWD.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: ayabe
Other things I've read.

Much less body roll in the corners and much less tail happy than the '06-07's.

Have you not read the review?

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: ayabe
Other things I've read.

Much less body roll in the corners and much less tail happy than the '06-07's.

Have you not read the review?

I did and other things I've read:

"Fortunately, the car?s on-road demeanor is improved by a quicker steering ratio and a redesigned rear suspension that now employs a more compact setup. Throw the Impreza into a corner, and it stays flat, responding with minimal body roll and improved composure. The car turns in sharply with no apparent understeer and offers greater stability than the old WRX. The ride is vastly more compliant. The brakes have been switched from the four-piston variety to cheaper two-pot sliding calipers and deliver adequate stopping power."

C&D

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
You could never call an Impreza 'tail happy'. They all came out of the factory with the understeer turned right up. I had mine tuned out with proper 4 wheel geometry to the Prodrive 'fast-road' settings. Much better balanced car after than and a Cusco Type OS front strut brace.

They made a change to the rear suspension on the 06's and it makes the car more tail happy than before, not to say it's comparable to a RWD car, just more so than the 05's.

Edit -Understeering in the stock car really shows itself when you lift off the throttle but if you stay on it you will get the rear end to slide out. I do this everyday on my way to work.