I currently drive a 2000 VW Jetta VR6, and like it a lot, except I have a mysterious 2nd gear grind problem that the mechanics claim doesn't exist. I'd also kinda like something a little less mushy on cornering and whatnot. I'm considering selling my car and getting a new WRX, but wonder about the general quality of Subarus. Have y'all had any weird problems with your cars that the mechanics can't identify? How has your general experience been with reliability and the engineering of the Subaru? Any advice is appreciated - thanks!

 

Well, here is my two pennies worth

1. It puts a smile on your face - everyday in everyway

2. Petrol consumption is STUPID

3. Body panels are made of Bacofoil and have balsa-wood build quality

4. The squeak and rattle all day long

5. Standard equipment is cr4p - but you dont need loads of toys in these cars

6. People look at you, everyone knows what an Impreza can do

7. Tyres have a low mileage life - and you need to renew FOUR

8. Buy one!!

Pete

 

Hiya Vert and welcome
Generally there have been no real problems with the new WRX, its still pretty new though but most of the underlying mechanics are brought over from the MY00.
The general build quality is not quite up to vw standards but is a big improvement over the older version.
Mechanical wise, there isnt that much that goes wrong, engines are generally very strong and the weakest points are as per most cars, the gear box and clutch.
Dealer options are available for greater performance and comfort/drivability in the form of extra's packages along with alloys etc.
You get a 3yr 60k mile warranty but there are clauses to it about timed events etc as they dont like to see you race your car (silly i know but it puts extra stess on parts for a car that is meant for road use).
All in all, you may be best waiting for another month until the MY02 is out, not sure what improvements on it but there are bound to be one or two over the MY01.

Tony

 

I should mention....
get in car, drive round and have some fun on the country lanes, watch fuel go rather quickly, get out of car when home, get to front door with key in hand, turn round, get back in car, go to petrol station, fill up, find some more country roads and have another blast
all a part of owning a scoob i do it!! (except i dont get to the front door )

Tony

 

So, you're saying they're fun to drive, but have a few problems... sounds a lot like my Jetta

 

Or you could buy yourself a Cosworth and scare yourself silly and save a shed loads of money in the meantime

Escorts are only scary with 400+hp, RWD Sierras are ace fun with only 330hp and 330lb/ft and you'll have lots of change

Subarus are much nicer cars though and require a lot less skill to drive fast and sound awesome with a decent exhaust system.

Depends if you want a nice car or a rattly bag of nails that'll always put a smile on your face

(I have had a Scooby and prefer the Sierra)

Laters

Ben
3Dr 404hp and 416lb/ft

 

Bit of a silly question for the bbs you have posted on...

I personally would buy an Escort Cossie, but i'm biased that way

 

Forget Subaru's and Cosworth's, and get an Integrale!

Andy - Who has had too much coffee today!

 

YES BUY ONE

DO IT NOW

No RIGHT NOW, go on!!!!



(And get a WRX )

 

Jetta, takes your from A-B.

Impreza, puts a smile on your face and you take it from A-B through C because you love driving it so much!

All cars have there little problems.

 

Buy one - I've had my Scoob (old shape) since January and I've never had a car like it! Big smiles every time I get in and get out, even if it's just driving home through traffic after a cr@p day at work. Also managed to 'persuade' a friend to buy one as well after he had a 2 minute trip round the car park at work in mine - he's now the proud owner of a new WRX. Yes, the build quality has improved on the new ones, and they look really smart if you put on a twin headlamp conversion (if you don't like the origonal ones).
Get that test drive booked and you'll see what we all mean...

 

why got for a wrx? when u can have my power house

 

Drive before you buy!!!

Great cars for what they do, but they are not a VW/Audi/BMW/Merc. I've come from an A4 to a Scoob, and its taken me 6.5k of driving the Scoob to really get into it..... but I still miss the comfort and refinment of the Audi. If visits to the petrol station bother you *at all*, then don't get one. You can litrally watch the gauge go down, albeit with a smile on your face.
In different circumstances, I'd buy a 2nd hand Audi S4. There was a "S"nice reg example in the Autotrader last week, for 20k. Had a few more horses under the bonnet than standard as well. Think MTM(?) has something to do with it.

--
Mike

 

having been driving for yrs & yrs - buy a Subaru for a real driver's car with no frills - don't expect comfort and all mod cons - expect a 4 seater sports car with a practical boot that goes like the clappers and puts a huge grin on your face. Get one with split rear seta if you shop at Ikea - it will still blow your head off when fully loaded.If driving is your pleasure you won't beat it - if comfort is your bag get something else - and as above you need to have enough money to afford petrol, insurance etc. Reliability excellent - have never ever been let down by a scooby and I do over 30K miles per annum.

 

Mmmmm.... Should i buy a subaru question on a subaru forum. Not likely to get that much of an objective answer.... ask the RSOC and you'll probably get a different response.

Id say theres only one issue you need to worry about - and if you answer no then GET ONE NOW THERE BRILLIANT!!!

Q: Are you worried about running costs (i.e. can you afford the fuel and insurance and servicing costs ???

Jza

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by vert:
<B> Have y'all had any weird problems with your cars that the mechanics can't identify? [/quote]

I think the three biggest bugbears featured here regularly, which officialdom doesn't always acknowledge, are

Weak paintwork - stonechips amass more easily than most cars
Clutch judder on cold, for the first ?2 changes - some clutches replaced under warranty, some not
Slight hesitation at ?3000 rpm

There is also an issue with the No.3 piston, but this may only be for STi cars.

Clutch judder and hesitation may or may not have been fixed for the new model, but were common on the old shape. ISTR some stonechip complaints for the MY01 on here.

Oh yes; sort out whether or not you want sports or bucket seats NOW, it appears to be very difficult to have them (officially) changed.

Apart from those, which I think are comparatively minor, you should be fine!

HTH

BJH

 

Vert
Re "Should I buy a Subaru?"

Absolutely.
Cheers
Kav

 

Don't do it - although they are extremely capable and reliable cars, they lack the visual impact of, say, an integrale. Grales rust, they aren't as new, they are much much rarer, they guzzle fuel, they eat tyres, they break down and it can be a sod finding a good one, but believe me they are worth the effort.

I shal just hunker down now while I get a good flaming.........

Cheers,

Henners (16v grale owner)

 

I just cancelled my MY01 and bought an Octavia RS, after working out that I didn't fancy the costs of running it for 35k miles per year. I knew it would be expensive but actually getting all the costs together I decided there were better things I (actually the wife) could spend the money on. However, with the 7.5k saving in purchase price the Westie is now on order! Spose its horses for courses as to what sort of driving you do and how far you drive.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Andy Tang:
<B>Forget Subaru's and Cosworth's, and get an Integrale!

Andy - Who has had too much coffee today! [/quote]

LOL @ Andy

 

Vert, nice thing about Subaru: engines are immortal. I mentioned in another post somewhere that these engines can go well into the 300K range before they start to feel their age. Most subarus around where I'm from would have the bodies go out before the engines. These were mostly the old ones we've all owned at least one of, and since then the rust problems have been essentially eliminated. I'm from new england, and if it doesn't rust here, it won't rust anywhere. the only chronic issue I've seen in subarus are the CV joints going. I'm not sure how new models are about this, but then none of them are old enough to be manifesting this yet. hope all this helps. And btw, what ever you do... ditch the jetta.

-IggDawg

 

Hey, Birds Nest (BEN) - Cossie better than Scooby?? - I'll pop round and slash yer tyres mate!!

Tidy that Omega out - its a state!

Pete

[This message has been edited by pslewis (edited 07 September 2001).]

 

A few random word associations.

Subaru-Hilarious, Fast, stable, upgrades, Expensive, noisy, flimsy.

After 4 months of ownership I'm in love.

I dream about dump valves, wheels, breaks, gauges, ICE, and last night dyno mat!!!!!

I'm just starting to enter into the Subaru communitee as well. I am gob smacked by the amount of enthusiasts which are nice and welcoming people.

Wave you buggers!!

 

vert,

Go and drive one - that'll convince you far better than anything here

 

Sorry for being silly, but what is the RSOC?

 

What do you mean tidy it out? That's a minter that is!

RSOC is the Ford RS Owners Club

 

<B>Yes</B>

David

 

Yes!! go on,from one taxi to another.