has anyone test drove the new wrx 03 model.i can't get a test drive in the 03 until next weekend, but what i really want to know is, has it got back the punch that the classic has? . can you feel the car pull as if its got the power and torque,i'm sorry but when i test drove the bugeye i just couldn't feel any of this, that put me off it straight away. please could anyone give me some honest answers if you can understand what i mean.if it hasn't got the power this time around i might be swayed to the rs focus, but i know you can't even get a test drive in one of those (which is bad),not unless anyone knows differently .....

 

Its not going to be as quick as a classic due to power to weight ratio it has a few extra bhp 223bhp than the late UK classic 215bhp but its 150 kgs heavier. You canna change the laws of physics captain.

 

Having said that I would have a WRX before the RS Focus.

RS Focus = £19,995

WRX MY03 Euro Import = £17,000 + PPP(£1600)
Total = £18,600

An MY03 PPP would feel like an older classic due to 245bhp to offset the weight.

[Edited by chrisp - 2/22/2003 8:45:21 PM]

 

thanks chrisp for the info, at least it'll be quicker than the bugeye then, i'll be able to confirm it then hopefully next week. do you reckon then a rb5 wrs would be a better option. but i suppose it would be hard to find a minter with low mileage ??

 

i test drove it the other week. in its syandard form it feels as quick a my MY97 turbo....i only have decat on it.. and a std 97 was 208bhp.. i'm running about 240 with decat.
decat the WRX-3 and i'd say it will be quicker that what i have now.
i would look at changing to the 03 from the classic.. at the right PX price for mine though.

go get a test drive now! i think the gear ratio's differant hat the 02's thats why it feels better.

Phil

 

i've driven a few now and i think personally it pulls harder than the bug eye but not as hard as a classic. but it's a definate improvement.

 

yep - test drove one yesterday, it felt only slightly slower than our MY00....anyone want to buy a mint year 2000 Impreza Turbo?

 

You cant add 150kgs of weight and only 8bhp and expect it to be quicker . Sure you can play around with the ratios but you pay somewhere else in the rev range or top speed .

Its like saying I can have 4 people in my car and it makes no difference to performance than when I am in alone.

You only have to look at the 0-100 times to find just how quick they are. The MY01 was 4 seconds slower to 100 than the MY00 (18.3 v 14.5). I doubt the MY03 would knock 4 seconds off with an extra 8bhp. Especially when a MY01 PPP is about 16.5 and that has another 30bhp.

[Edited by chrisp - 2/23/2003 2:32:23 PM]

 

When Autocar tested the MY01 they achieved 0-100 in 16.9. The roadtest of the MY01 in EVO magazine was figured on a blustery day (it said so in the text) thats why they only managed 18 seconds to the ton. I am sure a well run in MY01/2 with PPP will equal if not better the time of an MY99/00 ie 14-15 secs. The recent Autocar roadtest of the MY03 for a 5 door was 16.1 secs.

 

EVO did a Uk300 PPP test and that came out at 16.6, the My01 was 18.1 and the classic came out at 14.6. Now a PPP UK300 is rated at 242bhp and the MY03 is 223bhp so it seems a bit strange that it would be quicker with similar weight and less bhp unless it been geared differently ?.

Which ever way you look at it 16 seconds is still slower than 14 and that was the original question .

 

I had a 98 Turbo, drove a bug eye and it was definately a poor relation to the classic, but have taken delivery of an 03wrx this week, yes it is heavier but it feels a lot better for it. Still running in at the moment but it has a lot less lag than either of the other models, an exhaust and induction kit should see the power to weight back on par with my old 98 model. And the new front looks like the dogs. Best colours are red and silver if you don't like wrc blue.