[supermarkus]

Originally Posted by totsubo

100% Parts and Build in Japan. It is one of the reasons I bought it.

I do not like buying German cars made in South Africa (C class Sport), Mexico (VWs) or the US (M class) either.

I believe US cars should be built by Americans and British cars should be built by British, not Germans or Indians...

You must really hate the Legacy.

[inpuressa]

When I test drove the 08 STi, I thought that the clutch was too light. Much lighter than my 06 WRX. The clutch meet point is different too, and had some rough shifts in the beginning. It only had 100miles on it, so it still needed a break-in.

As far as engine braking goes, my 06 would be super jerky decelerating at 1st, but if I carefully modulate the throttle, I can bring it down to idle rpm without stepping on the clutch. The 08 STi was pretty much the same in this characteristic.

[Mykl]

How the heck...



How does Subaru build the greatest drivetrain ever for four whole years and managed to goof it up later on?

[vman_sti]

Originally Posted by Mykl

How the heck...



How does Subaru build the greatest drivetrain ever for four whole years and managed to goof it up later on?

My 08's drivetrain feels and sounds pretty similar to my 05 STi. Perhaps those that are 'questioning' have come from other makes/models?

[inpuressa]

maybe the tranny oil is contaminated too?

[paikman]

Honestly I think most of this has to be driver error. I've driven my car pretty hard and no gear flopping or falling out or whatsoever. The clutch is very light, but the shifts are very positive and smooth.

[totsubo]

Originally Posted by paikman

Honestly I think most of this has to be driver error. I've driven my car pretty hard and no gear flopping or falling out or whatsoever. The clutch is very light, but the shifts are very positive and smooth.

It is not driver error. I have seen this before. It has not happened on my STi, but has happened on my S2000. You stick it into 2nd and it will simply pop out of gear.

Originally Posted by supermarkus

You must really hate the Legacy.

heheheheehe

I do not hate cars built in the "wrong" country. I had a 2004 Toyota Sienna that I liked very much... although it was designed in the US, had a Canadian built engine and put together in the US. No parts were from Japan. Toyota did not even sell the 2004 Toyota Sienna in Japan.

[jermdeez]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

No problem with my transmission. I find the gate to 3rd a bit vague and keep hitting 5th, which I never did in my '05, but I attribute that to driving my wife's 5spd Civic for 8 months.

I changed the title of the thread because it is a bit misleading. Please don't state things as fact without concrete evidence to back it up...and "my dealership guy said" is not concrete proof. We appreciate the information though.

really, i think they are all like this.....short shifter helps some though.

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by jermdeez

really, i think they are all like this.....short shifter helps some though.

One thing I have noticed on my '08 is how much better the shifts feel going into 2nd and 5th and 6th. I attribute this to the improved synchros and there have been quite a few changes since '05 (revised synchros in '06, etc.)

I'm quite happy with the 6spd in the '08. No popping out etc.

[Mykl]

Originally Posted by vman_sti

My 08's drivetrain feels and sounds pretty similar to my 05 STi. Perhaps those that are 'questioning' have come from other makes/models?

That has to be it. The gearbox and clutch that come in this car are both made of extra strength awesome sauce.

[chargedvette02]

Originally Posted by Brand

It's been in first gear when coming out of reverse in the cold. You might not know it since you live in socal, but it happens when it's cold. The second time was my first shift from first to second, in a parking lot, when it was cold out. Honestly this has happened with every manual I've owned here. If it was popping out after a few shifts or in 4th gear, I'd be worried. But I'm not.

Hmmm, Doesn't happen nor has it ever happened in Colorado to my 05 STI with 50,XXX miles on the odo. I would get it checked out ASAP.

[inpuressa]

Not sure if it is related, but my WRX has a system in the tranny that prevents the shifter to out of gear. If you try to pull out of gear with the clutch completely engaged, it is rather hard to do so (and it feels you are doing something bad to the tranny). Only when the clutch is depressed can I have smooth shifts.

Now I was taught to keep my feet off the clutch unless you are shifting, so some ppl may be stepping lightly on the clutch w/o noticing it. Just a different perspective on this issue.

[bigd]

Originally Posted by Rootus

Unless the '08 has attracted a number of drivers much less capable than the average yahoo driving an 04-07, I think it's likely something is going on. AFAIK popping out of gear is usually caused by one of two things -- badly worn gears, or misadjusted linkage. The latter seems far more likely in this case.

Or simply not quite being fully engaged. I've had the stick pop out and punch my hand immediately after a lazy limp-wristed shift, its happened in several cars. If the synchros aren't 100% engaged then it can pop out. Being cold only means the fluid is more viscous, increasing the resistance to get a clean engagement. I can't recall if its happened in my 08 yet.

I have never had the stick pup out of gear while driving aggressively or under power, it's only ever been from a partial synchro engagement at the moment the clutch engages.

[inpuressa]

Originally Posted by bigd

Or simply not quite being fully engaged. I've had the stick pop out and punch my hand immediately after a lazy limp-wristed shift, its happened in several cars. If the synchros aren't 100% engaged then it can pop out. Being cold only means the fluid is more viscous, increasing the resistance to get a clean engagement. I can't recall if its happened in my 08 yet.

I have never had the stick pup out of gear while driving aggressively or under power, it's only ever been from a partial synchro engagement at the moment the clutch engages.

hmm, then maybe some kartboy bushings will allow you to fully engage in the shifter. I do notice that the section after you feel the shifter engage to the point where it cannot go any further is smaller on the STi than my WRX.

[bigd]

Originally Posted by inpuressa

hmm, then maybe some kartboy bushings will allow you to fully engage in the shifter. I do notice that the section after you feel the shifter engage to the point where it cannot go any further is smaller on the STi than my WRX.

Stiffer bushings definitely remove a lot of the "squish" and reduces potential to mis-shift or half-shift.