[murley]

Hey there all. My ride & drive is comming up in a few short months. It should be the first week of July. I wanted to get a list of questions from all of you that you would like me to try and find out while I'm with the Guru's themselves...

Just list them and I'll write'em down.

 

[amdmaxx]

r u gonna buy STi for yoursself?

 

[MKIVSupra]

How about any plans for an STi Legacy or at least a B4.

 

[octane]

Thanks for the offer! I have a few questions. They're not all technical in nature, and several of them may already have official answers. Take them for what they're worth.

1) On the US-spec STi, does activating the parking brake affect the DCCD (i.e., decouple the clutch)?

2) What differences are there between the US-spec suspension and the Japanese-spec? Will US owners be able to purchase Japanese-spec suspension components, or will they be forced to look to the aftermarket? If JDM OEM parts are available, what impact will their installation have on the warranty?

3) How does the wing mount to the rear decklid and is the rear decklid the same as that of the WRX?

4) When ordering a car w/o radio, is the wiring harness still installed?

5) Will Subaru offer a gauge pod w/boost, EGT, etc? If so, will it look better than the one they offered for the WRX?

6) Will Subaru include an SCCA membership with the STi?

Thanks again for your offer, Murley. Beware -- more may be on the way. :wink:

 

[dlowman]

1) On the US-spec STi, does activating the parking brake affect the DCCD (i.e., decouple the clutch)?

Yes, engaging the parking brake will unlock the diff.

2) What differences are there between the US-spec suspension and the Japanese-spec? Will US owners be able to purchase Japanese-spec suspension components, or will they be forced to look to the aftermarket? If JDM OEM parts are available, what impact will their installation have on the warranty?

Not sure on this one yet. I believe they are the same though.

3) How does the wing mount to the rear decklid and is the rear decklid the same as that of the WRX?

Nope, you would have to replace the whole trunk, which luckily matches the normal wrx. There are more bolts mounting the wing and they are different on the sti.

4) When ordering a car w/o radio, is the wiring harness still installed?
All the wiring is in place..

You can plug in a radio via an aftermarket plug in harness.

5) Will Subaru offer a gauge pod w/boost, EGT, etc? If so, will it look better than the one they offered for the WRX?

Its the same one offered for the WRX.

6) Will Subaru include an SCCA membership with the STi?
Yes

quote]

 

[TL-racer/STi-driver]

Re: A few questions

Murley, thanks for all the help. I was wondering about lease pricing and if you had any idea what type of monthly payments they would offer for a leasing. (downpayments, residual cost, mileage limits and monthly payments) Thanks.

 

[BMo]

Murley why don't you ask 'em about the warranty issues posted by JJ. It'd be interesting to see what kind of vague, non-committed answer they come up with.

 

[Agent Chobos]

I'd like to know if the US PPPs will be covered under warranty like in Europe (probably wishful thinking).

 

[murley]

Now, I haven't asked anyone yet but what is a PPP?
*feeling rather dumb*

 

[Gansan]

Possible Gallery Return?

PPP= Prodrive Performance Package

 

[Impressed]

Road & Track review

Please ask why the hood scoop/hood and also the rear wing is made of such flimsy material that the wind moves it around enough to cause a distraction. Rear wing should not flex and bounce around like a fish out of water and neither should the hood. Rear wing should be rigid and cannot supply downforce if it bends from the wind. This is an abomination and gives impression they really "DON'T get it", despite their ad campaign last year.

 

[murley]

nos

Dude...., chill. What makes you think that they use "flimsy" material? The scoop is fabricated from a polyomer. It's a Hard Plastic scoop..., as well as the spoiler. And, after hearing that there are 8 different bolts holding the wing on, I find it hard to believe that it flexes much...

And that must have been you that blew by me in my Festiva at 140mpr in that WRX STi with the flimsy hood and trunk.............

ohhh, wait. You haven't driven one yet...., and they're not even available yet...., and you didn't mfg the car....

I'm not sure what I was thinking. Nevermind.

Now we're gonna get technical...

 

[murley]

Picture the rear deck of an Impreza...., now think of it without a spoiler. There are two "steep" curves in the lid right above the tail lights. That, coincidentaly enough, is right where the spoilers bolt on. Now, the physics of the whole thing is this, there is more structural strength at those points in the lid than anywhere else in the lid..., ie the LEAST amount of flex.

NOW, picture the hood of an Impreza...., and then think of an Impreza hood without a scoop. Not only are there TWO sharp creases in the hood that add strength but there is also a "flat" form in the center of the hood that is there for one reason and one reason only..., strength. There's probably a Good reason why they put the scoop right where the MOST strength is.....

 

[murley]

Now...., one last point.


The ORIGIONAL Impreza chasis was designed years ago now and has been a Great platform for saftey and strength. They made it for a regular aspirated 2.5. Hmmmm, now we toss in a Hyped-up 2.5 Turbo that forces more horsies, more pounds of torquie stuff that makes ya go Reallyyyy fast, and the BIGGEST thing which is more G's in every direction the car can move and what......

... they had to add $2000 worth of structural supports and frame braces and saftey cage upgrades because it was too "FLIMSY" origionally, right....???

Oh, wait..., no, that was the Lancer.

The Origional, slow as a goat, Impreza was designed well enough years ago to handle the TOUGHEST engine Subaru could throw at it!

Flimsy...., yeah. Whatever.

 

[Impressed]

Hey, I have 3 orders in on this car and I'm reading (in magazines and newspapers) that the test driver writing the article complains about being distracted by the flexing rear wing and the movement of the hood scoop in any condition while the car is being driven. Sorry, the rear wing should NOT move, . . . . ever. It reminds me of these cheap tacked on fiberglas or plastic wings on the rear of civics that bounce around. Why does a new car have these problems? I'm dissapointed.

 

[murley]

Then don't buy it. I'm sure that they made it poorly, you said so. Geeze, it's not like they're worth anything..., and they've only been making them for a few years..., right.?.


Hey guys, the STi is now gonna be offered in a 2 door hatch!!!!

And cause I said so, it's true, right?

Nope.

 

[darwood]

Just a thought, the wings on aircraft flex and they do a pretty good job of keeping the aircraft in the air. In fact if the wings didn't flex the chance of the wings breaking would be greater. They are designed to flex.

Flexing isn't always a bad thing.

 

[SFRinNJ]

Also let's not forget this is not a 'new' car. It has been overseas and in Japan for a number of years, just not in the states. I'm sure that if there were a problem structurally there would have been alot of people involved in the problem long before now. The average speed on the Autoban in Europe is well over 100 if the car and the wing stays put, I think it will do just great here! SFRinNJ

 

[YBnormal07]

One big question. With the advent of Mopar re-starting the 60s Speedshop locations at selected dealers, and with direct Mopar dealer support for upgrade speed parts and install, and warranty!!! <from what I can determine so far>, does Subaru plan on taking out those rediculous disclaimers for "off-road use only" for their speed parts? Granted, the STi has most of the same parts offered as after-purchase upgrades for the WRX (suspension and exhaust come to mind), which makes this question kind of mute concerning the STi. I guess I'm looking for what Subarus is going to do to match this kind of commitment, especially on the warranty end. It's just plain silly for them to sell and install parts without warrantying the car afterwards. Especially when you through in the SCCA membership "race me now" go ahead. I get the legal loop holes they are trying to jump through, and positioning with words is everything these days, but tell 'em "c'mon....we are your future buyers of 300+ HP vehicles, including the larger 4 door sedans (when you make 'em").

I will comment on the flexing scoop and wing issue. My WRX scoop quivers like jello on a laughing belly when I get north of 80 MPH. It was a bit disconcerting at first, but I've gotten used to it. I just tell everyone it's a speed activated "shaker" hood :lol: . Can't say anything about the wing as at those speeds, I'm focused ahead, with just short glances behind. Haven't seen it flex at all, but even if it did, I would imagine it's light weight infers some necessary flexibility...otherwise snappage may occur.

And I gotta be honest...I thought it was a fair question from a non-WRX owner based on the magazine articles I've read so far. I know my first thought was "flexing?"...then I remembered my own scoop and realized that if you had not experienced it before, it might seem extreme. Now...it's just normal.

Cheers,
Scott

 

[murley]

Kool. I wasn't so much trying to say that there is no flex in the two parts but more that Subaru isn't the Japanese version of Daewoo, ya know. Subies are some of the Highest quality cars on the road!