[faceplate]

Hey everyone. I have never posted here, but I have read a ton of messages that have been posted. I have only discovered this website a couple weeks ago. I have learned a lot about the wrx and sti here. Yesterday my dad and I went to the Subaru dealership in Omaha, Ne. I say my dad and I because I am only sixteen. We placed a order for a 2003 silver subaru impreza wrx. They will be taking order for 2003's in 4 weeks, and it will arrive 8 weeks later. I was shaking when we ordered it. I was that excited. I had to wait a while and do a lot of convincing to get my parents to get me the car. I asked about the STI. He said, when it comes out it will probably be aroung $35,000. My dad sure as hell was not going for that. I want to STI not only because of the performance parts, but also the sort of nicer interior. A couple of people having kinda be bagging on my desicion to get a wrx. They find the interior cheap. They feel that the lack of leather, power seats, heated seats, and sunroof too important. I personally don't understand why it does not have a six speed transmission. I dont know if I made a mistake or not. Dont get me wrong. This car is amazing, but I just dont understand stand some desicions subaru made.

My main question is why subaru only put in a 5 speed transmission? Are the gear ratios more spread out? Also what is a good aftermarket spoiler or wing for a silver wrx. I dont like the stock one. Thanks everyone. And sorry for being kinda off-topic.

 

[Marine06]

First of all, it doesn't matter what your friends think of your car unless you value their opinion about cars. Plus, it is YOUR car not theirs; if you feel the interior is nice then the interior is nice.

Don't quote me on this, but i believe the 5 speed manual is the same one Subaru uses on its other models. If so, then Subaru probably had a copious amount in stock to "get rid of."

 

[chawklit]

You're lucky, I wish I had a WRX to drive right now.

 

[FG!!]

Tell you what, I'll put a six speed in my Corrado and we can trade. The interior is top notch with leather and a very cool speed operated rear wing. How's that sound? :wink:

Whoever ragged on you for the cheap interior is flamboyant. They don't deserve a ride in your car.

PS, please be careful out there. That car is probably way too fast for a new driver.

 

[faceplate]

Thanks for your replies. I understand that you should not let other people's opinions greatly sway your opinions, but it's hard to just ignore. I dont want anyone to get me wrong. I am one of the luckiest people to have my parents get me this car. I am really lucky not because my parents bought me this car, but because my parents are willing to provide for my education and things like that. I am glad I am not ignorant, and unable to see that. BTW I plan on taking upmost caution when I get the car. Once again thanks for your replies.

 

[ABCDriver]

thanks

Your friends are jealous and insecure, they're picking apart your car because they've got nothing better to say.

One thing that may lift your spirits is that the performance of the car will actually increase after you put a couple thousand miles on it. Be nice to it, break it in properly and after a couple months you'll know you've made the right decision.

Happy trails.

 

[jbhebert]

My main question is why subaru only put in a 5 speed transmission? Are the gear ratios more spread out? Also what is a good aftermarket spoiler or wing for a silver wrx. I dont like the stock one. Thanks everyone. And sorry for being kinda off-topic.

The main reason is that in order to get the kind of performance Subaru gets out of the WRX and still keep the car under $25k, they have to cut a few corners. I'd rather they went with the 5 speed instead of doing something more detrimental to performance, such as getting rid of the LSDs or putting cheap parts on the engine.

Subaru has a 6 speed, but it is a relatively new tranny and they're only putting it in the STi right now. I'm sure when the novelty wears off, they'll start putting it in the WRX and maybe even the other cars. Six speeds are becoming the norm, now.

In any case, I've never found myself wanting an additional gear. It's more of a wow factor than anything else. Oooh, I have another gear. Big deal. The 5 speed is set up pretty well for the WRX and with a $125 short shift and bushing kit, it's a good performance tranny.

J.B.

 

[chawklit]

Doesn't the sixth gear on the STi have a shorter ratio than the fifth on the WRX?

 

[MKIVSupra]

Yeah, something like that. I just read an article about the STi, I think it was in the latest SCC. Anyway they say something like the STi's 4th gear is like the WRX's 3rd. They also said something about the STi being setup more for all out acceleration.

 

[jbhebert]

I'd love to see the 2nd through 6th gears in the STi be about the same as 1 through 5 in the WRX, and then make 1st lower. I think the only problem with the WRX is that first is a little to high.

J.B.

 

[br0wneye]

the way a 6 speed gear box should work and normally does is that gears 1-5 are spaced much closer together so that the rpm drop between gears is much less. This helps to keep the motor humming in it's sweet spot which is especially helpful on a turbo charged car. The 6th gear is usually a deep overdrive to keep revs in a reasonable range on the highway. This is how I hope the gearbox in the STI is set up. I have driven a friends wrx and feel that the rev drop when you shift from 1st to 2nd is too severe. Personally I would love to see a sequential 6 sp like the smg in the 2003 m3. I love the sequential 6sp on my Yamaha fz1 that and the 12k redline of course.

 

[alfredob1]

I second the sequential motion.

I am even considering getting it from Prodrive (if I can and if it doesn't cost a kidney and a lung.)

 

[jbhebert]

I posted in one of the other threads that the biggest drawback to the sequential box is that it needs to be rebuilt every 400 KM. This would severely limit its appeal in a street car. Secondly, it's a hand built box with very complicated computer controls, so if you could get them to build you one, it would probably cost upwards of $25k, or about the price of a base WRX.

I'd love to se a sequential box, but it is unlikely it'll be the race one.

J.B.

 

[alfredob1]

Wow. I didn't know they were hand built or that expensive.

Doesn't have to be the race one just as long as it's sequential. Maybe they can borrow Toyota's box.

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

03 WRX

Damn spoiled kid (ok I'm envious)...when I was 16 my first car I got a Datsun Maxima with 83000 miles on it. YEP that's right, a DATSUN. It was the year they were bought out by Nissan or merged or whatever, which is why some parts of the car said Nissan and some parts said Datsun lol

Anyway, your friends are jealous, they don't know what they're talking about. They'll soon find out when all they see is your rear lights quickly disappearing from view (btw obey all traffic laws haha, your parents bought you the car) which is what I say to people who think the front end looks ugly or goofy. Don't worry about it, you won't have much chance to see the front end b/c I'll be in front of you!

Anyway, leather seats don't improve performance. No sunroof is good because it adds rigidity to the frame. No heated seats, who cares. That would just add weight anyway. You made a smart choice, my friend...your friends will find out soon enough. Remember that the WRX is a performance car, and even for that, it has a lot of nice perks, like a 6-CD in dash changer. Wouldn't you say that being able to play 6+hours of your favorite tunes ranks higher than all that other SHlT anyway?

 

[BuDDyLeE]

spoiled punk lol

cept for the crap ass stock speakers..... and i mean OMG crap ass. but like $250 and your set with stock sized RF or orion or keenwood or mmmm JVCs...never underestimate those. throw in an amp and tunes be waiting.

i hope my 350Z will have a good system. it is bose, but ive heard on different cars bose can either be great or absolute shit.

 

[ABCDriver]

All the WRX's I've been in have had them, is it just an option, or is it standard?

 

[BlackLight]

http://www.japanvehicles.com/newcars/subaru/WRX8STiRA/main.htm

Gear ratio 1st 3.636
2nd 2.375
3rd 1.761
4th 1.346
5th 1.062
6th 0.842
reverse 3.545
Final gear ratio 3.900

http://members.fortunecity.com/carstats/subaru impreza wrx 2002.htm

1st 3.45
2nd 1.95
3rd 1.37
4th 0.97
5th 0.74
6th na
Final Drive Ratio 3.90