I know it was mentioned in one of the mag reviews about the scoop causing the hood to shake. But I want to hear from anyone about real life experience with this in everyday driving. For everyday driving (assume ~80mph), is it very minor, or is it annoying? Any change of that scoop working it's way loose in a couple years?
Will the hoodscoop/hood shake a lot?
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sti-evo
people that drove it for 3 weeks (Hawaii) got used to it..
they saying its the whole hood shaking, since the spoiler and scoop are bolted to trunk/hood...
they r aluminum = light...
not a big deal, but I see Subaru fixing it as a quiet running change for mid 2004,2005 cars..
people that drove it for 3 weeks (Hawaii) got used to it..
they saying its the whole hood shaking, since the spoiler and scoop are bolted to trunk/hood...
they r aluminum = light...
not a big deal, but I see Subaru fixing it as a quiet running change for mid 2004,2005 cars..
I put a larger scoop on my hood and I also noticed that the hood now moves around more. It's just something you get used to...no big deal really. A truck passes you on a two lane road...the hood flaps for a second (we're talking 1/2" here) and it settles back down.
Something else to add to the list of stupid things the automotive press is trying to bitch about IMO.
Something else to add to the list of stupid things the automotive press is trying to bitch about IMO.
Disclaimer: I haven't driven the car. This is speculation--a "what-if" based on the possibility that the hood and wing vibrate at high speeds.
Is it nitpicking? I don't think so. I haven't seen it for myself, but if the hood moves noticably, then it's sloppy work on Subaru's part. I won't pass judgement before I drive the car, but if it's as bad as some of the magazines have made it out to be, I will be disappointed with my #1 STi. Just because a 747 wing flexes doesn't mean your street car should. And I've seen plenty of backyard hot-rods that somehow seem to keep their hoods firmly in place even with MASSIVE scoops attached.
Seriously, this is exactly like the previous poster who put a big scoop on his WRX and now has a hood that moves around. Subaru probably used the exact same AL hood from the Spec C and didn't bother to test it with the massive scoop until they were way past the point of hood redesign (which is very expensive). The 2005 cars will not have this problem, but it's a real bummer for the first-comers like me.
But if the rear wing if flexy, that's inexcusable. That was a new part for this car and they had every chance to make it rigid--like the Evo wing, for example. If this is the case, I am pawning it off on the first '04 WRX owner I can find. Anyone yet know if this is a dealer-delete option? Or is it installed at the factory?
-ch
Is it nitpicking? I don't think so. I haven't seen it for myself, but if the hood moves noticably, then it's sloppy work on Subaru's part. I won't pass judgement before I drive the car, but if it's as bad as some of the magazines have made it out to be, I will be disappointed with my #1 STi. Just because a 747 wing flexes doesn't mean your street car should. And I've seen plenty of backyard hot-rods that somehow seem to keep their hoods firmly in place even with MASSIVE scoops attached.
Seriously, this is exactly like the previous poster who put a big scoop on his WRX and now has a hood that moves around. Subaru probably used the exact same AL hood from the Spec C and didn't bother to test it with the massive scoop until they were way past the point of hood redesign (which is very expensive). The 2005 cars will not have this problem, but it's a real bummer for the first-comers like me.
But if the rear wing if flexy, that's inexcusable. That was a new part for this car and they had every chance to make it rigid--like the Evo wing, for example. If this is the case, I am pawning it off on the first '04 WRX owner I can find. Anyone yet know if this is a dealer-delete option? Or is it installed at the factory?
-ch
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I have never seen a hood on a Japanese car that doesn't flex. I'm pretty sure it's just more noticeable since the hood scoop makes for a better reference point than the hood alone. It's just an indication of the thickness of the metal and some other factors like amount of bracing.
All I can say is if it doesn't fall off who cares. Please pick something else to complain about.
Oh I know lets complain about brakes that make a lot of noise. We all know good brakes are silent.
All I can say is if it doesn't fall off who cares. Please pick something else to complain about.
Oh I know lets complain about brakes that make a lot of noise. We all know good brakes are silent.
I do not agree!
Hyperion: My understanding is that the wing was a factory install. Any change out or removal will have to be aftermarket. Since the WRX is coming this year with a sedan version without a wing takers for yours if you remove it may just take a little while. Remember you may want to keep it for resale. And last but not least is the fact that removing the STI may involve as many as 17 screws, sources say. If you leave off the wing totally-find a good body shop! All things to consider, but I am not making any decisions til I get the car and live with it for a while.SFRinNJ
Hyperion: My understanding is that the wing was a factory install. Any change out or removal will have to be aftermarket. Since the WRX is coming this year with a sedan version without a wing takers for yours if you remove it may just take a little while. Remember you may want to keep it for resale. And last but not least is the fact that removing the STI may involve as many as 17 screws, sources say. If you leave off the wing totally-find a good body shop! All things to consider, but I am not making any decisions til I get the car and live with it for a while.SFRinNJ
Guys, it has nothing to do with the way the car is made. It has nothing to do with shoddy workmanship. You just have to face up to two things.
One - this is an all out sports car that is taking steps to be as light as possible. That mean aluminum for a hood, which is very light.
Two - air flows are forces to be dealt with. If a wind decides to fill the engine compartment (and subsequently the underside of the car) with a larger volume of air than normal, something will have to give.
Combine these two...and the hood will move around a bit when a butt load of air is forced under the hood. Like I said before, my Celica had a small hood scoop in stock form for manifold cooling. There were no problems then. When I put the larger scoop on, more air was allowed under the hood, and I can now see those effects.
Worried about it? Buy the WRX. The smaller scoop should solve the problems. The hood isn't going to pull loose on you. It's just light...it's going to move. You go and hold a hood out a car window and see how secure you can keep it by holding it in the middle of the front and the back corners!
One - this is an all out sports car that is taking steps to be as light as possible. That mean aluminum for a hood, which is very light.
Two - air flows are forces to be dealt with. If a wind decides to fill the engine compartment (and subsequently the underside of the car) with a larger volume of air than normal, something will have to give.
Combine these two...and the hood will move around a bit when a butt load of air is forced under the hood. Like I said before, my Celica had a small hood scoop in stock form for manifold cooling. There were no problems then. When I put the larger scoop on, more air was allowed under the hood, and I can now see those effects.
Worried about it? Buy the WRX. The smaller scoop should solve the problems. The hood isn't going to pull loose on you. It's just light...it's going to move. You go and hold a hood out a car window and see how secure you can keep it by holding it in the middle of the front and the back corners!
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Quit taking these reviews too seriously
Hasn't the wing been used for a couple years now as part of the Prodrive option? I have not heard any complaints about it before. Again I will have to wait and see but am not worried about it.
Exactly. Lol. You should see the hood on my Supra bounce around. My Supra's hood is aluminum like the STi. You can't tell me the Supra is put together sloppy. The double galvanized steel hood on my Legacy also vibrates and that thing weighs a ton. It doesn't do it a lot but with the scoop you can see it. Air gets under the hood at speed and want's to lift it on any car, with a scoop it's even worse. I have not seen it yet so I can not say for sure, but I bet it probably doesn't do it that bad for all the wind resistance it has to deal with. It is brought up in some reviews but they don't make a huge deal about it. Actually considering all the wind resistence it has to deal with, it might have to give somewhat. I don't know, but none of this has made me think twice about getting an STi. I am curious to see now, how bad it really is but I am not worried at all about it.darwood said:I have never seen a hood on a Japanese car that doesn't flex. I'm pretty sure it's just more noticeable since the hood scoop makes for a better reference point than the hood alone. It's just an indication of the thickness of the metal and some other factors like amount of bracing.
All I can say is if it doesn't fall off who cares. Please pick something else to complain about.
Oh I know lets complain about brakes that make a lot of noise. We all know good brakes are silent.
Hasn't the wing been used for a couple years now as part of the Prodrive option? I have not heard any complaints about it before. Again I will have to wait and see but am not worried about it.
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If the larger scoop is actually causing the extra movement, maybe have strategically placed vent holes/slots in the rear of the scoop. Just enough that it don't compromise airflow to the IC and relieve airflow resistance at the same time.
I think maybe people are making a bigger deal than they should. Car magazine testers bitch about it because they compare everything to German cars that weigh 2 tons that have nothing of the sort.
I'm thinking once a carbon fiber version of the new hood scoop comes out, it will not shake anymore or as much.
Check out this thread over at I-club if you want your questions answered by people who actually drive USDM STIs. Someone already brought up the scoop/wing thing already.
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18879
I'm thinking once a carbon fiber version of the new hood scoop comes out, it will not shake anymore or as much.
Check out this thread over at I-club if you want your questions answered by people who actually drive USDM STIs. Someone already brought up the scoop/wing thing already.
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18879
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Righty-O, neighbor-oonie...BHODGES3 said:
I hear that!!! Bring back the coupe. I know alot of people are buying this car because it is a sedan, but i want a coupe! Less weight and coupes look better in my opinion. Plus it doesn't look as bad when you rip out the back seats and install a roll cage too. :wink: Peace!!Rufus3383 said:
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