10,000 mile WRX review

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus) 10/24/2014 at 14:29 • Filed to: None

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Well I hit it last night. I didn't even see it until I got in the car this morning and it was at 10,027 so no picture. The picture below is from day one, back in mid January with 18 miles on the clock. My wife, while accepting, wasn't too thrilled with my decision but my girls love it. The boxer engine makes a great sound but I was actually surprised at how quiet is it. If you have any questions I don't answer below about the car, feel free to ask.

So my good thoughts on the car:

The seat are very comfortable. I made it to NH and only stopped once but that was for dinner not for my back which is titanium reinforced. I expected such a low seating position to both it but it does not. The car has enough room for 2 or 3 adults or 2 car seats in the back and with the seats down, it can fit a mountain bike without the front wheel. With the seats up the trunk is big enough for our double stroller. I got a trailer hitch and rack. The hitch was a bitch to install but that now takes the bike duties.

The power is amazing. I dont really have much to compare to since i've pretty much only driven SUV's but it really is great. I couldn't imagine what 500 (or 707) would be like. The tires and the AWD system together have kept me from doing anything but a small tire slip while under heavy acceleration, while turning, in the rain. The power can also lead you to get pulled over which took me less than a month. In 13 years of driving that was my first time being pulled over for speeding. The clutch is very light and gear shifts can be done with one finger. I took the car to the to Mt Washington and had a blast driving up the Auto Road to watch the rally. It also fit all our camping needs including a grill, cooler, tent, hiking gears, 2 sleeping bags and air mattresses.

and the not so good:

The paint. Black is incredibly hard to keep clean. Its also incredibly thin. a leaf will probably take a chip off. Within a week I had a pea size chip on the front lip of the hood.

Whatever plastic they used for the dash was a poor decision. It reflects too much light and creates a glare on the windshield. This is particularly annoying on one heavily wooded road I take every day after work. The light coming through the trees is almost like a strobe light reflecting off the dash.

The car is surprisingly noisy. Even with the windows up, you can hear every grain of sand chipping your paint. With the windows down, the wind is pretty loud. At highway speeds you need to open a second window because the window pressure waves will make your ears uncomfortable.

While the tires are amazing in nice weather, the winter is coming with it crap load of snow which means winter tires. I'm not thrilled about having to shell out extra cash but that is how it goes.

Overall I love the car. Its quite a shift from the only other vehicles I ave owned which were both Explorers. I very much wanted AWD being in New England and that was really the deciding factor over the FoST.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/24/2014 at 14:36

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Love the review. I was going between a FoST and WRX when I was living in Westchester, and spent a lot of time in Connecticut / New England. This winter will show me if I made the right decision, although now that I'm back in the city, the FoST likely won't get a ton of love

Steve in Manhattan > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/24/2014 at 14:36

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Dash cover!

OPPOsaurus WRX > sefeing, actually bought an E46 10/24/2014 at 15:11

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I'd imagine with the right tires it will be fine but the AWD will be fun and I won't have to worry about anything.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/24/2014 at 15:35

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Yeah, our regular Impreza is kinda noisy but it's goods far outweigh that issue. Beast in the snow too.

Ballzonya > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/24/2014 at 15:52

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Bought mine in Jan as well...same color, but the sedan. I have the same complaint with the paint as well. I have been using Mothers spray on wax after each wash, and doing a full wax every 4 months just to get some of the swirl marks out.

Other than that, I love it. Glad I bought one of the last of this body style...not crazy about the 2015.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Ballzonya 10/24/2014 at 16:29

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I was waxing it like one a month. I actually like the new one better but I wanted a hatch. I also would have liked to have the 6 speed which is standard in 2015. Every once in a while when I get on the highway I go to shift into 6ththat isn't there

Burrito de EJ25 > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/25/2014 at 03:46

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The front bumper of my 2013 looks like a teenager's face. I have two tiny chips on my hood, too. I'm convinced that they're painting these cars with water colors.

Has your car developed any rattles yet? I've got quiet a bit of 'em.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Burrito de EJ25 10/25/2014 at 07:52

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it seems to be more like a creaking aroun5ld the top of the dash. Something does rattle but ive been hoping it was just one of the kid car seats in the back

Burrito de EJ25 > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/25/2014 at 18:56

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It's probably the car, honestly. It isn't a Subaru if it doesn't.

As of late I've only had two issues with the car. One was resolved by the dealership, which was a leaking turbo that had to be entirely replaced. The other is a throwout bearing issue, I think. It squeals in the mornings on cold days. The transmission might have to come out, but I haven't scheduled anything yet until my service consultant talks to the foreman Monday.

Hopefully I can get a Forester loaner. I like being in Foresters. They're big, open, and comfty.

But yeah. Despite all that I love the rude little car.