SavageGeese with the Most Savage Subaru Review Intro Ever!

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
07/19/2018 at 17:11 • Filed to: Savagegeese

The goose is loose!! This is where minor seals mus t go clubbing, so savage. Don’t hurt ‘em, Goose!

DISCUSSION (11)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Wobbles the Mind
07/19/2018 at 17:32

$50K Crackpipe. It’ ll still sell like crazy new and used because they know what they have.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Wobbles the Mind
07/20/2018 at 00:41

Absurd.

The reason that these cars cost 40K for an STI, 50K for an RA is the AWD?

The AWD equipment in this car is as good as they say, but it is also amortized, and 15 years old. It was cutting edge, and top-shelf, it is only top shelf now... and they’ve been making their money on selling it for a decade and a half.

People still buy this for the driving experience? WHO?

I had a Legacy GT with the EJ255... I traded it two vehicles ago, and have left Subaru in my rear view mirror.

STI was better, mechanically, but MUCH too “ Boy-racer” 10 years ago for anyone with a professional job to go to, and tastes of someone older than 17 years old.

Again, that was 15 years ago. Now sedans are being CUT, by entire BRANDS across the board.

Yet Subaru puts this fantastic true-AWD, manual gearbox drivetrain:

ONLY behind a dinosaur of an engine,

ONLY in a compact sedan that is a dying segment.

ONLY in a car with no ground clearance.

ONLY in the more expensive upgrade STI, not the regular WRX.

WRX/ WRX STI needs to go away. I am sorry to say that, but it does.

BRZ needs to go away. It isn’t Subaru’s idiom for a RWD “handling” coupe, when Subaru’s performance has always been traction, over handling and all else.

Subaru needs to use it’s new 2.4 Turbo DI engine, bolt it to this drivetrain. resurrect their 5-speed auto with maybe a 6th or 7th ratio, but with Variable Torque Distribution, as the automatic variant of this drivetrain.

Otherwise do a single automated dual-clutch transmission that can be faster than a manual, directly engaged from the engine to the tires, and driver or electronically controlled, if manual and automatic parallel drivetrains can’t be justified on cost.

PUT THAT DRIVETRAIN INTO TWO OTHER CARS, maybe THREE or FOUR.

1: Crosstrek STI. Hatch versatility, rally-ready ground clearance.

2: NEW COUPE. 2+2 with a rear liftback, between the BRZ and Mustang/Camaro in size, big enough for traveling cross country, small enough to still be fairly nimble and fun to drive... The target firmly between 2.5RS Impreza, Leone RX-II, XT, and SVX coupes.

3: Forester or Outback STI. Basically a more grown-up, practical, and long-distance comfortable body and interior alternative to the Crosstrek STI mentioned on #1, and competitor to the Buick, Volvo, and Audi all-road wagon/CUVs.

Beige, boring, under-powered CVT Subaru is completely antithetical to me, and the performance side of Subaru that I once loved, is pretty much dead or dying depending on the model.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
07/20/2018 at 08:37

I disagree with many of these points, and agree with many. Wish the STi were cheaper, I think it’s way over-valued. I’m fine with the old engine in there because there is so much aftermarket support if you were to buy one.

But my biggest reason for never buying one is definitely the boy-racer feel.

I would love to see a Crosstrek STi. I think it has great proportions and fitted with real STi kit, I would be seriously interested.

I really wish they’d create a performance brand and have STi models of the Outback and Forester. Where they actually upgrade the engine and suspension.

Unfortunately, it seems like Subaru is chasing MPG’s and I’m surprised they’ve kept the STi this long. I’d rather have this STi, than have them remove the last well powered enthusiast car from their line up.

On a side-note, I think Kia should create a grown-up STi competitor. They have the Stinger already, and they’re creating their “N” line of performance cars. It wouldn’t be a huge step to make their own Legacy GT of some sort.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback
07/21/2018 at 18:43

Kia Stinger is already the Legacy GT that Subaru is too timid to build, and as a 5-door, is head-and-shoulders better.

Even if Subaru still turbocharged the Legacy, the Kia Stinger would be the obvious choice.

In 2007, I had a hard time choosing between Legacy and Mazda 6 5-door or Mazdaspeed 6.

Legacy GT’s better AWD won out barely, because the Mazda had to choose between either 5-door, or Mazdaspeed performance. Kia Stinger is BOTH, and wins.

Subaru is not even on the chart anymore. 305 horsepower is not even competitive with Ford Focus RS, or Mercedes GLA 45 AMG anymore, despite the better AWD Subaru has. The body style is out of date, the interior is out of date, and the engine is WAY out of date without direct inj ection.

Subaru has a new engine on deck with the Ascent... and even the WRX’s 2.0 engine is probably capable of 290-310 horsepower... rather than the venerable, but aged EJ257.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
07/23/2018 at 09:13

Being in Buffalo, NY and seeing how much snow we regularly get, AWD is a must for me. Which means the Stinger is out of the question.
Also, I know everyone rags on the old EJ engine, but personally I don’t want to go to Direct Injection yet. MY ‘09 BMW 535 had DI and after 45k miles I had to have the intake side media blasted to clean it up .

Maybe newer DI systems don’t leave as much carbon behind, but I’m ok with not moving to DI yet. I agree the power isn’t competitive, and with the power you lose in the AWD system, I do wish there was more. But in all seriousness, as much as it’d be cool to have more power, 300hp is plenty fun. Considering how easy it is to add a Cobb Access Port and increase HP a bit without requiring any other bolt-ons, that’s good enough for me. (although my Outback XT is still stock - no extra boost yet).

Either way, there isn’t a great Sedan / 5 Door / Wagon out there that has AWD, a Turbo, and manual transmission that I could seriously consider. ( I won’t ever buy a G erman car again )

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback
07/23/2018 at 09:18

Kia Stinger has an AWD configuration on most models, as an upgrade over standard Rear-wheel-drive.

Although, I do have to say... an Outback XT 5-speed is a great option.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
07/23/2018 at 11:34

Didn’t know about the AWD, but does the AWD come with a manual option... I’ll have to look now. (I bet they don’ t.)

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback
07/23/2018 at 11:46

Sadly, manual gearbox is becoming a harder and harder criteria to meet in any context.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
07/23/2018 at 12:01

This is exactly why I have an ‘08, and I am wary of the day I need to replace the OBXT. The only way I’ll let go of the car, is if someone wrecks it. I’ll replace parts until the car is brand new, if that’s what it takes.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback
07/23/2018 at 12:54

I admire your commitment.

I ended up selling off my SVX to pay off other bills, and traded the Legacy GT 5MT sedan due to mounting nickel-and-dime things... for a larger 5-passenger CUV, because I couldn’t find an OBXT or a Forester XT with a manual gearbox at all. There was a deal on a loaded Venza V6 that was 5K less than any Subaru I could find, and had much better amenities, since the Subarus around were all 4-speed auto, 4-cyl, non-turbo cars with front-biased AWD anyway... I pulled the trigger, and begrudgingly became a more boring driver... but it was a much more comfortable, practical, and versatile car, albeit slower than the Legacy sedan was... I probably should have had an OBXT or OB 3.0R. (I loved the butter-smooth SVX power and optimistic design approach, and it was screwed together better than the LGT was ... didn’t love the 4-speed auto, or the dinky trunk lid that should have been a liftback.)

I was already kind of fed up with new Subaru’s trend away from performance, and away from offering buyers color and option choices after the 2009 model year, and the abysmal re-design of the Legacy and Outback... and yet another bait-and-switch with the WRX concept turning into just another turbo Impreza after a 3 year wait, that was promised for WRX to drop the Impreza name and be more than just another Turbo Impreza. STI was still stuck as a boy-racer with an old engine tech for real sport sedan money.

I kind of got sick of being temporarily banned from NASIOC for pointing those things out, and Subaru’s fall from grace, in terms of being a performance oriented brand.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
07/23/2018 at 14:44

Yeah, this might be the last fun car I own for a long time. Have 4 kids, and two minivans. I have a second OBXT for sale if you’re anywhere near Buffalo, NY. Its an 06 Manual and Turbo.