Evil thoughts of change

[transio]

G35 coupe.

I love the G35 coupe. My neighbor has one. Only downsides are no manual transmission and EVERYONE in Miami has one... I'd rather get a black 350z convertible with track pack. From behind, it looks almost like a Spyker C8

[Maugan_VX]

Maybe the new saturn sky?

Looks interesting.

[mbeach]

Did I hear someone say WRX??

I loved mine, but I agree, the new Imprezas are ugly.

And the Impreza chassis was designed to be beat on, if it has been driven hard, it can definately take it. Weak spots are the transmission (on non-STI models), and the rear differential (on STIs). I've been out of the community for a year, so a few other things might have popped up.

As for reliability, the stock '02 WRX dynos @165whp, mine laid down 362whp, through the stock clutch and tranny for over 40k miles without a hiccup (until the day I sold it). I thank Shiv at Vishnu Tuning for that.

Handling is outstanding, once you have enough power to negate the understeer. I've tailed a buddy in his Superformance S1 through the Hocking Hills region (where C&D does its roadtests) without too much difficulty.
Bad roads are a non-issue with decent tires. 8 inches of wheel travel on a 99" wheel base = jumping machine. On icy roads you can generally boost with impunity, if you get sideways, a tap on the gas will straighten you right out.

Heck, I'm suddenly thinking about going back. At least the VX has the ground clearance that I need up here- in Maryland that may not be a requirement.

The older (Ver. 6) Imprezas were noticeably flexier than the V.7 and up Imprezas. The 4-door is stiffer and lighter, but the 2-door 2.5 RS looks better. I've seen half-a-dozen EJ20Ts (WRX motors) retrofitted into the older body Imprezas. Very hot, and semi-legal in most places.

The Subaru Impreza WRX is quite simply one of the greatest sports cars of our time. I'm sure that not everyone thinks so, but if they really look into it, their minds will change.

[michael67]

Well, I'm looking to get a VX, so I couldn't imagine what you're going through. However, if you're looking to get a comuter car, I'd suggest a Mazda6, or an Accord or something. A simple 4-door sedan will get pretty good gas mileage, and then keep the VX. I hate to hear that people are getting rid of them when I'm just falling in love with them.
Peace.

[SRCHN]

I love the G35 coupe. My neighbor has one. Only downsides are no manual transmission and EVERYONE in Miami has one... I'd rather get a black 350z convertible with track pack. From behind, it looks almost like a Spyker C8

Um, you can get a G coupe with a six speed. Several of my friends have them...

Just do an ebaymotors search on the G35...lots of hits with a standard.

Forget the Elise...wait a year or two for the Europa to come out and then just import it from Europe. Sooo hot.

SRCHN

[Chopper]

taking a trip soon to see a Caterham CSR260 I've had a love affair, of sorts, with a VR for some time now.(and wifey thought a grown 6'4" man looked silly in a Miata...or rather, getting out of it) 260hp-1300 lbs....0-60...3.2sec. 155mph top speed, (plenty,I'm not as young and brash as before) formula car handling. Now THAT'S a gas saver. But then I wear prickly cactus underwear too. STI alternative- I've had access to a mitsi Evo RS for the last few weeks. Found it way more "dialed in" than any of the stocker WRX's I've ever driven...STI or no.I think it would be a dandy commuter. Disect traffic like a scalpel with room in back for the little primates in the family...sort of a home school physics lesson every day....but then that's me(see undergarment reference above)

[transio]

Um, you can get a G coupe with a six speed.

Good to know... I wasn't aware of that.

Forget the Elise...wait a year or two for the Europa to come out and then just import it from Europe. Sooo hot.

Well, you'll never get it in the US, because it uses the 2.0L engine out of the Opel Speedster, which doesn't meet US emissions laws. Besides that, it is slower, heavier, and less pure than the Elise. It was originally designed for the Malaysian market as a Proton, and has many of their styling cues... I personally think it's ugly. Looks like a cross between an RSX, Stratus, and Crossfire.

[transio]

Chopper, Caterhams are sick cars. I'd like to get one some day (when I'm rich) as a weekend car. It's between that and an Ariel Atom for me.

[WormGod]

Checked out the Evo this weekend. Wow, wow, and wow! After driving this little bugger for 20 mins, I couldnt even look back in the direction of an STi. Problem here however.... it was NOT cheap. I could have about gotten a CLK for the pricetag on this thing.

Interetsing thing happened this weekend though. My grandfather was recently declared legally blind and his MD drivers lisence has been revoked due to it. I was nudged by a family member to check out his car. never thought about really, but I looked into it. Turns out, he has a '93 Chevy Malibu. 4 door, very basic, really not my cup of tea. But after inquiring about it, it turns out it is in "pristine" shape and only has 2,000 miles on it since he bought it new years ago. He was talking $5k. This just might be the perfect "commuter", if you know what I mean. It wont win me any Best of Show awards, but it is a last ditch option. Cant rule it out ya know.

[Joe_Black]

Evo's are cool, but just keep in mind that Mitsubishi will drop your warranty if you even look at the car funny. Subaru, on the other hand, encourages you to have fun.

[mbeach]

SOA will void your warranty in a heartbeat. They are better than Isuzu of America, but they will still laugh you off if they even think that you've been monkeying with their car. Whenever I swung by the stealership to buy oil filters/ washers, the service guys would joke about my "warranty". I guess that the gigantic FMIC tipped them off.

I found it irritating that SoA would supply you with a 1 year membership to the SCCA, but dishonor your warranty if you ever used your car to race (even against the clock).

I was actually sitting in an Evo when I decided to purchase the WRX. The things that stood against the Evo were:
1.) cable shift linkage -my bro's Civic has that, why would I want my pseudo-rally car to have it?
2.) crankwalk. The design of the 4G63 encourages it, and there's no way around it. I've seen a few 600+hp Evos and they all had one thing in common: a spare motor nearby. Maybe that's asking a lot to ask, but it's still a problem.
3.) boost gauge -right next to my shiftin' hand. WTH? Line of sight (without the cop-magnet A-pillar mounts) please.
4.) it just looks too ricey.

It did handle like a dream, but then again, I'm kind've a crappy driver, so I don't need all of that ability.