Suby WRX

[Greg Spark <sparkg@wave.co.nz>]

> Date: Tue, 10 Jun 1997 13:41:10 -0700
> From: Mark Nelson <mnelson@brls.com>
> Subject: Subey WRX
 
> So has anybody else looked at some of the stats on that Subaru WRX?
> Maybe one of our European/New Zealander listers has driven one??

Drove one today for the first time. What a blast of a car!! It was the
STI version which is more powerful than standard I think.

Much quicker than my 187hp A4, although the torque is very low  until
about 3800 when it suddenly kicks in - and how! 100-130kph in 2.5s.
Could make for interesting situations if that turbo kicked in half way
round a slippery bend!

Didn't get a chance to try any other splits but the car is sensationally
quick when kept on the turbo. Quite tractable below that, but its not
an everyday city commuter prospect - more one to get out for that blast
to clear the head after a weeks stress.

Gearbox is superb with short positive throws, steering very direct
although the car I drove had 235/35x18 tyres and they wandered a bit.
Ride very firm but not as harsh as I expected - catseyes and small
bumps well insulated.

Quality is distinctly inferior to Audi - very flimsy trim and feels
cheap. But that performance is soooo intoxicating.

We are getting heaps imported here 2nd hand from Japan at very good
prices - highly specced too, but the odometers are distinctly dubious.
> 
> I've been reading the stats, and I have to admit, from what I've read,
> that those are d#&* impressive little cars!!  217HP at 6000 RPM stock
> out of that 2.0L Turbo motor!  I was reading about a car in Australia
> that one guy has, who has done some very minor tweaking with the turbo,
> chip, exhaust, etc., and has got the 0-62 mph time on the car down to
> 5.3 seconds!  You can check out the pictures and stats on the car at
> http://raid.comtech.com.au/OtherWeb/markb/index.htm

ObAudiContent:
I was lent the car by the shop fitting my new Remus exhaust - more on
that later.

-- 
Greg Spark
sparkg@wave.co.nz
Hamilton, New Zealand
'96 A4 1.8Tq 5sp MTM 187hp Remus exhaust.