Review of the Subaru WRX Wagon MY02 (Part 2 of 2)

[rexspeed]

Awesome review. Makes me wanting to buy another wrx. I miss my bugeye wagon regardless of the shortcomings. To find a nice used one is the challenge.

[fiveightandten]

@rexspeed - Thanks. Yeah, they're great cars. My girlfriend and I recently bought a 2004 red WRX wagon and now have 2 in the family. Awesome cars. The interior in chinsey compared to my BMW, but i've done a lot of work to the WRX now and upgraded all the little stuff that annoyed me about it. Both her car and mine are a blast to drive.

[gsxrjustin]

Fuel mileage how was it before all the mods

[fiveightandten]

@gsxrjustin - My fuel economy has always been terrible. I did 20-21 MPG combined before the mods, and have been doing 20-21 MPG combined while tuned stage II for the past 40K miles or so.

[zoozipzap]

Do you think this would be a good first car?

[fiveightandten]

@zoozipzap- sure, it's a pretty decent first car. They're very reliable and pretty cheap to own. They are a pain to work on compared to American or German cars, so if you learn to work on a Subaru, anything after that will seem super easy.

[impulseixi]

I ripped another m3 , an 05 , its a different ball game , but now I realize what it is I love is the suby awd system. Also read quite a bit more info , with my car at 243hp that little jump makes me appreciate the 4000$ I have into the car ( yes in total ) , it's oranges to apples , you want a drag car m3 , you want an all weather car impreza , new spec c has the fastest lap time ever on the nuremberg , by quite alot

[fiveightandten]

@impulseixi - I agree, different cars for different things. Though, for the record, M3's aren't drag cars. Get a mustang for that. M3's are built around high speed cornering, they're at home on the track. The WRX is a far better all weather car, as evident by the fact that there's 10 inches of snow on the ground here right now...the WRX got me back and forth plenty of places in it yesterday, while the M3 was asleep in the garage.

[impulseixi]

Without admit , it eats an m3 any day in driveability , just never in a st8 line , my bugeye has 12" cross drilled n slotted , but even stock they perform better than an M3 , how can you say they suck?

[fiveightandten]

@impulseixi - I'll respectfully disagree with the notion that a stock bugeye can stop quicker than any M3. The brakes on my E36 M3 are massively powerful compared to my WRX. C&D published stopping distances for 60-0 were: '02 WRX - 138', and '95 M3 - 122'. That's a difference of about 2 car lengths in favor of the M3, without accounting for fade in hard use (which the WRX has in spades).

Driveability is subjective, each car has its ups and downs. Thanks for commenting constructively. Cheers.

[ThePrudence23]

I do not know if what I have I really like I have a 1997 Honda Civic LX 4 door and I want some that has a turbo and is awd but what is the insurance going to be because I just turned 21 and it might go down a little but probably not much that is why I am trying to get a job so I can get a 2004 or 2005 Subaru WRX I respect these cars so much and want to have one so bad my dream is to rally race and the wrx is what will get me there

[BobKenge]

Does it has good fuel economy with 250whp? and what about turbo lag

[fiveightandten]

@BobKenge - Mine has always gotten bad fuel economy, even when it was stock. It does 20 MPG, no matter how I drive it. I've replaced the O2 sensors, PCV valve, MAF sensor, brakes, purge control solenoid, fuel filter, air filter, turbo inlet, shocks, springs, gotten an alignment with new tires, checked for vacuum leaks, and clamped down every vacuum hose in the car, to no avail.

Turbo lag will depend on the setup. Mine hits target boost at 3,000 RPM, and quite quickly. I'll post a vid.

[atv140]

hey, hows the reliability on the engine/transmission and such? i am thinkin of buying one for my first car. do you think one with a 100k miles is too much or do you think the car still has alot of life left? --thanks

[fiveightandten]

@atv140 - The engines are very reliable in stock form. A bad tune, or pushing big power through it will decrease reliability. When you hear people talking about spinning bearings, they're usually running a questionable tune or pushing too much power. I put down 250WHP, pro-tuned, and it's fine.

For transmissions, the general rule is; the newer the car, the more robust the transmission. 2002's were the weakest. 04's got a decent upgrade. Just don't do clutch dumps and it'll be fine.

[fiveightandten]

@atv140 - 100K miles can be absolutely nothing on a motor that's had regular oil changes and was driven by someone who cared for it (ie. not boosting the hell out of a cold motor, etc). 100K miles can be the end of the lifespan of a motor that's been beat on.

Also, do NOT buy a modded car, and get a pre purchase inspection done by a qualified shop if you don't know how to tell if the car has been modded and how to check for common problems.

[sixaxis171]

great reviews man!!! love ur car!! i was on edge on getting one just like this(but blue with black rims) i live in NE 2 (north east corner CT) and u really convinced me 2 get a car like this!! great car!!!! a couple questions are, how is it on gas? and how hard is it to do regular matenence?? like changeing oil, oil filter, and air filter?? Great review!!

[fiveightandten]

@sixaxis171 - I'm in CT as well. Great car for the winter. Gas mileage is hit or miss. Some guys do nearly 30 MPG in them with reasonable driving. Mine is horrible at around 21 MPG. I'm convinced there's a small boost leak i'm not finding, or maybe the throttle position sensor isn't letting the injectors shut off. My fuel maps don't indicate the car is running rich.

Anyways, fluid changes and filter changes are super easy. It's the bigger jobs that are tough, as it's tight in there. Great car.

[sixaxis171]

@fiveightandten sounds great!!! the one im looking it is almost up in boston. its all stock, im turning 16 and ive been looking at subarus as a 1st car. weve had a lot of subarus and cars with turbos so im a good driver with turbos and manuals. Anyway, i just have 2 sell "my car" that my dad got me a whial back. great car!! u really convinced me! good luck with yours, thanks for all the great advice!

[fiveightandten]

@sixaxis171 - Buying stock is the way to go. Never buy a modded turbo car unless you're intimately familiar with the platform. I actually picked mine up from an older woman in Maine. Bone stock.

The easiest telltale signs of mods are to check the turbo heat shield to be sure it's there and has all the bolts, and to look at the exhaust system to see if the hardware shows signs of being disturbed. If it's full of OEM exhaust pieces that are way cleaner than the rest of the underbody...well. ;)

[sixaxis171]

@fiveightandten haha sounds good man!! im gonna b selling my 1985 mercedes benz 300cd turbo diesel, its a pritty rair car so i should get a good amount out of it, body is perfect, interior could u some work. anyways i was probably gonna ask around 6000 or bo. and hopefully get this subaru. again, great advice, its always helpful

[fabiotasica]

What is this red button up on the steering wheel? Centralized, below the cluster? Thank you.

[fiveightandten]

@fabiotasica - the red button on the steering column turns the parking lights on, regardless of whether the car is on or the key is in it. I'm not quite sure when this would ever be useful.

[wideopen704]

I'm thinking about getting an 06-07 wagon before the new WRX wagon came out, I think they look really cool and I love them in white. Are the brakes really that bad though? I was thinking about spending about 3K with wheels and tires included, I was gonna do all the Cobb Stage 2 stuff. But a brake kit will really run up the tab! What should I do? Great video by the way, you're a very knowledgeable guy.

[fiveightandten]

@wideopen704 - The brakes are a bit better on the later models. But on the Bugeye, yeah, they're pretty bad. I've lost count of how many times i've faded the brakes on the street. They stop the car fine for normal driving, but anything spirited and you quickly realize their limitations. There's a reason why the they give the STi a brake upgrade.

If you track the car, a BBK is a must. If you autoX it, you'll *want* to put a BBK on. If the car is street driven, it's personal preference.

[mizeriu]

Dude, you keep saying that "this is not a sports car"...well, I think you mean a race car. Maybe you are used with the raw BMW. In stock version, the WRX is a fast and great handling car. Probably, not the best, but it is a Sport Wagon.

[fiveightandten]

@mizeriu - Well, it's not a sports car. It's a station wagon with a turbo under the hood. I'll take the term "Sport Wagon", I suppose. But if the WRX is a sports car, than so is the base Impreza, as that has the same suspension, brakes ect.

It doesn't handle poorly. But i'm capable enough to drive the car to 10/10ths, and believe me, in stock form, it's not very composed and doesn't have very high limits. I love the car. But let's be honest about what it is. That's the point of the video.

[AnotherClich3]

You have a nice voice and speak well.

Oh yeah, good review too.

[fiveightandten]

@AnotherClich3 - Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for watching.

[martian010]

are all stock wrx impreza wagons turboed?? I know how some manufacturers make models where certain priced ones would say be all wheel drive, but not turboed, or will be turboed yet not all wheel drive, again this is merely an example. I know nothing of subarus so I'm getting as much info as I can, my 95 talon and 93 mustang(both automatics) are both broke down so I need a new car asap, and theres a silver impreza just like yours at a local dealership that I've considered getting.

[fiveightandten]

@martian010 - All WRX's are turbo. All WRX's are AWD. The WRX is a trim level of the Impreza. It's basically an Impreza with a turbocharged motor, and a few other odds and ends like better seats, steering wheel, etc.

[edwin0627]

i cool......ajajajaa remember is NOT STi....is just WRX.... and is great! jajaja!! AWD ride with the same feeling....no same HP but is not a problem jajaja add some modifications and there u go...

[porsche558]

I own and enjoy the 2007 Impreza Outback sport SE wagon. I have no issues with the 5 speed trans. I don't know why you have such "mushy" engine mounts. In my car the powertrain is buttery smooth and totally vibration free which is the point of the liquid engine mounts. The engines in most cars are hard to work on....try working on a new BMW, Merc, or Lex-ass. Subaru at least puts all the "user serviceable" parts where they are easy to get. All subaru's have great headlights.

[fiveightandten]

@porsche558 - Thanks for your input. Though it should be noted that your car makes over 50HP less than this car did from the factory. It doesn't surprise me that you don't feel your mounts flexing as much.

With regard to the interior. I maintain that Hondas, Toyotas, and other cars in a similar price range have better interior materials and better fit and finish. Refinement is way down in the Subaru. But that doesn't make it a bad car. I love the AWD, and it now makes 248WHP. It's a blast.

[porsche558]

In my case it's only a 30hp difference since I have made some modifications to my intake and have the SPT exhaust instaled (done as a factory option). I maintain that 30 HP should put that much more of a load on the mounts, people regularly mod their wrx's and sti's to produce over 500 HP. Weak mount would have cause them to not be able to push that much HP. I guess it's a matter of taste when it comes to interior refinemnet. I've had a few Mazdas and an Olds that were cheaper feeling inside.

[Haden112]

first, having a modified intake and exhaust doesn't add to your bhp at all they just "make more horsepower available" or broaden the power band of the car. second im very sure that the people who modify their car to 500+ ponies change out the stock engine mounts for stronger aftermarket ones. lastly, you say you drive a 2007 impreza outback (N/A) while he drives a 2002 impreza wrx (Turbo) its like comparing a Cayman and a 911 turbo ;) same basic idea but not the same

[porsche558]

I have no idea what your talking about with "available horsepower" vs. Brake horsepower" New's flash anyone knows that modifications affect horsepower affect the horsepower at the wheels too! Sorry but if your going to argue a point please argue about something you KNOW about.

[Haden112]

an intake and an exhaust upgrade add to the available horse power or in other words the power that actually makes it from the engine to the wheels but they do not increase the brake horse power or in other words the power your engine produces on its own which is what it looks like you were implying above, or did you mean: I maintain that 30 HP SHOULDN'T put that much more of a load on the mounts... cause if thats what you meant then this has been just a big misunderstanding

[porsche558]

I can tell your not a mechanic so I won't hold your comment against you. I would like to take this oppertunity to mention that the WRX is an Impreza and the Outback sport is also an Impreza. THEY ARE THE SAME CAR!!!!! The difference is in the turbo charger and 2.0 Liter engine on the WRX vs no tubo and a 2.5 Liter engine on the Outback. The 911 and the Caymen are 2 different cars....but hey thanks for playing even if you don't know Subaru's or what your talking about.

[Haden112]

@porsche558 Look, you have a 2.5L Impreza Sport that is a 2007 model and he has a 2002 model WRX. If he also had a hawkeye like yours it'd be one thing but he has a bug eye. So they are different cars with different engines. your cant accuately compare them like you tryed to do at the beginning was all I was saying. As for the Porsche comment both the Cayman and the 911 look about the same but they are internally completely different like your car and his.

[porsche558]

I feel that car is faster than most sports cars!! I think the interior is just as good as other cars in it's class.....it's not a Bimmer or a Merc or a Lex-ass.

[jackmitchell123]

fantastic video as always, glad to see you posting this. never disappoint me.

[ScoobyStevo]

How did u fix ur perrin intake info would be helpful as im about to do mine here soon thanks

[cold02rex]

You've caught the bug bad.

Ive got about 6k in my 02 wagon. No regrets at all. Modest 220 AWHP /and 240- tq on 92 pump

Lag is basically non existent and its just a DD you make excuses to drive or work on.

Great vids BTW

[konarider8]

Awesome unbiased review! What part of new england are you from? I'm from nh, love driving in the snow, I really want a fun car that's great for all seasons up here! (the stratus isn't cuttin it) haha

[m3trooper]

Great video! You're obviously very knowledgeable. I have an '05 WRX Wagon, and it's stability in the snow beats any SUV I've ever had. Love your M3 too! I had an '88 E30 M3!

[fiveightandten]

@m3trooper - Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. E30 M3's are fantastic. Sometimes I wish I picked one up before the prices got so outrageous.

Yeah, WRX AWD is amazing. It kills fuel economy, and sucks up power...but works VERY well in the snow.

[jcadlols]

I would hate to ask, because of how much time you must have spent on this, but a review on the //M3 would be awesome. I guess, due to the lower power output on the US spec m3 that you would notice the other areas of the car, such as handling more than the euro car. Thanks anyway, awesome video

[fiveightandten]

@ jcadlols - It actually doesn't take very long at all. I just babble in front of the camera for a while, piece it together in Final cut and post it up.

I actually put up an in depth review of the M3 a while back and had to take it down. It was a part time job sifting through the negative comments from all the haters. I (literally) got death threats from people because I made a few jokes that flew over their heads. Maybe i'll try again, though i've long since deleted the original vids.

[jcadlols]

@fiveightandten wow, death threats. well if that's the case don't worry too much about it. I would find it interesting as i would love to own an e36 m3 in the future. Even though the us spec is different to the euro (Australian cars are euro spec) it would be pretty damn interesting just because of how good your reviews and technical understanding is. But yeah, thanks for answering.

[ViperVenomACR]

does it have a LSD??

[fiveightandten]

@ViperVenomACR - There's a LSD in the rear, front is an open diff.

[ViperVenomACR]

thx man

[AaronDeWitt]

great video. you definitely covered all bases.

if you are looking for more reasonably cheap mods, i would go with a short throw shifter. gives the tranny a completely different, more sporty feel and is much better for the synchros. i'm running the twm performance shifter in my bugeye wrx. solid one piece design (cnc machined) with no welds or bolts. very sturdy and well made. can't wait for you next vid

[KuostA]

Once, again, I'm absolutely oustanded with this presentation. You have a PROFOUND understanding of the car, especially for owning the car for a few months. I've been in the Subaru game for years now and you've pretty much shown a great overview of the fundamentals.

How did you learn so quick, are you on NASIOC? keep those mods coming!

[fiveightandten]

@KoustA - Thanks again.

I'll definitely look into a SSK after I get the motor stuff sorted out and get her tuned. Thanks.

I'm not that active, but I am on NASIOC. Tons of great reading there, but nothing replaces tearing into the car for maintenance and mod stuff, and learning from a hands on approach. A few months is plenty of time for both of those things.

I'm currently swapping exhausts to decide on one before the tune. I'll throw up some vids of the noise pollution, for sure. ;)

[Arz00]

Great review! Miss M3?:)

[RxMalice]

Nice car. The bug-eyed wrx wagons have always been one of my favorite cars and definitely my favorite wagon of all time... looking forward to seeing some performance projects for this car!

I have an E36 (but it's a 325is :( not a M3) so you should make more videos about your M3 too :)

[fiveightandten]

@RxMalice - Thanks for the reply. Actually, I just put an exhaust on the car today, and it goes in for dyno tuning 2 weeks from now. I'll post a few vids up.