Yesterday I stopped to look and to test-drive the WRX at a local dealer. Took my L and thought this would be a great calling card. Well... it might as well be the start of the Civil War between the North and South...

Salesperson starts telling me this and that about it and rambles on so I finally said... "Yep... but it's not faster than my L"... OOPS... That’s when it started!

Now I've read Turbo mag on all the mods available so far... seems like these things are only up to about 269RWHP, which is a ton for a four banger but not enough to really put our L's to shame. He says oh no, they getting over 300 RWHP with a new turbo and stuff, which maybe true. Although I don’t know what magic they possess because their own literature says the factory WRX STi racer has just over 300RWHP...

So I tell the guy, hey... “Turbo” mag says 269 plus all the rag's say best 0-60 is about 5.6, so how come those in the know can't do what you're telling me it can? Ahah... either it's a line of bull or it could be true... the computer doesn't allow the new cars to use everything it has until you've got enough miles on it for breaking it in. It’s automatically programmed for this.

There went my test drive... I want to see what one of these puppies can do... but I don’t think we’re going to find one on the lot with the necessary miles on for it to scoot.

I've seen posts with experiences mentioned but that was several days ago (weeks?). Anyone got any recent experience with them?

Don't shoot me... but I think it'd be a cool addition to my L. Remember.... don't shoot.

 

That 5.6 was done by reving the engine up and then dumping the clutch. Something the average owner will never do.

 

I test drove a WRX twice before I found my 99 Lightning. The WRX was very responsive on the road, and excellent in hard corners. Here's the catch: If you don't KEEP the RPM's above 3500, you don't "feel" anything much more than a stock Honda Civic with an Automatic trans.
You can get some serious WRX hole-times if you crap on the clutch at 5000 rpm, but I wonder how long the "viscous coupling" 4wheel drive system would hold up after a few 5K clutchdumps.

Once I drove the Lightning, I knew where my choice was. I know for a fact that just driving around the city, I don't have to be all rice-revved up to get anywhere--I mean step on it at 40 and you're gobblin up the real-estate like there's no tomorrow. Now if only they could build a fatty transfer case for the L, we'd REALLY be in business :-D

~VyPeR

 

i have a bone stock lightning until monday that is....hehe but back to the point. i have been up against this WRX that i always see in my travels back and forth to work. the first time i saw him it was kinda damp out so i didn't get a good run, but still beat him. out of the hole he was really good. the second time i saw this guy it was dry, we lined up agian and it was over fairly quickly. i would dare go up against this guy on a twisty road. but if you are lucking for the 1/4 rocket times they just don't hold up to the L