Rides and Drives January 7, 2017

THE SUBARU WRX: CAR OF LEGEND OR LETDOWN

We all can picture it in it's legendary blue and gold livery. Flying over crests, drifting in the dirt. Showers of rocks and dust raining upon the eager onlookers. As a child, getting behind the wheel of one was always a dream of mine. To tame dirt and gravel,

to become a rally god. What is it like to actually own a WRX? Chances are you won't be a world rally champion but the car certainly can inspire the feeling. Driving my own car, a 2002 "Bugeye" WRX with the drivetrain of a 2006, the inspiration comes quickly. In limited grip situations the engine’s low end torque aids the full-time 50/50 all wheel drive system and the tires grab the ground with confidence. With this firm footing the car effortlessly

propels you where you point it. When it comes to performance, steering precision is the only real let down. With some seat time in the dirt I can report the steering rack in the 2002 is aided by on-power oversteer and use of the E-brake.

However, most cars won't often see dirt. On the road

where most drivers will use their cars, the steering requires too much input to be precise and often leads to understeer. The 2015 WRX got a new steering

rack for a reason. A tighter rack for quicker steering precision.

Performance in the WRX brings both fault and fun. The turbocharged engine is

able to squeeze out more power on fairly low budget. Along with professional tuning, simple modifications to the fuel system, intake, exhaust and boost-control

solenoid can easily boost the engine’s output. Running on e85 ethanol, the 2.5-liter flat-four puts down over 300 turbo charged ponies to the wheels. However, any power output around these numbers puts reliability into question. While many tuned-Subaru owners

know the woes of rod-knock, my engine has been reliable. The rest of the drivetrain have

Frankenstein’s monster-the 2002/2006 WRX �1

While capable of having fun on a back road, the WRX has its faults.

Rides and Drives January 7, 2017

been the main faults with the car.

Nicknamed “the glass gearbox” the stock 5-speed transmission in the WRX has been a major letdown for many. With any sort of abuse the second and third gears often break, leaving owners to sort

out the issues.

Another problem, one I have personally experienced, is a lack of

durability of the viscous coupler. The part, housed in the transmissions extension case, acts as a center differential and controls power delivery between the front and rear axles as the

vehicle experiences wheel slippage. A potential wear item, the coupler can disassemble itself and cause massive damage both to the surrounding bearings and the rest of the gearbox as metal

shards travel through the oil. A new coupler is $700 sourced from Subaru.

All things considered, the car is a lot of fun. However, its general lack of reliability is the source of an almost constant headache and while exceptionally

quick, it is definitely not the same as the legendary rally car. The two hardly share any components, the WRC car was a purpose-built race car while the latter has merely a fraction of the capability of it’s racing car sibling. The WRX is simply not the legendary rally championship winner Subaru sported. It will not change you into a rally god and if you try to jump it on its stock suspension you will likely to break something. Breaking is

what the WRX is good at but if you have the patience and the finances to put up with its faults, it is an absolute blast to drive and absolutely not a letdown.

Frankenstein’s monster-the 2002/2006 WRX �2

A look at the extension case and its damaged components.

“A new coupler is $700”