MadRich

Well, actually the wife gets the wagon, but that's just a technicality ;-)

Traded in my BMW E30 (1989 325is). The WRX was the only modern car we could find that had the right balance of performance, reliability, and practicality to rival the E30. And I still have my BMW E28 to wrench on (1988 535is). Having two aging bimmers was taking too much time and I didn't get to drive them enough. And the WRX filled the need for a powerful car that will handle well. It'll handle the way it should in a couple of years. Probably not to beat the E30, but it'll get close.

The wife ended up with a 2005 silver wagon. She got the short shift kit and the Momo shift **** (gotta love that in a woman). Turbo gauge, too. We got heated seats from the dealership (why doesn't the wagon offer the cold weather package?!). Also an engine block heater (we're in Madison, Wisconsin).

I'm looking forward to learning much more about my WRX as time progresses. Hopefully I can start contributing to the board, too. After the break-in period and 9,000 more miles I'll be switching to synthetic oil. Probably Amsoil or Mobil 1.

One question I have (revealing my paranoia) - when the dealer did the engine block heater they drained the coolant. I couldn't quite tell, but the coolant they used looked green (it might have been blue - I haven't really looked closely yet). The sales guy said it was just "regular" coolant. I said - "like Prestone?" He said, "yeah." Now I know about aluminum engine bits and the coolant type issues. But he said that the coolant was both the Subaru standard coolant, but also like regular coolant. That doesn't sound like he knows what he's talking about. Is there a way to determine if I've got the proper coolant in the engine? Is the Subaru coolant a particular color? I don't trust any mechanic and this is a new dealership that I've never worked with. Help me overcome my paranoia. ;-P

Thanks much!

MadRich

Rally_wagon

I share your excitement too !! . I picked up my 05 wagon last week.. I am absolutely in love with how it carves up corners... :drool

congratulations !!!

MadRich

I found the stock shifter to be pretty bad. The factory shoft shift kit felt pretty good. It's a solid feel. More direct, though with greater effort.

I had short shift kits on both my old bimmers, so a stock shifter was a bad thing to go back to regardless of brand. There may be better short shift kits on the aftermarket than the factory short shift kit. But the quality of the factory shift kit felt good. We also got the Momo shift ****. In my mind, it felt more solid and heavy, which helps with the short shifter over the stock shift ****.

I would recommend you try the short shifter out before buying. But if you can't, I'd suggest you just go ahead and get it since you know the stock shifter isn't so hot.

MadRich

MiStiC NiNja

congrats! lol i like the shifter........... a lot shorter travel than on my Lancer lol.

Rally_wagon

Forgive me for my newbieness, but do you have any link / photos to the struts / sway bars ? how easy / expensive was it ?

I swore to myself that I will be keeping this one stock..but it is sooo hard to resist..