Topic: Test Drive: 2011 Subaru WRX Sedan

[lebowski]

I think most that wish for the extra 6th gear are hoping for something that runs the engine closer to 2000RPM at 110-120 km/h; i.e. a dedicated highway gear?  I agree that a 6th close-ratio gear doesn't realistically add much.

+1 That's really it.

[Mike]

I think most that wish for the extra 6th gear are hoping for something that runs the engine closer to 2000RPM at 110-120 km/h; i.e. a dedicated highway gear?  I agree that a 6th close-ratio gear doesn't realistically add much.

Agree with this.  Though it isn't absolutely necessary, a real long gear for highway cruising wouldn't be a bad addition.

But truly, I'm no commuter so I don't really care.

Yeah, that is what they have done with the Vette for years.  It gets decent highway mileage because of it.

[Pks]

I also own a wrx.  Its a previous gen model with only 227 HP, and a whole lot of lag.  But you get used to it, and learn to use the power that you do have.
The car does need to be launched at high RPM to get proper 0-60 times, but thats no different then any 4 cylinder car out there.  
And it is still a 4 banger, so, no it doesnt have v8 low end, but at least it has torque, and its silky smooth and quiet.  The boxer motor is as vibration free as you can get in a 4 cylinder, and the turbo assembly really quiets down the exhaust note.  
I love mine, i just wish i could get it with a small H6 instead or the turbo.  

[Roy]

I also own a wrx.  Its a previous gen model with only 227 HP, and a whole lot of lag....I love mine, i just wish i could get it with a small H6 instead or the turbo.  

Why?  The 3.0 H6 was nothing to write home about, doesn't have a great torque curve anyways, and required premium fuel for....not really much.  It's also heavier and would change the weight balance.  They only fitted the H6 to automatics (at least in NA) but they were NOT sprightly performers.  I found the turbo 4 to be much energetic - driving the two powertrains back to back the turbo 4 felt like a freight train pulling in comparison to the pedestrian 3.0 H6.

[blur911]

I also own a wrx.  Its a previous gen model with only 227 HP, and a whole lot of lag....I love mine, i just wish i could get it with a small H6 instead or the turbo.  

Why?  The 3.0 H6 was nothing to write home about, doesn't have a great torque curve anyways, and required premium fuel for....not really much.  It's also heavier and would change the weight balance.  They only fitted the H6 to automatics (at least in NA) but they were NOT sprightly performers.  I found the turbo 4 to be much energetic - driving the two powertrains back to back the turbo 4 felt like a freight train pulling in comparison to the pedestrian 3.0 H6.

The H6 feels slower than it is because it was only in the heaviest cars, our VDC is over 3700lbs, that's as far as I'll go to defend it performance-wise.  That said, it doesn't have much below 4000rpm and not much potential for modifications to improve performance, unlike the H4. I do like the sound it makes though.
Stick with the turbo H4.

[Roy]

The H6 feels slower than it is because it was only in the heaviest cars, our VDC is over 3700lbs, that's as far as I'll go to defend it performance-wise. 

I should have mentioned my back-to-back drive was in the H6 Legacy Wagon vs the GT Legacy Wagon of the same vintage/generation, both sans VDC of course.