Howdy,

I test drove a WRX today. As part of that, I did a few semi ProSolo / drag style launches.

It seems like to launch the car hard you'd need to tach it to 5k+ and side-step it. I lauched at around 4k and released the clutch quickly. It'd hop off the line, semi-bog a bit, then accelerate out.

I didn't try the 5k & sidestep thing 'cause I didn't want to hurt the car. Anyone know how tough it is to change the clutch? I think for ProSolo stuff you'd wanna do that once a season or so...

Mark

First off, you're an ass for doing that on a test drive if you didn't buy the car. If you bought the car, then just disregard this post, otherwise you just put a lot of pre-mature wear on somebody else's brand new car. Secondly, changing a clutch isn't hard, just time-consuming. You have to drop the driveline, remove the transmission, swap out the clutch and put it all back together. Probably at least a 5 hours job depending on what tools you have available.

Howdy,

I'm an ass if I test drive a car and don't buy it? Huh?

Funny, I figured the normal WRX buyer would be interested in how the car performs compared to other cars (like me). What use is a test drive if I just play with the radio?

Like I mentioned, I launched it quickly put purposely didn't try launching it like I thought you'd need to _because_ I didn't want to hurt the car. If I was really an ass, I would've sidestepped it at redline.

That aside, thanks for the technical info.

I've done a few clutch swaps on my RS (WRX is bound to be nearly the same)...have it down to 2 hours now...very easy.

Yes you are an ass marka!
Ever heard of breaking a car in?

It doesn't sound like you totally trashed it but taking it up to 5000rpm and doing hard launches is definately a no-no for the first 1000 miles.

I wouldn't want to buy that car knowing someone abused it before I bought it.

-BrianK

Howdy,

Ok. Someone please explain to me how I'm supposed to test drive a car and see if I like it if I keep the car under 3k rpm, only take gradual corners, etc?

I don't have enough money to buy a car on specs alone and then find out it doesn't perform as I expected.

Mark

Didn't the salesman say anything to you? I hate to be the guy buying that car.

When I test drove my old RS for the first time, I was testing out the brakes but forgot to tell the salesman and nearly threw him out the front windshield. OOPS. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Howdy,

Salesman wasn't with me. He had me take it out for a spin alone.

When I brought it back I talked about what I liked and didn't like performance-wise. His only negative comment was when I mentioned that I didn't push it hard in corners because I didn't want to chance spinning it, given I wasn't used to how it handled. He said something like "aw man! you shoulda pushed it more."

I've gotta agree with marka on this one. How are you going know if this is the car for you if you don't push it hard at least somewhat, otherwise your left with no clue as to what kind of performance characteristics the car has. You can bet I'm gonna push the REX when I test drive it because I'm not gonna buy a car because its specs and numbers look nice.
Thanks

Who "launches" a car that doesn't belong to them? I would imagine it's the same sort of jack-a*# the drives alone in the HOV lane because of some hereditary "entitlement". It's a shame people like you guys are allowed to drive. Do you think Don Garlits goes to the dealership and side-steps the clutch on a new car? Dork. Sorry, CHEAP Dork.

Ignore all these punks here. You test drove the car fine. If it was a demo model then it was meant to be abused, and when they sell it the buyer WILL get a discount so don't worry about it.

Regarding the clutch - you don't normally want to upgrade the clutch to something too strong due to driveline stress, but swapping the clutch itself is NOT difficult.


Howdy,

Salesman wasn't with me. He had me take it out for a spin alone.

When I brought it back I talked about what I liked and didn't like performance-wise. His only negative comment was when I mentioned that I didn't push it hard in corners because I didn't want to chance spinning it, given I wasn't used to how it handled. He said something like "aw man! you shoulda pushed it more."

Changing the clutch out isnt to hard at all its bit of a b*tch on your back in the drive way but it is almost as simple as it gets.you take the top mount off and you can see a good 6 bellhousing bolts.then you disconnect the battery and remove the starter.then removed the slave from the top of the trans.after that you drop the exhaust from the turbo back and pull the front axles and then the drivshaft .after all that thers a couple of electrical connections to get out of you wasy and then the bellhousing blots themsleves..when your sure you have all the bolts out and the connector undone support the trans with a floor jack and undo the trans cross memeber.with the cross memeber removed you then slowly let the jack down and slide the trands out make sure you have a couple friends with you i did but i tried by myself to pull it and brused 4 ribs.then the rest is just unbolting the pressure plate and removeing the old disc and repalcing them then reversing the rest of the steps.i replaced mine with an exedy stage 1 organic disc and pressure plate and i love it it mad one hell of a dofference in ll aspects of driving from digs to launches.

There's another technique where you pull the radiator, top mount and motor mounts hook the engine to a hoist, disconnect the tranny then pull the engine up and forward. That leaves you enough room to change the clutch without having to take the driveshaft, axles and suspension apart. You put a jack under the tranny.

Howdy,

Ok. Someone please explain to me how I'm supposed to test drive a car and see if I like it if I keep the car under 3k rpm, only take gradual corners, etc?

I don't have enough money to buy a car on specs alone and then find out it doesn't perform as I expected.

Mark

your supposed to drive it hard but not supposed to drive the balls off it. did you happen to know that the wrx tranny is extremely weak... it happens to be very weak, doing 5k+ launches isn't really advised. however you can hi corners with speed without ragging on the car. you were trying to drag race the car, not test drive.:diaf:

If it's going to blow up on a 5-6K clutch drop on a test drive. Better that it happen BEFORE you buy the car. Let the dealers insurance deal with it.

yeah but it's stil a dickheaded thing to do to a car your notgonna purchase. someone else id gonna have to deal with it not the dealership immediatly.

I would rather have the dealership deal with the problem rather than a person. Have respect for the people who are as passionate about THEIR OWN PERSONAL cars and let the dealership deal with problems on their demo model. As mentioned before, dealerships have demo models of cars for the sole purpose of being abused. Break the demo, let the dealership deal with fixing their beater.

sorry for the flamming/forum jack