Hello fellow Subaru & WRX Owners,

Just traded in my 2001 Honda S2000 for, in my opinion, a MUCH better car...a 2002 Aspen White Subaru WRX Sport Wagon.

Had just a few questions for you all:

1) What steps should be taken to prevent intercooler damage from rain/snow/mud/etc. entering the hood scoop???

2) Is switching over to synthetic motor oil a good idea with this car? And if so, at what mileage should that be done?

3) What does the WRX run as far as 0 - 60 and 1/4 mile goes?

4) How did you guys make it through these first 1000 miles???

Thanks in advance for answering my questions.

I'm going to preempt the WRX owners on that last question - they all gave their cars to me to break in. It's the only way to go, trust me:D

heh, the thing I've seen to save the intercooler....gutter gaurd. put it in the hood scoop.

other than that I know nothing... I own an old-skool RS.

J.J.
~keepin it real :)

regarding the intercooler, i remember someone had posted the home depot solution - 1. overlay slightly offsetting 2 layers of fine chicken wire mesh. 2. cut to slightly larger than the intercooler. 3. fold the edges down, and voila!

or something like that...

as to 1,000 mile break-in, you know, those were some very long miles! just think about the fun to be had after they're over.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you trade in the S2000? Was it because of the weather where you are? Cause the S2000 is quite a capable car itself.

But glad that you got yourself a WRX, congratulations! :)

As for your questions...

Synthetic motor oil is good. Some say to switch it after 10,000 miles or something. Others did theirs at the first oil change. I did mine near the very beginning.

Originally posted by Keiho
If you don't mind me asking, why did you trade in the S2000? Was it because of the weather where you are? Cause the S2000 is quite a capable car itself.



I live in Michigan, where the winter lasted almost 6 months this past year. I'm only 19 and I live in an apartment. Keeping the S2000 would pose a few problems since I would have to buy a winter beater car (which I really don't have the money for, at least the insurance on both cars), and I have no place to store the S2000 for the winter. Also, the S2000 is so small and impractical, it's a challenge fiting some groceries in the miniature-sized trunk. Don't get me wrong, the S2000 was a great car, and when I'm older, with a house and garage and money to afford 2 cars, then it would definitely be one of my top choices for a summer car.

Glad you explained that. I was confused ;)

As to synthetic, I highly recommend waiting to 8-10k before using it. Many on this board who put it in early have reported "burning oil" - oil disappearing slowly, say 1 qt over 3k mi in the 2.5 RS models. This, supposedly due to improper break-in of the rings. There's really no rush. I do, however, suggest you get your first oil change (dino) at 1.5-2k. Then dino until that 9k mark if you do it every 3k mi...

- Steve

Here's a write up by Greg for intercooler protection.

http://www.uniquemotorsports.com/intercooler_mesh.html

Chad
93 1.8T

Keep your rpms below 4000 and avoid sudden throttle position changes, ie. drive very smoothly for the first 1000 miles. Slowly increase your rpm limit once you get there, so that by 1500 miles you can use the full range of revs.
Most people recommend synthetics at 10k.
Stock times:
0-60: 5.5-6.0 seconds according to several publications and dependent on how abusive the launch was.
1/4: 14-15 second neighborhood dependent on conditions, driver, etc.
*Note that these are for stock WRX and manual transmission. Auto tranny will change this a little bit.

daaaaaaaaaang, your 19 and u had a s2000 AND your own apartment?? how do you afford it man? whats your secret? i'm 19 in california and i drive a beatup car and live with my parents!

Congrats on the getting the WRX! The S2000 wouldn't survive well up North during winter. It is a great car though.

I just received (after a long wait for the container from England) from Mastro Subaru, a beautifully made stainless steel intercooler cover grille. It fits over and completely covers the delicate fins of the intercooler and its mesh does not block any air from circulating around it. It cost around $100.00 and will protect from rocks, etc. harming the intercooler.

Did you see this thread? Coincidence? Nice to meet a convert!:D
http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=77783&referrerid=5344
Great luck with your WRX!

The S2000 is a sweet car though...I may have owned one when they were released, but the 2 seat thing would have killed me.;)

:eek: uhh, I will trade my wrx for your s2000..

Sweet! Another Michigan member. Always good to add to the group of ever groing WRX Michigan embers. Please come join us for some of our events. They are posted in the Midwest forum. BTW, I got smoked by an S2000 when my car was stock so although more practical, the WRX needs quite a few mods to keep up with your old car. Still, I like it and it is roomy. As an enthusiasts car the S2000 is my choice but I can understand you trading it in for practicality. S2000 really is best as a second car.

Welcome and good choice. Yeah hook up with the Midwest Forum and come to a install day or meet. Have fun with the beauty of all wheel drive. :D

Seth

Originally posted by rktwgn
I just received (after a long wait for the container from England) from Mastro Subaru, a beautifully made stainless steel intercooler cover grille. It fits over and completely covers the delicate fins of the intercooler and its mesh does not block any air from circulating around it. It cost around $100.00 and will protect from rocks, etc. harming the intercooler.

Can you give me some more information on that grille....Who makes it / where can i order it, etc....

Thanks.

co and buy some fine mesh from a hardware store. might cost you about 5 dollars. then when you get it home fold it over the lip on the top of the intercooler.

Pretty funny, just got an email from Haoming at the dealership said he just took in an S2000 for a white WRX, small world. Had a deposit on my blue wagon for like a month now. Have to wait until my second mortgage closes then get rid of my Civic then I get to buy the WRX. It's like a bad soap opera. I did get my V1 last week though...... The gutter guard stuff should work, you can do a search, there was a guy who was doing them for like $30 (i think) for the set. Not sure that he had them for the WRX yet though, I think he was doing them for RS's.

Originally posted by kensington
Pretty funny, just got an email from Haoming at the dealership said he just took in an S2000 for a white WRX, small world. Had a deposit on my blue wagon for like a month now. Have to wait until my second mortgage closes then get rid of my Civic then I get to buy the WRX. It's like a bad soap opera. I did get my V1 last week though...... The gutter guard stuff should work, you can do a search, there was a guy who was doing them for like $30 (i think) for the set. Not sure that he had them for the WRX yet though, I think he was doing them for RS's.

Nice to meet you. Haoming is a nice guy. Man! it really is a small world.

Welcome