Best review I've ever read!

[ADIL]

Check this out. Very detailed and positive review.
http://virtualroadtest.com/SubaruImprezaRS/RS1.htm

[Marius]

I tried that heel and toe technique, but even with the ball on the very right edge of the brake pedal I can't touch the gas...
Any suggestions?
Good review, makes us look smart..
Marius
99 Rs blue

[SubyPrez20]

Good review, but I disagree with some things they said. Nice how they forgot to mention the tires suck bigger lolly pops than...ok, nevermind. Also, the quote "...so the structure is solid and tight..." is about as funny as a Neon trying to race me, while I am in reverse going up a muddy hill called witchs tit. Other than that, it was a good article....

Suby

[Marius]

11 1/2, big girl...

[Opie]

After reading that I just want to go out to my RS and go for a drive

[Tony]

Marius,
With that foot you could use all three pedals with one foot

Seriously, the RS is one of the easiest cars I've ever driven for heel-toeing (only a Miata being better). Do a search on heel-toe I remember one very detailed post of pedal techniques. It'll make your driving much smoother.

Tony

[Dan00RS]

This is a pretty good article. Now regarding the heel-and-toe part, I have no trouble doing this and I wear a size 8-1/2! I just turn my foot slightly sideways and put the ball of my right foot on the brake and the toe on the gas. The foot turned slightly sideways allows for more toe to be on the gas.

[ColinL]

I don't find my wife's miata easier to heel-toe because the non-tilting wheel just about rides on my thigh (actually quad). The footwell is just super cramped in that thing.

Marius, put the ball of your foot on the right half of the brake pedal. Now ROLL your ankle to the right and stab the gas with the side of your foot. Heel&Toe actually is more like Toe&Side!

[Tony]

ColinL, I agree the Miata isn't a one size fits all vehicle. For me it fits like a glove.

Dan00RS, you must be a little confused. How you manage to get the ball of your foot on the brake and the toe on the gas I'll never know I think you meant heel instead of toe right?

Tony

[This message has been edited by Tony (edited May 11, 2000).]

[ColinL]

I just read the review (sorry!) and the author is dead wrong on the handling, unless the RS provided to him isn't stock.

You can throw the RS into corners carelessly or place it with precision on a favorite bend, feeding in power the whole way. The RS shifts to a gentle understeer at the absolute end of its rope, but up to that point, it is neutral and sweet-natured.

That might describe an RS with an 18 or 20mm rear bar, but not the stock 13mm. Driving it near the limits should produce gobs of understeer and feeding in the gas will do the same.

Unless the 2000 is that different from the way my 99 was stock.

[bryanw]

My 2000 wasn't that bad in stock form. You REALLY had to push it to get understeer. With the 18mm rear bar on, it's barely noticable on dry pavement. On dirt, there's easily a difference.

[Gambit]

I find the entire site's reviews questionable. Praises only. The reviewer said tha thte Jetta VR6 corners very well. We all know how tipsy Jettas and Golfs are! So hate to burst the bubble, but this review has little merit. I prefer edmund's more stoic and objective reviews tho sometimes they are still not that accurate.

[BryanH]

Having just bought a GTI VR6 I have to partially agree with Gambit. I read both the Subaru and GTI review and:

The subaru does inspire more confidence in stock form than my GTI. I don't know that I would call it tipsy as the body roll isnt outrageous but it certainly is noticeable.
This may sound crazy but I think part of the feeling with the GTI may be due to the seating. You sit very high and this tends to accentuate what body roll the car does have.

On the plus side for my car it is incredibly comfortable and VERY fast.

[Dan00RS]

Tony,

My feet can't twist enough for my heel to be on the brake and my toe on the gas. I'm good but I'm not that good! No, I definitely have the ball of my right foot (that part directly behind the big toe) on the brake and my smaller toes on the gas. It can be done. Practice, practice, practice!

[Bobalouy]

That artical makes me want to go drive my car. I think i might print it out and show it to all my friends with civic SI's.

also, I can heel toe shift easly with size 9 shoes.

Anthony C

[N/A]

That was one hell of a good review. I kind of got the feeling that the writers aren't fond of the Riceboy crowd either. I hope these writers will quit talking about the RS. Let's not point out a good car to riceboys or the soccer moms. Last thing we need now is them having input into the design. OK SOA what you need now is a 5in exhaust, 8 vanity mirrors, a huge wing, less hp so that I don't hurt myself in it, and oh yah a flower holder. And the sports model will have a Aggressor bodykit. Now that would be a fugly car.

[Fred Zaplitny]

I didn't think this was such a good review. I think the autor needs to spend more time with an RS.

[John2.5RS]

Did anybody notice that they have the torque and horsepower #'s backwards! [quote] The 2.5-liter punches out 166 horsepower and 165lb. ft. of torque [quote] I think they might sound the best but they are not the most objective or accurate.

[Bigfoot]

Heh, as my nick implies I have rather large feet. I've never driven an RS but I've riden in them. I have trouble driving some imports because my feet want to mash all the pedals at once. Damn my size 16's!

[BG5]

my tip on heel/toe, try practicing it with
the car off -- changing foot placement did
the trick for me... (size 10.5 BTW )

[bryanw]

The pedals are too small and too close together to use a real heel-toe in an RS. Try using the left and right sides of your feet. It just takes some practice. It works fine for my 11's.