Weather's getting much warmer now. Temps were in the 20's when I got my car and now it's in the 80's and 90 degrees today. Bet you didn't think it got that warm in Minnesota in May, did you
I time my own 0-60 runs regularly with a stopwatch. I must be the worst Subaru driver ever because I cannot get anything like the times they show in the magazines. Magazines that I've seen show the 2000 RS 0-60 at 7.7 to 8.4s. The best time I've ever gotten when timing myself was 9.2s. Yes, it's a 5-speed. And I've tried all types of launches, from slipping the clutch to dumping it at 3000, 3500, all the way to 5500 rpm. Can't break 9 seconds. Lately though, as it's gotten warmer outside, now I can't break 10 s. Today it was 90 degrees and I timed myself 3 times. Got 11.0, 10.7, and 10.6. I got better times with my 145 hp automatic transmission 4300-lb Explorer. Hmmm. At least it still beats my old 65 hp CRX. Slowest car I've ever driven. Best 0-60 I ever got with that car was 14.1s. The times I'm getting on my RS now though are about the same as I got with my '86 Mustang V6 automatic. I got everything from 9.9 to 11.2 with that car. I'm not sure of the hp of that car. I think it was around 135 (?? 3.8 V6). But that car would easily beat the RS on most things, especially over 70 mph. Even with the auto, that thing would drop to 3rd and just take off, throwing you into your seat. With the RS at 70 mph, I drop it to 4th and all I get is a lot of noise. There's such little torque at that speed you can't tell that it's even acclerating....
Sorry, venting again. Was expecting a 165 hp 5-speed Subaru to perform better than a 135 hp auto Ford with 300 lbs more weight. It really has suprised me how slow the RS is. Our Caprice (200 hp V8) out-acclerates the RS at everything over 30mph. The Explorer out-acclerated the RS at 30-70 mph. The Mustang beat it at everything over 50 mph. In fact, besides the CRX and the '81 Corolla, this is the slowest car I've ever owned (talking about acceleration). Here come the flames eh? And the "you just don't know how to drive" insults. Whatever. Just venting. Overpaid for the car and I need somewhere to release my anger before I shove the thing off a cliff somewhere and try to collect the insurance and get arrested for fraud...