Finally selling the WRX-

[rickeolis]

So fast, but I've now bought a used Vette with cash and need to get out from under this:
$18k OBO

[k9handler]

trade you for my 911 =o)

[rickeolis]

Hey Smitty, good hear from you! Where are you these days?
The WRX was absolutely incredible; I took several class wins, one FTD in SCCA, and a PAX top as well. The only reason I sold it was to come up with more monthly money for a newer house. I now have a 1986 Corvette that I'm race prepping.
What have you been up to?
My personal e-mail is: rickeolis@hotmail.com

-Rick-

[tcar]

So the WRX has been raced?

[rickeolis]

It's sold, sorry.
Yeah I raced it and it did wonderfully!

-Rick-

[1fastredsc]

Now that you've sold the car can you give us some insight on your experience owning the impreza? Any design defects or complaints you had with the car? What kind of fuel economy did you get with it? I'm thinking of purchasing a wagon or hatchback pretty soon so any information would be appreciated. -thanks

[rickeolis]

That was the best car I've run in years. There were rumors about the tranny being weak in that model, but I raced both autocross and road-course racing for over two and a half years hard without a single tranny issue. I did put three clutches in it during all that time though. Gas mileage varied depending on what I was doing, but at one point I had installed a larger turbo, intercooler, injectors, and fuel pump and went to Salt Lake City to Cobb Inc for a tune and dyno which is about 350 miles from here and managed about 27mpg. The engine HP was around 310!
The all wheel drive and the really stiff springs and sway bars I put in made this car the best handling thing I've ever driven. I beat many super expensive cars on the track with handling alone. The 400hp+ cars could get me on the two long straight-aways on our track, but there are 14 corners there too and I would easily walk away from them by the end. Once I began using full racing Hoosiers to run with, I had ended up in the class that was reserved for Vipers and newer Z-06 Vettes. The Caymans, 911's, and Boxter 'S' cars were one class back! The class behind them was STi's, Evo's, M3's, and 350Z's.
It would have been nice to have stripped the car down to lose weight and go with coil-overs and Brembo brakes to get even better times out there, but my wife and I had decided to get a bigger house, so I decided to buy a race car outright and sell the Suby.
I have printouts from some of the events in which I won not only my class, but the FTD at times. I got a #1 PAX run a couple of years ago in the local SCCA, too and usually ended up within the top 5% of field in the races I ran.
The car never ran hot with the stock cooling setup, and often in the Summer I would put on the A\C in between runs!
I'm hoping I can build up my 1986 Corvette to be somewhat competitive so I can stay close to times I'm used to, but that might take some doing...

-Rick Rutledge-

[1fastredsc]

Crap, now i'm thinking of looking for a used wrx wagon.....

[70SATMan]

I'm looking at WRXs for my new daily driver. Was there any reason you went with the wagon over the sedan? Happenstance or convenience? Any advise in my search?

[rickeolis]

When I went to buy the car, I read a lot about what was good and bad between the wagon or sedan and since I wanted better handling, I went with the wagon because the structure is more sound, but I do have kids and found the room was handy too.
Much like Porsches, parts for WRX's are a bit pricey compared to a Chevy, but they tend to last a long time too.

-Rick-

[70SATMan]

Thanks for the reply Rick. My neighbor sold his ur Quattro GT Coupe last year and bought a WRX sedan which he loves. I've driven both (I would have kept the Quat) and love the AWD of both. He was done with having to constantly work on the Quat and has had several Subs/Audis over the last 15 years I've known him.