Subaru 2.5rs
06-15-2005, 04:31 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,850
[quote name='Phu5ion' date='Jun 15 2005, 02:48 PM']I have an '05 2.5RS with an auto and I really wish i got the 5spd. When i was looking to buy I thought the auto would be a good choice because it's my daily driver, but after driving it for a few months I really think i should have gotten the 5spd.
If you have a heavy foot (i do) and are coming from a manual, it feels like you are fighting the tranny most of the time. When it comes to passing/merging situation on the highway, if you aren't careful with your right foot, the car will lag while the engine spins and down shifts to 2nd gear (hope that makes sense). It's terrible and has gotten me in more trouble than i can remember, and I've only had the car since Oct. Basically the tranny doesn't feel that refined, that and the gearing between second and third seems too spaced out.
Yeah, and it's pretty slow. Otherwise, a nice car, my only complaint is the auto tranny. For camping are you looking at riding down nice flat dirt trails or is it rough terrain? If it's anything more than a dirt trail you may have some problems with ground clearance and the serious overhangs on the car (read: no entry/exit angle to speak of).
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If i got a subaru It would be in manual because I'd use it for stuff like going camping and stuff. Not offroading, just getting down the dirt trails at a park and stuff.. BMWs don't work to well for that heh. If i got a bimmer i would get auto because im lazy and would never drive it anywhere but on the street.
the only reason im thinking subby is because of winter around here.. AWD would be nice to have especially to play in
If you have a heavy foot (i do) and are coming from a manual, it feels like you are fighting the tranny most of the time. When it comes to passing/merging situation on the highway, if you aren't careful with your right foot, the car will lag while the engine spins and down shifts to 2nd gear (hope that makes sense). It's terrible and has gotten me in more trouble than i can remember, and I've only had the car since Oct. Basically the tranny doesn't feel that refined, that and the gearing between second and third seems too spaced out.
Yeah, and it's pretty slow. Otherwise, a nice car, my only complaint is the auto tranny. For camping are you looking at riding down nice flat dirt trails or is it rough terrain? If it's anything more than a dirt trail you may have some problems with ground clearance and the serious overhangs on the car (read: no entry/exit angle to speak of).
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If i got a subaru It would be in manual because I'd use it for stuff like going camping and stuff. Not offroading, just getting down the dirt trails at a park and stuff.. BMWs don't work to well for that heh. If i got a bimmer i would get auto because im lazy and would never drive it anywhere but on the street.
the only reason im thinking subby is because of winter around here.. AWD would be nice to have especially to play in
06-15-2005, 04:51 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ames, IA
Posts: 4,773
I was considering several models of BMW but I went with a Subaru instead. IMO, the 'ru is a more reliable car and will be cheaper to fix when the time comes. There are AWD BMW's but they're either old (325iX) or rather pricey(325Xi).
06-15-2005, 08:39 PM
#13
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,108
I have a 03 legacy GT which shares the same driveline, engine, and brakes
THe car is good overall but lacks power. 165 hp, 165 torque. Gas mileage isn't as great as an accord. the Clutch is blah, and the tranny shares it's fluid with the front diff which calls for GL5. So the syncros aren't as good as they are suppose to be.
All in all it's a nice car. I'm more satisified with it then i'm dissatistied. Mind you it's not an exciting car at all, unless there is 5 inches of snow on the ground.
Beware of Subaru dealerships and warranties. Any little mods = void warranty. I won't be touching my subaru until even the drivetrain warranty expries at 100,000+ kms
THe car is good overall but lacks power. 165 hp, 165 torque. Gas mileage isn't as great as an accord. the Clutch is blah, and the tranny shares it's fluid with the front diff which calls for GL5. So the syncros aren't as good as they are suppose to be.
All in all it's a nice car. I'm more satisified with it then i'm dissatistied. Mind you it's not an exciting car at all, unless there is 5 inches of snow on the ground.
Beware of Subaru dealerships and warranties. Any little mods = void warranty. I won't be touching my subaru until even the drivetrain warranty expries at 100,000+ kms
06-16-2005, 07:18 AM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 19
When i was looking around to buy a car, I was thinking about a 325xi too, because the winters here in CT can be... interesting. But after reading a few boards BMW guys were saying that they weren't a fan of the xi AWD system, saying that it felt like an afterthought in engineering and didn't fit with the car. I can't validate this because i haven't driven one, but it's something to think about. I decided on the Subaru because i could get a new car for a reasonable price, and i've also heard that when something breaks on a BMW it's some critical part that has to be imported from Europe and costs an *** load to replace. I just didn't want to have to deal with that.
Also, the RS is fun in the snow but the AWD system has a tendency to try and force the car to understeer, but in an unplowed parking lot you can get it to drift.
EDIT: just saw that you are probably going to buy used, and i don't know if you will have an understeer problem with the older cars.
Also, the RS is fun in the snow but the AWD system has a tendency to try and force the car to understeer, but in an unplowed parking lot you can get it to drift.
EDIT: just saw that you are probably going to buy used, and i don't know if you will have an understeer problem with the older cars.
06-16-2005, 01:29 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Ireland
Posts: 907
[quote name='Phu5ion' date='Jun 16 2005, 01:18 PM']When i was looking around to buy a car, I was thinking about a 325xi too, because the winters here in CT can be... interesting. But after reading a few boards BMW guys were saying that they weren't a fan of the xi AWD system, saying that it felt like an afterthought in engineering and didn't fit with the car. I can't validate this because i haven't driven one, but it's something to think about. I decided on the Subaru because i could get a new car for a reasonable price, and i've also heard that when something breaks on a BMW it's some critical part that has to be imported from Europe and costs an *** load to replace. I just didn't want to have to deal with that.
Also, the RS is fun in the snow but the AWD system has a tendency to try and force the car to understeer, but in an unplowed parking lot you can get it to drift.
EDIT: just saw that you are probably going to buy used, and i don't know if you will have an understeer problem with the older cars.
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Very rare to see an xi on the road, a friend of mine did have one though. As for getting parts, that sounds like dealers making excuses to me - don't forget that every X5 and Z4 is made in the states.
Mark
Also, the RS is fun in the snow but the AWD system has a tendency to try and force the car to understeer, but in an unplowed parking lot you can get it to drift.
EDIT: just saw that you are probably going to buy used, and i don't know if you will have an understeer problem with the older cars.
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Very rare to see an xi on the road, a friend of mine did have one though. As for getting parts, that sounds like dealers making excuses to me - don't forget that every X5 and Z4 is made in the states.
Mark
06-16-2005, 03:07 PM
#19
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 191
The 2.5RS makes a good daily driver. I liked mine a lot. IMO the later versions are better (rear LSD). The '98 would be my last choice for a number of mechanical and asthetic reasons.
The car will push in the dry, but if it's wet or snowy you can coax it into oversteer by pinning the throttle. It's got great torque down low.
A Flowmaster sounds great on a boxer too.
The car will push in the dry, but if it's wet or snowy you can coax it into oversteer by pinning the throttle. It's got great torque down low.
A Flowmaster sounds great on a boxer too.