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If you had asked me what I thought about Subaru less then a year ago, I would have said "Nothing much." Hmmm... let's see, Subaru. Ah yes, ugly all-wheel-drive Japanese boxes driven by crazy, washed-up Australian actors. Yup, that would be Subaru.
I became an official member of the WRX fan club the night I saw a bone stock one toast a hooked up '99 V8 Mustang and then later a V8 Firebird, an even more formidable opponent. Just what makes this car such an awesome giant killer? The answer is fairly simple, actually. Amazing, vice-grip traction and high-revving power make for a fast car. The WRX has the ability to accomplish the first task by using an all-wheel-drive system, which transfers power from the wheels that slip, to those that can grip. Subaru has been a pioneer in AWD technology for years, who knew it could be used for drag racing as well as keeping your car on the road during inclement weather? While a conventional front or rear-wheel drive car is spinning their tires off the line, the Subaru is already shifting into second gear. Launch most cars at redline, and all you will get is a huge cloud of tire smoke and possibly a few broken parts on the ground behind you. The WRX just jumps off the line, with little more then a few chirps from its tires. Alright, traction and fancy AWD systems are all well and good, but the engine is where the real fun is. Subaru equipped the WRX with an all-aluminum 2.0L flat four-cylinder engine, just like the rest of its model line. However, the WRX's engine is turbocharged with 13.5psi of intercooled boost, giving it a respectable 227hp and 217 lbs. of torque. Having ridden in a WRX, the engine sounds different from any other four-cylinder you have ever heard. Rather then a high pitched or buzzy tone, the WRX's flat-four sounds deep and throaty, with all those cool spooling turbo noises thrown in for extra auditory pleasure.
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