Crosstrek (AKA raggin wagon aka why did I buy this thing)

[Cookie Monster]

I'm bored so I figured I'd update you guise with what I've been up to lately.

After I crashed the Outback, I ended up looking for more Outbacks to just transfer all my parts to, but unfortunately I couldn't find another manual 2.2L version, and didn't want to take a chance on a 2.5L as those blew headgaskets super easily. Prices were also stupid expensive so I decided it wasn't worth it to spend $4-5k on another 20+ year old wagon and decided to look at new cars.

As expected, the number of cars with AWD plus a manual transmission and a hatchback is extremely low. I basically got laughed out of the VW showroom when I asked if they had any manual Sportwagens or Alltracks, so it was back to Subaru. I didn't like the Forester as it was giant, so I just rage bought a Crosstrek, unfortunately in the Sunshine Orange as it was the only manual transmission car I could find (which was a mistake, but more on that later).

When I first got it:



Obligatory roof box put back on:



I only did basic "mods" at first like a stubby antenna to not hit my roof box and floor mats, but I went full potato about a week into owning it and ended up with wheels, tires, mud flaps, skid plates and an LED light bar as well to transform it into a full mall crawler:







Don't worry, I have taken it off road quite a bit, though. The first time it had barely 1,500 miles on it and I was already slinging it through mud and snow:



I also racked up about 10k in 5 months just camping and skiing:

















Anywho, the car does have some problems. First, it's slow as fuck. I know I haven't helped things with the tires and roof box, but it's dangerously slow loaded up. It also burns a little bit of oil, but the worst part is the god awful orange paint. I've got over 40+ rock chips all over the hood, roof and front fenders, as well as some on the rear quarter panels. It's been a big issue with this paint with a lot of people getting their cars repainted and some even getting new cars. I told Subaru of America about the problem but as expected I haven't heard anything back regarding any resolution.

So there you have it. It's a comfortable enough daily, but nowhere as fun as the Outback was. Future plans are a 1.5" lift (RIP my axles/CVs), and maybe a spare tire carrier.

[Soup DeVille]

Oh c'mon. It can't be that slow.

[2o6]

Lol dangerously slow

[Cookie Monster]

Oh c'mon. It can't be that slow.

Lol dangerously slow

Have you driven one? Even unloaded it's a 9.2 second car 0-60. With my sweet mods and 4 people + ski gear it's probably a 12 second car at best. Going up even mild hills I have to drop to 4th and down to 3rd on some of the steeper hills. Yeah, it'll do 75 mph+ but you're not passing anyone and I'm usually going WOT on highway onramps.

[2o6]

That's not that slow tho.

[CALL_911]

Did you consider buying a WRX

[Cookie Monster]

That's not that slow tho.

k

Did you consider buying a WRX

Nah, no hatch new unfortunately, didn't trust them enough to buy used.

[2o6]

You coulda got a nice Jeep Compass

[CALL_911]

Honestly I would looooove if they put the WRX's FA in the Crosstrek.

[Payman]

I like the wheels/tires you added. Is the paint a Subaru issue? You must expect some chips when you offroad your vehicle. Too late now, unless you get it repainted, but maybe a clear vinyl wrap might have been a good investment.

[shp4man]

No lesbians or any other stupid stereotypes, but not a bad looking modern car.    The thing that gets me is the fake black and yellow California plate...I hate these damn things, and they're popular as fuck. I suppose it's a way for the state to make money, but other than that...

[12,000 RPM]

That's not that slow tho.

What is that slow then

Avg car does 0-60 in like 7-8 seconds.... and highway speeds are like 75-85.

WRX swap?

[Payman]

What is that slow then

Avg car does 0-60 in like 7-8 seconds.... and highway speeds are like 75-85.

WRX swap?

Yes, a newish car under warranty. WRX swap. Give your head a shake.

[r0tor]

I remember test driving one a few years back when shopping for a car for the wife... Yea it's really f'in slow

[Soup DeVille]

Have you driven one? Even unloaded it's a 9.2 second car 0-60. With my sweet mods and 4 people + ski gear it's probably a 12 second car at best. Going up even mild hills I have to drop to 4th and down to 3rd on some of the steeper hills. Yeah, it'll do 75 mph+ but you're not passing anyone and I'm usually going WOT on highway onramps.

No.

But, having spent considerable seat time in VW Beetles (40 HP), a Renault Fuego (80 maybe?), driven the 91 wagon (150 HP and 4500 lbs) to South Carolina and back, and spending years in trucks that took at least 30 seconds to make it to 45 (unloaded), I find it hard to think of any modern car as "dangerously slow."

[Soup DeVille]

What is that slow then

Avg car does 0-60 in like 7-8 seconds.... and highway speeds are like 75-85.

WRX swap?

The average car isn't doing 0-60 in 8 seconds during everyday driving, excelt when (and follow me here) they've already screwed up and misjudged something. (Or just because hey want to).

[Lebowski]

4Runner is pretty damn slow, and never once have I thought "this is dangerously slow" even when full of people and animals and going uphill and nowhere near wot. How slow is "dangerously slow" ... as long and a vehicle can sustain highway speeds, from an acceleration standpoint I don't think I've ever driven anything I'd consider truly dangerously slow.

[Laconian]

It's only dangerously slow if your driving style is so bad that acceleration is the only tool in your toolbox for avoiding danger.

My '90 Camry was really goddamn slow. I only found the slowness to be "dangerous" maybe once or twice? Learn to live life in the right lane and it's fine.

[Cookie Monster]

Jesus Christ I regret using the word "dangerous" now.

It was partly exaggeration, partly disbelief that a new car is still this slow. I'm used to slower cars (never even owned anything above 200 hp, hell above even 170 hp), but this is slower than pretty much everything except the Volvo I had.

It also has a problem where it stumbles and stutters at 2500 rpm or so, and stumbles up to about 4000 rpm before it finally gets going, and in this time it's basically not accelerating at all, so yes, I'd still say it's "dangerously" slow when I'm trying to accelerate onto the highway and the engine is stuttering and stumbling. Others have had the same issue as well, but no one knows what's causing it yet, and it doesn't happen often enough for me to be able to replicate it at a dealership.


Also lol @ WRX swapping a new car. I don't have the skill or money to do that even if I wanted to.

[Soup DeVille]

Jesus Christ I regret using the word "dangerous" now.

It was partly exaggeration, partly disbelief that a new car is still this slow. I'm used to slower cars (never even owned anything above 200 hp, hell above even 170 hp), but this is slower than pretty much everything except the Volvo I had.

It also has a problem where it stumbles and stutters at 2500 rpm or so, and stumbles up to about 4000 rpm before it finally gets going, and in this time it's basically not accelerating at all, so yes, I'd still say it's "dangerously" slow when I'm trying to accelerate onto the highway and the engine is stuttering and stumbling. Others have had the same issue as well, but no one knows what's causing it yet, and it doesn't happen often enough for me to be able to replicate it at a dealership.


Also lol @ WRX swapping a new car. I don't have the skill or money to do that even if I wanted to.

Sounds like there's actually something wrong with it if its stumbling that much.

[Payman]

My Karmann Ghia... 0-60 in 25-30. Dangerous? Fuck yeah. 

[2o6]

The only car I could call dangerously slow was the 1999 CR-V I had that only had 3rd and 4th. 0-60 came in like 1:30.

[Submariner]

How is the output on your light bar? 

[Laconian]

How much did the light bar improve your autox times?

(I think you were gone for the genesis of this inside joke)

[MexicoCityM3]

Lol @ "rage bought". Looks good other than the color. Do you go on trips with a Subaru club? Looks like it.

[Soup DeVille]

I like the color. Shame it doesn't hold up.

[GoCougs]

Ha, ha - I dug "rage bought" as well - so rags.

Great cars in concept (size, utility, AWD), but yes, they are criminally slow.

[giant_mtb]

Love it. Thing must be a beast off road with those tires. I'd love a rig like that if it weren't for needing/wanting to do truck things (clearance, dirtbike, etc).

[AutobahnSHO]

Hmmmmm, my wife is always gushing about how "powerful" Odyssey is.

Looking it up, her Impreza has 165hp and weighs 3165curb/ 4100lbs gross.

2017 Crosstrek is 148hp at 3109lbs (Probably curb).

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So I can indeed see how it would be 'slow'. I drive her car pretty hard when I'm in it, merging onto the 65mph freeway uphill if there's traffic takes some extra attention. And we don't drive it with more than just me and her usually.

Although after we got married we had the back seats down and literally overflowing with stuff, PLUS a BIG roofbox FULL of clothes in plastic garbage bags. We drove from UT to SC. It was cool.

[AutobahnSHO]

Love it. Thing must be a beast off road with those tires. I'd love a rig like that if it weren't for needing/wanting to do truck things (clearance, dirtbike, etc).

+1

I REEEALLLY love that new orange. It's brighter than the original crosstrek orange color.  Shame about it not holding up.