That I feel like the interior quality, fit, and finish of my rental Chevy Cruz with more miles on it then my way more expensive WRX is worlds apart. I feel like I'm in a luxury car compared to the WRX lol. Is that what happens when you get older? Or is that I'm correct? I expected the Cruz to be like the Cobalt, just a sloppily put together econobox with an ecotec that could not fit two wide shouldered Pollacks in the front seats. I'm pretty impressed with the thing.
I've heard a lot of good things about the Cruze, and I know a lot of the WRX's out there have been lambasted for horseE36 M3 interior quality, so it makes sense.
Subaru interiors have fallen off the wagon now for awhile. Also, as much as a quantum leap the Cobalt was over the Cavalier, the Cruze is over the Cobalt as well (in the interior department anyway). It actually is a very nice car inside.
I had a brand new 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee for a rental this week. It had a V6 engine, but was otherwise loaded: keyless start, DVD nav, dual zone HVAC, power seats, backup camera - the works. Really quiet as well. I can definitely understand how folks could get used the whole "luxury car" thing. Other than somewhat uncomfortable seats, it was a nice place to be for a few hours.
I have to admit, the experience is making me rethink my next truck purchase...
I just had a Cruze rental car a couple days ago myself. It wasn't terribly exciting but it seemed to be screwed together well. The driver's seat got a little uncomfortable after about four hours on the road, but the stereo and heater worked, and it got great mileage (the dashboard display indicated 38mpg at 73mph driving across Iowa) so I couldn't complain.
I have no beef with the interior in my wife's Cobalt, but I'm neither wide shouldered, nor Polski.
Subaru put the money into the turbo boxer engine and all wheel drive.
Woody wrote: Subaru put the money into the turbo boxer engine and all wheel drive.
That's exactly right. The Cruz may have a nicer interior but the WRX has a much better chassis and drivetrain.
Feedyurhed wrote:Woody wrote: Subaru put the money into the turbo boxer engine and all wheel drive.That's exactly right. The Cruz may have a nicer interior but the WRX has a much better chassis and drivetrain.
The numbers of timing chains, broken pistons, fragged gearsets, and blown head gaskets on stock WRX's sure begs to differ... 
Javelin wrote:Feedyurhed wrote:The numbers of timing chains, broken pistons, fragged gearsets, and blown head gaskets on stock WRX's sure begs to differ...Woody wrote: Subaru put the money into the turbo boxer engine and all wheel drive.That's exactly right. The Cruz may have a nicer interior but the WRX has a much better chassis and drivetrain.
Yup! Add in lack of efficiency as well, I believe they were focusing on the development of the BR-Z/FR-S stuff and forgot to integrate some of the fuel savings technologies into the big brothers. Unless they are planning that for the 2014.
I can add to the list a massive exhaust leak at 10k miles. I haven't had time to take it to the dealership with my travels, newborn, etc. But I sure am interested to see what the cause is.
They are two different categories of car, I understand that. One is a econobox put together well. The other is an econobox with a racey drivetrain and meant to be a boy racer ride that IT guys buy to feel cool and young. If this thing was a dedicated race car I'd be very happy with it on a performance standpoint and wouldn't bitch as much. I wish there were more performance sedans/hatchbacks that weren't part of the VAG.
What year is your WRX?
Small cars have gotten light years better over the last couple model years. A mid 2000's interior looks extremely dated and way lower quality than even a new Kia Rio.
I just got one last week. Love it
Javelin wrote:Feedyurhed wrote:The numbers of timing chains, broken pistons, fragged gearsets, and blown head gaskets on stock WRX's sure begs to differ...Woody wrote: Subaru put the money into the turbo boxer engine and all wheel drive.That's exactly right. The Cruz may have a nicer interior but the WRX has a much better chassis and drivetrain.
My experience over the course of 125,000 miles was significantly different.
Woody wrote:Javelin wrote:My experience over the course of 125,000 miles was significantly different.Feedyurhed wrote:The numbers of timing chains, broken pistons, fragged gearsets, and blown head gaskets on stock WRX's sure begs to differ...Woody wrote: Subaru put the money into the turbo boxer engine and all wheel drive.That's exactly right. The Cruz may have a nicer interior but the WRX has a much better chassis and drivetrain.
Mine too. 5 Subarus and never had a problem and that includes 2 WRXs and a STi. If you take care of them and replace parts at the recommended intervals they take care of you. I am waiting for the redesign in a year or two to come out and I will be getting my sixth Subie.
Also, don't drive them like an a-hole...
4 Subies over the years - never a problem until my '09 developed the all-too-common rod knock at 23,000 miles. All covered under warranty including a rental for 7 days, flat-bed tow, brand new engine/turbo. But I was very displeased with Subaru North America for the way they handled it. When I learned of the potential problem, I performed oil and oil filter analysis at the first change (3750 miles) and both companies predicted engine failure based on the amount of silver in the oil and the amount of debris in the filter. But Sub.N.A. wouldn't do a thing until it failed. Which left me wondering when - over the course of the next year and a half - it was going to fail and leave me stranded some place. Also very unhappy with the paint on the last 2 Subes ('06 and '09) -- chipping on the front was unbelievably bad. I think a tough insect would chip the paint.
Sold the '09 2 weeks after I got it back with the new engine (full disclosure to the new owner) and let Subaru know that they'd lost a good customer. The kind that's old with plenty of money to spend and likes to buy new cars every few years. And who lets other people know what happened.
It's been fun watching the Euro version of the Cruze totally kick arse in the BTC. It's an unusual occurrence when they DON'T finish 1-2-3 - Huff, Menu and Mueller.
In reply to MichaelYount:
In Subaru's defense, as much as I greatly dislike them in general, they acted just like every other car manufacturer out there on your repair. They are still balancing the books on actual warranty repairs vs coulda/woulda/shoulda repairs demanded by owners from internet rumors/gossip.
Back to the original topic, I would have to see and drive my buddy's Cruze to render a verdict on how nice it is, since I know his is approaching or over 40k in just over a year of driving. But on the initial impressions, the Cruze was way better then even the newest car here, an 08 Impala.
Javelin wrote: The numbers of timing chains, broken pistons, fragged gearsets, and blown head gaskets on stock WRX's sure begs to differ...
+1 My experience with my 2004 impreza was it had the worst paint in the industry and needed transmission rebuilds every 25-30k miles (under warranty), I also never got over 27mpg.
To clarify the paint issues, after 10k highway miles the front end of my car looked like it had 100k miles on it: chips, fading; the clear coat began to fail at around 50k miles.
Lots of "we've never seen that before shrugs shoulders" from SOA.
Why is it sad that a US manufacturer is finally building a decent car again?
Woody wrote: Also, don't drive them like an a-hole...
Wait a second.
Are you implying young males who modify, up the boost, beat on and likely have lax maintenance schedules would have anything to do with the reliability of a vehicle?
Surely you jest.
As for the new gen and the rod bearings, same thing happened to S54 engines from a bad batch, and early S50 motors had valve retainer problems. It happens.
Woody wrote: Also, don't drive them like an a-hole...
Wait a second.
Are you implying young males who modify, up the boost, beat on and likely have lax maintenance schedules would have anything to do with the reliability of a vehicle?
Surely you jest.
As for the new gen and the rod bearings, same thing happened to S54 engines from a bad batch, and early S50 motors had valve retainer problems. It happens.
In reply to Woody:
Your one anecdotal evidence doesn't discount the dozens of Subaru's parked at my mechanic, or the high number of them I have worked on on the side.
We have four turbo subarus that autocross with us regularly. Two of them have required engine rebuilds, the other two are hoping it happens before the warranty expires - one of whom is a Subaru salesman.
Javelin wrote: In reply to Woody: Your one anecdotal evidence doesn't discount the dozens of Subaru's parked at my mechanic, or the high number of them I have worked on on the side.
So your anecdotal evidence beats Woody's? 
*This post made purely in jest
paul wrote:Javelin wrote: The numbers of timing chains, broken pistons, fragged gearsets, and blown head gaskets on stock WRX's sure begs to differ...+1 My experience with my 2004 impreza was it had the worst paint in the industry and needed transmission rebuilds every 25-30k miles (*under warranty*), I also never got over 27mpg. To clarify the paint issues, after 10k highway miles the front end of my car looked like it had 100k miles on it: chips, fading; the clear coat began to fail at around 50k miles. Lots of "we've never seen that before *shrugs shoulders*" from SOA.
Mine was also a 2004.
You'll need to log in to post.
