Matteeboy

I think a big thing is mpg and emissions here; Subaru just can't keep up.

Doesn't bother me but for many, it's critical even in quick cars.

And interiors; again Subaru just don't quite do it for the Europeans; they work fine, last well but don't have enough shiny trinkets or faux high quality soft touch surfaces.

Uncle Creepy

Shaun,

A couple of questions, if you don't mind. I read your A45 project thread - although it was a month or two ago, and there was a fair bit of info in there - but I remember you said the A45 blew your old Hawk STi out the water, or words to that effect. In which ways do you think it does?

Next, I think I remember you wrote in the (titled something like) 'A45s, let's see them' thread that you wouldn't want an A45 for a daily drive. Why do you say that?

In your opinion, what are the A45's weaknesses?

These are genuine, serious questions - I'm not contesting any of your opinions.

Finally, did you drive an M135i before purchasing your A45?

Tidgy

given they still have the pants 2.5 they did sell really well

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

£50k hot hatch?? At least its a premium brand that you would be proud of owning/driving!!
Look how much the new Mitsubishi Evo X costs
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...r-2015/4329458

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Serious money but at least it will go round corners quickly

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Id want it to go round corners quick, someone might see you driving it.

Plus side would be that out of the 2 cars(RS3, Evo X) I know which one I would feel safer leaving on my drive or driving round Birmingham in, and its the one that sounds like a hair dryer!!!

dpb

Surely is quicker than that to 60 ?

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Here we go again The 2.5's rep has been blown all out of proportion on this site, due to the farce that happened with the standard maps on the 2008 hatches and to a certain extent the HG issue in hawks, although there are plenty with 70-90K mileages running just fine without any mods. Same could be said for lots of the hatches as well, yes i know some standard ones have popped, but from what i have seen there's always a back story to some of those

It really is not that bad a road unit as some people make out on here, IF you do not push it past its design limits, 350bhp tops, maintain it properly and run it on the right fuel it is robust, period, imo

Matteeboy

To be fair that isn't a hatch and it was sold in very limited numbers; I think that's more than the new price.

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

It's hardly a new model either, its just an Evo X taken to a few different tuning companies, with 10-15K slapped on top of the purchase price.

Matteeboy

Just someone playing on it's very tiny production run. Can't remember how many were made but it wasn't a lot.

Rapid car though.

Tidgy

they fail at standard power, theres a multi thousand post thread on it. My old hawk wrx had ring land failure at 60k despite being totaly standard and full service history.

While there is an element of it being exagerated, it is an issue.

built right the 2.5 is a cracking engine, one is going in my type R, but out the box its pot luck if you get one that survives or not

Matteeboy

That would be a worry. Luckily my low powered non turbo 2.5 appears to be almost unbreakable; partly why we bought it.

I waited 18 months after release before getting our N55 engined M135i; the previous N54 (which powered all *35i BMWs) was great but prone to all sorts of failures. Luckily the N55, while throwing up occasional issues (a fan problem, a tiny number of injector failures), it seems pretty bomb proof.

After our VW, bought new and CONSTANTLY in for warranty work, I'm not taking any chances with my car engines.

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Yea i know, could also be put down to user error, mechanical sympathy plays a part as well, i don't think its just pot luck Well maybe on the older cars 2006-2010, but not so much now.

Tidgy

Problem is there are alot few newer ones about to get a an accurate figure from.

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Absolute rubbish Tidgy, there's thousands of them out there around the world. If you look on the iwsti site in the US, there's one failure I can find and it was one of the launch models which are known to have manufacturing issues.

When the hatches came out, they were failing left, right n centre after a few thousand miles, some as you know much later.

If you want to find failures, forums are usually the best place to go, so to me that's a good sign that I can't find any others. I always take the ones I do find with a pinch of salt anyway. You just don't know the back history of a car, especially if its a disgruntled driver posting

Tidgy

Given they differe from country to country can;t really compare them like that. UK wise subaru are selling 3k a year, and thats all the models they do

Matteeboy

2800 I think; I would be suprised if STIs make up more than a few hundred of those sales.

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

But we're talking about the 2.5 in STi's right, they are the same in whatever country, the only difference is the fuel and oils used, fuel is low grade cack in the US, so if anything you would expect to see more failures. But there aren't that many, compared to the issues from 2008. We'll have to agree to disagree on this I think tidgy me ole mucker

Shaun

Sure thing, although this is only my personal opinion and not any categoric fact.

My statement was in respect of the complete package, as a performance road car within this sector. Taking into account overall driveability, outright pace, chassis, braking performance, interior, technology adopted, efficiency and brand image.

There was nothing wrong with my previous JDM Hawk, but I can quite honestly still say, I do not for one moment regret getting out of it, or moving on to the A45.

It still amazes me that MB/AMG have managed to create this type of car, with what is in reality, their first attempt.


This needs some context.

My remit for a daily driver is something to munch up the miles with a level of comfort. I do over 20k a year, so this side of things is important to me. The A45, whilst not as hard as nails, hasn't really got comfort at the top of it's benefits list.

I suspect some people would have no issue with the suspension compliance or seat firmness. I'm getting on a bit now, so for a daily driver I like to sit in an armchair if at all possible.


Whilst the car is not perfect, it's pretty much perfect for what I want in reality.

From my perspective, the biggest weakness is the gearbox & Haldex system. I feel these could be developed further, to make even more use of the power available. Being critical, the box doesn't quite always do what you want, when you want it and the diffs and electronic systems that support it, can rob you a bit at times. I personally think this is me being over critical, because if I switch the box to manual and put the Haldex system into Sports Mode..... it's pretty much fine.


I gave one a very very quick test drive, but in all honesty I could not get over the looks of the car. I just felt it looked "Meh". Highly judgemental on aesthetics I know, but I'm just being honest.

Matteeboy

The M135i has been facelifted now - better lights at the front, worse rear end (IMO).

Uncle Creepy

...

john banks

Most on demand systems will apportion torque to the usually underfed axle before slip occurs. They would usually transfer more in lower gears at higher torque levels. Depending on which axle is preferred and the perceived sportiness/target audience they will also put more or less depending on steering wheel angle, yaw, driver settings. I do wish these systems had more control as wet vs dry requirements vary massively as do driver preferences, track vs road requirements.

Matteeboy

My issue with these systems and I've had two vehicles with them, is that they're reactive. However quick they respond, they are responding. A proper permanent 4wd system isn't responding; it's just there doing it's thing all the time.

It just feels like a big layer of driver input is removed with a system trying to decide what's best; I want my inputs to decide that from gentle pulling away on gravel to hairy ar5ed antics if needed.

john banks

The ones you have had have been Haldex FWD biased? The three active centre diff cars I have had have been 98%, 60% and 50% default to the rear and the 50 and 60% ones would actively overdrive the outside rear. None had problems with understeer. Even then I wouldn't assume too much about Haldex 5 as it is fast and proactive, I would think it could transfer torque to the rear as fast as the electronic throttle could snap open. If I could decide what the hell to do with my life it might be fun to make and market a Haldex 5 controller, but with the new Ford RS they already have a drift button. I would hope it doesn't do it for you but turns off the traction control and throws everything at the outside rear wheel requiring throttle modulation and full opposite lock from the driver. If so you could tear up the track and then let the misses drive it in the snow.

Why is Haldex any less fake than eLSD in the M lite cars? I bid on a few x35i cars but worried I would burn up the inside rear pads as often as rear tyres. Perhaps the Haldex units would overheat too under abuse. Certainly the GTR centre diff gets expensively fubared if you abuse it.

hodgy0_2

the thing is you have to be a able to park it, walk away - and take a sneaky look back, smile, nod to yourself and think

"I'm ******** that"

Matteeboy

And you'd get that with an A45? Errrmmm, no.

TBH no hatch is a drop dead gorgeous looker. Some manage it better than others but 99.9% are just variations on a bland box. At least an M135i has a RWD "look" to it. I can't proclaim it to be pretty but I like under the radar stealth with a wee hint of menace. It looks way nicer than the Golf R or S3 hatch - bland boxes with uber naff quad 'pipes to ruin the look.

Fortunately the RS3 only has two - but they are massive.

hodgy0_2

horses for course though

it is not a question that has a universal truth

Shaun

Matt,
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

There is also a world of difference between someone saying "I'm ******** that" and "drop dead gorgeous looker". Well there is imo, so I get what hodgy has said.

Shaun

Ah yes sorry.


The gearbox has a Sports mode which sharpens throttle response, extends the rev's used and gear change upshift points, throws fuel down the exhaust (on the upshift for the "crack") and opens the valve in the rear silencer for more parrrp. However, I was referring to the Sports mode for the handling, which is a different button. This effectively tones down the electronics around the Traction/Stability Control Systems, which makes quite a difference to the way the torque is managed.


There is no active damper system though, regardless of what you switch.