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Does this account for driving habits? I’ve just purchased a Subaru WRX, and I can’t fight the feeling that the reliability score is in some way influenced by th

Does this account for driving habits? I’ve just purchased a Subaru WRX, and I can’t fight the feeling that the reliability score is in some way influenced by the hoards of idiots that flock to this car for its tuning and hooning potential.

aalimov_ 3y ago
Yeah there’s certainly a temptation there if you’re into working in cars. Alongside your tuning/hooning remark - some cars certainly attract a particular kind of audience, although if it was really hoards, they would have probably released an STI variant for the new body :(
- omginternets 3y ago
  > they would have probably released an STI variant for the new body :( Pow, right in the feels :’) But in reality, I suspect this has more to do with the following two things: 1. The STi package has always had abysmal fuel economy, and I believe there are regulations that enforce an average fuel economy across an entire manufacturers fleet 2. Many (most?) of the modders and hooners are put off by the price. In fact, most aren’t really interested in a track car, but rather in a cheap, fast box to drag race between traffic lights. P.s. the new BRZ might also be stealing a bit of the market, despite the reverse-Zoolander issue it faces with oil pressure…
  - aalimov_ 3y ago
    Yeah the fuel economy is definitely not a selling point even on the standard WRX. Couple that with a strange urge to engage in spirited driving and you’ll be getting your mpgs down to the teens or low twenties. Re 1: I really hope they bring out a refreshed version, but I have a feeling that may not happen for a while… at least while batteries weigh what they do. Maybe a full EV version some day? Re 2: yeah the STi was hardly affordable to (my guess) the majority of the crowd that’s into them. I should have snagged an STi instead of the standard WRX when I had the chance. I love my wrx though, so much fun to drive.
    - omginternets 3y ago
      Are you modded or tuned at all? I've admittedly fallen into that rabbit hole, and been steadily getting drawn into mechanical engineering. The WRX is such an easy platform to hack on, it's crazy. It's right up there with the Miata, it seems.
      - aalimov_ 3y ago
        I haven’t added any mods to this car just yet. Wanted to pay it off and not worry about voiding any warranties, but I’m itching to get to it. My previous car was an ‘86 e28 (528e) and I spent many hours working on restoring it, I even chipped it haha. I also had a 2016 fiesta st (fwd isn’t all that bad after all!) I can’t tell you how many hours I spent looking for a good 70s 2002, for a nice e30, for a clean Miata, before deciding to get the WRX. I just wish factory FA20F had the same purr as the EJ models did.
- rokkitmensch 3y ago
  (hordes)
  - omginternets 3y ago
    Whoops. Semantic collision with Tony Hoare ^^
    - rokkitmensch 3y ago
      I figured it was a homonym confusion with eg "dragon's hoard". Still a bulk noun, just not the one anyone was reaching for.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
TheCleric 3y ago
I feel that would get balanced by Subaru's other models, which are mostly not known for such things.
- omginternets 3y ago
  Very possibly. Still not sure what to make of these rankings though…
  - willis936 3y ago
    The message is clear: steer clear of Subaru if you want a reliable engine.
    - unfocused 3y ago
      Would you say this is still true? I’m about to receive the 2023 Subaru Forester. It seems like it has good reliability from all the reviews.
      - solardev 3y ago
        After they fixed the head gasket issues of the 2000s or so, they seem to be fine? My partner, myself, most of my friends, and may of my coworkers, and much of my town drives them. They're insanely popular in outdoorsy and snowy areas. The article scores them decently high in reliability too. I'd never get a WRX though. Build quality and ride comfort though, not so much. They're rough and tumble machines, not luxury sedans (well, the Legacy is nice enough, not seems silly to get that over a Toyota). Speaking of Toyota, they own part of Subaru anyway and have collaborated with them on a few dual-branded vehicles.
      - msisk6 3y ago
        I've had a half dozen or so Subaru's and have had little trouble with any of them. Currently we have a '17 Forester we bought new currently with 120k miles on it and just last week I picked up a used '21 Ascent. The Forester has been though two batteries and just last week I had a wheel bearing in the rear replaced. No other trouble and still runs fine. I got the Ascent to keep out in Seattle and that'll be my car there -- it'll fit right in -- Subaru seems to make up about 30% of cars in the Seattle area.
thedaly 3y ago
I suspect it is caused by the numerous models with a faulty engine, like my 2010 Forester.
- willis936 3y ago
  My spouse had a 2010s Outback that went through two engines in three years. Bye bye Subaru.
chiefalchemist 3y ago
I had a WRX into the late 2000s before it got totaled parked in front of the house. At the time, it had 130,000+ miles (mostly highway miles) and it felt like it had *at least* 2 or 3 more solid years in it. Even the clutch feel fine. What I got from the insurance company didn't come close to the value of that car to me. I replaced it with a KIA Soul. At the time, the price / value made sense. It was an unplanned expense and I just didn't have time to shop around. It's was buy or die! :) The Soul is still going but it's been it the shop for various issues much more than the WRX ever was.
rufius 3y ago
It's certainly related when you consider Pickup Trucks and the more "sporty" or "outdoorsy" SUV's. People that drive pickups, at least a substantial lot, do manual labor for a living. They're rough on their vehicles. And people doing outdoorsy stuff with SUV's are putting them in harsher conditions than just driving to work and the grocery store. That said - if my assertion is true, the Tacoma is truly a wonder with its reliability and so on. No surprise given it is the mobility platform of choice in Mid-East and Africa for militias and local armies (i.e. Toyota Hilux).

aalimov_ 3y ago

Yeah there’s certainly a temptation there if you’re into working in cars. Alongside your tuning/hooning remark - some cars certainly attract a particular kind of audience, although if it was really hoards, they would have probably released an STI variant for the new body :(

omginternets 3y ago
> they would have probably released an STI variant for the new body :( Pow, right in the feels :’) But in reality, I suspect this has more to do with the following two things: 1. The STi package has always had abysmal fuel economy, and I believe there are regulations that enforce an average fuel economy across an entire manufacturers fleet 2. Many (most?) of the modders and hooners are put off by the price. In fact, most aren’t really interested in a track car, but rather in a cheap, fast box to drag race between traffic lights. P.s. the new BRZ might also be stealing a bit of the market, despite the reverse-Zoolander issue it faces with oil pressure…
- aalimov_ 3y ago
  Yeah the fuel economy is definitely not a selling point even on the standard WRX. Couple that with a strange urge to engage in spirited driving and you’ll be getting your mpgs down to the teens or low twenties. Re 1: I really hope they bring out a refreshed version, but I have a feeling that may not happen for a while… at least while batteries weigh what they do. Maybe a full EV version some day? Re 2: yeah the STi was hardly affordable to (my guess) the majority of the crowd that’s into them. I should have snagged an STi instead of the standard WRX when I had the chance. I love my wrx though, so much fun to drive.
  - omginternets 3y ago
    Are you modded or tuned at all? I've admittedly fallen into that rabbit hole, and been steadily getting drawn into mechanical engineering. The WRX is such an easy platform to hack on, it's crazy. It's right up there with the Miata, it seems.
    - aalimov_ 3y ago
      I haven’t added any mods to this car just yet. Wanted to pay it off and not worry about voiding any warranties, but I’m itching to get to it. My previous car was an ‘86 e28 (528e) and I spent many hours working on restoring it, I even chipped it haha. I also had a 2016 fiesta st (fwd isn’t all that bad after all!) I can’t tell you how many hours I spent looking for a good 70s 2002, for a nice e30, for a clean Miata, before deciding to get the WRX. I just wish factory FA20F had the same purr as the EJ models did.
rokkitmensch 3y ago
(hordes)
- omginternets 3y ago
  Whoops. Semantic collision with Tony Hoare ^^
  - rokkitmensch 3y ago
    I figured it was a homonym confusion with eg "dragon's hoard". Still a bulk noun, just not the one anyone was reaching for.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

TheCleric 3y ago

I feel that would get balanced by Subaru's other models, which are mostly not known for such things.

omginternets 3y ago
Very possibly. Still not sure what to make of these rankings though…
- willis936 3y ago
  The message is clear: steer clear of Subaru if you want a reliable engine.
  - unfocused 3y ago
    Would you say this is still true? I’m about to receive the 2023 Subaru Forester. It seems like it has good reliability from all the reviews.
    - solardev 3y ago
      After they fixed the head gasket issues of the 2000s or so, they seem to be fine? My partner, myself, most of my friends, and may of my coworkers, and much of my town drives them. They're insanely popular in outdoorsy and snowy areas. The article scores them decently high in reliability too. I'd never get a WRX though. Build quality and ride comfort though, not so much. They're rough and tumble machines, not luxury sedans (well, the Legacy is nice enough, not seems silly to get that over a Toyota). Speaking of Toyota, they own part of Subaru anyway and have collaborated with them on a few dual-branded vehicles.
    - msisk6 3y ago
      I've had a half dozen or so Subaru's and have had little trouble with any of them. Currently we have a '17 Forester we bought new currently with 120k miles on it and just last week I picked up a used '21 Ascent. The Forester has been though two batteries and just last week I had a wheel bearing in the rear replaced. No other trouble and still runs fine. I got the Ascent to keep out in Seattle and that'll be my car there -- it'll fit right in -- Subaru seems to make up about 30% of cars in the Seattle area.

thedaly 3y ago

I suspect it is caused by the numerous models with a faulty engine, like my 2010 Forester.

willis936 3y ago
My spouse had a 2010s Outback that went through two engines in three years. Bye bye Subaru.

chiefalchemist 3y ago

I had a WRX into the late 2000s before it got totaled parked in front of the house. At the time, it had 130,000+ miles (mostly highway miles) and it felt like it had *at least* 2 or 3 more solid years in it. Even the clutch feel fine. What I got from the insurance company didn't come close to the value of that car to me. I replaced it with a KIA Soul. At the time, the price / value made sense. It was an unplanned expense and I just didn't have time to shop around. It's was buy or die! :) The Soul is still going but it's been it the shop for various issues much more than the WRX ever was.

rufius 3y ago

It's certainly related when you consider Pickup Trucks and the more "sporty" or "outdoorsy" SUV's. People that drive pickups, at least a substantial lot, do manual labor for a living. They're rough on their vehicles. And people doing outdoorsy stuff with SUV's are putting them in harsher conditions than just driving to work and the grocery store. That said - if my assertion is true, the Tacoma is truly a wonder with its reliability and so on. No surprise given it is the mobility platform of choice in Mid-East and Africa for militias and local armies (i.e. Toyota Hilux).