Last week I asked about the Jaguar Egal. This car I saw racing at Silverstone in the mid 1960’s and was the most exciting bit of kit I had seen for some
time. It was, as the name suggests, an E type Jaguar, but the in line 6 cylinder lump had been thrown away and the resourceful owner slotted a 7 litre Holman and Moody modded
Galaxy at the sharp end. He would get it half straight coming out of the corners and give it a bootful, whereupon tyre smoke would come billowing out from under the rear
wheel arches, it had that much available grunt. I wonder where it is now?
A couple of weeks back I asked you to identify the Lamborghini Marzal, a forerunner of the Lambo Espada. Here’s another one that’s very similar, with
similar heritage.
What is it? By the way, the first correct answer on the Marzal question was Eric
Servaes from Belgium, and Messrs Deighton and Doust, who were incorrect on the Marzal, are not eligible to enter this week’s quiz! Well done, Eric!
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct answer to fax 427 596 or email [email protected]
The WRX from Subaru is the top of the line of the Impreza range. To say that these cars have been impressive is putting it mildly, and the company released
a new WRX at the end of last year. Our Down-under correspondent, John Weinthal has just spent some time with the latest offering. Here are “Words from Weinthal....”
The icon car of the nineties was the Subaru WRX. It was the car which boosted Subaru’s image to rank alongside the world’s best performance car makers.
The WRX Impreza was the performance car bargain of the last decade and, as it turns out, beyond.
Our latest reason, as opposed to the many excuses of the past, to spend a week in a WRX was the launch of an all-new model last October. This latest
Impreza has a new and larger body but many styling cues carry over from its predecessor. However, the newcomer is instantly recognisable with its bug-eye headlamps rather
like those on the latest Corollas and even the Daihatsu Sirion.
Most people didn’t reckon the looks were any improvement, and I agree. But nobody EVER bought a WRX for its looks. They roll out the doors in big numbers
to buyers who don’t need pose value - they want performance, safety and practicality at a fraction of the cost of, say, a Porsche 911.
The base recipe remains as desirable as ever. Insert a 163kW turbocharged horizontally opposed four cylinder engine into a surprisingly roomy four door
body, throw in full-time four wheel drive plus huge anti-lock vented disc brakes, equip it with almost all the comfort and sporty gear going - and you have a WRX.
And you have it for AUD 43,800 as a sedan, or AUD 44,250 as an even weirder looking but more practical hatch. The price is the point of it all. (Dr.
Iain’s note: expect to pay 1.85 million baht over here.)
Of course there are other quick cars at around the WRX price. Nissan’s latest
and lovely 200SX and the rather harsh Honda Integra R are arguably a touch more driver involving. But these coupes are really more about style than practicality and they
don’t have the Subaru’s ultimate all-time four wheel drive safety and handling bonus, apparent in almost any corner, wet or dry.
The new WRX is undoubtedly a mite softer than before - not quite as raw or driver involving. It’s also a little heavier so the last poofteenth of all out
acceleration is marginally down. But, for most people, the added refinement makes for a more relaxed town or cruising car and the performance remains beyond the imagination
of most of us.
The designers’ work inside the WRX is much more impressive to me than the externals. An all new, fresher look means it looks more substantial and
appealing than before. The Recaro body-gripper sports seats were perfect for me and most who collared the front passenger perch, although the broader of beam may not be quite
so happy. The driver’s seat is height adjustable. The Recaro steering wheel looks and feels good but drilled alloy pedals seemed a bit over the top and of no earthly
driving advantage.
At last, the WRX has remote central locking and cruise control as well as standard air-conditioning, an aluminium bonnet, 17 inch five spoke alloy wheels
and a rather less aggressive rear spoiler.
All Imprezas from the AUD 25,500 entry level 2 litre GX manual sedan up to the WRX have standard ABS brakes, CD player, cruise control, front and rear fog
lights, remote central locking and power windows and mirrors.
However, not quite all was beyond reproach with the test WRX. It was a pretty hefty effort to select reverse gear most of the time and the low speed ride
is still fairly harsh.
However, after a week in the new WRX I reckoned it to be better than ever, even if it is a tad less involving than before. It is certainly more civilised
with a much more appealing interior. It is also a little quieter, BUT, above all the WRX remains sensational value and a performance and safety leader. I don’t think the
changes will make current owners rush to change up, but for anyone else, the WRX provides a unique and wonderfully rewarding performance car experience.
Local Pattaya enthusiast Martyn Quartly popped in to see me the other day. Martyn has a TR3 languishing in a garage back in the UK and enjoyed ‘chewing
the fat’ regarding all things motoring. The upshot of all this was the suggestion that we (the car enthusiasts) should all get together for a nosh, natter and noggin night.
I reckon this is a good idea, and looking at parking and everything else I suggest we get together at Shenanigans Irish pub on Second Road (just past the
Royal Garden Plaza if anyone DOESN”T know where it is).
Here we go - what about this coming Monday, 12th of February at 7.00 pm? They have special steak night, so we can eat there, and I’m sure I can get Kim
to give us a quiet corner to have our meeting. If there’s enough of us interested, we can actually formalise it all later, but for now, let’s see how many there will be.
It will be a low pressure evening for guys (and gals) who have an interest in motor vehicles. Martyn suggests “Classic” cars, but all of us can have a different idea on
what is really classic, and you don’t need to own it right now!
See you Monday night at Shenanigans. You all know what I look like, so join us!
Found the following bit of info which perhaps should have gone into the golf section of the paper, but since it came through General Motors I snaffled it
for Automania. Buick is offering 20 spots in their first-ever Tiger Training Camp promotion. For a chance to win the incredible golf adventure, golf fans only have to
correctly guess Woods’ score for either the third or fourth rounds (Saturday Feb. 10 or Sunday Feb. 11) of the 2001 Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in La Jolla,
California.
To register your guess, log on to www.tiger.buick.com but do it today, as entries will close at 11.59 p.m. Eastern America time. To help you, last year
Woods shot 67 on Saturday and 68 on Sunday en route to a second place finish.
From all correct entries, 20 winners will be drawn at random. Each of the winners and their guests will win an all expense-paid trip to the Butch Harmon
School of Golf in Las Vegas.
