WRX Wagon vs. M Roadster

**madwagon** · 07-28-2002 08:58 AM

I'm cruising down I15 yesterday and I see a blue M Roadster hightail it onto the freeway. Traffic was just open enough to squirt through holes. I go to 15psi and catch up to him. Older guy out enjoying the day with the top down, I miss my old Roadster myself. He sees me catch up to him so we start speeding up. I could see him downshift as the back end squated at 60-70. We played some traffic football and I'm more than able to keep up with him. We trade a few leads here and there and it seems we are pretty evenly matched, it looks like from 60 - 100 if I get the jump I'm able to pull maybe a car ahead before he matches my accel. After a few miles of this the Scooby starts showing its slightly unsporting characteristics. The M Roadster was built to take this kind of street racing all day long, plenty of brakes, no heat issues, quick handling, etc - repeatibility, it's how I used to wear down other turbo cars. Meanwhile after one hard brake from 120 back to 80 (including other slower ones) my brakes are shuddering and fading. I can also feel the heat build up in the engine as the power band starts to flatten out a little, still pulling but not as sharp. We finally get to a point on 163 where it's wide open, I'm in front, he's about a car length behind. I made the mistake of starting at 90, I floor it, he reels me in and is in my draft, I can't pull away he can't get around me - up to about 120. We both slow, now he's on the side and is pushing his own wind this time. Starting from 80 or so I get a small jump, put about a car to 100, put another car to 120, put another car to 130, he isnt falling as fast now, by 140 (no whistling either) Im about 4 cars ahead and he can't catch me. I was surprised to say the least, I had my 01 Roadster up to 150+ (top down) and was able to hang with a new 300HP 911 Carrera before (60-130+), maybe he had a tired one or wasnt shifting right. I did have a Dinan chip, IIRC the Roadster was limited to 138 or thereabouts on a stock ECU. The guy was cool, we slowed down and he yells over "Those are just as fast as I thought they were!"

After this my Scooby needs suspension (going with full STi), better cooling on the brakes (whatever fits under stock rims, no bling for me) and better cooling for the engine (that new TurboXS intercooler?). More power later, as you can very easily overpower the car in stock form.

Oh yeah I almost forgot...doing a long sweeper at 130+ is awesome with AWD, even on the stock RE71s! The M had to slow down. Previously I had to be on my toes doing that in various BMWs, but the Scoob just took the throttle and clawed right in.

**Trailboss** · 07-28-2002 09:48 AM

Nice story! Sounds like you and the Roadster went on for a while instead of just one race.

**madwagon** · 07-28-2002 10:38 AM

Yeah, the cars were kinda close in performance so we needed a little more space to check out the who's who. For me it's the only decent way to really tell if one car is faster than the other and make sure everyone gets a good start.

**BamBooI** · 07-28-2002 02:53 PM

Originally posted by madwagon

Oh yeah I almost forgot...doing a long sweeper at 130+ is awesome with AWD, even on the stock RE71s! The M had to slow down. Previously I had to be on my toes doing that in various BMWs, but the Scoob just took the throttle and clawed right in.

Good run. Our stock tires are re92

.

**madwagon** · 07-28-2002 06:41 PM

Originally posted by BamBooI

Good run. Our stock tires are re92 .

Oh yeah...RE something or others. I'm trying as hard as I can to put the rubber down the wear bars so I have an excuse for new shoes.

**BamBooI** · 07-28-2002 07:16 PM

Originally posted by madwagon

Oh yeah...RE something or others. I'm trying as hard as I can to put the rubber down the wear bars so I have an excuse for new shoes.

Go to autoxes

**RSXSucks** · 08-01-2002 08:55 PM

Nice story and awesome speed! Wow, once I got up to 40mph but 140!?!? Made me kind of laugh though, thinking about an M Roadster trying to keep up with a WRX. You would think they would learn by now.

**M Roadster+WRX** · 08-05-2002 02:15 PM

This story confuses my ego. On the one hand, I am happy your WRX did well. On the other hand, I am unhappy the M Roadster did not do well. My head will now explode. Thank you!

**S4_dukar** · 08-05-2002 06:37 PM

Nice fun, sounds like a lot of fun

What mods do you have? I know WRX are not exactly top end monsters, sounded like you raced the 240hp model.

In any case, good kill

***Verdugo*** · 08-05-2002 07:10 PM

Originally posted by M Roadster+WRX
This story confuses my ego. On the one hand, I am happy your WRX did well. On the other hand, I am unhappy the M Roadster did not do well. My head will now explode. Thank you!

Bah you're SC'd

**madwagon** · 08-06-2002 09:16 AM

Originally posted by M Roadster+WRX
This story confuses my ego. On the one hand, I am happy your WRX did well. On the other hand, I am unhappy the M Roadster did not do well. My head will now explode. Thank you!

I was surprised too! I LOVED my M Roadster. It was an absolute blast to zing that thing out up top. I had a Dinan chip installed when I rolled the car off the lot, I'm pretty sure (not that it made a huge difference, but helped up top) that the one I raced was totally stock.

I'll have to find another one to play with.

**madwagon** · 08-06-2002 09:20 AM

Originally posted by S4_dukar
Nice fun, sounds like a lot of fun

What mods do you have? I know WRX are not exactly top end monsters, sounded like you raced the 240hp model.

In any case, good kill

Oh yeah, totally the older engine, I would have gotten creamed if it was the newer M engine.

I'm stock, but well broken in. My "only" (but makes a huge difference) mod is a Profec-b running 15psi.

**str** · 08-06-2002 09:42 AM

nice race. you are lucky it wasn't the new RSX-Type M roadster. those things have mad top end. i think they are eight speeds.

**antirice** · 11-17-2011 08:02 AM

My son-in-law just bought a WRX and was bragging about how fast it is, so i decide to go on line and find some vid's and stories about how my ///M Roady matches up to his car. What do i find? This fine story about my first encounter with a WRX.
i purchased the car in May of 02 so to defend myself i only had the car for a month when i ran into the wagon. At the time it was a completely stock S52, with about 40k miles on it. sure i missed a couple of shifts and maybe not the most comfortable going 140 but as i remember it, it was a lot closer then stated above.
anyway nice story Madwagon.

oh yea, I still have the Roady. 150k miles on it now. I would love to have a re-match with your wagon (if it still runs

)