How many people here have smoked their clutch on their 2011+

**zax** · 01-17-2013 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by MainFrame

Right, shaft flex.. another inherent problem due to the design of the transmission which cannot be overcome by simply replacing the gears. I really don't see how that is any different than if the case was the issue (other than the fact that blast plates probably won't do anyone much good, which has already been shown with a transmission that failed despite having both straight cut PPG gears and blast plates installed).

Hold on Robin

... the STi 6MT also has a long input shaft hubba hubba. It just happens the 6MT gears are extremely strong from the factory.

**MainFrame** · 01-17-2013 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by zax

Hold on Robin

... the STi 6MT also has a long input shaft hubba hubba. It just happens the 6MT gears are extremely strong from the factory.

So what you're saying is.. that it is long AND stiff, as opposed to the 5mt shaft which may be long, but is more flaccid in comparison?

**zax** · 01-17-2013 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by MainFrame

So what you're saying is.. that it is long AND stiff, as opposed to the 5mt shaft which may be long, but is more flaccid in comparison?

I be saying that 5MT shaft needs viagra and AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FO DAT!

**Pool Runner** · 01-18-2013 05:23 PM

Ok sorry to keep beating this thread up, anyone else find it hard as hell to drive this car with any finess when you are listening to music? like I mentioned before, I consider myself a pro at driving manual, and never had a problem flossin lol back when I was 20, 21 years old in my Si Civic with a huge system. I'm 34 years old and don't have a system in my '13 but listening to any music totally throws off any finess with modulating the clutch and throttle. Just saying.

**Soobvirgin** · 01-18-2013 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Pool Runner

...anyone else find it hard as hell to drive this car with any finess when you are listening to music?

Yes. Although, if I'm driving enthusiastically, I tend to turn the music down to hear the engine anyway.

**DemonWRX** · 01-18-2013 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Pool Runner

Ok sorry to keep beating this thread up, anyone else find it hard as hell to drive this car with any finess when you are listening to music? like I mentioned before, I consider myself a pro at driving manual, and never had a problem flossin lol back when I was 20, 21 years old in my Si Civic with a huge system. I'm 34 years old and don't have a system in my '13 but listening to any music totally throws off any finess with modulating the clutch and throttle. Just saying.

No, I have no trouble driving with music on......no trouble what so ever.

**Pool Runner** · 01-18-2013 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by DemonWRX

No, I have no trouble driving with music on......no trouble what so ever.

Yeah I keep using that term and sorry it bothers you. No I'm not a professional racecar driver. I have done more SCCA solo II events and HPDE's than I care to list here, I have worked for several car dealerships over the last decade and driven like I said earlier almost ever manual made over the last 20 years besides supercars, from manual Cummins Diesels trucks, Dodge Ram SRT10 manual, M3's, Economy cars, TT 996 Porsche and so forth and so on. My point is I can drive any of those with precision and finess but can't do this '13 WRX well to save my life yet, like I said with the radio on I can't hear the engine which helps with knowing where the engagement point is etc...

**lftjeep** · 01-18-2013 08:09 PM

Since we are on the topic of transmission and cutch issues with 11+ WRX models I was wondering if anyone else has the issue I have been having. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd it does not always shift smoothly into gear. It sometimes feels like it is about to grind, but sometimes it shifts smoothly without issue.

On a second note I have also had trouble getting used to the clutch in my 2013 WRX and have never had trouble like this with any other manual car I have driven.

**MainFrame** · 01-18-2013 08:16 PM

I have never had a problem driving either of my WRXs, regardless of the radio volume. The one manual I had trouble with was my 1974 Chevy step side with three on the tree. The steering column shifter wasn't difficult to master, the problem was that the linkage was very worn, and if you didn't shift it just right (precise timing) then the linkage would slip and lock up. You also couldn't skip gears or it would lock up, and you couldn't coast with the clutch in or it would lock up. If you tried to go from 3rd to 1st at a stop light you would be stranded digging around under the hood for a good 30 minutes in the middle of the road.

Subaru is actually one of the easiest to drive manual transmissions I have ever driven..

**Pool Runner** · 01-18-2013 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by lftjeep

Since we are on the topic of transmission and cutch issues with 11+ WRX models I was wondering if anyone else has the issue I have been having. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd it does not always shift smoothly into gear. It sometimes feels like it is about to grind, but sometimes it shifts smoothly without issue.

On a second note I have also had trouble getting used to the clutch in my 2013 WRX and have never had trouble like this with any other manual car I have driven.

Not to beat this dead horse anymore than it needs to be, but YES in a nutshell my experience is exactly as you discribed. Sometimes I get in the car, normally after cold and sitting all day and have perfectly smooth shifts. Then the next time I drive the car I get what feels like its going to grind. Glad to know its not just me.

**Pool Runner** · 01-18-2013 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by MainFrame

I have never had a problem driving either of my WRXs, regardless of the radio volume. The one manual I had trouble with was my 1974 Chevy step side with three on the tree. The steering column shifter wasn't difficult to master, the problem was that the linkage was very worn, and if you didn't shift it just right (precise timing) then the linkage would slip and lock up. You also couldn't skip gears or it would lock up, and you couldn't coast with the clutch in or it would lock up. If you tried to go from 3rd to 1st at a stop light you would be stranded digging around under the hood for a good 30 minutes in the middle of the road.

Subaru is actually one of the easiest to drive manual transmissions I have ever driven..

He he I know what you mean about the three on the tree. One of my first jobs when I was 16 was working at a landscaping nursery. The guy that owned the place had two stores about 20 miles apart, all country roads. I had to drive plants and trees back between the two stores using an old, beat to snot GMC with a worn three on the tree. The only way to get it to engage was to rev the snot out of it in between the gear changes. One time it wouldn't engage at all so I drove it 20 miles back in 2nd gear.

The easiest manual I've ever driven was a 90's Prelude and a '67 VW Beetle.

**thebanker** · 01-22-2013 10:28 PM

I will say that this is one of the less forgiving manuals I've ever owned. The last manual I owned was a 350z, and the clutch feel was very similar. Previous to that was a VW Jetta 2.5 and a Mitsubishi Eclipse V6, which were both fairly easy-to-drive manuals. I think that the AWD and high torque output definitely add to the "light switch" feeling of the clutch.

My last car was a DSG transmission (Jetta GLI) and I thought I was REALLY rusty with the manual in my WRX, now I'm glad to know its not just my rustiness!

**thebanker** · 01-22-2013 10:30 PM

Also, I don't know about the GTI being on equal footing to the WRX. Having just sold a GLI (sure, a little more weight, but same internals) I can say that the WRX is much more powerful.