I have a 2005 GT Wagon, automatic. I bought it new. It's always been pampered and has 130k miles on it, completely stock. For a Boomer fantasy day, I'm taking it to a track day at NJ Motorsports Park. My mechanic has inspected the car and it is more than up to the task. The day has a total of about 2 hours on the track with an instructor riding shotgun the whole time.
I'm proficient with a manual, having driven one since 1971, and have had stupid fast cars before. However, I'm taking the Subaru. In 15 years of ownership I have never played with the Sport mode on the transmission; I'm an adult driving on public roads. I tried it today and found it was a hoot and terrifying at the same time. It's a lot of fun to drop a gear or two before pulling out to pass and having the turbo already engaged, and to hold it in lower gears. I have to be careful to not mash the brake pedal thinking it's the clutch...
I don't like the push buttons on the wheel, as you can't tell which is which when you're cornering fast with the wheel a turn or more over, so the floor shifter seems to be the way to go. My questions: is there a rev-limiter built into these cars? Is it placing more strain on the transmission to have it in Sport mode? I've never liked engine-braking and don't intend to do so - I'd mostly just want to have the turbo engaged when exiting a corner, etc. Would I be better off leaving it in Auto and concentrating on weight transfer, etc?
I have about a month to practice with the sport mode before the track day.
Thanks.
Peter