RE: RIP Subaru Impreza

[ayseven]

They burn too much petrol compared to other vehicles of the same style (although of course, 4WD doesn't help this). There are thousands where I live (Canada's capital region), but are not required in most of the western world, where 2WD (BRZ) will do.

[micawrx]

Sad...

But be honest... A lot of us Subaru fans would never have bought a new hatchback... (Me..had bug and blobs, 2 STis and a WRX)

They failed to keep up.. Saw one of the Japanese video magazines from about 06 where the boss of Subaru wanted to take on BMW brand wise.... Crazy... Then they brought out the hatch.... Harikari
They had a niche product (along with mitsi) .. As people say... Mind blowing against their piers and above.

The key point is not winter handling... It's point to point across country on mixed surface where the rally slags did their giant killing. Across most of the North Yorkshire moor roads ( reference a lot of top gear filming ( watch new series ) a 2wd BMW would be destroyed by a mitsi or evo... Sorry.. Just saying!

The uk now finds it bulk of enthusiasts buying diesels so they can afford to go to work...

I was worried about moving away but on reflection I despair at what's happened to our wonderful country.

...have to buy a car this week... Found a car maybe...

2009 STi .... White... 35000aed... £20 to fill up!

[The Hypno-Toad]

micawrx said:

The UK now finds it bulk of enthusiasts buying diesels so they can afford to go to work...

This. 100%.

Wasn't aware the RX-8 had bitten the dust already but in no way am I surprised. Great car but the running costs...

[Escort Si-130]

So true, the interior is a turn off, if you thought VW interior was dull, the new one is totally bland. I did not like the new Imprezza hatch, the saloon looked better when it came out, but that front end grill just did not cut it imo. I guess 4WD does not mean everything as tthe cars that seems to have pinched sales from the Scoob has been Astra VXR, Focus ST/RS, Megane R26, Scirocco R, Civic Type R etc
I guess it is a dying fan base, the image, many of these cars over here only gained popularity from rallying. I am sure many people dont bother with the standard Lancer in the UK. If there was a standard Imprezza with a 1.6 engine, sure it would not sell much either.

As for he BMW 135M, it is fking ugly from the front. But as usual the badge snobs would buy it. If they did change the look of the headlamps and straightend the bottom edge nearer the grill instead of angling it, it would look much better.

One thing that did turn the image to gutter level of the Imprezza is many of those people that put that nasty stty sounding great baked bean can exhaust on with the droning effect. It would have probably been better off with a dual exhaust instead of one great big oversized one for modifications.

vrsmxtb said:

Sad in theory, but honestly when was the last time you saw the latest Impreza on the road, in hot form or not. Subaru just isn't a brand most people, apart from enthusiasts, consider for a new car.

[Escort Si-130]

You missed Golf R and RS3 off that list?

Richard330s said:

Very sad indeed, but I may be biased. Admitting my bias, I own and love new model hatch 09 330s STI.
Living in the North. All weather traction and bulletproof build / mechanical reliability is hard to beat and I can get 30mpg on a run.



The data would indicate that they are now a rare car indeed, in modern form. In the first 9 months of 2012 of 370 ranked car models sold in UK 'Impreza' (including all models) ranked only 260 selling only 173 cars. The very common 1 series BMW ranked 15 and sold a whooping 25,000!

http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2012/11/01/uk-9-mon...

Pos Model 2012 % 6m
280 Subaru Impreza 173 0.0% 265
15 BMW 1 Series. 25,128 1.6% 15

Both cars talked about in the blog are good PH motors and to talk about the M135i without mention of its terrible face/nose/front end is a little remiss, when rubbishing the WRX/Impreza. Have BMW sorted the awful offset pedals of the1 series from the driving dynamics gurus?

As raised by a previous comment blogger.......
where does that leave prospective purchasers of 4x4 performance cars between £30-55k in a manual form? Which have been a key PHer obsession for many years:

- no New EVO
- no New STI
- MINI (no thanks)
- Volvo S60 Polestar (£300k is a bit out of budget.)
- Ferrari FF - ditto the polestar
- Audi RS5 - pretty dull & numb & automatic.
- Audi RS4 - ditto & automatic & 'Harris loved it! Not.'
- No BMW options (exc fugly SUVs)
- Porsche 911 Turbo? Positive manuals available...
- Porsche Panamera 4S?
- Porsche 911 4S?
- Nissan GTR? Auto but brutal




Do love the FF....

[Escort Si-130]

People make up your minds. It seems FWD is wrong, now RWD is wrong, then you get those saying 4WD is crap on high performance cars such as Lambo and it is better with RWD. Jeez some of you on here.

ADM06 said:

I think differently. I don't think RWD is wrong, I think the weather is. There should be no snow, rain etc
Don't slate BMW for sticking to RWD, that seems to be a dying breed of car too.

[Escort Si-130]

So true, Europe, especially UK are complete badge snobs.

peter450 said:

The US is a different market to Europe, look at Lexus, Infiniti's etc success stateside compared to in Europe

[Escort Si-130]

This guy is the perfect example of the typical badge snob. The image you are trying to portray with gold wheels and bodykit has long gone. I am sure if BMW offered it people like yourself would be lapping it up. When BMW bodykit M3's etc people like yourself keep your trap shut and ogle all over it.
The usual build quality/reliability german bullst, if you really want reliability you go for Toyota or Skoda.

torqueischeap said:

Have you actually driven an impreza in the snow? Useless, though better than a 1 series for sure, not the point though, we dont buy these cars for their winter weather prowess. I think the understated 135 has got it just right, people dont really want garish gold wheels and bodykits with big spoilers these days.Also power sapping mpg guzzling 4x4 drivetrains really are overkill 99% of the time. A prestige badge german build quality with a bit of class seems order of the day. Tis a shame as im fond of fast imprezas, but maybe their tarnished image proves theyre a victim of their own (previous) success?

[Urban Sports]

Chav tat.

[CaptainSlow]

torqueischeap said:

Have you actually driven an impreza in the snow? Useless

Yes




I think the problem with the Impreza is the market/price positioning.

I went to look at a 2004 WRX wagon a couple of years ago. It had the original bill of sale included in the paperwork, £16k from Trade Sales in Slough.

Now you're looking at £30k for an Impreza which, as noted above, is pitching it against German metal. If binned the upgraded interior, electric this and that, sounds systems etc and rolled then out £20-£22k then I think the market would support that.

[g3org3y]

CaptainSlow said:

I think the problem with the Impreza is the market/price positioning.

And the styling. The old ones (although festooned with spoiler/wings) were ultimately good looking aggressive cars. Current crop look uninspiring (or ugly) by comparison.

[Dangermouse78]

Xpander said:

I bought my Legacy GTB in June, and hence it's my first winter in it this year. I know it's not the same car as an Impreza, but it's close.

This year I also brought a Legacy, however it's the GX saloon... will be interesting to see how it copes with the weather

[Konan]

I'm not sure about all of these 'ugly hatch' comments. Only because I'd struggle to define any generation of impreza as anything other than ugly. Ugly may be a little harsh, perhaps the term 'daft looking' would suit it better? Perhaps the fact the hatch looked suspiciously like it wanted to be a Euro-blob hatch so the loss of 'daft' is what people really didn't go for?

I had an XR4x4 for years and it was fantastic in the snow. My first impression of the impreza was that it wanted to run around like a hyperactive puppy on an ice rink. The difference? The XR was always run on some 'all round' family saloon tyres and the impreza was on a UHP tread pattern. Fitted with a set of winters and it made all the soft roaders floundering around look daft.

I'm not for AWD just because of the whole 'snow' thing. I just like the constant sure footed nature.

[ScoobieWRX]

Urban Sports said:

Chav tat.

Was that meant to be a constructive and sensible comment?

[dave escos]

Escort Si-130 said:

One thing that did turn the image to gutter level of the Imprezza is many of those people that put that nasty stty sounding great baked bean can exhaust on with the droning effect. It would have probably been better off with a dual exhaust instead of one great big oversized one for modifications

vrsmxtb said:

Sad in theory, but honestly when was the last time you saw the latest Impreza on the road, in hot form or not. Subaru just isn't a brand most people, apart from enthusiasts, consider for a new car.

priceless info from the escort si 130 poster......... it was the exhaust that sold it to hundreds and thousands of car buyers .
and i have seen 2 new shape sti imprezas this week,the new saloon shape actually looks good and miles better than the awful hatchback.

[marshall100]

I've always said that the new car, hatch or saloon, looks much better in the flesh.

[Ved]

Thanks for the memories

[v8250]

This is sad news, but can not be totally unexpected. I have always had a soft spot for the Impreza Wagon, not for its looks, but for its absolute practicality; a hybrid hatch-cum-mini estate, with cracking little engines, roof rails, a superb AWD driveline and immense all round capabilities.

However, Subaru have let the Impreza trail behind the market for too long. The non-turbo engines are slow [though still immensely tough units], the styling has always been questionable to/for/by the mass market, and the interior design and material quality has never matched VAG, BMW et al. If only Subaru had listened to the car buying public.

They [Subaru] have for too long ignored the emissions and fuel consumption issue from their engines despite trying to address this with the new diesel units...which by all accounts are tremendous engines of good performance and sensible fuel economy. But I fear the horizontally opposed engines are not 'special' enough to be bought at premium by the generic punters. It is those in the 'know' and the enthusiast who buy Imprezas. I'm guessing the enthusiast market will still continue to do so via the import market suppliers.

If Subaru are reading this PH thread, they should go back to the drawing board and prepare themselves for an Impreza re-launch in say 3 years time. Take reference from their competitors. Don't continue with questionable body designs, sort the interior styling and quality, keep the AWD system, and design a good performance range of next generation horizontally opposed engines. Irrespective of market conditions, to beat their competitors they need to attack...which for a Japanese [read Samurai] company they should be doing instinctively. So come on Fujitsu Heavy Industries, pull your socks up and produce a brilliant car that gives the German car manufacturers a thoroughly good thrashing.

PS don't forget the roof rails!

[jbi]

The great C02 swindle claims another victim.

meanwhile the rest of the world enjoy's great cars.

The UK, "home of motorsport"... pah

[patmahe]

It all started going wrong when the bug eyed impreza came out, since then the car has gotten progressively uglier, more expensive and less desirable and performance has changed very little.

Subaru dropped the ball on this car and are now paying for it. Sad day for those of us who grew up adoring the earlier cars