New shape Impreza

[simon whittley]

Hi folks - looking for a bit of help....

It's time for a new motor and I'm keen on the new shape Subaru Impreza. I don't know a lot about them apart from that I like the look of them and they probably handle pretty well. can anyone tell me when the new shape came out?

Also are they any good - I fancy the WRX, don't think I could justify the WRX STI though.

Anything in particular I should look out for when looking?

Many thanks

[chr15b]

i really wanted one of these when motorprovider had them for £12995 new

[ScoobieWRX]

The new hatch shape came out in 2008. In all honesty the WRX is a waste of time, you're much better off going for the STi. They'll stop making the WRX in 2010 because they are not selling very well, in fact they can't even give them away. The majority of future efforts will be going into further developing the diesel and WRX/STi.

I'd have a diesel hatch over the WRX any day of the week, and of course the WRX/STi would be nice too. With a bit of mapping though the diesel will be mighty quick.

[Ozone]

I have an 08 WRX, couldn't stretch to the STI. I like it.
I haven't been in an older model so i can't compare the two. It is a comfortable car with reasonable acceleration. The boot isn't very deep which is a bit of a surprise the first time you look. It is a sleeper because there are so few around no one knows what it is until you overtake them
The biggest down side is the suspension, it is soft, but i believe there are bits available to stiffen it without too many problems. It doesn't need VPower 99 petrol and it doesn't use alot of oil.

You really need to drive one to see if it suits what you want.

[CatherineJ]

We had an old shape WRX wagon and looked seriously at a new shape wrx when we were looking for a replacement for our 1st clio 197. Have to say I have good memories of punting down the bypass from Cirencester to Swindon in a demo new shape wrx. In the end we went for another 197, but that was only because the impreza would have ended up coming from Motorpoint.

[Syndrome]

I really can't be doing with the hatchback Impreza. I first test drove a hatchback STI earlier this year. I think they've softened it up far too much for the americans. The interior is fantastic, but it's lost any semblance of practicality, and the engine is a gem. They've fked the exterior styling up big time and it really didn't fill me with confidence during a "vigourous" test drive. I tried a 330 last month, all that's done is made sure you're pulled from the mangled wreckage with a bigger smile on your face IMO. There are better alternatives around, and as a die hard impreza fanboy, I never thought I'd say it, the Vauxhall insignia VXR is a better bet. However I suspect the VXR may not be as reliable and it wont hold its value as well. Roll on the Toyobaru I say the sooner the better.

[Marf]

Syndrome said:

I think they've softened it up far too much for the americans.

Surely the suspension would be market specific?

[Syndrome]

Marf said:

Surely the suspension would be market specific?

If the cars I drove had a "stiffer" standard suspension set up, then that's even worse. I've never had noticeable problems with pitching and rolling in the saloons, the hatch backs were sea sick inducing by comparison.

[GravelBen]

I suspect the suspension is market specific - the NZ-market STI hatch copped flak from some quarters for being softer than the older one, but the magazines still gave it a clear win over the Evo X which is apparently even softer and more compromised (as well as 120kg heavier!).

But the impression I get from PH is that the UK Evo X is significantly more focussed than the UK STI hatch.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 23 December 11:43

[SmoothRB]

They look like a ford focus.

A middle of the road hatch to appeal to women.

Good for driving to Tesco. lol