I’m just going to come out and say it and forever be damned: I think the new Impreza looks good. In particular I am referring to the brand spanking new red STi sitting outside PH Towers that replaces my Golf GTI Edition 30 long termer.
OK, it’s not pretty but that’s not really the point. I hope this doesn’t ruffle too many feathers but in a weird way it reminds me of an Integrale EVO – all bulging wheel arches and vents. The great thing about these cars is they look almost identical to the Group A rally cars, which is more than can be said for other manufacturers.
OK the rear lights could do with a bit of work and the 17” alloys don’t quite fill the arches, but the reception the STi has received from friends, family and complete strangers has been on a whole very positive. Those that have seen the car in pictures only think it looks much better in the flesh and those who don’t know what it is are intrigued. It certainly doesn’t have the looks that will scare kids at a hundred yards like people suggest.
Inside there is still a bit of work to be done. It is pleasant, and no doubt an improvement on Imprezas of the past, but it doesn’t reflect a car worth £26,595. The stereo sounds terrible and where’s the sat nav? The seats however are grippy and look great and the fact that the needles sweep around on the dials on start-up is a nice touch although you can forget you have your lights on from the night before. I’m also a bit of a sucker for the STi badge that lights up when you turn the headlights on.
Pads needed changing after 500 miles
The brand new Impreza turned up last week after a long six weeks waiting for it to be delivered but since then I’ve managed to put 1,400 miles on it. This is mostly thanks to the fact it arrived just in time for the annual trip to Le Mans.
But with just days to go until we set off for France in the Impreza something strange happened. The 500-mile Impreza decided to remind me that all good road trips are never meant to go smoothly. Driving home from work I began to notice a grumbling noise from the front brakes, with vibrations through the brake pedal to match. I hadn’t really noticed it before but it was definitely there and it wasn’t normal.
Sensing my Le Mans trip going down the pan I rushed BHA to the local Subaru dealership who said they would have a look at the car with just an hour’s notice. After the mechanics took the car for a few spins around the block, followed by an hour of poking around, the verdict was in.
'Does my bum look big in this?'
The front brake pads needed replacing, not because they were worn but because they were faulty. The exact cause for the noise was unclear and I was assured that the car was safe to drive, although the pads would need to be changed to eradicate the grating noise. But the twist to this particular tale is that pads aren’t covered by the warranty and I could be looking at £170 for replacement. But the garage was very understanding of the situation and has promised to swap the pads for free once they arrive, so I’ll keep you posted.
I had realised after a few miles in the Impreza that it is something special. The interesting thing about the Impreza is that in many ways it is very similar to the Golf GTi I had before - on paper. They are both five-door hot hatches, both cost around £25K give or take a few extras on the Golf, and they are both red of course.
But that’s where the similarities appear to end. Whereas the 230bhp Golf is all about civilised power the 296bhp Impreza feels like it’s a few bits of trim away from being a Group N rally car. Drive a few miles and you notice purposeful clonks when you change gear with the meaty short-shift 'box and other meaningful mechanical noises.
The 2.5-litre flat-four turbocharged lump whistles and growls when you accelerate and almost sounds supercharged at times. If this is your kind of thing, as it is mine, you can’t help smiling at the unapologising rawness of the car, seemingly a rare thing in a world of polished but far too grown-up fast hatchbacks.
Filling the car up with people and luggage to head to la Sarthe you appreciate the roomy interior and practicality of the hatchback, although the boot could be a little larger. Having just told you how raw the car can feel at times it was a surprise to find out how docile it can be around town.
It cruises on the motorway happily as well, not as smooth as a GTI perhaps but perfectly bearable, eating the miles with little fuss. Testament to this was the fact that my passengers slept for 50% of the journey across France. One downside is the fuel range of just 300 miles which meant for a lot of stops, although an average of 24mpg for the whole trip seems pretty good for a 300bhp car.
Extended arches make STi a wide car
I was surprised to not see another STi (or new Impreza for that matter) the whole time at Le Mans and equally surprised at the amount of attention it received. Driving near the circuit the fact that this is a car enthusiasts’ car was rammed home by the camera phones, gesticulations to rev the engine and general pointing. This may have been helped by the three giant PH smileys stuck all over it, but who knows?
I was thankful for the AWD to get me out of the sodden campsite on Sunday and on the way home I mulled over the way the Impreza drives. I’m yet to really try it out – I’ll save that for when it’s run-in and there’s not four people and a weekend’s luggage inside – but I’ve noticed the steering is lighter than I would like and there is not a great amount of feel.
However this dissolves when you realise how much grip this thing has got. Throw it into a corner and there is the much documented body roll but ultimately the car grips limpet-like to the road. There is a beautiful balance from the chassis too, making the car easy to drive quickly, inspiring confidence with every mile.
Early signs are certainly very good and I’m looking forward to getting some proper miles under its belt. It passed the test of a 700-mile road trip to France so that’s a good start. Plus I’m finding it much easier to drag myself out of bed in the mornings to drive to work, which can only be a good thing.
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