Subaru Impreza (?)

[Pablo]

What do you guys think of the Impreza? What is buzz in the auto web world?

I like price, I like the AWD. Not sure of the mechanicals, the AWD system. How about REAL MPG?

I'm an empty slate, fill me in.

 

[JHZR2]

my wife's best friend has this car on her short list (she hasnt owned a car up here before, so needs to find the right mix of what she likes).

Ive always found subarus to be a bit more expensive, but with a higher feel of quality, tightness, and connection to the road, as compared to your garden variety car. I may be off though. Seems everyone Ive talked to loves them...

 

[wavinwayne]

I'm not CRAZY about the looks of the '09 model, but the WRX is pretty good looking. It looks like a really fun car to drive. I don't have any personal experience with Subies. Sorry.

 

[Johnny]

Mechanicals are very good. Best AWD system out there next to Audi. You would look good driving an Impreza, pulling a small trailer, hauling your motorized bike to the bike meets all over WA.

I had a Forester, same engine and drive train, and sold it because the wife said it did not have enough room. Wish I had not of listened to wife.

Oh, and they really run well on 5W-30 Pennzoil.

 

[VK56VD]

Very good car for the money. The '08 Legacy deals are out there now as well.

 

[astraelraen]

We have a 2008 Legacy. Same N/A engine/drivetrain pretty much. The turbo 2.5 is different between the Legacy & Impreza though I believe.

The boxer engine doesn't look like a "fun" engine to work on in my opinion. But I have no real world experience with any major repairs.

The oil filter sits literally right between the headers... making hot/warm oil changes - "interesting."

My wife's N/A 2.5 w/4speed auto gets combined gas mileage of ~27mpg with 60/40 city/hwy. Which is a good bit better than EPA numbers. I think the EPA is 21/27 for the car. So while the EPA numbers aren't that great IMO, the real world mpg is pretty good. But I imagine it could vary from person to person.

I would say the build quality is good. The Legacy has some odd body panel gaps in some places (trunk mainly), but other than that the quality is top notch IMO. Interior is nice, even on the base model - lots of soft touch surfaces, not a sea of hard plastic.

Supposedly the 2010 Legacy should be coming out next summer and its supposed to be the redesigned model - I don't know if I would buy a Legacy right now unless you got a killer deal. No word on changes though for the new model.

 

[VK56VD]

I had a '92 Legacy with the 2.2L Naturally Aspirated Engine which is the same design as the 2.5 L. The engine was extremely easy to work on and oil changes were a breeze!

The only downside to Subaru engines is that they still use a timing belt instead of a chain. But all of the pros of Subaru's far outweigh the cons.

 

[Hollow]

Fairly easy to work on once you stop blinking at the boxer design. AWD is great, and I can't complain about real world MPG for an AWD. Our previous Outback got 19[E10]-21[regular] mpg city and 25[E10] to 29 hwy on average. Car did not like the E10 fuels at all.

 

[simple_gifts]

I like the looks of the H.B; no experience with Subarus. A woman @ work just picked up a Forester NA for 18K+ if that is an option...

 

[Solo2driver]

Best cars I've ever owned, I just sold my Escort GT to get back into an Impreza or Legacy. Easy to work on, GREAT support from both Subaru of America and NASIOC.com , and the new '09 WRX is actually just barely a tick off of the "pace" of even the '08 STi...like 0-60 in 4.8 seconds by Motor Trend. CRAZY.

I'm heading up to Austin tomorrow early AM to look at a '00 Legacy wagon. Great cars, I recommend looking at a few if they are plentiful in your area.

AWD is fantastic the rain, very safe, and the Subies really tend to grow on you.

I raced one in the SCCA ProSolo series in 2007 against the MINI Cooper and 3-Series BMW, and my little Impreza 2.2L was the winningest car that year, HATE to have to sell it, that is why I am searching again. Not for another racecar, but just to get back into the brand.

For fun and nostalgia-- http://vimeo.com/1923622 and http://vimeo.com/1923584

 

[firemachine69]

I think only the fuel economy turned me off and the fact that it was such a "moddable" platform (need a reliable DD

). I test-drove an auto and had an absolute BLAST!

 

[Solo2driver]

I got 30mpg with 6 wheels/tires, full gear (tools, jack + stands, luggage for 2 people), and a tire trailer with 8 more mounted wheels on it going from San Diego to San Fran earlier in the year, with no cruise control and the A/C on. It's doable if you keep a light foot.

This was with the '98 2.2L manual on the stock wheels/tires.

 

[Solo2driver]

Got my Legacy today, picking it up in Austin on Saturday (schedule not great this week).

-JW , now with 100% more Subaru.

 

[Dominic]

I got my impreza in April 2007 and I haven't looked back. It's been the first car I've ever owned with no warranty issues to deal with. Absolute ball to drive and even better once I swapped the rear stock 13mm swaybar for a full size 20mm WRX bar.

I track fuel economy in a spreadsheet at every fillup. My running average right now is 25.5mpg. I have a best of 32mpg on trips if I keep it at 70mph.

Gearing is well placed but final drive is 3000rpm @ 70. It's not bad but the intake valve lift changes over at 3500rpm which drops fuel economy pretty quickly once you exceed that (roughly 82mph).

Car is quiet, squeak and rattle free. Trunk could be larger, but no complaints in terms of drive ability or fun factor. I don't have the turbo model either as I'm happy with 87 octane and 175hp. It's easy to work on also, even the spark plugs are simple to get to, and the manual transmission has a dipstick!!

Biggest problem is the stock Bridgestone RE92A tires, but I'm remedying that today with some new continental contiextremes for winter.

 

[LoneRanger]

I just bought one of the new 2009 Subaru Foresters earlier this month. Very well equipped for the price, base 2.5X "plain Jane" model, 5-speed manual trans. But Subaru has made Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) standard as well as four wheel ABS disc brakes (ABS req'd for VDC, duh), Electronic Brake Force Distribution, drive by wire electronic throttle control, and of course the awesome Subaru Symetrical AWD-- the best AWD system going. The new Forester is pretty big for a Subaru, but I'm averaging 25-26mpg around town (suburban/city driving). Forester is an extension of the Impreza layout, so I would expect the slightly lighter weight and more aerodynamic Impreza to do slightly better on fuel economy.

I say buy the Subaru and don't look back!

 

[01rangerxl]

My sister and her husband just bought an '09 Impreza...they are picky about cars, so it can't be too bad.

 

[Solo2driver]

update, LOVE my new Legacy very very happy!

 

[Solo2driver]

Sorry for the hijack

 

[addyguy]

Nice color on that Subaru!

What are you going to run in it after you finish Auto-RX'ing it?

 

[Joe1]

I have an 05 Forester with 58k trouble free miles. I am impressed with the quality, workmanship, fit and finish. I drive with a light foot and get 27 mpg in mixed driving with the manual. The car handles great in the rain, especially with the new Michelin Pilots.