Topic: CTC Review: 2008 Subaru Impreza Sedan

[Autos_Editor]

Picture Gallery:  2008 Subaru Impreza Sedan


Day 1:

Click Image to Enlarge

I was actually not supposed to have any vehicle to test this week, but hard as life can be, I was offered the new-for-2008 Subaru Impreza to test drive.  Knowing how much my dedicated readers love to read about Subaru and then comment on their pricing structure I couldn't resist grabbing this sedan for the week. More ...

[Ex-airbalancer]

What a rough life!

[rrocket]

This was the car I told Trish to buy...but she won't since no sun-roof is available....

[Julie]

The base model seems like a good value with all those features standard.

More mainstream looking car. Probably would have attracted my attention back when I was looking at Corollas.

Will be interested to know how the automatic feels (sluggish?, peppy?)

[2JDM]

Will be interested to know how the automatic feels (sluggish?, peppy?)

+ 1. The previous one felt slooww.

[Mitlov]

Isn't this the same transmission as the previous-generation Impreza?

[2JDM]

Is the new Impreza lighter than the previous gen? Hopefully that will help out with acceleration.

[The Mighty Duck]

Isn't this the same transmission as the previous-generation Impreza?

I thought the engine/tranny were from the last Legacy?

[random006]

I'd be interested in hearing about the differences too.  I posted that very question not long ago and got no answer.  So, keep those notes coming!

[sirAQUAMAN64]

It's great pricing IMO.

The black door handles are  And I won't buy a vehicle without a sunroof either - they've offered it later on other lines as/on a Touring/Special Edition so some hope there. For most this vehicle makes sense.

[gotak]

The engine is tweaked (the torque curve is different) the 4 speed is the same as the old one. Which is kind of outdated with only 4 speeds. 5 or 6 would help with the fuel economy.

Also the disk brakes in the back has be replaced with drums. Bad idea since everyone else seems to have disks now a days.

[Sir Meow]

I hate the look of the car. Subaru normal do such a nice job, but not this time OMG.

What car wert too impressed with this car either. Funny these cars are held to such high esteem here in Canada. Where as in the UK they consider this car a cheap motor. I find that weird. Anyway lets see, if Wing thinks the interior is cheap and nasty.

FOR  Standard four-wheel drive gives the Impreza decent handling. It\'s cheap to buy and well specified.  
 
AGAINST  Cabin plastics are nasty, and it has a bouncy ride, average performance and high running costs

[Snowman]

I hate the look of the car. Subaru normal do such a nice job, but not this time OMG.

What car wert too impressed with this car either. Funny these cars are held to such high esteem here in Canada. Where as in the UK they consider this car a cheap motor. I find that weird. Anyway lets see, if Wing thinks the interior is cheap and nasty.

FOR  Standard four-wheel drive gives the Impreza decent handling. It\'s cheap to buy and well specified.  
 
AGAINST  Cabin plastics are nasty, and it has a bouncy ride, average performance and high running costs

   Time to go get some help and stop sniffing glue.

[Mitlov]

The local dealer is charging $2000 above MSRP for this car.  Shocking.

They've been on the dealer's lot for a little while now, but I haven't seen any on the street yet.  Surprising, as Ashland is a Subaru town.

[mmret]

Honestly I'm not sure why they bothered with such a dramatic restyle.

All they needed was a pricing drop, five cogs, and a new interior. They hit 2/3 here, but the styling is -1 and some other issues too, whats this about rear drum brakes and softened suspension I've heard about?

[BlackS40]

Do you think the Germans really wished they had it??   

[Snowman]

Honestly I'm not sure why they bothered with such a dramatic restyle.

All they needed was a pricing drop, five cogs, and a new interior. They hit 2/3 here, but the styling is -1 and some other issues too, whats this about rear drum brakes and softened suspension I've heard about?

I have driven a slush box Impreza hatch and I did not notice much difference to my wife’s 2006 wagon.

[ovr50]

Do you think the Germans really wished they had it??   

Nope. 

[Mitlov]

Honestly I'm not sure why they bothered with such a dramatic restyle.

All they needed was a pricing drop, five cogs, and a new interior. They hit 2/3 here, but the styling is -1 and some other issues too, whats this about rear drum brakes and softened suspension I've heard about?

*cough* Toyota's influence *cough*

[mmret]

Honestly I'm not sure why they bothered with such a dramatic restyle.

All they needed was a pricing drop, five cogs, and a new interior. They hit 2/3 here, but the styling is -1 and some other issues too, whats this about rear drum brakes and softened suspension I've heard about?

I have driven a slush box Impreza hatch and I did not notice much difference to my wife’s 2006 wagon.

You mean in terms of suspension? Hrm, well I am trying to go by a hazy memory of a thread which I admit I read over quickly.