Opinions on the New Impreza?

I had a friend come to me asking about the new Impreza. The newest one I have driven is the '06. Any opinions on the new one? I assume the standard WRX suspension stuff to make it more fun is still around if he would like. Anything else he would need to know about these?

Rear suspension is different than in 06, but all the usual aftermarket folks offer comparable stuff. I've had an 08 and 10 base impreza as a company car. I own both generations of the impreza before this one as well. Overall a better car. Doesn't feel as agile, but does feel more solid in every way.

I like the new Imprezas pretty well, and after we changed the suspension on our project I'd say it was as nimble as any of the earlier cars.

Required reading:
G-whiz article
Bunches of new car reviews

Fugly '07+ especially the hatches

• Lee

I like the looks of the sedan more than the hatch.

The next generation Impreza will get 36mpg on the highway.

Food for thought.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I like the looks of the sedan more than the hatch.

I am completely the opposite. MUCH prefer the hatch. The sedan's trunk and taillights bother me for some reason.

Matt B wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I like the looks of the sedan more than the hatch.

I am completely the opposite. MUCH prefer the hatch. The sedan's trunk and taillights bother me for some reason.

I did not like the hatch AT ALL, but it is starting to look acceptable now, particularly in WRX/STi trims. The current Impreza sedan, on the other hand, just looks like a late model Corolla S - a dull small/midsize box wearing flood pants.

If you thought is was ugly before, it is only getting worse for 2012. FUGLY!

Drove an N/A-automatic at an autocross one month when my water pump blew in the Mustang.

Seemed decent, though the suspension was WAY soft and it understeered something fierce.

That, and Subaru has the shift directions on their manual mode backwards. Up is NOT upshift!

I totally dig the hatch. So much more usable of a car with a hatch. I can stuff my bikes and other toys back there as well as luggage for road trips and such.

I just wish Subie would get better fuel mileage. For a 4 cylinder car, the MPG is pathetic.

I like the utility of the hatchback. I like the looks of the EVO much better, but the trunk in that thing is tiny and the rear seats don't fold down.

I always find it funny when people complain about the WRX / Impreza's looks. While I love all generations, it certainly isn't for the looks. IMHO they've always been dowdy econo-cars with wings, flares, etc slapped onto them. Purposeful? maybe-- great looking......nah, not ever.

I like the new hatch the best because it offers the most useful package. I don't really see the point of the sedan, but I guess some folks refuse to buy a hatch.

It is kind of like how some folks refuse to buy a minivan, based on image or looks, as opposed to practicality.

Great machines that do a lot well. I'd imagine the looks grow on you after you've owned one......kind of like an ugly but faithful puppy.

Aren't the newest WRXs and STIs supposed to deviate from the Impreza name and be their "own" car? I read somewhere that the new Impreza will be a mundane everyday car and the WRX and STI will look very different from the Impreza it used to share the name with.

Yes, there are rumors swirling about that the WRX and Impreza will separate, kind of like when the GT-R was separated from the Skyline range. Along with those rumors are ones that say that the stand-alone WRX will get a 1.6T engine, possibly so that Subaru can legally compete in the WRC again.

http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1107_subaru_wrx_to_go_its_own_way/index.html

I like the 2011 Legacy. Am I weird?

hmm, won't the WRX need to shrink to make use of a 1.6 turbo?

sanman wrote: hmm, won't the WRX need to shrink to make use of a 1.6 turbo?

Rumors are the WRX/STI chassis will be slightly smaller than the Impreza chassis.

Taiden wrote: I like the 2011 Legacy. Am I weird?

Yes. The previous generation was drop-dead gorgeous, even after the facelift. This generation is lumpy and misshapen.

lol, back on topic. Do the current gen Imprezas have the wheel bearing issues of so many subies?

Duke wrote:

Taiden wrote: I like the 2011 Legacy. Am I weird?

Yes. The previous generation was drop-dead gorgeous, even after the facelift. This generation is lumpy and misshapen.

I have daydreams about pushbutton ebrake drifts. Does that make me even weirder?

sanman wrote: lol, back on topic. Do the current gen Imprezas have the wheel bearing issues of so many subies?

Honestly I was totally unaware this was a common issue, except for the SVX.

I thought the typical wheel bearing issues was because they go 300,000 miles or more with thrifty owners.

I've replaced two wheel bearings in my fleet of subies over hundreds of thousands of hard miles. No real issue for me. My audi wheel bearings would be lucky to last 25k miles, where these subaru wheel bearings last 80k+. Only known problem I can think of was the 04 sti, and I think that was a heat issue, they eventually changed the bolt pattern to a bigger size to accommodate different bearings. Those issues where for folks tracking their car on a regular basis.

Taiden wrote: I have daydreams about pushbutton ebrake drifts. Does that make me even weirder?

Heck, NO! Why would it?

I bought a '98 Impreza with about 108k on the clock and it badly needed a LR wheelbearing. It was driven pretty conservatively over its lifespan (original owner) and was never tracked. From my research on NASIOC it was highly common for cars that age. Now she has a 2002 Impreza and it seems quiet so far.

sanman wrote: lol, back on topic. Do the current gen Imprezas have the wheel bearing issues of so many subies?

Certainly doesn't seem to be the issue it used to be. I got 205k out of the right rear on my '02 TS, the other three are original with 212k.