Comments on: Review: 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5 GT

By: nickkop

nickkop — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:08:35 +0000

A4: so would I buddy, but the people that would buy this most likely aren’t looking at the likes of a GTI, MazdaSpeed3, Civic Si, etc… they most likely want something compact, with 4 doors, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, and over 220hp (TURBOCHARGED). that would leave only the Lancer Ralliart as a main competitor in the segment… we are well aware there are plenty of front drive vehicles in the price segment

By: A4

A4 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:03:51 +0000

….I’ll stick with a loaded 2010 GTI for that kind of money… thats just outrageous.

By: bigp

bigp — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:11:36 +0000

well its ok i guess but not for my money

By: idrinorbarsaku

idrinorbarsaku — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:01:25 +0000

Tornado,
Where did you get a 0-60 run at 6 seconds, all reviews that I’m reading state it at 7 secs. that’s not fast at all for a car of this size!

By: Veda

Veda — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:42:54 +0000

The fact that the Ralliart is cheaper by almost a grand when both cars are loaded with options not to mention way better looking than the GT, makes it an easy choice.

By: The Stig

The Stig — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:29:04 +0000

Not bad, just not great.

Tangible negatives: 4-speed auto without alternate choice, struts at the front, use of belts instead of chains for the camshafts, lack of direct injection and pathetic fuel economy.

Subjective negatives: slightly fugly C-pillar, no leather interior option, no factory navigation option, paint choices are limited to pearl only.

We all know the positives of Subaru.

By: PassingGear

PassingGear — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:16:59 +0000

This gen of Impreza is a major step backwards to me.. Rental car bland in a Mitsubishi Lancer/Hyundai Elantra sort of (throw)away as well as having some of the ugliest Pep Boys ricer tail lights and none of the earlier quirky ‘Subiness’ that made them so appealing (bedsides the performance) means I’ll keep my Legacy.

By: nickkop

nickkop — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:57:32 +0000

@JakeK66:

“So you could get a better equipped WRX Sedan with an Auto (if that’s your thing) last year for around the same price… So anyone know why Subaru wanted to take a step backward, or is it just me? ”

The 2009 wrx was introduced last fall with a beefier engine (bigger turbo, better plumbing, engine management software and fuel system = 265hp) suspension, awd system,wheels, and appropriate styling upgrades

this current 2.5 GT is essentially the same exact car as the 2008 wrx albeit with no manual option.

This is subaru’s way of saying…. automatics are for pussy’s !

or more of a marketing move to separate the true enthusiasts from those who want a turbo compact subie sedan but are lazy .. err… can’t drive.. errr… have to have an automatic…

By: Mutant@DCX

Mutant@DCX — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:26:14 +0000

Put some 18″ Enkei J10 Rims on this wallflower, and the ricers will come

By: Rafa LL

Rafa LL — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:52:57 +0000

Corolla body, Lacetti rear. Lame combo.

By: AutoCritical

AutoCritical — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:47:29 +0000

Oh man! It all seems a bit all over the shop!

From the side view, they tried giving a bit of forcefulness with that belt line but how it looks with the rear section is awful as it seems someone has snapped the boot upward. Perhaps its just the color? The lower light accent at the base of the doors is sharp and fast, but how does it relate to the rest of the car? It doesn’t relate to the wavy front end that has no forcefulness. The grilles are shaped with a 4 sided shape, but then the hood scoop is made quite round?!

I’m sure the rear fascia only sticks out so much due to certain standards, but does it have to look that contrasting to the rest of the car? That straight edge on the bumper suits the lower nappy diffuser – but how does it work with the rest of the car?

Overall it looks like there was potential for a really good design, then the engineering came along and said to do this, and do that…then the designer started to get some ideas from a junior designer and added all the little silly tweaks to make it look like… that

If you took away the hood scoop, and adjusted the front graphics like on a Toyota… I would have guessed it was a corolla…. It seems they have taken a leaf from the Toyota way of making cars…being quick to manufacture it, but they should have taken some time for refinement.

By: Rafa LL

Rafa LL — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:05:15 +0000

2005 WRX was, and still is, the coolest Subie around.

By: leftwingagenda

leftwingagenda — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:03:36 +0000

ugly grille (chrome = bad) and boring back end (rental car bad)…not a fan of the current subie look…not a fan of the current subie price either…

By: NRG

NRG — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:28:07 +0000

Decent car inside and out. MPG I would have thought would be better. Premium gas is a drawback considering gas prices are rising again. I would rather have a WRX from last yr for about the same price.

By: Mark Elias

Mark Elias — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:59:14 +0000

^JakeK66

You took the words right out of my mouth!

By: ASIMO

ASIMO — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:43:36 +0000

Oh, and they should’ve stuck by their guns and kept the controversial Alfa Romeo-esque grille and continued to refine it while the some of the public’s general disdain inevitably wanes with time.

By: ASIMO

ASIMO — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:40:43 +0000

Well, color me unimpreza.

I kid. I don’t really know nor care either way about this model — just wanted an excuse to say unimpreza. I will say, though, that from the rear 3/4 view it has a hint of the BMW 3 series in its profile (shoulder line/crease) and that the rear looks rather cheap and out of place. ¡Olé!

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:32:07 +0000

@TornadoGTI -

No, they do share the same endine architecture – The 2.0 4 Cyl was developed in unison with Chrysler Mitsubishi and Hyundai in 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4 with or without turbos and is seen in the Avenger, Sebring, Caliber/Compass/Patriot (inc. SRT-4), Lancer/Ralliart/Evo, future Kia Forte Sedan and Coupe as well as in the Genesis Coupe 2.0T.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:26:25 +0000

I feel the same as Tornado- you should see what these sticker for up here. I’ve often thought a Subaru would be perfect considering the nature of some of my missions during the winter but not at those prices.

By: TornadoGTI

TornadoGTI — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:20:50 +0000

@idrinorbarsaku – It still does 0-60 in about 6 seconds. That seems like enough power to me. The base Impreza has 170 hp driving all four wheels and still manages to be as fast as a base Mazda 3. Boxer engines work a bit different than a typical I-4 design.

@ Mark Elias – The Hyundai is lacking refinement as much as this Subaru. Give the Genesis a few generations and it will be a stellar car. Right now it is a non-event as far as I am concerned. If by sharing engine architecture as the Evo you mean they both have turbos and 4-cyl that come from Asia, than yes, they are almost the same.

By: TornadoGTI

TornadoGTI — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:17:44 +0000

This is a modest car at best. It is a great car but a bit expensive. For $28k it needs to have leather and some nicer materials. I like Subaru a lot but lately they seem a bit confused as to their overall goal. This car is quick but with a 4-speed is lacking refinement. That is how I would sum up the whole car. Lacking refinement. Interior, exterior, and drivetrain. For $24k this would be a great car, for $28k, not so much.

By: Mark Elias

Mark Elias — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:13:28 +0000

^Shane Train,

Don’t forget that even though it’s not the exact engine build, the Hyundai shares the engine architecture with the Mitsu Evo.

By: JakeK66

JakeK66 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:49:30 +0000

So you could get a better equipped WRX Sedan with an Auto (if that’s your thing) last year for around the same price… So anyone know why Subaru wanted to take a step backward, or is it just me?

Come on Subaru, even almost defunct Mitsubishi found a way to put a dual clutch auto-manual in their Dodge-Caliber-platform sharing Lancer Ralliart and Evo, you seriously telling me you can’t catch up with them?

I loved my ’06 Legacy, but this is a let down. No wonder I bought a GTI instead.

By: idrinorbarsaku

idrinorbarsaku — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:48:52 +0000

this car has no power to drive all 4 wheels at once!!!

By: shane train

shane train — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:45:01 +0000

Eye on a Hyundai Genesis Coupe?

So I could have a Subaru with a credible racing pedigree and history, a sweet turbo boxer, sedan versaitility, and a real back seat.

Or I could have a Hyundai, with no racing pedigree besides paint names, a Sonata grille, and a kids-only back seat.

I like the Genesis coupe, a lot. Don’t get me wrong. And the price, I think the Hyundai wins there too. But come on!