-great speed
-never gotten more looks from people
-great color choices
-love the rally look
-gearbox is fun to go through fast
-engine has easily accessible parts
-large trunk
-good back seat room
-puts the new 2002 WRX model to shame in the looks department
-beautiful interior w/white faced gauges and good lighting at night

-

-very weak paint job (extremely thin)
-rally shocks sqeak when u drive
-sunroof rattles occasionally
-AWD can shake violently if you accidentally slip in the snow while starting out
-sunroof opening is too small
-aluminum rims scratch too easily for an off road (AWD) vehicle

I thouroughly enjoy this vehicle with its handling and off road capabilities. This car is very comfortable on long distances as well. This is a great college vehicle. The looks received are unbelievable. You will have to do some searching, Subaru doesn't promote this car well at all. This vehicle is a great bang for the buck! Get these while you can, the new 2002 WRX models look nothing like these, they are ugly, 4-door and look like a cheap KIA from the front. The only complaint is with that thin paint job.

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Honda Civic's- I love to see people in these show cars, its all fascia and no engine, the 2.5 delivers and kills them off of the line
Volkswagens-they look better than these and can handle slightly better
Integra's, Civic's, Eclipse's etc. (show cars) look like crap compared to this, these people see the hood scoop and large air intake and think that I put the stuff on myself. The spoiler on it is an invitation to race as well.

AWD, great torque for a small car which weighs 2800lbs.
Good handler. All weather capability
Looks good and unique compared to other sporty compacts.
Love the Boxer growl.
the nice MOMO designed leather wheel and shifters are awesome.
Good driving position.
Did I mentioned unique?
No worries about torque steer. =)
Subaru bullet proof reliability.
comes with alot of stuff standard like 16" alloys, rear LSD, power everything, sunroof, fogs, nice seats, etc...

Not cheap for a sport compact. Almost the price of a Prelude.
Power tapers off after 5000rpm.
certain portion of the interior is quite cheap.

You have to drive the car to understand the Beauty of All Wheel Drive. I like it's uniqueness alot. The engine design is simple and get things done well. Feels good to drive this car around. If u can get a deal on it, get it. Out performs a an AWD A4. I've owned a Subaru before, so the reliability has been awesome. has good low end and mid range power. Needs some breathing upgrade like intake and exhaust to gain more top end power. Also I find the general Subaru owners to be smart ppl. Not like lemmings.

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Celica GT-S, Integra GSR, VW GTi VR6, Civic Si, to some extend Prelude
Audi A4.

Strong motor. Did some performance mods. (eg) turbo and so on. I now have 220hp from a 1.8litre motor. 80,000klm runs just like a new car even with the turbo. I got the turbo from Japan it did not come with the car. It is made by STi Subaru Performance.

Not to many weaknesses. What can I say 80,000km never a problem.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to buy a new car. The 2001 Impreza is one hell of a car. The 2.5litre engine lots of power. If your into that. The all wheel drive is an incredible system in the Subaru's. I live in Canada and our winters are sometimes ruff. With my Subaru I just drive threw the snow like I am driving on dry pavement.

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Can't compare any other car. Subaru has the technology to over power all other Japanise companies. (eg) HONDA!

A sports car with AWD! Great handling and decent power.

For a sports car, the body isn't very 'sporty'. Shifting is very jerky... nearly impossible to get a smooth gear transition. The trunk is small and the back seats don't lay forward to help any. The steering wheel shakes pretty badly over 55 mph.

Overall, this was a pretty good car, but I much prefer the 2000 Hyundai Tiburon for a number of reasons (see above). If you want a sports car with AWD though, this is great for year-round snow/offroad driving.

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2000 Hyundai Tiburon. I sold the Impreza to buy a Tiburon and am still pleased with the trade. The tiburon has a bigger trunk, smoother shifting, and smoother riding at high speeds... It also looks alot sportier and is nearly as powerful at 153hp to the Impreza's 165hp. Not to mention, the Tiburon was $5,000 cheaper and has a way better warranty!

- Lightweight 4WD. Probably one of the lightest 4WD system around.
- Great torque. Utililized by 4WD so it won't spin even with its funny stock tires.
- Good handling to smoke others in tight corner or autocrossing.
- Serious looking interior for the price.
- WRX rims for 98 and 99 models.
- Racing heritage.
- Knowledgeable owner community.

- Cheap stock tires. Big mistake. Maybe Subaru is really confident with its 4WD?
- Need more high-range horsepower. Top speed isn't fast as Celica or Integra.
- Springs are good for rally/crosscountry, but not stiff enough to match its strong struts if you want to make it a roadrace machine.
- Aftermarket parts are relatively rare and expensive.
- No lock on gas cap.
- No trunk light.
- No wagon available.

This is a great car to own. It's practical and fun to drive. Some factory settings are somewhat unusually and you probably want to change it. For example, wrong tires (cheap RE92 on nice WRX rims), restrictive intake, and notchy shifting.

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Audi A4

-Handling
-Low-end Torque
-Four Wheel Drive
-Driver/Passenger Seating Position
-Reliability
-Safety
-Driving fun
-PRICE!! (19K to start..I drove it home with almost all options for 21K)

-Lack of Horsepower
-Low Red-Line (6500RPMs)
-Notchy 1st to 2nd Shifts (Manual trans.) (Subaru Offers Shifter Upgrade)
-OEM Rear Sway Bar (20mm Upgrade Highly recomended)
-OEM Tires (Bridgestone Potenza RE-92) (Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Recomm.)
-Rear Seat
-No Trunk Light
-OEM audio system (The Premium Sound Package III Option is a Must)

The Subaru Impreza 2.5RS is designed for those who love winding through the "twisties," cutting through sharp turn after sharp turn, this car begs to be driven HARD. The Impreza, known for its competitive excellence with 1995,1996, and 1997 WRC Rally Championship wins, has made a name for itself worldwide. The WRX Type R and 22B versions sold in Japan, Australia, and Europe are equiped with a 2.0 Liter four Cylinder Turbocharged engine rated at 280 Horsepower. Due to high Emissions and Crash Test Standards, the Impreza is available in the US and Canada with a Naturally Aspirated 2.5 Liter 165 Horsepower engine. Subaru, however, has confirmed that they will be shipping over the new 2002 Subaru Impreza with 215 horses force fed by a turbocharger.

I tell you right now; If you think the US version is a rally screamer, then you are dead wrong. The 2.5 Liter Horizontal Four "boxer" Engine in the US version does have considerable low end torque (166 lbs/ft) but it lacks the serious horsepower that has given the Impreza worldwide fame.
The US version, however, is very good for what its got, with a 0-60 of 8sec and a top speed of approximately 120mph.

The Impreza, rally bred, is a car that shines in all aspects of handling. This is not a drag-ready high revver. If you want a car that shines on straights, buy an Integra GS-R. However, if youre someone that thrives for handling and turning fun, look no further. Equipped with Inverted MacPherson struts, fully independent supsension, and electronicaly controlled 4 wheel drive, the Impreza zips through turns that would leave a Front wheel drive car like the GS-R in the dust.

Reliability is excellent. I drive this car EXTREMELY HARD every day. It hasn't flinched ONCE! Unlike the Acura Integra GS-R or Toyota Celica GT-S, the Subaru Impreza 2.5RS is characterized by electronically controlled 4 Wheel drive - a HUGE PLUS for those living in areas of rain/snowfall. The traction provided by this system definitely compensates for its lack of horsepower.

The Interior, also unlike The Integra and Celica, was designed with tall drivers in mind. Comfortable for a 6'2'' drive, the Impreza has one up on the small interiors of the Honda and Toyota. Driving position is excellent, visibility is excellent, button postioning is very good. Unfortunately, Subaru did not put much thought into the back seat (DEFINITELY not recommended for long drives!). The Impreza also lacks a trunk light (easily fixed with a Tap-Light).

NOTE for ENTHUSIASTS: There are two other weaknesses of the Impreza 2.5RS
1. Stock rear sway bar -Cause of understeer and body roll
- The Impreza Comes OEM equiped with a extremely weak rear sway bar. This is because the stock sway bar makes the car safer and more predictable for the average driver. IT is NOT, however, adequate for the enthusiast. I purchased a 20mm rear sway bar and I feel like I'm driving a different car! The upgrade is highly recommonded. (appox $100)for the lowest price visit www.subaruparts.com
2. Stock Tire Package (Bridgestone Potenza RE-92's)
- These tires are, for lack of a better word, GARBAGE! They provide mediocre traction in both dry and wet. They do not do the car any justice on turns, squeeling at the slightest instant of hard driving. THEY SHOULD BE CHANGED!! I have been researching prior to buying this car, and I decided to purchase Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires. These tires are absolutely worth every penny! I highly recommend. ($95 Each @ www.tirerack.com)

BOTH WEAKNESSES ARE EASILY FIXABLE, AND ONCE FIXED, YOU WILL NOTICE A "NIGHT and DAY" CHANGE..I MIGHT ADD, FOR THE BETTER!

I am a former owner of a Honda Civic Si Hybrid (GS-R motor). After spending thousands on upgrades, I finally decided that I needed to rid myself of the financial burden. I researched for 3 months for my next "Import Tuner Retiree" vehicle. After much comparison, decision making, and test drives of the Celica and Integra, I chose the Impreza 2.5 RS. I tell you this...If I had to do it again, I would still buy the Impreza. The driving comfort (in the front) is amazing. Reliability and safety is excellent. The torque and handling is extremely impressive. This car, all-in-all, is a BLAST to drive!

Before buying a car, RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! That's the best advice I can give you. I researched on all cars in the subcompact sports class for 3 months before making a decision. The aftermarket for this car in the US is small, and is characterized by a loyal cult following.

All-In-All, the Subaru Impreza 2.5RS is an automobile I HIGHLY recommend to those seeking driving fun, reliability, and safety. Four Wheel Drive is a PLUS, but its NOT the ONLY PLUS. As an former hardcore Import Tuner, I have driven many sports cars. Trust me, this car is a WINNER! Test drive one and you'll see!!

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first of all in israel the car called impreza gt turbo
the car have 2.0 liter engine with 250 hp it jumpes to 60 mph
in 5.5 seconds the car is superior

none

well the impreza gt turbo one of powerful cars in israel it's
designed superior , more monsterly than the picture in the (sports car review window ) you have to see it

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none because in israel cars like the misubishi evo6 is
unknown

I luv it so hard, for the price and the look, nothing on the market can compare with my RS(among this price range). I did a lot of mod to make it looks a lot better and i still have long way to go. Make those Domestic car totally shame of themselves in terms of looks and power, of course not as fast as on staright road compare to those B.S. mustang that only can go straight or go in circle. A total brand new feeling of AWD and perfect on turns and fun to drive in city/highway. Another thing is not much RS was found over here, I like that. Too many ford around here cause they are cheap to own and cant make turns at all. The 4 cylinder boxer engine with 165 hp is way too much to impress people over here. Most of them don't know what a subaru is.

none. front spoiler will twin fog light is a MUST.
rear sway bar can be changed, stock tires are alright for the first year.
Casette tapes are for North Americans only, has to install high-end stereo system/speaker in order to feel the better side of driving.

Dont buy it if u are not planning to change the stock stereo and put in the big fog light. I dont want anyone to ruin the image of such a perfect car. Get a A4 instead, if you cant afford one, go get yourself a TS. Of course u can always get a ford, chevy or some other cheap domestic car.

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I drove a Camry and Accord be4, perfect handling but the RS is better. My woman drives an A4, same as many other chick, makes me feels like Audi is for ladies(more secure and more luxury), RS is for men, it has more interior space as well.

Bought this over a year ago (99 model), coming from Europe was bitterly disapointed with the performance, if you have ever been lucky enough to get a ride in a 22B version - you know what I am talking about, even the standard turbo in Europe is tighter, stiffer and faster...that said - this is still in the same mould and after getting the anti-sway bars sorted out, a turbo, and a new clutch fitted this car should be more like the WRX that made everyone sit up and take notice of Subaru in Europe! Best value fun car around and a great base to start creating your own WRX version.....happy days!

What the hell are those excuses for tires on this thing? Stock exhaust is restrictive and had to have that removed before I drove it off the fore-court. NO TURBO???? Rear anti-sway bars not good enough, awful stero - must be replaced! (but then I didn't bother with the upgrade!)

With the products that are available out here I would throughly recomend this car - it is great fun to drive and is still the best value AWD out there. The only car I would swap this for is the BMW M3 and there we are talking a whole different price league and a totally different driving experience.

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Celica GT-4 (European 240 bhp Celica turbo AWD....not available over here!). Subaru Impreza Turbo WRX sti VI (300 bhp AWD - not available in the US), Lancia Delta Integrale HF Turbo (240 bhp AWD - not available in the US), Nissan Sunny GTI-R (290 Bhp AWD - not available in the US) Escort Cosworth (240 Bhp AWD - not available in the US)...... Man you guys are deprived!!

AWD, taut suspenion. Lots of low end grunt. Just a few mods away from a world class car. Unique styling. Rally Heritage.

Not Much top end power, Low redline. Weak stock tires, and whimpy sway bar.

This is a great car with alot of potential. Subaru's north american design philosophy shows in a few choices. a 13mm stock sway bar should be replaced with a 18 or 20mm bar. ($120) this give a superb balance that few cars have. Even if you stick NA you can get well over 200hp out of this engine. Stock cams are very conservative, and adjusting them will net serious power gains. If I had to review this car in one sentence it would be "A diamound in the rough"

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