Tons of power, good traction, awesome handling, etc.

Gas mileage when driving on high revs.

The best car I have ever owned!! Tons of power... in any gear!!

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Suspension & handling
AWD all-weather capability
Subaru reliability
More power than probably 90% of the other compact cars on the road.
The WRX will also out-accelerate & out-handle other cars that cost thousands more (low end Audi, Acura, BMW, Lexus, etc. )

The stock Potenza RE92 tires are mediocre on dry pavement and only adequate in the wet.
The 5spd manual transmision is finicky.
The A/C is weak.
Interior has a couple minor rattles & buzzes on the highway.
Turbo boost gauge should be a standard feature and not an over-priced option.
No cargo net is offered for the WRX sedan (now I'm getting really picky).

This is nearly the perfect car for me.
No regrets at all after about 2500 miles so far.

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No comparison!

227 hp, AWD , ABS, low sticker for the features

Gas mileage if used in a sporting manner

I purchased my 02 WRX for a variety of reasons, Styling being one of them, I like the distintive looks of the Subaru line with the WRX being especially aggressive. Its AWD system is great in any weather and is good piece of mind. The engine and chassis need to be felt to be believed. Its amazing what a turbo can do for a 4 cyl vehicle.
My gripes are few mainly poor fuel economy but thats mainly my fault due to being high in the boost range as often as possible. Turbos are fuel thirsty if driven hard. Over all its thebest bang for the buck in a sedan right now

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Power, handling and traction are this cars forte.

Exterior styling is this cars only weakness. If you can get past the looks, buy this car.

Overall impression is excellent. The car is very balanced in it's handling, and the power is amazing. the interior is well laid out and all controls have a very good feel to them. The seats are among the most comfortable I have ever sat in. The transmission is smooth and crisp (I have the optional short shift kit installed), and the gates are well defined. Trunk space is good for a car this size, but the opening to the trunk could be bigger. There is an quite a bit of head room for both the front and rear, and getting in and out of the car is very easy. The all-wheel drive is a godsend in the rain.

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Speed, power, confidence. Neutral handling. No torque steer (a huge problem in my old Taurus SHO). Wagon model gives you practicality *and* fun. Transparent all-wheel drive. Performance unapproachable for the money.

Paint chips distressingly easily. Sound system could be better. Would pay good money for a sunroof.

At the beginning of this year, I was all set to trade my 1997 Saturn SC2 for an Audi A4 1.8T. I'd had enough of poorly-built, poorly-designed, too-cheap American cars, and figured that I'd be all set going German.

I'd been aware of the WRX's existance for some time - the car magazines all raved about it, then cried because it wasn't available here. Then I caught wind that Subaru was going to bring it to the US in March of 2001.

So on D-Day, I went over to the friendly neighborhood Subaru dealer and took a test-drive. The co-worker who went with me said he felt like he was riding shotgun in an SCCA Pro Rally - the car had amazing acceleration and unbeatable poise on the rough back-roads of Upstate NY. So I took one!

After three months with the car, I can say that the performance still feels fabulous (there's nothing like getting your heart racing just pulling out of the parking lot after work)! Comfort is good, though the seats don't really seem to provide enough back support on trips longer than an hour or so. The 6-disk in-dash changer is handy, though the sound (an enormous improvement over Saturn's pathetic "premium" system) could be better. The "WR Blue Pearl" finish looks great, but seems to chip a bit easily - even with two coats of Collinite wax on it.

I went with the wagon instead of the sedan because I didn't like the design of the trunklid lifters - they use an "intrusion" style lifter like my Saturn had - and the relatively small size of the opening. I'd basically never used the trunk in my Saturn because you couldn't get anything into it, and had to worry about it being crushed when you closed the lid - and I saw the same problem with the Impreza. The wagon sidesteps those issues with only a small (albeit noticable) decrease in performance.

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Audi A4 is a "nicer" car (superb ergonomics, great seats, attractive interior), but $10,000 more and isn't as quick.

Chassis, engine, AWD, essentially all of subaru's selling points. 300hp should be possible with exhaust and new engine management.

Gearbox is a little loose. Aftermarket parts are expensive and rare at the present time.

All around great car! Handling, acceleration, looks, exclusivity...Its got em all. Shortly after purchasing this car I took it to a track event at Putnam Park in Indiana. Great experience on the track but have already started on some track mods. First up were H&R sport springs which have really helped with decreased roll and understeer without giving much to much up in ride comfort. Rims and wider rubber are up next and then hopefully 20hp in freer flowing exhaust. The great thing is I don't feel I have to do anything to it. Will be back on the track in october giving the 911s a run, (the miatas, integras, and mustangs just got in the way!) and can't wait to really pump it up. And I can always drive it in the winter with my kids in the back seat, what a car for 25K.

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Can't compare, this is the first performance car I couldn't talk myself out of buying.

Nice, smooth power band/Backseats that actually hold passengers/AWD
The entire WRX experience is its strength

Those headlights should have never been changed

After 5-6 years of being available overseas the WRX has comed to the U.S. and I had to have one. I had been looking at Celicas, Preludes, and Accords. They all lack something, besides the turbo, the WRX has four doors and backs seats that are closer to being usable. Being a sedan does not hurt it in the least, because it will still confidently pull away from the cars listed above and many others too! It is the most well rounded automobile on the market, it has power, room, and killer good looks (Well maybe if it dropped the Neonish headlights).

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Celica,Prelude, Accord V-6, 97 Eclipse GS-T
These cars are seen in my rearview mirror daily

227BHP ,handling that rivals anything out their,new looks that people are not used to. FUN FUN FUN

HEY remember all of you out there ,It only cost 25k .Not 45k.

It doesnt get better than this for less than 25k. Who needs a sun roof.This car was built for people who just want to drive.Ive driven the audi s4, bmw m3 porscha 911 there nice cars. But its cheaper to have surgery from a well known Doctor than keep up with the maintance of these fine vehicals.I make excuses just to drive this car. THE GRIN IS STILL ON MY FACE. I almost foregot I put 215/45/17 RE730 's with PRODRIVE P1 rims on the car the 2nd day I owned it.Best $1700.00 Ive ever spent.The car looks and handles great.

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Turbo GT Probe set up for autocross and a 87 GT mustang saleenized

Lots of power, awesome handling, excellent brakes. Its aggressive, unique look. The Momo steering wheel, and the great grippy bucket seats keep you planted. The AWD system helps it handle great, and will really come through in the snow. I am really glad I got the auto dimming rear view mirror.

I have experienced some turbo lag that I did not enjoy. After all it is a four cylinder. My 3.0 liter V6 Dodge Shadow had great torque as soon as I hit the gas, and at times I miss its instant off the line power. The antenna is like some kind of joke, it should be in the rear window. I wonder if the turbo will live a long healthy life. Nice in dash CD changer, but even the upgraded speakers are a bit lacking.

The WRX is fast. It is not as fast as a Mustang or Camaro in a straight line, so if you need that kind of power look elsewhere. It does give me a rush when the turbo gives it's full boost and I am pushed back into my seat. What the WRX does best is combine all aspects of performance better than any car in its price range. It really handles well. It feels so tight and stable when you're steering through the turns, yet the ride is smooth and comfortable when you are cruising. The four doors make it easy to live with, I do not feel I compromised comfort by buying a sports car. As for the looks, I think its a great looking car. It has such an aggressive, unique look. The great thing about its look is that it looks that way because everthing is functional. The fender flares, the hood scoop, the break vents, and everything else are all there for performance. It looks like it can perform, and it can. I love the Momo steering wheel. I feel sorry for anyone who recently bought a new sports car in this price range and didn't buy the WRX.

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1993 Dodge Shadow ES - the Shadow had better off the line power, but the WRX destroys it everywhere else, not a fair comparison really.
My cousins 2000 BMW 328ci - the WRX handles as well and has more power, but of course the BMW has such an outstanding all around quality to it that makes me wish I had more money to spend on a car. I didn't like the lack of bucket seats, I was sliding around in the leather seats trying to keep up with my WRX. Bimmers don't go in snow.
My moms 2001 Jetta VR6 - has nice interior features like a moonroof and a better stereo. It has decent power, but the WRX crushes it in performance. The Jetta brings comfort before performance.

Price: this car runs with cars costing $10K more. Rarity: I've only seen 3 on the road in the past few months (and I live in a big city). Community: check out http://www.i-club.com/, the people that drive Impreza's are awesome! Practicality: 4 doors, usable back seat, good in all weather unlike most sports cars. Style/comfort: Supportive seats, cool steering wheel (everyone sees it and asks how much extra it cost). Performance: did I mention it was fast?

Stock tires are weak. Dealer options are way overpriced, especially the wheels and factory gauge pack. Boost gauge should be standard. Poor low end torque (keep it above 3500 rpms and it rocks!). Reverse gear notchy. Stock transmission is fragile (if you modify your car). Seats are a little hard on very long trips (3+ hours). None of these negatives are enough to counteract the positives though!

A thrill to drive every day! The Wagon has very sharp looks, lots of people have asked me what my car is. Every time I get out (even after a month), I turn around and just stare at my car for awhile with a dumb grin on my face. Excellent sleeper qualities. With some cheap modifications (less than $3000), you can get 280 reliable horsepower and a flatter torque curve, cutting your 0-60 time to around 4.5 seconds. You will be able to smoke Camaro Z28's and Mustang GT's off the line with your killer AWD launch! Just be careful with the transmission if you modify your car, and be sure you can afford the possible loss of warranty coverage. This car was voted car of the DECADE by a major European car magazine, beating out the NSX, BMW 3-series, Porsche 911, etc, that gives you an idea of the kind of handling you can expect! Drive safely people, take your car to the track or autocross if you want to drive fast.

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Mistubishi Eclipse GSX and Eagle Talon (fast 2.0L AWD Turbo), no longer sold new, stronger transmission, cheaper to modify, but no back seat so less practical, some reliability problems. Audi S4 (test drove) a little heavy but a similar performing car, much better build quality, unfortunately $15K more expensive. Integra Type R--not as fast, no back seat, but still a fun car. If you can wait awhile, Subaru will be bringing over the more luxurious twin turbo Legacy B4 (280 HP), with leather and stunning looks that will put any BMW to shame. Also, a more powerful WRX Sti version (276 HP) is rumored. I had to have my WRX immediately after driving it though :).