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New Subaru Impreza Owners - Give Us Your Report!

321 messages,  Last post on Jul 01, 2012 at 6:12 AM

You are in the Subaru Impreza Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Car Buying, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 32

#11 of 321 "I'm lovin' it" by bschuetz

Dec 14, 2006 (1:04 pm)

I had a 2001 Subaru Impreza RS. I really liked that car. It had its quirks, but driving it still brought pleasure. When the 2006 WRX came out, I found myself dreaming of a WRX, with the 2.5 liter engine. I also liked the look of the front, though others disparaged it. I think it looks really cool.
 
Only one time I got to drive a WRX, and that was at an autocross. Someone let my try their 2002 WRX. Having never driven a turbo, it took a little bit to get the hang of how to drive the car. The turbo lag was quite noticeable. But once I got it to stay on boost, I found the thing was a blast to throw into corners. It was easier than the 2001 was.
 
I ended up trading my 2001 because of issues with the rear differential. I don't know if it was defective, or if I was just too abusive, but since I was out of the warranty period, I decided to just trade for a new car.
 
I tried out a Mazda RX-8. Oh man was that cool. I like the engine, but it's noticeably weak down low. I don't think I would've been disappointed to have that.
 
I tried a Mazdaspeed Miata, and that was a fast car. But just too small for my taste. And my foot was getting hung up between the clutch and the side of the interior. It was a 2002, but it was in decent shape.
 
I wanted to try some other vehicles just for the fun of it, but never did. I test drove the Subaru last, and I was decided at that point. I guess I'm just a Subie "fanboy". LOL
 
I like the responsive steering, the flat cornering (very little body roll, and that's with a wagon), and the automatic climate control. I also like the auto-dimming mirror. And once the boost starts rising the car really takes off, yet it still has decent pull down low. The car is just too fun. I enjoy driving it very much, and I think I'll be a happy Subie owner for a long time.
 
Brian

#12 of 321 happy happy! by k3lli3

Mar 20, 2007 (8:59 am)

I've now had my 2006 Impreza 2.5i sport wagon for 6mths and I LOVE IT!!!
Previously a Toyota girl and definately converted.
 
Lovin' the AWD for the winter months (I live in Banff, Canada so snowy roads are a part of life) and she is so very fun to drive.
 
Only complaint is that gas mileage isnt as great as I had hoped(thought?) .... but again, a small price to pay for the AWD.
 
 

#13 of 321 Re: New Subaru Impreza Owners - Give Us Your Report! [pf_flyer] by dintern

Mar 25, 2007 (10:57 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Nov 07, 2006 10:58 am)
Just bought an Impreza 2.5i wagon with a stick shift. Everything is fine except the idle vibration. It's minor vibration but it's there constantly when idle even if I leave the shift at neutral without stepping on the clutch pedal. The stick shift is trembling noticeably in that mode.
 
It's my first Subaru so I don't know if it just takes time & some mileage for the engine to tune in or it is designed that way, or it signals a problem that I have to bring to the dealership. I only have 200 miles on it, so I'll wait for a while and see. But I do know I didn't have this issue on my old Honda Civic which was also a stick shift.

#14 of 321 Re: New Subaru Impreza Owners - Give Us Your Report! [dintern] by paisan

Mar 25, 2007 (12:01 pm)

Replying to: dintern (Mar 25, 2007 10:57 am)
The Boxer engines will do that but unless I saw it I couldn't tell you if it was abnormally vibrating or not.
 
-mike

#15 of 321 Re: New Subaru Impreza Owners - Give Us Your Report! [dintern] by rsholland

Mar 25, 2007 (12:14 pm)

Replying to: dintern (Mar 25, 2007 10:57 am)
2.5L is large for a 4-cylinder engine, so you can expect some vibration at idle. My '06 WRX vibrates a little at idle. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
Bob

#16 of 321 Re: New Subaru Impreza Owners - Give Us Your Report! [rsholland] by dintern

Mar 25, 2007 (9:16 pm)

Replying to: rsholland (Mar 25, 2007 12:14 pm)
"paisan" and "rsholland", thanx for the quick comment.
 
Yeah I guess that's part of the boxer engine / AWD. It isn't big vibration. I was in a sensitive mode because one of my old cars broke down because of CV-JOINT failure and the problem started out as constant vibration.
 
Anyhow, happy driving everyone.

#17 of 321 Month and a half update by anythngbutgm

Apr 04, 2007 (8:16 am)

Just turned 3000 miles on my 07' 2.5i wagon (stick) and I really, really like this car. It's got plenty of power, it is comfy on a highway cruise (70-80mph cruising) and at the moment my gas mileage has been around 28mpg which is commendable for an AWD car.
 
Only beefs I have with it?
 
- The gearbox and the clutch hate each other. Smooth shifting takes a bit of finesse and is ever more difficult after a good highway jaunt. Load it up with a couple of passengers and the car becomes painfully slow. But I have gotten used to it.
 
- Engine braking in 3rd and 4th gear emits this terrible buzzing noise from under the hood, I don't know if it is a clutch buzz, a loose manifold or what but it is most noticable at above 2500RPM in those gears. The buzzing has no frequency to it, just "bzzz zzz z zz bzzzzzzz z zzzz" or some sort.
 
- There is also a dash buzz when you rev the engine above 4,000RPM's. It is somewhere in the center of the dashboard and every single Impreza I test drove had it.
 
- Power steering pump is noisy, one car I tested before I bought this one had a really aweful "wehhhh - wehhh" when taking slow speed turns. This one is noisy but acceptable.
 
Other than that, it is one helluva car and I am enjoying it more and more each day. Top notch safety, impressive mileage, gutsy engine, bang for the buck price all make this a solid choice. There is nothing, and I mean nothing that can touch this car in features for the dollar! If the reliability holds up as good as folks say, this won't be my last Subie.
 
Love it, I am a Subaru fan because of it.

#18 of 321 Re: Month and a half update [anythngbutgm] by paisan

Apr 04, 2007 (8:50 am)

Replying to: anythngbutgm (Apr 04, 2007 8:16 am)
Try to use less engine braking!
 
This is a tempting car to buy for myself. I want a specB but this would be far cheaper! Man I hate being on the fence!
 
-mike

#19 of 321 Re: Month and a half update [paisan] by anythngbutgm

Apr 04, 2007 (9:09 am)

Replying to: paisan (Apr 04, 2007 8:50 am)
I usually downshift into 4th when exiting the highway and that's when it becomes most notable. But I am usually only at about 3500RPM's then (about 40 -50mph...)

#20 of 321 Also forgot to mention by anythngbutgm

Apr 04, 2007 (9:15 am)

One other little nit-pick:
 
- I have nicknamed her "Little Wanderer" because even the slightest crosswind cause the car to veer into opposing lanes on the highway. It feels kind of unsettling at times, and corrective action must be subtle or you end up swerving into the opposite lane trying to correct for the initial swerve.

Messages Page 2 of 32

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