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2012 Subaru Impreza

1605 messages,  Last post on Apr 19, 2013 at 2:22 PM

You are in the Subaru Impreza Forum.

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

Messages Page 103 of 162

#1012 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [jth97381] by tyguy

Apr 07, 2012 (3:47 pm)

Replying to: jth97381 (Apr 06, 2012 11:42 pm)
If you're talking about the 4 cylinder Legacy, then power is going to be similar. Yes, the 2.5 has more hp and torque, but it's also pulling more weight. Acceleration is similar. I've driven the Outback/Legacy and own the Impreza. Neither are under powered for hilly terrain provided you're driving with normal loads. A vehicle packed with people and cargo is going to feel more strained. Now the 6 cylinder, on the other hand, is another discussion altogether.
 
Both have plenty of space for four 6-foot adults without adjusting front seats.
 
They handle differently, though, so your wife should drive each to gain an understanding of where her preferences are and how each matches up. Personally I prefer lightweight tossable cars, so the Impreza is better match. I could afford much more car, but economics were just one consideration, and I'm one of those that appreciates the trend towards high quality small cars like the Impreza.

#1013 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [jth97381] by dfong87

Apr 07, 2012 (4:15 pm)

Replying to: jth97381 (Apr 07, 2012 12:06 pm)
we never really considered the Legacy. we were looking for a "roomy compact" with decent mileage (ie, comparable to my 2000 Honda Civic this replaced). on paper, the 27/36 rating seemed like a worthy compromise in handling and being more of a driver's car than the other cars i considered. (the Mazda 3 was a good driver car, but was too small)
 
it remains too early to see how good my mileage is, especially without having tanked it up myself and not knowing even if the first tank is a fair representation since i won't know how full the dealer filled up my tank.
 
but if the onboard computer is any indication, i'm happy enough with my mileage. with some fun exploratory driving today (some highway and some twisty backroads), my mileage over the first 190+ miles is 31.2 mpg.

#1014 of 1605 Re: Ramps or Jack stands? [tyguy] by dfong87

Apr 07, 2012 (4:08 pm)

Replying to: tyguy (Apr 07, 2012 3:38 pm)
that would make sense. it's really interesting that there is this whole plastic shroud with cutouts and doors...not something i'm used to but maybe more common in newer cars?
 
btw, i confirmed just a moment ago that i have the drain port right since i shined a headlamp under there and saw the same NA and Ft you have in your photo.
 
thanks again for your help.

#1015 of 1605 Re: cvt engine brake causing lower mpg? [wimchatta] by zman3

Apr 07, 2012 (6:01 pm)

Replying to: wimchatta (Apr 07, 2012 8:40 am)
I live in suburban Minneapolis and commute to another suburb. I spend part of the time on open freeway and part of the time on side roads, depending on which way I go. About 15 of my 20 miles commute is freeway.
 
I think when I look at the display my average speed over a tankful is typically 36-38 MPH. As a comparison I was getting about 20 MPG on my 06 Outback 3.0 so I am feeling pretty good about the mileage so far.
 
At first I thought it might be rather lame but I have grown to like the fuel economy needle, whatever the correct term is. It may be changing my driving style but I guess that is good.

#1016 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [tyguy] by jth97381

Apr 07, 2012 (9:21 pm)

Replying to: tyguy (Apr 07, 2012 3:47 pm)
yes, I am talking about the 4 cylinder. I was comparing the Legacy 2.5i Limited with the Impreza 2.0 Limited. That makes alot of sense with performance being similar. I think I read somewhere how the 0-60 times are 8.8 seconds or so for the Legacy and about 10.8 seconds for the mpreza. Something like that. Dont quote me exactly. I think we will test drive both of them to see if one fits our lives better then the other. The Impreza just looks so much smaller then the Legacy when sitting next to each other on the lot. If I can get away the less expensive Impreza get better Fuel economy and not lose any performance or comfort, It sounds like a good fit. We just have never had a compact sedan before and I am a little worried I will feel like I am stuck in a sardine can. So thats alot of the reason why I am asking all of you who own the Impreza how you like the car. We just have small kids now, but they will be teenagers before we know it. Thanks for any imput.

#1017 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [dfong87] by jth97381

Apr 07, 2012 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: dfong87 (Apr 07, 2012 4:15 pm)
I can only dream of spending half as much money on gas then I am paying now. I just want to have all the details ironed out before I get to the dealership so I can make a good decision. Any other good things to know about this car? All the more info the better. Thanks

#1018 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [jth97381] by dfong87

Apr 07, 2012 (10:26 pm)

Replying to: jth97381 (Apr 07, 2012 9:32 pm)
Any other good things to know about this car? All the more info the better. Thanks
 
hmmm. i can try (and hopefully be brief) but remember, i've only had the car for less than a week. yet, i think i can break this into two things.
 
Purchasing:
- make sure you know your pricing before negotiating a deal. don't be afraid to not have this figured out before going to the dealer, but don't get roped into talking pricing with them until you know what you should pay. it will depend on your local market, but for eg, in our SF Bay Area (CA), i paid $600 below invoice for my Limited HB, while someone else paid $1000 below invoice (he had a few accessories, so that may have made a difference somewhat since i'm still not exactly clear on what the dealer cost is since holdback, i thought was 3%).
- the Hatchback impreza's are in high demand and if you have particular wants (color,options), be prepared for anything from a 4-12 week wait. the good news with that is that at least around here, they are willing to give you a better pricing because the car will never take up any room on their lot.
 
The Car (hopefully others can chime in):
- some have complained about poor mileage. it remains to be seen if there is an issue through all cars, some cars, winter gas mixes, colder temperatures coming into play. you'll see on this forum that mileage is all over the place. for me, it's been good in my short time of ownership but time will tell.
- depending on what you are coming from, the "power" will be more than enough or feel sluggish. i think this car has been tested in the 9 sec range for the CVT and mid 8's for the manual with someone stating they got under 9 sec on the CVT by "manually" shifting using the paddle shifters. for me, the car's acceleration is more than adequate, but it's only me and my wife in the car. if you have a fully loaded car with 4 people and luggage and hills, you may feel differently. you can probably figure out some of this on your test drive. i came from a honda civic that could do 0-60 in the low 8's and it did seem a bit sluggish in the mountains with 4 full adults, but still functional. i personally am willing to sacrifice some power to get good mileage. it's all a matter of priorities. (i might feel differently if i lived in Colorado or something...it really depends on what you mean by "hilly terrain.")
- fit and finish is very good, IMHO. as good or better than the competition in its size class (Honda Civic, Hyundai Elentra, Mazda 3, for eg)
- the CVT took some getting used to for me since i came from a 5spd, but i'm slowly getting used to it. if you are in hilly environments, you'll probably want to use the paddle shifters some. from what i can gather and i experienced today on a steep hill, the CVT is a bit aggressive in downshifting for you and doing some engine breaking. not a bad thing, imho, but you can override it and go to a higher gear if you want to in manual mode (which has 6 preset ratios to emulate a more standard automatic transmission).
- my wife and aren't big people, so even with kids on the way (wife pregnant right now), i know the car will be more than big enough for us and the family.
 
i'm not sure what else to say. i'm sure if you have some specific questions, people more experienced (have had the car longer) can comment more than i can. overall, i'm pleased with my purchase and don't really anticipate that changing after having had the chance to go for a drive, for the sake of driving today. it handle a twisty road quite well and i was content knowing i can use the paddle shifters when driving on hilly mountainous roads for better control (i miss my stick, but my wife wanted to be able to drive this car)
 
best bet: just go and test drive it and plan on having that experience without needing to buy the car that day. you and your wife can test drive the Impreza and the Legacy and plan on going home to discuss the cars' merits in the comfort of your home without any salesperson breathing down your neck. at least that's what i'd do. ;

#1019 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [jth97381] by tyguy

Apr 07, 2012 (10:26 pm)

Replying to: jth97381 (Apr 07, 2012 9:21 pm)
Edmunds puts the Legacy 4 cyl CVT at 9.4 seconds 0-60, and Subaru estimates the 4 cyl CVT Impreza at 9.8, so they're definitely close. Manual transmissions in each cut around a second off those times.
 
If you look at the sedan for each, then the trunk is going to feel tighter with the Impreza, but if you consider the hatch option, you'll actually gain quite a bit of usable cargo volume over the Legacy. You can't go wrong with either choice, though. They're just different.
 
One more thing to consider: Subaru will be updating the Legacy motor next year using the one from the Forester (a good upgrade with a timing chain and more useful power curve). If I were buying a Legacy or Outback I'd personally wait for the update.

#1020 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [jth97381] by jd_24

Apr 08, 2012 (6:25 am)

Replying to: jth97381 (Apr 07, 2012 9:21 pm)
If you look back at some of my old posts I compare the size of an 2001 Outback (midsize car) to the 2012 Impreza. The Impreza is bigger for passenger room.
 
I use the Impreza for my daily commute, but we will also use it for short family trips and going to school. With 2 teenagers and a 9 year old it fills up fast. Kids prefer the 2012 backseat of the Premium because it doesn't have to fold down arm rest in the backseat. The center seat in the back is actually comforable.
 
We have a 50 mile trip to the grandparents today with the three kids. Here is to hoping there are few arguments and "she touched me!".

#1021 of 1605 Re: Impreza or Legacy [jth97381] by wimchatta

Apr 08, 2012 (8:47 am)

Replying to: jth97381 (Apr 07, 2012 9:21 pm)
Just checked Consumer Reports' performance results for Impreza vs Legacy, 4 cylinder engines w/ CVT. These numbers are different from Subaru self-reported ones, so must be based on their own testing.
 
Per CR the Impreza is marginally better:
It goes 0-60 mph in 9.2 s, the Legacy does that in 9.7 s;
The Impreza has 148 hp w/ 2.0L, has ~3000lb of weight, the Legacy has 170hp w/ 2.5L and has ~3400lb of weight.
The Impreza stops in 129ft for 60-0mph on dry pavement, vs 139ft for Legacy, and is slightly better on wet pavement as well.
The Legacy, though, is less noisy than an Impreza, and there is more seating room in the Legacy cabin, though Impreza is comfy enough. With the hatchback option, Impreza can get to more cargo space.
 
So all else being equal, would rate an Impreza Hatchback slightly more capable and possibly more fun to drive compared to the Legacy, while the latter will likely be the more refined option compared to an Impreza sedan.

Messages Page 103 of 162

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