Comments on: How a legend was reborn… and died again

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:18:09 +0000

I have a 2004 WRX in Subaru WRC blue, and I was looking to upgrade to a new STI around 2008 when the lease runs out, but I think I’m going to have to hold onto this one for at least another 2 years until the next design cycle comes around again. Then again, I wasn’t that impressed by the thin/cheap feel of the 2004 compared to the 1997 WRX I had before this one, so maybe by the 2010 model they’ll drop the turbo and make it a 150hp family car…?

I’m still a Subaru fan, and I’m still willing to buy a WRX — just not *THIS* one. Maybe Subaru will get the picture and drop this hot-potato model and give us something entirely new in time for 2009. Then we’re going to have to foot the factory-retooling costs… GRRR!!!

They must have done their market research on this design at the grocery store checkout lines, because this is basically a “soccer mom’s sports car”. I can’t see any real Subaru fan, rally privateer, or tuner buying this car.

By: Josh Sinyor

Josh Sinyor — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:35:36 +0000

“In other news, Subaru today announced that it had styled the 2008 Impreza’s controversial looks with a cutting-edge tool known as ‘The ugly stick’.

“Having almost exhausted the ugly stick’s power on the frogeye models of the early 21st Century”, said a Subaru spokesman, “we were eager to use its return by giving the ‘08 Impreza a really good whacking around the front grille so no-one will want to buy our hideous bland automobile. Oh, bollocks, hang on…”

Why, oh why, oh why… Mitsubishi better build that concept as the Evo X…

By: Art Kran

Art Kran — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:14:31 +0000

NOOOOOOOOO not me. I like EVO X better. I will wait for the EVO X

By: Yifkin

Yifkin — Thu, 03 May 2007 01:34:17 +0000

This is beyond bad. To those who did not like the last gen front end, it CAN get worse. I loved the last gen, except the front end, which is nothing compared to this front end. What were they thinking??? I have wanted to purchase a WRX for years, but for one reason or another have been unable to do so. Now I have the means and the full desire to make that purchase, but will not. The car might be passable if they swap out the front end with something that is not so early-Korean-car-cheap looking. The 2000 Nissan Sentra “pod” center dash is ugly too. This company is going to go out of business if they ruin their bread and butter car like this. I am sorry, but does ANYONE like this car???

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 21:06:58 +0000

Compare the profiles of the ugly 2008 WRX to the only two cars that have been beating the tar out of Subaru in the World Rally Championships, the Citroen C4 of 2007 and the Ford ST of 2006. Because Subaru’s WRC entry has to be based on a production car, if this shape offers better aerodynamics, then the appearance of the poor WRX has to suffer. The Citroen and Ford are ugly cars but they really fly. To be competitive, maybe the WRX has to get uglier.
http://www.direct-vehicle-leasing.net/images/car_images/citroen%20c4%20coupe.jpg
http://www.motorintro.com/actuales/_images/ford_images/focus%20st/focus_st_4.jpg

By: Raj

Raj — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:55:15 +0000

P.S. For those of you (including Subaru designers) that claim the Impreza needed a more “mainstream” look, I’ll educate you. Mainstream competitors these days are the new Civic, Camry, Mazda 3, and Altima. All of which have much more style than this 2002 Corolla-looking Impreza. Even Toyota and Honda responded to market demands by stepping up the looks of the Camry and the Civic. What is Subaru thinking???

By: Raj

Raj — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:23:53 +0000

The WRX is supposed to be the enthusiast’s daily driver. As an ‘03 owner I was disappointed to see Subaru go to a wider range power train in ‘04. And now to give it design changes to have it resemble the new partner company’s Corolla was just out right stupid. For those of you that see Mazda resemblance, you give the new Impreza way too much credit. The Maxda 3 and Speed6 are hot cars. This thing isn’t. The WRX gets its popularity from its cult following, and from the looks of it that has been lost. We were hoping for performance enhancements and an even more aggresive design. What we got is a carryover powertrain, a less performance oriented stance, and minivan styling. Shame on you Subaru for making your crossover vehicle cooler looking than your pocket rocket. I was anticipating an exciting upgrade in order to replace my 03 in 09, but I guess I’ll just go for an Evo instead. Hopefully, they won’t screw up the upcoming shift to deisel, too. My recommendation to Subaru: reface the car for 2010 (your two year cycle was a great idea), give us the 255 hp Legacy GT powertrain, and a slightly stiffer rear end. The cockpit better give me the jet fighter feel I get in my 03. And the car will be perfect. For the critics that claim that agressive and mainstream are not synonomous, look at any European performance car, Mazda or Nissan. People that buy Subaru’s don’t like Hondas or Toyotas.

By: Vince

Vince — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 01:47:34 +0000

I am a very proud owner of a 2003 WRX I bought new. I love this car and don’t ever think I will get rid of it. The new Suby’s keep getting more mainstream. There is no way I would buy the Mazda look alike cookie cutter car that they are pitching for 2008. It’s truly disappointing when a very forward thinking company falls inline.

By: Nick K

Nick K — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 08:16:01 +0000

I am an owner of a WRX 2003 model and I was anticipating the 2008 model with a lot of hopes for something really cool and fresh. But alas…
I had some suspicions in the past, regarding the older bug-eyed Impreza, but
now I am sure that there must be a traitor (or traitors) amongst Subaru designers OR all
the design team must have COMPLETELY run out of fresh and inspired ideas.
I simply can’t have some other explanation since I firstly saw the photos of the new WRX.

It can’t be SO ugly, SO boring, SO uninspired, SO dull, SO dissapointing !!!!

I was thinking of buying the new model but now I am 100% sure that I won’t. Maybe the new Mitsubishi Evo X, or even the current fantastic Mazda 6 MPS will be my next choice.

WHY Subaru ?

Nick

By: Aleksey

Aleksey — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 08:25:09 +0000

I beleive this is a result of Subaru officials understanding our complaints too literally.

When Subaru released a bugeye-face and then the airplane face models, most of us were saying that Subaru needs to cut the crap and come up with something more mainstream. Well, Subaru did what their customers asked for, they gave us a totally mainstream looking car.

I am afraid that Subaru is being ran by robots, with total lack of common sense. So the next time we make a complaint about their cars, we need to specifically say what we don’t like and what we DON’T want them to change, so they don’t get confused again.

P.S. This is the 1st Subaru ever that I just can’t see myself buying. Totally.

By: max

max — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:34:23 +0000

wow, so disappointed, looks exactly like a 2002 corolla S, absolutely gross. if they plan on keeping their wrx market, they better change it back to an 05-ish style. i am so happy i have an 05, it looks better since these new ones are so cheap looking!

By: Timis from Greece

Timis from Greece — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 19:29:15 +0000

I m owner of a Legacy and a Vivio. In my family we used to have a 1976 Leone. When i first heard that the new Impreza will have a hatchback model too, i was very happy because in Europe a hatchabck looks more sporty than a sedan or a sportsback. I was pissed off to see this pictures!!!… OK, someone might say that the 2000’s frogeye and the 2004’s “vagina” Imprezas were ugly. Stupid people!!!…These cars were ugly but they had character(they had…warlike frontgrill)..they were not like rent-a-car automobiles!!!… The whole look of the new impreza is badd..not only the frontgrill and the antenna!…
As a shape/figure/major desing…they had 2 imprezas only…1992-2000 and 2000-2007 and Subaru was changing the frontgrill and lights.The first genaration was OK..the second was not so bad..but it was a car with a “one step front” design. The new Impreza has “one step behind” desing! It looks like a 90’s car!…

Last, but not least… a list of copy/paste parts of new impreza:
frontlights and 3rd side-window /mazda3
taillghits sedan/kia rio(1999)
taillights hatch / chevrolet lacetti+lexus Rx350
third little sidewindow/suzuki liana sedan(1998)
rear main-theme design(not the lights)at sedan/fiat bravo sedan(1995)
side line/ bmw 1 + alfa romeo 147 (2002+1999)
interior from co-driver place look/alfa 145(1995)
And..: to all subaru fans…please compare the profile of new impreza and the citroen c4 (5doors)…you will not find many differencies!

Thanks Subaru…i will buy something more original like the 2004-2007 impreza!

By: Cory Stinnett

Cory Stinnett — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 01:05:25 +0000

In a year i was planning on buying a new car. A WRX was right up their at the top of the list but with this being the new model theirs no way i would buy it. It’s boring now it looks like everything else on the road and thats what always has pulled me to the Impreza..its unique look. What on earth were they thinking???