OFFICIAL 2008 Impreza Information Thread

[jamie007]

just got back from the car show

full fold down seats in the sadan, nicer interior and no ugly key hole on the trunk. it seems more roomy in the back seat, but over all its not thaat bad. i could live with it. just interested in seeing how it performs.

Do the front seats offer more legroom? I'm 6' 2" and my legs always feel cramped in my STI. Any mention of a moonroof for the WRX or STI?

[TheJ]

I REALLY like the fact that they put controls on the steering wheel.

When I'm drifting around an icy/wet corner at +100mph... they really come in handy.

[abhiwan]

Do the front seats offer more legroom? I'm 6' 2" and my legs always feel cramped in my STI. Any mention of a moonroof for the WRX or STI?

judge for yourself..i couldn't really tell.

[snowcat]

Has any magazine/site/reviewer (professionals, not forum posters like us) said that they think the looks of the '08 are a huge improvement over the looks of the previous years, even a bit of an improvement? I would be interested to hear their reasoning...

[efmd3]

if they do say it looks better, their opinion is NOT shared by me.
And i think they must be either gay or a mom...
*no offense intended to anyone, just commenting on style and demographic*

[wrx wagone]

And i think they must be either gay or a mom...

or both!!

[Big Sky WRX]

I'll be the judge on how it looks when I see one up close and personal, I could give a rat's hiney what some pundit thinks is or isn't "good looking"

[efmd3]

I'll be the judge on how it looks when I see one up close and personal, I could give a rat's hiney what some pundit thinks is or isn't "good looking"

imo, i'd be embarassed to drive the 08, HOWEVER if someone like BigSky were to be driving it with the earlier spool and weight reduction and improved suspension, there'd be nothing embarassing about destroying people on the track

[Big Sky WRX]

waiting patiently for the STi "wagon"

[efmd3]

should be pretty nice, I'll just need to see the styling before i say anything. If somebody made an 800HP AWD pinto with full coilover setup, I probably wouldn't drive it...on second thought...

[TheMainFrame]

I just had a plane flight today and read both Sport Compact Car and Motor Trends and they both had front page articles on the new 08 WRX...

Both mentioned the word radical design change...

Both made the Mazda 3 reference and SCC made a Saturn ION reference to it but they both seem to not say alot about likeing or disliking the new look

However one of em had an interesting read about some potential problems with the standard upgrade path where used to...

[snowcat]

I'll be the judge on how it looks when I see one up close and personal, I could give a rat's hiney what some pundit thinks is or isn't "good looking"

Although I make up my own mind about looks, from what I've read on car forums (not just this one) the '08 wrx is zero improvement in the looks department. So, I was just wondering what the "official" automotive press is saying in the looks department. I am just wondering if Subaru will ever get a clue how much $ they're throwing away on shoddy bodystyle redesigns that consumers never asked for. They don't eat that cost - it's passed onto us after all.

Both made the Mazda 3 reference and SCC made a Saturn ION reference to it but they both seem to not say alot about likeing or disliking the new look.

Interesting - thanks for the info.

[efmd3]

However one of em had an interesting read about some potential problems with the standard upgrade path where used to...

what would that problem be????

[Robman7835]

So, I was just wondering what the "official" automotive press is saying in the looks department.

Straight from Car and Driver

"Holy bejeebus—what happened to its face?
The ’08 WRX will again be offered in two body styles, a sedan and a five-door. The five-door looks more like a traditional hatchback this time around, so fans of the old wagon might be disappointed. Disappointment only begins to describe our reaction to the new car’s looks, however: If the WRX was hoping to win us back with its exterior make-over, it can forget it. The styling can at best be called a derivative of a copy—check out the Sebring-meets-Saab-meets-smiling-samurai front end—and at worst a total disaster. The new sedan in particular is disappointing, with a rear end that looks like it’s in heat and a high beltline that screams cheap-ass econocar. Here’s hoping the new styling grows on us as quickly as the 2006 model’s Tribeca-inspired nose job did."

[Dench]

I like the looks and await the STI.

oh, i couldnt disagree with you more. I was in the market for a 08' STi. By looking at the looks of the WRX, i cant see how Subaru could of made the STi different enough for me to like.
As was said in a previous post, the 2005 STi was the best looking one. After that subaru changed the style of the car drasticly. i literaly thought i was looking at a Kia when i first opened this thread. The car looks nothing like its rally roots.

Looks like ill be in the market for a EVO 10. or a 05 STi with low miles.

Huge disapointment.