Official Information on the 2008 Impreza WRX

[YBNormal07]

Quaife?

Nope...nothing to do with differentials. It's something "dropped"

[YBNormal07]

A buddy and I took the new WRX hatch for a spin this weekend.

I'm not sure where my senses are these days as all I can say is WOW.

I was very impressed. This car is a definite step up from the previous modesl. Rides incredibly well, and IMHO, nowhere near the body roll as the previous years. Interior is much more refined, and the cabin is incredibly quiet. Torque comes on much earlier but did seem to loose steam a bit earlier too. Steering actuation and feedback were incredible...you can really tell the difference with the new STi ratio in the WRX.

I'm still a bit torn on the design as it seems the engineers were a bit undecided on some of the lines, especially the side character line that just fades away at the front, and then there is the dissapearing grill surround on the front...is just sort of slides into the top of the bumper. The monochrome front grill definitely looks better than the chrome.

The tails are the teh suck, but a quick oven bake and some flatblack or shiny black paint would cure that, so no biggee.

The definite color to have will be that dark metallic gray...straight off the Legacy Spec B. Absolutely gorgeous.

Shifter feels just like the stock Legacy imho. A shortshifter and bushings will easily take care of the bit of notchiness and long throws.

Lots of room under the hood too, with the lower mounted engine. There is enormoous space around the Turbo and DP now. I noticed the TMIC still has the mounts on it for the LGT engine cover, but it might not fit as the intake appears to be higher or perhaps the tmic is lower than in the LGT.

Rims look heavy. I felt around the back of the spokes and they are barely hollwed out. I'm betting around 20 lbs a piece.

Overall....it is a better car imho. Is it worth the comparatively huge jump in price (fully loaded hatch we saw was 30K and some change)...well...only the sales records will be able to tell.

Didn't drive the sedan as we figured the hatch would be the performer of the two. Again though...I was very impressed with the ride, the cornering capability, the steering, and the earlier onset of torque. It felt like on a back to back run at a road track, I would be able to pull better times with the new model mainly becuasue it felt like it would be easier to control at 10/10ths.

To all the haters....just drive one. This car is definitely aimed at a different domographic and imho...will be a great sleeper.

Now...c'mon subaru...give us the diesel!!!

[TheJ]

Overall....it is a better car imho. Is it worth the comparatively huge jump in price (fully loaded hatch we saw was 30K and some

Thank Scott! I really appreciate the thoughtful indepth review...


Good stuff.

[TheJ]

Nope...nothing to do with differentials. It's something "dropped"

Doesn't Qaife make an quality LSD?Sometimes my references are too obscure for even me...

[GraysonSubaru]

Doesn't Qaife make an quality LSD?Sometimes my references are too obscure for even me...

yes, they make a great LSD.

SOA says the VDC on the cars is doing the work of an LSD so that is why they dropped it.

im glad im not the only one that seems to like the new ones.

[SD_GR]

Great news. Did either of you happen to sit in the back seat?

[GraysonSubaru]

Great news. Did either of you happen to sit in the back seat?

ive been in the back of my outback sport and there is a good amount of room back there. my wife sat back there for a few hours on our trip from TN to PA last week and said she had plenty of room and the seat was comfortable.

an outback has a big advantage there if you are concerned about it being tight. nothing wrong with an OBXT

[YBNormal07]

Great news. Did either of you happen to sit in the back seat?

I popped into it, but didn't ride in it while moving. However, I made sure to look at the leg room while the salesman was in the back. With a driver who is 5'11" and the salesman being about 5'10", he appeared to have plenty of room. It looked like he was sitting normal (behind the driver) and still had about 2-3 inches between his knees and the back of the driver's seat.

[YBNormal07]

Doesn't Qaife make an quality LSD?Sometimes my references are too obscure for even me...

...sometimes I'm so dense...ok...I get it

[SD_GR]

ive been in the back of my outback sport and there is a good amount of room back there.

With a driver who is 5'11" and the salesman being about 5'10", he appeared to have plenty of room. It looked like he was sitting normal (behind the driver) and still had about 2-3 inches between his knees and the back of the driver's seat.

That's good news and it will help Subaru sell non-turbo as well as turbo cars, especially in markets where the Impreza will be the primary transport for a family.

[GraysonSubaru]

my outback sport is a great vehicle. i decided to go the non turbo route for this vehicle. even though i will end up with another turbo down the road (maybe a GC for a project vehicle) this is a wonderful car. it is incredible how much nicer even just the interior is over the previous Impreza models.

[YBNormal07]

my outback sport is a great vehicle. i decided to go the non turbo route for this vehicle. even though i will end up with another turbo down the road (maybe a GC for a project vehicle) this is a wonderful car. it is incredible how much nicer even just the interior is over the previous Impreza models.

The interior and just the overall feel of the car are just plain way above the normal expectations for a "subaru". I was waaay impressed. I actually like these interiors over the 05 Legacy I had.

[AndroXT]

Anyone know if the STI will have LSDs or at least a rear? Any control of slippage by a VDC-type system I would think would cut power and be a liability in a drving performance situation or even in an emergency situation. This is what happens with Minis not equiped with LSDs. This is why mine has a LSD!

[Sinister]

Anyone know if the STI will have LSDs or at least a rear? Any control of slippage by a VDC-type system I would think would cut power and be a liability in a drving performance situation or even in an emergency situation. This is what happens with Minis not equiped with LSDs. This is why mine has a LSD!

no clue as of yet, but I would assume that the STi will still have LSDs. The WRX has been comprimised by people wanting a good commuter car... but the STi has never been designed, or advertised as a commuter car.

[WRX-ILE]

no clue as of yet, but I would assume that the STi will still have LSDs. The WRX has been comprimised by people wanting a good commuter car... but the STi has never been designed,advertised as a commuter car.

Something for you all to look at, http://www.zercustoms.com/photos/200...-Revealed.html and http://www.cardriver.ru/Subaru/folks/13872 <