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Subaru Impreza Outback Sport & TS
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Comments
When I begun to shop for a new car last spring, the main thing that attracted me to the OBS was its looks. Its not that I thought the Impreza was the nicest looking car out there, but certainly one of the most unique. In my price range all the Hondas looked like Acuras, all the Acuras looked like Saturns, all the Saturns looked liked Toyotas .You get my point. Then I did my research into Subaru and bought the 02 OBS without any reservation. Even spent a little less than I budgeted.
These 2004 models look generic and lifeless. Viewing the picture that is posted for the Sports Wagon 15i or 20S, you could rip the Subaru emblem off the front of it and I’d never be able to tell you who made it. Hell, I might even guess it was a dodge.
What a shame.
-mike
Maybe the 2004 looks like a Stratus, but that's not a bad looking car. Most Dodges aren't.
Heck, they look better than the newest Bimmers, like the 7 and the upcoming 6.
-juice
I’m not saying the ’04 models are bad looking, I just think they look a little too familiar.
I agree that Dodge makes some pretty nice cars. I’ve always had a soft spot for Dodge since I owned a ’73 Barracuda. It was a bear getting it started on cold mornings; but once it did, it was a good ride....Hmmm, thinking about it now, maybe I have a thing for round headlights....wonder what Freud would say about that.
Juice, I’m not sure what the 6 Series looks like, but however it does....I’m sure it’s not in the budget.
You might like the new Hemi in the upcoming Dodge Magnum crossover.
-juice
I read something on the Dodge Magnum not so long ago. It mentioned 400+ horsepower (though I’d doubt that version will be in production) and new technology rear wheel drive. The pictures I’ve seen of it made it look like it had real short windows. Sort of reminded me of a 50’s Chevy style wagon. Very sweet looking if my memory serves me right.
Besides I refuse to buy from a German or French company so they are out of the question for me.
-mike
Does anyone know when the new OBS gets here?
But yeah when are the 04 OBS, Impreza TS's and Foresters arriving?
- Lou
Accord = Legacy/Outback.
Civic = Impreza/Outback Sport.
Bob
In addition, I've owned 7 Honda cars (plus 3 Honda motorcycles and a Honda lawnmower) over the years, so I know that product rather well too.
In a nutshell, I prefer the Subarus, mainly because of the AWD. Once you've owned an AWD car, it's doubtful you'll ever want to return to FWD or RWD. That's been my situation. The Hondas may have a lot of features that are tempting, but they don't have AWD. So until Honda starts offering AWD across the board, it's Subaru for me...
Bob
Plus, any time you can actually locate one of those last Accord wagons Honda made before quitting, it is advertised as "very rare" and has about a $4000 mark-up over what it is really worth.
Bear in mind Impreza is a lot smaller, so your needs may dictate which one you buy, but do not ignore Legacy wagons, which are an absolute bargain, and were all AWD beginning in, what, '99? Memory fails me here, it might have been earlier, but it was right around then that Subaru dropped all its stripper non-AWD models (they were called "Brightons"). Which also leads to another nice thing - all the Subarus come with lots of equipment standard, like power windows and air conditioning.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Accord < Legacy/Outback.
Civic < Impreza/Outback Sport.
:-)
By the way, I contacted Subaru about the rear disc brakes on the OBS, they said the 2003 still had drums. I forget which topic we were discussing that, but they even checked their web site and thought the info was correct, and to let me know where I'd seen otherwise.
1995 was the year that Subaru went to AWD only. The Brigthon's last year was 2000.
-juice
I hang in SI/NJ/LI all the time though.
I love the alfas too. The new ones are especially nice
-mike
-juice
Jim
-mike
It's sad when Chevy uses an old 164 in a commercial to tout the reliability of their Impala!
-juice
-mike
The 156 is a euro model that never made it here. Styling is gorgeous, though, it may be the best looking sedan on the planet.
-juice
-mike
Bob
What will happen if I say I like Citroens!!!
Anybody know when the new OBS comes out?
Threesin
-mike
This why you're now seeing so many incentives on '03 models. The '04s are just around the corner.
Bob
It might be sooner, maybe end of March/early April. They do have to ship them across the Pacific.
-juice
-juice
I was kind of glad when they got rid of Brightons - they kind of cheapened a really nice product, and the 'L' trim level was always very competitively priced, with a nice level of standard features.
They had Legacy Brightons longer than they had Impreza Brightons.
juice: above, did you mean that the '04 OBS will still have rear drums, per Subaru?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Just saw a thread that showed Canadian a dealer with an '04 in stock, so they're arriving.
-juice
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I'm seriously considering buying it for myself, but it's an automatic, yuck, and is still outside the range I was looking to pay.
Then, the '89 Loyale is closing in on 180K, time for new belts and another reseal, plus the muffler has a hole in it and the windshield's cracked. I put the car's value a bit less than the cost of an oil change.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I might show my sister an Outback Sport, she'll be shopping this summer. She mentioned a Legacy sedan.
-juice
How come Subaru will not put moonroofs in any of the imprezas? I wouldn't even mind one of those huge sunroofs (metal panel) that those first stateside 2.5 RS's had....
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I guess they won't sell them here.
Also, I think the Impreza in Canada has heated side mirrors?
Does anyone know if the new Impreza will have side airbags? It's about time. No Subaru even offers curtain airbags yet.... I guess Subaru doesn't play catch up too quickly.
-mike
I am very glad they are finally getting to putting a moonroof in the impreza. WRX buyers will be particularly glad, I think...I have seen several mentions of this omission by WRX owners.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Take the SVX for example, in it's day it had more than it's share of gadgets, (even more than some cars today) back in '92, but the sticker was $26.5K!!!! and in '97 it was stickering >$34K.
-mike
They should have put bigger tires on it, dropped the leather and given it a manual tranny, and I would have considered one!
It would be cool if a moonroof became standard on WRX, but I kinda doubt they would make it standard on OBS due to its low price.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Stock size was 225-50-16 on 16x7.5" rims.
Currently mine is wearing 245-45-16 on those 16x7.5" rims
They were also available in non-leather trim as well. a 5MT would have probably helped save it a little.
-mike
I have always thought of OBS as its karmic "flipside" - it is such a bargain for what you get, in terms of power OR content.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)