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2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
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1. Exterior styling. We already said enough - I will add that sports mesh grille makes WORLD of a difference. The rear of hatchback looks as bad as in pictures. Looks were never as important to me, so as long as that terrible Sebring grille can be changed, I could live with the rest.
2. Interior styling. It is better than previous but hardly stylish. Low trims of Mazda3, not to mention Speed3 look way better. Again - not something as important to me, as long as functionality is there. The cargo compartment is done so there is about the same floor area as in my wagon, but the hatch slope cuts the volume down. Which basically means day-to-day groceries would be just fine, but anything larger would require seat down position. I'm actually OK with that, too.
3. Strike three. Now brace yourselves. THIS THING HAS FOUR STAR NHTSA CRASH RATING !!! :surprise: :mad: :sick: To be exact - driver front and both side are four star and passenger is five star. THIS IS STEP BACKWARDS. ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE, UNFORGIVABLE. I see "marginal" coming from IIHS - almost for sure.
There is no way in hell I'm buying a "Legend reborn" with crash rating lower than my current car. I'm crossing it out of my list.
So - this is how you get the weight down, huh? Skimp a few bars in the chassis - perhaps the mainstream customer won't notice. When I pointed that to the saleswoman, she was stunned as much as I was. Safety across the lineup was their single most important selling point. She admitted it will be much harder to sell now - with higher price and crappy gas mileage, so-so styling and lost leadership in safety, what is left? Just speed and handling. Not enough for three-five grand more, if you ask me.
I'm shocked I'm first to pick up on that on this forum. Bob - did you read the sticker at all?
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Read the first link, then the second one.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19096147&postcount=51
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19098090&postcount=53
Bottom line: The '08 Impreza hasn't been crash tested yet.
Bob
Bob
Wait the minute - so where are the NHTSA stars on the '08 sticker coming from? And they were the same on both WRX and 2.5i, by the way (I checked that). Am I missing something here? If so - I guess I owe them (Subaru) apology or at least - delay in the final sentence
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Also, you have to distinguish between the NHTSA and IIHS crash tests. The tests from both these agencies are supposed to complement each other.
Essentially, the NHTSA tests are designed to check the effectiveness of the restraints and the airbags, while the much more challenging IIHS offset tests are designed to test the strength of the vehicle's structure to withstand extreme crash energies.
So one has to combine the results from both tests to arrive at how effective the vehicle's safety package is.
Then there are the 5mph bumper tests that the IIHS does, which has zero bearing on safety and is essentially done to gauge how much it would cost to replace a bumper (big issue for the insurance companies, which is why they do it. ) Typically the Kias and the Hyundais do well here, while the BMWs and the Mercedes Benzes do badly - since it would obviously cost more to replace a Beemer's bumper than a Kia's bumper !
Bob
My point is exactly - almost everybody but the lowest end makes five stars in NHTSA front and side impacts (rollovers are a little harder - most get four and three stars). It is usually the case that if you can't make five stars with NHTSA, you'll usually end up getting marginal with IIHS, with few exceptions. I think it is for side impact even more so than front.
Which makes me think now - I was convinced previous Impreza had five stars since they had all "Goods" in IIHS. If those stars are indeed old '07 not '08 (I'm still not convinced it really is the case, but perhaps it is), how come - things don't really add up for me now. :confuse:
I guess all is now for me to do is wait until the dust clears.
By the way - that sales woman told me Subaru is preparing some (in her words) big public awareness campaign for the new model, involving designating some dealerships for open test drives. She may be of course full of it and made up a lame excuse just not to let me drive the new WRX, but perhaps it's true. Lets see what happens on that front.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
The reason why the "Good" rating came about in the IIHS tests, is because the structure of the Impreza is sound and the ring reinforcements in the structure really works in dissipating crash energies and also in its stiffness.
The reason for the non-5-star results, specifically for the WRX, is because of the Integrated-non-active-head-restraint equipped WRX "sport seats", which makes them susceptible to whiplash. The regular Imprezas (and I believe the WRX TR) has "active" head restraints, without the stupid integrated head-rests....other than the stylistic statement from those head-rests, I don't find anything "sporty" in the broad WRX seats with bad/poor bolstering.
The 02 WRX seats are an exception and had very good bolstering (every time I drive with my friend who owns an 02, I envy those seats) AND came with active head restraints (non-integrated). Those seats should have been on the 04-07 WRX too, IMO.
I like my 2004 WRX sport bucket seats with the integrated headrests thank you very much.
One very curious aspect is that Subaru the manufacturer has not come out and stated the stiffness improvement (if any) in the new 08 version. Typically manufacturers state that the new one has a xx% improvement in Torsional rigidity etc., and typically it is in the 40-100% improvement range but I find a complete silence when it comes to a specific improvement number (if any) from the manufacturer, when it comes to the 08 Impreza.
Why ? Any ideas ? Has it actually improved over the prior version ? Or has the structural rigidity actually slipped in the new version ? Any specific statements from the manufacturer that I missed ?
I believe the GD version of the Impreza had a 120% stiffness improvement over the GC, which they were proud to announce to the whole world. Why this defeaning silence with the 08 ?
When I drive in my REX and compare it with my Odyssey Minivan's seats, I like the WRX sport bucket seats more. But it is in comparison to the 02 and other better seats (even the Civic SI seats will humiliate the WRX in the support it provides), that the 04-07 pales....please note that I am not bringing high-end seats like in say the BMW M3 or an Acura NSX for comparison.
Forester and Outback are pre-wired, harness is there to just plug-n-play. Legacy is not. I thought Impreza wasn't even for the last gen?
Bummer that they ditched VTD AWD, but who wants an automatic WRX?
The 07 WRX is manufacturer rated for towing 2000lbs.
You need to sit within an 02/03 WRX seat and check it out !
Bob
I will admit I've only seen a hitch on two Imprezas in my whole life, but still, why?
Then you need to look at my '03 and it will be third :shades:
I don't use it for towing - just for bike rack. If I can't get a receiver bar on a car it's an instant disqualification for me. I don't care if others use roof carriers - I like hitch mounted.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I invite you to mine. Best seats in the world, hands down :shades:
2018 430i Gran Coupe
The van is so big I can fit all the bikes inside!
Today I would probably go with one of Thule models with Zip Stick (very important for bike stability) or even better one of those racks that is has wheel housing rather than frame craddles.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
You see - here is the problem. The four stars are for both 2.5i and WRX. So somethings still doesn't add up.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Bob
In fact, nothing in that article indicates anything that could not be easily predicted, right down to that 50lb weight loss.
I think this is unlikely, but it's the only reason I could fathom (beyond there not being any improvement).
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I'm sure we'll see some numbers thrown out there.
I'm surprised nothing has been said about the door frames and the new rear suspension. Those are the significant improvements.
Bob
I guess I just know I'd rather wait for a Forester so it doesn't seem pressing.
You've driven how many? 3? 4?
Bob
Still, we have $1100 in Subaru Bucks, and that Premium model (or is it LImited) would be a bargain with that discount.
You get the best of both worlds, a sports car and a practical hatch, all in one.
Bob
Remember she had the bad experience with the 626, running premium fuel and then the fuel system broke anyway.
What we want is something like the current Forester LL Bean, all loaded up but with the fuel efficient engine. Just make it a 2009 model.
Bob
And how long a wait is that apt to be?
If their MPG improves enough w/DI, I wonder if that will discourage SOA from bringing diesel models to the US, since they could, hypothetically, be arriving around the same time.
She drives a 2002 Legacy L wagon 5 speed now. Perfectly reliable but a little bland. We liked our '98 Forester more. We have a 7/100 warranty and it's been flawless for the past several years. We may go the guaranteed trade-in program since 2002 models are eligible and they appraise very high.
She commutes in MD/VA beltway traffic, so she wants an automatic this time. We still have a Miata with a manual if she wants to get her kicks once in a while.
We have $1100 Subaru Bucks. Next month we will start accumulating more. It caps off at $100 per month, $500 per year. She puts business expenses on the card, so I think we'll get the full $500 for the year in Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan. By March at the very latest.
The timing is perfect, because the 2009 Forester should start arriving right around then. $1600 Subaru Bucks means she can get a nicer model for less.
My practical side says get her a Legacy SE sedan, bargain that they are now. The catch is with auto it may still be boring, and we're back to square one.
I'm thinking LL Bean model because it would have all the bells and whistles and with $1600 off in Subaru Bucks we could easily afford it. Operating costs would be very low, yet Foresters are still fun. We'd still have one AWD in the household to get around.
I guess a WRX 5 door meets the same criteria, but she would get one speeding ticket a week, whine about having to use premium fuel, and you can't get leather and a moonroof anyway.
I really hope the Forester gets Sportshift and a 5EAT. Imagine the cargo space with that new compact suspension, I bet it's roomier than a Tribeca! :shades:
I think the new 2.5i is a good deal and is a SERIOUS upgrade over the prior version. Buy it. Can't say the same about the WRX, however.
The only downside is the lack of a rear sway bar in the 2.5i, which is pretty easy to fix.
The torsional or bending rigidity of the Legacy have nothing to do with the rigidity of the Impreza. If anything, I would say the Impreza was stiffer than the Legacy, because the only truly max Performance Subaru, the STI, is based on it.
Actually a stiffer structure can allow more compliance into the suspension, without degrading the ride (even though it sounds counterintuitive), since the suspension will not have to work to counteract the un-needed motions emanating from the non-stiff structure and can work toward improving the handling, without a ride penalty. Most Germanic products including BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc build maximum stiffness into the structure and then introduce whatever compliance needed, into the suspension.
Bottomline, a stiffer structure improves handling AND ride. No reason not to broadcast it, unless there has not been any improvement on that score.
Sure, the Legacy's rigidity will have some bearing on the rigidity of the new Impreza, since there are some commonalities between the two. The rear suspension is completely different between the Legacy and the new Impreza and so are several of the cross-members in the structure that promote this rigidity.
The question is, do you have data that cross-compares the rigidity of the Current pre08-Impreza, with that of the current Legacy ? If not, then does the information matter at all, for the purposes of gauging how much more/less the new Impreza is over the previous version ? I think unless Subaru comes out and states what those numbers are, we would not know. During the last Gen Impreza introduction, I believe they were front-and-center in stating that the Impreza was over a 100% more rigid that the prior Impreza but this time around - silence !
Every single manufacturer (including Subaru) announces the improvement in rigidity when a new Generation product is announced but this time around, I don't see any such data coming from Subaru. Why ? Has the rigidity slipped while trying to increase the size while reducing the weight ?