I've probably slagged off the looks of the new WRX as much as anyone,- until Saturday when I had a test drive of one.

I only drove the car for 20-30 minutes, but here are my observations.

1). The car does (honestly) look better in real life, especially from the side profile. I thik people will grow accustomed to the headlights - my girlfriend actually prefers the looks over the old model.
2). Doors and trim are much more solid and the dashboard is now mid 90's instead of late 80's style. I prefer the white dials of the old car.
3). They still use a seperate key and remote to open the doors and start the engine. Most manufacturers sensibly use a combined keyfob.
4). The "Sports seats" are ****. I was told that bucket seats will be a cost option and that SUK thought that safety consious UK owners would prefer the side airbags of the Sports. WRONG. Bucket seats will be standard on inports from Europe.
5). There is now a digital temperature guage and the bright switch has gone. In my opinion gaining a temp guage does not make up for the loss of the bright button.
6). The engine sounds a little bit quieter (especially inside), but still sounds great compared to any other 2000cc motor.
7). The car is still fast. Although the test 4dr I drove had not yet reached 1000 miles, the difference between this and my old MY99 is not as much as some magazines indicate. OK, from 3rd gear things feel a little bit slower but you are still pushed into the back of the crappy seats.
8). The gearchange is excellent and feels shoter in shift then I remeber the old model to be. There is also a much smoother reaction from the clutch when pulling away.
9). The handling is SO MUCH better. The slightly wider tyres give vastly better front end grip and the car has to be pushed hard to give any hint of understeer. The extra 100KG have not decrease the overall agility and the steering wheel still tells you everything.
10). Prodrive will release a Performance Pack for the WRX which promisses to improve upon the MY99/00's PPP power.

Conclusion.
You've probably read all this before, but the car is slightly slower, handles better, is better build and is all rounf a better package. In my opinion Subaru are unlikely to change the headlights for a few years, so we will have to live with it. I'll probably end up buying one although I'll wait for the STI before making my final decision. My advice is to go out and testdrive one before slagging it off (as I originally did). It is a good car.

 

I agree that the STi would be worth looking at despite bl**dy awful headlights and rear spoiler... although EVO mags write isnt good..

As for the standard N-A-I turbo, i reckon they've tried to aim it at the joe bloggs market, so that its more acceptable to the general public...

but still not convinced, although I do think more positively about it after the test drive in the WRX wagon I had a couple of weeks ago...

Hopefully a few people benefitted at the Fleet meet, from seeing it in the flesh, the WRX saloon that is, that my local dealer brought along.

Hmm.. judgment is still out on the new age imp, hopefully the STi will be better...

 

You cant deny that when you put a MY00 next to a MY01, the older version doesnt half look dated. I think the MY01 looks awesome, dont forget that when the original Impreza first came out, it looked like a bag o sh1te.

Cem

 

I also took a test drive of a WRX on Saturday and agree that the car has been improved in many respects. But it is now plainly aimed at the family saloon market. The scooby has lost it's edge, the aggression and rawness that I love!

We will just have to wait for the STi!

PS. the Rally car at the Motorshow had much improved lights, dare I say it didn't look like a Corolla!

 

It's just like the Ford Scorpio - when you're inside it, it's quite a nice place to be .... and you don't have to look at the outside!

 

The bright switch hasn't gone!
It's now on the indicator stalk.

Fraid I think its pants, I agree with EVO eaters comments

 

WHY HAS'NT IT GOT THE JAP SPEC HEADLIGHTS, I THINK THESE LOOK 10 TIMES BETTER AND ARE H.I.D

P.S, I ALSO HEARD THE MADE THE STI BASIC LOOKING SO THEY CAN SLOWLY SPICE IT UP AS THEY BRING OUT OTHER VERSIONS(so in a couple of years time we might have a real mean looking scoob)

 

They're hideous.NOT a worthy successor to the impreza's of old.My appinion,that's all.

 

Had a test drive in the new WRX today, very smooth, power comes in lower down so no Turbo hit Boo Hiss, felt more responsive probably due to the bigger tyres although they didn't seem to fill the wheel arches as the previous model. parked my MY00 next to it and still prefer mine. The spoiler's crap reminds me of my first MY98. The lights well say no more. The seats, althought supportive of your backside are not as comfortable at the top of your back as the MY00 model.

Overall more refined, but to me thats not the point, its the rally feel and aggressive stance that we want. Hence most people change the exaust to make it sound better. Would I buy one no, but then in 3 years the STI version with all the right styling and performance bits could be the one

 

Hey, as Iain T said the bright switch hasn't gone

It now controls the clock and the new temperature gauge

 

hi all

Anyway, ugly or not ugly , this is not the question, it's just a question of time...

One thing is sure is that with this weight you can stop call the impreza a "group A road car". It's not a rally car now, it's like a M3 or a Audi S4 !!!.
Mountain roads with this weight, it is a joke ???

 

It is sad, but we will all become accustomed to this hideous cut-and-paste mess of a design and people will eventually buy the damn thing...remember the Sierra.

But I also think that the old shape will become a classic in years to come...but there again I also think the Mk1 Escort still looks cool.

I for one will be keeping my 'old' Impreza because, not inspite of, the fact that it is unrefined, and in my view it still looks the dogs goolies.

Stratman

Oh....and I never bought a Sierra.

 

I agree with Orville.

I've driven one and the differences in overall performance are not as bad as the doom-mongering suggests.

The total package is much better than the previous car.

With more power, it'll be awesome.

 

It's good to read that some people think it's a good car.

Trouble is, whilst waiting for my test drive, I've been looking into importing. Now I really don't want to pay full price for a MY01 but I don't want to have to wait 6 months for an import either.

I paid full price for the MY00 and had no regrets. But for the MY01 I don't think I'll be happy unless I get a discount...

 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>But I also think that the old shape will become a classic in years to come...but there again I also think the Mk1 Escort still looks cool.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You had treatment yet?


cem

 

Apparently next spring the WRX will have real bucket seats. At least thats what I was told at the Motorshow.

Steve

 

It is only the 4 door that gets the crappy seats. According to the glossy new brochure, the 5 door gets buckets from day 1. Why do SUK think saloon owners want side bags and Cortina seats whilst Wagoners would like buckets? Or do they think we'll be happy paying extra for grippers that probably cost less to produce anyway.

 

Regarding the non-sports seats in the 4-door ...

I have been told that it was due to a mistake by IM that the first load of UK-spec 4-doors was accidentally ordered with the wrong seats. If this is true then the statement by IM that <I>'safety consious UK owners would prefer the side airbags'</I> is deeply funny!

Not much fun if you have received one of the first cars.

I'd still have one though ...

Andrew.

 

In Holland the MY01 is only available with sportbuckets, the sidebag-chairs are an expensive option. Maybe someone in Holland wants to swop?

BTW the dutch prices went up a lot.. no aircon, no rearspoiler, no radio, no sidebags.. haha..

 

I was actually getting used to the look of the new model in the photos. Then I stopped at Mill Lane the other weekend where they had one "in the flesh".

I parked next to it, and have to say that seeing the two cars side by side, the MY01 looked crap! Mind you, I don't think the light blue colour helps its case at all. Don't know if it would look any better in a darker colour, like the new black.

I know looks aren't everything, but I'm very glad that I got my MY00 when I did, as I'm not sure that I would have got a Scoob if all I could get was the MY01.

 

Hmmm....it still looks crap!

 

It's just like the Ford Scorpio, you don't look at it whilst your'e driving it do you?. This was just what a dealer in Aylesbury told me!
Well the Ford Scorpio was a best seller wasn't it. And eventually you'll have to leave the car and return to it. Unless you wear a blindfold you'll have to see it sometimes

Seriously though I like the look of the car except for those blasted headlights

 

Alliance Car Imports are now offering UK spec MY01's for £16378 with 5-6 months delivery. They also say there is a 3 year manufacturers warrenty included, so I assume they source from Belgium. You'll have to pay for registation, a tax disc, probably a Cat 1 immobliser and pick up expenses, but the total OTR price should be very close to £17k.

 

So has anyone actually bought one yet???

 

I've covered nearly 2000 miles in my WRX 01 MY . OK its not as raw as the old model but its f**king scoobytastic!!!!!
All round better than the old one...

 

I went to my local dealer to have a look at the WRX and it looks much better in the flesh.(I know every body says this but its true)
Makes the old model look like really early 80's.
See ya

 

I've driven one and am not imprezed.
( Current car MY99 with scoobysport back box, eibach springs and bumpsteer mod.)

It does not look as bad in the metal as in the mags, but still looks like a cross between a Corolla and a Neon on steroids.

The interior is better but not so keen on the ICE.

The ride is smoother but there is very little feedback from the steering.

Performance! Crap. When I nailed it, nothing happened, I was about to ask the sales lady what was wrong with it when it began to kick in. Not the punch in the back and rapid increase in revs/speed of the old model , but a gradual increase. OK, it will still blow most cars away but the raw edge has gone.

Would I buy one as I already own a MY99?
No chance, unless they change the seats, the lights, get more performance, get rid of the pea shooter exhaust, put a large rear wing on and get more feedback from the steering.

Would I buy one if I had never owned/driven the old car? Maybe, but I'd rather go for a P1 or an RB5.

Jon

 

On the price issue, the dealer I got my MY00 from in Holland faxed over prices, from which it looks like that the OTR price will be between 17 and 18 K. Having spoken to a UK dealer it is possible for them to do the MY01 for under 20K, they have managed to close the price difference a lot. I would now be very doubtful over whether it is worth importing one from Europe.
Not that I can now afford to buy a MY01, even if I wanted to.
(Just to go against the general opinion, I think the MY01 actually looks better in the pictures than real life)

 

OK, so people said go see it in the flesh - so this morning I went to Lavendar Hill and had a look.

It's nasty!!!!! I don't think it is any better in the flesh - I think it's worse!!! Nasty dash, nasty dials, nasty nasty door handles, nasty front spoiler (too shallow and not aggressive enough), rear spoiler just plain nasty, nasty dash air vents, nasty (and crappy) seats - only thing I like better, the doors sound more solid when you shut them.

Not sure I can past all the nastyness to bother test driving one.....

Matt.

 

Not sure I can past all the nastyness to bother test driving one.....

Matt,you won't get past it. It's still there on the test drive