I am not sure if anyone else is aware of this, but according to both Car magazine and the now defunct Performance Car, the 1996 Impreza's-modified by Prodrive, with 16 inch wheels-had better steering feel, and more neutral on-limit handling than any other Impreza to date. In fact in their 1996 'best handling cars' issue, Car magazine selected this particular Impreza above most everything else.
When I called Mr.Wood at Prodrive-he told me that the 96' cars had a different power steering system? And he also hinted that there had been other modifications to the car (i.e. rose-joints, seam welds etc)but would not tell me what?
Why do so many journalists feel that this particular car is so special to drive?
Does anyone have any experience (note there seem to be a limited # of these) of 1996 prodrive cars?


[This message has been edited by Jeremy (edited 01 January 1999).]

 

Perhaps these were a limited run of modified cars for rally homologation.
That would maybe explain the seam welding, different steering and suspension setups.