The major strengths would be the wonderful speeds it can obtain within such a small period of time. The turbo performs wonderfully, but those with a reall need for speeed might want to upgrade to a bigger unit. The AWD and limited slip perform together beautifully. There is slight body roll when you hit the corners too hard. The intercooler provides just enough cooling to prevent your temp gauge from moving no matter how hard you punch it. Even for me, being in Germany, driving on the Autobahn in speeds hovering around the 140mph mark, the turbo kept on trucking and there was no evidence of overheating of any kind. Another wonderful thing about the Subaru is the surplus of aftermarket parts that are now available. Just a few minor upgrades are needed to make the turbo reach it's full potential. If you only get a cold air intake, exhaust and blow-off valve (for the turbo) it can make this car 2x as fun as before. That is of course if you are into the whole sooped up car scene. (which I am) There are too many things possible to do to this car to list. But if you have enough time and money (about $20,000 - 30,000 extra laying around) you can make this thing produce well over 600hp and be able to out perform Ferarris and Porsches. But I'm getting wayy ahead of my self here. All in all it's a great car, with so much potential. And the seats are great on long trips. :)

Of the few that I can even think of off hand, the most obvious would be the overtly small turbo and intercooler. (the STi corrects these problems) The small Mitsu made turbo is great at low RPMs 3000 and up, but at higher points (5500-7000) the turbo kinda craps out. With my boost gauge, I can witness this happening right before my eyes. Another small weakness it the semi-harsh ride. (even though it dosen't even compare to the brain jarring ride of the STi) Unlike the STi, you can't feel every pebble you hit, but it is still a little choppy. Which isn't all to bad because it is considered a sports car (at least to the insurance companies) and the suspension isn't supposed to be soft. There is a little random cabin noise at higher speeds, butjust get a better exhaust to drown them out. Another oddity would be the top speed of the vehicle. I have talked to other WRX owners, and we all comlain about the same problem. At high speeds, (120mph-140mph) the engine creates a very disturbing whirring noise, which to say the least is a little scary at 130mph on the autobahn. If there are any explanations of this noise, please let me know. All dealers and mechanics I have talked to have no cluse what this stange noise is.

I have owned my Suby for a little over a year now. I have had no problems whatsoever with this vehicle. The entire car is wonderful. Unlike many other lower basline Subarus, this one is totally compiled of Japanese parts. And if I am not mistaken, is also made completly in Japan. You know you enjoy your car if you can make up stupid little reasons to drive it. "I need a Coke, guess I have to drive about 10 miles to go get one, horray!" If you can't say that about your car, you bought the wrong kind of car. And that is what driving this car does for me.

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Awesome acceleration, AWD, lots of room, both head and leg. Very comfy bucket seats (not too restrictive) so a longer drive is ok. 6 CD changer, quiet and smooth ride. Suspension is stiff yet you don't feel every bump (just perfect).

Some body roll is present when going into a sharp turn, at least comparing to an Audi A4, consider some aftermarket suspension parts. Rattling interior parts, no 6 th gear, shifting gears takes some getting used to and 1 st gear is unaccesible or rough getting into, when it would be suitable in slower traffic. Reverse gear as well sometimes its hard to get it in on first or second try mostly when going fowards first. From stand still its fine. Over all however it still beats a lot of cars on handling acceleration and over all driving quality. I recommend it, actually thinking about an STI :) in the future, STI has a much better tranny with 6 gears.

I bought this car just a week ago at the time I am writting this, and I have to say that its a blast to drive. I have to somewhat disagree with the reviewer "rocky" about the day to day driving. I bought this car mainly for driving to work and I live in the heart of New York, Queens in particular so heavy traffic is a daily occurance. When I first drove it a couple of times and got into some bad traffic I thought that I made a huge mistake, but now a week later my shifting is getting better and at this moment its starting to be fun even in traffic. Yes getting into first gear is a pain in the ass, you basically can't do it unless you below 10 mph, but since its a turbo it would be needed to get you going fast again, with that I have to agree 100%, but as I got used to the clutch the shifting is getting smoother and smoother. In total traffic you just have to relax and use 1st and 2 nd gears becasue you can't go fast anyways. I got so annoyed at first just like rocky is but, now I just relax and wait for an opportunity to spool up and leave everyone in the dust. Remember its the traffic that makes the drive a hell not the car, if you know your shift points its as smooth as butter through knife even in major jam. Antoher annoyance is that there is some rattle from the upholstery in the cabin, nothing major but sometimes I do hear some, and every time it comes from another place. I haven't noticed any performance loss when the engine is cold even though I avoid pushing it when it is, but on occasion when I do I do not see any difference. As to driving it just begs you to accelerate to a point where you can loose your licence :) I try avoiding it as much as possible,but many times I endup going way too fast. Once the turbo kicks in at around 3000 rpm it just throws you in the seat and you're gone.

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This car has been pretty good so far, but happen to notice a little ticking noise when release the gas paddle after acceleration. If you ever purchase a subaru, don't go to North Vancouver Specialty. They have very bad service; the manager (Jack) is extremely rude to his customer.

Powerful engine Good performance in the snow Manual tranny crisp and positive Good brakes Comfortable seats Ergonomic cabin Fun to drive

Turbo lag Minor rattling noise inside cabin

This car is everything it says it is and more. I'm not surprised it got the Car and Driver's 10 best two years in a row. I bought the car back in December 2003 and have had no problems since. It was painful having to go through the 1,000 mile break-in period, but once it was over it was pure driving fun. There is some turbo lag below 3,500 rpm, but once the revs get above 3,500 the car just takes off. The brakes feel solid under normal and hard braking, which is necessary on such a quick car. Not only is it quick, but the car handles brilliantly in the snow, even better than my old Durango. The trunk pass through comes in handy when having to carry longer items, and the trunk space is surprisingly large for such a small car. The interior is simple and ergonomic, and the seats provide ample support for hard driving and are comfortable for long trips as well. This car is definitely the best value for money if you're looking for a safe, reliable, quick and nimble sedan under $25,000.

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2000 Durango

AWD, fast, loaded with just about everything from the factory, well built - you get a lot for your money. Seats are well designed racing style units. Headlights really light up the world. Lots of room for big guys. Lots of after-market accessories.

Standard audio speakers stink - upgrade speakers and add subwoofer+amplifier a very good idea. Gear box w/STI short throw shifter is "notchy" compared to Miata - may settle down with time. REALLY annoyed that Subabru chose to not make moon-roof or heated seats even an option on the wagon. Factory turbo boost guage in a odd position on top of steering column.

Very happy with this car. Traded in the Mazda Miata to get more seating and hard top, as well as ability to drive in snow without risking life and limb AND without buying boring slow sloppy handling car/SUV. Excellent fit for 6'2" large man - headroom great, one of very few cars where I don't have the seat all the way back. The rear cargo area is spacious, and with the seats down you can haul around a lot of stuff. Despite the fact its called a "wagon" it actually looks more like a hatchback, and I get positive compliments on it from many people. Handles very well with minimal body roll - suspension is nice balance between true sports and street drivable without needing a new set of kidneys. Be aware you have to use premium fuel (the miata didn't) although you can get away with mid-grade in emergencies. Probably the best combination of handling, power, and practicality there is, with the possible exception of the Volvo V70R which costs $20K more. 1st gear take-off is less than stellar until the turbo starts to kick in at about 3500RPM - but it is a real "sleeper"; not many people seem to know about these pocket rockets, and its fun to watch the look on the faces of other drivers in your rear view mirror as you surprise the heck out of them with the vehicle's performance. Note that the power steering is engine speed responsive, not road speed responsive - this can be interesting to get used to after a non-power steering sports car like the miata.

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1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Volvo V70R

Terrific all-weather handling. Will outrun anything but maybe an S4 in sloppy weather. Great interior ergonomics. Seats, gauge layout, steering wheel, pedals are perfect. Wagon is incredibly versatile. A sports car that will hold four real people and/or a ton of stuff.

NO low-end torque compounded by awful gearing from 1st - 2nd gear. City driving is not fun. Balky shifter. Cheap interior parts look and feel cheap

Summary: A great enthusiast's car that loses a lot of its luster in day to day driving. I like my WRX, but as time has elapsed, I'm becoming less enamored of some glaring weaknesses that have been far under-publicized. Most people who review this car are doing so from an enthusiast's point of view. And from that perspective, it is a wonderful car. However, for the rest of us who use our cars for more mundane things (commuting) the WRX has some glaring faults. The WRX is very, very fast once you get the RPMs > 4,000. Unfortunately, most normal people don't drive like that around town. It's a pig in city/stop and go traffic. Furthermore, the gearing ratios btwn 1st and 2nd gears are atrocious. Unless you wind up to at least 5,000 RPM in 1st gear, the WRX bogs down terribly as you upshift. It is very difficult to accelerate smoothly. The same happens as you downshift, but is further compounded by a balky shifter--downshifting into 1st gear is a huge pain in the butt. And the final bummer is that the boxer engine warms up slowly and runs really poorly when cold. I bought this car precisely because I live in a northern state with lots of lousy weather!

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looks great drives great good milage (which is good because of its high grade requirement) good seats, though not on a long run overall, on the road she earns her respect

what IS up with the rough shift into reverse? small stock wheels kinda suck lights...in the daytime...wuh? all kinds of inventive sound dampening gizmos that shall be removed

Yes, I purchased my WRX via ebay. Sure, the risks were abounding, but I am glad (and releaved) to say that after a year on the road (every day) this vehicle rocks. My red turbo wagon seems to just get better as it goes along, 19k miles, 9k of them mine. Hauls what I need to take (video production equipment) and cheers me up with its fly-down-the-road attitude (good-bye, beemer chump). The turbo lag is there, but with a little creative clutch action this can be overcome. After the factory coverage on the engine goes at 50k I will get into the mods, but not before. I was at a dealer the other day (buying an ABS relay for my wife's '95 Legacy) and there was a WRX in for a fix that was no longer covered because of the extensive mods to the powerplant. What confused everyone there was why would someone go nuts modifying an engine driving the wheels via an automatic tranny??!!

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porsche 911 (on a good day, scooby that is) had a '71 Lemans that cooked off the line, but at a certain point in 2nd where it kinda hesitated the scooby is just kicking in. Would be an interesting contest.

Power, reliability, awd, DCCD differential control, IC water spray, Handling, Brakes, Looks.. basicly everything.

No floor mats, no radio or speakers( does come pre-wired) and trying to keep it under 4k rpm for the first 1000miles :)

I paid 29,500 with a boost guage, security upgrade, and wheel locks. This car is just simply amazing in every aspect. I have been a big fan of the WRX ever since it came to america, and have followed it in japan for a while as I have been a WRC fan for some time now. now I didnt have the money to get the WRX when it first came out in the states so I saved my money and waited knowing the STi would be released soon after. well the wait is over and I own the car now and I have more fun every day I drive it. now this is no ordinary WRX. it has better suspension, BBS wheels with potenza tires, huge brembo brakes, a 2.5L 300HP 300 ft/lb Boxer engine. this car is all out crazy. the interior is a beautiful blue with the pink STi logos placed on the seats. Now this car doesnt come with a factory radio or speakers although it is wired for it. didnt bother me at all, and I know alot of people look at it the same way I do I was just going to take the stock one out and replace it with something nicer anyways. this made it that much easier for me. nothing to take out. I put an alpine hu in with infinity kappa speakers and a kenwood amp. sounds unbelievable. you dont need a sub. but I am putting one 12inch sub in too just for that extra little bit. back to the car now. my first impressions on sitting in it are that the seats are a little stiff, and lack a little bit of support from the sides. I think that the mitsubishis seats are more comfortable. but it ends there. the looks of the STi seats are awesome. and they are still better than the seats in my saturn. the 6 speed transmission is flawless and shifts smoothly. it is a little strange getting used to having such a close ratio but when you get it down it is awesome. the guages do this sweep startup where they go through everything its pretty cool. everyone that sees it thinks its awesome. so thats just a bonus. ok this car is 4 doors. I love having 4 doors. makes it soo much easier than having friends crawl behind seats. I love the wing and the spoiler. although some people really hate them I think they add the the rally look and heritage and I wouldnt loose them for the world. the exhaust is well not loud at all. I though it would have been louder than it is. the SRT-4 sounds very good in stock form. You can barely hear the turbo spool in this car. there is a silencer under the passenger side fender if you take that out it makes it alot louder and you get the phhh noise when you let off and you can hear it spool up. sounds very nice. I noticed that the car did get louder after driving it for a little while. I have 2300 miles on it now. I had to put snow tires on because it would not move in the snow that we get around here. but with the snow tires it is unstopable. the car has no lack of power at all. it pulls in every gear no problem. I am getting about 20mpg average which for this kind of power i think is great. and the respect I get from everyone is awesome. its great to have fellow enthousiasts drive by honking and waving. I wouldnt trade this car for anything.

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Nothing. nothing even compares. I like the evo. but I spend alot of time in my car and I wanted the interior too look a little nicer. plus I have been happy with subaru reliability over my old mitsubishis. jmo

Acceleration (once past turbo lag), handling, drivability in inclement weather, reliability, visibility, manuverability (especially in traffic).

Turbo lag, rattling interior, tinsy sounding radio, a/c that can cycle on and off, clutch can shudder, need to wind out gears to accelerate well.

Overall, the WRX is an excellent commuter car/daily driver that combines excellent handling (particularly on wet/slippery roads), good cornering, and good manuverability. Of all the cars I have ever driven, this car was by far the best for being able to whip in and out of traffic as needed. I also have to admit that having a car where you can do a 4000-rpm clutch dump on a wet road and rocket forward is amazing. There are weaknesses, though. Turbo lag is horrible when starting out, and the car bogs quite badly at low-rpm in first or second gear. I also had a few quality issues - the clutch became very rough/shuddering after a few thousand miles when cold. There were annoying interior rattles. The rear defroster took forever to work. Having said all of this, the plusses certainly outweighed the minuses on this car. I have just sold it and have now purchased a WRX STi. Too early to write a review on that, but preliminary impressions are that it is much different - much more power, little/no turbo lag, and higher overall quality.

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2000 Camaro Z28, 1999 Saturn SL2, 2004 WRX STi (just purchased)

AWD, Turbo, tunability, heated seats, heated mirrors, very fast. Yoshio (Japanese Automotive) can provide a very nice computer program thats better than the popular after market variety and provides major kick. Scarborough Scooby are excellent! 6 CD changer! Other guys might complain that its not a Bose system but I think its great.

Brakes are crap; well, with 239 wheel HP they are. :) Willwood can help there. The clutch is quite grabby and chatters when its cold - but who cares? Crank up the seat warmers and drive on! Plastic end links? Whats that Scooby? Buy the Whiteline "STi" links for $199. You will not believe the difference. I added 17X7.5 GC07's with Toyo T1-S's too and the end links made more of a difference! WOW! The stock ROE92's are fine for protecting the rims, but not great for driving. Make them go away as soon as you can afford too and replace them with Toyo Garret winter tires.

Solid. Tight. Amazing. Easily the best car I've ever owned or driven. Definitley the most tunable and best value for the money. Don't be afraid to tune this thing - it responds very well to ECU upgrades and I've not noticed a big difference in fuel economy either. Handles very well in the snow with winter tires but not with the Bridgestones. Don't pretend its a 4X4 iceracer unless you replace the tires or you'll end up in the guard rail. I Drive it about 50,000km per year and not one hickup. 107,000 on the clock as of today. Amsoil is the only way to fly!

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