I am leaving on a 'Ride & Drive' on the new 2008 Impreza/WRX/STI on August 10th. As a salesman for Subaru I would like to bring the opinion of 'the boards' to SOA and let your voices be heard.

So what is is it?

Hot or Not???

 

WAY TOO SIMPLE-BE CAREFUL. My 07 WRX is my 36th car-I just recounted the other nite so no BS.What motivates people to by a car the first month ,6th month,year can be very different. I can't tell you how the average joe who buys an impreza was motivated,but you're not asking that from this group. I have always thought the original was fairly ugly and the STI too boy racer(this from a guy who owned one of the original 'boy racer' bmw m3's).But one day I couldn't resist, I stumbled on an urban grey TR and had to have it. I love that car-the only thing that pissed me off is it had expensive tires that sucked and way too soft sway bars.$1500 later it's great, loved and still pretty ugly. The trouble with the new one is it's an unknown ugly,and when we're all looking at the performance improvements they seem to be few-a better rear suspension at best.Here's the rub,bring it in with RE92 tires,skinny sway bars,a slow 1-2 shifting tranny-same hp etc and you could have a real slow first year. Make it faster and better handling than the 07's by a decent margin and the word will get around fast.The bottom line is all the subie guys have learned to love not so beautiful cars on the outside 'cause of what was inside.

 

I'll be driving the wheels off one on August 10th and handling/performance will be a known quantity by then...

This is ALL about exterior design. Did they improve the looks of the product or go backward into a 'safe zone' to appeal to more people ('mass market) at the expense of the 'niche market' (that would be us) customers who have been very good to them?

I am not too sure most here think they are driving an ugly car... for sure the STI is over the top with wings ~ but it still is very Impreza all and all. And it also looks like the family before it (02-03/04-05)... does this next generation look like an Impreza to you? Or a cross between a mini Tribeca and a Legacy?

Has it lost it's way?

 

I voted for hot. For a long time people have said "if they make an Impreza in a hatch, I'm all over it." I'm one of those people. I love the Impreza, acually I have an order for an '08 Forester... I'm not going to buy because I can't see myself in anything other than an Impreza. The idea that the new Impreza may or may not be contender for the WRC points leader is also cool. Everyone must remember that the Impreza's heritage is Rally. A stripped down, shoot it out, tough as nails, off road rally car. They just tone it down for the streets. From what I have seen the SPT/STi option package for the WRX is hot as hell. Frankly they should have released it like this from the get go. If the STi has the aggressive stylin cues much like it has in the past, particularly cues that set it apart from the WRX, it will be all the more to love. Very few cars in this price range can get you as much bang for the buck as an Impreza WRX STi. Throw in a little bit of moolah to set yours apart from the rest of the pack and soon you turn heads left and right. Simply put the car attracts attention. The unique exhaust note, agressive styling, gold wheels. What other car that you know, no matter the color, can rock a gold wheel like a Subaru Impreza. I for one, am going to take the plunge in Dec and purchase a new 2008 STi. I am really looking forward to it.

 

the hatch looks good i think but the sedan version just reminds me of a toyota carolla for some reason.

 

Or maybe a Camry, which SOA is building for Toyota in it's Indiana plant as we speak!

 

really? damn.....

 

Yup.

 

I could of sworn you had a post you had already pre-ordered an 08 STI.

 

OK,I take back ugly-I should have said I hate flash, bling,over styling for the sake of attracting the unwashed masses. The 07 WRX TR was what I wanted it didn't attract attention,except those who "knew" ,and they just sorta smile,but it has the capability of going great nearly stock and going like hell for not a ton of dough.So I don't think the '08 has any of the bad 'stuff' and if my 07 got stolen I'd probably buy an '08 in a flash.But I don't think the showroom will be flooded with the unwashed,fine by me,but maybe not for Subaru.

 

You swear right. Here's the deal, I had my name on the list. they finally got in touch with me, said they expect Dec to be available. Then I changed my mind, ordered an '08 Forester XTS. Well I'm gonna pass on this until the new STi is released. Then I'll make the final decision.

 

We (dealers) cannot accept orders for the STI till November (even though the 1st two guys are already on my bulletin board to be 1st in line when I can order for them!

 

glad to see you've decided to get it

for me the sedan is just way too toned down. I wouldn't call it "a step back into the safe zone" because the imprezas have always looked unique, they never were in any "safe zone" so it seems like less of a "going back into a safe zone" and more of a "leaving the majority of our customer base and going for mass market"

the new sedan looks like a camry on some weak herbal steroids

 

That's the status I am in. I guess Limbo would suit just fine?

 

couple of guys for a local dealership test drove them and they loved them. everyones reaction was dont worry about the redesign they did a good job.


Josh