Just got back from testing the new WRX, here is what I thought:

Looks:
Much better in person, especially the hatch. The sedan I wasn't too crazy about.

Interior:
Interior is much nicer than the 02 WRX I had and seemed on par with the 8. Steering wheel felt good and had telescoping adjust along with radio/cruise buttons. Auto climate control seemed to be standard and worked well.

The drive:

Shifter felt loose like the 02 I had, clutch was much improved. Power delivery felt very linear and didn't have a huge surge of power. Much easier car to drive. Handling was on the soft side with noticeable body roll. Brakes were 'ok'. Pedal placement was not suited to heel/toe.

Seats were pretty comfy and visibility was good.

Also played around with the NAV, seemed pretty good also had Aux video inputs. Not sure if that works when the car is moving though.

Then I tested the STi, not sure what more I can say than has been already said. Handling was much better as was the shifter. Would have liked smaller seats but I wasn't flying around in them. Turn in was sharp, I didn't notice much understeer that people associate with this car.

I can really see myself in the next STi.

 

Subaru has treated me well.

And their resale value kicks butt for if/when you get tired of them

 

Congratulations on test driving the Honda Civic hatch.. I mean Subaru WRX....

 

Have you seen it in person? It's pretty much a Mazda3 without wrong wheel drive.

 

Nah.. I havent seen it in person yet.. I have heard that on the Subaru National forums that they are pretty much pissed off that they would do this to their beloved WRX...

Maybe if it was more rally inspired like the Ford in WRC then it might be cool.. but who knows....

Maybe i'll like it more after I see some aftermarket parts on it.

 

The new WRX hatch is even uglier in person but does not look like a Mazda 3 IMO. The sedan is just boring, and gone are the quirks that made me like them in the first place. It's not faster, it's less fun, and it's more refined. Like C&D said, it's like an Impreza GT, and barely resembles what a WRX should be. After being up close and personal with them today I won't even be giving them a second look. Lets hope they don't screw up the '08 STI and that it looks a hell of a lot better in STI trim...

Here's another little excerpt from the C&D tet.

"MORGAN SEGAL
Subaru has done a wonderful job of re-creating the Toyota Camry. Gone is the low-budget, no-frills rally car of yore, and in its place is a pleasantly sedate car your mother will love. As a WRX owner, I am a bit disappointed that the ’08 car has become soft, insulated, and rather dull. I hope the STI will uphold the WRX reputation."

 

^+1 although "looks ugly" is subjective. That said, it is ugly but then again I don't like hatches of any sort.

Ike's back!

 

Yeah, I wasn't crazy about the drive itself. I'm guessing the STi would fix all that. Not sure why people harp on it being ugly. It's a Subaru, it's supposed to be ugly.

 

^No, thats Volvo you're thinking of. Maybe. Boxy but good?

 

While I totally agree that looks are subjective. To me the Impreza may have been ugly to a lot of people before, but it had character and was something you could grow to love. Fender flares, those clanky doors, the big plunked on hood scoop, and the boxy style were all just part of the experience. The new ones are a lot more boring than they are ugly, and there isn't much to experience now that they've dulled them down so much. The interior is much nicer, there's less cabin noise, the ride is softer, and I could care less. They really have become a car I'd suggest to my 41 year old sister, not my 20 year old nephew.

 

It's funny to hear such excuses for Subie's appearance. The GC8 was the last good-looking Subaru, in comparison to which the bugeye was a heinous joke. Still, the WRX delivered on where it really counted: performance and fun for dollar, and so people have grown to like the look (just like the above).

While ugly/quirky was a part of your experience, wouldn't you rather have good-looking as part of your experience? I guess all that I'm saying is that you don't have to have "character" come from the ugly.

What I don't get, and what bothers me a lot, is that companies think that when they make a vehicle more refined, it has to be across the board, including the controls.

I like a refined interior, a refined exterior, less cabin noise. I can fix a soft ride with some springs. I can fix a quiet car with some exhaust.

BUT I can't fix that damned "refined steering". I can't fix your electric steering rack taking away my connectedness and feedback (Mini Cooper S, you listening?).

Why can't they make a refined interior/exterior, but raw-feeling, involved driving controls?

FWIW, I like the new WRX hatch look (except for the front grille) and I am stoked that the STI will be a hatch like that.

 

Who's making excuses? I liked the look of every Impreza leading up to this one from the very start, as did many others. The new one could be mistaken for several other cars on the road and is just an uninspired boring design to go along with the boring new driving characteristics.

 

You.

 

I'm holding out a lot of hope for the new STI. The looks and weight of the new Evo just don't appeal to me thus far and the forthcoming $70k+ GT-R is going to be tough to justify to the wifey with a baby on the way. Hopefully Subaru hits a homerun with the new STI. Watching WRC has given me an appreciation for fast hatches and I hope this one is a winner too.

 

i like the new upcoming Mitsubish evo

 

the new wrx really looks like its one of the Hyundai line-up. not that i'm saying hyundai is bad, but hyundai is pretty boring and wrx looks boring.

 

I personally hope this sentiment keeps up even when the STi is released. Should be nice getting one at invoice when everyone is getting bent over trying to buy an Evo.