Damned if you do damned if you don't - they shouldn't use a "2.5RS" badge on a car with a 2.4L (remember when the numbers on vehicles indicated engine size? Pepperidge Farm remembers) but if they made "2.4RS" badges it limits their ability to add an "RS" trim level to the 2.0 models & other vehicles (assuming they continue the 2.0 models or want to apply badging to another vehicle).

Honestly though, I don't really care all that much; it's a vanilla people mover/commuter with a boring drivetrain, the RS badge is just lipstick on a pig. Subaru has been slapping "tuned by STi" badges on everything they own, why not add another badge to the mix to attempt to increase appeal through nostalgia.

yup, and Subaru goes along the lines of image over substance. One of the most vile and lazy attitudes that plague all aspects of our lives today. I blame MTV and that rock and roll music...

yup, and Subaru goes along the lines of image over substance. One of the most vile and lazy attitudes that plague all aspects of our lives today. I blame MTV and that rock and roll music...

Should have a turbo FA24


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And a 6spd manual, and at least a rear diff.

An Impreza is an Impreza. A WRX is a WRX.

The Impreza continues to be what it always has been. It's fine. It's the WRX that lost its way in some regards. But where performance is concerned I'd argue the WRX is as good as it's ever been, while being as ugly and unusable as it's ever been. Gotta have that trade-off.

I was behind one the other day, from a distance, its a straight blob in appearance

Kind of a reach, me thinks.

I saw one the other day too, and I thought "I'd love that in WRX trim".

From a rear right angle in a base trim, in Dark metallic grey, at a distance most definitely a blob haha c'mon

That's just your distaste for hatchbacks showing. It's a good looking car as-is, give it some more WRX like features and it'd be a lot better.

It could use a longer spoiler on top to lessen the rounded out nature of a hatchback, similar to what the wrx had years ago when a hatchback was available.

WRX this, with the spoiler standard.

I feel like the WRX would need something still a little more aggressive, more similar to the 2009 spoiler update. It would also need a longer rear bumper to limit the suv look and hide the muffler.

You're probably right about the dis-taste part, I know how much the block sort've sits forward in the front, leaving the nose more pronounced, but yeah something with the Hatch spoiler would help. Maybe some more flared fender and qtr panels. I actually really liked the look of the 2018 Impreza Sport, I thought they nailed it with the angles and panel moldings.




This new one seems somewhat softened angle-wise with this added arched roof. And.. actually the shape of the rear windows and stamping of the Qtr Panel seems tapered (When it probably isnt) with that heightened roof line above the driver door. Plus the more pronounced hood.

"Has been" for a looooong time. 15 years at least. Saw a few on my trip to Japan in 2008.

Is MTV still a thing. I'm totally at a loss for words. Jokes aside. I'm blaming TikTak.

no idea. figured 100% chance I would be corrected or ignored if I was wrong. The joys of apathy.

LOL

no idea. figured 100% chance I would be corrected or ignored if I was wrong. The joys of apathy.

LOL

Interesting review from a mechanics perspective.

I wasn't aware of the electronic brake booster, explains why the brakes felt so different.

The new one has letter opener-inspired tail lights.

[quote=chanomatik;46874174]


The evolutionary move to crab claw taillights was inevitable; most species eventually evolve into crab-like forms.

Put a manual as good as the Civic Si in the Impreza RS and I would buy one over the WRX. Power is not a huge priority to me. Driving feel is. So if they worked on those aspects I would be very interested. Just by not using the cheap looking cladding, the Impreza looks better than the WRX. Wagon for me is not a big deal one way or the other, I incline towards Sedans. I like a hatch better if it is more of a sloping back like the current Civic Hatch or the ACura Integra.

Saw this the other day... Costs more than a base WRX too

Ok. Thats wicked dumb. Ignoring the WRX Markdown, the MSRP on the WRX is $100 less than the RS?

At first I laugh, but then I stop and realize that this is just more proof that Subaru really has lost their minds.