I personally think the Hatchback Impreza has been unlucky in a number of departments; I don't think the styling is all it could have been (just my opinion), the car didn't get much time in the WRC (hopefully that'll change with Gronholm bringing it back later in the year) and the fact it is - in styling and marketing direction - such a radical departure from the Impreza's of old, it was bound to draw a lot of criticism.

I think the Escort/Focus comparison is a very good one. As the direction of Ford changed they ended the Escort line and rolled out the Focus as a car with different design criteria, but an equivalent to the Escort (it seems pretty ironic that the Hatchback Scoob seems to be quite often referred to as "a Mk 1 Focus"). Given that Subaru talked about the different design criteria and marketing direction of the hatchback Impreza before its release I think launching a completely "new" car would have made a big difference to how the car was received. (But thats only my opinion)

I'm certainly not against the idea of a hatchback though (I'm not too proud to say that the new Focus RS gives me the major horn - and the EP3 Civic is one of my fave performance cars of the last decade); I think it (the Hatchback Impreza) is a funny car design in that when you see certain elements of it alone; i.e. the front view, the rear view... they look good, but somehow the whole lot doesn't fit together as a package. I don't think the shape is beyond rescuing though; I wasn't a big fan of the Bug Eye when that came out, but the subtle tweaks made on the Blob have cemented it as one of my fave shapes now.

BUT. Despite everything I've said above... I've never driven one. So I can't really form a true opinion until then. And no matter what you say, its still got the performance of an Impreza of old under the skin.

PS: The comment on the transition from 2.0L to 2.5L: I thought that was to make the car comply with emission regulations in the US?

 

At the next SS meet or when I see you down in Kent for some Rally X, I'll take you for a hack mate

Can't wait to see how Gronholm gets on in it, in the WRC, fingers crossed he doesn't put it in a ditch on the first stage after all the hype...

 

Think you're right Paul or they could be Rota G-Force.

One of the things that the MY08 will never have over the old model is the size of the boot. I can get 4 sets of golf clubs in my car without having to take the drivers out. I bet you can't get a set in the hatch without taking the driver out of the bag.

It may be a great car once its tweaked and the suspension is sorted but I can't see past the look of it.

 

How many people try to fit 4 sets of golf clubs in their boot? I'll try a set tomorrow, only problem is I don't use drivers as I can hit a 3 iron just as far.
It's all a matter of what you want as I can now take the dogs out without them destroying the back seats or thinking they've been kidnapped by the mafia.
I'm having a WALK and an alignment at Prosport on Saturday to get more feel but keep the ride quality.

 

I picked up a new fridge the other day.......

 

What's the ET offset and hole pattern size for the 2008 STI?

 

pcd is 114.3 offset 53 i think m8 may be wrong on offset
geo

 

cheers Geo

 

Not wrong mate, the offset on the standard wheel is 53.

 

Would I generate enough £'s from selling my BBS alloys to cover the Advans do you recon... someone with a UK STI still on 17's maybe...

 

 

Don't know mate. Your wheels should fit the post 05 STIs as the wheels I have, the 5 spokes on the 330s, came off a Hawkeye. The bad news was that they only cost £240 for the set off ebay so I don't think there's much demand for 08 STI wheels, people are nearly giving away the standard 17s with tyres. Add that to the fact that the Advans are nearly £400 ea for 18s.

 

I may just get my gold BBS's powder coated black then.

Milek exhaust (cat back..not really interested in mot issues at a later date)
lowering springs
tints for the rear clusters
might get some armour mudflaps too... but fitting looks bloody awkward...

 

Looks superb in white with PFF7s, never seen those on a hatch before. Any more pics??

To be honest i think the bottom line with all things 'new' is people critise them when they have the 'old' model. It's human nature to defend their older, inferior model by saying the new model isn't a proper Impreza.... so a 10 year old sh*t box one with lexus lights, an exhaust that rattles windows, tacky dump valve and naff stickers all over it is .

After having two classics (one JDM, one UK), a hawkeye (traded in for an M3 12 months ago) i went for a test drive in a hatctback STi a while back and have to say of all the cars as a daily driver the hatchback wins for me, just needs a wheel change and springs to sort the stance. I'm thinking of moving back to Subaru and this is coming top of the shopping list at the moment with some good deals about.

Tony.

 

Knowing the pistons are a weak point in the engine what would it cost and what make of parts would you replace them with ?? Just thinking of upgrading before i blow it up lol

 

Very true. I hope Gronholms driving is better then the paint scheme for the "new" WRC Impreza though...

 

I have a silver hatch with 18'' ppf7 in anthracite makes the car look much better,pistons are a weak link just had one fail on mine and an internal crack in the turbo.engine rebuilt but lasted less than seven days and spun a bigend so waiting on I M to decide what is to happen next and had a rear diff fail and center diff fail.

 

When my piston went they fitted a new short motor, did they not do the same with you?

 

Looks like a shoe.

 

M8 look at the bottom of this thread!
Rallyarmor 2008 WRX & STI Mud Flap Application Now Available - Page 2 - IWSTI.com: Subaru WRX STI Forums

There are to video links which shows how to fit Rally Armor mudflaps

I'm going to get some, doesn't look to bad to fit

 

Ha, just abit nerve wrecking when you have to pull the piece of your car off just behind the front wheels. Apart from that not bad at all.

Lee

 

yep thought the same thing and the side skirts look a bit thin

 

the rallyarmor flaps are def a nice bit of kit

 

this has become a bit of a 'love it' 'hate it' thread

i wonder what the car would have looked like as a saloon shape?, i for one think it would look much better.....maybe Subaru will introduce the saloon?

its a tough one but, photoshop challenge anyone?

 

look what i found....

New York Preview: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX sedan

Possibility

 

here go look at a 09wrx sedan since they get them stateside, click on exterior photos

Subaru Impreza WRX Premium - Photos, Pictures, Colors | Subaru Vehicles

 

No just rebuilt with one new piston,new rings on the rest, new bigends,new mains,new turbo,new intercooler.Did tell them to put new short motor in but refused.

 

Didn't have to ask my dealer they just did it and after did a nice discount on a PPP for me. I'd have gone to trading standards if that was what they had offer me on a new car.

 

In what way? ...I've never driven an Impreza with that amount of body roll before ('96 STi, 00 UK 2000, P1 & 06 STi)[/quote]

Body roll is actually the same as the previous Impreza believe it or not, well it's certainly the case with the WRX.

Because the springs are softer your just getting to that "lean peak" a lot quicker!

 

Body roll is actually the same as the previous Impreza believe it or not, well it's certainly the case with the WRX.

Because the springs are softer your just getting to that "lean peak" a lot quicker![/QUOTE]

springs and anti roll bars softer and softer complience bushes as well
geo