Some pics of it in red and black here. Looks better than the press photos and they seem to have sorted out the grill by removing the chrome.

Litchfield Imports

Has it made anyone change their minds?

 

Like the sound of the GT sport. Tempted to get one in Gold Metallic just to annoy PSL

 

Personally I do not think it is awful but it is very bland and no longer stands out. I completely understand what they are trying to do, appeal to a wider audience and therefore sell more cars and most people in this country don't like to stand out, this government will not allow it, therefore it will appeal to more people.
Perhaps this should have been an all new model and they should have carried on evolving the Impreza as it was ( I am sure all this has been said before). I would not count out buying one, but it would be more as a family runaround hatchy thing, which is what they are trying to achieve. I will give you an example, when BMW replaced the E30 M3 with the E36, everyone groaned and moan, but it went onto to sell considerably more than the E30 because it was less hardcore and therefore appealed to more people...

 

I like the front but the rest is very non descript...ill save a full judgement until I see it.

Are they dropping the WRX/STi branding/models then?

 

The UK will get a STI in 2008, no WRX though, only a N/A car i beleive at this time.

Mac

 

£23,000 would rather have a focus for 16K

Failing that - HAWKEYE will be going cheap soon........

 

Hawkeyes are cheap now the way they are depreciating

I still don't see any personality in it. Trying my best to reserve judgement for the STI proper...

And what are those rear lights about? Horrid!

 

Doesn't matter what colour it is, it's still a hodgepodge of Focus, Astra, and Civic.

Alcazar

 

I think that this model may push Subaru into a re-think on their UK target audience. If it sells well, best of luck Iain, then they may have no choice. More importantly it will prove their marketeers wrong and get them on track.

Sadly, I think not, roll'em in Litchfields, they are goona sell.

Focus, slower, older and a Vulva engine.

Subaru, newer, quicker, an engine with soul and still fecking ugly

 

I think we are getting the WRX here. In japan they are going to call it the S-GT to separate the lower models from the STi, which as you say we should get in 2008 some time.

 

I look forward to and await judgement afgter seeing the STi D .
But it's still going to be £28K by the look of it hopefull the UK not A to watered down version

tONY

 

Type 25 if I had the cash, you can keep the new car............. not for me.

 

I thought the bug eye was hideous when it first came out and swore I'd never have one (on SN probably). I now drive a bug eye, so the shape must have grown on me.

Having said that, the lack of a WRX (and to an extent equal length headers) will lose them a lot customers. Not everyone wants the power of the STi, and some can't afford it/are prepared to pay that much. Also, if the models below the STi are too bland and slow, there are plenty of alternatives.

 

looks too much like a vx astra

 

Front looks ok

Think the back looks really awful tho

 

i like most of the car but there are a couple of features that put me off!

it's a hatchback? impreza's are saloon cars IMO
uk model's are non turbo - WTF?

 

Uk models are only non turbo at the moment.

AFAIK, there will be normally aspirated models, for UK and elsewhere.
WRX models, badged "S-GT" for Japan,
And a hotter STi model for UK and Japan.

When an ENTIRELY new model comes along, the hot version often follows after development, and to allow the lesser models to get over any teething troubles. Ford always did it with it's RS models.

Someone correct tme if I'm wrong.

Alcazar

 

Litcho and other importers will have a field day selling the Turbo's

Tony

 

Lol No cheap Hawkeye's if everyone prefers them to the new one

 

STi....

 

UGH Hawkeye is the future

 

Nah, Evo X is the future. Personally, I don't think I'll be getting back into the depreciation and endless modding of either. There are cars out there that don't lose money and are good enough in OE spec

 

Noooooooooooooooooo...

 

Unfortunately we enthusiasts are in no way a big enough market for Subaru to keep making "turbo-nutter" niche models and a few 1.6/2.0GL lower-spec versions.

The big market in the UK is the family hatch, so that's what they're going to go for - think of all the Golf/Focus/Civic style cars there are - manufacturers aren't making them on the offchance, they make them because they can shift a large number of units. Money talks!

Hopefully, if the hatch becomes a real big seller, it'll provide enough spare cash for STi to really concentrate on making the hot version fly - be it this model or the next.

Still not chopping my classic in for a new hatch though - just prefer my old banger!

Steve

 

Rover 25 anyone?

Alcazar

 

I like that sti. The scoop won't be as big as that though surely.

 

No ones 100% - until October is it?

IMO the sole reason the new Impreza looks the way it does, is because the designers were re-assigned from SAAB to Subaru by GM.

 

Steve,

Not personally having a pop at you but I doubt if any of the New Subaru's are or were aimed at "Classic owners". Most wouldn't buy one unless it looked exactlly like an old antique 22B, dont get me wrong the 22B looked gorgeous in it's time. But so did my my multi coloured Tank top in the 60's. It' now old and outdated some peeps still wear them but not many sane peeps

I not saying I will buy it but hated the BUGeye and yet bought a new MY02STi Untill I can actually see the STi and drive it, then I'll know

IMHO

Tony

 

LOL - no offence taken Tony.

I'd be the first to admit that my old classic is way behind in terms of build quality, trim, fit & finish, etc. etc. I was nearly tempted by a Hawkeye as the interior, amongst other things, was a great improvement (IMHO). Would have been a Type 20 or 25 from Iain though, not via a dealership.

Did look at a bugeye when they came out but just wasn't keen on the looks - even though you can't see them from inside!

It's all a moot point for me anyway; due to the work on the house, towing stuff, etc. my next car's likely to be a Nissan Navara! Still, no problem getting the scoob to/from the track then.

Steve

 

GM sold their 20% of Subaru some time ago, GM and Ford are being crippled in the US by the likes of Acura/Infiniti and crap sales etc so have been rationalising, Ford sold AM and may off load Jag and LR soon.

Toyota were granted permission by the Japanese Government to buy the shares instead.

People have mentioned that mainstream Golf/Focus/Civic are bread and butter and the "Turbo Nutter" is not catered for, so why are GTi's, ST's and Type R's selling so well

Bring back the WRX all is forgiven