2009 Subaru Impreza WRX First Steer

By Alborz Fallah | December 03rd, 2008

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan First Steer

Subaru says it’s sharpened the claws of its iconic ‘Rex’ with the launch of the MY2009 Impreza WRX sedan, and while the figures are certainly impressive, does it have the bite to take on its newly created rival the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart?

-David Twomey

The full assessment of that question will have to wait until we can fully test the two cars back-to-back but the initial impressions are that while the latest WRX, at least in sedan form because that’s all we’ve driven, has a sharper feel and is certainly quicker than the MY2008 model it just doesn’t seem to have the sharp edge of the Lancer Ralliart.

There’s little doubt that at this point the arguments will begin but it needs to be said immediately that this latest iteration of the WRX is, in some respects a very definite attempt by Subaru Australia to get the car back to something closer to the WRX of old, and an acknowledgement by Subaru that it may have gone too far in softening the car with the release of the all-new Impreza range last year.

If you doubt that then in Subaru’s own words it has “put the boot in for Model Year 2009, adding power, torque and a raft of other aggressive ingredients.”

The newly released sedan variants, available in WRX and RS, although we have only driven the WRX version, share the same turbocharged technical advances.

The 2.5-litre turbocharged engine now produces 195 Kilowatts of power at 6000rpm and 343 Newtonmetres of torque at 4000rpm.

While Impreza WRX is meaner, it’s also greener – lower fuel consumption and emissions result from the engineering refinement.

Fuel consumption is improved in the combined cycle from 10.7L/100km to 10.4L/100km, while carbon-dioxide emissions are down from 252g/km to 247g/km.

There’s also numerous other changes to the ride and handling of the latest WRX that are designed to give it a sharper feel and more responsive handling.

Let’s deal with the engine improvements first and there is no doubt that the more powerful WRX is a faster accelerating car, Subaru has gone to considerable effort to produce figures showing just how much quicker it is over its own 2008 car.

Next Page…

Pages: 1 2 3 4

Driving on country roads in north-central Victoria we could tell the car was quicker but interestingly it doesn’t feel all that much quicker!

We also drove the car for a couple of laps around Winton RaceWay (photos coming) and while this gave us the opportunity to legally wind the WRX up to its maximum performance potential it didn’t provide much other information.

We did also drive a 2008 car around the track for one lap and while there is a difference the degrees of difference are pretty subtle and would only be obvious to someone like Asia Pacific Rally Champion Cody Crocker, who was on hand, or a Subaru enthusiast who had spent a lot of time with both cars on a race track.

There’s also noticeably more punch when coming out of corners as a result of the added torque but again its small degrees.

As for the handling and ride improvements, well the car does feel a lot tighter than the previous car, but a number of journalists on the press launch were heard grumbling about how soft the car was – turned out they hadn’t driven the 2008 car and didn’t have a yardstick to judge this version against.

However, it also makes the point that the Impreza WRX is still a lot softer car than the earlier versions and that’s because it is still Subaru’s marketing intention to grow sales by broadening the appeal of the car.

Basically it comes down to this; if you want a sporty daily driver then buy a WRX if you want the hard-edged Subaru ‘Rex’ experience of old then you will need to stump up for a WRX STI.
So what’s changed with the 2009 Impreza WRX?

Well, among the highlights, Impreza WRX offers:

0-100 km/h time improved from 5.8 seconds (MY08) to 5.31 seconds26kW more power
23Nm more torque
Increased boost
Enhanced suspension package – sharper, more aggressive handling
Better fuel efficiency (combined cycle/ADR 81/01)
CO2 emissions reduced
Options of leather trim with sunroof, and satellite navigation
New mesh grille, with WRX badges front and rear
Distinctive red brake calipers
Wider tyres
Red stitch seating and steering wheel adds to sporty appearance
WRX logos on front seats
Pricing maintained at MY08 levels – simple choice between hatch or sedan, as prices identical

Since we unveiled Impreza WRX sedan at the Australian International Motor Show in October, we’ve been inundated with inquiries. Controlled aggression sums up the MY09 Impreza WRX – it performs better across the board, from power and torque to carbon footprint, which is a major engineering achievement. New generation Impreza WRX hatch opened up a whole new stream of customers for us. Now the introduction of the sedan, combined with a raft of enhancements, gives us the opportunity to take the WRX profile to a whole new level.” Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia

Mr Senior said the new generation Impreza range is a winner across the board, with sales up 7.0 per cent to the end of October.

“We’ve had amazing customer acceptance of new generation Impreza, and early indications since the introduction of sedan variants in September are that it’s going from strength to strength. Our safety message combined with a fun driving experience, durability, excellent whole-of-life costs and resale value, continue to attract new customers to Subaru.”

In the interior of the WRX red stitching is added to the seats and steering wheel and the WRX logo features on front seats.

For the first time, the car is available with the options of leather with sunroof, satellite navigation or the combination of leather, sunroof and SatNav. A 60/40 split/fold rear seat optimizes cargo carrying options.

Next Page…

As part of the ride and handling improvements there are wider Dunlop SP Sport 01 225/45R17 tyres.

A new mesh grille and WRX badges front and rear, for added visual distinction and the WRX sedan features a boot lid spoiler and the hatch a rear roofline spoiler. Red brake calipers differentiate WRX from other Impreza variants.

Running the larger turbocharger from the STI variant, maximum turbocharger boost has been increased from 78kPa to 92kPa.

A revised exhaust system provides a 30 per cent reduction in gas flow restriction, to match the turbocharger performance and increase engine power.

Subaru has also conducted significant testing in Australia and Japan to tune suspension settings for local conditions.

Enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the 2009 Impreza WRX is biased towards sports handling, while retaining good ride comfort, grip and stability when driven enthusiastically.

The coil-springs, stabilizers and top mounts are stiffened and roll rigidity increased to improve maximum lateral G and turning ability.

Fine-tuning of the damping forces in the shock absorbers provides linear response with minimal delay when steering.

Improved shift feel is achieved in the transmission through use of a ball type key for the first and second gear synchro hubs and a change to the key groove on third and fourth synchro sleeve.

Hardened materials are used for the main shaft and first driven gear, while operation of the clutch slave cylinder now incorporates an orifice valve to protect the drivetrain during rapid clutch engagement.
A damper valve is added to the steering gearbox to reduce kickback, particularly when cornering on rough roads.

The downside of this could have been a lack of feel in the steering but we found that the car still had good steering feel and certainly had virtually no kickback, and we did drive it on some rough country roads.

Next Page…

Subaru says the new wheel and tyres were chosen to complement the suspension springs, damping and bushing, to ensure optimum grip and ride comfort.

The tyres also optimise the balance of dry and wet weather grip, steering response, NVH levels and ride comfort.

Tyre width is increased to 225/45 from 205/50, benefiting grip and handling performance, to match the more aggressive sports suspension setting. MY09 Impreza WRX is fitted with Dunlop SP Sport 01 225/45R17 tyres and 17x7JJ alloy wheels.

The new car maintains Subaru’s ANCAP rating of five stars for occupant safety and four stars for pedestrian safety.

It also comes with:

ABS anti-lock brakes with four-wheel discs and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Brake Assist
Child seat anchor points
Curtain airbags – full length
Dual front airbags
Dual side airbags
Four wheel disc brakes (ventilated front, solid rear)
Front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters. Double pretensioners on driver’s seatbelt
Front adjustable seatbelt anchorage
Hill Start Assist
Rear door child lock
Seatbelt indicator lights – front seats
Shock absorbing brake and clutch pedals
Side intrusion bars
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive
Three-point A/ELR rear centre seatbelt
Vehicle Dynamics Control (electronic stability control system)

As we said at the start the latest Impreza WRX is definitely a sharper handling, more powerful car than the previous model, but then a lot of people have told Subaru that it needed to be and they seem to have tried to heed the message and at the same time rise to the challenge being mounted by Mitsubishi with the Lancer Ralliart.

Our final verdict on their success or not will have to wait but the initial impressions are that this car is more to the taste of a lot of previous Subaru Impreza WRX owners, but it will still be too soft for some.

Tests and Figures conducted and provided by Subaru Australia.

	MY08 Impreza WRX	MY09 Impreza WRX
Standing quarter mile (s)	14.05	13.27 (-0.78)
Quarter mile terminal speed (km/h)	154.63	163.02
0 to 100 km/h (s)	6.03	5.31
5th gear; 80 -112 km/h	5.53	5.05 (-0.48s, 8.7% imp)
5th gear; 80 –120 km/h	6.95	6.35 (-0.60s, 8.7% Imp)
5th gear; 80 –140 km/h	11.12	9.68 (-1.54s, 13.8% Imp)
4th gear; 80 -140 km/h	7.96	6.72 (-1.24s, 15.6% Imp)
3rd gear; 60 -100 km/h	3.75	3.26 (-0.49s, 13.1% Imp)
Lap time (one km)	49.55	47.7 (-1.85)

Fuel efficiency also benefits from the engineering refinements:

Fuel consumption Litres/100km	Impreza MY08 hatch	Impreza MY09 sedan & hatch	% improvement
Combined	10.7	10.4	2.80
City	14.6	14.4	1.36
Highway	8.4	8.1	3.57

MY09 Impreza WRX Recommended Retail Pricing

Impreza WRX sedan and hatch $39,990
Impreza WRX sedan and hatch with leather trim and sunroof $42,490
Impreza WRX sedan and hatch with Sat Nav $42,980
Impreza WRX sedan and hatch with Sat Nav, leather and sunroof $45,480.

Sam

Nice car, but for some reason it doesn’t invoke the same kind of excitement of WRX’s of old.
Stevo the Devo

For an extra 5k you could get a XR6 Turbo. More grunt, better looks, cheaper insurance and a proper RWD.
zahmad

As soon as Fuji went to Toyota’s increasing ownership, it went to the dumps, with looks and interior design…to much bland like corolla and tacked on bodykit like corolla…
Flying High

It would be good if Subaru could at least keep their website up to date. The information here is more current.

Anyway, it is an improvement all told, although the ftont end is still too soft.
greenroom

The 09 edition was a chance for Subaru to get some of us back. Opportunity lost Subaru. It’s still a Grandpa’s car. The ship has sailed for WRX. Too little too late and no, I won’t stump up more $ for the STI…

^ I agree with Stevo the Devo, and the XR6T is a bargain machine.
Biggles

Give us less stats and more review! What was it actually like to drive other than “a bit soft”? Tell us more abou tthe Winton steer!

AS someone who might be in a position to buy either the Ralliart Lancer or the WRX in the near future, I need to know more!
dylan

steve the devo, enjoy driving your unreliable heap of australian built garbage.
WVB

As a wrx stalwart I’ll reserve a final judgement until I drive one but as for the looks it’s still a bit frumpy and cheap. I have seen a few base sedans on road now and I still don’t know if I like it.
In the pics, the seats do nothing for me and the stitching in the photos looks awful. My 02 pews look heaps better. The under bonnet view has completely lost its purposeful appeal with an even cheaper looking intercooler than the MY06 and way too much plastic moulded manifolding and cooling parts. I still don’t like the missing subaru embossed brake calipers as per the previous versions and to paint them red now is practically insulting.
Subaru might have addressed a few MY08 shortcomings but the whole package just looks much heavier again and really cheap.
I think Subaru are resting too much on the history of the wrx moniker and where 14 years ago a wrx was without peers and mind blowing, now I think it might be a bit mind numbing if only in looks alone. Subaru’s performance in WRC this year was also lacklustre.
I also read in go auto that Subaru oz are pinning heaps on the impreza and expecting big from the wrx.
Proof will be in the driving though……………………..
http://Mini Ben Larden

13.27 for the standing quarter????????? Quicker than an F6 310, HSV GTS, MY08 STI?????? Absolute garbage.
Phil

This should make values for the MY08 tank.. they’re already pretty damn cheap. And then I shall buy one
my99 owner

definite improvement – this is the first model i would even consider buying since the 99 model (which I have owned since new). didn’t like the look of any previous generation (especially bugeye) – but this one is ok, and good as a hatch, and also with the power to match. some people are never happy… i know someone with an xr6 turbo, and he can’t believe the takeoff and instant power on the wrx.
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

Driven one couple of times, over last two days!, HOLY CRAP big difference over my08!, it has simalar feel/torque up to 3500rpm, then just takes of has much more pull and a harder edge sound also stronger turbo sound, and pulls hard all the way to redline unlike my08, suspension is definately firmer but still comfortable anough to live with easily!, best std wrx ever by far and I have driven all the models..
Crouchy

Im sorry but it still looks like a Kia Rio from the rear. No amount of “rawness” will take that away…
Matty B

Gotta agree with those performance times ????

Is this claimed or tested ? Cause if that’s tested it’s quicker then the STI…Sounds a bit quick to me.

5.3 0-100kmh ????
13.27 0-400m ????
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

dont know about 13.27 0-400m, but definately in the 13 sec bracked easily, if an my08 can achieve a 14.00 it feels at least half a sec quicker than that so maybe a 13.5 is achievable IMO..
Joe

Matty B, that is tested….Subaru generally get Cody Crocker and Dean Herridge to test their new models, they’ve been doing this for years.

The times are real, recorded with proper timing equipment.

As a point to note, Car and Driver magazine over in the USA tested the new MY09 WRX vs STi and the Ralliart vs Evo. The MY09 WRX was the quickest to 60mph and over the 1/4 mile, even quicker than the STi (although with a slightly slower terminal speed).

Lets hope that Subaru do something with the STi in 2010, because if this is all true, they’ve just cannibalised their sales by putting out a car thats quicker for 20k less.

Another interesting point is the actual engine differences between STi and WRX. They have the same bottom end, with different heads and cams between them. The turbos are the same, bar the front covers which are different to suit the different intercooler style. I’m not surprised they are so close now, only 26kw difference and the WRX is 200kg lighter than the STi.

Looking forward to getting our MY09 WRX in early Feb, white hatch with leather/roof. Should be great fun
Rebs76

Tnx Joe for making everything a bit clearer. If that is the case, then WRX is surely the way to go. Styling is however so disappointing to say the least. The front end I can swallow (albeit with difficulty).The back end is just plain dreadful. It does look like an Evanda. How can Subaru design engineers get it so wrong?
TuffGuy

Not sure how a clapped out XR6 turbo would cost less to insure than the MY08 WRX, I am only paying $800 per year for mine as opposed to previous models which started at around $1700.
Who would want the XR6 turbo anyway – it is a huge big tank, it is a Ford, cost heaps more to run, it is going to guzzle petrol like the old dinosaur it is, it is a Ford, it looks like a grandpa car, it is a Ford….
To those tools comparing the rear end to a Kia Rio – get some damn glasses it is not even close. On the other hand have a look at the rear of the Lancer Sportback – it has Holden Viva all over it.
SamR

Tuffguy said ” MY08 WRX, I am only paying $800 per year”

For insurance? No way.

I was looking at buying a WRX until I got an insurance quote for $2000+ with full no claim bonus over 30 and perfect driving record.
John Doe

The performance times quoted for the new WRX seem very optimistic, especially in real world driving conditions.

My guess is that Subaru had their rally drivers launch the cars with 6,500rpm on the dial, slamming the box through the gears, and all done in perfect conditions.

Unless you enjoy regularly buying new clutches and gearboxes, my guess is that real world performance is likely to be considerably slower.

Having said that, given the Rex’s hideous looks, you’d want to get away from the lights as quickly as possible!

John Doe

*You can’t polish a turd … no matter how much faster it goes*
SM

SamR – depends where you are – I’m 25-30 and just got an online quote for $1040, here in the NT…
davie

Subaru has a key problem here… WRX was once the leader. When you lead, you define a segment and others have the disadvantage of trying to market into the niche you have defined. Customers will look at your competitors cars mainly in the context of wether they match up to yours.

Now the WRX is a follower. Its trying to bend/compromise itself to fit into someone else’s niche.

It tried to fit the crowd pleaser Euro Golf GTI niche. Fail. You need disciplined mature styling, well sorted suspension and a quality interior to do that.

Now its scratching round trying to fit the WRX back into the hard core Jap hot 4 market niche. This is currently defined by the Ralliart and to a lesser extent, the overpowered but blisteringly fast MPS.

Subaru should have remained disciplined and evolved the WRX so it kept defining this segment. The sad and self inflicted Impreza identity crisis of the last 8 years is one of Subarus own making.
Paul

It looks disgusting, no matter how quick it is it will never win over my vote, the wrx was breed from the sheer rawness of rally (hence why the MY06 is one of the best looking, black exterior, black rims, the thing just looks like it wants to be thrashed). They are just trying to appeal way to much to a more conservative market. I have always loved them until now. They had their chance to fix it and screwed it royally. Everyone will start to overtake including Ford Europe when they bring out the new RS. Even the Evo has a bit of a tough look about it. This thing looks like a Koreon cheap import with some aftermarket flaired guards…
http://caradvice.com.au OSU811

With insurance on a WRX it depends heavily on how old you are, driving history and where you live!, being over 30 with a good history I can insure a new wrx for $800-$900..
riceboy

i drove the MY08 and it felt a bit slow… bought a Golf GTI MY08 instead… insurance $750, 30yo, rating 1, no recent claims…

would be interesting to drive this new one… and can’t wait to compare it to the new Golf GTI…
davie

One other thing Subaru,

please fix the absolutley awful speedo etc dials.

The amateurish font used for the numbers and layout of the dials is simply embarrasing. Even the koreans have moved on from this sort of garbage about 5 years ago.

Take a look at just about any other car for how to present a prestige sporty dash and dials.

I didnt mind the new hatch shape, I barely tolerated the korean styling, I stayed quiet about the hard plastic dash but I cannot believe just how far backward this dials and presentation step was when they brought in the new shape.
Ivan

I would give the WRX another year. Just like the Bug Eye where it took Subaru 2 years to listen to their fans.

I really, really hope that the 2010 model will be a full revamp. Like Davie said, they need to be disciplined in their design and start leading the market again.

The engine seems excellent. Keep it that way and improve on top of that.
Tom

That was a very poorly written article, it skipped back and forward and read like an advertisement.
The Axe

Righto tuffguy…. Absolute rubbish about your $800 insurance for a WRX. Where and which insurance company? Bet you can’t answer that one….
The XR6 Turbo will run rings around any WRX in most areas. Everything from straight line speed, to the gearboxes and comfort. Your claims of it being a “fuel guzzler” are rubbish as well. You have obviously never sat in one let alone driven it. So get off your high horse..
Joe

The Axe…does it run rings around the Subaru in resale value?

I’ll buy one in 2 years when its worth half the new cost, thanks.
SamR

Subaru cannot style cars at all. Remember the Subaru Vortex? Almost the moat amateurish design ever.

They are also a one trick pony. Every car seems to be a variation of the same thing, a boxer 4WD.

The WRX goes for sure but that’s it.
TuffGuy

Yes I do only pay $800 per year for insurance on an MY08 WRX with NRMA. I live in Canberra, 50yo and full no claim bonus. All the other insurance companies still wanted around $1700.
Axe if you still do not believe then call NRMA yourself for a quote Just check for yourself first before mouthing off any more. I also get a small discount for having house and contents with them too.
My work car is a Falcon wagon 6 cylinder and it is the thirstiest mutha trucka I have ever driven. I suppose you will now try and tell me throwing a turbo on it makes it more economical eh??? No it will guzzle even more of the liquid gold. No I have not driven a turbo XR6 because it is just an old grandpa looking Ford hence I would never consider buying one.
Sexythang

hopefully this would make mitsu update thier rallyart lancer output as well.
Rebs76

If Subaru is willing to listen, fire the whole design team from Korea. Hire a team from Pininfarina to design the next WRX/STI. Keep the engine. WTH, isn’t that hard to figure out?
Wheelnut

I tend to agree SamR – ever since the 02 Impreza they have gradually gotten worse and worse.. compared to the more recent models the Bug-Eyed model is beautiful and modern.
Same goes for the Forester [the original cross-over vehicle/soft roader in Australia].

I don’t know what they were thinking when they came up with the Tribe-ca either.

I’d like to see them bring back the Brumby Ute but I’m worried about what it would look like

At least the Liberty range still has a bit of style – for the moment at least.
ross

tuff guy -

ur 50 and complaining about grandpa cars

like really

ur 50

y call urself tuff guy online

y drive perfomance vehicals

and y argue the new wrx looks better then any of the latest xrs?

an xr6 is alot more economical then a falcon wagon cos of the fact that it WEIGHS LESS

not even brining the turbo into it
Nik

Hey Wheelnut,
US markets have a version of a Subaru utility, it’s called the Baja. Don’t Google it, you’ll die of disgust. And yes they’ve all gotten ugly, and the Liberty’s are holding their own for the meantime(Win for all us Lib drivers). But I see a better looking front bar, big 19″/20″, lowered on it’s a*se, and spoiler removal, plus some tail light upgrades and maybe a rear sculpted bar. Consider that we are only know seeing some of the best Japanese aftermarket kits coming out for the MY03-05 range I’d give it time. Factory is always sh*thouse styling though.
Nik

Hate to double post, but Rebs76, no to the Pininfarina. I say bring in Ings, M-Sports and a handful of Japanese drifters (your typical Nismo Nuts). Tell them to style the best body they can think of for the new WRX. Short, 4-door and aggressive. Then you’d have a WRX that keeps the tradition. WRX is Japanese motor sport, the entire AWD system was built to handle the same mountain roads that Nissans drift down now. The engineering is un-matched, the looks?….not so much.
Howie-VL

It is a little unusual comparing it to the xr6t since they are completely different cars, I myslef prefer powerful rear wheel drive cars. But there are strengths that this has over the xr6t if you are going to compare. For example; safety, re-sale value, fuel consumption and reliability.

Definately an improvement over the other model, glad the sedan is avail now too. I still think it looks too soft, but the new grill does give it a slightly more agressive appearance to the previous model.
Dlr1

Ross, get some facts…. BF3 XT wagon 10.7 l/100 , FG XR6T sedan 11.7 l/100 both combined cycle figures as per ADR tests. So exactly how is the XR6 Turbo more economical?
ross

Dlr1

read my post

i was comparing it to a standard xr6
TuffGuy

Ross, yes I am 50 which does not make me a grandpa yet, or at least it shows me to not have grandpa tastes by not buying a grandpa falcon. On the flip side I do not wear a backwards baseball cap, listen to doof doof noise (no it aint music)and act like a total wnkr which is why I never bought any previous model WRX.
TuffGuy is my gaming name, not too old for that either. In fact I have been working in IT for 20 odd years so I am not senile either
The WRX has always been a great car, it just acquired an antisocial stigma from the doof doof wnkrs and ram raiders. Also every new model to date has been massively controversial and this one is no different. By the time the next new shape comes out everyone will love this one and complain about the new one. qe sera sera.
So there you go the WRX is massively better looking than a falcon, a young fresh and modern look. The falcon remains a gas guzzling dinosaur driven by grandpas towing the old caravan.
timbo

i have just test driven new rex and ordered one.this car will eat up hsv’s and fpv’s around some twisty mountain roads.can’t wait!!
ASDASDADSDA

Subaru have killed their nicest car… just like they did with the bug eyed wrx in 2002 its a shame i thought they could bounce back with the new model but no… and just for the record i agree that the Ford XR6T is a much better solution…
ASDASDADSDA

Timbo you should be shot 4 supporting the sales of this ugly as hell car…
Phil

I think they look much nicer than the MY07. If u don’t like it, don’t buy it

PS. NRMA online quote for me, 27 yo male, Gold Coast, $957.
Fasthonda

TIMBO

Have you ordered the sedan or the hatch back.?
I haven’t taken one for a test drive but I went past the Subaru dealership and I just sat in the sedan version which I thought looked was quite good.
I’ve always had a softspot for the WRXs I have a cousin who is a senior Subaru mechanic/technician in Melbourne and the only problems that occur have generally been caused by bad modifications.
timbo

fasthonda,i ordered a black sedan.for all you holden and ford lovers,i beat you in my 05 wrx,and i’ll beat in my 09 wrx,anytime around gold coast hinterland.
Turbodewd

WRX insurance costs hurt! *ouch*

Does the WRX come in a fast auto? It hasnt had a viable auto as far as Im aware. XR6 Turbo autos, however, are beasts and its a fab gearbox.
Wheelnut

Turbodewd – As far as I am aware the last time Subaru offered a WRX as an Automatic was the 03-04 model and from what I’ve read the latest one will be manual only – you’d wonder why as its virtually lost all the other charactersitics etc of a “Real Rex”

And you’re right about insurance costs.. I have a 2.5 Litre Impreza RS which has all the same features as a WRX including the cool seats but doesn’t have a Turbo or the Anti-theft Keypad. I pay approximately $700 insurance.. my brother in law owns a WRX and he pays approximately
$1700 insurance.
Wheelnut

Quote [Nik]: “Hey Wheelnut, US markets have a version of a Subaru utility, it’s called the Baja. Don’t Google it, you’ll die of disgust.”

I know Nik I’ve seen photographs of it and it’s awful compared to the old Brumby ute.. which I still see every now and again on the roads still after 10 or more years

Mind you the yanks have an uncanny knack of taking a nice looking car and making it look hideous – look what they did to the VE COmmodore with the G8?
Tomas79

Wheelnut, obviously looks are a subjective matter, but in my opinion the Pontiac G8 is the best looking version of the VE. Then comes the SS. HSVs are too tacky, too “supercheapauto” for my taste…
Wheelnut

Tomas79: You think the G8 is better looking than the VE Commodre… well it appears that you do have a sense of humour after all… but then again you’d have to to drive a Landcruiser/Prado and think that it’s a Classic and will be a Collectable.

And if you think that the HSV looks a bit “Supercheap Auto” then that would mean the Aurion [including the TRD] is a bit “$2 Shop”
Andrew M

wheelnut,
we all know the reason tomas prefers the look of the G8.

he always says the furtherest thing from holden is the best.
unfortunately the G8 isnt too far away from the commodore (looks wise)

if tomas thinks the HSV’s look tacky, then perhaps he better look at the TRD range, or better still any toyota that sports a body kit.
Toyota cant even design a total front spoiler, nor a rear bar.
If you notice, you will see that they merely stick flares onto the front and rear bars. It seems dollars rule over having to wear tacky body kits.

Holden always seem to come up with a well proportioned front bar. Anyone who calls their kits tacky is in denial
Andrew M

even stone flectors on XF Falcons look less tacky than a TRD body kit
Bill

Stevo the Devo, why would anyone want to pay an extra 5K to get the boat-like handling, poor resale and taxi looks of an XR6 Turbo? Im not a huge fan of the latest Rex, but I’d sure take it over any of the local performance offerings
byu88

I also have done a quote 30yrs NT, TIO, AAMI….800-900
rating 1

But I know for a fact that If I lived in Sydney or Melbourne and depending on which suburb it would double or triple.

And your right Ford XR6 Turbo are cheaper to insure why cause there not classed as a sports car. $600 last time I looked. cheap to get lots of HP compared to a wrx too.

But let it be a Holden or a Ford build quality has to be questioned though it has been better, I still would never fork out money for either. I’ll go VW insead

Subaru usually learn from there mistakes and with mitsubishi up there ass with the ralliart, they still have a upper hand cause of the Twin Clutch-SST gearbox, is not everyone cup of tea, A manual version may sway people.

Just have to sit tight and wait and see. Doesn’t take much to make a WRX look better, get rid of that tinny exhaust and fill those holes out back nice big chrome tips, dump it a bit and you have nice sounding car and get mags and your done.
Rob

Well call me a minority but I think the HSV styling is god-awful. Smashed up crab front, tacky wheel arches and uninspiring rear-end.
Don Juan

Crappy..

Looks like a Subaru badged Toyota….

Oni the hood top cut to put an intake…

Esp the rear….Toyota…”WRX”? Gotta be kidding me
Zed

All of you snap out of it and buy a M3
moogle

My 2006 WRX is insured for $860 which is more than the XR6 Turbo I had insured for $580, but that I traded in for the WRX after wanting a better sports car. I’m 28.

The 2006 BF 1700kg Garrett turbocharged boat would go hard in a strait line but way to softy sprung in the corners… it also definitely needs the brake upgrade they offer as 1700kg is a huge amount of weight to pull up.

The nimble 06 WRX I own… owns the XR6 Turbo I owned.

I feel sorry for 08 WRX owners but as the 09 is so much better, though I’m glad the 09 is a giant leap forward. Still boring to look at though.

Well done Subaru, now fix the looks.
James

some people here think changing the shape of the car is easy..

sorry no… its actually the most expensive to change… well apart from interior parts etc.

Mechanically… all vehicles have SAE standards so many parts are common… bolts nuts etc… gears.. rods u get it.

the body shell? the shape of the car?.. for every new model this is where 85% of the cost comes from… as the tools to make them are new… interior parts (dash etc) as well as electronics can be “re-used” mainly the electronic bits minus maybe the surface parts…

but the bumper, fenders, rear half of the car (body shell), the lamps etc… all HUGE cost.

Subaru is not gonna spend an extra 10 million to change the shape… although little cosmetics like bumper, grille, lamps (difficult to change due to cost) can be changed with extra cost but the shell cannot…

If Subaru will change any it’ll be for the next model… not facelift…. maybe 2012~2013…
Moogle

I never said it was going to be easy.

Subaru really need to muscle up the exterior of the Impreza WRX now there out of the WRC or they will lose even more sales to Mitsubishi or elsewhere. Not that the Ralliart is a better car because it’s not, but it sure looks better. Subaru need to return to the street appeal of WRX’s now the hatch has no rally or street appeal. Don’t get me wrong but the 08-09 shape WRX (even the sedan… definitely the sedan) needs to man up! They need to embrace their identity and not listen to outsiders until it’s totally accepted. Also the STI has to stomp on the competition hard to make some noise that there back and mean business.
Moogle

If they sell out on the Impreza… Mitsubishi have won and nobody who loves Subaru for what they do wants that! The liberty cannot replace the IMPREZA!

Impreza is their identity!!!
Psymon

I just traded my 05 WRX for a Black 09 Sedan and I couldnt be happier!

0-100 in 5.31 secs in a car that rides sooo smooth yet still has fantastic handling is nothing short of amazing and for $39990 you tell me a better PERFORMANCE bargain?????

All the people that crap on about it looking like a kia… pffft…. what a load……. Agreed it doesnt look as aggresive as an 06 but ive been there and done that and I grown up and so has the WRX.

Everyone bagged the S*&t out of the MY06 pignose and Bugeye versions after they came out and now everyone likes them so its no different.
Cameron

I think this car is superb on paper. The problem is still the styling. It really doesn’t say anything!
The performance is fantastic and on this side of 40G it’s cheap. But that styling! It’s not something that one could easily be proud of. The interior needs a major work over too. Still cheap and nasty. Until they sort this, it will always be second to golf gti in my books.
As for XR6. Great car and I dig like the looks but running costs aren’t going to be cheaper. The WRX beat it in the handling department every day ending in y. That said the XR6 seems more practical with heaps of space. I guess what ever angle you take there will be compromises. As most people have said, I just can’t get past the finish of this car.
http://n/a HjortDomino

Folks,
I just traded in a BA MkII XR8 with 234 rear wheel kW’s for an MY09 sedan.

The Ford was OK over 3500RPM but took a month of Sundays to get there, but even with $5K of go faster stuff on it isn’t half the car the Subaru is (and worth sweet FA as a trade). I’ve owned 11 go-bloody-fast Fords which I made go even bloody faster by spending huge wads of cash on them, a couple of Clubsports (unrefined shit-boxes: never again) and some early 4 bangers I worked to the max. A standard MY09 is so much better up to 200km/h than anything I’ve piloted (and I drive BLOODY hard, but as safe as possible and/or points allow): which is considerably hard at times. I liked the Ralliart until I saw the service cost at 100,000km…..$3000!!!!!! Look it up yourself. That fancy box COSTS: as do all fancy boxes

Add the same $5K average I spend on my toys, with a cheque to MRT to bolt 35kW’s (at the hubs) on, and for my money I can’t see better. As far as looks go, the car has the arse end of a bear looking downstream waiting to catch a salmon. The front is ok. The leather seats are comfy, love the glass and sunroof/stereo. Seating position is better for going hard than a Ford XR8. Having experience with the build quality of the Fords, I’d say the Japs are still better than us at building cars, but the gap is getting less each year.

Insurance in WA (43 y/o), in a cyclonic affected zone, is $127 month with 65% no claim bonus through SGIO. If I lived south, where there was no cyclones it would drop a couple of hundred per year.

The new 09 XR6T was better than my 05 XR8, but handled like a fat opera singer in stilletto’s, which after throwing a heavy car around for a couple of years turned me off. The brakes were crap and the cabin noise was like sitting in an ultra-light plane. And as far as a plastic looking interior goes, both cars were equally crap. But at least the seats in the MY09 sedan actually felt like you were sitting in them, not on them.

Now, when is MRT’s second stage kit arriving? Bring it on.
Boost-juice

a) XR6′s make awsome power. and thats it. They look crap. They have that unfinished look like an 8 year old designed them. Too plain, too boring. Aussie build quality – pleease!! MY VU SS 2002 ute was the worst thing iever did if you know anything about all 5.7′s at the time. OH, and they look like cabs, and have about as good resale afterwards.

b) The rex sounds better, looks heaps better, handles better and now goes better.

c) I just traded my MY08 on an MY09… I considered a SS V8 till I realised it would cost me 10k more, but be worth 10k less just as quick.. Leaving me 20k worse off.

Please Im all up for supporting homegrown, but until its the king and is better, im sticking with what I know is better.

MY03, MY99, MY08, MY09 owner.

Also had a skyline with 450 (genuine horsepower@engine)
and a bimmer 325ci.

Rexies kick ass for the money, whack some nice 18′s on it with an exhaust and you have a beautiful car.

And no one will pull you over for a ride…
kruiser

I tried the new Rex the other w/e and was somewhat very disappointed. It felt dull and boring, especially the finish with cheap plastics inside. However, great acceleration and engine braking. Seating position could be improved, ie. the pedals are way too far offset from the steering wheel. Not enough knee room from fully released clutch to steering wheel. I later drove the golf GTI. ….it won me over immediately, in both finish & drivability…But each to their own. both cars were driven on wet road surface, GTI some wheel spin but not overally worrying. WRX was great in the wet….
Boost-Juice

Kruiser,

The only time the GOLF has been even mentioned in the same breath as the WRX is with the MY08.

94-2007 and 2009+ onwards, its in a different league.

Just got my MY09 with leather and sunroof, standard xenon lights etc.. Dont know what cheap plastics your talking about? Sams crap they have in much better cars. As for being sold on the GOLF’s interior and FWD… good luck with that. I DRIVE my cars. Some like to sip late coffee’s in them.

GTI is, especially the new one, a hair style.

WRX has always been about the drive. Theyve never been pretty.
You went the Golf. Do you go to Toni and Guy Hairdresser’s (i.e. pay $100 for a mans haircut)?

I actually went to VW up at chatswood, and the were acting like snobs…. someone needs toremind them they make cars less than 50k hahahaha…

The people who sold me my new 325ci coupe ($99300 on the road with all those options , were not half as misled!!
Sorry cant roll with you rex dissing adn VW praising. Different category of car.

Punce V Power.

Good Luck.
Boost-Juice

That and the interior of the golf is like that scottish kilt shit?
NICE!
Silent456

WHy the hell would you want a ford XR6 turbo, when its RWD. RWD is shit compared to 4wd thers no arguement there.

And anyway if i was to get a ford it’l be a F6 typhoon
Tommy

Insurance, Newcastle area, $42K value, 35 year old male, $846 GIO, $780 NRMA. Depends on where you live.

Just got rid of a SS after test driving one of these. The acceleration is blinding, it feels quicker being so much more responsive and lighter, and overall just loved it (why I spent so many years hating these things I don’t know). Never judge a book by its cover.

As to getting the power to the ground on the SS, you need to be skilled to get close to 6 seconds. Getting off the line without excessive wheel spin and smoke takes a lot of doing. Particularly in the wet.

As for the 09 rex sedan, don’t judge a book by its cover. Drive one and see what you think. My test drive was a wet day and was mind blowing. I have always owned Aussie cars, and hated Jap ones. One hour in one last week had me buying the WRX within 2 hours. How times change.
DesignEng©™

“Subaru’s Impreza also posted an all-time sales record in June of 1568.”

Seems that there are plenty of cashed-up buyers who dissagree with the negative comments here.
Peter

Well, maybe at 42 I am an old man then. I had the option of a 2004-05 M3 BMW or a WRX sedan. I test drove both and bought a MY09 WRX. Why, the price is hard to beat as well as good all round optioning without the cabin being filled with wasteful techno crap. I find it a true old style car you can “drive”, and does it go – oh yeah. I can also fit my teenage kids in the back comfortably when I have to allow them in it! I too thought the pictures avail on the net looked a bit “soft”, but when you see the 09 WRX in the showroom, they look much better and the finish is very good. I do agree some interior components could be made better made, but plastic is now what cars are made of. That is my biggest gripe. However, the leather seats are comfortable and I like the sunroof option. Priced well as new, they are hard to look past. I am now troubled by a wife that wants to drive it all the time. As for will they sell, I had to wait two months for delivery. Try finding one avail in Australia on a dealership floor – you wont. My insurance per annum is a sprinkle over $1000. The same as all my previous cars.