1997 Subaru Impreza GL 2000 AWD 2.0 16v non-turbo from Brazil
Summary:
Reliable / Trustworthy
Faults:
Not to say just nothing I'll mention that there are some noises inside the car.
General Comments:
PROS:
For who can only dream with the WRX, this is a great car.
Very fun to drive it over twisty roads, specially those gravel, mud and sand ones. It feels like you're on a WRC event. The tires, that are 185/70 and it's in superb suspension are what gives the car its great handling over these trick type of roads. In my country, the city roads are not so smooth as they should be, so the car is just perfect.
The AWD traction is so exciting, and it gives you so much confidence.
I've never had any mechanical-technical problem with the car.
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CONS:
You can actually see the Fuel Indicator Needle dropping. With 50l I can drive for 350-400km.
The non-turbo charged version of the engine is not that powerful (125hp) and the car is some kind of heavy, that's what explain its slow acceleration (0-100km/h in 11s).
I believe that most noises there exists inside the car are a direct result of its not-so-rigid chassis.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th March, 2003
24th Apr 2005, 01:22
Regarding grey Imprezas, having owned an STi manual, two WRX autos and a 1.8 HX (Japanese model designation), it's my view that there's really no point having anything much under 200bhp. With the 1.6-, 1.8 and cooking 2.0-litre engines, the handling far exceeds engine performance, so unless you are on snow much of the year, it's hardly worth it. The extra weight and transmission drag of 4WD gives unjustified poor fuel economy and borderline mediocre straight-line performance with a 100~150bhp engine. The smaller ones even have drum rear brakes, which may explain why it's the only Subaru I could fade out the brakes. However, changing the plugs is far easier. In Japan, Subaru have a 220bhp (from memory) non-turbo version, which would be perfect for keeping UK insurance cost down. Female insurance clerks obviously don't spend their free time reading "Hot Chicks and Hot Metal" type auto magazines, so non-turbo would make the difference between insurable and non-insurable. Be advised, if you touch the electrics it's liable to bring the warning lights on. But believe your senses and the dipstick. Try switching off and on with the central locking key to clear it. Also, it's easy to get tyres up to 16-inch, above that and you are paying retail. At auction in Japan, it's not unusual for the car to come with a spare set of wheels and tyres. No, straight up. Ideal: Japanese performance cars at Japanese prices, low population density, no speed cameras and the plods in Rovers.