Used 2004 Subaru Impreza Consumer Reviews
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Sleeper Wagon, able and quick
The engine, once in the power band, is raw power, serious, and breathless. The boxer flat-four gives a unique engine sound reminiscent of the traditional Porsche 911. With AWD, handling is phenomenal. Performance outperforms price and other cars in similar price range. In fact, the performance rivals that of cars priced far higher! Overall, for the price of such a playful, demonic little sport wagon, I am extremely happy with the purchase. Highly recommended for those wanting a genuinely high- performing sports car with the skill to do the tasks of small SUVs!
You Only Live Once
This is an absolutely amazing car for the money! I have had mine for almost a month now, and have many upgrades. We can fit the carseat in the back, and as far as the insurance company knows, the STi is a four door family car. I traded in a mustang gt for the STI and love the trade. The STi has power, as well as being VERY economical. Gas mileage is good, when you're not wearing the lead shoes. And the dependability that Subaru offers is one that stands strong. It is hard to find a fast car that will never get stuck in the snow, but the Subaru did it.
- Outback WagonMSRP: $5,987187 mi away
- 2.5 SedanMSRP: $6,495193 mi away
- WRX SedanMSRP: $4,600210 mi away
I love this car!!!
I bought this car because of it's performance combined with it's versatility. I work closely with several different doctors and have had the opportunity to drive many of their cars ranging from King Ranch F-350's and H2's to Z06 Vettes and BMW Z3's. This STI will easily keep pace with my friends' Vette, plus I have a back seat and a trunk and average 25 mpg. This is the first turbo-powered car I have owned, but the power deliver seems very smooth to me. It is very easy to putt around town in, but even easier to fly on the interstate with.
Wow...
I love this car. Last week I had an 2003 Acura NSX race me, he could not belive why he was behind me. lol Everyone that looks at dosen't belive how fast it is untill I take them for a ride, afterword they are just blown away. Its about time the STi came here!
For love of a car
I wanted a WRX from the time they came out. When the STi came out, I decided to get it instead. I am very glad that I did. When I finally do get a different car (years down the road, and my STi has been driven into the ground) it will have to be even more amazing than this one. I love driving it. It is the most fun I've had in a long time. We might even have to get my husband his own.
Family man sees the light
I'd been sentenced to the past few years to a Volvo sedan. I've two little kids, and somewhere I'd heard that Volvos were safe. But I'd been eyeing the WRX for a couple years now, and finally took the plunge a couple weeks ago. It is a revelation. The feel is near- european, much superior to the mazdas and nissans I tested, though still not as vault-like as the Volvo. The acceleration is as filling-shaking as you'd expect. More interesting is the handling. Throw it into a curve and torque it up, and there's not an ounce of slide or wobble. I don't get where people say the back seat is small. I cram my kids in there and they love it.
$30,000 Porsche
I have had my STi for a few weeks now and it is amazing. The interior is beautiful. The chrome accents give a hint of luxury to this almost strictly performance car. It has more torque then the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and you feel every bit of it. When you push the gas you can feel your back being pressing into the seat. Even with all this power the ride is amazingly smooth. The handling is quick and responsive. The car also doesn't have quite as much of the "teenagers Honda" look to it as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution does. All in all this is in my opinion the best sports car ever made under $60,000.
Best Car for Fun and Family
I bought my WRX last weekend. I am very impressed with it. Not to mention the great horse power and acceleration that everyone knows about, the interior is actually very good and up to my taste. Some people complain about the cheap interior. For those who are doing research, you must go to dealership to see it and test drive it. It's not luxury, but it is not cheap either. The ride is much more quite than I expected. The basic sound system is not bad as well. I have a big cargo room and a roof rack that I know I would appreciate someday. For fun, family and practical use, this car is simply the greatest for the price.
Why no wagon?
Excellent car. Just curious: Any others out there who would like this vehicle in the wagon version?
Love It
This Car ROXXORS. Not only does it feel like a rocket when going in straight lines, but this thing is a blast to throw around. Endless power and that lovely turbo noise is great. Best 4cyl car ever.
ts wagon
The TS2 wagon is sporty, responsive in handeling and acceleration, and fun to drive.
Totally love my blue bean!
Last year, I test drove 2003 Acura (the sporty one - apparently it was forgettable!), Subaru Impreza WRX, Hyundai Tibouron, etc. Favorite of the bunch then was Tibouron, with its comfortable passenger seat. This year was my turn to purchase a new car... test drove the 2.5 TS Impreza Sport Wagon (manual) and absolutely loved it - my first new car! My only test drive this year - It was the right choice. All around, quick and smooth - shifting took me a while to get used to after having a 91 Isuzu Trooper. I don't feel like I'm driving a wagon - more like a little rocket. Redesigned headlights are great and significantly improve the look of the car.
the punisher
With the reliability of the japanese product and the best performance for your buck without compromising handling like most of the domestic models. The car has better hardware than that mitsu car. how can you compare drive trains. It $ 4,000. more but in after market cost would not even come close for the wrx to meet the parts cost bin or the evo for that.The car ifyou brake in proper can do sub 13.15 quater miles and handle if you know how to drive 72.1 in the salom. After all who is in the rally know and who dropted out last season!!
Comfortable and Fun
I almost bought the STI but I am glad I didn't. I like the fact that I get heated seats, heated wipers, moonroof and all around more for my money. and for an extra $2500 you can make the WRX a little faster than the STI with actual Subaru performance parts. So, my vote is for the WRX. It's comfortable and fun!
Not perfect, but getting close...
So far so good, and with Michigan winter coming, we'll really know for sure. This car replaces our Jeep Wrangler - seems light-years different, I know - but not really! The Outback Sport has WAY MORE luggage and passenger space, is vastly more comfortable on long trips, and uses a LOT LESS fuel. But we never took the Jeep on anything worse than reasonably smooth dirt roads (lots of camping), and the Subaru tromps over those even more comfortably. But I wish it were just a little roomier in the very back. The "styled" hatch really cuts into cargo space.
WRX Lite
Very impressed with the power of this car. The 4 cylinder makes the most of the 165 horses. I never feel at a loss for power. Passing on the freeway is effortless. Also very impressive is the handling and overall tight driving feel of the car. It has a fat leather wrapped steering wheel that's very responsive, supportive seats that hold you in place while zipping through tight corners. And the growl of the engine is purrfect. Negative impressions: The cockpit is a bit tight. I have to be conscious of banging my rear into the center pillar getting into the car. The manual shifter is a bit stiff at times. Hoping it will break in with time.
stupid fast car
the car is just plain amazing the best car for 30,000.00 ever this car makes other sports cars look stupid
Go Baby Go
This car is the best I ever drove. I really loved the Preformance. It is amazing for a car at this price. If "you" ever get a chance to dirve one, don't hesitate. It might just be the best experiance "you" will ever have driving a car.
i forgot
its a great car
Auf wiedersehen VW!
Ride is absorbent and tight at the same time. I've had three GTI VR6 VW's before this and always held off because of the 02-03 WRX styling. Now that I got a Blue Pearl WRX with the great 04 redesign...I think the only thing to make me reconsider would be an STi in a year or two!
WRX STi
Can not beat the performance of the vehicle for the price. The fact that it is all wheel drive makes it great in the snow as well, as long as you swap out the street tires for snowies.
great car
pulls hard with very little throttle, in any gear, at any revs above 2000rpm. Very sharp steering and handling. Grip is solid, but tires need to get more miles before I know exactly how much...
Poseurs need not apply.
I have been waiting for this car my whole life. If you would have told me even 5 years ago that I could buy a car for $30k that did 0-60 in well under 5 sec, had a top speed of 150mph, 300HP, 4WD with an active diff, 6spd tranny and handling on par with the best, I wouldn't have believed you. And it has 4 doors and a trunk? Better than 20 mpg? Ridiculous. This car is not for everyone. It is loud, with an extremely stiff ride. Maintenence is very expensive. It is also a bit scary. It has limits far beyond the abilities of all but professionally trained racing drivers.
A Keeper!
After driving the car for a few days, I can honestly tell you that there's not another car in the world like the STi. With no turbo lag, the car pushes you back into your seat even when starting from a dead stop! The car is great on the inside and out and is packed with gadgets and goodies for all kinds of people. Unfortunately, you'll be lucky to get 270 miles to the tank. All in all, this car is perfect for anyone who loves to drive and doesn't mind spending the extra time and money for upkeep.
I love it!!!!!!!!!!!
I have had the car about 1 month so far and i absolutely love it. It is so much fun to drive. It handles great on the road. The heated seats are great too. The car is on the small side, so if you have a family it may not be the best car. however, i am married and have a 5 year old and we fit fine. it is just a little smaller than most cars. it is well worth the money though.
Awesome car but hjkhl is mistaken
I can't believe how fast this car is. Virtually no turbo lag and grips like flypaper! But there is no way anyone can do the quarter mile in 8.7...hjkhl is mistaken, unless he did some heavy modifications. Maybe he meant the 1/8 mile?
The BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Best in subaru line of Subaru cars.
This is the All In One solution
This car is the best mix of practicality, cost, performance, looks, and reliability I've ever seen! I sold my 1995 Toyota Supra Turbo with tons of modifications so that I could get a more practical car. I got this car and it turned out to be much more than practical as I had hoped. It was a great, worry-free decision to get this vehicle!
WRX Go Go Go
Nitpicking, the back seat is small and the interior is smaller than some cars in the class. Uh, it should come with trunk straps to hold things in place :). This car is always super fun to drive.
Few Flaws
A much better choice for a daily driver than the Evo. The 2.5L powerplant was an excellent choice. Excellent buildy quality and looks. Gold rims are catchy, especially with my metallic black paint with golden fleck, matches perfectly. Looks xtra sharp. Only complaints, tight back seat, little sloppy feel on the tranny.
The best of the best
The Sti is the 8th sports/sporty car I have owned. My previous ones were a 2000 S2000, 2001 S2000, 2002 Acura TL type s, etc... I have 5K miles now and use it as my daily driver in Portland.. rain city. This car is perfect in every single possible way. You get well what you pay for. Its just utter bruit power in a livable package. I have not had a single problem, its been as reliable as the 98 civic EX I once owned. Its best described as a car in the class of other $20K- $25K cars in quality with the perf of a $100K car at only an increase of $5K.
Big bang for the buck
Having owned a 97 Supra Turbo I am blown away by the performance of this car. 4 cylinders, 300bhp and 300lbs of torque above 3000 rpm! I thoroughly recommend this car. For the money, you won't find better and that includes the Evo, which - while quicker - does not provide the all-round performance of the STi. Bad news? Expect to pay a premium over MSRP until supply catches up with demand
The whole package
Once you are moving 20 miles an hour, this car is an absolute blast. You can FLY. I look forward to my commute every day. Negatively, the other reviews are correct in their assertion that unless you abuse the clutch, the little Honda Civic at the light next to you can keep up with you for far too long. However, this does allow for great everyday driving and getting good miles like the Civic.
STI is not only a car, but a tuner name
When you own the STI, you are getting Subaru's inhouse tuner and they also work with Prodrive for their WRC car. This car is as close to driving the WRC Rally car as you can get here. 0-60 in less than 5 secs and it will eat corners and airborne over apexes. Watchout M3, S4, pushrod American muscle cars! This is the car the will decimate all.
47 going on 19
I didnt need a new car. I stewed over it for a couple of weeks. But, I convinced myself that I wasnt getting any younger and besides, the Sti is a great family car. I almost bought an Evo but I felt more comfortable with the larger Sti engine. This car ROCKS! I get an adrenaline rush every time I drive it. This car looks great and has top of the line factory performance. Buyer beware this is a performance car with a rough ride and road noise. If you are looking for a performance LUXURY car, look else- ware.
Great Car....Love it!!!
This car is great. It has outstanding performance and reliability. Believe me...when you press on the gas you will not believe the power and performance it delivers....well worth the money!
STi
Very fast and high performing car. However, it takes a while to get used to the all wheel drive system. The steering is unusual on a turn, when you gas and let go the gas on the turn, the car (steering) kind of jiggles a little. In addition, if you take a turn and gas it too much, your rear will break loose, so you must understeer like a rear wheel drive car.
Love it, love it, love it!!!
I traded in a 2000 Integra GS-R for my WRX and I don't think I'll ever regret it! I love the '04 design even more than the '03, which was still pretty damn cool. The only problem is that when ever I drive some other car, it feels like I'm hauling a ton of bricks. Looks great, feels great (especially on windy back roads...)is great.
Wagons Rule
-This car rocks. It has good handling, and a fast motor. It has All wheel drive, and it has cargo space. -So far I have put 1,000 miles on the car, and it has been a pleasure. It NEEDS BETTER TIRES but other than that it is a blast in stock form, plus it can haul a little cargo. Mileage depends heavily on how hard you drive it. -A good reference for this car is WRXfanatics.com, a forum site where you can find anything you want to know. -However you will want to add things to car the second you buy it, because the expandability in every aspect is amazing. So set some money aside for mods and go buy a Rex!!!
Sti-L & Purrrrrr4Menz!
At $31K, this car provided the Best Bang for the Buck! I had high expectations when purchasing, and I got so much more than I anticipated. People think I'm crazy for buying this car for a daily 80-mile round trip commute, but I say they're crazy for driving anything else! - Speed off the line! 300HP! - The style forces people to check it out, give me the thumbs up or ask questions about it when they're at a light with me. - ALL WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE TIME. Snow & rain are not an issue - I look forward to these conditions. - It's 4-Door and fits 5 adults. I can drive everyone to lunch again! - It's rare that you see them on the road due to limited production.
Power and Style
We just purchased our first Impreza and went with the WRX Turbo. I have owned Legacy models for years and found that they lacked power, especially in the hilly terrain where we live. We wanted a manual transmission as well. This car fulfills both power and style. It doesn't see a hill and loves curves.
Leader of the pack
I get excited just thinking about driving my STi. What a great car. The power is awesome but even better is the handling. This car brings new meaning to corners like its on rails. This is my first Subaru and first all wheel drive car and will definately not be my last.
WRX good
I bought an 04 WRX soon after they came onto the market. I must say it is an excellent car. And if you know how to drive, the auto version is just as fast as the manual version.
It does it all
This car does everything I need at this point in my life. It has four doors, all wheel drive, and a good size trunk. But the best thing is the unbelievable power from this "family car". Buy one...you wont be dissapointed!
Intial Review, I love my new Suby!
Just bought this car, will follow up review in about 10,000 miles for an update. After a long and frustrating search, someone suggested this car, and its perfect for me! Young and sporty, reliable, and has plenty of room (was trying to get away from SUVS). All wheel drive will be great in Michigan!
Solid at speed
Have an 04 WRX auto. Very fast and rock solid at speed. Replaced oem tires with Firestone SZ50 - big improvement in handling and looks. Seats look good and hold you in, but not that comfortable for long trips. Some minor problems including annoying dash rattle.Overall build quality could be better. Premium stereo still sounds tinny.
The search is over....
I have finally found a vehicle that combines all the features I'm looking for. The performance both in power and handling, plus the abilities of a 4 door sedan. There's no substitute (aka Evolution) as far as I'm concerned.
Fun to drive
This has to be the most fun I've ever had driving. It's quick, sharp and loves to go.
WRX STI
I wish the price could be a bit more cheaper.And none of you young or older people could afford it only me cus im more into rally then you.
WRX STi
My WRX STi is very fun to drive and the all wheel drive sticks you to the road. I was a little disappointed with the interior design. 300hp is of course rated at flywheel and not at wheels. Dyno revealed 12% drop to 264hp, which is still impressive, but a 6 cylinder would have done better for reliability and would be much smoother. The old M3s put out 192hp from a non-turbo 4 cylinder and that engine was not worth the pretty penny, but they were more fuel efficient. Don't do this to a 4 cylinder. Start with a 6 cylinder! Weight distribution could use tweaking and why is this a 6-speed? That's what you get for hiking up the hp. Engine can't handle the power!