Used 2006 Subaru Impreza Wagon Consumer Reviews
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Survival among the SUV's
I needed a vehicle that would not be run off the single open lane on the NY Thruway during snowstorms. My FWD VW Golf was inadequate, and did not want to buy an SUV. Settled on the AWD Subaru Impreza and have not looked back. Good power with the stickshift; 25 mpg on daily commute; some 28 mpg racing up from NJ to Vermont. Had more occasion to drive through rain and mud than through snow this winter, though - handled all equally magnificently. A blast to drive, indeed! Good heater the few cold days we had. Accessories of foglights, trailer hitch, and ski rack have come in useful - most everything else already built in! Excellent websites exist for all kinds of Subaru-related info.
I love it. I seriously Love it
I needed a wagon. I'm a photographer. But I didn't want a large wagon, when I checked out the new WRX wagon I was very impressed by the engine upgrades. I like the 04/05 body style better, but the new style grows on you very fast. The performance is fantastic, acceleration is incredible. and the handling superb ( would benefit from front/rear sway bars and possibly lowering springs). Overall, I wouldn't give this car up for anything. It's perfect in my eyes.
- WRXMSRP: $18,99976 mi away
- 2.5 i WagonMSRP: $8,99793 mi away
- 2.5 i SedanMSRP: $2,97797 mi away
Great Little Machine
I came over to Subaru from the VW GTI looking for improved build quality and AWD grip. My first Subaru was a 2005 Legacy GT... a very comfortable, fast, luxury sedan. It was a bit too big for me and didn't offer much utility. The Limited WRX wagon has it all for me. Great AWD performance and handling, decent fuel economy, incredible utility, nice looks and solid construction. The biggest drawback is road noise. If you want a quiet ride, look elsewhere. Otherwise, I recommend this car.
Fun to drive!
This car is a kick in the pants to drive. I've had it for 3 months, and it's been nothing but pleasurable. Performance wise, the car has a lot of power, and is very nimble; cornering is fun, as is taking it on a windy road. The build quality is good, but I've noticed a few rattles. The clear plastics that cover the gauges and stereo scratch a little too easily, so be careful. Minor annoyances aside, it's a great car at a great price point. I wouldn't hesitate recommending this car to anyone.
WHEELS DOWN
I traded in a Land Rover and I am ecstatic about my new Subie! The gas mileage alone makes me want to drive more. I customized it with my Yakima rack system and a few stickers and it is now ready for the trek across the country. I can't wait for the drive.
Sleeper Wagon
I've waited a few months to review this car as I thought my initial enthusiasm might diminish. But, it hasn't! I still look forward to driving my car everyday. This vehicle has the perfect mix, with the practicality of a wagon but the performance of a rally car. AWD is a major safety and performance point (I'll have a hard time ever going back to 2WD, if I ever do). I put in the STi short throw shifter and would absolutely insist on it for any WRX owners out there. Subaru roof rack allows for bike rack and Rocket Box, while cargo area kennels a large dog easily. Roof rack whistle was a problem on past Subarus, but they seem to have fixed the problem as I haven't heard anything.
SWEEEET RIDE!
I just purchase this vehicle only 2 weeks ago. My first tank of fuel I drove 402 miles. I purchased this vehicle because my Nissan Pathfinder lease was up and I wanted a car with AWD and solid fuel economy for the Rocky Mts. It hauls up I-70 no problem. I was able to put all my Thule gear on top and still fit a my wife and two small children in the car with ease. The 5-speed is the only way to go with this ride due to the drag in the auto. I am surprised of all the complements I receive when I drive this car around. It is low on ego and fun to drive! It has the upgraded sound system which puts out plenty of bass and drowns out the noise of the roof rack.
I Love My Suby.
This is the second Subaru I have owned and I love em. The AWD system is awesome and the handling is quite fun. The body does roll a bit around curves, but once you figure out the balance and how to shift the weight, it is smooth. I love the power and the performance as well as the practicality of a wagon. I like the new look of the 06's, however many other cars out there have a similar front end, and although there is a lot of space inside, it feels kind of cramped. The gears are a bit ruff at times and shifting into reverse is stiff.
10 months
No real problems to date. The car handles really well in the snow. I live Mammoth lakes, CA, and we had over 600 inches of snow this past winter. Make sure there is extra weight when in winter conditions, because the car is pretty light. I got 31 mpg sometimes on roadtrips, and never less than 25 mpg.
Best Bang for the Buck
I have only owned the car for 1 week as of today and I am very impressed. I am trading down from an Audi TT roadster 225hp (lease). I don't even consider it trading down, since the Subaru out performs my Audi (seriously). I purchased the car as a 2006 left over so I got a great deal on it ($21,000). If you are looking to buy a sports car with the functionality of a wagon look no further. 0-60mph in the low to mid 5 second range in for under $25k...enough said. I am so happy with this car.
Too much fun
Ive been driving my WRX wagon for about two weeks now and Im more impressed with it every day. The overall road feel and driver interface is amazing. Steering is precise, and acceleration is exhilarating, even before the turbo kicks in. Previous versions of the WRX were plagued by a pronounced turbo lag and lame torque at lower RPMs, but the new 2.5L engine in the 06 distributes power across a much wider band. It still jumps at 3500-4000 RPMs when the turbo kicks in, but its quicker off the line with a much smoother transition into the turbo burst, resulting in a more even, muscular acceleration. The AWD enables it to handle great on all surfaces and under all conditions.
Wow!
What a great car! I bought one of the last '06 models and saved a few grand--I think it just lacks an iPod jack vs. the '07. I've put over $4K on this car so far and I'm really happy with this purchase. I don't even miss my Tacoma any more. It's quick, fun, amazing on wet roads (not too many of those in SoCal) and gets almost double the MPG of my truck. I can't believe how much car you get for this little money. I'm 6'1" and I have more head room in this than I did in my Tacoma, FJ62 or Explorer. I bought this model out-the-door for less than the current MSRP, so NOTHING else in this price range could come close to what my Scuby has to offer.
Cool little 4X4
I really like this car. Third Subaru we've had. The other two were bulletproof. My daily driver is a Jaguar S-Type "R", and is wicked fast. But I'm finding lately I drive the Subie more, because it is so safe and stable (live in Colorado=SNOW). We traded a great Toyota that I loved for it and I don't regret it at all now. That little Subaru has a five star crash rating and that is important for my son. It tends to struggle a little on steep mountain passes (non-turbo model) but overall is quite adequate. Just don't be in a huge hurry to get up mountains. We love the car and are averaging 26 MPG (stick shift). I totally recommend it for safety, build quality and reliability.
Fun and Great!
This car is amazing in some things and ok in others.Starting out with amazing things: great, AWD handles EXCELLENT in rain/snow/mud, great exterior style, drives very smoothly and takes corners very well, 26 MPG. Some of the things I dont like: jerky @ very low speeds in 1st/2nd gear not so much 2nd, inconsistent low fuel light and one rattle I've noticed under the steering wheel. This car has good pick up speed. The interior is pretty nice, but the seats could be a little more comfortable. Carpet in the car seems a little cheap, hard to get pine needles, dirt etc out of it.This was fixed by buying rubber floor mats I cut to customize fit. Overall a great buy, money well spent VERY safe and a blast.
Good gas mileage
We had a 2006 Forester, but it was automatic and we needed manual for behind RV towing. We are really happy with the car. We've never seen lower MPG than 29 and never above 33. (32.5 would be @ 70-80 mph driving from coast to coast) Ony 2 issues: slow driving, like 10 mph in a campground is an unpleasant experience (jerky, very jerky). Passenger seat belt locks and stops my wife from reaching anything on the floor or glove compartment. I expect that issue to be fixed at next service, but the jerky slow driving is a "built in" feature.
DUMB college kid here...
This little wagon is one tough car. I love the car, drive it sanely (mostly). I took it deep into the woods of western Colorado and ended up 4-wheeling across a field of 9" snow at 40 mph, floored in third the whole time. I then accidentally sailed it right off a seven-foot embankment. There were three people in the car. It landed, HARD, and the whole front end tore off, which we ran over. One front tire exploded, the car swung to the left and rolled onto the pass. side. We escaped, pushed her back over; she started right up. DUMB mistake-but terrifically durable car. On a FLAT she made it outta the field, minus the bumper and badly leaking radiator, then made it 91 miles home on the spare.
overall impression
Very fun to drive. Now put on 3,500 miles. Awesome road handling. Nice heavy duty suspension - handles off road bumps incredibly. Decent fuel mileage avg. 26mpg. Front bumper is too low - bottoms out if not careful. Exterior paint chips too easily - front plastic bumper absorbs road debris. Very jerky manual transmission when maintaining slow speed. 1st gear take off power is very weak, yet in all gears when passing 3500rpms acceleration picks up! Upgraded sound system is ok, not impressive; the stereo reception is not the best. Low fuel warning light is inconsistent. Some wind noise, overall love the vehicle am content. still worth the purchase - good price. AWD system is great!
good car
So far car has been nice. But its not as comfortable with 5 people in it even with 3 being kids. But for me it is only a second car and used mainly to get back and forth from work. This car has been a nice surprise, going from my Jeep Grand Cherokee. That I loved (just not the many trips to the gas stations) but going to this has not been too bad. I miss some toys but this car has a lot more sporty of a ride. So far so good.