2012 Subaru Impreza

best car I ever drove

By Iggy2010 (WA) on Friday, June 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 3,000

Pros: "The price is reasonable, the car is fun in snow"

Cons: "No red sedan :( also 3-3.5" upgrades would be nice"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

I do not have a current pic of my '13 so heres the 11 in the snow like a Boss!

"My only criticism is that the color red was not available this year, I owned a red 2011 sedan but I lost my beloved WRX STI when an SUV struck my passenger side. I loved the red because it was pretty unique unlike the Blue model everyone seems to own. Anyway back to the '13 model, I think the clutch is slightly smoother than the '11 model I use to own, the turn radius is still amazing, the heated seats are nice, the car's AC and heater work much faster than any car I have owned in the past. For the individual who commented about the Fuel economy I am not sure if I am allowed to say this on this form or not but you may want to consider a KM series Cold air intake system, as well as a COBB to adjust the air flow. I am still breaking my car in so I have not applied the COBB just yet, however I do have the KN Typhoon installed and I am getting 1.6 miles to the gallon more that I should be getting, I believe with the Cobb added you are looking at an increase of 3-5 miles per gallon on the STI any way I assume you are running the Basic Impreza? I would not imaging there would be a huge difference in performance gain as well as fuel efficiency. You will also get the added advantage of around 20 horse power allegedly if you make those modifications. Oh and one more suggestion for Subaru it would be awesome if you guys could make a larger Exhaust like a 3.5"+ so for those of us who like to upgrade the car for sport can maintain Subaru part integrity. And my finale note since the '13 and the '11 are very similar, even though I was struck on the side and the car sustained massive damage, I was happy to be in the car I was in because I would have been seriously injured in most other vehicles, this car really is a safe and comfortable sports car, I will probably own Subaru for the rest of my life. also speaking of safety, The Impreza can handle snow, ice, and rain better than anything I have ever drove including the rival car the Lancer EVO. I hope this helps anyone considering a new car :-)"

2 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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WRX great on any surface

By s3aturnr (MI) on Wednesday, June 05, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 9,000

Pros: "100% purist driver's car"

Cons: "99.999998% of the population aren't real "drivers""

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"if you buy this car in the winter (like me) you should drive it from the dealer lot straight to the nearest tire store to get a proper set of snow tires. the dunlop summer tires it comes with just won't do in cold weather. once the snow tires are on you will be unstoppable. if you can get this car stuck in the snow you are either a) doing something mildly illegal or b) you are a "non driver" (i.e. someone who just makes a car move back and forth to work and such) and should get some performance driving lessons immediately. with the traction control on, i find it cuts power REALLY early in a slide and uses individual brakes to get the car pointed in the direction you are aiming for. turn it off and it's rally time. parental note; if your kid drives your car sometimes, don't tell him/her about the traction control button or he/she will wrap this car around a tree in no time. in the summer, make sure you switch back to the summer tires before you drive very far. power off the line is a bit slow unless you really rev it hard and drop the clutch, but once the turbo wakes up, acceleration is ferocious. i've read that 0-60 times are 4.8sec and i'm not saying i don't believe it, i'm saying that it takes a professional driver with a total disregard for the continuing reliability of the car to do so. when turning hard, it's clear that the stock tires are the weak point as they start to protest loudly that you're hurting them. but, for better or worse, the car goes where ever you point it in a hurry. for track days or autocross, you definitely want a softer tire that will trade some longevity for raw grip. interior; get the SPT short throw shifter. it's totally worth every penny. all the reviews on the stereo are correct; if you are an audiophile, prepare to be not only disappointed, but completely crushed. worst stereo i've ever heard in a vehicle, period. i suspect it's due to the speakers more than the radio itself, so getting the upgraded stereo probably wouldn't be a wise decision. inside this car is all business. the seats are spartan but relatively supportive, the carpet doesn't quite fit perfectly and lifts easily when you vacuum it, the steering wheel is leather-wrapped with red stitching no matter what exterior color you get, the shift knob is plain but effective, the pedals are metal-covered but have small rubber nubs to prevent slippage (and are perfectly spaced for heel-toe downshifting), the back seat can fit very big kids (my son's friend is 6'3" and about 290lbs and fit without complaint), the cargo area is much like that of a station wagon; just a tad bigger than the cargo area of our previous 08 vw gti and the console has 2 cup holders that are big enough to hold a big gulp, but too big to keep a 12oz can of coke from sloshing around everywhere. mpg is right around 25 unless you're sitting in traffic or going 90 on the freeway (don't do that). you are not going to save any baby seals with this fuel mileage. be advised; this is a full-blown rally car with the rollcage removed and carpet installed. if you drive your car only because you need to get to work and back, this is not your car. if you like a louder exhaust note, precise handling, brutal power and the art of driving, this car should be on a VERY short list for you. if you've never driven a car with a helmet, walk away. chevy's got a nice malibu for you down the street. maintenance; the car does not come with any type of free scheduled maintenance and oil changes are about $75 every 7500 miles (at the dealership) because you must use full synthetic oil that meets subaru's testing criteria. while there are many oils that might do a good job, there are only a couple that actually meet subaru's standards. my advice; change the oil yourself or go to the dealership. do NOT go to a quick oil change place or your turbo may one day go boom. the good news (or bad, if you crave attention) is that this car goes largely unnoticed by the rest of the driving population. don't expect too many people to pull up next to you wanting a race like they might if you were driving a mustang cobra. to most people, it will look like a nice little station wagon with curious fender flares, quad exhaust tips and a strange rumbling idle. bottom line: a true driver's car with very little in the way of creature comforts, fancy sports car looks or great gas mileage. all subaru's money went into getting the most rally car into something licensed for the road. they did a wonderful job at that..."

1 person out of 2 found this review helpful

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