2009 WRX First Drive - car and driver.com

[s204speed]

Ooh, sounds like they fixed a lot of the problems... with no price increase! Those poor 08 owners...

Subaru takes a mulligan with the WRX and hits it straight and true.


There are very few problems that more horsepower can’t fix, or at least help you ignore. And as a perfect case study, we bring you the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX. Our first impression of the new-for-2008 WRX left us hot and cold. Interior quality, overall refinement, and noise isolation were vastly improved, but the WRX lacked the thrill of the old car. The engine was largely unchanged from before, and weight gain was nonexistent, but the WRX came off as more of an Impreza GT than the street version of a rally car, a trait its predecessors had in spades. And with the Mazdaspeed 3, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, and Dodge Caliber SRT4 all making over 260 horsepower, the WRX looked anemic by comparison with only 224 ponies on tap.

So Subaru has addressed these issues with a few updates, the most notable being a power boost up to 265 horsepower, an improvement of 41. These changes only apply to the manual-transmission WRX; the automatic continues unchanged in all but name and is now appropriately known as the Impreza 2.5GT. Subaru’s marketing plan is to align the 2.5GT with the naturally aspirated 2.5i model and liken the WRX to the 305-hp STI. To that effect, the WRX now shares a grille with the STI and the optional body kit becomes standard. The five-door WRX also gets the rear spoiler from the STI.

http://www.caranddriver.com/re...d=243

[BForbes]

You really gotta hand it it to Subaru. That takes a lot of balls to totally revamp a car after a first years run. :w00t:

[stampchez]

My gf just got a 08 a couple of months ago. She doesn't seem to mind. She got a good deal and being a little softer and slower is ok for her.

[backtoreality15]

The current-gen WRX is so ugly. Makes me sad cause it's a solid car otherwise...

[MrRoboto]

Subaru changes direction way to often. With this new WRX their is really no need to spend the big bucks on the STI. Add a few mods to the WRX and you are there.

[stampchez]

The price of the STI is ridiculous. No wonder I have never seen one on the road. There are whole bunch of them on the lot though.

[bigslick82]

This might be a good 2nd car with the 1er. If you don't mind the look of it.

[Artmasterx]

I am hoping for a good Legacy GT when they do the redesign in 2010 (hopefully it will get a much needed power boost as well... 245 at the crank is only ~190 at the wheels because of AWD). I was close to getting a Legacy Spec.B before deciding that I really did not need AWD or a sedan right now. As long as they give it more HP and don't screw it up, I will probably be considering it in a couple of years, especially if I'm still in the northeast.

[coco_m3]

i love how they compare the horsepower rating to the 128i coupe instead of the 135i, because they know even with the upgrade, its still not enough to beat the 135i.
Poor Subaru.

[TunedM2C]

Originally Posted by bigslick82

If you don't mind the look of it.

Your avatar says it all.

[buckwheat986]

Originally Posted by silverbullet135i

i love how they compare the horsepower rating to the 128i coupe instead of the 135i, because they know even with the upgrade, its still not enough to beat the 135i.
Poor Subaru.

MSRP of 25K...why not compare it to the 128i

great all wheel drive and 0-60 of 5.4 seconds...

in the right hands it will surprise some 135 owners....

why feel sorry for subaru...