2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS Sport Wagon

Pros

good fuel econ, good value for price, amazing struts, AWD!

Cons

shifter sticks, no mp3 player

I'm a previous Civic owner and was immediately sold when I drove the RS Wagon. Bought it on the internet, which made it sooooo less stressful compared to buying a Civic (what's with the hype on Civics?). Struts in this car cushioned me waaaaaaay better than a Civic, which made me almost feel every pebble on the road, including the noise. There was always this jarring noise when I went over something in the Civic. And the power... ooooh! Even w/ 2.5L, the torque pushed me off like a V6. And I had to laugh at 2WD SUV owners when I passed them up on 80 in Donner Pass as they struggled to get chains on their big a$$ trucks. If you're into plush interior, this car isn't for you though, but if you're practical, it's the best buy!...read morehide

Pros

Handling, Standard features, peppy, smart shifing auto-trans

Cons

GAS MILEAGE! Small interior, fit and finish

Downs: I was suprised when reading these reviews people stated they are getting 29-30 mpg on regular. The best I've ever squeezed in 26.7 mpg on flat freeway on cruise at 65 mph (24 average). I'm a very small person and I'm "cozy" in it and anyone over 5'5" is somewhat cramped. Additionally, I have a constant rattle on the passenger side, the window's don't seem to seal up all the way, and the cd player gets cd's so hot they almost melt.
Ups: Very peppy, high revving engine (6,000 rpm is no prob) with an intelligent auto-trans. She's seen lots of snow and the awd is flawless. It's basically LOADED with standard features you don't need any options.
Trading it in on a Baja Sport....read morehide

Pros

All wheel drive, cornering, engine, standard features

Cons

None yet

We were in the market for a replacement for our fuel thirsty Jeep liberty.
The Liberty was a very reliable SUV, however the fuel economy was not so good.
We test-drove all the Subaru wagons, and for 18000 we settled on the 2005 Impreza outback wagon.
The 4-cylinder engine is very smooth, and offers enough torque for going up hills with out struggling.
The vehicle rides very well, and came equipped with just about every option I would ever need.
The Legacy wagon that we drove did offer a smoother ride, but the price difference of about 5000 didn't justify it for our needs.
We also looked at the Pontiac vibe, but after driving it, and the Impreza, we thought that the 123 hp engines in the vibe might be a little underpowered for our needs.
For anybody looking for a practical all wheel drive vehicle that gets decent fuel economy, the Impreza outback wagon may be your answer.
The last three tanks of regular unleaded gas averaged 28-30mpg, and that reflects, “all around driving”.
We are very impressed so far…...read morehide

Pros

everything

Cons

nothing

excellent car for all-weather terrain...handles great! great car for the sun, rain, snow, or anything. also inexpensive to insure and a perfect first car for the young. very sporty, yet safe.

Pros

Shares wheels and tires with WRX. Sporty front seats/trim materials. Good low and mid range torq

Cons

Choppy ride. Rubbery 5 speed shifter. Cushion bolsters too agressive for ingress egress.

Wanted a WRX. Took out a base level (non turbo) car just for fun. Realized that for my in town commute the base car was more practicle, and has plenty of power. I am an agressive driver, and probably would have gotten plenty of tickets with the WRX anyway. The fact that I saved about 6 grand over a WRX doesn't hurt....read morehide

Pros

AWD & ABS for under 20k, respectable MPG, versatility, great looking

Cons

limited back seat legroom, cups in cupholders get in the way when shifting

The car drives extremely well with good acceleration and breaking, and it handles corners awesomely. Fuel mileage is just as claimed (23 city 30 hwy). It's very comfortable for people in the front seats, but the backseats are a little snug, especially for large adults. It's also a car that feels solidly built. I compared the Impreza to the Mazda 3, the Nissan Sentra, and the Volkswagen Jetta, and I went with the Impreza. I just think the Subaru gives you more car for the money, and I think it looks a whole better too....read morehide

Pros

Great handling, road feel, rocks thru corners and curves.

Cons

Poor fuel economy for such a small car

I guess one can't expect much for a car at this price level. Having just purchased a 2005 Impreza Outback Wagon with some special edition package I'm less pleased than I thought I would be. With only 2500 miles on the car, I've got an oil leak, at least my garage floor thinks so. Constantly more annoying are two distinct dash rattles. One rattle coming from somewhere on the drivers side near the windshield. The second literally in the switch mechanism off the steering column which operates the cruise control. I guess I can get this all fixed but really don't think I should have to deal with considering it's "new". The car does handle brilliantly, loves high speed corners and curves, great canyon cruiser....read morehide

Pros

performance

Cons

Servicice costs titanium plugs

handling A1
dogs love it
quite economical for performance ratio
good value for money
love the colour combo