Topic: 2006 Impreza Wagon ... Need Subaru infor for new buyer

[91d28]

Hi,

I have decided on a new car purchase and want AWD.  I was first conisdering a Hyundai Tucson AWD but did not get the price from the dealer that I was looking for plus I have read that the Tucson does not get that great of gas mileage.

I have since started looking at the Subaru Impreza Wagon.   I know nothing about Subaru's nor do I know anyone that has ever owned one.   I took the Impreza Wagon out for a test drive and it seemed very nice.  The price I am getting from the dealer on the Impreza Wagon, drive away is just over $30,000 (CDN).  Does this same like a fair price ?

Any thoughts on the 2006 Subaru Impreza? (reliability, maintenance costs, etc)

Thanks in advance to everyone for their replies.

Jay,
Ontario, Canada.

[AVToller]

Welcome to the Forum. There will be Subaru people along shortly. I had a 2001 Forester and really liked it a lot. Other than a rattle in the hatch-latch which took a couple of tries to fix, the car was flawless for the 2 + years I owned it. Financial circumstances made me sell it or I would certainly still have it. Excellent car! It was, of course, based on the Impreza. The AWD system was very good. 

[Driver]

what's the spec on that impreza?

you also might want to consider the saab 92-x turbo, clone of the WRX.  Ghost recently got one for under 30K (IIRC).  That's one heck of a deal I say!  It has the same mechanicals and built at the same factory (Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan)

[Craig]

I've almost bought an Impreza wagon twice now.  I think they're fantastic cars.  Friends of ours have the 2002 Impreza Outback Sport, and it has been flawless for them.

I particularly enjoy how they drive - even without the turbo of the WRX, they have good power and great highway acceleration.  As for price, I'm too far out of the loop to know for sure, but an $800 discount from MSRP was quoted to me without any haggling a couple of years ago.

[evilhomer]

I bought 2005 Impreza RS Wagon manual 9 months ago.
As you might know, 2006MY comes with lots of new features like 173hp (up from 165hp) and Head-thorax side airbag, i-active valve lift system, outside temperature display after $500 MSRP increase this year.

The things I like about the car are peace-of-mind AWD, powerful engine, rigid structure, proven reliability.
Also I like the brake system a lot (4 wheel disc brakes, EBD, 4 channel-4 sensor ABS).
Minor things are scratch resistant alloy wheels, squeak-rattle free even on rough roads, powerful A/C, boxer engine note, integrated antenna, woven seat trim.

I don't like things like lack of options (sports package is the only way to modify your car), crappy tires, road noise, so-so mileage (I get 10L/100KM on city without A/C), no cargo area light, frameless window, unstable cupholders.

I regret buying 2005MY because of the side airbag, but well new models are always better.
I could get $1000 off from MSRP and $500 free accessories last December.
So try to ask for the free accessories if they cannot give you more discounts.
Nonetheless, I can definately say I love the car.

[91d28]

Thanks for all the comments so far.

Very much appreciated.

Jay

[crazycar]

I just picked up my new MY06 Impreza on Friday and said goodbye to my Protege5.  With the car being brand new and not alot of profit to be made on these cars, don't expect much off the MRSP, the dealer gave me a $400 discount.  They do have discount financing (2.8% for 36 months).  When making the deal, I just kept asking for more and more accessories to be included.  It worked and I have everything that I wanted at a price that I think was fair (and a good price on my trade).

The new engine feels way more powerful than the 05 (I drove them back to back), although the horsepower increase is minor.  The car handles really well and is way more composed over broken pavement and has less road noise than my Protege5.  As evilhomer mentioned, there is no cargo area light and closing a door with the windows open will cause some shock if you have never had a car with frameless windows.  Build quality seem impecible.  I asked about servicing costs and the prices are better than the last time I looked at a Subaru in 02. 

For comparison, you may want to try out a Saab 9-2x Linear.  When I was car shopping, I saw the same people at Saab and Subaru.  I decided against the Saab for a variety of reasons, the main ones being I really liked the 06 motor and the Saab dealer really didn't instill confidence that they new anything about the car and coud fix it if something went wrong (e.g., when I asked about accessories, they told me to go to Subaru dealer!).   

[84im]

e.g., when I asked about accessories, they told me to go to Subaru dealer!

And you did 

[ghost]

the 06 Imprezas are indeed nicer! At a recent Toronto subaru club meet at Subaru of Canada, the Subaru officials brought out 06 models ranging from the tribeca to the STi for our perusal. The front end of the 06s are nice  and the interior is also quite well done up. The base wagon (whatever it is called these days) doesn't look base at all!!!
Having said that, we love our 05 9-2X Aero. Having $8000 off MSRP helped too.  The car since then has been flashed to Stage I with Cobb AP and couldn't be happier!

[84im]

Ghost, you're not wasting any time, are you?

[Giant Dwarf]

Geez, no kidding.  Ghost, you should be ashamed for not giving us all a complete breakdown on this.  What did the power go up to?  How has it affected the drivability?  C'mon, man, details!

91d28, you can't go wrong with a Subaru.  Great choice -- now just bust 'em up for a good deal and away you go!

[Snowman]

  Welcome to the dark side Ghost. Power corrupts us all….by next summer you will be at 280-300 hp.

[ghost]

urghh!!! don't tempt me! Must resist! Gas is expensive. Yessss.... gas is expensive. no need to mod. LOL!!!

Nah, the Accessport from Cobb tuning was acquired via a group buy from TSC. Saved shipping/taxes/brokerage. I reasoned with wifey that the AP can be resold for 80% of the cost paid.  What? It's true!!!
It's only at stage I which really us just an ECU reflash. It is a fairly simple mod. Took me 10 minutes. It holds an additional of 10 realtime maps that I can switch around including economy map. blah blah blah. Bottom line is, the car is no longer anemic under 3000rpm. the tq comes in solidly and smoothly. Right now it makes 14.5psi which is about 1 psi better than stock. It's claimed to have 250-260hp. But who's counting. Up/Dp anyone? should I get a shorty Dp Snowy? I want to keep the atleast one cat! arrghhh!!! look what you made me do!

[bmorton]

Haven't had any trouble at all with my 2004 Impreza wagon. It's the Outback Sport so it has a few extra frills (like the famous cargo area light). No complaints about the frameless windows here, the doors still close solidly. I've found it to be pretty good on gas considering it's AWD. Just got back yesterday from a cottage trip and did 673 km on 51.5 litres (7.7 L/100 km or 30.7 mpg). Maintenance costs have been reasonable. My dealer charges $29.95 for an oil change service (every 6k), $300 for the 24k service and $400 for 48k.

Very confidence-inspiring in the winter--although I have gotten it stuck once in a snowed-in parking lot, overall it pretty much banishes that "Oh no!" feeling you get in a 2WD car when you're going through some deep stuff and you feel yourself slowing down, wheels starting to spin. Good luck with your shopping.

[91d28]

Thanks again everyone for their feedback.

After doing much research all weekend long (most of the resarch from this forum) ... I have decided upon a 2005 Pontiac VIBE AWD.   

I purchased the Vibe last night.  In short:

- It was over $4,000.00 less in price than the best deal I could get on a Subaru Impreza Wagon
- Finance rate was 1.9% compared to 2.8& from Subaru.
- Better warranty from GM than from Subaru
- More standard options came with the Vibe than with the Impreza
- More storage space in the Vibe than the Impreza
- Much better gas mileage on the Vibe (Vibe AWD is rated at 41 mpg HWY).

I still liked the Subaru Impreza but comparing Apples to Apples, the Vibe won ... IMHO.

Jay (91d28)

[AVToller]

Interesting choice. Having driven a Toyota Matrix AWD (same car) a few weeks ago, I can say that I think you have purchased a very good car. It's not as quick, obviously, but the fuel consumption is MUCH better, and the reliability should be superb. I have ridden in my friend's FWD Matrix often and have found it comfortable, even in the back seat - and I'm 6'. Hope you enjoy the car. 

 

[91d28]

Thanks AVToller.

Yes, the Impreza definatley has more power, but that was not a concern of ours.  The Vibe AWD will be our daily driver ... so MPG was a Big issue for us.

[bmorton]

Just to clarify on fuel economy, although the Vibe is better due to its much smaller engine and part-time AWD system, the Impreza is not far behind. 41 mpg is the number for the Vibe AWD if you use iimperial MPG, and using that scale the best I've done in my Impreza is 40 mpg. So it's not a dramatic difference.

Congratulations on the new car. You'd definitely be getting a good deal on any 2005 GM product at this point. A co-worker has a Matrix AWD and is very happy with it. Enjoy!

[Giant Dwarf]

Sounds like a heck of a deal you've got there -- good justification with all the cost of purchase and ownership consideration too.

Congrats -- now let's see some pictures!

[91d28]

Thanks again everyone!

I am picking up my Vibe AWD later today ... will post pics very soon.