Test Drive
In 2002, Subaru redefined the sports car. RealizingAmerica’s newfound interest in speed, Subaru brought theImpreza WRX to the market. More than a pocket rocket like many ofits Japanese predecessors from the mid-1990s (Mazda RX-7, ToyotaSupra TT and the Nissan 300ZX), the WRX is versatile and fast. Fourdoors, trunk space and a turbocharged motor gave America what itwanted: practicality and speed.
One positive aspect of the WRX is that you do not have to berolling in dough to get one. The suggested retail price for theJapanese sedan is $24,495. Of course, the more options you add, thehigher the price will be.
Considering the average college student, a CD player, rearspoiler and front fog lights should round off a good amount ofoptions and still keep the price within range.
The WRX performs quite remarkably. For the price, there is nodoubt that it stands apart from the rest. Straight from thefactory, the turbocharged WRX will accelerate from zero to 60 mphin 5.4 seconds.
Aiding in this feat of acceleration is a four-cylinder,turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-liter boxer motor that generates227 horsepower and 217 lb.ft. torque. Not bad. Every WRX, as wellas every Subaru, comes standard with full-time all-wheel drive.
Pushing the WRX through the corners reveals just how welldeveloped this chassis is. Almost no oversteer is noticed, andkicking the back end out on this car nearly requires wet weather ordirt. Traction issues in this car are naught. We would prefer asuspension that is a bit stiffer and lower on the WRX. You willnotice when driving the WRX that boost lag is prevalent. Being asmall motor, the 2.0-liter draws nearly all of its power from theturbo, which turns out 13.5 psi at full boost. However, when youreach 3,500 RPM in the WRX, the turbo is fully spooled, and the funwon’t end until the 7,000 RPM red line.
Subaru, through its unique design, has given the WRX a sportylook straight from the factory. Staring you down from the front isthe infamous Subaru hood scoop (yes it is functional), giving thecar a bold appearance.
Adding to this look are the new headlights and small, yetbright, fog lights. Subaru decided against using the”buy-eye” headlights on the 2004 WRX, and opted for anew design that isn’t so round. One disappointing part of theexterior is the use of the same 16-inch wheels as all 2002-2003WRX’s. The WRX has wide fenders, which are capable of holdingwide wheels, and the stock units just aren’t accomplishingthis. However, any Subaru dealer will be happy to upgrade the stock16-inch wheels to 17-inch BBS wheels for a nominal fee, and theyshould do a better job of filling in the excessive wheel gap.
Inside the WRX you will find new sport seats made of a spongy,breathable material that makes driving comfortable, yet fun. Asporty MOMO leather steering wheel is standard in every WRX andlets the driver know that he isn’t piloting some everydaysedan.
Visibility in the WRX is fine, and the electric side-mirrorcontrol helps prevent blind spots from behind. Air conditioning isstandard, and pumping out the vital tunes is a six-disc CD playerwith AM/FM stereo. The instrument panel is simple, yet nice, withthe tachometer placed in the middle so you can a check on the RPMcount. One complaint is the prevalence of plastic in the WRX.Almost everything is black, so more polished aluminum or brushedmetal, which the foot pedals are made of, would do wonders for theinterior styling.
Our WRX came equipped with a five-speed manual transmission,which felt crisp and mechanical, unlike other sloppy manuals I havedriven. Clutch feel is nice, if not a bit too soft. Preferencewould have to go to something with a little more firmness, but theaverage driver should like the clutch engagement. If you prefer, atthe sacrifice of speed and sportiness, a four-speed electronicautomatic transmission is available in the WRX. Braking is good ,and ABS is standard, as is on most cars today. You can expect afirm brake feel that does not require too much effort when bringingthis 2,965-pound sedan to a halt.
Overall, the 2004 WRX is great. We do have some complaints, butfor about $25,000, this car is a good buy. It is fast, practicaland affordable. This seems to be what a college student wants thesedays, so we give it three and a half stars.
Steven Hinerkopf contributed to this report. Car courtesy ofGary Potts-Subaru of Dallas.
