Like: the boxer engine, 4-wheel-drive, simple design, incredible variety of tuning possibilities Dislike: rear spoiler could be bigger (hinting at Mitsu Evo), the doors are crappy

The number of different variants of Subaru Impreza is mind numbing, and everyone will tell you their version is better than all the others, and depending on what you want then they're all right. The Impreza is a legend, desired by many, despised by the rest. To see it is to mock its plastic stick on bits, to hear it is to complain about the noise.....to drive it is to realise what you've been missing out on. The true Impreza fan has, like me, watched it from the side of the forest tracks as McRae, Sainz, Burns, Kankunen and Solberg sprayed them with mud and as such the "classic" shape is where we look when we want to buy one. It's getting on a bit now, and as such finding a good one is getting increasingly difficult. Because of this it suddenly becomes very easy to refine which model to look for. The 22B still commands mega-bucks, but was never designed for British roads. Rarity gives it desirability but it's not the sensible choice. The P1, the most extreme of the genuine British cars is the object of desire for many...until you look a little closer. Tuned to within an inch of it's life, at nearly 9 years old there are very few now that haven't had an engine rebuild. And that's the thing with Scoobies...they're bullet proof reliable, right up until you start playing with the power output. Why? Even a standard Turbo 2000 will leave a Porsche 911 on your average Welsh B-road. The model that demands the smart money is the RB5. Obscenely quick, but still relatively standard so if treated with respect should still be going very strong. All finished in grey they are also the most understated. So what's the big deal about them? The performance everyone knows about. Off the line in any conditions, sun, rain or thick snow, the permanant 4WD will launch you towards the horizon. Modern hot hatches such as the Focus ST and the Astra VXR pack more power....but all through the front wheels. They simply can't use their power as effectively as the Impreza, and we've not even touched on the cornering ability. You have to have overdosed on stupid pills to mess up a sweeping bend in a Scooby. They inspire confidence, reward enthusiasm. And yet, it does all of this while carrying four passengers and a huge boot full of luggage. It'll burble along at 30mph without straining at the leash, a model of practicality. And then the road opens up before you and the turbo girds it's loins and suddenly you're elsewhere. I've driven and owned some truly godawful cars in my life, had the priviledge of racing many wonderful cars, yet there is no car that I am ever realistically likely to own that gives such an experience. Owning one is a great responsibilty as every Saxo, Corsa or even rep-mobile will ride your backside wanting you to race. You never ever have to though, as you know you're driving the car that gave both Colin McRae and Richard Burns the world rally championship.....and no amount of money spent at Halfords will change that.

A car that you can race in, blast around the streets in, modify to the hilt, yet still get your family and the week's shopping in. Blistering performance, amazing handling, great engine sound, etc, makes the Impreza one of THE greatest cars ever built.

Uhm right. Well the performance is awesome but it could do way better, which is what I'm working on. The car is beautiful both inside and out. Metal blue paint and with a black stripe over the hood and black roof. It doesn't cost much to run, which is great compared to the horse count. And it's spectacular to drive, best car I've driven so far. And probably will stay that way for awhile. Could probably write way more, but don't really have the time atm...

SubaruS are built like tanks.it's got a bulletproof engine which I have put 80k on and its never broken down or failed an MOT in 7 years that I've owned it . I'm not the most careful of owners and don't exactly drive slowly but it takes all the punishment I can give it. I have bought other cars since I purchased the Subaru but can never bare to sell the damn thing!