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Car Reviews:

Long Term Tests

Subaru Impreza WRX

By John Barker

March 2002

We have agreed to differ, Subaru and I. As reported last month, the WRX emerged from its 15k service feeling much better than when it went in and now, with its next service due, it still feels good. You'll recall that it gobbled its way through its last set of front tyres at a truly alarming rate. Within 3000 miles, the tread on the outer edges had all but vanished. It didn't feel right, either; the steering was curiously vague and it lacked the confident straight-line feel it had had when new, suggesting that the geometry was out. So apart from the regular service, a full alignment check was carried out and four new tyres were fitted by the Welch Group garage at Great Shelford.

Some 7500 miles on, the front tyres look fine and have a good 4000 miles left in them, and dynamically the WRX is as keen and responsive as any other we've tried. The reason Subaru and I have agreed to differ is that they say the geometry of our car pre-service was within tolerances and nothing has been adjusted. I just can't accept that. It's our job, day in, day out, to assess dynamics and to detect the subtle differences between closely matched cars on group tests. All of us at evo agree that the WRX wasn't right, but is now. A new set of exactly the same tyres doesn't last four times longer.

Still, the bottom line is that the WRX is in fine fettle. There's only one extra job on the work sheet for its 22,500-mile service: new brake pads. However, having driven the limited edition UK300 (page 106), there's a short but significant list of upgrades we'd love to see on the car. We'll keep you posted on progress.

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