• Our Opinion

• Launch Story

• Buy with Confidence

• Legal Disclaimer

Our Opinion

Our Opinion

We Like:

Linear power delivery, engine response at low speeds, dynamics, gearshift/clutch weighting, 4WD grip

We Don't Like:

New grille can’t hide ageing cabin and dull dashboard, tyre roar, road noise, compromised rear legroom

It may well have been the worst-kept secret among motoring enthusiasts – that the model year 2006 Impreza WRX and STi models would boast a 2.5-litre turbo four in place of the venerable 2.0-litre turbo boxer. But for a wider audience the arrival of a new Impreza comes down to just one thing – what will the front end look like? After the goofy "bug-eyed" Impreza of a few years ago, enthusiasts have tended to draw breath and avert their eyes when any new Subaru broke cover. The mixed reception of the B9 Tribeca is proof of that. Fortunately Subaru’s designers toned down the 2003 Impreza facelift, which took a more conservative styling approach and went some way to redeeming the Japanese-based car-maker.

Now, roll on to 2006 and the latest incarnation of Subaru’s much-talked about WRX. Despite the fresh new face – somewhat affectionately nicknamed the koala nose by some motoring media – the Impreza is just 55mm longer than the old car and remains largely unchanged except for specification improvements, an engineering makeover involving the engines, gearboxes and some added dynamic refinements. This mid-life makeover must now carry on until the all-new Impreza arrives around late 2007. So that means the much-vaunted “aerospace inspired” three-part mesh grille is here to stay across the range, which now includes the entry 2.0i sedan and hatch, RV hatch, 2.0R sedan and hatch (replacing the RS) and range topping WRX and WRX STi models. We generally like new look but on the WRX and STi it still manages to look too fussy and a little overdone. However, it can be argued that this sport edginess is precisely what buyers of these performance models want so we’ll graciously acquiesce to their desires.

In profile, the Impreza’s handsome lines continue, with its wheel-arch blisters and chunky door handles. Apart from some new tail-light lens the rear end remains the largely same. Overall weight has inched up a tad, by 20kg to 1415kg in the WRX, which one assumes is because of the extra weight of the now standard side head and thorax airbags. In the absence of having any normally aspirated 2.0-litres available, which include the perky 2.0R with its double overhead camshafts and active valve control delivering 118kW of power at 6400rpm and 186Nm at 3200rpm, we were easily coerced into the WRX for a modest spin around the windy mountain roads behind Brisbane.

As soon as you were under way the Rex was like an attack dog straining to be let off the leash. The power we remember from WRXs of old – rapid and unrelenting - but its seemless and linear delivery from barely above 20km/h really impressed in the newer car. The newest WRX is less aggressive, more progressive. The same can be said of the all-paw traction in the WRX. It offers levels of grip that can leave passengers spell-bound if they have never experienced four-wheel drive before. But the price you pay for such acceleration and handling is a firm ride and plenty of tyre noise generated through the cabin. Even though the Rex’s power output remains at 169kW at 5600rpm it remains an awful lot for a little car. Torque is up 20Nm, or 6.6 per cent, to 320Nm at 3600rpm. Time and again, the power comes on in a seemless fashion from low down the rev range, making third-gear point-and-squirt acceleration through some windy hills an entertaining experience. However, because of heavy holiday traffic we had to amuse ourselves running through the car’s revised specification levels – aluminium lower suspension arm in the sedan, aluminium pedals, electronic throttle control, HID headlights with headlight washers, immobiliser, Suretrac limited slip differential, four-pot front and two-pot rear disc brakes and new 17-inch alloys. All very nice touches complemented now by dual side airbags for the modest ask of $40,990 for the five-speed manual, up just $1000 over the old car. The automatic has been dropped. Throw in climate control air conditioning, cruise control, sports seats, anti-lock brakes, remote central locking and foglights and the WRX remains a persuasive argument for low-cost, high-performance motoring.

After our modest road trip, we did manage to take the WRX for two hot laps of a race circuit but again it was difficult to come away with any overriding impression that much had changed about Subaru’s star car. Apart from the more refined power delivery, the clutch and shift linkage quality felt vastly improved – more positive in the gearshift throws and with a firmer, more precise clutch take up. The car’s drive-by-wire electronic throttle control – all Imprezas get it – allows the Rex to be driven with more precisely measured throttle inputs. Fans of the traditional throbbing horizontally opposed boxer engine will also be delighted by subtle exhaust changes that have made the Rex more efficient while also delivering a more throaty engine note. The more aerodynamic front end has also allowed designers to reduce the height of the ‘letterbox’ turbocharger bonnet scoop. We’ll also have to take it on face value over Subaru’s claims of significantly improved headlight performance for the WRX and STi, which both now feature high-intensity discharge headlights. Poor headlight performance was a problem with some Subaru models and it’s good to see management doing something about it. However, the downside is that they are not more widely available across the range.

In our all-too-brief exposure to the latest WRX it is clear Subaru has maintained a build-brief of continuous improvement, refining and improving the things that it really believes count – a car’s dynamics and overall performance. That’s hardly surprising given the company’s heavily engineering-based manufacturing philosophy, courtesy of Fuji Heavy Industries. The bottom line however, is that the WRX remains a thoroughly entertaining car to drive.

Launch Story

Launch Story

Subaru Australia’s halo WRX and STi models have gained the lion’s share of improvements to the MY06 Impreza range, with both now featuring 2.5-litre turbocharged engines and the marque’s controversial new corporate face. The niche Japanese brand has also dropped the 2.5-litre RS model in favour of a variant called the 2.0R, which features a 2.0-litre DOHC engine with Subaru’s Active Valve Control System. The line-up now comprises 2.0i sedan and hatchback, RV hatch, 2.0R sedan and hatch, WRX sedan and hatch and the STi sedan.

The STi produces 206kW at 5600 rpm – up from 195kW – while torque is up 14 per cent from 343Nm to 392Nm at 4000 rpm. Subaru claims the STi’s power and torque delivery has improved right across the engine operating range. In the WRX, power is up marginally to 169kW at 5600rpm, while torque is up 6.6 per cent to 320Nm at 3600rpm. The WRX is now only available as a five-speed manual while the six-speed unit in the STi carries over. Gear ratios remain the same but Subaru claims the engine improvements offer a better spread of torque and in-gear acceleration. The 2.0R unit offers a wider torque band, producing 118kW at 6400rpm and 186Nm of torque at 3200rpm compared to the RS’s 112kW at 5600rpm and 223Nm at 3600rpm.

Prices have risen in some cases. The starting price for the WRX has increased $1000 to $40,990, although in addition to the engine the model features high-intensity discharge headlights, a larger-diameter exhaust and new alloy wheels. STi pricing has also increased, up $360 to start from $56,990 on the back of a raft of technical changes. Impreza 2.0i remains the same as superseded GX at $23,990, while the $29,990 2.0R matches the previous RS model and the RV remains at a $26,940 price point.

Standard features across the range include all-wheel drive, climate-control air conditioning, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, aluminium bonnet, four-speaker CD stereo, cruise control, microdot vehicle identification, dual-range transmission (manual hatch), foglights, four-wheel disc brakes, height adjustable driver’s seat, immobiliser, electric windows/mirrors and remote central locking. All Imprezas except the STi introduce side airbags for the first time, supplementing the dual front airbags. Visually, the entire range adopts the latest Subaru design philosophy penned by head designer Andreas Zapatinas, which means a controversial, aviation-inspired three-part mesh grille. The bonnet is extended, with more efficient air inlets used on the high-performance models. For added aerodynamic performance, the STi adds an aluminium roof vane. A rear under-body diffuser also improves the coefficient of lift by 0.03. There are new five-spoke 16-inch alloys on the 2.0R and seven-spoke 17-inch alloys on the WRX. All models bar STi – which has unique fog-light covers – gain a re-profiled front bumper incorporating new compact fog-lights.

The WRX and STi now have smaller, more aerodynamically efficient letterbox bonnet scoops while the driver control centre differential (DCCD) on the STi has been further refined. The torque-sensitive gear-type LSD operates ahead of the electromagnetic clutch, allowing more linear and responsive torque distribution to front and rear wheels as required, for improved stability. Subaru claims this helps maintain agility, steering stability, traction and control, particularly when cornering. The WRX’s gearshift mechanism has also been refined while the 2.0R, WRX and STi now have "drive-by-wire" electronic throttle control. The STi’s gearshift improvements offer smoother and more direct changing by virtue of carbon on fourth, fifth and sixth gear synchroniser rings. First and third gear synchronisers are now double-coned in all five-speed manual Imprezas, producing a lighter shift feel.

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Check the car's value and determine how much you want to pay. Use the Completed Listings search option to get an idea of how much a similar model has sold for recently.

• Check if the car is covered by eBay Australia's Vehicle Purchase Protection.

• Ask for a test drive or consider getting a History Check or a Vehicle Inspection if you can't inspect the car yourself.

• Read the description carefully. If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs. Classified Ads are not covered by Vehicle Purchase Protection.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• Cars listed by Sellers with a feedback rating less than 0 are not covered by a Vehicle Purchase Protection program.

• Some car dealers may have a low feedback rating because classified ads do not generate ads. But they will have a icon next to their user name.

• Depending on the car, some car dealers provide a limited warranty. Do they offer a warranty on the car you are buying? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, you may be covered by the Vehicle Purchase Protection program

• Vehicle Purchase Protection: When you buy a car online through eBay Motors, you may be covered for up to $20,000 of FREE Vehicle Purchase Protection insurance*.
  
  * Terms and conditions apply.

eBay Australia Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.

The content of this guide is licensed from GoAuto © 2006