- station wagon 137,380
- 675 below average
- 7,490 good
- Boulder, CO
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- autoshopper.com
- 675 below average station wagon 137,380 grey
2006 subaru impreza review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Premium features come not in the form of fancy interiors but in the form of sophisticated all-wheel-drive systems, turbocharged engines and high-quality engineering designs. The days when the impreza was an inexpensive subcompact, sold mainly on the strength of its low price, are long gone. All models are good fun to drive and quite practical, with decent room in the back seat and good gas mileage. The standard fulltime all-wheel-drive system is legitimately a safety, performance and foul-weather advantage. on one hand, the least expensive model costs substantially more than some other very good small cars. On the other, even the base impreza has more horsepower than most cars in its class. For less than $18,500, the 2006 impreza 2. 5i sedan and 2. 5i sport wagon (as the base models are now called) come very well equipped. They're the least expensive all-wheel-drive sedan and wagon available in the united states. The wrx is a genuine high-performance car, but too refined now to be considered a boy racer. The crazy fast wrx sti is an ultra-high-performance machine that can run with big dogs like the bmw m3 for tens of thousands of dollars less. their silhouettes may look familiar, but the impreza models benefit from some serious upgrades for 2006. All models have been restyled front and rear. Power has increased at least slightly across the board. The body structure has been improved and the suspension refined. There's more standard equipment, more safety equipment, more new technology. the 2006 impreza is more sophisticated, perhaps more serious, but it's still fun and sensible in any guise. It's still loaded with character compared to some of the sanitized appliances that populate this class of car. For 2006 there are 10 models, both sedans and wagons. All come standard with full-time all-wheel drive and a manual transmission. Both are powered a 173-hp version of the 2. 5-liter boxer engine (up eight horsepower for 2006, with variable valve timing and lift), and both come well equipped. Standard features include upscale bits like interior air filtration, auto-off headlights and an outside temperature indicator, as well as air conditioning, an 80-watt stereo with cd, cruise control and remote keyless locks. The 2. 5i sport wagon comes with a split folding rear seat, rear cargo utility bars and cover, roof rails and a trailer harness connector. the outback sport wagon 19,195) is designed for rugged conditions. The outback's suspension is raised and tuned for more wheel travel (or off-road capability). It adds a chrome grille and gray-metallic lower body cladding, roof-rail crossbars, and projector-beam foglights. The wrx was created as a limited-production specialty car, but it quickly became one of subaru's best sellers, and there are now six variants. the wrx tr sedan 23,995), new for 2006, gets the high-performance mechanicals and standard features comparable to the 2. 5i. Tr stands for tuner ready, and this wrx is geared toward sport-compact enthusiasts who might choose to equip it with some of the hundreds of dealer-installed or aftermarket parts and accessories currently available. the wrx sedan 24,995) and wrx sport wagon 24,495) add more features, including heavily bolstered sport seats, automatic climate control, a 140-watt stereo with cd changer, the fog lights and leather trimmed wheel and shifter. the wrx limited 27,495) and wrx limited sport wagon 26,995), also new for 2006, are the peak of impreza luxury. Their price includes leather seating with dual-mode heaters in front, a power moonroof, windshield wiper de-icers and heated outside mirrors. This is the one most coveted by hard-core driving enthusiasts, and it's distinguished by a huge two-step rear wing and even more aggressive bodywork. The centerpiece is a prominent three-section black mesh grille, which is supposed to reflect subaru's aircraft heritage (more accurately, the aircraft heritage of parent fuji heavy industries). Some reviewers have described the new subaru look in unflattering terms. We're indifferent, at least to the impreza's grille. It certainly would not deter us from owning one of these cars. the new grille is flanked by comma-shaped light clusters, encased in tinted lenses. The taillight clusters are shaped similarly to those in front, with the red, yellow and clear lenses of individual lights gathered under a smoked cover. The fenders on all impreza models are flared more aggressively, and the wheel wells are filled nicely with standard 16-inch rims. the impreza outback sport has a bit more space between the tire and the fender lip. That's because the outback's ride height is raised slightly to allow more upward wheel travel. The outback is easy to distinguish from the other wagons, thanks to its chrome grille and two-tone paint. The side molding, bumpers and lower body are finished in steely gray metallic, and the rear bumper has a truck-style vinyl pad, or step. the impreza wrx now features the sculpted side sills previously reserved for the mighty sti. The 17-inch spoke wheels add purpose. The body-colored side mirrors, new smoked light lenses and softly shimmering paint (not to mention impressive overall panel fit) meld to create a jewel-like finish that would flatter cars costing twice as much. the wrx sti has been stripped of what many considered its calling card: the big gaping scoop in its hood. Subaru says improved aerodynamics feed the sti engine and intercooler all the air they need through a narrower scoop identical to that on the standard wrx. Perhaps, but saving the cost of tooling a separate hood for the low-volume sti probably helped. the sti was created as the homologation car, a required street-legal copy of subaru's winning world rally championship cars. Those who care will notice the sti's slightly lower ride height, or the badges or the little spoiler at the trailing edge of the roof. And if none of those things are enough to announce the presence of the fastest subaru ever, no worries. Absolutely no one will miss the giant, two-step rear wing. The sti's rear spoiler may be the most audacious in autodom. And if the wing doesn't shout 'look at me!' loud enough, there are optional gold wheels, just like those on the wrc race cars. The cabin is well designed, judged both by appearance and function, and it's also very well finished. The overall effect is that of a car selling in the $30,000 range, rather than an economy car priced in the low teens. The dash in the base impreza 2. 5i is trimmed with a dark gray metallic material. It's plastic, to be sure, but it looks good and doesn't come off as cheap. The instruments and controls were revised for '05, and they work great. Everything is easy to find and operate, but the package doesn't seem spartan or simplistic. the wipers are located on a stalk to the right of the steeri. Climate Control✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof
7,490 Boulder, COBoulder, CO at autoshopper.com