The History of the USDM Impreza as told by JC...
 

It has come to my attention that some of the n00bs think I am a bit harsh on the newer age body style "cars" both here and on RS25.com. To remedy this misconception and to educate my fellow Subaru owners, I present to you Part 1 of the greatest Subaru story ever told by me on the internet lately...

Reaching the hallowed shores of the United States during the 1993 model year, the Subaru Impreza marked a new era for the car manufacturer that previous built awkwardly square cars driven only by hippies and ski bums. Having only started to penetrate the mainstream market with the family oriented Legacy, the Impreza was a thrust into the heart of the small car segment.

http://auto.consumerguide.com/images...0061990103.JPG

Smartly styled with a mieserly 1.8l, the Impreza was initially available in three models base, L, and LS. A sedan or sport wagon was available in either FWD or with Subarus trademark AWD.

http://www.warehousemotors.com/item_.../507-7-128.jpg

In 1995 a coupe version was introduced as was a new more powerful 2.2l engine. A smashing success the new coupe was called "the car of the mid 90s" by several people.

http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/...resized200.gif

The Impreza recieved a facelift in 1997 with new sharper and more masculine lines. The Outback Sport model got a new hood with scoop and vents from the firebreathing JDM WRX models. While a popular vehicle it's real significance was to give a glimpse at the greatest Impreza model ever to grace the shores of America.... the 2.5RS.

http://www.cars101.com/imp-RS-98-1.JPG

Due to poor marketing of the magnificent Impreza and ill concieved models like the SVX dragging down the line-up, Subaru of America was seen to be struggling a bit. The 2.5RS was a car so great it was the single reason that SOA was able to turn around as a company (it is a common misconception that this was due to the Outback, wholly un-true).

Introduced as a 1998 model, the formula for success was amazingly simply. With a large 2.5l out of the bloated Legacy, stiffer suspension, JDM WRX body work, improved seats and shifter, and blingin' gold rims the 2.5RS was a car it seemed impossible to improve upon. Yet Subaru managed to do just that. In 1999 the 2.5RS recieved the JDM WRX front bumper and a new SOHC powerplant.

http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/...mpreza_lg2.jpg

Managing to do the impossible a further improved 2.5RS bowed in 2000, with a new MAP system, LSD, and a sedan model. A car so amazing it is still universally acclaimed as "the greatest Subaru ever to grace North America" and "a car so fanatastic that few can comprehend it's brilliance." Since the 2.5RS was already automotive perfection it went mostly unchanged into 2001, the only significant change being the addition of fake carbon fiber trim. While seen as innocuous, it was in fact a grim indicator of the atrocity that was to be the future of the Impreza.

It is at this point that I must ask that anyone under the age of 17 stop reading. Our tale takes a dark and horrific turn into a disturbing and vile world of gruesomely mishapen headlights, monsterously oversized wings, and grotesque Altezza style taillights. You have been warned.

To be continued...

Something tells me the rest of this is not going to be the most impartial of editorials. . . :lol:

PREMPTIVE BUGEYE TAKEOVER!!!



http://www.seccs.org/gallery/Car%20P...Headlights.jpg







http://www.seccs.org/gallery/Car%20P...0Front_600.jpg



http://www.seccs.org/gallery/Race%20...erhill_600.jpg

http://www.seccs.org/gallery/Reno%20...Mt%20Hammy.jpg















...I think that should just about sum up part 2. ;)

Pic #3 rocks.

That's from one of our meets back in '03 when it was all bugeyes (and JC nearly killed himself due to depression).

Ack my eyes.

ewwww, bugeyes

I like the front and rear lips on that white wagon. . . whose was that?

our very own MattR!!

:lol:

We called that the ROWF: Riced Out Wagon of Fury. :lol:

Ahh thank you... :lol: I love that wagon.

Pic #3 is cool indeed.

GC8 Impreza's like Cory (Mpreziv)'s and Kevin (BANSUV)'s former car (RIP) are hands down the best looking USDM Impreza's ever, but at least bugeye's aren't all riced out with the "Altezza" lights and beak like scoop. JDM/EDM Bugeye's are a close 2nd IMHO.

Thanks for the history editorial JC. I think I was able to pick out fact from fiction. :P

Two Subaru Bugeye Wagons in their Quasi Natural Habitat

The parking lot at Sushi Club?

Ok that was very funny, but I was referring to the snow and wet roads, but you do win the prize for guessing the location.....that was in front of The Gem Gallery this afternoon about 3pm. That guy pulled up next to me and went into the Napa Sonoma place to get a basket. (Same Shopping Center as the Sushi Club)

Sushi = Raw fish bleh!!!

MMMM, Sushi!

Sushi = Vinegar Rice

So, is this the part where we discuss the real turning point in the history of the impreza? Horsepower AND good looks...Oh My.

MY2004 FTW

Wha? Good read tho.

Good work JC. Every word of it is true too :)

Pour one out for my GC homies..

Naw, JC's just got the world's biggest case of turbo-envy.

Matt, you should have kept the wagon, bought the STi, swapped EVERYTHING out, found some JDM interior items, and pushed the sedan shell off a cliff.

You know this.

You are evil!

http://www.counterfrag.com/wp-images...marguerite.jpg

Then he'd end up with a car more fucked up than mine! :eek:

It's all true. Every fact was checked and re-checked to the highest and most rigorous academic standards.

I have a turbo, remember?

Here it comes...

And yet, you still envy the WRX and STI... Why don't you build up that Legacy Turbo so you don't have to bash turbo imprezas for being faster than yours? ;)

So is that kind of like the "running car envy" you have?

The plan is to buy a new vehicle this summer.

I didn't know you could kick a guy that's already under the bus! :lol:

So....does the Legacy have issues? You're bringing it back, right?

Dibs on the touring wagon.

After I buy Scott's SVX ;)

Dammit. Quite tempting me to sell the SVX. :( I love that car, but having a buyer that would take care of and appreciate it almost makes me willing to sell it to buy a Titan.

JC has made an art out of it!

That's awesome JC! I agree whole-heartedly!!

Damn ugly ass bugeyes!

Long live the SVX. I still think it is the best looking car they ever made =).

http://www.iwoc.co.uk/images/subaru/B11Scoupe2.jpg

http://www.in.gr/auto/parousiaseis/f..._Legacy_06.jpg

http://www.seccs.org/images/misc/22b.jpeg

http://www.x35performance.com/SVX_pr...e_postcard.jpg

You're safe for a while, I need to collect on some debts first ;)

I just want dibs ;)

James Bond is hiding behind that, isn't he? :|

^^that thing is pretty rad looking.

That's the Subaru B11S concept car. Looks like a 350Z humped a Mazda RX-8, then was raised by Aston Martin and Alfa Romero foster parents.

It's supposed to have a H6 twin turbo with like 450hp. It's the spiritual successor to the SVX/XT6. IMO, Subaru should have used the B11S grill on all their cars rather than the higher Alfa style grill they ended up going with. :(

Your opinion is wrong. thanks.

:monkey:

Amen brother. :lol:

Some guy here bettered the SVX for you Scott:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WIDEB...QQcmdZViewItem

Yeah, we've been vomiting and crying over that POS on the SVX forum. :mad:

You want any extra ghey with that?

What's ghey about spray painted red leather?

As long it's red and leather, how it got that way is no matter to me.

Wow. Two POS's mixed together into one big ball of specialness. I'm not even sure where to go with that...

Best part about the car is the steering wheel (its missing so I am assuming it was the only thing left out of the owners rapage)