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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...