Subaru Impreza Subaru Test drive 1998 - 2000 sedan

For senior school age

Subaru Impreza 2.0 gt
The most dangerous stage in the life of the driver occurs when he spent about two to three years behind the wheel. Many skills are worked out to automatism, and many consider themselves, if not by Schumacher, then by Sinz. But real experience comes in five or six years. And then you can try yourself on the civilian version of the sports car of the same Carlos Sainz from the Subaru team. Moreover, now in Russia they began to officially sell some models previously supplied only to Europe and the USA. Obviously, they believed that our races were unpopular.
HOLY SIMPLICITY
At first glance, nothing special is a typical form for a modern auto design. But there are several characteristic details in it that give imperza special expressiveness. The wide nostril of the intercooler in the center of the hood, a massive spoiler on the trunk lid and deliberately rude, huge round fog lights in the front bumper cause exciting names from the subconscious: Paris-Dakar, rally of the orthonyes, Monte Carlo.
And he also haunts the obsessive feeling that in front of you is not just a car, but an animated creature with a powerful charge of internal energy. For some reason, the soul becomes restless, and the body covers a light chills. This condition does not lend itself to any logical explanation until the door opens and you do not get inside.
Do not believe simplicity
The first impressions inside are somewhat discouraged - the finish, designed in gray -black colors, seems so primitive. The number of instruments and all kinds of buttons-chuckles is minimized, and those that are, look somehow rude. In a detailed study, you begin to understand that everything is optimized and subordinated to the most important goal - to maximize your contact with the machine. The interior is very miserable, but more correctly to call it restrained. It helps to create an atmosphere of maximum concentration of energy and attention. Primary speed, so in the main place is what helps the driver to control the movement: excellent visible and easily readable speedometer, tachometer, fuel and temperature indicators. Since 1998, some changes have occurred in the internal design: in particular, dials on the dashboard are painted in white sports. It seems to be a trifle, but how meaningful it is!
Management of lighting devices - on the switch to the right of the steering wheel. For manipulations with them, you do not even need to remove your hands from the steering wheel, just stretch your fingers. This equally applies to the management of mirrors and glass windows.
Delay!
Recaro anatomical seat is tough, but it was specially made by yours and only by your standards. A convenient steering wheel with a soft and rough surface itself lay down in his hands, and the gear shift handle is softly like the nose of a true dog, with delicate skin in the palm of my hand. Turn the key, light click - and the car came to life.
The moment of truth occurs when the arrow of the tachometer crosses the treasured mark 3000. The reasons for the incomprehensible chills that covered at the beginning of the acquaintance are clarified. Under the turbine fascinating wars, the seat literally gets into the back, and from the passenger seat, if someone is there, exclamations begin to come, which are impossible to reproduce from censorship reasons. Yes, what's the matter, we are just going! Only now the strange thing happens with the rest of the cars on the road: they decided to play the Children's game of FRIED.
Affectionate and delicate beast
211 horses of a turbocharged motor work miracles. It is impossible to get rid of the feeling that this amazing beast, becoming part of you, persistently touches with his paw - well, come on, a man, that you are hesitating, because our capabilities are huge. Use them!
All systems and nodes of this car were specially selected under the motor, which represents the half of the aviation engine with reduced compression and high -pressure turbine. A clear and easy work of the checkpoint with the short moves of the lever and perfectly selected gear rates provides an instant and accurate selection of transmission. A constant all -wheel drive and a rigid independent suspension leave practically no chances of disrupting the car into a skid. It is admired how stable and reliably the car stands on the road at any speed. And all maneuvers are performed easily and at ease, as if a smooth step is taken to the side.
Management can cause nothing but admiration. The steering wheel is extremely accurate and a bit, and Impreza, perhaps, is distinguished by one of the most correct hydraulicities. He just helps the driver, not depriving him of close contact with the road for a second. All this is taken together and creates that remarkable effect of the merger, due to which Impreza seems to become an organic part and the continuation of the human body.
It is natural that passive and active safety systems are completely adequate to the abilities of this car. The brakes provide effective slowdown at any speed, and ABS intervenes in their work only in case of real need. Two airbags and power elements of the body are ready to cover themselves inside, providing them with maximum protection.
The truth is not to hide
To the honor of the creators of the civil version of Impreza Turbo, we must admit that they managed to achieve a truly unique combination at first glance incompatible qualities. This car is able to deliver a true pleasure to the connoisseur of an aggressive style, and in extreme cases, it can act as a family sedan - a decent size of the salon and a roomy trunk allow.
The original and stylish, clinging curious views of appearance can satisfy the moderate ambitions of the one who is not entirely indifferent to their own image, but to whom the content is more important than the form.
In Impreza, the management process is primary, it is he and only he delivers the highest pleasure. It is enough to hear once an exciting symphony, consisting of a soft roar of an engine that excites the whistle of the turbine and the rustle of the tires on the asphalt, to feel how powerfully and rapidly it breaks forward - and your heart is subjugated once and for all.
Real experience comes in five to six years of driving. If you feel morally ready, buy Impreza. But do not eat illusions. Although the mechanism is very serious, it will be just a manual for senior school age compared to the combat vehicle. And this is a completely different story.

Autopilot thanks the company Asiaaliance, (095) 133-0501, 432-6719, for the car provided for the test. For the period of the test, the car was insured in the company of RESO-Garantia, (095) 250-3600, 255-6834.
We tested at least steep and rapid, but still quite a civilian, peaceful Impreza. Which no owner, of course, will not release on the rally route. And yet I wonder how she would behave on a real race? I would have to fall apart, at the first turn? It has not happened, says the racer Sergey Uspensky (he is part-time and sells Subaru), who in training rides not to some special, but on the most ordinary 2-liter turbocharged Impreza. Just with sports shock absorbers. On the same one, on which he gets from his entrance to the strip with the inscription Start. And nothing, the machine can withstand such an appeal. True, after each training it is dismantled, regulated, torn bumpers are replaced, dents rule, but from this you can’t get any kind of Impreza in a dual -purpose and the Gazprom team.
Impreza is still a slightly special car, - Assumption admits - it is purely constructively very sports. Especially the Turbo option: it probably accounts for 10 percent of our sales, and there will never be again. It's just that this is an option for those who understand.
As the statistics of the Russian office of Subaru shows, 2 -liter Impreza -Turbo is almost exclusively buying men. And almost exclusively young. For two years, Alexey Grekov traveled on her couturier. And he obviously fell under the charm of the brand, because after Impreza I was happy to bought Legacy. But the fate of the weakest improvisation - the one with the 1.6 engine - is simply deplorable in Russia. It is offered to be offered, there is no problem with this, but only no one needs it. The dealers say that, despite the all -wheel drive, buyers are already comparing this cheaply with the Nissan Almer - and that is still cheaper than 40 percent.
In general, random people do not drive Subaru: all owners are simultaneously hot fans of the brand. So you can’t talk about the shortcomings with them. In general, I easily adapt to the disadvantages of the car obliges the profession, ”explains Uspensky. - As for the improvisation, I have no complaints about her. Well, perhaps a modest appearance. But this is not a drawback. This is on purpose that.

Model/Modification Subaru Impreza 2.0 Turbo
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd manufacturer.
The country-producing Japan
BODY
Type sedan
Number of doors/places 4/5
ENGINE
Basin type with multi -point injection, with high pressure turbocharged and intermediate air cooling (intercooler)
The location in front is longitudinally
Working volume (cubic meter) 1994
Number/location of the cylinders 4/horizontal-opposition
Cylinder diameter x Piston stroke (mm) 92.0x75.0
Compression degree 8.0: 1
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 155 (211) at 5600
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 290 at 4000
The number of valves per cylinder 4
TRANSMISSION
The permanent drive is full with viscous and automatic distribution of torque between the axes
Distribution along the axes (flat dry surface) front/back (%) 50/50
Gearbox five -speed mechanical
SUSPENSION
Front Independent spring stiffness of the MacPherson type
The rear independent two -leaf spring stiffness variable with a reptile stability stabilizer
STEERING
Type gear rack with a hydraulic booster
Min. Diameter of turn (m) 10.4
Brakes
Front disk ventilated
The rear disc
ABS four -sensor four -channel electronic with speed sensors
Wheels
Tire size 205/50 HR16
Alloy wheels, 6.5JX16 ''
Dimensions/Opam/Weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4340/1690/1400
Wheel base (mm) 2520
The track front/track of the back (mm) 1465/1455
Min. clearance (mm) 150
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 60
Dry mass/maximum (kg) 1235/1750
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 231
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 6.4
Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100km):
City cycle 13.8
90 km/h 8.1
120 km/h 10.7
The price of the dummy in Moscow is $ 38 450 (34,000)

And what else
Impreza 2.0 GT sedan, without a doubt, the car is unique. Analogues that would fully comply with all its parameters have no other world car manufacturer.
As a result, the selection of classmates is very, very approximate. The turbocharged version of the Volvo S40 in power, dynamics and body parameters is closest to Impreza, but at the same time, a significant difference between them is the type of transmission - S40 is available only with front -wheel drive. If you do not pay attention to it, then the sensations from movement and management are comparable to Impreza. In addition, the S40 is not much, but is ahead of the interior decoration and set of options in standard configuration, which, of course, affects the price.
The Audi A4 all -wheel drive sedan 1.8 20V, it would seem, in all respects, can be an analogue of Impreza - and the type of body, and the type of transmission, and the volume of the engine, and the presence of turbocharged. But again, there is no complete similarity, since even the German turbocharged engine is much weaker, which inevitably affects the running qualities and impressions of driving. In the final account, factors of an exclusively subjective nature may affect the choice. The authority and fame of this brand in our country is still higher than that of Subaru, and in addition, service and repair are better established.
Italians are famous for their charged machines, but of them only Lancia Delta HPE can be put on a par with Impreza. And again with fair stretches. The drive is only the front, the body of the Lancia is a little shorter than that of the Japanese rival, and the turbocharged version is available only in the three -door version, which slightly limits its functionality. In terms of technical characteristics, she also loses to the Japanese woman, which is generally not surprising, since Subaru engines are built according to aviation technology and are significantly different from traditional automobile ones.
 
Andrey Timofeev, Alexey Ilyin (photo)

 

A source: "Autopilot"