Subaru Impreza Wrx STI 2001 test drive - 2003 sedan

We are good!

There should be a lot of good car, like a good person. In order not only to go well, but also to carry a lot - like BMW 325xi Touring and Subaru Impreza Wrx Wagon.
A full -wheel drive sedan is a rather rare thing. This is the raisins of the automobile world. It is produced for amateur and is not in active demand. Friendly amateur riders and young top managers of large companies are purchased by such cars. The former prefer the Subaru brand, as they carefully monitor the ups and downs of the struggle on the world Cup on a rally on TV in Sports Bar. The latter would prefer a QUATTRO, M5 or 4-MATIC preference, but the chef is afraid-that is exactly what. It is believed that modest sizes will hide large ambitions. Therefore, BMW is bought - it seems to be inconspicuous in appearance, but ambitious in content.
The number of station wagons with all -wheel drive is generally calculated by units. Firstly, they are more expensive, and secondly, the general hostility of the Russians to the sheds on wheels affects.
 
Full bowl. Why and who needs him at all - an all -wheel drive station wagon? This is not a jeep, and on the rut from the tractor you won’t pass on it. For example, the BMW 325xi Touring clearance is only 17 mm above a regular three -mm - unnecessary value, spit and grind. There is no conversation about Subaru - on sedans and station wagons it is a constant - 150 mm.
Cargo ambitions of station wagons - fact: in the BMW 3 -Er Touring 1320 liters against 405 l; In Subaru Impreza Wagon - 1280 versus 365. Only use such cars for transporting a lining or beer, to put it mildly, is unreasonable. Therefore, the main calculation of merchants should be done for a rather limited class of customers. Purposeful, young, ambitious and necessarily passionate about sports - not only automobile, but also general strengthening. Which regularly load skiing, mountain bicycles and other expensive and bulky equipment in a car. There is another class of consumers - young entrepreneurs whose business is not limited by the Moscow ring road. In business, they are forced to regularly make quite long marchings in other cities and highly value the amazing stability and controllability of all-wheel drive cars on the highway. As well as a roomy trunk.
If we talk about Subaru Impreza, then you should not discount the design and design - I like Wagon frankly more sedan. But the rear spoilers are an additional option for which you need to lay out about $ 1.3 thousand.
 
Japan Mom! The most important thing that unites the BMW 325xi Touring and Subaru Impreza Wrx Wagon is a full -wheel drive with all the ensuing consequences. In their behavior, they vary, like a hound and fighting dogs. Both are purebred, but the temperament is different.
Subaru riding is a real job. With a sluggish gas supply and lazy operation, the Impreza gearbox lever rides like an ordinary car with a 1.6 -engine and a carburetor.
In order to master the algorithm for spurring a 250-horsepower engine, you need to forget everything that was taught in a driving school, and bury reflexes already developed on simple sedans. The motor should constantly tremble within 3500-5000 thousand revolutions, and with intensive acceleration from the course of the tachometer shooter, it should generally lie on 7000--7500 rpm. Then the moment of truth opens.
The most fully all -wheel drive capabilities are revealed with sharp acceleration from scratch and when steering in corners on the verge of sliding. In the first case, the acceleration occurs unnaturally evenly and powerfully - the main thing is that the hand does not flinch and switches to second gear at the only moment when the tachometer arrow touches the fatal red mark on the scale. Something like this: the second - add the gas and hold the moment - the third - hold the momentum - and on the speedometer it is already more than 100 km/h, although only a few seconds have passed from the start ... Fourth ... I see? ..
The power of resistance. A colleague who moved from Subaru to BMW expressed himself figuratively, but fairly - you are going, like on a computer. In order to experience the sensations similar to Subaru on the XI Touring, you need to drown out all the electronics and abandon the automatic (albeit sectral) box. Sports are always step by the line, and BMW electronics does not allow frivolous steps. And although BMW accelerates also powerfully and evenly (all -wheel drive!), Bring to the tantrums of other drivers at a traffic light, adrenaline injection into the blood is no longer proportional to the injection of gasoline into the engine.
The BMW has a regular atmospheric engine, so the driver is deprived of the opportunity to experience a powerful spurt at the moment when the turbine opens. And the contrasting system and automation are deprived of the opportunity to furnish your start as effectively as possible - with an active ejection of smoke, as in the MTV video.
Sigzag good luck. Subaru very actively resists the driver’s desire to enter the turn as much as possible. This is felt not in feedback on the steering wheel, but by side overload, which literally presses the seat into the ribs of the driver. At the same time, the rear wheels break into the skid much later and at a higher speed than this can be expected. And the process of losing the clutch with the road occurs much more smooth and softer than in a simple car. As a result, managing Subaru sailing on asphalt is simple. Gas discharge provokes an increase in the sliding angle. I pressed it stronger - the car is immediately aligned. The only thing that all -wheel drive and dry asphalt are not allowed is beautiful to go sideways and leve the car on a straight look, under the delighted glances of the spectators. That is, theoretically it is possible, but this is the highest aerobatics.
On BMW, such escapades did not work with electronics. Electronic brains caught a scheduled breakdown and gave the command to the heart and feet. The engine dropped momentum, brake pads pressed slightly on the right wheels and the perfect trajectory was restored. True, contrary to the will of the driver.
On the second circle, we go under the alarming blink of a yellow triangle, which means the disconnection of the DSC system. The sensations are less sharp and pleasant than on Subaru. Firstly, BMW is distinguished by a softer suspension that resists the side rolls of the car worse. With your mind, you understand that it is almost impossible to turn over, but unpleasant.
The BMW drive is distributed between the front and rear wheels in a proportion of 38:62 percent. Therefore, we joyfully fly into the turn under the gas. A little more - the rear wheels pulled out. The right leg weakens the pressure on the pedal slightly - we return to the original. A light turn of the steering wheel - gas - slide again. BMW reactions to the tandem steering gaz are so accurate that you involuntarily think about, why all these electronic systems? For unknown assistance to the driver, the ASC+T traction system and electronic imitation of the ADB-X differential locks are enough.
We did not experience BMW and Subaru in completely extreme modes close to hostilities on the track. Most drivers do not go like that. Although Subaru owners regularly gather on Khodynka and arrange a between the tire burning and clutch. But this is in their free time and without risk to others. And BMW is appreciated not for an extreme character, but for reliability and comfort.
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Alexey Ilyin
Cars were provided for the test LLC BMW Russland Trading, (095) 795-2923, and the Moscow representative office of Prestige Auto, (095) 971-5230.
       
Model/Modification BMW XI 325 Touring Subaru Impreza Wrx Wagon
The manufacturer BMW AG/Germany Fuji Heavy Industries ltd. Japan
BODY
Type station wagon
Number of doors/places 5/5 5/5
ENGINE
Gasoline type with multi -point electronic injection gasoline with multi -point electronic injection, turbine with intermediate cooling
Front location, longitudinally in front, longitudinally
Working volume (cubic cub) 2494 1994
The number/location of the cylinders 6/rowing 4/opposition
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 141 (192) at 6000 184 (250) at 6000
Moment (Nm at about./Min.) 245 at 3500 333 at 3600
TRANSMISSION
Drive (before./Ass.) Full, 38/62 full, 50/50
Gearbox automatic 5-speed mechanical 5-speed
SUSPENSION
Front Independent, such as Mcpherson, reptable stabilizer independent, such as Mcpherson, reptile stabilizer
The rear independent multi -leaf stabilizer is independent multi -link, the reptile stabilizer
STEERING
Type gear rack with a hydraulic booster gear-rake with a hydraulic booster
Min. Diameter of the turn (m) 10.5 10.4
Brakes
Front disc ventilated circular ventilated
Rear disk disk
ABS electronic 4-channel electronic 4-channel
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4480/1755/1410 4405/1695/1460
Wheel base (mm) 2725 2525
Mass, equipped/complete (kg) 1460 1295
Tires/Disks 205/55/7JX16 215/45/7JX17
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 231 225
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 7.6 6.2
Economy
Fuel consumption, city/highway (l/100 km) 13.4/7.7 14.2/7.9
The expected price in Moscow from $ 46 thousand from $ 33.4 thousand.
 

Source: "Autopilot"