2.0R Sport AWD Sports Wagon Hatchback

Extraordinary, solid, dependable, underrated.

This is the 160bhp, non-turbo, version of the impreza sportwagon, the last of the 'old shape'. What a solid, stylish machine with a weighty, mechanical feel and fabulous grip on twisty roads and in poor conditions. Huge value second-hand now, but don't tell everyone. Swift and rapid without being lairy like the turbo, with more reasonable running costs. You can float around on reasonable torque (it will pull 5th gear very smoothly from as low as 1500rpm) and get reasonable economy, or spin the motor right up to 7500rpm (incredibly smooth all the way). A great engine. Economy is better than I'd budgeted for, with 36mpg regular (brim to brim) on my weekly steady commute. 31 mpg mixed when having a bit more fun. 34.2mpg average over last 2.5k miles. Practical, well built, reliable and it appeals to me for its values as a piece of engineering without any frills or gimmicks inside. The interior is robust, rather old fashioned and simple; the radio for example looks like it dates from a car made 10 years earlier. But it's all about the drive.... Brilliant and underrated, rare and unusual, a super motor. Update Dec 13: still brill. Now done 11,600 miles average 34.8 mpg (of which 1800 miles on 95 RON at 31.5mpg average, and the rest on mainly Tesco 99 RON at 35.5mpg average). Thorough annual service and MoT £330. No issues at all, yet.

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