2001 Subaru Impreza WRX

After selling my MX-5 to a friend, I was on the hunt for something useable everyday while also being a bit of a laugh to drive. I was eyeing up JCW Minis and the odd Z4, but when I accidentally set the search to AWD rather than RWD, this little beauty popped up.

I’ve previously owned a blobeye Impreza STi (PPP) and it was easily one of my most favourite cars that I’ve owned - and I’ve owned a lot! This particular one looked to be in very good condition, with amusingly more modifications done on the interior than externally (more on that later).

Before I’d even bothered to check where the car was physically located, I’d rang the dealer and booked a viewing for the next day. Luckily, it turned out to be just over an hour and a half away, so not too bad.

You know how sometimes you think that the car chooses the driver, as much as the driver chooses the car? Call it fate, destiny, kismet, or whatever, but as soon as I heard that Subaru rumble I’d missed for so many years, there was no way I’d be passing this up. The car seemed to feel the same way as amusingly when we got back, the key the dealer had wouldn’t lock/unlock the car, whereas the key I had would.

The Subaru needed an MOT, which the dealer would sort out, so I paid my deposit and headed back home very happy. A few days later I returned to pick the car up and drove home with an even bigger smile on my face.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably wondering about the details of my Impreza. This is a 2001 “bug-eye” Impreza WRX, with the Prodrive pack fitted officially (Prodrive give you a certificate of authenticity if they fit it for you). Being a WRX it also has the slightly smaller bonnet scoop and spoiler, the latter of which I’m quite thankful for. My old STI’s spoiler did a marvellous job of blocking out everything directly between the top of the sky and the tarmac just behind you. The wheels on the car go round and roun- er, are Prodrive alloys but powder coated black. I occasionally get asked if I would prefer gold wheels, but in fairness I think the black looks perfectly acceptable. I had a silver STi with gold wheels so it’s nice to have a bit of difference in the appearance of the car. The exhaust is an unbranded backbox, it’s actually surprisingly quiet given the size of the tailpipe but produces a nice little burble of backfire on the overrun to go along with the wonderful Subaru rumble.

The WRXs also come with a 5-speed ‘box rather than a 6-speed as per the STi, so while you’re not always clicking through the gears, you’re in the turbo boooooooooost period for a lot longer. So it’s more fun.

With a certified 265bhp the car is fast enough to have some fun with on back roads/tracks, and for traffic light grands prix with hot hatches (not that I’d ever do anything like that, officer). Of course, cars like the Impreza really show their skill in the corners, and I find that the Subaru instills so much confidence in the driver and car’s abilities that you can push on, knowing where the car’s limits are. I’m looking forward to some further track days when the season picks up.

I mentioned the interior has had some modification too - amusingly, my WRX has leather seats, the front buckets being heated too. There’s much better fitted carpets all round, and the aftermarket radio has a bluetooth handsfree kit installed too. It’s better specced than my Mercedes!

I can’t think of much else to say about the Subaru but I find myself using it far more often than the other cars on my drive. My toy car has turned into my daily. Does that mean my toy car is now a 2-litre automatic Mercedes wagon? =/