Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Subaru WRX

Last year when the 2008 Subaru Impreza debuted at the New York Auto Show, many fans of the road-going rally car were taken aback. The older, aggressively styled four-door sedan now had a decidedly pedestrian look to it. Worse still, the cool looking mini station wagon of the previous generation had been dumped in favor of an oddly proportioned five-door hatchback. We only got to see the base and WRX versions in New York and had to wait until the Tokyo Motor Show in the fall for the hard-core STI variant. When the STI did finally appear, it had shifted from the four-door to the hatch body style. Fortunately for Subie fans, the aggressive bulging fenders and super-sized rear spoiler remained from the previous car, although the proportions still look a might peculiar.

The countdown to the inevitable EVO-STI showdown had begun. Unfortunately, you won't be seeing that battle here just yet. We did, however, have the opportunity to review a new WRX and spend a few days with an STI model only a week apart. Since we'll soon publish a solo In the Autoblog Garage review of the STI, we want to focus here on the two rally-inspired Imprezas and how they compare in day to day use.



Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid, Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.

Having trouble finding a 2008 Impreza WRX? You try looking on eBay yet? Apparently not, because eBay member fbdodgesubaru's auction for possibly one of the very first U.S. 08 WRX's ended with no bids. "Just off the truck," the auction says, with cloth seats, CD, 17" wheels, auto climate control, no mods and only 7 miles.

Opening bid on the auction was $27,164, which is exactly $1,000 more than is on the Monroney sticker of the very car at Fred Beans Subaru in Doylestown, Penn. Good try, Mr. Beans, but looks like you're gonna have to sell this one the old-fashioned way. Maybe next time start the auction at sticker and let the bids rise from there.

Thanks for the tip, Will!