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2002 Subaru Impreza WRX

Date: 19 April 2002	Miles: 2,100
We picked the 2002 Subaru WRX as our MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Best Sport Sedan of the year long before we took delivery of one for our long term test garage. But all that has done is to cement our decision that this is the best buy in a sporty four-door on the open road today. Granted, during its first three months our WRX has done mostly street driving, but it has made those otherwise boring trips a real treat. There is more than a little get-up-and-go from the turbocharged, intercooled, twin-cam 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder, and its very healthy 227 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. With a still stiff 5-speed and continuous all-wheel drive, our heavy foot is delivering 20.4 miles per gallon after 2100 miles. So, our driving joy does have a price. But, we can't remember when a $24,000 car provoked such positive log book entries: Great Fun, lots of feel, smooth turbo boost, terrific interior, great seats, and it goes on and on. The negatives are on the picking nit side. Those same great seats have a fabric that is like a magnet for dirt. And some of the stereo controls are confusing to operate. But there is not a hint of a mechanical fault, and so far this trim, tight, together Subaru WRX is leaving us with all smiles.
Date: 21 June 2002	Miles: 6,071
Some new cars emerge with great fanfare, and it's still months before you actually notice them on the streets. Others, like this 2002 Subaru WRX, seem to breed like rabbits. On the market less than 6 months, they're everywhere. And everyone, and just about every age, is driving them. Now, maybe when we picked the WRX as our MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Best Sport Sedan of the year, we weren't quite so brilliant. Maybe at a bit over 24-grand, the WRX is such a screaming performance car bargain it was a no brainer. Look at the facts. Tight, sporty Impreza based body, in both our practical sedan and even more practical wagon. A quick spinning 2.0-liter turbo-4 that delivers 227 horsepower like a swift kick in the pants. And it has the tranny, suspension, steering, ABS brakes, and tires, not to mention automatic all-wheel drive, to make the most of that power on any pavement. And after 6,071 miles, we can also say that this bullet is bulletproof. No hints of problems. Only the dark interior fabrics always look dirty. Fuel economy is up about 10% since last report to 22.7 miles per gallon. Although still low for economy car-size, this is no economy car. The WRX is one hot little machine, and we can't get enough of it.
Date: 06 September 2002	Miles: 10,000
Happily we are only about 6 months into our year long test with this little road warrior. The WRX delivers about the most fun you can have with four-doors and stay out of jail. But what makes it really rare is that the WRX with its standard all-wheel drive is an affordable performance car for all-weather and all-seasons. Although we have to admit that the recent stretch of 95-plus degree days did put a strain on both the 2.0-liter, 227-horsepower turbo- 4, and the air conditioning system that remained on MAX. Still, with all this cool fun, we're averaging 22.8 miles per gallon at the nearly 10,000 mile mark. Not bad for a car that usually has someone's foot to the floor. And, with no mechanical problems to report, we'll just keep on loving our time in this Subaru WRX.
Date: 22 November 2002	Miles: 13,495
By the time we say goodbye to most cars and trucks in our long term test fleet, they have passed the point of familiarity and sometimes competence. We are hard on a vehicle so you know what they'll be like after several years of ownership. But our 2002 Subaru WRX is that rare car that continued to surprise us from mile one through mile 13,495, and the 9 months in between. Our Drivers' Choice pick for best sport sedan proved both tenacious in the twistys, and with standard all-wheel drive, totally confident in the wet and cold. Even if the 55-series performance tires are not a good choice for snow, we always got where we needed to go. While the 2.0-liter, turbocharged, 227-horsepower flat-4 is high strung and happiest out on the highway, it still delivers a swift kick in the pants around town, and an average of 23 miles per gallon with the pedal often to the floor. What didn't we like about the WRX? Not much. On really hot summer days, the air conditioning couldn't keep pace, and the engine sounded a bit strained. The clutch got noisy, too. The black cloth seat fabric also holds a lot of heat, and almost always looked dirty, picking up every little piece of lint. But those minor foibles sure wouldn't keep us from owning one. Indeed, with a $24,000 base price ' that's about half that of a BMW M3 ' the Subaru WRX is the most fun you can have on four wheels and stay out of jail.