Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS (1998)
Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS (1998)
This is a ridiculous, stupid and an ugly car. (Other than that, we liked itquite a bit.) We think of the Impreza 2.5 RS as an unwanted flashbackto the AMC AMX. (Anyone remember that car? It was a pimply high schooler'sdream, complete with air dam, white-lettered tires, and a pimple creamdispenser built into the dash board.
This car is too fast, and too stupid. It's unconscionable, unethical andimmoral to make a car like this, in our humble opinion. Besides: what, praytell, is the rationale behind having a souped up Subaru? Isn't thatsomewhat oxymoronic?
Subaru makes good, nerdy, practical cars. Why go after the Camaro crowd?Why not reinforce your image with your buyers? Here's a suggestion: insteadof an Impreza 2.5 GT, why not come out with an Impreza 2.5 I.M.Nerdo? It could have black, plastic glasses around the headlights, plaidupholstery and a slide rule in the glove compartment. Now, that's marketingto your strengths, Subaru!
A final anecdote about this car, from our Producer, Dougie Berman. Onewinter night, Dougie drove the 2.5 GT home and parked it in his driveway.Because it was winter, it was-- what? Dark. Dougie, being the perceptivefellow that he is, notices that the parking lights were still on. Hechecks the headlight stalk: off. He starts the car up. He turns it off. Hefiddles with the light switches. Nothing. Sadly, no matter what he tries,he can't seem to turn off the parking lights.
Dougie looks for the owners manual-- and it's, where? gone. (Bugsy Lawloralways takes the owners manual when he drops off a car for us to drive, sowe won't steal it and sell it for food money.) Dougie calls Bugsy. Noanswer. Now, understand, Dougie would have been happy to simply let thebattery die, were it not for all the neighbors who were ringing hisdoorbell, politely telling him that he left his lights on. So, our esteemedProducer goes outside, pops the hood, and starts pulling fuses. Finally,the parking lights go off.
The next day, Dougie gets in the car, and there.... on top of the steeringcolumn.... is a little parking light switch. What, consarn it, is thatlittle switch doing there?
We only include this anecdote, so that those of you who ignore our adviceand buy this car, will know how to turn off the parking lights when yourneighbors come knocking at the door.
View cars.com model report on this vehicle.