{"id":529608,"date":"2010-04-16T08:30:18","date_gmt":"2010-04-16T12:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ridelust.com\/?p=43702"},"modified":"2010-04-16T08:30:18","modified_gmt":"2010-04-16T12:30:18","slug":"2009-subaru-impreza-wrx-premium-ridelust-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/529608","title":{"rendered":"2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Premium RideLust Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

Last summer, the air conditioner in my apartment died at the peak of a particularly torturous heat wave.\u00a0 After one night of bizarre, sweaty dreams, I woke up feeling inexplicably, yet absolutely, convinced that I needed a new car.\u00a0 I could taste the desire for something ludicrously fast, as if a speed demon had punched me in the face and my mouth was bleeding synthetic oil.\u00a0 I had the sickening feeling that if I didn\u2019t get this car soon, I would lose my mind.<\/p>\n

What I needed had been ingrained into my brain as if from a holy edict.\u00a0 The car could not be anything less than completely twisted.\u00a0 The sort of sinister beast that would effortlessly manage 0-60 in a gasp and inspire in my passengers a psychiatrist\u2019s delight of screamingly hideous nightmares.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

My X chromosomes were not allowing me a Caterham.\u00a0 This would be my only vehicle, so it had to seem somewhat practical, through ample head and leg room, space for friends and the dog, and, significantly, a respect for frugality.\u00a0 The car simply had to be cheap to purchase, maintain, and to insure.\u00a0 I was coming from a decade old Saab which had adopted a troubling habit of regularly requiring a mortgage payment to maintain, despite my adherence to the Saab 9-5 zealot\u2019s maintenance schedule.\u00a0 Though the behavior could be rationalized as the result of age, I was convinced it was spite and I did not want another spiteful car.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

A final, yet crucial, criterion: at the minimum, my car would have to be faster than the 271 hp Honda Accord EX-L.\u00a0 I would not be able to sleep at night knowing that a stock Accord could outrun any car registered in my name.\u00a0 The Accord is a fine automobile, but it epitomizes, for me, the very essence of a family vehicle and I couldn\u2019t allow myself the chance, however remote, of having my ass handed to me by a car with Cheerios all over the back seat.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I spent many an evening frantically scouring automotive specs on the internet, searching for an affordable, dependable vehicle suitable for the mundane that could also destroy large Hondas, and above all, make me cackle with insane glee.\u00a0 This was a difficult task as seriously fun automobiles tend to be neither cheap nor reliable and usually are built under the assumption that you have one friend or another car.\u00a0 Fortunately I had a vague idea of what I wanted.\u00a0 When I lived in NYC, I used to trek out to the International Rally NY Championship, where my favorite cars to watch were always the top ones vying for the overall title – WRXs and Evos.\u00a0 And I discovered that once you get enough dirt in your teeth from the sliding back end of one of these brutes, you get hooked.\u00a0 Hacking up a mud loogie, I realized one September day out in the NY woods, a few years back, that I wanted a car with AWD, a turbo, and gobs of speed.<\/p>\n

My harried research, rally cravings, and various less important factors resulted in a 4th gen Legacy as my top pick – either the Spec B or a manual GT Limited; however, finding one was an impossible task, and when I finally tracked down a used Spec B, I happened to see a customer\u2019s WRX in the lot.\u00a0 Though I had ignored the 2008+ WRX in my search (the pictures on the Subaru site were train wreck ghastly), seeing one in the flesh made my opinion pull a 180.\u00a0 The sky brightened and I heard the chorus of a thousand angels humming the Fantasy Overture from Tchaikovsky\u2019s Romeo & Juliet.<\/p>\n

Though it took me a while to find one at the price I wanted, I eventually bought a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Premium.\u00a0 I was not participating in Cash for Clunkers, but my search coincided with the dwindling weeks of the program and new car lots were emptier than Nationals Park.\u00a0 Countless times I\u2019d pull into a dealership parking lot in increasingly remote parts of VA or MD and find it littered with decrepit Jeep Cherokees and faded Ford Explorers, their owners wandering about, resembling the cast of The Hills Have Eyes.\u00a0 I grew weary of the response, \u201cWe sold the last one yesterday.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t you come back in a month?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But fate was not cruel to me as I finally found a WRX Premium at the right price, buying from a place where a guy who claimed to have been the ultimate combination of both a deputy sheriff and a rally driver in a past life demonstrated to me firsthand the sheer tomfoolery of which the car was capable.\u00a0 On a winding road, not yet out of the reach of interstate traffic, he hooned that car like I had never before experienced.\u00a0 The steering wheel spun wildly through his hands as he regaled me with stories of utter speed limit destruction and mad escapes through the strategic use of rally tricks in his ridiculously modified Bavarian sleeper.\u00a0 With an expert\u2019s deftness, he drifted the AWD WRX around a series of insanely tight turns in the road that were clearly meant for much reduced speeds, not caring at all if anyone was coming the other way, the shriek of the tires out-roaring the howling engine.\u00a0 This was a man clearly in his element at multiples of the speed limit – a man with more balls than brains.\u00a0 Note to sellers – this sales tactic works.<\/p>\n

Since then, I have owned the WRX for seven months so I believe I\u2019m qualified to attest to its abilities.\u00a0 Just to briefly summarize its features, under the hood is a 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter boxer engine producing 265 bhp (at 6,000 RPMs; though rumored to have a bit more ponies than officially stated) and 244 lb-ft torque (at 4,000 RPMs), as well as a VF52 turbo.\u00a0 The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX only comes as a 5-speed manual – the automatic is now the Impreza GT which has lesser specs.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

On the inside, the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX is only available with a black cloth interior with performance style seats.\u00a0 The Premium package has a sunroof, heated seats, and a 10 speaker sound system (if you can do without all of that, the base model WRX can save you about $2,000).\u00a0 Apart from the style and material of the seats, the huge tach, and the racing style metal pedals, the interior is very similar to that found in the other Imprezas and the Forester – a dark grey rubbery plastic lining the dash and the door handles, with a swath of silver plastic across the interior front.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

Right off the lot, the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX is a fun car that would satisfy most drivers who are looking for a cheap, fast, and practical vehicle.\u00a0 Driving enthusiasts, however, would probably note a few negatives.\u00a0 My opinion is that many of these aspects can be remedied easily and relatively cheaply.\u00a0 The result is an affordable yet versatile daily driver and weekend racer that can challenge many cars twice its price.\u00a0 My thoughts, more specifically:<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

Exterior<\/strong>.\u00a0 Everyone seems to hate the 2008+ WRX design, and even its owners are divided between the hatch and the sedan body styles.\u00a0 But the WRX has stayed true to its roots; its goofy appearance redeemed by its performance.\u00a0 Japanese racing driver Masanori Sekiya once described an earlier STi as \u201can ugly girl with a beautiful heart,\u201d and like previous WRXs, this one truly is so ugly that it\u2019s cool.\u00a0 I adore the hood scoop, the spoiler and the aero trim, and the 2009’s dark grey wheels are a nice touch.\u00a0 As I mentioned earlier, the car also looks a lot better in person, and if you are considering one, the 2011 design is a clear improvement over the previous 3rd gen WRXs.\u00a0 One minor issue I\u2019ve noticed on the \u201809 (and \u201811) is the sedan\u2019s inexplicable chrome strip above the rear license plate.\u00a0 It\u2019s an egregious eyesore, but an easy fix.\u00a0 Why Subaru thought chrome was needed there boggles the mind.\u00a0 I wound up concealing mine with paint that matched the body.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

Interior<\/strong>.\u00a0 I personally think the interior isn\u2019t anything special but nothing to complain about.\u00a0 Still, its quality seems to be a common gripe. For a $26,000 car, it\u2019s not bad.\u00a0 I also don\u2019t mind putting up with cloth seats for an affordable car with more spirit than many $40,000+ cars.\u00a0 Had I been offered the choice, though, I would have preferred the 2010 WRX Limited’s black leather, only as the cloth picks up dog hair like velcro.\u00a0 One minor complaint concerns the cheap pleather that was used for the shift and ebrake boots.\u00a0 I easily swapped these out with custom made leather boots from JPM Coachworks, a change that discernibly upped the quality of the interior without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n

When compared to earlier WRXs, the fit and finish of the 2009 is improved.\u00a0 It has better sound dampening, and so far does not seem as prone to random rattles.\u00a0 I have no complaints about the comfort and I find the front seats particularly supportive when the urge to drive like a mad person strikes.\u00a0 The car is also quite roomy.\u00a0 For someone who is 5′9″, there is plenty of head and leg room, even for taller passengers in the back.\u00a0 The 2008+ Subaru Impreza WRX is, I believe, based on a Legacy platform, so there is a bit more space available inside the car than in earlier models.<\/p>\n

Suspension<\/strong>.\u00a0 For me, the suspension is the perfect stiffness for daily driving.\u00a0 I\u2019ve driven for multiple hours at a time without discomfort.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t consider it soft, yet it can take on gravel and dirt just as effortlessly as asphalt.\u00a0 For everyday use, body roll is minimal, but the harder one drives, the more noticeable roll and understeer becomes.\u00a0 If you\u2019re going to take this car to its limits, new sways and end links would cheaply reap handling gains.<\/p>\n

Shifter<\/strong>.\u00a0 The car desperately needs a short-throw shifter with firmer bushings.\u00a0 Most owners opt for aftermarket replacements, which are substantially less in price (but not necessarily in value) than the SPT short shifter offered by Subaru as a factory option.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

Exhaust<\/strong>.\u00a0 Simply put, the stock exhaust is quieter than an awkward moment and the delightful Subie rumble is completely absent.\u00a0 Why Subaru, why?!\u00a0 Luckily, exhaust options are plentiful and make the WRX sound as menacing as it drives.<\/p>\n

Tires<\/strong>.\u00a0 The car comes with ultra high-performance Dunlop summers which offer grippy fun for maximum hoonage in nice weather.\u00a0 I had to eventually swap mine out for something more snow friendly.<\/p>\n

Premium audio system<\/strong>.\u00a0 The 100 watt, 10 speaker audio system that comes with the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Premium can only be deemed \u201cpremium\u201d when compared to a dying hearing aid.\u00a0 I generally drive with the sound off anyway as I like to listen to my car, but for long rides better audio would be appreciated.<\/p>\n

Fuel economy<\/strong>.\u00a0 EPA estimates are 18 city\/25 highway.\u00a0 You could see gains on these numbers if you drove it like a q-tip.\u00a0 It is physically impossible, however, to drive this car in a restrained manner. Also, it has to take at least 91 octane.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

Now to get down to serious business – the WRX is immeasurably fun to drive and it is a bit challenging to break down an intangible feeling of driving enjoyment into specific attributes, but I will try my best.<\/p>\n

Though it puts a damper on fuel efficiency, the AWD system makes the car immensely playful.\u00a0 If you ever feel the need to get giggly, zip the car through corners, or toss it on trails or in snow.\u00a0 I found myself particularly gleeful this past winter by driving one of the few cars able to tackle the unplowed streets of our nation’s capital.<\/p>\n

I have not timed myself, but the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX has been reportedly clocked doing 0-60 between 4.7 and 5.4 seconds, with 1\/4 mile times between 13.5 and 13.7 seconds.\u00a0 It is a very quick little car.\u00a0 Although torque peaks at 4,000 RPMs, there\u2019s plenty of power to get you there posthaste.\u00a0 Once you hit 3,500 – warp speed ahead!\u00a0 That\u2019s when you blast into expletive-spouting levels of fun; the night and day change in speed likely due in part, however, to a decent amount of turbo lag.\u00a0 This car can go ludicrously fast in a wink but it never feels less than absolutely planted, and don\u2019t forget to keep an eye on the speedometer because speed limits are easily breached when 65 mph feels very much like 30.\u00a0 The WRX is simply an animal.\u00a0 I am absolutely convinced that Subaru engineers were ordered to undergo demonic possession in order to concoct a car this evilly fun.\u00a0 You will make excuses to drive it.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

I may be a mild-mannered, upstanding member of society, but it is difficult to resist the urge to hoon the WRX (on private roads, of course).\u00a0 Having witnessed the effect of this temptation on several 2009+ WRX owners, I firmly believe that if you honestly can get behind the wheel of this brute, fully cognizant of all the power lying in wait beneath your foot – just aching to be tapped – and are immune to the need, the need for speed, and deaf to the revs of everyone daring you to race, then you are criminally boring<\/span> possess admirable self-restraint.\u00a0 And despite all that I have just written, insurance is surprisingly cheap.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the WRX can\u2019t be beat as a platform for an all-out tuned beast, and if you do decide on a tune, as with all Subarus, the only limits are your budget and survival instinct.\u00a0 And open source tunes make horsepower and torque gains easily within reach.<\/p>\n

\"2009<\/a><\/p>\n

The WRX is properly twisted.\u00a0 It is an absolute driver\u2019s car, a friendly fiend that plays along with you, indulging you, eagerly doing your bidding with a grin.\u00a0 For the enthusiast on a budget, there is little else I recommend.\u00a0 The possible negatives noted are easily remedied without setting you back too much, and without the fixes, the WRX is still a remarkable vehicle that can outperform many cars twice its price (and the Honda Accord EX-L).\u00a0 Although the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Premium may seem buttoned down at first when compared to its earlier brethren, it\u2019s as scary as you want it to be.\u00a0 And if your car can\u2019t get scary, it\u2019s simply not worth driving.<\/p>\n

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Last summer, the air conditioner in my apartment died at the peak of a particularly torturous heat wave.\u00a0 After one night of bizarre, sweaty dreams, I woke up feeling inexplicably, yet absolutely, convinced that I needed a new car.\u00a0 I could taste the desire for something ludicrously fast, as if a speed demon had punched […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6783,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-529608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6783"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529608"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529608\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}