Car Facts

2.0 Liter w/ Intercooler 227-hp wallop from an engine whose specific output is rivaled by only the vaunted 911 Turbo-the Porsche churns out 115 horsepower per liter versus the Subaru's 114. Subaru's corporate all-wheel-drive system manages this prodigious power and puts it to effective use, and the car's interior packaging would be at home in any true sports car.

STi Engine Its DOHC 2.0L flat-four cylinder engine that's turbocharged to 14.2 psi and air-to-air intercooled, and the power is routed through a five-speed manual transmission (a four-speed auto is optional, but you know I will not recommend it) to a full-time AWD system with viscous coupling. The torque ratio is sadly 50-50, changed on the newer 2003 versions. The engine is docile and quiet off-boost and a little soft on torque at low rpm.

Aluminum pedals When the tachometer reads 3500, however, don't upshift. Rather, mash the gas and enjoy the rush of acceleration up to its 7000-rpm redline-now shift. Fully independent suspension with the Impreza's very low center of gravity, contributes to lively, largely vice-free handling. In the right hands, it'll produce predictable, throttle-induced drifts with neither under- nor oversteer tendencies. Standard discs with ABS and 205/55VR16 Bridgestone Potenza RE92 (I have a set of Sumitomo 225/50ZR16) tires on aluminum rims produced an enthusiastic 61-mph slalom run and a 123-ft stop from 60 mph.

140 MPH Speedometer 9 Grand Tachometer I am not personally thrilled by 4 cylinder engines, but when I seen the specs on this car I thought long and hard about it and decided the AWD part of the car would make up for the 4 cylinder, then I started to drive it more. I guess I would still prefer a nice stout V-8, but I am not complaining. Look at MyCar link to see my dash mods!

Sweet interior From the Momo steering wheel to the 6 disk in-dash changer, I love my WRX!