Subaru Impreza GD/GG (gen 2) (2000-2007)

Love this car – Purchased my Subaru S in Black at Easter and I'm enjoying the ride. It is a sport model with tight handling slick tyres. Subaru have thought of everything from the leather heated seats to the on board cameras that make it so safe and comfortable to travel both country and city driving. There is a great deal of leg room for the driver and… Read more

passengers. The technology is first class and beats most other vehicles in this price range. The car is used daily and it has had its first service. My mechanic told me about Subaru and made the recommendation to me for which I am most grateful.

Such a nice car to drive, handling is great, seats are comfortable, very spacious for a small car – We have owned the car for around 1.5yrs and have loved it. Roof racks are very handy however we can even fit our stand up paddle boards inside the car. Very spacious for a small car. Great handling, through the steering wheel you can tell the quality put into manufacturing this car.  Show details

Solid, if underwhelming – This car has been typically reliable, and has strong safety credentials for its time. The interior is a little 'plasticy' but still functional and durable. However, performance-wise it can feel quite lethargic. A 92kw engine coupled to a 4-speed auto and the added weight of AWD will do that. So, you should get a manual version if possible.  Show details

Great car – Very cheap on fuel, a full tank lasts me an entire week and I drive quite a lot. Good looking car, very sporty & easy to drive. Pretty decent size boot for a small car. And has perfectly fitted my grand daughters two car seats inside while we travelled to the zoo.  Show details

Can’t fault it – Bought 2007 model brand new and was written off 2018. Very sad because replacing it is not easy. Only issue I had was the alternator went at about 7yes old and I probably had about 3-4 batteries in that time. Transmission was a little gutless but you could take a roundabout without thinking, wheel in each corner and sticks like glue to the road.… Read more

No issues engine wise at all serviced every 6-8 months, had timing belt done at 110000km was a Little pricy $1200+ from memory. Great in the city enough grunt on the freeway I’m reluctant to get anything else

Good reliable car – Very good to drive and handle. I have had this car for awhile now and it just keeps on going and going. My grandson who learn't to drive loves it too, it trendy. In fact he would buy one himself when he saves up. The only things wrong are the recall on the air backs.  Show details

Great first car – Purchased this little gem late last year and so far so good. Gets around town relatively easy and parking is a breeze. The only thing I can really frown upon is the fuel consumption, Subaru claims around 9.3l/100km which equates to around 540kms per tank, however I’ve never even gotten close to 400kms and I’m considering using premium fuel to see… Read more

differences however overall the car is a great little ripper and would definitely recommend to anyone

Excellent car – This car is a very good car not only for safety but for reliability. I have just reached the 150,000km mark on my 2006 model and I have only just had to replace the timing belt and my tires. The only issue is that it is not as fuel efficient as it should be due to it being an all wheel drive  Show details

Love my car – My car is very reliable. Never had to spend much in it. Drives well. Interior attractive. And cheap to run. Have thought of updating but it's only got 99000 on the clock and runs so well so I'm putting off updating meantime. It still looks great and I've added some chrome wheels and a spoiler. To make it really sporty looking.  Show details

Poor design backed by an appalling dealership network – I recently purchased this car . I proceeded to replace a failed o ring in the cooling system and founded that I had to dismantle so many parts in order to get to this o ring situated on the top of the engine. Whilst working on the engine I noted a number of vacuum hoses had become brittle with age. To my surprise , after trying to find a… Read more

dealership that responses to spare part enquiries , (it appears that they prefer to service cars prefer than sell spare parts only)I was told these vacuum hoses are no longer available!

The poorly designed layout of the fuel line and wiring loom made the repair job extremely difficult and very unpleasant. I am shocked at not only the poor design but the appalling dealership support.

Another issue is the key pad immobiliser is very unreliable, this can leave you you stranded or worse the car may suddenly die whilst you are driving, that could led to a very dangerous situation. I am extremely disappointed and no longer recommend this brand to anyone

great little car never let us down yet – Sure its the base model and nothing fancy like its big brother but this car has been super reliable and very easy on the wallet for the last 5.1/2 years that we have had it in our family. I passed it to my wife, who then passed to our eldest and now its onto our youngest.! Great learner/p-plate car, gets around town, easy to park and comfortable… Read more

enough for long trips. Feels very safe on the road with its AWD. As its the small engine dont expect it to scale huge mountains without some fuss but it will get you from A to any B without any real drama and it is great for around the city. Really happy we bought this as our first car in AUS, would definitely recommend it.

Reliable but underpowered – 07' manual hatch/wagon, AWD dual-range. Purchased it with 138,000km on the clock, sold it with 161,000km, so did about 23,000km in 3 years. My impression during this time was that this is a reliable car, which you can more or less take anywhere - great for camping and road trips. Heaps of room in the back, can sleep in it and convey large items,… Read more

when the seats are folded down.

Mechanically I did not have many issues at all. The only non-routine thing I needed done were repairs to a faulty CV joint which was leaking fuel onto the exhaust, causing a burning smell in while driving. Wasn't too expensive. I bought it with a clutch which was just about shot, so once I replaced that, the performance increased greatly.

The major drawback of this car was a lack of power, especially off the mark. No real guts. I feel the 2litre engine wasn't enough for the weight of the car. Any car could beat this thing off the mark, and overtaking on country roads was scary at times. You put your foot to the floor and nothing happens. It just didn't cut it.

All the dials and electrics seemed to work fine, however one of the electric windows played up a bit. The AWD tyres aren't cheap, setting me back $180 each.

Fuel economy is pretty good, for an AWD. But I guess the trade-off is the sluggish performance. Costs about $35-$40 to fill the tank and will get over 500k out of it, for country driving anyway.

All over a good reliable car, which makes a good run around, but wouldn't buy another car with anything less than a V6. But that might just be my personal preference.

Best Handling – I purchased my Rs Impreza my05 brand new late 2004. I have driven over 160,000 over a period 10 years problem free. I love the way it drives and handles beautifully. I have no plan to sell it and when I do , I will always purchase another Subaru! Looks great fun to drive ! Highly Recommended!  Show details

Reliable, Trustworthy Car – I have previously owned a Wrx of the same era Bug eyed Model But had to Change due to having a child. The RX model might not have the performance however the handling, fuel efficiency and reliability of this car has been absolutely outstanding. Its sporty yet safe with ebd and all wheel drive, i would recommend this car to learner drivers or anyone who wants a car that is literally bullet proof.  Show details

These cars are Great!!! – These cars are great!!! I have no hesitation recommending them as a handy, reliable car: compact, quick and bulletproof motoring. Ideal small family wagon or as a sports utility vehicle: the hatchback is basically a wagon that’s the same size as the sedan, with the convenience of a rear hatch door for added storage. I have owned 3 WRX… Read more ·  1

hatchbacks so I have become somewhat biased towards this car because I am now a fan. I must confess that I do appreciate performance cars so I have tended to go for some modifications that improve handling, braking and acceleration. My last 2 WRX’s were highly modified examples to the tune of many thousands spent. So much fun to drive until the last one was stolen…my current WRX is completely standard and unmodified and a lot less fun to drive in comparison…but it is practical and extremely reliable and efficient no frills motoring. Everything is rather basic interior-wise and is ergonomic and functional and geared to efficient fuss free driving: though I appreciate the fog lights (front and rear) and also the rear wiper...Excellent sound system...Visibility....Ride...One last thing; I would absolutely recommend the leather seat option (if you can find one) as being far superior in comfort to the standard cloth seats which it must be said are pretty ordinary. I would also invest in some decent roto roof racks for additional flexibility.

Providing they have been properly maintained and haven’t been thrashed they represent excellent value and maintain their resale value like no other. Look for dirt, grease and pitting on engine for signs of extreme wear as it will show…(or engine noise, rattles and rough idling).

(by the way there is a reason people don’t provide an rwc and it isn’t lack of time! Expect to add another $500-$1,000 +)

best to buy one after it has had its major service (100,000 or 200,000 k’s) Very Quick. Economical. Versatile. Compact yet roomy. Full of safety features. Good sound system. Many upgrades available (though not necessary!). They are the number 2 choice for car thieves (I had my last one stolen: It was alarmed, had an immobilizer and was in a secure electronically gated car park…Did I say mention they were popular?)

Excellent – Overall, despite the cons (All vehicles have cons.. yes even HSVs I'm sure...) a brilliant vehicle. This one is a 2007-2008 Model Impreza WRX (not STi or STi tuned). I have now racked up 40,000kms just the other day, and I still have a smile on my face when I drive it. Perhaps the worst thing about it is the hard suspension. This puts you in… Read more

touch with the road, but you are guaranteed to get intimate with every speed hump in your city. Aftermarket coil-overs can obviously solve this.

ABS braking is excellent.

Cruise control on long trips is a god-send, and the onboard aircon works pretty well. De-icing / wipers etc. all good. Power windows/power mirrors = win.

Fast, did I mention this thing is fast? :) Drive safe.

Feed it 98 RON PULP, and a full synthetic oil such as Shell Helix Ultra or Mobil 1. Brake pad swaps are easy once you know how, and cost $220 a set for fronts (you will almost never change out the rears).

My dealer services are very reasonable price-wise. My insurance is comprehensive and is high even though I'm such a safe driver, but not as bad as say a 20 year old. I have seen insurance quotes as high as 4000-5000 for youngsters in Sydney etc. Fast, sleek, light vehicle. Handles brilliantly of course. Standard brakes are excellent. Transmission when rolling is great. Brake pads can be changed out by a novice for a big saving on workshop. Runs great on full synthetic oil. Build quality excellent. Clutch pedal now squeaks slightly. Fuel usage can be high for a 4-cyl, but it is a 2.5L turbo. Can burn oil, check oil level frequently, do not let it get low. Road noise noticeable, suspension setup hard. Can understeer, AWD can be a bit strange to the first-comer in skid situation in the wet. OEM brakepads throw off immense amounts of dust onto rim. Manual trans can be "notchy". Can be hard to navigate rush hour traffic due to many gear changes required. Requires PULP. Interior spartan, standard CD/Radio and sound system boring and doesn't support MP3s! Standard factory tyres the usual soft-compound rubbish every manufacturer seems to use that requires replacing after 1 year.

Bad – I would never buy another Subaru and can't recommend them to anyone, particularly as the dealer's own service centre can't fix some fairly serious problems. I bought it because it was all wheel drive, and it certainly feels very secure and well planted on the road. The engine and gearbox! From the day I drove it out of the showroom, the manual… Read more

gearshift was clunky. It changes with a nasty jarring crunching snap, particularly from 2nd to 3rd. All day driving in city traffic can leave the wrist and forearm aching from the continual ‘snap back’ on changing. The engine is a little harsh and agricultural, but I expected that from a flat four and this isn’t really a criticism. What I didn't expect was an irritating flat spot in the performance. On a steady throttle, particularly at lower revs it coughs and splutters, and can’t hold a constant speed without dying then surging, coughing, dying then surging again. It’s been serviced three times now (by Denlo in Sydney) and they are unable to fix the problems. I get nothing but mild platitudes from them. Very disappointed. I’m selling the bloody thing.

Excellent – This white 4 door sedan was the fastest car I ever owned. I only wish I owned it when I was young enough to enjoy it. The suspension is so hard you can feel a 20c coin on the road. It wrecked my back. The immobilizer was always making it stop in the worst places. And the dealer was always trying to get the immobilizer to work. Handling is superb.… Read more

Corners like it is on railway tracks. Acceleration++++. Love that turbo. Love the 6 spd box. Looks so ordinary....people can't believe it is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Ride is rough. Driver's window or roof howls at 250km/hr. Fool of a keypad immobilizer. Bit thirsty.

Reliable but at a cost – I've just done 135,000km and am beginning to pay for it. Have spent over $2500 in the past 9 months on servicing. It could be due to the age of the car now, but the fuel consumption is terrible! I struggle to get to 400km to a full 50 litre tank. It is sluggish on take off but once it gets started it drives immaculately. I have been hit 3 times… Read more

by other drivers and at all times have felt safe. Drivers seats are still very stiff at this age of the car, but if you are into the low seats, you will love it.

The best bit apart the car is that you don't have to think twice about taking it out onto country roads. Reliable, safe, practical Sluggish, terrible fuel consumption, can be expensive to service and to insure

Pleased with our purchase – Regardless of Subaru's claim, our car doesn't drop below 10 litres per 100 Km around the city (and we drive conservatively). To maintain your warranty you have to have the vehicle serviced at a set milage OR within a time frame (which ever comes first) so you are compelled, as in our case, to pay for another expensive service when you've only… Read more

traveled a few thousand Km since the last service... ridiculous. The odometer over-reads by 10%, we checked it with a GPS and were told by the dealer that "this falls within the accepted specifications" (I don't think so). The cruise control overreacts on the slightest hill, even on a moderate uphill slope the transmission drops down 2 gears and the engine screams at 6000 rpm (it was so bad we turned off the cruise control each time we hit a slope). I did a comparison test on the same hill without the cruise control on and the vehicle performed as it should... Dropped 1 gear and sailed effortlessly over the hill, again, the dealer said this was normal, seems to be the standard answer each time there's a problem. So, in hindsight, I wouldn't buy another Subaru. Think I'd buy a Mazda 3, my neighbour has bought 2 new Mazda's and hasn't had the slightest problem, oh well.

Although fuel consumption seems to be much higher than the specs indicate, I'm hoping this will improve as he vehicle runs in. My wife loves this hatch,quite roomy and plenty of safety features. Don't particularly like the space saver spare tyre but we were aware of it's inclusion when we purchased so will just have to live with it. Overall we 're please with our purchase. Nice to drive, handles well, very quiet, easy to park. The child restraint anchor points are poorly located, the belts are suspended all the way across the boot which limits access and prevents larger objects being placed in the hatch area.

Terrible – Beware, purchase a Impreza at your own risk, what seemed to be a small problem on the surface (failed ABS control board) turned out to be a fault caused by a leak from the ABS pump, trashing the whole unit. This resulted in a repair cost of $8000.00 according to the local Subaru agent. Very Little Obscene repair costs attached to these vehicles Show details

Good – After owning one these beasts I'll never go back to large big heavy V8. The performance and handling is great. I have had so much fun giving it hard to this car which performs at its best on the limits. I have not been happy with the oil usage on the 2.5L and the tendency to suffer from heat soak. The standard tyres are the best in the dry but in… Read more

the wet are not too good. They also make for a noisy ride. My favourite thing is that it lends itself well to after market modifications that take it from a good performance car to a great one. Performance, handling, fun to drive, looks good, good build quality, the trademark boxer note. Oil usage, suffers from heat soak, standard tyres in the wet, road noise.

Good – I have had my MY01 for nearly 10 years now from brand new. I love this car more than my own children as I regularly have to remind them (I am pretty sure they know I am just joking). It handles spectacularly and when I did have an accident, due to hitting an object on a slippery road sending the car spinning, I am sure in any other car we would… Read more

have been in serious trouble but it held the road and it ended up with only relatively minor damage (no other vehicles involved). Apart from that I have had little or no repairs done to the car but what minor work has been done has been way more expensive than I expected. It is a little uncomfortable on a long journey and the interior is basic but if anyone has looked inside a rally car lately - they aren't the most luxurious in town! and the WRX is basically just that - a rally car. It is also great when overtaking - the turbo kicks in and you can get past the biggest truck quickly and safely. OK fuel consumption is not that great when driving it to the max but when I drive it like a standard 4 cylinder sedan - it has about the same fuel consumption as a standard 4 cyl sedan. I have got reasonably priced insurance for it - but I did have to seriously shop around internet insurers to get this and opt for a bigger than normal excess. And yes like previous reviewers have found - it is definitely a police target - don't do anything wrong and you are OK. Great handling and stability, it goes fantastically expensive repairs, uncomfortable on long journeys

Excellent – Fast, sleek and sexy - what more could you possibly want from a vehicle. This car is so hot, so quick and with a few tiny modifications has gained an additional 50kws. There is a reason why so many people have fallen in love with the Subaru Impreza WRX. After owning a few different car brands I have owned a Subaru for 7 years. After driving the… Read more

baby RX I finally upgraded to the big brother the Turbo-charged thrill of the WRX.

The all wheel drive system, combined with the powerful Boxer engine make for an impressive package that will thrill (and scare a little) you with every drive. The distinctive rumble of the Boxer after opening with a 3" turbo back exhaust will turn heads. The safety features have not been compromised with enough airbags for the family and ABS. The four doors make it accessible to be the family car, all while achieving driving bliss.

With great power, comes great responsibility though – you can’t thrash a car of this level without paying the price. Clutch and transmission and both temperamental and easy to hurt. Be warned; don’t buy the Subaru Impreza WRX, unless you can afford the maintenance – the very best in regular servicing and upkeep. Enjoy the ride! What's not to love. This car is hot. Nothing really.

A good safe car – We have owned this car for about 8 years and it has been a good safe car. It brakes really well, I believe much better than most other cars would in an emergency stop. It has an all wheel drive which I think makes it a safe car to drive with good road holding ability. It has proved to be reliable, energy efficient and was reasonably priced when… Read more

new. The battery has a relatively short life. I think it is too small and not powerful enough for the car and has let us down a few times. We have changed it 3 times since new. It is a very plain looking car!

Excellent – The Subaru Impreza is the baby of the Subaru range, the makers of Subaru's have got something right when they designed the flat four boxer engine and the symmetrical all wheel drive, can't recommend a Subaru enough. The fact that it's a Subaru, it's one of those cars that keep going and going, the build quality of Subaru is so far unsurpassed,… Read more

it's one of the best company's that I have come across. The whole Subaru range is built to last hopefully they continue this trend. The cost of replacement parts can be a little pricey, but everything these days is getting pricier... What else, nothing that is specifically bad with the Subaru, maybe the dealers who sell and service Subaru should go through regular quality checks though.

OK – If Subaru fixed the speedometer it would be a good and safe car to drive. But as it is now would not recommend it to anyone driving on country rd. I only so Subaru can save when they fit 17" on other model. Comfortable to drive, quiet inside. The dangerous speedometer over reading, Australia design rule 18/3 need to be changed, it will cause an… Read more

accident on county rd. Semi trailers or other cars will push it off road for driving to slow or over take in the wrong places.

Good when I bought it - well behind now – Awesome acceleration and grip - and ride is not that harsh at all. Reasonable on fuel around town - 11l/100km usually. Nice looks, MY05 had lots of different parts over lower model Imprezas. MY05 drivetrain seemed bulletproof (except the clutch). Even the 5MT seemed very good in the newer models. Interior fit and finish are actually quite good… Read more

(just the materials are cheap and the design is dated).The hatch is very practical for hauling all sorts of stuff. Front seats are comfortable and very supportive (for going around corners real fast). Steering in the MY05 had excellent on centre feel and feedback. Much better than Commodores and Toyotas I have driven. Subaru powertrain setup gives the car such a low centre of gravity - it feels more planted to the pavement than anything I've driven.

Interior materials are really cheap - carpet is particularly bad. As is the cardboard headliner.Clutch is not up to the job - mine wore really quickly and I didn't drive it hard often (just adding a thicker layer of friction material doesn't cut it Subaru).Turbo lag. Other vehicles with frameless doors don't have the same issues (rattle/lack of robust feel).

MY05 EVO8 WRX – I am MASSIVE Subaru Fan. Here is my most two-sided evaluation (from my own experiences) of my vehicle. If something wasn't mentioned in this list, it obviously wasn't a big enough factor in my mind for the 30 minutes I thought about its good/bad points. 12,500 or 6mth servicing +1 Cost of 50,000 and… Read more

100,000 services -1

Tyre life if driven like most people drive most cars +1

Wearing out the outside inch 5-10,000km earlier than the rest -1

Comfort (for bottom and back) of rear seat +1

Turbo lag which allows you to easily choose you 'attack level' +1

Driving in cities with medium (or higher) levels of traffic -1

Lack of 6 speed gearbox -1

Not having a subtle hot hatch (Focus, Golf, Renault etc) +1

Steering and Handling +1

Driving a car that makes you forget about the interior +1

Knowing all 4 wheels are driving all the time +1

Engine response below 3000rpm EVEN

Understeer mid corner/when pushing hard EVEN

Purchase Cost +1

Boxer exhaust +1

Cabin noise when traveling @ 3000rpm (and above) +1

Rear strut/boot issues -1

Quality of vision using headlights -1

Visibility out the front window +1

Leg room in the rear rear when front seats used by tall person -1

Insurance costs EVEN

Attention grabbing factors +1

Scooby Doo! – The Rex is one of those cars that is instantly recognizable where ever you go. And that is really the only problem with it. If you deal with the fuel economy and questionable looks, you still have to put up with everyone, everywhere you go, thinking that you are an absolute hoon. Now to be fair, some people do buy a Rex for it's hoon like… Read more

qualities, but the majority of people - myself included - appreciate the fine handling, the reliability and the build quality.

Speaking of handling, the 4WD system is superb. Travelling through twisty, hilly back roads this thing hugs the road like a limpit. I haven't taken it onto the dirt at all, but I'm guessing you'd have no problems at all if you were so inclined.

The only issue I had was the driving position; I could never quite get the wheel where I wanted it. A minor complaint though, and one that doesn't detract from how much fun this car is. Handling, power, grip. Seating position, fuel economy.

Excellent – Great car - I've used in for city and country purposes and it's performed effortlessly in both cases. Would buy a Subby again for sure. Great car, confortable, drives well, lvoe the cruise control on long trips. Lived in Sydney for a while and it performed great there and now have moved to the bush and it rolls in and out of the mud without… Read more

flinching. Great handling. The little hatch-type thing in the front of the car on the middle of the dash broke after a few months - never gotten it fixed, constantly annoys me. But a friend has a later model one and I notice they've removed that feature

Good – I bought the MY07 Luxury Impreza in 2007 - the car is zippy about town, easy to park, good on fuel, the sunroof is fabulous, the leather seats are easy to clean, the hatch is excellent for shopping - and it looks sleek and sexy! Cheap to service! Try and get car cleaning as part of the deal with Jarvis. Zippy, sporty, great medium family car! Not much room for legs in the back seat. Show details

Excellent – I've only had my 2000 WRX for nearly 2 years and I would buy another. It is extremely reliable, no rattles, just keeps going. The service from Subaru has been fantastic and we bought the car privately. It's great! Has everything I need in a car, is very reliable and goes hard. Great on fuel. Can't really think of anything I don't like! Show details