Put a Little Zing in Your Life
If anything has inspired me to become a rally driver, it's the new 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX. I watch rally races when time permits and am always awestruck at the skill and precision involved in driving such powerful machines. It's magical really. I wish I had such talent so that I could drive the WRX the way it should be driven. Nevertheless, despite my lack of rally experience, I still had a blast in the sassy Subaru.
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| If the Impreza WRX's turbocharged 227-hp engine doesn't inspire thoughts of a career in rally driving, nothing will. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Here's the deal, there is no way that anyone can give me a compact car with a 2.0-L, 16-valve, horizontally-opposed, turbocharged and intercooled 4-cylinder engine producing 227 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 217 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm and expect me to drive it without some zing. That just wouldn't be fair. So I drove it with safe "zing," making my week with the platinum silver metallic colored Impreza all the more fun.
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| The rally influence of the WRX can also been seen in the interior, with its rally-styled sports seats and leather-wrapped MOMO steering wheel. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
When I entered the WRX for the first time, I could definitely feel the rally influence. First of all, it's equipped with front semi-bucket rally type sport seats covered in distinct off-black knit and textured upholstery. In addition, it has a black leather-wrapped MOMO steering wheel and a black leather-wrapped gear selector. Both come standard in the 2004 model. If mo' MOMO is wanted, an optional shift knob is available.
A standard feature I particularly enjoyed was the AM/FM/cassette audio system with its in-dash 6CD changer, further laced with a couple of tweeters and optional subwoofer. I also appreciated the standard power windows plus the power moonroof with sunshade and slide and tilt features. There are also fog lights, that definitely enhance the night-time driving experience, a turbo type exhaust with dual outlet muffler with stainless steel tips, a low profile spoiler with integrated brake light, and air conditioning, what can I say, I am still not a huge fan of freezing air but it did come in handy in the blazing heat. I definitely can't forget to mention the quintessential hood scoop, obviously Subaru's signature standard all-wheel drive.
