We were spoiled
2001 is now 25 years ago, and that year AutoWeek kicked off with a comparative test titled ‘Old and New’. The legendary Subaru Impreza GT Turbo had just been replaced by the new generation Impreza, and the fastest one bore the name WRX. The GT Turbo, what good memories we have of it! Immediately after the model change, it became clear that we would have to make do with it for now, because the new one was quite disappointing.
Do you remember the Impreza GT Turbo from the 90s? What a street rally monster that was! As a ‘555’, it once costs hfl 55,555.55. In guilds, yes! That translates to €25,210. Try shopping for a car with that amount today? For that money, you can just about buy a Toyota Aygo The Impreza GT Turbo even briefly appeared on the price list for just under 50,000 guilders. That was different in the last days of 2001 when we conducted the comparative test: those times are over, at least, those of really low prices. Recently, the Impreza GT Turbo was on the lists for a normal price of hfl 59,995. With the new Impreza, it doesn’t get any better: hfl 66,995, that’s the new price, and that hits hard.
The new fast sedan naturally had four-wheel drive again and a 2.0 four-cylinder turbo boxer engine. The power also remained the same: 218 hp, the torque increase was only 2 Nm, bringing the WRX to 292 Nm. Fortunately, the Impreza WRX remained just as fast; we measured both accelerating to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds (slightly above factory specifications), which was a very fast time back then, but the way it did so was disappointing.
The verdict of the then test editor: The Impreza GT Turbo has been civilized. And in that civilization lies the problem. Because all the rough edges that made the GT Turbo such a blast have been polished away with the greatest care. And that is a nail in the coffin of those who held the GT Turbo in such high regard. Anyone who cherishes that piece of automotive adrenaline cannot help but be disappointed in the WRX. It’s what VW did with the Golf: every GTI released after the heartwarming first version was better, but less fun. And with this WRX, another raisin has disappeared from the increasingly bland automotive porridge.
What a legendary reputation a car gains when it truly starts to age, as we see from the prices. A very tidy GT Turbo can easily cost more than €30,000 in 2026. You can also find them for half that, but then you’ll have to settle for a mileage nearing 300,000 kilometers.
Incidentally, things would eventually turn out well for the Impreza. With the first facelift, the 2.0 turbo in the WRX STi went up to 265 hp, and later even 2.5 boxer engines came into action, with the WRX STi reaching up to 280 hp.