Having been the poster-child for rally success in the nineties, the Impreza had, mainly through win-after-win at the hands of rally legend Colin McRae, carved out a dedicated, and very loyal, fan base. Due to this, Subaru found itself in a position where it couldn't build its four-wheel-drive turbocharged road car fast enough, and many main dealer outlets would report back that demand vastly outstripped supply. In fact, at one point, the Impreza counted for 25% of all new car sales in the United Kingdom, where the car had become something of a must-have item by performance car fans.
At the end of its first generation, the Impreza basked in the warming glow of self-made glory, prompting many special editions to be launched, with the impressive P1 becoming a fan favorite, with this putting pressure on the touted replacement car to deliver the goods. The 2nd generation car had very big shoes to fill, an army of fans to please, and, potentially, a horde of buyers waiting to snap up Subaru's latest offering.
Keen to move away from what many described as a bland-looking exterior, Subaru designers went to town and smoothed off the bodywork, softened the overall look, and attached what has famously become referred to as 'bug eye' headlights on the front. For many, the look was considered a massive step backward, what most had expected was a rally-bred machine with a far more aggressive design compared to its predecessor, what they got, however, was a disappointment. But, as the old saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover, or in this case; a car by its headlights, so here's what made the bug eye Subaru Impreza so awesome.
10 The Ugly Duckling
Having redesigned the highly popular Subaru Impreza for the new millennium, the company's designers felt that car styling trends were leaning towards a more rounded, smoother approach, and so knocked all the edges of its rally-bred monster.
They had hoped to not only tempt existing owners into upgrading to the more sleek-looking 'New Age' machine, but to also attract a whole new wave of buyers, as those who could look beyond the headlights would find a better, faster, more sophisticated Impreza.
9 Pace & Practicality
The Impreza is one of the very few cars that can be placed in the 'do it all' category, but it genuinely is the Swiss Army knife of vehicles. The Bug Eye especially ticks this box though, thanks to its comfortable interior, strong performance, and great reliability.
In both sedan and wagon form, the Impreza can cater for any family-orientated travel requirements, whilst its turbocharged engine will deliver racecar levels of go and the AWD system enables superb grip in all conditions both on and off-road.
8 Impreza WRX & STI Differences
The WRX version of the Impreza has earned itself an unofficial title of being a performance car for the people. It was cheap to buy when new, offered up 215 hp, and would hit 60 mph in a very rapid 6.2 seconds, enough to worry German rivals that cost a lot more.
For those looking to beat superfast German sedans and a large majority of supercars, the Impreza STI utilized its 276hp to crack 60 mph in 5.2 seconds before running on to a top speed just shy of 150 mph.
7 Storming Rally Pedigree
It was the Mike Tyson of rallying, a heavyweight contender that seemed to dominate and beat just about everything that was thrown at it. The bug eye rally car was the first factory car to adopt a four-door shell, but had far superior weight distribution compared to its predecessor.
In its short lifespan, the Bug Eye WRC car retained its 300 hp output, but was subjected to several improvements, notably a freer-flowing manifold, revised turbo, and transmission update as technology and knowledge advanced.
6 Prodrive Enhancements
With a vast wealth of knowledge of tuning motorsport vehicles, English company, Prodrive joined forces with Subaru in 1990 to provide support to its rally team, a coupling that has proved to be highly successful for both parties.
Available for both the WRX and STI road cars, the Prodrive Performance Pack consisted of a specially designed sports exhaust, high flow fuel pump, and remap to generate more power, WRX 265/STI 300 hp, and drop acceleration times to below 5 seconds.
5 Rare Import Specials
Based on the competition model, the ultra-rare S202 Impreza boasted a titanium sports exhaust, a remapped ECU enabling an output of 320 hp, forged aluminum wheels, and sophisticated motorsport suspension. Only 400 cars were ever made.
A stripped-out racer for the road, the RA Spec C could be ordered with all of the modern niceties, such as electric windows and a stereo, removed to save on weight. With 280 hp of bragging rights and being feather-light, the Spec C would hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds.
4 All-Weather Prowess
Way before the Impreza line of cars was even a pencil mark on a design sheet, Subaru had built up a sturdy reputation for constructing vehicles that were highly capable when the need to leave the tarmac arose, never mind the weather or road surface.
When this all-wheel-drive system was combined with the gloriously sounding turbocharged engine beneath the hood of the bug eye, Impreza owners gained a performance car that would not shy away at the first sight of rain or snow.
3 An Unloved Bargain
Due to its less than favorable reception, the Bug Eye Impreza only lasted two years and was quickly replaced with what has now become know as the blob eye in 2002. Subaru hoped fans and buyers would accept its replacement with less resistance than the outgoing model.
Still splitting style opinions today, the bug eye has dropped in price considerably, values reflecting the appeal of the less aggressive face and the fact that the car was poorly received on release, thus making it a performance bargain.
2 It Makes a Fantastic Base Car
With over 200 horsepower on offer as standard and a fantastic all-wheel-drive system providing superb road holding, both the WRX and STI versions of the bug eye offer huge potential for those looking to create a fast project car.
There is a massive amount of aftermarket goodies on offer from larger turbos, ECU remaps or replacements, body kits, and styling packages, as well as stereo upgrades and interior swaps allowing for unique creations to be born.
1 Definite Future Classic Status
If history teaches us anything, it's that with the passing of time, the oddball, initially unwanted versions of decent cars, are the ones that should be bought and stashed away while their prices remain low before the market takes notice.
The less favored bug eye, due to its short production run, offers up a great option for those looking to snap up a presently affordable modern classic. This is a car that will surely start to buck its depreciation trend, with affordable limited and special edition cars being choice picks.