Takin' It To The Streets- A SAFE and Sound Choice!

We were finally in the market for a new car, due to absolute frustration with our 'lot' of cars in the driveway. Our eldest daughter was transfering up to Champlain College in Vermont, and we knew we needed a reliable all wheel drive vehicle to make that trip on a fairly regular basis.

The only cars I looked at were all wheel drive, and there are really not that many choices to consider if you don't want a gas guzzling SUV on your hands. At this particular time, the gas prices were nearing $3 a gallon in Jersey, so it was a big consideration.

We opted for the Subaru Impreza Outback Wagon, in the dark silver. We didn't choose the 'Sport' edition because the lease price was dramatically higher for only a few unnecessary bells and whistles.

The lease price we agreed on was $205 per month, while the Sport would have cost $325 per month. Not worth it. The Sport edition boasts two tone paint, a fancy rear view mirror, a better stereo and speakers, mud flaps and a higher center console with double compartments. The only thing I really wanted was the center console. My dealership got 'ahold' of one and installed it for me, as well as roof rack bars. I was satisfied with that. Had I opted NOT to have those two extras, my lease price would have been $199 per month. No biggie.

The car is deceiving! When I drive it, I feel like I am in a nice roomy wagon, but when I park the car, and glance at it on my way into the market, or the bank, I realize how tiny it really is compared to most other cars. It isn't much bigger than my Acura Integra.

But the truth is, it really suits all of my needs as far as the roomy interior! I am in the Antiques business, and more often than not, I am folding down my rear seats and packing furniture, lamps and bins into the back. On long trips to Vermont, the roof rack comes in very handy.

The car handles very well in all kinds of weather, and I waited to write this review until I had experienced snow. It handled just perfectly!

The car handles wet and dry conditions with the same stability. NO slipping, no problems at all. I drive highway on a daily basis, as well as backroads and the city. It's easy to drive, easy to park and easy to care for.

Subaru doesn't make luxury vehicles, they are quite utilitarian in their design. Everything that you need to get to in the interior is placed well. There are some minor issues with the interior.

There is NOT enough interior storage, and there is nowhere to place your cell phone, or anything else you might need to 'put' somewhere while you drive. I have CD's on the visor, and usually bottled water in the cup holders- which are nice , but could be a bit deeper to handle water bottles or cans of Red Bull while driving. Bottles tend to topple because the cup holders are not deep enough.

I would have liked a larger glove box. Not quite enough room for the big Subaru users manual, your paperwork, and whatever else you need to store. I would have liked more open spaces or compartments.

I have had a problem with the fuse blowing on my car and my daughters car. The fuse for the side view mirrors and the cigarette lighter seems to blow very often. We use the cigarette lighter for charging cell phones- and it seems to blow out about once every two months. We keep extra fuses in the car, but it's still kind of annoying. At first I thought it was just my car, but it happens to my daughter too, so....

As I stated earlier, the Subaru Impreza Outback comes with the basic stereo and the basic speakers. If you are an audiophile, you will, without a doubt, want to upgrade the stereo and the speakers. In the Sport edition, the stereo is quite passable. For me, I would rather spend the $300 on an aftermarket upgrade than the thousands more in lease fees.

So far, I have had the car 8 and a half months. In that time, I had one problem, which was some hesitation and loss of power, which I thought was the transmission. When I took it to the dealer, they told me that the computer needed to be 're-programmed' - so a few hours at the shop and the car was driving much better.

My eldest daughter, the one going to school in Vermont, needed a new car before she left for school. Of course, I thought that she could use the same car as we had, considering the snow and icy conditions in Burlington, VT, and the fact that she would need a lot of room to pack up her belongings to come home for Christmas and Summer breaks.

She got an Impreza Outback Wagon similarly equipped for $199 a month. Within two weeks, I got the phonecall that every parent fears. She had been in a terrible accident on the Parkway, involving a construction vehicle, and the divider.

Thank God, and Subaru, that while her car was totalled - my daughter was in near perfect shape. Yes, some bumps, bruises and glass in her scalp, but she was just fine. The passenger and curtain airbags did go off, but the drivers one did not. Her seatbelt held her in nicely. If you saw the car you wouldn't believe that the driver wasn't really hurt! The car crumpled as it should have and protected my precious daughter.

Needless to say, two weeks later, she leased another Subaru Impreza Outback Wagon. Of course, a car that protected her that well, was worth leasing again. I wholeheartedly recommend this car for that reason alone.

Funny, when I originally bought my Impreza, I didn't realize that the car was rated so highly in crash tests. I am certainly glad that this was the case! You have no idea.

Overall, this car is a supreme bargain! An unbelievable bargain in fact, by todays standards. With my 4 year lease, this car is under a 4 year bumper to bumper warranty. I will at no time, be without warranty!

The roominess is just wonderful, 2 adults and 2 kids, teenagers or adults under 5'5", sit comfortably inside. Yes, a teeny bit more leg room in the back would have been nice- we really don't have any 'tall folks' sitting in the back seat.

The bonus rear hatch area is great for carting all sorts of gear, and the roof rack frees up your interior for road trips.

The price is right, and the safety cannot be beat! If you have teens that are new to driving, this is a very safe vehicle. Both for the crash test rating, and the all wheel drive. My newly licensed 17 year old daughter drives this car very comfortably!

The drivers seat is four way adjustable, so it is easy enough to find a comfy position. I would have liked a lumbar support, like I have in my Acura. But the sport seats are nice. The fabric is VERY sturdy and resists stains and always looks new!

If you are thinking about a low priced and reliable car, this one is perfect!