Faults:

Tyre pressures were extremely high (were 42-44, should be 32).

Body paint can easy peel off, beware of birds :)

A little road noise coming in.

Windscreen wipers.

General Comments:

I drove 20.000km.

Great car, enjoyable, great handling, perfect engine 1.6 CRDi, technologic and modern interior, good space in the interior, sound quality and controls on the wheel are pretty nice features.

Euro Ncap 5 stars, nice brakes, six airbags, active headset, I feel secure in this car.

Very cheap running costs, and low fuel consumption.

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

As much as you can tell in 1500 miles, great!!

Performance is on a par with previous 2.0GX Impreza, but running costs are approximately half.

The specification is high for a "budget" car and the build quality is excellent save for the slightly orange-peely paint finish, however even that is being rectified by quality wax products.

Gearbox is stiff for first 1000 miles or so, particularly from first-second and second-first, and also into reverse. TIP- Don't force it, let the box catch up with you in it's time and it smooths out!

Would also like to have seen the six speed box in this model, first few runs at motorway speeds I was looking for an extra gear to bring the revs down, however perhaps the extra weight would bring performance down?

General Comments:

Quality is excellent for the price - this is a very pleasant car to be in.

Automatic box is the old torque-converter type, so more leisurely than modern double-clutch electronic boxes, but it makes for a comfortable, stress-free drive - and is exactly what I wanted.

The box is perfectly matched to the torquey diesel.

Handling is safe and predictable.

Faults:

Nearside rear seat belt pretensioner failed; replaced immediately by dealership.

General Comments:

This is a very easy car to drive; the equipment level is very high and makes for an interesting and enjoyable experience on the road.

The torque at low revs makes city driving a breeze; at motorway speeds it makes overtaking effortless.

The audio system is awesome, delivering crisp, quality sound through the cabin. USB and iPod connectivity offer an unusual yet excellent additional variety to the usual sound sources.

Faults:

No faults with car in the first 6 months of ownership.

General Comments:

Has the torque of a large four cylinder or small six.

Amazingly economical.

Solid feel on the road with well weighted steering and a well appointed interior.

Excellent value for money with few weaknesses and many strengths.