2001 Subaru Impreza WRX review from Switzerland

Nothing went wrong -- this was a test drive, but I wanted to share my impressions with current WRX owners.

I have test driven at least half a dozen autos in the last 3 weeks -- BMW 3 Series, several Audi A4s, Subaru Forrester and WRX, Opel Turbo Coupé... and the WRX delivers adequate comfort with the best performance (handling, acceleration) of any of them, especially for Swiss mountain roads.

Only now, I have just one small problem: WHY DID THEY HAVE TO GO AND MAKE THIS CAR UGLIER THAN A WART ON A TOAD's A**?

Short of growing 10 years younger (from my current age of 30) or moving out to the boondocks, I don't see how I could possibly show up in this car to a concert or even just to dinner without drawing many a rude snicker.

Hence, as a single guy who does not want to stay that way indefinitely, I find that I shall be obliged to give up performance, and probably to pay more, for an automobile other than the one I really want, I.e. this one, because of its silly appearance. Remaining on my list are: Opel Turbo Coupé, Audi A4 (expensive), Seat Leon (haven't tested it yet).

The point of this review is really to ask 2 questions:

1) to ask, does anyone know whether it possible to loose the spoiler and the ugly air intake on the hood, and still have this car go? If it just looked like a plain old, cheap Japanese compact wagon from the outside, while keeping the capability in the chassis and under the hood to leave all the snobby BMW's and Porsches eating mountain road dust (heh heh), that would be just fine with me. I imagine this is a pipe dream, but just in case...

2) Can any WRX fans suggest any car that comes in a reasonably close second to WRX in performance, with a less unsightly appearance?