2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS from North America - Comments

The smell in stop and go traffic is because you are riding the clutch - simple. The shuttering in first is because you don't know how to handle an AWD car, especially a Subaru that is built very tight with no play in the driveline, unlike most American crap.

However, I do agree with you that it's hard to get into reverse sometimes, BUT, only when you are going from 1st gear to reverse. If you were in Neutral and then depressed the clutch and went into reverse, everything is fine, but from 1st, you have to give the syncros some time to accommodate before you go into reverse. There are many manual transmissions on the market today that do the same thing, and the whole 1 second it takes before you put it into reverse is actually saving your syncros.

Clutch shudder as you experience is a problem with ALL turbo models available to the UK, Europe and Japan.

I am unsure if it is common with US spec Impreza's. It usually happens when cold and can generally be cured by giving the clutch a good going over with some full bore starts.

Tim - UK Impreza Turbo 2000

The original poster started quite the debate here. I think that was two years ago. I have (had) most of those problems; the clutch shudder on my 02 Outback Sport needed to be replaced only 6 months after I got the car. It was under warranty.

I have the odd reverse issue.

The burning smell is what is killing me know. It's been going on for a year now. Not consistent enough to pinpoint. It comes though heat if the car is left to idle for some time. Fine when you drive off.. but the whole outside of the car smells too.

If I was losing fluid I would be empty by now. It's not the plastic bag thing on the exhaust and my belts are fine. I see from other forums that all cars experience this, but no one has an answer. It driving me crazy...

Oh.. another clutch needed to be replaced (just after the clutch bushings I replaced before that... (that's if you notice your gearbox making excessive noise/rattle when you downshift) just a few months back (only have 72000kms on the thing). Two clutches.

I have 2 other cars that are manual shift as well, and I have been driving almost 30 years, so it's not me...

Though I have to admit, any Subaru is a real fun to drive, but a lot of problems, Specially if you go to the dealer (no matter your dealer). I have one myself (Impreza 2.5 RS 2005) and there is definitely a problem with the engine. At 100,000km I had my engine replaced for the third time, and I talked to many others (4 - 5) people who had the same problem.

The engine burns oil like crazy, and you'll probably have to had some every (2,000 / 3,000) km.

I still think it's a really fun car to have, but if you can afford it, go with the WRX or STI... the only ones that rarely (almost never) have problems.

Wow! I've been driving my 2004 Impreza Outback Sport for 5 years now. It's been a great car until recently...

I had some engine work done and my 90k maintenance 2 weeks ago. I got the car back and I started having the first gear stuttering problem. I took it back to the dealership twice, they could not duplicate the problem. I even told them that it felt like I was trying to take off in the wrong gear, it was very jerky, and felt like it was going to stall. I even heard a loud clunk during 2 of the incidences. All the while, no check engine light. The only problem they admitted to feeling was a slight clutch chatter. Their solution, replace the clutch, but when they had the engine out, they took note that I still had about 50-60% still left. I am not comfortable and confident driving this car anymore. I did take note of the oxygen sensor solution. Believe me, I’m going back to the dealership.

So I finally got my car fixed too! I posted the comment above. The dealership could not pin-point what was making my car shudder; in fact, they couldn't even duplicate the problem. They told me that all they were getting was minor clutch chatter. There's nothing MINOR about it. I talked to my dad's old mechanic and he stated that the shudder I was experiencing was very common for Subaru's and it was caused be weakened springs behind the pressure plate. He even told me when I was feeling it the most... while taking off on a slope or creeping in traffic. "YES!" Someone who finally knew what I was talking about. Unfortunately the only solution was to replace my clutch. A little expensive, but at least I'm comfortable driving my car once again.

My 2002 Outback 2.5 has the same problems with shuddering, stalling and stinking. I replaced the clutch, but it's still difficult to drive. We have 3 drivers in the family and 3 manual cars. All 3 do fine in the other 2 cars and hate driving the Subaru.

It works OK when it's cold, but once it warms up, starting out from a stop light stalls the car unless you release the clutch VERY slowly or rev the engine a lot. If you release the clutch with high rpm, the car shudders violently and, of course, smells like burning clutch.

The burning rubber smell seems unrelated to the clutch, as it is worst after a stretch of highway driving.