DCAWD.com

I fear for my life.

The car has so many design flaws, there's nowhere to start.

Let's see ... 2008 Subaru Impreza sedan:



and current Toyota Corolla:



Okay, so they're not the same but they're too close for my comfort. The Impreza looks like a Corolla that's been pimped with a hood scoop, headlights and spoiler.

--Alan

I'm very disappointed.

The Corolla S edition is a better reference pic:

2005


-or-

2007


-VS-

New impreza:

Alan: please try to be more like Will and post better pix next time.

Mr Kleen wrote:Alan: please try to be more like Will and post better pix next time.

What? They are better reference pics. The body kits are completely different where the S edition is closer to what the impreza sedan looks like. Nothing wrong w/ giving the people better reference pics.

One more link for ya: LINKY

Actually it wasn't the body kit that made me think of the Corolla, it's the "shoulder" of the Impreza that runs along the side of the body. That, combined with the general shape of the headlights evokes a similar image.

However, now that I'm seeing them side-by-side ... I can see more differences on the front end. However, I'm wondering if an aftermarket company will come out with a front end kit to make the Corolla look like the '08 Impreza? After all, I've seen kits that make an Accord look like a Skyline. Or a Miata look like an Aston Martin.

But there's still that "shoulder" line. I just can't shake how similar the body shape is.

Honda made a dramatic leap away from the current compact body shape with the new Civic. Why can't another company do the same?

--Alan

It looks better with that 'flying grille' blacked out.

WRXWagon2112 wrote:Actually it wasn't the body kit that made me think of the Corolla, it's the "shoulder" of the Impreza that runs along the side of the body. That, combined with the general shape of the headlights evokes a similar image.

However, now that I'm seeing them side-by-side ... I can see more differences on the front end. However, I'm wondering if an aftermarket company will come out with a front end kit to make the Corolla look like the '08 Impreza? After all, I've seen kits that make an Accord look like a Skyline. Or a Miata look like an Aston Martin.

But there's still that "shoulder" line. I just can't shake how similar the body shape is.

Honda made a dramatic leap away from the current compact body shape with the new Civic. Why can't another company do the same?

--Alan

Silly Rabbit, cars don't have shoulders.

Wasn't trying to bust your chops, Alan. Just thought the complete body kit plus exterior styling lines from the Corolla S just made a better visual comparison. Just my opinion...and that is what I am sticking with!

The front grill from the new Impreza looks like they stole it from the Chrysler style grilles (which I don't like at all).

On the honda side, I completely agree w/ you there and can't wait for the new Accords to come out. They went more in the direction of the civic body style as well and look so much better than the current style.

I just put my finger on it. I don't like the new front end because it resembles a uni-brow...

BLEARGH!!!!

Libra Monkee wrote:BLEARGH!!!!

That is disgusting, Chuck.

It's so disgusting, yet I can't look away ::shudder::

Yet not quite as disgusting at the 2008 Subaru.

Hopefully they will make body kits for it that make it look like a 05 or 06....

it also looks quite a bit larger than before. still waiting for the MIA fender flairs...

Sorry Gabe but from what I can tell from some of the NABISCO posts it seems that fender flares are right out for '08.

I've been reading through the MAIC thread on the new photos and I'm starting to not hate this new sedan. I still don't think it's good, but it's not bad. Simply meh.

But then again, a typical car company that wants to make money (with minimized risk) can be expected to put out designs that are as non-offensive as possible to the widest possible audience. So it's no surprise that the 'performance enthusiast' demographic is not impressed with these photos. It just means that there's a built-in desire to mod the cars to suit our individual tastes.

It's also not surprising that the new sedan has elements that are similar to other cars in the same class. To a certain extent, all cars within a market segment will have similar shapes - with a few exceptions (as I mentioned before, the new Honda Civic has done an excellent job of blazing a new trail in compact car design and styling). I'm sure drwrx and Cereb could expound on this, but I'll take a stab at some of the styling elements that I see in this new sedan:

Grill:
The chrome strip along the top of the grill reminds me of the MY2000 Mazda Protegé (and now that I've got these two pics here, the crease lines in the hood are almost identical)

vs


As for the similarity to a Chrysler Sebring ... I just don't see it. The grill itself, however, does have some of the "egg crate" look that Cadillac has always had. But because this grill has placed the slats on an angle it is sufficiently different (to my eye) to avoid looking like a copy.

Body shape:
As I mentioned before, I see a strong resemblance to the current Toyota Corolla based on the combination of 'slab sides', shoulder line (running from A-pillar to tail light) and the high trunk line. (see prior post for side-by-side comparison pictures).

Tail lights:
These remind me of a Hyundai or Kia I've seen recently. I'll search for comparison pics soon:



Overall, I don't think it's a bad design. It's kinda bland and is similar to competing models but ultimately non-offensive. It should be bland enough to be popular with your average consumer. Otherwise, the enthusiast market will definitely be modifying the grill, etc. to their own tastes.

--Alan

I don't think it looks that much like the Protege line, more like the Mazda3 line if you want to compare it to Mazda. And regarding the front grille, I didn't notice any chrome, and other than the 2000 Protege sedan, all others got either body colored or black grilles:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/D-rock ... T0052i.jpg

Katya4me wrote:And regarding the front grille, I didn't notice any chrome, and other than the 2000 Protege sedan, all others got either body colored or black grilles:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/D-rock ... T0052i.jpg

Yeah, I had to go back to 2000 to find the chrome strip. Otherwise they changed it for the final body style (2001 - 2005? ) to a black plastic strip.

And now that I look at it I think you're right - the hood creases, grill and headlights look more like a Mazda 3 than the Protegé.



--Alan

WRXWagon2112 wrote:

Katya4me wrote:And regarding the front grille, I didn't notice any chrome, and other than the 2000 Protege sedan, all others got either body colored or black grilles:
http://www.msprotege.com/members/D-rock ... T0052i.jpg

Yeah, I had to go back to 2000 to find the chrome strip. Otherwise they changed it for the final body style (2001 - 2005? ) to a black plastic strip.

And now that I look at it I think you're right - the hood creases, grill and headlights look more like a Mazda 3 than the Protegé.



--Alan

Body style designs stabilized in '01 and lasted till the Protege line was killed in '03. The Mazda3 came out in 2004. The MP3 and MSP had body color painted tops to their grilles. I stole mine from an MSP who installed a CF grille.

I wish I had more hands so I could give the '08 Impreza 4 thumbs down.

all I have to say at this point, is that the damn thing better be putting down 400 plus HP

snaab wrote:all I have to say at this point, is that the damn thing better be putting down 400 plus HP

!!!! But still rate it at 300HP so our insurance won't go up

From what i hear nothing will be improving with the performance. It's actually rumored the wrx will go down a bit to appeal to more of the market. Really a shame that while mitsubishi is making their car all fancy and next-gen.. subaru seems to be following the beaten path of "more watered down attracts more people". Let's just hope the STi pulls out some huge surprise.



or i'd like to think this is just some huge prank from subaru to throw the public and media off so the REAL impreza isnt known until they reveal it...

sigh... if only....