Subaru Impreza WRX-S - Did The Hatchback Deserve The Hate? (JDM Legends Tour Pt. 22) 

I hated it when they came out but now im starting to really like them

The hatches are totally awesome 😎 Subaru should have never stopped making them IMO...

I owned one of these WRX-S's . Loved it more and more over time, With the only modifications a Cobb exhaust and stiffer Anti-roll bars it was a good track car too. This video brings back good mems :)

The hatch was a very brave move by Subaru, the Saloon car in general was doomed (ask Saab) and Subaru saw what was coming. Ps I love Saloons....

I actually like the looks, I think its a really nice looking hatch, but I’m biased because I adore hatchbacks

I actually love the hatch. Currently refraining from buying a new WRX because they only make sedans and I want a hatchback.

I have a 2011 sti hatch n i love it. Has the mean aggressive look. Unlike the new wrx/sti that lool like the sunday grocery shopin car. Nothing about the newer subies catch my eye. Never thought id like a sti after 07. But the 2011 sti hatch stole my heart.

Kind of made me want one. Not too stiff, rather fast and rather good looking. AWD too.

With the right colour and trim the hatchback can be a very attractive looking car.

''..have you got a Defender that you want me to review?.................keep it...'' And with that, after all these JEmm videos I've watched, I've subscribed. Jay, you are popular enough now to be entertainingly opinionated, run with it. Thank you Sir.

I had a 2005 wrx prodrive and was one of the best cars I have owned. Very practical, reliable, reasonably comfortable, plenty of space, enough power, sounds nice, looks nice and obviously great to have 4 wheel drive. Wish I still had it. I will definitely have another one.

I have always been a huge fan of Subaru's especially the STI version. Came very close to buying one a couple of years ago. But the high insurance premium and tax put me off. Don't see many on the road now too, but when you do always makes you smile and appreciate them. Yes modern hot hatches are cheaper to tax, insure and better mpg, but Golf R's & Audi S3's are so common now. Especially with lease/pcp deals.

Jay you're the best, I love watching your reviews

Not sure about UK spec cars, but here in Oz the 2009-on WRXs got 256bhp and a fair bit of STI suspension kit. They're good for 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, stock. They don't get stolen every five minutes here either.

As much as I loved seeing the turbo2000 as a kid, this shape is perfect imo. Impreza ✅ Hatchback ✅ 👌🏻

The 2007-2008 had 169KW/320Nm and soft suspension. The upgrade for 2009+ models meant 195KW/343Nm and stiffer spring rates front and rear, larger diameter sway bars front and rear, STI strut tops and other modifications to improve grip, handling and ride quality. Gear shift bushings were also changed to improve shift feel and gear selection improvement. Tyre size was increased from 205/50/17 to 225/45/17.

Fantastic little review. I always wondered why this car got universally hated on launch. I always thought it was just the looks and hatchback (I remember the police werent happy as they wouldn't be able to use it anymore), I didnt realise that Subaru had killed the car. Evo had a road test of the Litchfield and really rated it from what I remember, so I look forward to seeing your views on it.

That hatchback was wildly popular here in the U.S. Many were devastated when the hatch was discontinued.

This car is a blast to drive in Most Wanted 2012, the turbo spool and engine sound are heavenly.

So glad to hear you come down hard the cars ride and feel. I drove the wrx sti hatch when it came out and was sorely disappointed, especially having driven the older versions, which were just the dogs bollocks!

I’ve had my 08 STi for 5 years now. Love it! I also own an S2000 for the weekends. ☕️🗿

I’m from Canada in northern Ontario and I absolutely love my 08 hatchback! The awd is hard to drift with but in the snow it’s completely unmatched. No roads are closed for my Impreza!

Here in Canada, especially with crap roads in the city and low-ish fuel prices, the Subie is quite popular. AWD and scrappy, they’re all great in the snow. What I like about them is that sound, but in real life and having to live with the interior especially, I got a Golf.

set of sti springs and uprated anti roll bar bushes etc will sort that roll out

Your appraisal of all of the hot Imprezas, seem to resonate more with me (given most people seem to talk mainly about the performance I believe the turbo ones have..), as former boring NA 2.0 had a gen 2 wagon driver.. The rack was a slow ratio, but was communicative once you got used to that. Absolute weapon in the snow (practically speaking), and the low range let me do stupid things with it in the countryside, and frequently tow a car trailer in the country I lived in. It's the snow and torrential rain which taught me precisely when to expect lift over-steer (no rear anti-roll bar in those), or what can only be described as 4 wheel under-steer was going to happen, and where I would end up. It always felt more confident at speed than other things in that class, and I loved thrashing it down gravel roads where I would be much more cautious in a propper 4X4.

I had 2012 wrx and a 2011 sti. I found them to be practical and sporty. I live in the states in a snow region and they are an amazing car 12 months out of the year! These cars are old school and not refined but when you get everything right when you are driving them it is really gratifying and the car rewards you! Hatchbacks in general are a premium in the used car market. I miss my Subaru’s!!

I love my narrow body wrx hatch! Also my daily driver. Dark grey metallic. Not that keen on subarus, then found this when looking for a new daily, gotta say I didn't hesitate to give previous owner a call and go have a look. Bought on the spot. Love the hatch, kind of wish it was a wide body but then.. the narrow body has this clean look to it, rly loving it so far.

I own a modified 2012 WRX and I got to drive an Evo 9 today and I can say I was very impressed it feels even more raw than the WRX not to mention it feels very agile the turn in is amazing. It actually feels like a race car. Very mechanical feeling.

i like these, past-JM, hence why im watching this video 3 years after you uploaded

the hatch is my favorite body style in the 3 and 4 gen models

Have a 420whp hatch STI. One of the best cars I could ever drive or own

Funny: from the looks of it JayEmm actually scores more views than the videos of Fifth Gear! Congrats 👍

The hatch is actuallu one of my favourite

A Litchfield version would be in my dream garage

Great review, I love the Sti hatch, I have a 340bhp bigeye 🚗💨

Had Subaru for years from single turbo Legacy to twin turbo to classic impreza to blob eye Prodrive Wagon. Reliable AWD less layers of electronics to go wrong + Hatch makes more sense for usability & looks ages less quickly 2003 /2004 still looks fairly modern. I wouldn't bother looking at anything else Best Bang for Buck !

the bugeye is one of the most slept on front ends Subaru made.

Love my 11 WRX 5dr. So fun to drive and regular oil changes means little to no mechanical issues.

I just bought an Impreza Sedan yesterday from this generation and now I see this video, what the hell... Mine is a diecast 1/43 model though :P

Like more the sedan version of the WRX. Nevermind, great video and you got my like. Every WRX is a great car, just not for everyone. :) Did a test drive of the 2003 model for those interested. You got my like here.

Absolute dream car, especially the Cosworth!

A 2.0 JDM Hatch STI is the only car I’d replace my STI V6 with. I have a WRX bugeye wagon too and I kind of see the newer Hatch as a combination of the two. I did have a JDM bugeye STI wagon which was probably the best subaru I’ve had, quite a rare beast. Hatch’s are so much more practical and that’s part of the beauty of the car. Only thing I don’t like is the clear rear lights, thankfully you can get a red film to sort that in a ‘reverse mod’ kind of way.

about 10 years ago i got took around Bruntingthorpe race in one of these by a pro race driver and it scared the shit out of me..! suprised how much it leaned in the corners though.

I currently have a Legacy GTB, but I've had my fair share of imprezas. Everything after the GC8 Classic shape just seemed to get softer and softer, and the driving position has got higher and higher. I went from my blob eye impreza back to the classic shape, as it was more fun and felt faster. Even my 98 Legacy estate feels like more of a drivers than the 05 Impreza did...

Love mine, practical... Makes just enough noise to turn heads... Can do the school run and have fun whilst doing it ❤️

Good review I didn't know much about the wrx s but thanks for filling in the history about, it sad how it went for subaru as I'm a fan and really want one , I'm looking for a subaru impreza but thinking to buy a impreza gx or impreza rx not wrx, or r sport so I can drive in it ever day car. Would be interested to see you review them coz no one has? Alway wrx or sti? I don't know if I should buy a wrx but if I did I go for 2003 to 2005 impreza not the wrx 2006 or 07 impreza coz of the road tax. Be great if you could recommend one a subaru impreza coz I don't know about really owning one and see on RU-vid a gx or r sport, rx? I'm not interested in the hatchback impreza only saloon but till like subaru, thanks you.

In the late 90s when the first version 1s and 2s were getting imported over here in the UK they were single handedly responsible for the death of the cossies. In the late 90s a sti with a decat and filter pushing 300 bhp was excellent and so ahead of its time pity they got stuck in the mud and never evolved loved them so much.

Review a Subaru WRX STI 9 Hawkeye PPP please. would be great to hear your thoughts on that vehicle as it's the evolution of the blobeye which you owned 😀

Considering buying one. It has the power, the rally heritage and the practicality

I own a 17 wrx sti, bought it as I have always had it as my dream car. I also owned a hatch, the difference is night and day. The steering has improved a long way. Yes it hasnt moved on engine wise, but I like that as you know what to expect from it. But from a business point it is a bad move for subaru. I recommend the STI as a drivers car, experience it, as no more Sti or WRX will be sold in the UK.

the wrx-s is the only one of this shape i like. i prefer the facelift hatch with the wide arches, chris harris once said the wrx-s was the biggest surprise of the bunch of hot hatches of the time, with its softer suspension it road the bumps on our roads much nicer

I've always loved this car, even amidst the hate when it came out. My colleague has the sedan version and took me for a ride in it - mate! Still want one.

Hated them when they came out but fancying one now... but scared of the reliability... any suggestions on what to look out for before buying?

the more i see these the more im tempted by them lol id like to see u review a forester sti :)

i have a JDM spec c hatch, that really is a sorted hatch that the uk never got, great car. practical and fun. i also have had older models, love them both for differat reason.

Hatch STI looks great in grey 🤙🏼

Watched this review before buying 1 a year ago after owning 3 classics and a blob, I'm happy with it.

I own one of these, really good car to daily plenty of room in the back. However I will be buying an older model for a bit more performance 😉

i loved it when it came out.. something a bit different to stand out from all the other scoobies on the uk roads

I hate hatches but this generation of Impreza is one of my favourite looking and driving hatchbacks ever made. Was going to get a non STI 2.0 RX as my first car back in 2014, ended up getting a 1 series and totalling it after 2 months though, probably would have been better off with that AWD system XD

It reminds me of driving a original wrx impress handling is amazing

I can't help but thinking about Ed from Shaun of the dead.

Maybe the suspension is just tired in this car hence the Ropey handling? I had a STI Version 4 Wagon a few years ago and it was a fantastic car, handled well, powerful and with a close ratio box it was excellent in twisty roads.

I wish the WRX was still available as a hatch, it'll give all the other hot hatches a real run for their money. Even in sedan form, I guess it's still kinda comparable to hot hatches as it's price and performance is within hot hatch range, and it's still a worthy competitor in the market.

I really like these but I can't get over my mental block of cars that are over £500 to tax in the UK

A 2.0 boxer with some kind of double clutch automated manual would be epic

Blob eye sti 2004/5. That was the peak for the uk versions for a couple or reasons. Tax band. IMO the best looking being the blob eye. Still has minimal computer assistance. Simple to work on and hasn’t got a Xmas tree warning light Dash.

I've had the blue blobeye wrx the dark grey Hatchback Sti and now have a dark grey 2014 Sti. The hatch was a great cat, but still prefer the Saloon.

This model was very bad during the first batch back in 2008. It had very soft suspension, a slightly tuned down engine from the Hawkeye, and it looked ugly with the stock rims that were provided. Like many others, I hated it when this model came out. Thankfully, Subaru admitted that they went too far to make the hatchback too mainstream. So in the coming years they updated the trim, upgraded the power and gave it bbs rims. During the 2013 / 2014 model years the car looked much better when it initially launched back in 2008. This car aged like fine wine to me, perhaps it’ll be a future classic too.

Planning to buy my 1st Subaru Impreza hatch back,are there any tips you can give me to ensure for a healthy engine and to ensure for a long journey drive.

I have a 22 WRX and I can't understand why they don't offer gold rims anymore, but it gives me reason to go buy me a set of Enkei rims.

Uhhhhh if anyone knows where I could possibly find wrx-s seats and front lip pleaseee leave a link

You need to drive some Mitsubishi EVO's. You'll be impressed von the handling. I have a stock 2008 EVO 10 in USA.

Unloved? These are VERY well desired in the US. We always like the wagon version

My first performance car is a hatch WRX and I love it to be fair I can see why it got slated a bit especially from fans of the bug and the blob etc but it is a completely different car to those meant for more spirited cruising than anything more boardering on GT than rally I will agree the steering is a bit vague and can be a bit darty every now and again though but it is a car that grows on you big time

I keep hoping they're going to reissue the WRX STI hatch and they've just been toying with us this whole time. I'll probably keep hoping

It's like something straight out of the 90s, because it is! Not sure who this is really targetted at - me 20 years ago I guess.

Lovely looking car. Worst part is that the BRZ 2.0 n/a boxer is only 30 BHP behind it!...

Ive had one and love it... Sold it was sad. Got a GC built it up and loved it but it's just kind of sketchy compared to the newer grb so back to the grb I go!

I think the problem with the steering on the car you drove could be down to several options, the tyres, the suspension ball joints, the trackrod end ball joints or the steering rack, I have a 2008 Impreza RX Auto hatchback bought new, the steering is very sharp and precise, ok so it has only covered 20,000 miles as its not my daily driver so it still drives like new, I have been driving for 58 years and have owned quite a few cars and this is the best one so far, I am an ex motor mechanic so I would suggest the owner has the things I mentioned checked out so he will enjoy the car much more.

I love my estranged ginger cousin(bug eye) wrx had it for years and never let me down

Shocking shocking design. What were they thinking. Boot and spoiler is what made the scooby. Had a 97 WRX. One of the best road cars I've driven.

I hated the hatch at first, thought it looked like a cheap Korean car but over time and after seeing an STI up close they grew on me more and more to the point that it became one of the cars I wanted one more than anything. I was looking at them when buying my current car but I got a Golf R instead mostly because (as mentioned here 9:24) they're bad on fuel and tax is an annual kick in the nuts too.

Just bought one a few weeks back, been on the ramp in my mates garage for months n in tip top condition. Rapid

I absolutely love the hatchback Impreza's. I'm actually planning on buying one this year at some point to replace my dying Focus.

This is an old video Jay, but I do remember during my autocross days that this WRX is the 3rd generation car, I'm in the U.S. and we didn't get the first generation WRX. Several people told me that the facelifted "hawkeye" (or maybe the last facelifted 2nd gen) STi got criticism for being to harsh of a ride, so Subaru responded by making the 3rd generation WRX too soft. It ended up not being a good decision because new car buyers still bought a GTI or some other car instead of a comfortable WRX, whether it was because of styling, or other reasons (hatchback only initially).

I used to own a version 3 type r, beast, also a 375bhp blobeye. Love the blob and the classic. Think that they should of moved on with the times better. 2.0l best engine for the Impreza.

I love this generation. IMO this is one of the best Subaru models.

Always liked the Subaru As you say thou it doesn’t really make a great deal of sense in the UK which is why you don’t see them Also they haven’t really moved on and everything else has I monster them in my wife’s M140i Great cars thou! I’d have one if standard with warranty (new) it had 400 BHP 30k

Miss mine so much

VED is insane for them as well, £550, especially so considering it's the same as the STI. Was on my list for next car but just will be too expensive...

I never liked the look of these but my wife loved them, had to own and drive to appreciate

This hatch is my favorite wrx or 2006 hawk eye

Ihave a bugeye 2001 Inprezza G . I live on a dirt road....its the best car and is non turbo and so reliable and handles all condidions from snow to wet and dry ....the best car for the Australian Alps !!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I was really confused when it got released, it meant for me that the Impreza was basically over, I mean why make it a hatch? It looked worse and just wasn't the same car, I couldn't accept it. Still, I think they were still making the Evo X then, so I had that at least. I think that made me want and respect the Evo more.

subaru tried to make the suspension more comfortable. for regular drivers to use it like an appliance. put suspension on it. and it will handle like it should. sway bars etc bushes

I was under the impression that a softer suspension setup is preferable for the less-than-smooth surfaces of British driving roads. In fairness, Subaru has tuned the suspension to be much firmer for the current generation WRXs, although I don't think that the current WRX is available in the UK.

I always loved the hatch

I own an 08 wrx wagon and I love the thing

Love the WRX