1999 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited Wagon 4-door 2.5l on 2040-cars

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Subaru WRX STI vs. Audi S3 in compact AWD dustup

It's not every day that a Subaru and an Audi can be reasonably compared head-to-head; the two brands tend not to compete directly in their respective segments. However, the latest WRX STI and the S3 Sedan offer the perfect chance to find out if the working-class Scooby can beat its upper-crust competitor.
The UK's Auto Express gets behind the wheel of these two all-wheel drive performance sedans, or saloons as the Brits call them. Across the pond, both of them are rated at an identical 296 horsepower, but the Subaru edges out the Four Rings on torque. Like in the US, British buyers have to pay a little more to get the Audi, but it comes with a nicer interior and more brand cachet, if that means anything to you.
The video starts out with a fairly standard road test comparing the two of them back-to-back - all fairly subjective. But then Auto Express takes the trip to the drag strip, and the results there are much more conclusive. There's a definite winner when they cross the line, but you have to scroll down to see which of these turbocharged models with rallying heritage wins out.

2019 Subaru Impreza price goes up by $100

The 2019 Subaru Impreza is going to cost you an extra Benjamin. Pricing was announced for both the Impreza Sedan and 5-door hatchback model, which were redesigned for the 2017 model year. The base 2.0i sedan with a five-speed manual transmission starts at $19,480, including destination, while the comparable 5-door is a bit more at $19,980. Opting for the CVT costs an extra $1,000. These prices are up $100 from 2018. A marginal uptick in cost isn't the only update for the 2019 Impreza, however. The base model can now be equipped with Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology suite for a perfectly reasonable $845 given that it comes with adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-departure warning and lane keeping. EyeSight is also now standard on the Impreza Limited trim. Note, though, that EyeSight is still unavailable with manual transmission-equipped Imprezas. The range-topping Limited trim also comes standard with a pair of new safety features: reverse automatic braking and automatic high beams. The Impreza Premium trim now comes standard with an upgraded Subaru Starlink 6.5-inch touchscreen that includes HD and satellite radios, two USB ports for rear passengers and a CD player (yay, save the CD's!). Black alloy wheels are also now included on the Premium. Finally, the Impreza Sport gains an STI short-throw shifter when, quite obviously, it's equipped with the manual. The full pricing breakdown, all including destination can be found below. The 2019 Subaru Impreza arrives in dealers "this summer," which we can only assume means if it's not on dealer lots already, it will be very soon. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2019 Subaru Impreza Image Credit: Subaru Subaru Hatchback Sedan eyesight

2015 Subaru Forester tS Quick Spin

When Subaru invited me to Japan and the famed Suzuka racing circuit to drive its BRZ tS, there was more on the menu than sporting coupes. The STI buffet also included the Subaru Forester tS. If you caught my BRZ tS review, the Forester follows the same idea: modified for better, more precise handling but without any increase in power. As I shared in the first tS review, and with Subaru's news at the New York Auto Show, the company plans to increase the awareness of Subaru Tecnica International – STI – over the next five years. In the case of the BRZ tS, a similarly-conceived car is coming to the US in the next few years. Such is not the story with the Forester tS. The JDM-only product was on hand to drive as further proof of what STI can do, but not as a preview to an upcoming model for sale in America. Subaru execs wouldn't go so far as to rule the idea out completely, but there was plenty of wink-nudging admitting the limited market for something like the Forester tS over here. Firmly ensconced in the "forbidden fruit" category, then, I still thought it'd be fun to report on the hot-ish, wagon-ish Forester. This one's for the other car nerds like me. Driving Notes So, what's new on this tS? Basically STI made the Forester stickier and less prone to roll under high cornering load. The same type of flexible tower brace previously found under the hood of the WRX is used here, and "flexible draw stiffeners" connect the body to the front and rear subframes for added body stiffness. The braces incorporate a very strong coil spring, and add lateral stiffness with enough give to allow the tires to stay in perfect contact with the road surface. The tires in question are 245-section Bridgestones, riding on attractive 19-inch STI wheels, both increases from the 225-section tires and 18-inch wheels that come standard in the US on the Forester 2.0XT model. The tS also has a more-powerful Brembo braking package; handy when hauling a 3,600-pound vehicle down from straightaway speeds. Subaru benchmarked the tS versus other 'sporty' SUVs and CUVs, including out and out performance variants. (Japanese professional modesty prevented Subaru reps from naming specific names, but suffice it to say that the Germans were involved.) In terms of roll rates, yaw response, slalom time, g-force and more, the Subaru's tS package shows massive improvements versus the standard Forester, and holds up to the competitive targets too.