Overview & Reviews

The 2008 Subaru Impreza has been completely redesigned. Roomier and more refined on the inside, the restyled Impreza is meant to appeal to a more mainstream audience. Sedan and hatchback body styles are again available, as are the turbocharged WRX and ultra-high-performance WRX STI.

• Missing some higher-end convenience features, behind-the-times transmissions, below-average fuel economy, sleepy styling except for extroverted STI.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 180.00

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  Wifes Car - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Kevin - December 15 - 9:46 am

  I know what I have to say sounds a lot like nit picking. However If you are going to lay out 19k on a car you should know a few things. Over all it really is a good little car. However to make it a great car you are going to need to do some work.

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  The ugliest of the ugly duckling - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Anonymous - November 19 - 2:00 am

  For a WRX fan, the 08 is the one to stay away from. I am now at 41k miles and cannot hand this lease back in fast enough. The suspension is too soft with an intense amount of body roll, though the ride comfort is much improved (IMO leave that for the Impreza owners, not the WRX). The interior is clean but uninspiring with hard plastic everywhere. Throttle response is slow and the traction/abs systems are intrusive. Exterior styling speaks for itself. The sound system is close to the quality of a cell phone speaker in a tin can. Hatch boom is very prevalent. The AWD system in the snow is the only reason I gave FtD category an 8 but the OE RE050s leave a lot to be desired in all conditions.

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  My First Subaru, My Last Subaru - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Paul - January 29 - 9:12 pm

  As my title might indicate, I didnt have a very good Subaru experience. The WRX has good power and roadholding ability, however it doesnt have the Japanese car reliability that I was expecting. Ive owned Hondas, Mazdas, Fords, and even Chryslers all with manual transmissions. And this Subaru was the first car that Ive owned that needed a new transmission, at only 83k miles. Before needing a new transmission it was very hard to get into reverse, sometimes 1st, and even 2nd gear at times. After replacing the transmission, costing $4k, I have been able to get it into 1st and 2nd but reverse is still an experience. Other than that its had 5 safety recalls and has had a class-action lawsuit due to failure of the firewall spot welds. Im not a driver thats hard on vehicles, but I dont like vehicles that are hard on the drivers.

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  My First Subaru, My Last Subaru - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Paul - January 29 - 9:12 pm

  As my title might indicate, I didnt have a very good Subaru experience. The WRX has good power and roadholding ability, however it doesnt have the Japanese car reliability that I was expecting. Ive owned Hondas, Mazdas, Fords, and even Chryslers all with manual transmissions. And this Subaru was the first car that Ive owned that needed a new transmission, at only 83k miles. Before needing a new transmission it was very hard to get into reverse, sometimes 1st, and even 2nd gear at times. After replacing the transmission, costing $4k, I have been able to get it into 1st and 2nd but reverse is still an experience. Other than that its had 5 safety recalls and has had a class-action lawsuit due to failure of the firewall spot welds. Im not a driver thats hard on vehicles, but I dont like vehicles that are hard on the drivers.

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  Slow Love Affair - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Chicabags - August 29 - 2:13 pm

  This is my first brand new car and Subaru. My first driving an AWD as well. At first I didnt like it much. It took me a year to appreciate it. In time I experienced how safe it kept in challenging weather, bumping terrain sudden braking. I love how safe it keeps me on the road. This is important to me since I drive quite a bit on a daily basis, street and highway. However, there are a lot of things I would like changed. Appreciate anti-theft features standard with the model.

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  Not quite there - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Mide - December 10 - 12:26 pm

  On paper the car has everything a person needs, but in reality it is lacking at a few areas. First off the 4-speed auto is bad. It is in dire need of 1 more gear. You have to put it into 2nd in order to have any sort of acceleration. Next is the paint quality. It really sucks. There are chips everywhere. Lastly is build quality. The steering-wheel control of the audio system barely works and I have to press very hard to get it to function. Because it still "works" the dealership wont fix the problem. Because of this, it will be the last Subaru I ever purchase. If I could do it again I would not purchase this car.

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  My first Subaru - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By RT - April 11 - 4:36 pm

  All the reviews about paint problems are true. I bought this car 9 months ago and cant believe how fragile the paint is. Ive only got 6,000 miles on the car and it looks like theres 4 years of abrasion on the rear qtr panels. Severe chips on the hood and front of the vehicle. Hopefully Subaru officials read these reviews and do something because theyre losing customers. This was my first and believe me last Subaru. Unless you want to pay for a total repaint every 3 years stay away from this car. Other Subaru models have the same problem. Oh and do something about the ridiculously low passenger seat and whats with the holes in the front bumper?? Not all states have front license plates!

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  Do not purchase this car! - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By webbie304 - August 31 - 10:18 pm

  I bought this car for my wife new in 2008. We test drove the car and liked it. It is a good driving car, and thats all. We have had back to the dealer several times. Everything from the struts, sway bar bushings. Had to replace the brakes a little over a year of driving it. We live in an area with alot of snow, and the AWD is not very good. Only two wheels will spin at a time, one front and one opposite rear. There is no traction control what so ever. Save your money!

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  Too many RATTLES - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Subie - January 30 - 5:23 pm

  New 2008 STi is unquestionably a blast to drive, and I actually prefer the new, toned-down body style. That said, Im finding it a difficult daily driver. Not because of the transmission (clunky) or the gas mileage (mediocre), but because the car rattles so, so, so much. Ive only owned it for a few months, and it is barely out of its break-in period. But it seems like every time I get in the car, it has developed a new interior rattle. No use turning to dealerships for help, in my experience, as they either fail to fix the problem, or claim to be unable to replicate it. Just how high do you have to turn the stereo and a/c to drown out all those rattles, boys?

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  A car thats Bought with Good Intentions - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By Trutsayer - December 25 - 10:36 pm

  I had a 2004 and had to replace it after I was hit and just not thinking got another hoping it was better as it changed---it didnt, it was NOT better. It gets just pathetic gas mileage to the point where I chatted with other owners that were sure that something was wrong as the mileage was so bad! Then the fantasy.ITs a car that you buy based on the fantasy that you will be 4 wheeling all over the place and plowing through 4 ft snow drifts and lake sized puddles. Reality= trip to grocery / gas station . Not much "fun to drive . Its not quick and peppy as the 4wd has its drawbacks . Then at high speeds when passing it would lunge in 3rd to 4th and make aloud CLUCK* sound both years. let-down