Deciding between a Protege 5 and Subaru Impreza RS
 

Can anyone tell me why I should get a Protege 5 rather than a Subaru Impreza RS? I'm torn between which car to get.

Also, why is it so impossible to find a protege in midnight blue mica with ABS brakes? Now is that too much to ask for??

I narrowed things down to a Subaru Impreza 2.5 wagon and a P5 and here are the reasons I chose the P5:

1) ULEV: I'm very proud my car is so environmentally friendly. The 2.5 wagon is a LEV so the RS sedan probably is, too
2) 25/31 mpg for P5; 21/28 for wagon
3) no cruise control on wagon, but I know the sedan comes with it, but since it was between wagon and P5 for me, this was a major selling point for P5
4) more interior room in P5, especially when getting into and out of rear seats; this was a big deal for me also.

I test drove both, my dad got the Subaru, I'm getting the P5. Overall they're very similar cars. I personally like the styling of a hatchback more than a sedan -- if you haven't seen the Subaru wagon check it out, it's NOT a wagon, it's a hatchback!!

Both are great cars, I'm sure you'd love either.

And I know what you mean, all I want is a SILVER with ABS and they've gotta order one from the factory! 6-8 weeks!! ARG!

i got a silver one with ABS straight from the factory. of course its also the 2002 1/2

think about it this way.....
if u buy a P5 your getting the top model car in its model lineup....
but if u get the 2.5RS u'll have to live with the fact that there is a stronger model than yours.. thw WRX.

btw i did have thoughts after buying my p5 cause with the same amount of money i coul have got the 2.5rs which has 30 more hp thgan the P5...

but i am happy now :)

Easy answer.

If you buy a Subaru then you would have to go over to the Subaru owners board and not have all the great advice and help here on this board :)


Plus the P5 is just better.

Cheers
Chris

Vivid Yellow P5

Both good cars. One of the real deciding factors for me was that the rear seat in the Subaru is smaller, and I had an infant in a rear-facing seat that snapped into a base, and that just sticks too far forward to have been reasonable in the Subie.

Plus, here in totally flat and snowless Houston, AWD is meaningless, so I couldn't see paying for it. I also found the seats more comfortable in the P5, but YMMV.

I perfer to get a Impraza TS-Wagon

I am trading my P5 to a VW next month

Subaru is nice if you can afford it. But go for the sedan .. the wagon models are too ugly and stuck-on. Not properly integrated and designed into the overall look of the car.

If you're not thinking of getting the WRX, I would say look for an older 2.5 RS instead of the newer ones (like pre 2001) .. they look much nicer. :)

All Wheel Drive
 

I think a big factor that draws a lot of people over the Subaru is the AWD system. My friend just fell in love with the idea of AWD and bought a TS Wagon over a P5.

The TS wagon is definitely smaller inside than the P5. It's pretty tight in the backseat.

One thing wrong with the RS sedan is that it doesn't have 60/40 fold down seats...it just has a pass thru hole. Not a big deal, but definitely something to think about. The TS wagon has 60/40 fold down seats though.

**I had to edit my post (change highlighted in crimson red)**

What does YMMV mean?

YMMV=Your Mileage May Vary...meaning what I experience may not be what you experience....depends on varying circumstances.