MotorMouths

Subaru’s legendary WRX continues to improve. Clearly, it is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it offers an exhilarating, if thrumming ride, that depending on your age, both chronologically and emotionally, might be just what the doctor ordered.

The 2011 Impreza WRX makes so much sense on so many levels that it’s hard to believe you only need to shell out $28,995 to buy the leather-shod Limited model. Though the WRX 5-door may be more purposeful than beautiful, beauty is as beauty does.

If you have a shred of willpower, love to drive fun sports cars and don’t have a family of 7 which you need to transport around, then the Subaru Impreza WRX just might be a great option for you.

These days, it seems that it’s getting harder and harder to find an automobile that truly delivers maximum fun for the dollar, but the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX comes pretty darned close.

The 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI seems to have both further matured and gained confidence. The STI’s jagged edges are long gone. But, it remains one super sharp ride.

Subaru has a potent one-two punch in the WRX and WRX STI; the only question is how sharp do you want the tip of your spear to be?

Pricing for the Subaru WRX is in bargain-basement territory, truly a lot of performance car for relatively small change. The suspension, body and interior improvements are substantial.

The Subaru WRX STI is still the most approachable and user-friendly all-wheel-drive speed demon on the market, a go-anywhere, do-anything piece of all-weather genius that wants to be your friend in a million different ways. The suspension updates merely sharpen the knife.

The man who buys a WRX STI knows he’s getting a street-legal race car, and all the gut-wrenching performance of a Porsche 911 for half the price. At the right moments, it’s an utterly outstanding piece.

The Subaru WRX has changed quite a bit in the years since its introduction, and the 2011 enhancements have produced the best-driving iteration yet. Perhaps best of all, it remains among the few standout enthusiast machines available for less than $30K.

The 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI can now be had as a sedan. While it’s heavier and there’s a wing in the rearview, it’s also very good.

The metabolism of the new WRX STi feels more acute, more present, focused like a preschooler on Adderall. The steering was heavy and accurate, with tons of road-reading feedback. The ride was stiff but well-planted. The brakes are heroic. The sport seats are some of the best in Christendom.