If you’re of a certain age (around your late twenties to late thirties and someone says, ‘Name the best rally car and driver combo.’ you may skip past the mega group B rally cars of a Renault 5 or RS200, probably even the 205 T16 and go straight to a Subaru Impreza with McRae and Grist on the rear window. If it’s gifts for petrolheads you’re after, CAR has you covered but read on, if that certain petrolhead has a penchant for STIs
CAR already has a page dedicated to gifts for those who love a Subaru. Now we take it one step further with the infamous Impreza. Born in 1992, the WRX version took the rally world by storm at the hands of Colin McRae. It took the World Rally Championship in ’95, besting double WRC champion Carlos Sainz. From here grew one of motorsport and car fans’ greatest rivalries. The battle of the Mitsubishi Evo Vs Subaru Impreza. Both Japanese automakers competed at WRC level and delivered some of the best homologations to ever hit the road.
While McRae moved on from Subaru to Ford in ’99, the sight of a blue Impreza with gold alloys is enough to stir any motorsport fan – visions of that dayglow yellow livery with L 555 BAT numberplate and that boxer engine throb… stop it. It’s too much!
The best Subaru Impreza gifts
Wall art and lights
Best wall art
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In various sizes and different colours, all of which affect the cost, this metal wall art is essential for any Impreza-loving man cave. Even if you don’t own an Impreza, it doesn’t mean you can’t have the silhouette of one up on the wall, right?
Best Impreza poster
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What a combination, Gran Turismo plus a Subaru Impreza, perfect for any games room or garage. This one is from Gran Turismo 3, arguably the most iconic of all and the racing game which defined what racing games should be.
Best Impreza light
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Yeah, we don’t kiss our car goodnight either, promise. But we do like to make sure it’s safe. Sometimes we want to feel safe in our sleep, too, and a night light can do just that. This little LED nightlight will keep your or your little Impreza fans’ room aglow and look mega cool while it’s doing so.
The best Subaru Impreza toys
Best Impreza model
This comes unvarnished, so stone ships ahoy if you don’t slap on protection. The ’99 model with another Subaru Impreza classic combination of Burns and Reid on the rear windows. It’ll come with base paint; you must apply the decals yourself. This is just a model mind, not a remote control car.
Best remote control Impreza
A much more modern version of the Impreza, the WRX but in remote-controlled form. This is a 1:10 scale model of the WRX, which took part in the 24-hour Nürburgring race in 2016. The TT-02 chassis, which this sits on, is designed for use by beginners as it’s tough. It doesn’t come with a battery, however.
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Arguably the most iconic model, but we love every Impreza. Even the S202 (bug eye) has a special space in our hearts. Just look at it, with its pink Subaru badge and Gold Alloys. The 22b is a sight to behold, and what better way to hold it than in the palm of your hand in Hot Wheels form?
The best Subaru Impreza driving experiences
Best full Impreza day
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Learn to power slide, handbrake turn and hard cornering with expert instruction. This is a full day’s experience driving an Impreza to its fullest, where you'll put everything together at the end of the day. You must be over 17, under 6’6”, and hold a full driver’s licence.
Best for a taste of Impreza and an arch-rival
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Okay, so we know the rivalry was intense, but you might be the sort of person who didn’t pin their flag to the mast of either Evo or Impreza. This might be the thing which sways it for you. This experience isn’t that expensive, but you likely won’t get much time in each car. However, you do get to drive both an Impreza and an Evo, after which you’ll switch to the passenger seat and be given a hot lap by a pro driver.
Best Impreza experience for kids
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Do you want to pass the legacy down a generation before they can drive? We hear you. No one should miss the joy of an Impreza rally car, regardless of age, as long as you’re over eight and under 14. Dual control pedals mean that, hopefully, everyone stays on the race track as you complete six laps on a rally special stage.
The best Sim racing games that feature the Subaru Impreza
The Impreza is such an iconic car that it is in any driving game worth it's salt. However, here’s a pick of our faves.
10.
Dirt 4
All out rally. If you love the power sliding, if it breaks, fix it with no-nonsense rally driving. Dirt is for you. Not only does the Subaru WRX STI NR4 feature in this game, but so does a Ford Fiesta RS, Mitsubishi Lancer, and more modern Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2.
Fanbois of a certain age will be saying, ‘Ah, do you remember that?’ well, yes, we do, which is why it’s on this list. Proper nostalgia for this one, and we love it.
Available in various buying options, don’t confuse this with WRC 3, released in 2003. This is the latest WRC 3, released in 2012. At least the driving is less confusing than the name. This is an officially licenced FIA World Rally Championship game with an Impreza in there for you to drive.