Long Term: Subaru Impreza WRX: We aRe eXcited.(Brief Article)

A dozen different drivers, for a year. The question here isn't whether we're going to love the latest addition to our long-term test fleet. The real question is how much love one little car can stand.

Earlier drives of the Subaru Impreza WRX suggest that everyone on staff enjoys driving the rally-inspired turbo sedan. It rewards hard driving, as

our full AutoFile road test (see page 22) demonstrates. It's a performer that delivers the goods regardless of road or weather conditions.

We asked Subaru for a long-term WRX after our first turn behind the wheel (AW, March 19), and several drives in the intervening months only heightened our interest. We've savored its 227-hp 2.0-liter powerplant and five-speed manual gearbox, rigid chassis and well-tuned suspension. We've also enjoyed the all-wheel-drive system, with viscous coupling center differential and standard limited-slip rear differential (also viscous), distributing up to 217 lb-ft of torque to whichever wheels have the most grip at the moment.

Add four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS and a pair of the best bucket seats in the business, and this is one leather-wrapped Momo steering wheel AutoWeek staffers will be eager to slip behind.

Like many buyers, we had to cool our jets for a while, awaiting delivery from a system experiencing more demand than supply. Like some buyers, we settled for a car a bit different from what we wanted, though not by much-our minimal requirement was a sedan with manual gearbox and blue paint, and that's what we got. No options.

We'd have preferred the bigger, 17-inch wheel package that was on our AutoFile test car, and the optional boost gauge. We might also have checked the box for the short-throw shifter and maybe the titanium knob (the big leather-clad standard edition is one of the few elements of the driver's work station that has drawn a complaint of any ...