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Car Of The Day: February 3, 2010; Metchy '96 Subaru Impreza
Topic Started: Feb 3 2010, 05:45 AM (786 Views)
Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Today's car of the day is Metchy's '96 Subaru Impreza MOL rally car.

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Wikipedia
 
The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that was first introduced by Subaru in 1993.

"Impreza" is a coined word, deriving from an originally Italian word, impresa, meaning a feat or achievement. In Polish, "Impreza" means "party", "event" or "show".

The Impreza was introduced after the popular Leone/Loyale was cancelled with the aging EA series engine. The Impreza was introduced with the popular EJ series engine found in the larger Subaru Legacy.

Compared to vehicles in a similar size class such as Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Mitsubishi Lancer (including Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution) and Mazda Protegé/Mazda Axela, only the Impreza has always offered AWD. Subaru Impreza made this feature standard equipment in all trims, while its competitor, Mitsubishi Lancer puts this feature to Ralliart trims and Evolution versions. Subaru produces a lower volume of slightly upscale, well-equipped, sportier Impreza models, unlike other contemporaries in the compact category that offer no-frills base trims.

Subaru chose to continue their longstanding use of the boxer engine in the Impreza. According to Subaru, their configuration of the engine inline with the transmission minimizes body roll due to the lower center of gravity compared with offset engines in most other vehicles. This is similar to the design of the Citroen 2CV, providing light weight and compact, economic design for basic cars. The boxer design provides good vibration mitigation due to the fact that the movement of each piston is largely countered by a piston in the opposing cylinder bank, eliminating the need for a counter-rotating weighted crankshaft (harmonic balancer), but with some vibration from offsets. Torque steer is also reduced with this type of powertrain layout since the front drive shafts are of equal length and weight.


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For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Subaru Impreza

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Only the second Metchy run in this series, and the first to be labeled as such right from the start (I kinda sorta mistook my Metchy Porsche 928 for a Road Champs casting by accident when I ran it for COTD two years ago...). Well, this completes my Metchy collection- I only have two and now both have been featured!

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Wikipedia
 
Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front wheel drive (FWD) or all wheel drive (AWD) versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be called the Loyale, displaying an official photograph of the 4-door sedan. In late 1995, a two-door coupe was introduced. The Impreza, like many Subaru-built cars, was equipped with a flat engine, a distinguishing Subaru characteristic. Initial engine choices included 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engines as well as the turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-litre engine. The basic turbocharged motor, the EJ20, produced from 244 PS (179 kW; 241 bhp) to 210 kW (286 PS; 282 bhp) in Japanese market WRX trim depending on model and year. Outside Japan, the turbocharged model was initially rated at 211 PS (155 kW; 208 bhp) and marketed as the 2.0 Turbo, 2.0 GT, 2.0 GT Turbo, 2.0 WRX, or Turbo 2000 AWD in the United Kingdom.

Trim levels were LX, GL and Sport. LX models were front-wheel drive, and powered by a 1.6-litre engine; these were four-door only. GL trim levels were either front-wheel drive (Subaru badged these 2WD) or all-wheel-drive (badged AWD); cars launched in 1993 had a choice of 1.6 and 1.8 flat-4 engines, the 1.6 being available with 2WD, the 1.8 an AWD version only. From 1996, the 1.6 and 1.8 versions were dropped (in the European market), and replaced by a 2.0-litre engine. Sport versions had alloy wheels, and a 2.0-litre engine only. These were "warm hatch" versions which were similar to the WRX, albeit less adorned.

In 1994, Subaru introduced Subaru Technica International (STi) versions of the Impreza in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) and European Domestic Market (EDM). These models were upgraded from the WRX in many categories, including blueprinted performance-tuned engines, transmissions, and suspensions. The STi versions of the Impreza were immensely successful in rallies and popular among street racers. The first STi models featured higher power ratings than the WRX, while later versions of both WRX and STi were rated at 280 PS (206 kW; 276 bhp) due to the Japanese manufacturers' informal agreements around power ratings. Its top speed was electronically limited at 180 km/h (110 mph) and it had a 0–100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds in the UK Impreza Turbo 218 PS (160 kW; 215 bhp) version. 2006 WRX STI claimed 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds.[4] RA (Race Altered) versions of the WRX and STi were also available in the Japanese market. Targeted for race and rally, the RA versions were generally lighter in weight; featuring reduced soundproofing, manual windows, no air conditioning, and added racing features such as more robust engines, driver controlled center differentials, and shorter gearing.

Special editions of the Impreza were very common in Japan and Europe, many coinciding with a significant World Rally Championship victory. These editions included the Series McRae, 555, Catalunya, Terzo, RB5, P1, and 22B, the latter still considered by many to be the ultimate Impreza of all time with its wide arched rally style body.

During this generation, Subaru made a limited edition Impreza Sport Wagon called the CasaBlanca, which had a retro front and rear end treatment, which was inspired by the popular kei car Subaru Vivio Bistro styling package and Subaru Sambar Dias Classic. The Sport Wagon was also offered with the WRX turbocharged engine, and was called the Gravel Express.

The Impreza received an external facelift for the 1997 model year, followed by an interior redesign in 1998, using the new redesigned dashboard from the Forester.

The European 1999-2000 turbo model received further upgrades in the form of more parts from the STi range. The front brakes became Subaru branded 4-pot calipers with 294 mm discs, the wheels having become 16-inch (410 mm) lightweight alloys from 1998 - previously 15-inch (380 mm), vented rear discs, the Sti 4 high level wing was fitted to the saloon, Sti style front bucket seats and firmer suspension. The phase 2 engine now fitted developed 160 kW (218 PS; 215 bhp), an increase of 5 kW (7 PS; 7 bhp) over the previous model.

The story of the North American Impreza is much different than the rest of the world. North American markets never received a turbocharged version of the first generation Impreza (it was heavily rumored in 1998 and 1999). Subaru never had a performance image in North America, so Subaru initially offered the Impreza with the 1.8L engine only, with either front- or all-wheel drive; a 2.2-liter engine became optional in 1995. Subaru later decided to emphasize all-wheel drive, making it standard on every Impreza (and Legacy) from 1997 onwards.

There was a minority that knew of the Impreza's accomplishments overseas and was very interested in having a high-performance Impreza. To test the waters for a full-fledged turbo model Subaru showcased a turbocharged version of the Impreza at various car shows around the country. The vehicle was named the 2.5RX and is now located in Subaru of America's Cherry Hill, NJ storage facility. Subsequently the 2.5RS performance model was introduced in 1998 (the same year the 1.8-liter engine was dropped). A naturally-aspirated 165 bhp (123 kW; 167 PS) 2.5L DOHC engine and larger brakes, borrowed from the Legacy, were fitted into the coupe body with gold-colored 16" five-spoke wheels. The 2.5RS also featured several external cues from its overseas brethren such as hood vents, a hood scoop, and a rally-inspired rear spoiler. The 1999 model featured several changes: the newly designed "Phase II" SOHC version of the same 2.5L engine featured a slightly higher peak torque (225 N·m (22.9 kgf·m; 166 ft·lbf) vs. 220 N·m (22 kgf·m; 160 ft·lbf)), the wheels turned to a standard silver, the interior got an update, and US versions became visually similar to their Japanese contemporaries with an updated front bumper borrowed from the Japanese Version 6 Impreza WRX STi. 2.5RS models became available in sedan form in 2000.


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jedimario
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RAWR
Where do I get one?
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james_autos
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Minivan
Great little model B)

I have one which I resprayed blue and fitted gold wheels to. I think I've posted pics of it on here before. I got mine from a Finnish seller on ebay for about $15.
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Tone
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Rocket 88
Is that from Hungary ? I remember reading that Metchy made some Matchbox-like toys some time ago ... or is that Metal Box ?
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
Don't tell me Swifty, I bet the Metchy Porsce 928 also had rally graphics enveloping the car.
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Supraman
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Swifty's @Work Alter Ego
ivantt
Feb 3 2010, 08:45 PM
Don't tell me Swifty, I bet the Metchy Porsce 928 also had rally graphics enveloping the car.
Actually, no.

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Opening doors and sunroof. Quite a nice ride, actually!
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
So if Metchy only made two castings, then both seem pretty good.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Tone
Feb 3 2010, 06:19 PM
Is that from Hungary ?
Yes:

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james_autos
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Minivan
That Porsche looks very Matchbox-ish, only with a sunroof. And I think Tone is right about them using some older Matchbox castings - I seem to remember readin that this Subaru was released along with a Matchbox Ford Escort Cosworth in the same livery for a Hungarian oil company. Metchy also used a lot of old Siku castings, some of which look better than they originally did when Siku made them.

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ErnestHughes
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Fullsize
never heard of that manufacturer. Looks nice tho.

EH
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
james_autos
Feb 4 2010, 03:35 PM
That Porsche looks very Matchbox-ish, only with a sunroof.
I was thinking the same thing, honestly!
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james_autos
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Minivan
Have you got one to compare?
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
james_autos
Feb 5 2010, 04:06 PM
Have you got one to compare?
No. I have a few variations of the casting but my collection is too disorganized to even think about trying to find one.
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