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Cars > Steed

I just sold my Subaru Impreza and I miss it already

It’s never easy letting go of one’s faithful personal ride

True car guys form a personal bond with their steed. PHOTO BY MIGGI SOLIDUM

This is my Subaru Impreza. Or this used to be my Subaru Impreza, to be precise. I just sold it.

I’d had it brand-new, and my ownership experience had been, for the most part, enjoyable. The car had served its purpose rather well—a reliable daily driver from Quezon City to Parañaque and a flashy date car on the side. After seven years and just under 121,700km on the odometer, I figured it was time for me and the car to part.

The ad which the author put up for the car. SCREENSHOT FROM CAROUSELL

I posted the car to Carousell and offered it for sale for a modest P420,000. I thought that price was just right given the vehicle’s age and mileage as well as the things that needed fixing. As I created the listing, I thought about the things I’d miss about my Impreza.

For one, I’ll miss the fact that my Impreza was always a hoot to drive. It stood out more as a highway cruiser than a city runabout, and I always looked forward to long-distance trips with it. Its 2.0-liter engine wasn’t the slightest bit stressed at triple-digit speeds. Although the car was heavier than other compact sedans, the extra bulk made it stable on the expressway. The stability was heaven-sent when the car was speeding through crosswinds or passing large vehicles. And when the weather turned nasty, I knew I had stability control and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive to keep me driving straight and true.

The Impreza looked more exclusive than its rivals. PHOTOS BY MIGGI SOLIDUM

Speaking of all-wheel drive, I’ll miss that, too. Sure, I didn’t have any use for the system 95% of the time. Having a big engine drive all four wheels all of the time made my Impreza a bit of a gas-guzzler. The car struggled to top 7.5km/L in the city. I just nervously smiled each time the station attendant brimmed the tank with premium juice and swiped my credit card. But for the remaining 5% of the time, AWD came in handy. For instance, I used to work in an office with steel parking ramps. On rainy days, two-wheel-drive vehicles struggled to make it up that incline; my Impreza did it effortlessly. Hit the gas and give the AWD system time to figure things out, and the car easily climbed up the slippery ramp.

This Impreza averaged just 7.5km/L in the city. PHOTO BY MIGGI SOLIDUM

One thing I strangely enjoyed about my Subaru was its rarity. That Impreza model always trailed the mechanically identical XV crossover in terms of sales. This made the former an uncommon sight on our roads. While I could see XVs every single day, there were times when I didn’t see another one of my car’s kind for weeks. I absolutely loved knowing that there was nothing else on the road like my loyal steed. I’ll miss it as I move on to something a bit more commonplace.

I’ll miss the fact that my Impreza was always a hoot to drive—it stood out more as a highway cruiser than a city runabout

I’ll also miss Subaru Society. It is important for a car club to make each member feel welcome. That was my experience with this group. I used to be unfamiliar with the brand, and this club answered pretty much all my questions and helped me source parts for my car. When one of my aftermarket alloy wheels was damaged beyond repair, one of the members offered me a complete set of OEM wheels.

The author simply loved driving this car around. PHOTOS BY MIGGI SOLIDUM

Finally, I’ll miss the times I spent with my family in this car. Since we also had an SUV, my Impreza was often used on trips or errands that didn’t require a big vehicle. My dad and I would often go out of town with it. My sister learned how to handle powerful vehicles in the Impreza. This car usually welcomed my brother at the airport whenever he came home from Hong Kong. My late mom would often ask me to drive her to Divisoria several times in a month, and the Impreza always had more than enough room for her shopping bags.

The original owner meticulously kept all the important records pertaining to his beloved car. PHOTO BY MIGGI SOLIDUM

For the Carousell listing, I took clear photos of the vehicle’s exterior and interior. In the ad’s details, I included a list of things that potential buyers would want to look at (such as the exact mileage and the parts that had been recently replaced). I also mentioned that I had a complete record of my Subaru’s service history and I was throwing in a couple of spare tires as part of the deal.

I did not have high hopes for a quick sale because of the car’s high mileage, thirsty powertrain and expensive maintenance costs. But surprisingly, the listing immediately generated some interest, and I was able to hand the car over to the buyer in under 48 hours. As I close this fun and interesting chapter of my motoring life, I can only hope the new owner will love and care for my Subaru Impreza as much as I did.



Miggi Solidum

Miggi is an editor-at-large at VISOR. Professionally speaking, he is a software engineering dude who happens to like cars a lot. And as an automotive enthusiast, he wants a platform from which he can share his motoring thoughts with fellow petrolheads. He writes the 'G-Force' column.



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