Also very popular here in Maine...AWD is a helpful thing to have here and their system is excellent. I almost bought one the last time I was in the market for a car (shortly before moving here) but ended up with a Suzuki SX4 only because of the significant price difference between it and the Impreza. So far I have been happy with the Suzuki.

I had a tranny go out on one, but it was my fault for not checking the level, it was my 81. The seals on the output shafts leaked as I drove and "spit" it out, so I never saw a puddle.....First time I saw an early Subie I had just hole shot my pile of mud from my 4x4 truck and covered my buddies windsheild, I was on the floor laughing as the SPARE was under the hood over the transaxle (had to remove it to check the tranny fluid, hence my not checking it).

Thanks for the update on the head gasket, I had not heard that....

Ironwood