Guess what my runabout and tow car is? UK turbo impreza wagon. for a to b stuff it is great. Doesn't handle as well as my old Alpina but then what does? It certainly has less understeer than the 4wd Saph I drove. It handles bumps and wet roads well and is even OK in the snow. They are NOT expensive to buy. Servicing is about £400 a year and if untouched are very reliable. Take on a modded one at your peril! I find the wagon very practical. I can get a lot of stuff in their and I even slept in it one time when I had an early start when marshalling. I really wish Ford had built the escort Cossy to the same concept as the Subaru impreza ie not a lardy luxury model. I would have bought one.
As for the drivers... Drivers of of all performance cars are pretty much the same. don't judge impreza drivers by scoobynet BTW. Half the people on there don't own Scoobs.