Ranking System: Cars are given a score based on a 0-10 scale. A car can score as low as a 0 or as high as 10. Points are awarded across four different categories. Three points each are given for the following categories: Heritage and History, describes the pedigree of the car, it's role in automotive history, and the backstory of the 1/1 and or the 1/64. Production and Finishing, describes how well the car was produced and its overall execution on paint, printing, assembly, and quality. Cool Factor, describes how eye catching and unique the car is. Lastly, one final 'Price Point' is given if the car is worth the MSRP. *This does not take into account the second-hand market price.*  Rally Car SuperstarHistory and Heritage: (3/3) The Subaru Impreza is the final world in modern day rally car engineering. Subaru maintains excellence in the field both from abroad and here in the U.S. The Vermont Sports Car facility in Burlington, VT is a wonderful place to visit and illustrates Subaru's commitment to growth in a field they already own. Car enthusiasts around the world continue to buy tuned up Imprezas. This 2018 hatchback version sings with superb details that make this a relatively high quality 1/64 scale model.   The mould is honestly outstanding. For just over a dollar to the consumer, Mattel has captured the central features of the car. the hood scoop, quarter panels, doors, windows, mirror, and roof mounted spoiler are all fantastically crafter. If there's a main criticism it's that the window line should be perfectly straight. It should not taper off before rounding up in the back.
The HW mould really replicates the shape and form of the WRX. The front the car features relatively proportionate features. The headlamps are well depicted but the fog lamps are not as well illustrated, and aren't printed in a different color (a lighter gray) as they should be. The red Subaru logo indicating a sport version of the Impreza is happily printed on the front of the car well.  Ultimately, this little 1/64 scale Subaru nearly perfectly captures all of the history and heritage of this Japanese rally car. It is most definitely what the packaging says it is. The best part over all is that this is a car that is commonly sold in a gray base coat, and Hot Wheels hasn't tried anything overly fancy with the colors. It looks great. Cool Factor: (2/3) The Impreza is a known 'cool car.' From the chassis, to the body work, the car has beckoned to automotive enthusiasts around the world. The opinion of the masses is however somewhat divided upon if the WRX maintains a level of cool once it becomes a hatchback. So how cool is this car? For starters, I love the deco work, and the gold rims. These are the main artistic features on this model. The deco work looks really nice. Hot Wheels went with a basic pink color to spot their logo on the car and it looks great placed at the end of the fading teal speed strip.   While I know it's a lot to ask for a mainline car to have tail light printing, if you've already gone and done the head lamps, why not do the tail lights too? The same applies to a license plate and the rear trunk Subaru logo. These are missed opportunities. Adding all of this up is enough to take a point. (-1)   Another detractor is that the front wheel base is too wide. Looking at the car head-on, one wheel consistency juts out too far from the wheel wells. This isn't quite enough to take a second point in the category, but further strengthens the argument to take at least one point.  Price Point: (1/1) Coming in at less than a dollar and a half, this car is more than worth the money. It can certainly trick the eye of someone overseeing a car collection to think it cost more than it does. That gray metal flake paint is worth the asking price alone, and this is a perfect example of less, being more.   
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InspirationA few months ago, I was home. While sorting though some old things, there it was, under the bed, my old collection of Hot Wheels.. Archives
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