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2006 Subaru
Impreza WRX
by
K athleen C arb
The 2006 W R X ’s powerful de
livery is soft at low rpm but the
new 2.5-liter (urbo provides more
bottom -end pull and an even
deeper m idrange. H andling is
superb thanks to a w ell-tuned
suspension and stan d ard a ll
wheel drive.
The W RX’s potential is pretty
down-to-earth. Smooth steering,
brake, and accelerator inputs pro
mote quick m an-m achine bond
ing, and this editor enjoyed slam
m ing the new " s h o rt-th ro w ”
shifter (still seems tall) through
its gates. Subaru d id n ’t spoil the
stick shift experience with a re
calcitrant clutch: the W RX ’s left
pedal is gradual and forgiving.
Cockpit controls are your typi
cal 90s-style Japan layout - intui-
ti ve, h ig h q u a lity , s h a llo w
cupholders. Cruddy gray dash
board plastic abounds, though
the WRX Lim ited shifts your at
tention to one o f the nicer leather
interiors at this price. Another
such item is the stereo. Too many
system s try to show off with
wattage, speaker count, or over
em phasized bass; the 140-watt
WRX com es out ahead by bal
ancing crisp lows, mids, and highs
News and reviews on new motor vehicles
firm seat cushion lending superb
support, all that stomping room
under the front seats, a comfortable
armrest right in the middle, and a
fhx>r hump no bigger than a front-
wheel-drive car's. As long as no
one’s stuck being the middleman
and everyone’s under six feet, the
Impreza is actually quite the fine
four-seater There goes the Impreza
again, surpassing expectations set
up by appearances and practical
data.
All-wheel-drive isn’t for every
one, but it’s hard to argue with a
performance car that doesn't short
change passengers, is great for in
clement weather, and an get de
scent gas mileage. Impreza is a prac
tical. fun-to-drive alternative to the
typically dull cars that populate its
segment of the market.
Tested Vehicle Inform ation:
into a very fulfilling soundstage.
If you judge the size of the ve Price: $25,620 (base $24,995); E n
hicle before you have a chance to gine: 2.5 liter 4cylinders; Trans
sit, you’ll never discover the high. mission: 5-speed manual.
Olimi
S ports -
World Cup Fever
I ta ly w in s !
D ow ntow n's Pioneer Square
was the Portland center for W orld
Cup frenzy on Sunday, during
the heated final between Italy and
France. A crowd o f 8,(XX) spilled
out onto sidewalks and streets,
lending a European air to the city
center, as a giant 17 by 26 foot
screen transfixed onlookers.
The live broadcast from G er
m any boom ed throughout the
square, as passionate fans for
b o th c o u n trie s w a tc h e d the
match grow ugly, and at some
tim es brutal, before France went
dow n 5-3 in a shootout after a I-
I draw.
The Oregon Sports Authority
and T A O W P ro d u c tio n s c o
hosted free screenings o f the
sem i-finals and cham pionship,
w h ic h a ls o g o t s u p p o rt by
local and international businesses.
O regon S ports A u th o rity ’s
CEO Drew M ahalic said this was
the first time in O regon’s history
that the public was offered a
large screen sports broadcast of
an event taking place elsewhere.
Given the extrem ist nature of
soccer fans, M ahalic was pleased
with how well behaved the sur
prisingly large crowd was. and
said they 're looking for future
opportunities.
“ It went smooth as silk," he
said. "The W orld Cup in 2010
will take place in South Africa, 8.000 soccer fans packed into downtown's Pioneer Square on Sunday, to catch Italy and France vie for the World Cup
and it’s almost a given that w e’ll Championship. The Italians suffered through off-field match fixing scandal, then extra-time during the final match,
do this again.”
to prevail 5-3 over France.
Trail Blazers Street Jam
Rose Garden to Host NCAA
The Rose Garden was selected to host the 2009
NCAA M en’s Basketball first and second round
The Portland Trail Blazers and
Special Olympics Oregon team up
to present the Trail Blazers Street
Jam. the most electrifying outdoor
3 on 3 basketball experience in Or
egon, Saturday and Sunday. July
29-30 beginning at 8 a.m. at the
Rose Quarter Commons.
From recreational playerstoelite
games today by the NCAA Division I M en's Basket
ball C om m ittee today. T w enty-fourcities will serve
as hosts for the first and second round and regional
games in 2009 and 2010. Games will be played at the
Rose Garden on Thursday, March 19 and Saturday,
March 2 1,2 0 0 9 with the University o f Oregon being
the host school.
"W e are thrilled to be the host venue for the 2009
M en’s NCAA first and second round gam es." stated
Mike Scanlon, G eneral M anager o f the Global Spec
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trum -m anaged Rose Q uarter. “ It took a lot of hard
work by a number o f individuals in order to bring this
Residential & Commercial Service
tournam ent back to Oregon, including the Oregon
Sports A uthority, the City of Portland, the U niver
sity of O regon. Portland Arena M anagement and the
Portland Oregon Visitors A ssociation.”
Tw ootherG lobal Spectrum-managed facilities will
host the 2009 M en’s NCAA tournam ent: W achovia
C enter in Philadelphia and Arizona C ardinals Sta
dium in Glendale.
As selected by the com m ittee in 2003, D etroit is
the host of the 2009 Final Four and Indianapolis is the
site o f the 2010 Final Four.
Experience the master's touch
CARPET CLEANING
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PRE-SPRA Y TRAFFIC AREAS
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Portland Teens Qualify
Hundreds of young track and field athletes competed at the USA Track and
Field Region 13 Junior Olympic Championships, held last week at
Willamette University in Salem. Schaveyantay Hill o f Portland
(center), shown running in the intermediate girls age group, quali
fied in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter sprints, securing her
spot to compete at Nationals, July 25 through 30 in Baltimore, Md.
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A.J. Davis — The Original
compet itors. the Trai 1BI azers Street
Jam has games for all ages and
abilities. Teams are guaranteed a
minimum of three games. All net
proceeds benefit Special Olympics.
Admission forspectators is free,
and 3-5 person team prices are $ 125.
Visit www.BlazersStreetJam.com or
call 1-877-266-5808.
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