Yea, with the current rebates and cash allowances GM prices are very low. You also get the GM employee discount so you get a heafty sum chopped off there. Really, in your position the deal is nearly impossible to pass up.
I personally drive about 1000 miles per week for work out in the mountain ski country, AWD was a must. I also needed a car that would not need a dime put into it for 100K miles and then would easily take me to 250K miles. I've never had a GM or any american brand car for that matter last that long. As for the MPG on the cars, the maxx and the impreza have nearly identical EPA ratings. Maxx is at 22/30 and the impreza is at 22/29. The impreza has AWD that kills gas mileage and the maxx has a v6, so they are nearly dead even. As for you achieving 35mpg, I don't think you will achieve that in any regularity, unless you drive 40-55mph on cruisecontrol without ever stopping or accelerating for at least half a tank of gas. I get 25mpg mixed driving on my impreza during the winter and 28mpg mixed driving during the summer. I generally shift low and get into high gear fast. Though of course I do have fun and get on the car when I feel like it. Though no matter how much I stomp on it it never drops below 25 mpg.
I got my subaru for 17K out the door, while a maxx would have cost me nearly 22-24K. Not to diss on the maxx or anything, but the subaru prices start at that price point because you get a generally accepted superior car. Actually most car prices start around that mark except for GM which is dropping prices incredibly low because they are bleeding billions of dollars and need anyway to get people into their show rooms. Anyway, it was just the state of the car market at that time.
I'm sure the car will serve you well. You probably don't drive a fraction of what I do so It will last you long enough. :beer:
