impreza is "L" awd and golf is a wolfsburg edition, both automatic trans, both have 160k miles and both are in perfect working conditions, passed smog, same price, great inside. id also like to know which one is quicker.
if you want quick then it's the Subaru all the way. The AWD gives it a huge advantage through turns as well as acceleration. Both cars are very nice, and the VW is slightly higher quality. But if performance is your aim, the Subaru is it.