First drive: Subaru Impreza STI (Australia & 2.5 engine)

http://carsguide.news.com.au/s....html (http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,22734112-5003140,00.html)

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5744481,00.jpg


Subaru's fire-breathing STI is ready to light up the road. Here's Carsguide's exclusive report.

Due in February, Subaru's fire-breathing super Rex the STI is ready to light up the road.

With 221kW on tap, the new, third generation STI, unveiled recently at the Tokyo Motor Show, boasts even more power and torque.

But (and it's a big BUT) Sooby buyers could find the transition from sedan to hatch a test of their loyalty.

That's because the STI, based on Subaru's WRC world rally car, will only be available as a hatch. Highlighting the difference, arch rival Mitsubishi's Evo continues as a sedan. To put this in context, Sooby buyers have proved notoriously fickle in response to changes in styling. They shunned the bug-eyed model and the 'koala' face of the current car has been the source of plenty of unkind comment.

With this in mind, the switch from sedan to hatch could not be more radical. A WRX sedan will be offered, but it's still 12 months away and the two are very different cars.

Explaining the switch, Subaru argues a hatch is better suited to motorsport, producing a more aerodynamic, better balanced and better handling vehicle. Gone from the new STI are the gold wheels, signature high-rise rear wing and some of the raw, brute force that characterised the old model. But they have been replaced by a level of refinement and sophistication previously unseen in the car.

We for one won't miss the wing that made it difficult to identify who was following. For the first time too, STI will be offered in two trim levels - STI and STI Spec R (the latter with Recaro seats and lightweight BBS alloys).

STI project manager Hiroshi Mori has also foreshadowed the creation of another model that would sit between the 169kW WRX and 221kW STI. "There is the potential for an intermediate model but we have to be careful to think the the whole situation through," he said. A trick auto is also in development.

Both STI models when they arrive are expected to be priced between $60,000 and $70,000. Do the changes justify the high price tag?

Certainly, mechanically, the STI is an impressive package. But the interior is dressed in the same hard plastics as the base model Impreza and no match for the finish in VW's all-wheel drive Golf R32.

STI is expected to go on sale in Australia in early February. In Japan, to avoid taxes, the STI is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine that develops 227kW of power. Australian cars, however, are fitted with a larger but slightly less powerful 2.5-litre engine that delivers 221kW AT 6000rpm. The 2.5 produces less torque too 407Nm at 4000rpm versus 422Nm, but does so earlier in the rev range for ease of driving.The previous model was good for 206kW and 392Nm.

The engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission, with power fed to all four wheels through an electronic centre differential. Brembo brakes and KYB dampers round off the package. The car rides on 18in wheels shod with 245/40 series Dunlop SP 6000s. Weighing in at 1505kg, 10kg more than the the old model, the new STI can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds. In comparison, the old STI was good for 5.45 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

Fuel economy, meanwhile, is a claimed 10.3 litres/100km and it runs on 98 strength premium unleaded (the old one rated 11.6 litres/100km).

We were among a small group of Australian journalists invited to drive the car for the first time in Japan this week. In fact, we were the first journos in the world to drive the 2.5-litre model. The setting was Honjyo race track in the mountains about two hours northwest of Tokyo where we were able to test the car on dirt as well as the track. Perhaps the most telling part of the program was a short section of gravel, designed to demonstrate the car's more comfortable suspension.

The previous STI would have loosened the fillings in our middle-aged teeth it was so firmly sprung, but the new car was a revelation. The technically minded will appreciate the high degree of driver control that Subaru has built into the car.

SI-Drive has been added, with three styles of driving to chose from and a shift indicator that tells the driver when to change gear. Not only can the driver switch off electronic stability control, there is also an additional setting to make it less intrusive.

Pre-programed settings have also been added to the centre differential control that allows the bias of torque to be shifted automatically to the front or rear wheels. Torque can be locked evenly between the front and the rear, up to a split of

41:59. For the track we found the less intrusive stability setting along with a bias towards the rear wheels ideal. It allowed the car to drift through corners while still maintaining control. The diff then tightened up to catapult the car out the other side.

The shift and clutch action are smoother and much easier to use.

The new STI is 50mm shorter than the previous model, with an 85mm longer wheelbase and 40-45mm wider track. It is distinguished by pumped out guards and a rear diffuser with quad exhausts.

As it has it has done with Liberty, Subaru makes no bones about the fact that it wants to take the car upmarket. As part of this strategy, it has gone to great lengths to separate the WRX and STI in terms of style, equipment and price. All body panels have been replaced in the STI, apart from the bonnet, roof and front doors. The pumped out guards add 55mm to the width.

Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior makes no apologies for deserting the boy racer fraternity. He points out a lime green WRX with 20 inch chrome wheels and a pounding subwoofer is not a good advertisement. Besides, he adds, most of these people are not new car buyers anyway.

"STI buyers wanted something more for their money, for the premium they are asked to pay, something that is clearly different from WRX," he said. STI comes fully equipped with about the only option satellite navigation at $2990 which includes Bluetooth. You can't get the latter separately. Although a premium sound system is fitted, it is surprisingly not the high end McIntosh system from Liberty.

Standard equipment includes leather, xenon lights, automatic airconditioning and six airbags. A space saver spare tyre is supplied.



&

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDWmGrRmA30


carsguide.com.au's Chris Riley sent us this from the airport in Tokyo after he and a small group of journalists were the first in the world to drive the 2.5L model of the STI (Japan will get a 2.0 version) at the Honjyo track.

nice find shopper!

worst cameraman ever. Quit trying to make every shot tightly zoomed in!

Thanks for the info.

"STI Spec R"... Interesting.

For the first time too, STI will be offered in two trim levels - STI and STI Spec R (the latter with Recaro seats and lightweight BBS alloys).

Hmm, wonder if we'd get that option?

305hp and 300lbs/ft tq for you guys.....

for all you pansies that want another "WRX" again :rolleyes: theres a hope

STI project manager Hiroshi Mori has also foreshadowed the creation of another model that would sit between the 169kW WRX and 221kW STI. "There is the potential for an intermediate model but we have to be careful to think the the whole situation through," he said. A trick auto is also in development.

"STI Spec R"... Interesting.

Pretty sure that's not coming to the US.

305hp and 300lbs/ft tq for you guys.....The Australian STI is rated at 300 PS and 300 LBF/FT.

A trick auto is also in development.

It this the 6-speed auto?

I was thinking DSG.

same thing.

Both STI models when they arrive are expected to be priced between $60,000 and $70,000. Do the changes justify the high price tag?


wait a second that's equivalent to $56082-$65429 in us dollars. little more and you have yourself a GTR. wtf?

wait a second that's equivalent to $56082-$65429 in us dollars. little more and you have yourself a GTR. wtf?
Augh. Different countries have different taxes, tarriffs, etc. You pay $50k AUS for a Legacy GT there. A GT-R would run $140k. Also, the Australian dollar, until recently, was worth only 1/2 the U.S. dollar. Thanks Dubya.

Prices don't translate between countries.

yet another lame "first drive". Where's the DRIVE part of that review? Come on, give us some real f'ing details already.


Frank

Definitely bad camera work in the YouTube vid, but it's good to read reviews.

Augh. Different countries have different taxes, tarriffs, etc. You pay $50k AUS for a Legacy GT there. A GT-R would run $140k. Also, the Australian dollar, until recently, was worth only 1/2 the U.S. dollar. Thanks Dubya.

Prices don't translate between countries.

Well that's assuring. Hopefully it will stay in the 34-5K area for us.

There is still no "test to the limit" results yet. Can't wait to see the crew from Hot Version do a EvoX vs 08 STi comparo.

i really wish the journalists would start reporting advanced driving impressions rather than their take on the newest interior options or if the cupholders will hold their big gulps or not. I for one could care less if the interior was stripped and I had a roll cage behind my head...

i really wish the journalists would start reporting advanced driving impressions rather than their take on the newest interior options or if the cupholders will hold their big gulps or not. I for one could care less if the interior was stripped and I had a roll cage behind my head...

mmm Subaru STI Spec-RS (think GT3RS) hehe. I'd be all over that car though having a roll cage would kill the 4-dr usability (which my wife would never go for lol.) Still, a lightweight race-prepped car, a little more stripped than a Spec-C, would be awesome.

We keep hearing that the new 2.5L is coming with 296hp and 300lb-ft. The Euro and Aus markets had 276hp cars last time, didn't they (well, according to the article.) Doesn't that mean the US market might potentially see more HP/TQ? Then again Subaru might be normalizing the engine tuning between Euro/NA markets.

I want to believe that we'll see more than a 7hp/10lb-ft increase (which is still OK, but the Euros are seeing about 20+, right? :lol:)

Nov 15th can't come fast enough lol.

Great THREAD !!!!!!!!!!!!


My comments:

1. new STI can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds (that's 0-60 times) !
the old STI was good for 5.45 seconds.
I think those are first available performance numbers for the 2.5 L engine. That should shut all the bitches up complaining about not enuff ponies in the 08.

2. Fuel economy, meanwhile, is a claimed 10.3 litres/100km and it runs on 98 strength premium unleaded (the old one rated 11.6 litres/100km)
So better fuel economy ! :banana:Some else do the math for mpg conversion! :lol:

Wait, 98 OCTANE ? :confused:

3. Weight is up by 22 lbs. :( (I wonder what rims did they use for comparison?) However NO BIG DEAL see #1 and #2

4. STI Spec R (the latter with Recaro seats and lightweight BBS alloys).
In US the BBS will come with navigation package. Reall how hard is it to have the RECAROS as an option?:furious:

Great THREAD !!!!!!!!!!!!

My comments:

1. (that's 0-60 times) !

I think those are first available performance numbers for the 2.5 L engine. That should shut all the bitches up complaining about not enuff ponies in the 08.


0-100km is actually 0-62mph. Not sure if 2mph makes a big timing difference, but still. :)

Without question you are going to have someone bring up the fact that the 04 STI could spring to 60mph in 4.8 sec (I have that listed on my official 04 brochure) and the 05 could do it in 4.6. Personally, what I'm interested in is the trap speed. If the car consistently traps over 103-104, then it is making good power. Most 05+ cars are in the 100-102 range.


2.
So better fuel economy ! :banana:Some else do the math for mpg conversion! :lol:


If you don't want to do the math, just type "10.3L/100km to mpg" in Google. That works out to 22.8mpg.


Wait, 98 OCTANE ? :confused:


That is 98 RON. We use (RON+MON)/2 and 98 should equate to about 93-94 octane, which is the recommended octane for the current model year too (check the manual.)


3. Weight is up by 22 lbs. :( (I wonder what rims did they use for comparison?) However NO BIG DEAL see #1 and #2


Apparently, 18" BBS w/245s, 3373lbs. The cast 5-spoke wheels are 20lbs heavier in total.


4.
In US the BBS will come with navigation package. Reall how hard is it to have the RECAROS as an option?:furious:

There is speculation from someone on IWSTI that the Recaros are coming to the US. Apparently, he was at the plant and saw US designated vehicles getting Recaros installed. All speculation at this point though. Hopefully, we'll get an answer on the 15th.

0-100km is actually 0-62mph. Not sure if 2mph makes a big timing difference, but still. :)

Without question you are going to have someone bring up the fact that the 04 STI could spring to 60mph in 4.8 sec (I have that listed on my official 04 brochure) and the 05 could do it in 4.6. Personally, what I'm interested in is the trap speed. If the car consistently traps over 103-104, then it is making good power. Most 05+ cars are in the 100-102 range. .

Yeah for a fair comparison the cars have be tested with all the same conditions - track, driver, etc. I hope the used their own old 0-60 times that they obtained previously.


If you don't want to do the math, just type "10.3L/100km to mpg" in Google. That works out to 22.8mpg.



That is 98 RON. We use (RON+MON)/2 and 98 should equate to about 93-94 octane, which is the recommended octane for the current model year too (check the manual.).

GOOGLE RULES!


Apparently, 18" BBS w/245s, 3373lbs. The cast 5-spoke wheels are 20lbs heavier in total.


Question is - how heavy is the nav system :D Hopefully with LCD and all 1-2 lbs.


There is speculation from someone on IWSTI that the Recaros are coming to the US. Apparently, he was at the plant and saw US designated vehicles getting Recaros installed. All speculation at this point though. Hopefully, we'll get an answer on the 15th.


:banana: I hope SOA studied their economics - feed demand with supply and make lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

are we supposed to be impressed by 0-60 times above 5seconds when subaru themselves advertised 4.6 secs in print ads for the 06?
i already laughed when i saw the evo on the cover or road and track and they were all up in a hype fest of claiming mid 5secs for 0-60..
should have just said.. "EVO X, slower than before!"
Great THREAD !!!!!!!!!!!!


My comments:

1. (that's 0-60 times) !

I think those are first available performance numbers for the 2.5 L engine. That should shut all the bitches up complaining about not enuff ponies in the 08.

2.
So better fuel economy ! :banana:Some else do the math for mpg conversion! :lol:

Wait, 98 OCTANE ? :confused:

3. Weight is up by 22 lbs. :( (I wonder what rims did they use for comparison?) However NO BIG DEAL see #1 and #2

4.
In US the BBS will come with navigation package. Reall how hard is it to have the RECAROS as an option?:furious:

are we supposed to be impressed by 0-60 times above 5seconds when subaru themselves advertised 4.6 secs in print ads for the 06?
i already laughed when i saw the evo on the cover or road and track and they were all up in a hype fest of claiming mid 5secs for 0-60..
should have just said.. "EVO X, slower than before!"

One would hope they compare this 0-60 times obtained under similar conditions. I think most magazine compare these among the tests they themselves performed.

Yeah, comparing numbers that were obtained by different source is useless.

are we supposed to be impressed by 0-60 times above 5seconds when subaru themselves advertised 4.6 secs in print ads for the 06?

I don't think the Euro or Aussie STIs were ever rated at 4.6 (with only 276hp), so for them, it is an improvement. :lol:

Here you go guys,here is a real review driving wise.

When blasting down the interstate I noticed the jack in the box feeling of the last generation was gone!!The car was planted and I did not get sea sickness.The tranny shifted and felt just like the US specB Legacy.The steering has a great center on feel,but is way to light.The brakes are the same.The hatch has the same boomy noise as the WRX.:lol::lol:

Jesus, how much is $60 - 70,000 AUS?

Jesus, how much is $60 - 70,000 AUS?

It's $60-70000 AUS...comparing to other currencies won't tell you what the price will be in the US. ;)

worst cameraman ever. Quit trying to make every shot tightly zoomed in!

Yeah, no joke. I gave up on trying to watch it after about a minute of watching close-up pieces of the car jerk in and out of the frame.

_Jeff

It's $60-70000 AUS...comparing to other currencies won't tell you what the price will be in the US. ;)

That'd be insane, AUD may be closer to Canadian sticker but definitely not U.S.

XE.com
Live rates at 2007.11.10 02:43:33 UTC
70,000.00 AUD = 64,002.93 USD

1 AUD = 0.914328 USD
1 USD = 1.09370 AUD

1. I don't like it. I've started to warm-up to the pictures, but it just looks awkward in motion. That rear spoiler just looks odd.

2. Terrible video. It'd be good to see the STI takes some turns from a distance. All we get are closeup after closeup.

Thanks for posting.

A 29k USDM Legacy is 50k in the aussie market. So not quite double the American price, but close. Australia hits imports with some quite high duties/taxes.

Cheers,

Paul Hansen
www.avoturboworld.com

Yeah, no joke. I gave up on trying to watch it after about a minute of watching close-up pieces of the car jerk in and out of the frame.

_Jeff

Come on! Give us some frame of reference so we can gauge body roll. The tight shots make it a bit difficult to see just how the suspension is behaving in the turns.

That'd be insane, AUD may be closer to Canadian sticker but definitely not U.S.

XE.com
Live rates at 2007.11.10 02:43:33 UTC
70,000.00 AUD = 64,002.93 USD

1 AUD = 0.914328 USD
1 USD = 1.09370 AUD

You completely missed my point and must be living in a bubble if you think the US dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar. :D 1 USD = 0.939099 CAD.

Read my post again. You can't simply convert AUS dollars to USD (or CDN) to figure out what the new STI will be sold for in the US. Hence my comment...

Come on! Give us some frame of reference so we can gauge body roll. The tight shots make it a bit difficult to see just how the suspension is behaving in the turns.

We need a vid like Option to do a comparo from the previous versions. A Tsukuba battle would be interesting to see. Hell, I want to see what kind of time the Stig from TopGear can make on their track. The current vid does not push the car to it's limits. I don't hear them heel-toe downshifting into the corners.

Australia hits imports with some quite high duties/taxes.

Cheers,

Paul Hansen
www.avoturboworld.comThat depends on which century you're talking about. Australia once had a 57.5% tariff on imported cars. But today it is only 10% for cars imported from Japan and just 5% for AWD cars. For cars imported from the US, the tariff is now 0%.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/car-chiefs-call-for-freeze-on-tariff/2007/10/26/1192941336758.html

"He points out a lime green WRX with 20 inch chrome wheels and a pounding subwoofer is not a good advertisement."

best line ever.

"He points out a lime green WRX with 20 inch chrome wheels and a pounding subwoofer is not a good advertisement."

best line ever.

Yet somehow, the same phenomenon doesn't seem to have a negative effect upon Civic sales...

As if people aren't going to add 20-inch wheels and subs to the new Impreza.:rolleyes:

Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior makes no apologies for deserting the boy racer fraternity. He points out a lime green WRX with 20 inch chrome wheels and a pounding subwoofer is not a good advertisement. Besides, he adds, most of these people are not new car buyers anyway.

Couldn't have made it any blunter than that. He might as well have said, "hello all forum and blog haters, Subaru could care less of your opinion you can't afford a new car anyway."

Couldn't have made it any blunter than that. He might as well have said, "hello all forum and blog haters, Subaru could care less of your opinion you can't afford a new car anyway."

It's funny though there is a lot of truth to what he said. :lol:

It's funny though there is a lot of truth to what he said. :lol:

true, even though there are exceptions, most of the people on these forums have bought used.. i'm NOT denying that there are those that bought them new, but the ones that are sold new are usually to people over the age of 24/25 WITH exceptions of course.. same with the WRX, why the hell should subaru keep on having a rough fast car (previous gen wrx) when the main people that buy are usually older and want something more refined and not so boy racerish? if you want that fast car get the STI (if you can afford it ;))it makes sense:alien: plus it keeps boy racers at bay :D

if you want that fast car get the STI (if you can afford it ;))it makes sense:alien: plus it keeps boy racers at bay :D

I'm 36 and can afford the new STI. I bought my '04 new.

I'm not a boy-racer, but I know what I like in a car. The new WRX completely underwhelms me, and the STI isn't ringing my bell like I had hoped.

While I'm reserving final judgement until I can actually drive both cars, I'm leaning heavily towards buying the Evo X.

I'm 36 and can afford the new STI. I bought my '04 new.

I'm not a boy-racer, but I know what I like in a car. The new WRX completely underwhelms me, and the STI isn't ringing my bell like I had hoped.

While I'm reserving final judgement until I can actually drive both cars, I'm leaning heavily towards buying the Evo X.

I bought my 05 STI new in May-June of '04. For the most part I had no problem with the boy racer looks but I must admit that it did attract a WHOLE lot of unwanted attention. It wasn't the police either; almost invariably I'd get someone in a Honda or Cavalier/Cobalt either a) tailgate me like mad in order to "prove" something or b) try and get me to run them at the lights - which I would never bother with.

So even though I loved my wing and scoop, the slightly subdued look of the new STI is quite appealing. I'm looking forward to blending in a bit more.

I'm 36 and can afford the new STI. I bought my '04 new.

I'm not a boy-racer, but I know what I like in a car. The new WRX completely underwhelms me, and the STI isn't ringing my bell like I had hoped.

While I'm reserving final judgement until I can actually drive both cars, I'm leaning heavily towards buying the Evo X.

well by boy racer i mean those damn kids that wreck wrx and STIs left and right (high school kids and younger adults)... if you like the EVO X i fully respect that

So even though I loved my wing and scoop, the slightly subdued look of the new STI is quite appealing. I'm looking forward to blending in a bit more.

Boy-racer styling doesn't bug me.

However, I'm seriously bothered by the prospect of the new STI having a subdued driving experience.:unamused:

Boy-racer styling doesn't bug me.

However, I'm seriously bothered by the prospect of the new STI having a subdued driving experience.:unamused:

Well, I doubt that will be the case. Bottom-line, regardless of what haters and nay-sayers think, the new USDM STI will have more power, better handling, and a nicer interior, than the outgoing 07 STI. It will be an improvement, however marginal.

The new STI will also have more handling potential in the long run and it will be nice having 18x8.5 wheels from the factory, 245s, side-curtain airbags, and a more usable trunk.

For us Canadians, the price of the car is likely to go DOWN. Better performance, better looks, cheaper...man it is a win-win situation in everyway.

Now, with that said, I would be even happier about the new 08 STI if it had an aluminum hood, roof, trunk, more lightweight bits (including less sound-deadening material), slightly more power, no NAVI, no leather, RE050s instead of Dunlop SP6000 etc.

They called "pig nose" the Koala face.
lol

The new style is referred as "Frog Face"

Also, what is this Dunlop SP6000? I googled it and came back with some old miata forum back in 2003. I also found someone from this year mention it, and they say it was really noisy... Tried looking for tread pattern from google image, nothing. Whether if it's good or bad, one thing is that this tire is not mainstream.

Maybe it was one of those performance tires that never got around and Dunlop sold it to SoA dirt cheap. I can't see any other reason but to cut costs with these tires when the RE050 comes with the jdm version AND the MS3. If anyone has info on it pls post.

The new style is referred as "Frog Face"

I prefer Mazaru™...that's what I'm going to call mine. :lol:

I think those are first available performance numbers for the 2.5 L engine. That should shut all the bitches up complaining about not enuff ponies in the 08.

The performance numbers for the 08 will be roughly in the ballpark of almost every STi from about 1996-7 onwards. subaru hasnt made a significant jump in performance in the STi since it was made. The cars it used to be (not anymore) compared to have though. The performance is positively yawn worthy.

The new style is referred as "Frog Face"

Also, what is this Dunlop SP6000? I googled it and came back with some old miata forum back in 2003. I also found someone from this year mention it, and they say it was really noisy... Tried looking for tread pattern from google image, nothing. Whether if it's good or bad, one thing is that this tire is not mainstream.

Maybe it was one of those performance tires that never got around and Dunlop sold it to SoA dirt cheap. I can't see any other reason but to cut costs with these tires when the RE050 comes with the jdm version AND the MS3. If anyone has info on it pls post.

I can't believe that Europe and U.S. will get something like the Dunlop SP600/SP6000 ,it's a very old tire and it is also called a very soft sidewall tire!
The model is more than 5 years old and in a tire's life that's like eternity!!

The WRX is on Yokohama's over here (Belgium)

I'm 36 and can afford the new STI. I bought my '04 new.

I'm not a boy-racer, but I know what I like in a car. The new WRX completely underwhelms me, and the STI isn't ringing my bell like I had hoped.

While I'm reserving final judgement until I can actually drive both cars, I'm leaning heavily towards buying the Evo X.

I am in the same boat as you. I'm just obviously not Subaru's intended demographic with the STi.

Not really same boat, but similar. I'm 30, surely not a "boy-racer" by any stretch, but am a big rally and overall motorsports enthusiast. I have my 06 STI, but like the new "luxuries" of the STI and don't mind the hatch. To me, it'll be all about added performance to see whether I would stick with my 06or upgrade to an 08.

The Evo is not an option, as I don't like it and don't trust its reliability. If I don't trade up, I may try to swing a Lotus Elise or a used Exige.

But so far, I'm loving the STI and the wide fenders. Time will tell.

Cheers,
N

Before: :sadbanana:

There is speculation from someone on IWSTI that the Recaros are coming to the US. Apparently, he was at the plant and saw US designated vehicles getting Recaros installed. All speculation at this point though. Hopefully, we'll get an answer on the 15th.

After: :confused:........



........:banana:



Still, with our luck, all this person will have noticed will be the left hand drive aspect of the car and not the fact that the speedo will have been in metric (Canadian Model). :(

The performance is positively yawn worthy.

Which car under 35K beats its performance? :confused:

I am in the same boat as you. I'm just obviously not Subaru's intended demographic with the STi.

I wish there were a true third comparable option. Something in the same performance region with awd for 30-35k but that looked like it drives. People are going to scream bmw 135i, but the hype on that car is so high that its going to be a 40k car before we know it, plus I really enjoy AWD.

Before: :sadbanana:



After: :confused:........



........:banana:



Still, with our luck, all this person will have noticed will be the left hand drive aspect of the car and not the fact that the speedo will have been in metric (Canadian Model). :(

That would still work for me, since I'm Canadian. :lol: :banana:

I still think he was wrong. Everything we keep hearing is the Recaros aren't coming to North America...yet. I would gladly sign a waiver about passenger seat incompatibility, fix the sensor myself, and enjoy the Recaro/airbag goodness. But oh nooooo...can't do that now...the lawyers would never allow it. :lol:

Once again, I paid cash for my 2005 Legacy GT when I was 19, half of which I earned myself.

Besides, no company has any business telling people who should and should not drive their cars. Nick Senior can kiss my ass.

Couldn't have made it any blunter than that. He might as well have said, "hello all forum and blog haters, Subaru could care less of your opinion you can't afford a new car anyway."

I can't believe that Europe and U.S. will get something like the Dunlop SP600/SP6000 ,it's a very old tire and it is also called a very soft sidewall tire!
The model is more than 5 years old and in a tire's life that's like eternity!!

The WRX is on Yokohama's over here (Belgium)


Wait, Dunlop sells their own version of the RE-92?:unamused::sadbanana:

Dunlop SP6000? Isn't that the tire Mercedes and Lexus used to use back in the early 1990's? If this is the STI's tire, oh lord :rolleyes:

FWIW, I had some Ziex ZE-912s installed on my LGT recently, awesome tire from the Dunlop-Falken group :D Why does Subaru insist on buying the worst tires from BS, Dunlop and Yokohama?

Wait, Dunlop sells their own version of the RE-92?:unamused::sadbanana: