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Old 07-15-2022, 01:13 PM   #124
subyski
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Member#: 202642
Join Date: Nov 2007
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Location: Centennial, Colorado
Vehicle:
08 Impreza,80Vette
68 Impala, 15 SantaFe

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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4S-TURBO View Post
I remember the initial complaints of the WRX was the loss of the box fenders and tall hood scoop and the cheapening of the interior. Too Corolla like.

The main complaints though were aimed at the STI. Subaru responded by lowering the price and offering hop up parts like SPT exhaust, pink springs, and bracing at nearly free pricing. I never understood their rationale to give the WRX more power. People being mad the STI was a hatchback with no big wing had nothing to do with the power output of the WRX.

shrug
There was quite a bit of complaints at the narrow body WRX styling (chromed plastics) but the power delivery/tuning was different from the outgoing models. Even though the power rating was the same, the delivery was earlier and less peaky for drivability reasons. It wasn't a desirable trait among enthusiasts at the time. Combined with the softer suspension, it wasn't well received. They gave our market the JDM Impreza S-GT and slapped a WRX badge on it. The bump in power was definitely a response to the drivability/power delivery aspect, but also to match the power numbers other manufacturers were releasing with their products, such as the Dodge SRT-4, Cobalt SS, and Mazdaspeed 3. But I don't think they wanted it to be faster than the STI.

The complaints on the STI were indeed separate from the WRX. First being a hatch only. Controversial, yes, and bucked tradition of big wing but the justification was for WRC reasons, but that ended up being short lived. But even the styling (front bumper especially) had European aspirations written all over it.
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