RE: Driven: Subaru WRX STI Type UK
Discussion
wigsworld said:
Think the hatch looks a lot better. This is a step backwards in my opinion. Never understood why so many people think the Impreza has to be a saloon.
The hatchback is ugly but has a mean look about it, this just looks boring imoEdited by BILL PAYER on Saturday 9th October 13:12
HOW MUCH?!!!!
33K is definately over the top pricing! The 330s was close to that money (overpriced) and a boggo STI closer to 26-28k (dealer dependant) which is a much more realistic price.
33K is Audi S3 or Golf R money (I can't believe I'm saying this!I'm a Suabru enthusiast, running a 2007 WRX hawkeye for the last 3 years!), 4wd 5 door, with superb residual values in comparison and much more cohesive styling and interior quality! At that price mark and below, there is a lot of attractive metal out there to choose from.
I'm pleased that SUBARU UK have finally had the sense to release this saloon, which does look better (more or less) than the hatchback, but 33k is way too much money. 28K or less is much more appropriate.
I'd like to see Subaru doing well in the UK but with pricing like this they are going to struggle! We can adapt to slightly unusual styling (blob eye anyone?) and flimsy interiors but not when you're approaching fairly premium product pricing!
33K is definately over the top pricing! The 330s was close to that money (overpriced) and a boggo STI closer to 26-28k (dealer dependant) which is a much more realistic price.
33K is Audi S3 or Golf R money (I can't believe I'm saying this!I'm a Suabru enthusiast, running a 2007 WRX hawkeye for the last 3 years!), 4wd 5 door, with superb residual values in comparison and much more cohesive styling and interior quality! At that price mark and below, there is a lot of attractive metal out there to choose from.
I'm pleased that SUBARU UK have finally had the sense to release this saloon, which does look better (more or less) than the hatchback, but 33k is way too much money. 28K or less is much more appropriate.
I'd like to see Subaru doing well in the UK but with pricing like this they are going to struggle! We can adapt to slightly unusual styling (blob eye anyone?) and flimsy interiors but not when you're approaching fairly premium product pricing!
oil rig pig said:
HOW MUCH?!!!!
33K is definately over the top pricing! The 330s was close to that money (overpriced) and a boggo STI closer to 26-28k (dealer dependant) which is a much more realistic price.
33K is Audi S3 or Golf R money (I can't believe I'm saying this!I'm a Suabru enthusiast, running a 2007 WRX hawkeye for the last 3 years!), 4wd 5 door, with superb residual values in comparison and much more cohesive styling and interior quality! At that price mark and below, there is a lot of attractive metal out there to choose from.
I'm pleased that SUBARU UK have finally had the sense to release this saloon, which does look better (more or less) than the hatchback, but 33k is way too much money. 28K or less is much more appropriate.
I'd like to see Subaru doing well in the UK but with pricing like this they are going to struggle! We can adapt to slightly unusual styling (blob eye anyone?) and flimsy interiors but not when you're approaching fairly premium product pricing!
you spent £20k on your impreza in 2007 which you say is now worth £12k ish, you could have spent £20k on a 2007 golf which now would have been worth £12k ish, so are the residuals much different? so similarly priced cars holding out similarly well.33K is definately over the top pricing! The 330s was close to that money (overpriced) and a boggo STI closer to 26-28k (dealer dependant) which is a much more realistic price.
33K is Audi S3 or Golf R money (I can't believe I'm saying this!I'm a Suabru enthusiast, running a 2007 WRX hawkeye for the last 3 years!), 4wd 5 door, with superb residual values in comparison and much more cohesive styling and interior quality! At that price mark and below, there is a lot of attractive metal out there to choose from.
I'm pleased that SUBARU UK have finally had the sense to release this saloon, which does look better (more or less) than the hatchback, but 33k is way too much money. 28K or less is much more appropriate.
I'd like to see Subaru doing well in the UK but with pricing like this they are going to struggle! We can adapt to slightly unusual styling (blob eye anyone?) and flimsy interiors but not when you're approaching fairly premium product pricing!
now please think of the reasons you chose an impreza over a golf......i bet there are many...... they are very different cars.
my impreza RB5 in 1999 (i did not buy it new only had it a year or so) cost new £27k with the ppp (a p1 was even more expensive, so perhaps subarus were never as cheap as people seem to be implying they were. It was pretty much the same price as an audi s3 of the same year yet is much better to drive but with a more plasticky interior.
Drove one today and here's a little (long) write up.
Let's cover off a couple of misgivings about the new STI saloon before we move on with talking about what it's actually like to drive and probably own.
In saloon or hatchback form the new Impreza STI costs a tank of petrol below £33,000. This is the price of a well spec'd A4/A3, Golf GTI or Focus RS. What you have to remember about Audi, VW and Ford's competitive offerings is that they are bolted together from parts which spread across their entire range and also across other manufacturers. Buy a VRS, GTI or A4 and you're essentially getting the same engine, underpinnings, suspension and manufacturing process. A shared platform is great for saving money as a company and charging the customer more depending on the badge that floats your boat. Or the one that sinks your finances. I like German cars but this is not a mass produced German hatchback/saloon.
A Subaru is a car made in small numbers with a very specific engineering lead development. Because the cars and specifically this new Impreza STI are essentially one-off products made to very high standard the cost is not hidden and the customers chose to pay for this bespoke design and engineering. The quality of the engineering and technology within the vehicle comes first and takes up much more of the final price than any mass produced car. The interior is cheap because if you buy a Subaru this should not be your priority. It's functional, well styled but made to a price. If this bugs you, go buy something German and live with the run of the mill technology but have a superior interior.
The next issue is the looks. It's not an Alfa, Ferrari or even a Honda Prelude. But it's not ugly and even the hatchback STI is admirably aggressive in the flesh. This is a Subaru and you can talk about classic or sewage Imprezas looking better but that's like saying Harry Rednapp was better looking 20 years ago.
If you are OK with the above then I highly recommend you take a wander down to your local Subaru garage and do what Subaru customers enjoy the most and actually drive one for a few hours. If you still don't want a Subaru I'll be very surprised because the new STI is the best Subaru I've driven and I would spend £33,000 on it over any new car of the same price.
The main changes to the car are based on a subtle facelift to the front end, new rear light cluster much like the JDM cars but the biggest money has been spent on solid engineering and a response to the massive mistakes made with the first generation STI hatchback. Now with Spec-C suspension as standard all of the problems with the ride quality and body roll are banished to the parts bin. There is little to no roll and only a small amount of pitch when the boost comes in. On rocky roads the ride quality is better than a MK6 Golf GTI and the way it can smooth out even the worst B road is a pleasure to experience. Actually I'd say it's a smoother ride than my carpet ride V6 4motion. On a smooth road it's even better because while it can still soak up bumps and camber all the drive needs to do is point it to the sun and press on. It still requires input, thought and restraint but that's because it's back to being a drivers car. The car I tried was on 19" Prodrive wheels and apparently the standard 18s are even better. Grip was not a problem and even though I think I'm a pretty good driver I would never even touch the final 10% of what was possible. Point. Grip. Go.
The steering is still an electric setup and initially it's hard to feel anything but with the wider wheels it is a big leap over the previous model. It's very similar to my old Hawkeye STI which was probably as good as electric racks can be. It's light but very accurate and after 5 mins threading through Warwickshire countryside it was second nature.
The engine is the same 2.5 as before so there is oodles of torque from low down but it's much more rev happy too. 300bhp but felt a lot more urgent than the outgoing hatchback and there is a Prodrive pack coming soon which will likely top 350bhp. In fact the engine was so unstressed I dare say 400bhp is easily within reach if done sensibly. Oh and it sounds like a Subaru again with a big, throbbing voice just how it should.
Using the Si-Drive in Sports# it was always on the full fat setting but put into the economy setting it'd easily do 33mpg on the motorway. The 20mpg I got on a long thrash was actually impressive considering. The SI-Drive also allows the driver to select how the power is delivered by slackening or stiffening up the centre diff to allow a greater amount to be sent to the rear wheels and putting it a couple of notches rearwards actually helped sort of what felt like understeer. Even though the tyres were cold this small setting change did a lot and made the car much more stable. On a hot day on a good road this would push most cars for pace regardless of what corner came up. It is immensely impressive.
Inside there's nothing much to complain about so long as you can cope with hard plastics. Think Renault Clio and you're in the same ballpark. The plus points are the brilliant Recaro seats, perfect driving position, and solid feel to all the controls. This is another Subaru trait with the pedals, gear knob, steering wheel and seats are the most important parts. They get the highest quality materials because they are part of the driving experience so deserve top billing.
So would I buy one? Yes. Would I buy one for £33,000? Yes. The package is worth the money because it's 80% engineering and 20% design. It fits what I want from a car so that's fine by me.
Let's cover off a couple of misgivings about the new STI saloon before we move on with talking about what it's actually like to drive and probably own.
In saloon or hatchback form the new Impreza STI costs a tank of petrol below £33,000. This is the price of a well spec'd A4/A3, Golf GTI or Focus RS. What you have to remember about Audi, VW and Ford's competitive offerings is that they are bolted together from parts which spread across their entire range and also across other manufacturers. Buy a VRS, GTI or A4 and you're essentially getting the same engine, underpinnings, suspension and manufacturing process. A shared platform is great for saving money as a company and charging the customer more depending on the badge that floats your boat. Or the one that sinks your finances. I like German cars but this is not a mass produced German hatchback/saloon.
A Subaru is a car made in small numbers with a very specific engineering lead development. Because the cars and specifically this new Impreza STI are essentially one-off products made to very high standard the cost is not hidden and the customers chose to pay for this bespoke design and engineering. The quality of the engineering and technology within the vehicle comes first and takes up much more of the final price than any mass produced car. The interior is cheap because if you buy a Subaru this should not be your priority. It's functional, well styled but made to a price. If this bugs you, go buy something German and live with the run of the mill technology but have a superior interior.
The next issue is the looks. It's not an Alfa, Ferrari or even a Honda Prelude. But it's not ugly and even the hatchback STI is admirably aggressive in the flesh. This is a Subaru and you can talk about classic or sewage Imprezas looking better but that's like saying Harry Rednapp was better looking 20 years ago.
If you are OK with the above then I highly recommend you take a wander down to your local Subaru garage and do what Subaru customers enjoy the most and actually drive one for a few hours. If you still don't want a Subaru I'll be very surprised because the new STI is the best Subaru I've driven and I would spend £33,000 on it over any new car of the same price.
The main changes to the car are based on a subtle facelift to the front end, new rear light cluster much like the JDM cars but the biggest money has been spent on solid engineering and a response to the massive mistakes made with the first generation STI hatchback. Now with Spec-C suspension as standard all of the problems with the ride quality and body roll are banished to the parts bin. There is little to no roll and only a small amount of pitch when the boost comes in. On rocky roads the ride quality is better than a MK6 Golf GTI and the way it can smooth out even the worst B road is a pleasure to experience. Actually I'd say it's a smoother ride than my carpet ride V6 4motion. On a smooth road it's even better because while it can still soak up bumps and camber all the drive needs to do is point it to the sun and press on. It still requires input, thought and restraint but that's because it's back to being a drivers car. The car I tried was on 19" Prodrive wheels and apparently the standard 18s are even better. Grip was not a problem and even though I think I'm a pretty good driver I would never even touch the final 10% of what was possible. Point. Grip. Go.
The steering is still an electric setup and initially it's hard to feel anything but with the wider wheels it is a big leap over the previous model. It's very similar to my old Hawkeye STI which was probably as good as electric racks can be. It's light but very accurate and after 5 mins threading through Warwickshire countryside it was second nature.
The engine is the same 2.5 as before so there is oodles of torque from low down but it's much more rev happy too. 300bhp but felt a lot more urgent than the outgoing hatchback and there is a Prodrive pack coming soon which will likely top 350bhp. In fact the engine was so unstressed I dare say 400bhp is easily within reach if done sensibly. Oh and it sounds like a Subaru again with a big, throbbing voice just how it should.
Using the Si-Drive in Sports# it was always on the full fat setting but put into the economy setting it'd easily do 33mpg on the motorway. The 20mpg I got on a long thrash was actually impressive considering. The SI-Drive also allows the driver to select how the power is delivered by slackening or stiffening up the centre diff to allow a greater amount to be sent to the rear wheels and putting it a couple of notches rearwards actually helped sort of what felt like understeer. Even though the tyres were cold this small setting change did a lot and made the car much more stable. On a hot day on a good road this would push most cars for pace regardless of what corner came up. It is immensely impressive.
Inside there's nothing much to complain about so long as you can cope with hard plastics. Think Renault Clio and you're in the same ballpark. The plus points are the brilliant Recaro seats, perfect driving position, and solid feel to all the controls. This is another Subaru trait with the pedals, gear knob, steering wheel and seats are the most important parts. They get the highest quality materials because they are part of the driving experience so deserve top billing.
So would I buy one? Yes. Would I buy one for £33,000? Yes. The package is worth the money because it's 80% engineering and 20% design. It fits what I want from a car so that's fine by me.
Ved said:
Drove one today and here's a little (long) write up.
Let's cover off a couple of misgivings about the new STI saloon before we move on with talking about what it's actually like to drive and probably own.
In saloon or hatchback form the new Impreza STI costs a tank of petrol below £33,000. This is the price of a well spec'd A4/A3, Golf GTI or Focus RS. What you have to remember about Audi, VW and Ford's competitive offerings is that they are bolted together from parts which spread across their entire range and also across other manufacturers. Buy a VRS, GTI or A4 and you're essentially getting the same engine, underpinnings, suspension and manufacturing process. A shared platform is great for saving money as a company and charging the customer more depending on the badge that floats your boat. Or the one that sinks your finances. I like German cars but this is not a mass produced German hatchback/saloon.
A Subaru is a car made in small numbers with a very specific engineering lead development. Because the cars and specifically this new Impreza STI are essentially one-off products made to very high standard the cost is not hidden and the customers chose to pay for this bespoke design and engineering. The quality of the engineering and technology within the vehicle comes first and takes up much more of the final price than any mass produced car. The interior is cheap because if you buy a Subaru this should not be your priority. It's functional, well styled but made to a price. If this bugs you, go buy something German and live with the run of the mill technology but have a superior interior.
The next issue is the looks. It's not an Alfa, Ferrari or even a Honda Prelude. But it's not ugly and even the hatchback STI is admirably aggressive in the flesh. This is a Subaru and you can talk about classic or sewage Imprezas looking better but that's like saying Harry Rednapp was better looking 20 years ago.
If you are OK with the above then I highly recommend you take a wander down to your local Subaru garage and do what Subaru customers enjoy the most and actually drive one for a few hours. If you still don't want a Subaru I'll be very surprised because the new STI is the best Subaru I've driven and I would spend £33,000 on it over any new car of the same price.
The main changes to the car are based on a subtle facelift to the front end, new rear light cluster much like the JDM cars but the biggest money has been spent on solid engineering and a response to the massive mistakes made with the first generation STI hatchback. Now with Spec-C suspension as standard all of the problems with the ride quality and body roll are banished to the parts bin. There is little to no roll and only a small amount of pitch when the boost comes in. On rocky roads the ride quality is better than a MK6 Golf GTI and the way it can smooth out even the worst B road is a pleasure to experience. Actually I'd say it's a smoother ride than my carpet ride V6 4motion. On a smooth road it's even better because while it can still soak up bumps and camber all the drive needs to do is point it to the sun and press on. It still requires input, thought and restraint but that's because it's back to being a drivers car. The car I tried was on 19" Prodrive wheels and apparently the standard 18s are even better. Grip was not a problem and even though I think I'm a pretty good driver I would never even touch the final 10% of what was possible. Point. Grip. Go.
The steering is still an electric setup and initially it's hard to feel anything but with the wider wheels it is a big leap over the previous model. It's very similar to my old Hawkeye STI which was probably as good as electric racks can be. It's light but very accurate and after 5 mins threading through Warwickshire countryside it was second nature.
The engine is the same 2.5 as before so there is oodles of torque from low down but it's much more rev happy too. 300bhp but felt a lot more urgent than the outgoing hatchback and there is a Prodrive pack coming soon which will likely top 350bhp. In fact the engine was so unstressed I dare say 400bhp is easily within reach if done sensibly. Oh and it sounds like a Subaru again with a big, throbbing voice just how it should.
Using the Si-Drive in Sports# it was always on the full fat setting but put into the economy setting it'd easily do 33mpg on the motorway. The 20mpg I got on a long thrash was actually impressive considering. The SI-Drive also allows the driver to select how the power is delivered by slackening or stiffening up the centre diff to allow a greater amount to be sent to the rear wheels and putting it a couple of notches rearwards actually helped sort of what felt like understeer. Even though the tyres were cold this small setting change did a lot and made the car much more stable. On a hot day on a good road this would push most cars for pace regardless of what corner came up. It is immensely impressive.
Inside there's nothing much to complain about so long as you can cope with hard plastics. Think Renault Clio and you're in the same ballpark. The plus points are the brilliant Recaro seats, perfect driving position, and solid feel to all the controls. This is another Subaru trait with the pedals, gear knob, steering wheel and seats are the most important parts. They get the highest quality materials because they are part of the driving experience so deserve top billing.
So would I buy one? Yes. Would I buy one for £33,000? Yes. The package is worth the money because it's 80% engineering and 20% design. It fits what I want from a car so that's fine by me.
Thanks, very informative. Great post Let's cover off a couple of misgivings about the new STI saloon before we move on with talking about what it's actually like to drive and probably own.
In saloon or hatchback form the new Impreza STI costs a tank of petrol below £33,000. This is the price of a well spec'd A4/A3, Golf GTI or Focus RS. What you have to remember about Audi, VW and Ford's competitive offerings is that they are bolted together from parts which spread across their entire range and also across other manufacturers. Buy a VRS, GTI or A4 and you're essentially getting the same engine, underpinnings, suspension and manufacturing process. A shared platform is great for saving money as a company and charging the customer more depending on the badge that floats your boat. Or the one that sinks your finances. I like German cars but this is not a mass produced German hatchback/saloon.
A Subaru is a car made in small numbers with a very specific engineering lead development. Because the cars and specifically this new Impreza STI are essentially one-off products made to very high standard the cost is not hidden and the customers chose to pay for this bespoke design and engineering. The quality of the engineering and technology within the vehicle comes first and takes up much more of the final price than any mass produced car. The interior is cheap because if you buy a Subaru this should not be your priority. It's functional, well styled but made to a price. If this bugs you, go buy something German and live with the run of the mill technology but have a superior interior.
The next issue is the looks. It's not an Alfa, Ferrari or even a Honda Prelude. But it's not ugly and even the hatchback STI is admirably aggressive in the flesh. This is a Subaru and you can talk about classic or sewage Imprezas looking better but that's like saying Harry Rednapp was better looking 20 years ago.
If you are OK with the above then I highly recommend you take a wander down to your local Subaru garage and do what Subaru customers enjoy the most and actually drive one for a few hours. If you still don't want a Subaru I'll be very surprised because the new STI is the best Subaru I've driven and I would spend £33,000 on it over any new car of the same price.
The main changes to the car are based on a subtle facelift to the front end, new rear light cluster much like the JDM cars but the biggest money has been spent on solid engineering and a response to the massive mistakes made with the first generation STI hatchback. Now with Spec-C suspension as standard all of the problems with the ride quality and body roll are banished to the parts bin. There is little to no roll and only a small amount of pitch when the boost comes in. On rocky roads the ride quality is better than a MK6 Golf GTI and the way it can smooth out even the worst B road is a pleasure to experience. Actually I'd say it's a smoother ride than my carpet ride V6 4motion. On a smooth road it's even better because while it can still soak up bumps and camber all the drive needs to do is point it to the sun and press on. It still requires input, thought and restraint but that's because it's back to being a drivers car. The car I tried was on 19" Prodrive wheels and apparently the standard 18s are even better. Grip was not a problem and even though I think I'm a pretty good driver I would never even touch the final 10% of what was possible. Point. Grip. Go.
The steering is still an electric setup and initially it's hard to feel anything but with the wider wheels it is a big leap over the previous model. It's very similar to my old Hawkeye STI which was probably as good as electric racks can be. It's light but very accurate and after 5 mins threading through Warwickshire countryside it was second nature.
The engine is the same 2.5 as before so there is oodles of torque from low down but it's much more rev happy too. 300bhp but felt a lot more urgent than the outgoing hatchback and there is a Prodrive pack coming soon which will likely top 350bhp. In fact the engine was so unstressed I dare say 400bhp is easily within reach if done sensibly. Oh and it sounds like a Subaru again with a big, throbbing voice just how it should.
Using the Si-Drive in Sports# it was always on the full fat setting but put into the economy setting it'd easily do 33mpg on the motorway. The 20mpg I got on a long thrash was actually impressive considering. The SI-Drive also allows the driver to select how the power is delivered by slackening or stiffening up the centre diff to allow a greater amount to be sent to the rear wheels and putting it a couple of notches rearwards actually helped sort of what felt like understeer. Even though the tyres were cold this small setting change did a lot and made the car much more stable. On a hot day on a good road this would push most cars for pace regardless of what corner came up. It is immensely impressive.
Inside there's nothing much to complain about so long as you can cope with hard plastics. Think Renault Clio and you're in the same ballpark. The plus points are the brilliant Recaro seats, perfect driving position, and solid feel to all the controls. This is another Subaru trait with the pedals, gear knob, steering wheel and seats are the most important parts. They get the highest quality materials because they are part of the driving experience so deserve top billing.
So would I buy one? Yes. Would I buy one for £33,000? Yes. The package is worth the money because it's 80% engineering and 20% design. It fits what I want from a car so that's fine by me.
Edited by mcelliott on Saturday 9th October 18:52
JR Hartley said:
Yes great post, so are you going to buy one? 
Yep! Just bought our first house and that takes priority but there is no other car I want and a second hand one for 22k with 10,000 miles on it will be a brilliant buy 
I'd say in a year I'll hopefully have it all done and can then look at improving the garage!
Edited by Ved on Saturday 9th October 19:52
Ved said:
Drove one today and here's a little (long) write up.
Let's cover off a couple of misgivings about the new STI saloon before we move on with talking about what it's actually like to drive and probably own.
In saloon or hatchback form the new Impreza STI costs a tank of petrol below £33,000. This is the price of a well spec'd A4/A3, Golf GTI or Focus RS. What you have to remember about Audi, VW and Ford's competitive offerings is that they are bolted together from parts which spread across their entire range and also across other manufacturers. Buy a VRS, GTI or A4 and you're essentially getting the same engine, underpinnings, suspension and manufacturing process. A shared platform is great for saving money as a company and charging the customer more depending on the badge that floats your boat. Or the one that sinks your finances. I like German cars but this is not a mass produced German hatchback/saloon.
A Subaru is a car made in small numbers with a very specific engineering lead development. Because the cars and specifically this new Impreza STI are essentially one-off products made to very high standard the cost is not hidden and the customers chose to pay for this bespoke design and engineering. The quality of the engineering and technology within the vehicle comes first and takes up much more of the final price than any mass produced car. The interior is cheap because if you buy a Subaru this should not be your priority. It's functional, well styled but made to a price. If this bugs you, go buy something German and live with the run of the mill technology but have a superior interior.
The next issue is the looks. It's not an Alfa, Ferrari or even a Honda Prelude. But it's not ugly and even the hatchback STI is admirably aggressive in the flesh. This is a Subaru and you can talk about classic or sewage Imprezas looking better but that's like saying Harry Rednapp was better looking 20 years ago.
If you are OK with the above then I highly recommend you take a wander down to your local Subaru garage and do what Subaru customers enjoy the most and actually drive one for a few hours. If you still don't want a Subaru I'll be very surprised because the new STI is the best Subaru I've driven and I would spend £33,000 on it over any new car of the same price.
The main changes to the car are based on a subtle facelift to the front end, new rear light cluster much like the JDM cars but the biggest money has been spent on solid engineering and a response to the massive mistakes made with the first generation STI hatchback. Now with Spec-C suspension as standard all of the problems with the ride quality and body roll are banished to the parts bin. There is little to no roll and only a small amount of pitch when the boost comes in. On rocky roads the ride quality is better than a MK6 Golf GTI and the way it can smooth out even the worst B road is a pleasure to experience. Actually I'd say it's a smoother ride than my carpet ride V6 4motion. On a smooth road it's even better because while it can still soak up bumps and camber all the drive needs to do is point it to the sun and press on. It still requires input, thought and restraint but that's because it's back to being a drivers car. The car I tried was on 19" Prodrive wheels and apparently the standard 18s are even better. Grip was not a problem and even though I think I'm a pretty good driver I would never even touch the final 10% of what was possible. Point. Grip. Go.
The steering is still an electric setup and initially it's hard to feel anything but with the wider wheels it is a big leap over the previous model. It's very similar to my old Hawkeye STI which was probably as good as electric racks can be. It's light but very accurate and after 5 mins threading through Warwickshire countryside it was second nature.
The engine is the same 2.5 as before so there is oodles of torque from low down but it's much more rev happy too. 300bhp but felt a lot more urgent than the outgoing hatchback and there is a Prodrive pack coming soon which will likely top 350bhp. In fact the engine was so unstressed I dare say 400bhp is easily within reach if done sensibly. Oh and it sounds like a Subaru again with a big, throbbing voice just how it should.
Using the Si-Drive in Sports# it was always on the full fat setting but put into the economy setting it'd easily do 33mpg on the motorway. The 20mpg I got on a long thrash was actually impressive considering. The SI-Drive also allows the driver to select how the power is delivered by slackening or stiffening up the centre diff to allow a greater amount to be sent to the rear wheels and putting it a couple of notches rearwards actually helped sort of what felt like understeer. Even though the tyres were cold this small setting change did a lot and made the car much more stable. On a hot day on a good road this would push most cars for pace regardless of what corner came up. It is immensely impressive.
Inside there's nothing much to complain about so long as you can cope with hard plastics. Think Renault Clio and you're in the same ballpark. The plus points are the brilliant Recaro seats, perfect driving position, and solid feel to all the controls. This is another Subaru trait with the pedals, gear knob, steering wheel and seats are the most important parts. They get the highest quality materials because they are part of the driving experience so deserve top billing.
So would I buy one? Yes. Would I buy one for £33,000? Yes. The package is worth the money because it's 80% engineering and 20% design. It fits what I want from a car so that's fine by me.
Great post, I'm booked in too drive one next weekend. The only thing I would quibble with is the prodive version being 350bhp...see this statement from Subaru.Let's cover off a couple of misgivings about the new STI saloon before we move on with talking about what it's actually like to drive and probably own.
In saloon or hatchback form the new Impreza STI costs a tank of petrol below £33,000. This is the price of a well spec'd A4/A3, Golf GTI or Focus RS. What you have to remember about Audi, VW and Ford's competitive offerings is that they are bolted together from parts which spread across their entire range and also across other manufacturers. Buy a VRS, GTI or A4 and you're essentially getting the same engine, underpinnings, suspension and manufacturing process. A shared platform is great for saving money as a company and charging the customer more depending on the badge that floats your boat. Or the one that sinks your finances. I like German cars but this is not a mass produced German hatchback/saloon.
A Subaru is a car made in small numbers with a very specific engineering lead development. Because the cars and specifically this new Impreza STI are essentially one-off products made to very high standard the cost is not hidden and the customers chose to pay for this bespoke design and engineering. The quality of the engineering and technology within the vehicle comes first and takes up much more of the final price than any mass produced car. The interior is cheap because if you buy a Subaru this should not be your priority. It's functional, well styled but made to a price. If this bugs you, go buy something German and live with the run of the mill technology but have a superior interior.
The next issue is the looks. It's not an Alfa, Ferrari or even a Honda Prelude. But it's not ugly and even the hatchback STI is admirably aggressive in the flesh. This is a Subaru and you can talk about classic or sewage Imprezas looking better but that's like saying Harry Rednapp was better looking 20 years ago.
If you are OK with the above then I highly recommend you take a wander down to your local Subaru garage and do what Subaru customers enjoy the most and actually drive one for a few hours. If you still don't want a Subaru I'll be very surprised because the new STI is the best Subaru I've driven and I would spend £33,000 on it over any new car of the same price.
The main changes to the car are based on a subtle facelift to the front end, new rear light cluster much like the JDM cars but the biggest money has been spent on solid engineering and a response to the massive mistakes made with the first generation STI hatchback. Now with Spec-C suspension as standard all of the problems with the ride quality and body roll are banished to the parts bin. There is little to no roll and only a small amount of pitch when the boost comes in. On rocky roads the ride quality is better than a MK6 Golf GTI and the way it can smooth out even the worst B road is a pleasure to experience. Actually I'd say it's a smoother ride than my carpet ride V6 4motion. On a smooth road it's even better because while it can still soak up bumps and camber all the drive needs to do is point it to the sun and press on. It still requires input, thought and restraint but that's because it's back to being a drivers car. The car I tried was on 19" Prodrive wheels and apparently the standard 18s are even better. Grip was not a problem and even though I think I'm a pretty good driver I would never even touch the final 10% of what was possible. Point. Grip. Go.
The steering is still an electric setup and initially it's hard to feel anything but with the wider wheels it is a big leap over the previous model. It's very similar to my old Hawkeye STI which was probably as good as electric racks can be. It's light but very accurate and after 5 mins threading through Warwickshire countryside it was second nature.
The engine is the same 2.5 as before so there is oodles of torque from low down but it's much more rev happy too. 300bhp but felt a lot more urgent than the outgoing hatchback and there is a Prodrive pack coming soon which will likely top 350bhp. In fact the engine was so unstressed I dare say 400bhp is easily within reach if done sensibly. Oh and it sounds like a Subaru again with a big, throbbing voice just how it should.
Using the Si-Drive in Sports# it was always on the full fat setting but put into the economy setting it'd easily do 33mpg on the motorway. The 20mpg I got on a long thrash was actually impressive considering. The SI-Drive also allows the driver to select how the power is delivered by slackening or stiffening up the centre diff to allow a greater amount to be sent to the rear wheels and putting it a couple of notches rearwards actually helped sort of what felt like understeer. Even though the tyres were cold this small setting change did a lot and made the car much more stable. On a hot day on a good road this would push most cars for pace regardless of what corner came up. It is immensely impressive.
Inside there's nothing much to complain about so long as you can cope with hard plastics. Think Renault Clio and you're in the same ballpark. The plus points are the brilliant Recaro seats, perfect driving position, and solid feel to all the controls. This is another Subaru trait with the pedals, gear knob, steering wheel and seats are the most important parts. They get the highest quality materials because they are part of the driving experience so deserve top billing.
So would I buy one? Yes. Would I buy one for £33,000? Yes. The package is worth the money because it's 80% engineering and 20% design. It fits what I want from a car so that's fine by me.
http://subaru.co.uk/general/engineeringtechnical-s...
They seem to be saying 330 is the max???
Dagnut said:
Ved said:
Drove one today and here's a little (long) write up.
Was ace.
Great post, I'm booked in too drive one next weekend. The only thing I would quibble with is the prodive version being 350bhp...see this statement from Subaru.Was ace.
http://subaru.co.uk/general/engineeringtechnical-s...
They seem to be saying 330 is the max???
I really can't see them giving it the same output as a model they are trying to get off forecourts in the 330S. 300 is enough as it is but more power is always good for such a capable car.Ved said:
Dagnut said:
Ved said:
Drove one today and here's a little (long) write up.
Was ace.
Great post, I'm booked in too drive one next weekend. The only thing I would quibble with is the prodive version being 350bhp...see this statement from Subaru.Was ace.
http://subaru.co.uk/general/engineeringtechnical-s...
They seem to be saying 330 is the max???
I really can't see them giving it the same output as a model they are trying to get off forecourts in the 330S. 300 is enough as it is but more power is always good for such a capable car.Dagnut said:
Ved said:
Dagnut said:
Ved said:
Drove one today and here's a little (long) write up.
Was ace.
Great post, I'm booked in too drive one next weekend. The only thing I would quibble with is the prodive version being 350bhp...see this statement from Subaru.Was ace.
http://subaru.co.uk/general/engineeringtechnical-s...
They seem to be saying 330 is the max???
I really can't see them giving it the same output as a model they are trying to get off forecourts in the 330S. 300 is enough as it is but more power is always good for such a capable car.Edited by Ved on Saturday 9th October 20:53
Saw it at a show that i organised today got to be honest i hate it looks worse than the hatch and i dont like the hatch interior very bland like most jap cars paint work is dreadful loads of orange peal in the paint wtf have they done to the back of it the front is not that much better none of my friends who owns cars like clio v6, mk2 escorts, minis dont like it havent meet someone yet who likes it so would'nt be buying one at all
MG CHRIS said:
Saw it at a show that i organised today got to be honest i hate it looks worse than the hatch and i dont like the hatch interior very bland like most jap cars paint work is dreadful loads of orange peal in the paint wtf have they done to the back of it the front is not that much better none of my friends who owns cars like clio v6, mk2 escorts, minis dont like it havent meet someone yet who likes it so would'nt be buying one at all
I'd have replied sooner but my brain got starved of oxygen reading that. Add a full stop once in a while 
Anyway I don't think its a car that would tempt away Escort or Mini drivers. The Clio V6 is totally different but the best of the bunch on your list.What was the show you arranged by the way?
Edited by Ved on Saturday 9th October 21:32
MG CHRIS said:
Saw it at a show that i organised today got to be honest i hate it looks worse than the hatch and i dont like the hatch interior very bland like most jap cars paint work is dreadful loads of orange peal in the paint wtf have they done to the back of it the front is not that much better none of my friends who owns cars like clio v6, mk2 escorts, minis dont like it havent meet someone yet who likes it so would'nt be buying one at all
Has your full stop key broken or do you actually speak like that?Ved said:
...with 14k as deposit yes. The Evo X is very similar to drive actually and at 29k it's good value but you can only get the auto 300 model for that deal.
Indeed about the 50% deposit but they seem to start at 25.5k now.http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/evolution/models....
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