RE: Goodbye STI - Subaru calls time on the WRX
Wednesday 1st November 2017
Think Subaru and it's likely that most petrolheads think of three letters, STI. Ever since Colin McRae began throwing his Impreza through the Welsh countryside faster than seemed humanly possible, bewinged blue cars with gold wheels and bean can exhausts have been a common sight on UK roads.
The writing's been on the wall for a while now though. Recent industry developments have led to ever declining sales, as cars like Volkswagen's Golf R demonstrate that the compromises in comfort and refinement demanded by these rally cars for the road are no longer necessary to achieve their levels of speed and traction. So, with Mitsubishi also having ended production of the Evo as we know it, today's announcement closes the book on a legendary chapter in automotive history.
There will, no doubt, be plenty of eulogising in the coming days and months, but for now we have this, the WRX STI Final Edition. Limited to just 150 examples, it's intended as a farewell to the moniker, "marking the end of this era of Subaru's heritage in the UK."
Final Edition signals the end for WRX STI
Limited to 150 examples, the WRX STI Final Edition is Subaru's last, rorty salute to the badge
Subaru says it will now focus investment on new models, platforms and powertrains, and the time therefore feels right to, "open a new chapter for Subaru and allow WRX STI's heritage to inform future developments rather than being continued."
The Final Edition comes with several upgrades, Subaru claiming it is in fact the most capable STI ever sold on these shores. For starters, wheel size has been increased to 19-inches, making space for larger, more fade-resistant, Brembo brakes. A redesigned front grille enhances cooling performance, while the multi-mode centre diff is now fully electronic to provide optimum cornering ability.
There are Final Edition badges on the doors - of course - inside which you'll find an interior bedecked with high gloss black inserts and red seatbelts and stitching added to the, now-heated, front seats. The instrument panel design has been refreshed and a larger 5.9" multi-function display has been added to the dash - all the better for seeing the newly integrated reversing camera and controlling the DAB radio.
The WRX STI Final Edition is available to order from November 1st, priced at £33,995. And should you desire to relive the glory days on a tighter budget, there are plenty of cheaper ways to pay tribute to the STI in the classifieds...
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Discussion
Oh man.
I was kind of hoping to graduate into one of these in a few years.
There's nothing quite like them available right now.
As nerdy as it sounds Colin Mcrae rally on the PSOne was the first thing to get me interested in cars and driving. Saying goodbye to the WRX STI is like saying goodbye to the last bastion of that era. In my eyes they are an icon like a Classic Mini, or a Defender. And while light weight small city cars and rugged agricultural off roaders are still available, there isn't anything quite like the Scooby.
I was kind of hoping to graduate into one of these in a few years.
There's nothing quite like them available right now.
As nerdy as it sounds Colin Mcrae rally on the PSOne was the first thing to get me interested in cars and driving. Saying goodbye to the WRX STI is like saying goodbye to the last bastion of that era. In my eyes they are an icon like a Classic Mini, or a Defender. And while light weight small city cars and rugged agricultural off roaders are still available, there isn't anything quite like the Scooby.
Bright Halo said:
Had to happen I suppose.
I wonder if this announcement will bolster STI values?
ermI wonder if this announcement will bolster STI values?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
wtf!
It's a real shame, as it is with Mitsubishi killing off the EVO. Well, for now, anyway. Manufacturers are really killing off the good stuff right now, in favour of hybrids, SUV's and just generic, ordinary vehicles. That's the kind of thing that sells now, though. I'm gutted that VW has recently axed the Scirocco, too.
I'm a BIG fan of Imprezas, have had 8 of them over the years but I'm of the opinion that things started to go downhill once they used the uneconomical and unreliable 2.5 engine here rather than the 2.0 engines which the JDM cars got.. and then things went into freefall when they stopped making saloons for a while, eventually realising their mistake and resurrecting the saloon but sacking off the iconic Impreza name.. and even worse they still persevered with the 2.5 engine for UK cars which, by then, looked even more outdated and ridiculous as competitors were producing cars which could now match/surpass an STi's cross country pace without any of the reliability issues, better build quality, higher specification, more premium optional extras, more practicality or sitting in the £500+ RFL band.
It's a shame, I'm not surprised, but it does mark a sad end of an era for me.
It's a shame, I'm not surprised, but it does mark a sad end of an era for me.
DanielSan said:
TroubledSoul said:
Weird. They're not giving up on it in Japan and the US are they? So the spiel about heritage and new models etc. doesn't really add up.
The announcement is Subaru UK speak for ‘we’re not selling any so why bother carry on importing them’ Sad times
DanielSan said:
TroubledSoul said:
Weird. They're not giving up on it in Japan and the US are they? So the spiel about heritage and new models etc. doesn't really add up.
The announcement is Subaru UK speak for ‘we’re not selling any so why bother carry on importing them’ Sad times
Charlie Boy said:
DanielSan said:
TroubledSoul said:
Weird. They're not giving up on it in Japan and the US are they? So the spiel about heritage and new models etc. doesn't really add up.
The announcement is Subaru UK speak for ‘we’re not selling any so why bother carry on importing them’ Sad times
£32K for a standard STi here and no discounts? They're having a laugh. You can buy a 340i M Sport for less.
https://www.drivethedeal.com/buy-a-new-car/BMW/3_S...
Edited by daemon on Wednesday 1st November 19:39
Edited by daemon on Wednesday 1st November 19:40
in 2007 age 27 I bought my first fast car (only one to date) a black 2.5 wrx which we quickly had modded with an exhaust and remap. We kept the car as a second car for 7 years doing just 22k in it but most of thoes miles were fun. I loved the shove in the mid range the fact it cornered hard and changed direction in a way that be laid its size. I hated £500 rfl the insurnace and fule consumption plus the fact it had a tape deck. but on a good day on the right road none of that mattered. I wish its successor had been better but the hatch just sucked and with ford and vw offering similar performance better build for less the writing was plain to see.
wby Subaru never make cars like there concept cars i will never know. The leverog looks nice but engin wise it would not trouble a milk float and the uneconomical boxster engines just aren't what the world wanted. People say they offer a left field alternative to ford etc but they don't kia, hyundai all do that and they are not a performance bargine any more.
I recall a twin test between a 22B and a 911 of the time. No WRX STI now gets compared to an RS or R or Type R and that is a shame the brand in the UK really is about as credible as sansyong (sic) or izuzu you just don't lust after one any more.
wby Subaru never make cars like there concept cars i will never know. The leverog looks nice but engin wise it would not trouble a milk float and the uneconomical boxster engines just aren't what the world wanted. People say they offer a left field alternative to ford etc but they don't kia, hyundai all do that and they are not a performance bargine any more.
I recall a twin test between a 22B and a 911 of the time. No WRX STI now gets compared to an RS or R or Type R and that is a shame the brand in the UK really is about as credible as sansyong (sic) or izuzu you just don't lust after one any more.
Should have built the P2 ... and the concepts always look great.. why oh why they couldn't just do something about the interiors and update the engine?? Look at Kia, Hyundai et al who are all now getting (slowly) and surely up there... there has been progressive improvement of ride, interior... general build quality.. why could a company like Subaru not have done the same,, as 15 years ago.. they were way ahead of those brands,.. they stagnated.. and now we are here.. maybe they will eventually put something into the brz if stories are to be believed? Power, a wiser stance, and that thing could be dangerous.
Having bought a new 2017 STi in May I am slightly annoyed as Subaru told me that this facelift car would never be coming to the UK.
I knew the end was coming but as many posters have already said, there is nothing like this car in the market anymore and never will be again.
This will be my last petrol car before I go electric next time. That's inevitable.
But for now I am enjoying a car that goes, grips, stops, handles like no other car I have driven before. I have yet to find its limit and I don't think I will on the public roads.
It's marvellous. I was so fed up with sanitised electric steering, detached handling and clinical personalities from previous cars such as Golf R, GTi's, 5 series etc.
RFL is only £140 as well and yesterday I did a 400 mile round trip at 37 mpg, so running costs are perfectly acceptable.
Residuals have always been strong, now they will be even better.
I knew the end was coming but as many posters have already said, there is nothing like this car in the market anymore and never will be again.
This will be my last petrol car before I go electric next time. That's inevitable.
But for now I am enjoying a car that goes, grips, stops, handles like no other car I have driven before. I have yet to find its limit and I don't think I will on the public roads.
It's marvellous. I was so fed up with sanitised electric steering, detached handling and clinical personalities from previous cars such as Golf R, GTi's, 5 series etc.
RFL is only £140 as well and yesterday I did a 400 mile round trip at 37 mpg, so running costs are perfectly acceptable.
Residuals have always been strong, now they will be even better.
Charlie Boy said:
DanielSan said:
TroubledSoul said:
Weird. They're not giving up on it in Japan and the US are they? So the spiel about heritage and new models etc. doesn't really add up.
The announcement is Subaru UK speak for ‘we’re not selling any so why bother carry on importing them’ Sad times
daemon said:
Thats exactly it. They'd rather sell humdrum standard models than be bothered using up their import quota on STis.
How do they plan on doing that?Punters for cooking models still want refinement, brand image etc - the things subaru can't give them. If they could, they could do so for the WRX.
They could give them away with cereal boxes I suppose, but long term - unless they acquire a party trick (only electric car with >500 mile range?) or become very good all-rounders, it's not just the WRX that's on borrowed time.
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