RE: Detroit reveal for 346hp Subaru STI S209

[rossub]

selym said:

ReaperCushions said:

The magic of the Impreza came and went with the first two iterations (Classic and the second one, whatever its called). The rest are rather a bit 'try hard' and this seems to continue the trend.

Much like the Civic Type R, you are highly likely to look like a bit of a throbber driving one of these around anywhere but a track.

The bugeye, they called it. I had one - divisive looks if ever I saw them! I'm sure the blobeye and Hawkeye can be corralled into the same group too.

Yes I’m sure that’s what he meant. Hatchback onwards and the popularity (and sales) vanished.

[RumbleOfThunder]

Zed Ed said:

346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.

100% correct despite what the cringe "soul", "passion", "analogue", "feel", "occasion" dweebs virtue signal otherwise. There's a reason they can't shift these things and it's not because car fans don't know their cars anymore.

[Gecko1978]

I loved my Hawkeye but tax of £500 a year and very poor fuel consumption killed it when things like the golf r came along. Also my 2007 model had a tape deck ffs.

Subaru were the first SUV maker yet they loose out to the quashqi etc and first everyman performance car I.e. comparable to M3 of the time but not hatch money.

It's a shame they just lost there way. This would not sell in the UK just like the last model did not.

[rossub]

RumbleOfThunder said:

Zed Ed said:

346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.

100% correct despite what the cringe "soul", "passion", "analogue", "feel", "occasion" dweebs virtue signal otherwise. There's a reason they can't shift these things and it's not because car fans don't know their cars anymore.

Let me guess.... you own a German performance car don’t you?

[Ahbefive]

PH Article said: said:

Well, this S209 is the most powerful production STI ever, the EJ25 2.5-litre turbo now producing 346hp

What about the 400bhp WRX STi Cosworth hatchback? Does that not count?

Edited by Ahbefive on Tuesday 15th January 21:03

[Jim on the hill]

RumbleOfThunder said:

Zed Ed said:

346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.

100% correct despite what the cringe "soul", "passion", "analogue", "feel", "occasion" dweebs virtue signal otherwise. There's a reason they can't shift these things and it's not because car fans don't know their cars anymore.

No one mentioned any of those words, I've had 700bhp cars and 300bhp cars. Some are more fun and useable on the road than others, you will never guess which...

[RichardDastardly]

To me, this looks absolutely great. It’s just a shame that the standard STI’s didn’t have forged pistons, given all the terrible stories about ringland failure.

[ericmcn]

JerryF said:

Love it Subaru - can we have it in the UK?

People will prob buy a Golf R, Subaru know the UK is a waste of time - I dont think any of the S variants were sold here?

[RumbleOfThunder]

rossub said:

RumbleOfThunder said:

Zed Ed said:

346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.

100% correct despite what the cringe "soul", "passion", "analogue", "feel", "occasion" dweebs virtue signal otherwise. There's a reason they can't shift these things and it's not because car fans don't know their cars anymore.

Let me guess.... you own a German performance car don’t you?

I drive a Ford, not that it matters. The fact is the competition have been providing the same performance and the same fun for less money for years now. It's time to put these dumb 90's sacred cows out to pasture. Their whole appeal was supercar troubling performance without the expense. Now they are gobbled up by A class AMG's, RS3's and Focus RS's.

[GravelBen]

RumbleOfThunder said:

I drive a Ford, not that it matters. The fact is the competition have been providing the same performance and the same fun for less money for years now. It's time to put these dumb 90's sacred cows out to pasture. Their whole appeal was supercar troubling performance without the expense. Now they are gobbled up by A class AMG's, RS3's and Focus RS's.

So you claim the competition produces the same performance and fun for less money... then mention 3 examples that are all more expensive than an STI, two of them massively so (at least where I live, maybe you have different pricing). Not to mention that most reviews regard the STI as still being a more fun/involving drive than its competitors (though the Focus RS seems to be up there too), the main area where it loses out is interior luxury.

NZ base prices:

STI $60k ($65k for 'premium' version with higher spec)
A45 AMG $99k (+options)
RS3 $107k (+options)
Focus RS $73k ($77k for higher spec version)

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 16th January 01:51

[Jim on the hill]

RumbleOfThunder said:

rossub said:

RumbleOfThunder said:

Zed Ed said:

346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.

100% correct despite what the cringe "soul", "passion", "analogue", "feel", "occasion" dweebs virtue signal otherwise. There's a reason they can't shift these things and it's not because car fans don't know their cars anymore.

Let me guess.... you own a German performance car don’t you?

I drive a Ford, not that it matters. The fact is the competition have been providing the same performance and the same fun for less money for years now. It's time to put these dumb 90's sacred cows out to pasture. Their whole appeal was supercar troubling performance without the expense. Now they are gobbled up by A class AMG's, RS3's and Focus RS's.

Who are the competitors providing the same performance and "fun" for less money?

[Hol]

rossub said:

selym said:

ReaperCushions said:

The magic of the Impreza came and went with the first two iterations (Classic and the second one, whatever its called). The rest are rather a bit 'try hard' and this seems to continue the trend.

Much like the Civic Type R, you are highly likely to look like a bit of a throbber driving one of these around anywhere but a track.

The bugeye, they called it. I had one - divisive looks if ever I saw them! I'm sure the blobeye and Hawkeye can be corralled into the same group too.

Yes I’m sure that’s what he meant. Hatchback onwards and the popularity (and sales) vanished.

Yup,
That's the exact point that they lost me and I walked away.

I loved my Type R and Twin-scroll.

I tried a few options, even a Supercharged Audi as an attempt at a grown up alternative, but nothing really gives me the same buzz as the STI's I owned.

[stevekoz]

Jim on the hill said:

RumbleOfThunder said:

rossub said:

RumbleOfThunder said:

Zed Ed said:

346bhp; bit underwhelming

Some nice development of the car though.

100% correct despite what the cringe "soul", "passion", "analogue", "feel", "occasion" dweebs virtue signal otherwise. There's a reason they can't shift these things and it's not because car fans don't know their cars anymore.

Let me guess.... you own a German performance car don’t you?

I drive a Ford, not that it matters. The fact is the competition have been providing the same performance and the same fun for less money for years now. It's time to put these dumb 90's sacred cows out to pasture. Their whole appeal was supercar troubling performance without the expense. Now they are gobbled up by A class AMG's, RS3's and Focus RS's.

Who are the competitors providing the same performance and "fun" for less money?

Yes i'd like to know this too. Given that the WRX STI was somewhere in the region of £30-35K brand new with everything. Granted not much of an options list, but then why have an options list the length of your arm??

But in no way is the A45 (£45-50K est + options)/RS3 (£55k+ options)/Focus RS (£37k + Options) a direct competitor (the last of those 3 comes closest perhaps).

If based on price alone. I'd say you can get a deal on a 2019 WRX STi for about £32K based on my research. That puts it into price comparison with a Focus ST-3 (£31K). Alfa Romeo Guilia Veloce (£35K). BMW x40i (£35K+) Golf GTI Performance or R (used). (£35K+) Nissan 370z (£34k+).

So i'm building a picture here that compared to almost all of those i'd choose the WRX STi for fun, difference, performance and practicality for space and def on price. THen add to the picture how many of those (bar maybe the alfa) you see on a daily basis vs how many imprezas.

On the supposed chocolate effect of the eJ25 - its actually only when the cars are pushed too high on boost that the heads tended to fail. The ones that failed from the factory were an issue with them being mapped incorrectly for british fueling to begin with and those were few and far between.

Can't really see a direct competitor really. IMHO.

[Baileyk]

Ahbefive said:

What about the 400bhp WRX STi Cosworth hatchback? Does that not count?

Edited by Ahbefive on Tuesday 15th January 21:03

Probably not as it did not roll out the factory with that BHP and was UK only.

[wab172uk]

ericmcn said:

JerryF said:

Love it Subaru - can we have it in the UK?

People will prob buy a Golf R, Subaru know the UK is a waste of time - I dont think any of the S variants were sold here?

They didn't, no. Subaru sold none of there special Impreza's here, even at the height of the UK's fascination with the brand, where I'm sure they could have sold every one they decided to bring here. Was a shame, as I'd have ordered a S204 in a heartbeat.

[Ahbefive]

Baileyk said:

Ahbefive said:

What about the 400bhp WRX STi Cosworth hatchback? Does that not count?

Edited by Ahbefive on Tuesday 15th January 21:03

Probably not as it did not roll out the factory with that BHP and was UK only.

It was a production car albeit via another outfit just like the P1 and RB5 etc. The article was saying that this was the highest powered production STi which is incorrect.

[BlackPrince]

RumbleOfThunder said:

I drive a Ford, not that it matters. The fact is the competition have been providing the same performance and the same fun for less money for years now. It's time to put these dumb 90's sacred cows out to pasture. Their whole appeal was supercar troubling performance without the expense. Now they are gobbled up by A class AMG's, RS3's and Focus RS's.

An AMG 45 apparently isn't very much fun though, and neither is an RS3. They are faster though, but cost at least 10% more
https://www.evo.co.uk/mercedes/a-class/a45-amg

The Focus RS certainly competes but the idea that Subarus are outdated is frankly silly. Go read some reviews. Or even better, go drive one.

[ericmcn]

BlackPrince said:

An AMG 45 apparently isn't very much fun though, and neither is an RS3. They are faster though, but cost at least 10% more
https://www.evo.co.uk/mercedes/a-class/a45-amg

The Focus RS certainly competes but the idea that Subarus are outdated is frankly silly. Go read some reviews. Or even better, go drive one.

love the Subaru bashing on here from people who have never driven them.