RE: Subaru WRX STI: Driven
Wednesday 3rd April 2013
As we reported earlier this year, Subaru’s decided to can Impreza production for the UK. You can’t blame it, really. In 2012, it sold just 160 WRX STIs, and a staggering 32 of the cooking models. We can wail all we want, but the fact is that the WRX simply isn’t what people want any more. And while Subaru’s talking up its next WRX, it doesn’t sound like there are any plans to bring it to the UK just yet.
WRX feels at home on a Welsh moorSo it seems it’s time to say goodbye – at least for now – to our friend the hot Impreza, or simply the WRX STI, as it’s become known in more recent years. How best to do this? Well, rallying gave the WRX its reputation in the UK. So it seemed fitting to take today’s WRX STI back to Wales, the home of British rallying, to give it a final shakedown and bid it farewell.
Yep, it's still got itBut it’s when we hit the Rhigos Road between Hirwaun and Treorchy that the WRX’s true character starts to shine. The road’s sodden, but the Subaru grapples along it as though its tyres are fitted with suckers. Even on tarmac streaming with water, there are few things that’ll get you along a twisty road quicker than this. And there's a fascinating amount of adjustability, too, thanks to the central diff. Send more power to the back end for some grin-inducing oversteer, keep it equal if you prefer neutrality, or move it further up front if - for whatever reason - you'd rather have some safe, predictable understeer.
Traction not an issue with adjustable 4WDThe Impreza’s softness was always one of its greatest assets on poorly-surfaced British roads like this, and the current WRX is no different. OK, so the steering could be a bit more engaging, and there’s a touch more body roll than you might expect – but you find yourself perfectly happy to live with that in exchange for the way the car deals with ruts and bumps without jolting itself off line.
Time to say goodbye...All-round hero
Our hunt for the Resolven stage proves... well, unresolved, if you'll pardon the pun. At one point we come across what we think might just be the start – but of course, there’s nothing there to confirm it to us either way. By now, the light is fading, so we rattle off a couple of shots for posterity and turn back towards home. As we climb up over the hills for the last time, snow starts to fall, thick and fast, and soon we’re making tracks through an unbroken white carpet. In most other performance cars it’d be slightly unnerving, but at no point does the WRX ever feel anything other than reassuringly stable. It just serves to reaffirm the superb breadth of the its talents.
Subaru WRX STI: Driven
It's the end of an era. The WRX, nee Impreza Turbo, is leaving us. Farewell, old friend...
WRX feels at home on a Welsh moor
Rain starts play
We’ve classic rallying weather, too. As we head up the A470 towards Merthyr Tydfil, the sky is as dark as the slate roofs either side of the road and constant rain is causing each car to throw up plumes of spray. The motorway miles on the journey here have not been unpleasant, though. The dash is as cheap and nasty to look at as Imprezas of old, but the excellent seats mean it’s not a bad place to spend time.
Yep, it's still got it
Stage fright
Once we’ve passed through the little town of Cymmer, we decide to try and find the start of the Rhondda stage, as used on the RAC Rally for several years. A spot of research the night before – probably not enough – has revealed that we need to head north-east after Cymmer – but after aiming for a number of forest tracks and finding our route barred by gates or rocks, we realise the search isn’t going to plan. We do, however, find a jolly good water splash, so we drive through it a few times, giggling like kids and pretending to be real-live rallyists. And with that out of our system, we decide to aim the nose further east towards Resolven, another of the RAC Rally stages, via a rough little B-road.
Traction not an issue with adjustable 4WD
It’s the brawny engine that’s always the centrepiece, though. It’s easy to become blase about the Impreza burble if you’ve heard a thousand of the things puttering past with drainpipe exhausts hanging off, but on a charge, the sound of a turbocharged boxer at maximum attack is still magnificent. Wind it up, and the whine of the turbo overlays a snarling, grunting ululation that rises in urgency with the revs. And the wallop it delivers is heavier and more addictive than ever before. In combination with the four-wheel drive, it’s devastating. Plant your foot and there’s no drama; no scrabble or tug. The WRX just bolts off down the road.
Time to say goodbye...
Our hunt for the Resolven stage proves... well, unresolved, if you'll pardon the pun. At one point we come across what we think might just be the start – but of course, there’s nothing there to confirm it to us either way. By now, the light is fading, so we rattle off a couple of shots for posterity and turn back towards home. As we climb up over the hills for the last time, snow starts to fall, thick and fast, and soon we’re making tracks through an unbroken white carpet. In most other performance cars it’d be slightly unnerving, but at no point does the WRX ever feel anything other than reassuringly stable. It just serves to reaffirm the superb breadth of the its talents.
There’s no place for the WRX in the UK in its current form. Sales figures have made that clear. Whether it’s because of its thirst or the lack of any parallel motorsport activity, whether it was initially priced too high before a recent £5,000 cut, or whether people were turned off by the hatchback iteration that preceded the current saloon and have never returned, it’s hard to say. And yet, the reasons for which it was so successful in its heyday haven’t gone away. It still offers an awful lot of bang for your buck. And it still delivers practicality, power and all-weather usability in spades. It still has the same downsides, too, but they never really stopped it before. We can only hope, therefore, that this isn't the end of the line for the WRX in this country, and that one day Subaru will bring it back, fitter and stronger than ever before. But for now, it’s with a genuinely heavy heart that we have to bid this old friend farewell.
SUBARU WRX STI
Engine: 2,457cc flat-4, direct injection
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 300@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 300@4,000rpm
0-62mph: 5.2 sec
Top speed: 144mph
Weight: 1,505kg
MPG: 26.9mpg (combined)
CO2: 243g/km
Price: £27,995
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Photography: Prime Exposures
Discussion
I've often wondered if the Impreza's/WRX STI's demise was down to the rise of the hyper hot hatch (e.g. Focus RS, RS Megane 265, RS3) and the price difference between them. I'd love to hear from someone who has driven something like that and any of the Impreza models and how they compare. If the hatches can offer 90% of the same performance at 70% the price, why not?
It's a sad day, I've always been a fan of the Impreza despite never owning one.
It's a sad day, I've always been a fan of the Impreza despite never owning one.
It is a bit sad really... I was watching an episode of Best Motoring International a couple of days ago and Keiichi states that "Next year both the Impreza and LanEvo are going to be sold internationally, it seems that both will be around for many years to come." The video contained the Type C edition of the GD Impreza and the Evo 7, so it doesn't seem that long ago (in reality it's a 10 year old video.) and thus slightly more poignant. Times certainly have changed though, who's going to buy a 2.0 Turbo machine that weighs more, drinks a lot more fuel and only offers 10% 'more' when it comes to driving, when it costs a helluva lot more to buy.
They were doing what they do best, but other manufacturers caught up in my opinion.
Then new Evo X's and the Subarus look horrible to my eyes. The best lookers where from the 1992-2005 for both manufacturers.
It is sad now the import market is not at its best so not that many are going to be imported as they used to before.
I think they may be forgotten in a few years time. Well the current models are.
All this is my opinion not proven facts!
SUBARU WRX STI
Engine: 2,457cc flat-4, direct injection
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
You mean All Wheel Drive?
Then new Evo X's and the Subarus look horrible to my eyes. The best lookers where from the 1992-2005 for both manufacturers.
It is sad now the import market is not at its best so not that many are going to be imported as they used to before.
I think they may be forgotten in a few years time. Well the current models are.
All this is my opinion not proven facts!
SUBARU WRX STI
Engine: 2,457cc flat-4, direct injection
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
You mean All Wheel Drive?
Its odd isn't it.... if you ignore the AWD,
Other manufacturers sell hatch's and saloons with the same sort of power, and they often have high emissions too.
So what was it, insurance? - must be the same for all cars at that level surely?
Design and style? maybe........... i think they gained a loyal following through motorsport, a little like lotus, and turned away from it, then the company tried to re-invent its product, and generally *ucked it up and there you go, no sales.
Other manufacturers sell hatch's and saloons with the same sort of power, and they often have high emissions too.
So what was it, insurance? - must be the same for all cars at that level surely?
Design and style? maybe........... i think they gained a loyal following through motorsport, a little like lotus, and turned away from it, then the company tried to re-invent its product, and generally *ucked it up and there you go, no sales.
Same as Ford. Went from race/rally car for the road, to status symbol for undesirables. Its a shame because i always wanted a mint Evo 5 and it looks like my chance has gone now.
Did the cars really improve much over time? Apart from the FQ evos weren't they all much the same barring minor cosmetic tweaks and differing power? Its a testament to how well sorted the first cars were!
Did the cars really improve much over time? Apart from the FQ evos weren't they all much the same barring minor cosmetic tweaks and differing power? Its a testament to how well sorted the first cars were!
Crow555 said:
I've often wondered if the Impreza's/WRX STI's demise was down to the rise of the hyper hot hatch (e.g. Focus RS, RS Megane 265, RS3) and the price difference between them. I'd love to hear from someone who has driven something like that and any of the Impreza models and how they compare. If the hatches can offer 90% of the same performance at 70% the price, why not?
There's a lot of truth in that. A Megane 265 or an Astra VXR would give the current STi a very hard time on a dry road. The FWD hot hatches have come on in leaps and bounds while the rally replicas haven't really. The Subaru is more charismatic with that glorious flat four and the 'homologation special' feel to some of its rougher edges, but it's significantly more expensive to buy as well as run. It also feels a bit old fashioned inside and lacks the rally-cred it had in the days of McRae and Burns.
I ran a last of the line WRX STi briefly and I really fell for it. I probably would have one over the cheaper and almost equally capable FWD hatches personally, but it's quite hard to defend on an objective level.
It's a real shame they aren't continuing with these in the uk, but you can see why with those sales figures.
TBH although I really enjoyed mine I struggled to see who the target market would be for the car when it was first offered at £33k. Yes it was fast and distinctive and definitely rare but the price put it well out of reach of the previous gen subaru fan-boys and there aren't that many who could put up with the low 20's mpg I achieved over the time i had mine or the stiff ride. Other than the recaros the interior was well behind what you'd get in say, a VAG product.
That lovely subaru exhaust bark though.. awesome seats, massive performance and 4wd thrust.
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
TBH although I really enjoyed mine I struggled to see who the target market would be for the car when it was first offered at £33k. Yes it was fast and distinctive and definitely rare but the price put it well out of reach of the previous gen subaru fan-boys and there aren't that many who could put up with the low 20's mpg I achieved over the time i had mine or the stiff ride. Other than the recaros the interior was well behind what you'd get in say, a VAG product.
That lovely subaru exhaust bark though.. awesome seats, massive performance and 4wd thrust.
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
rob.e said:
It's a real shame they aren't continuing with these in the uk, but you can see why with those sales figures.
TBH although I really enjoyed mine I struggled to see who the target market would be for the car when it was first offered at £33k. Yes it was fast and distinctive and definitely rare but the price put it well out of reach of the previous gen subaru fan-boys and there aren't that many who could put up with the low 20's mpg I achieved over the time i had mine or the stiff ride. Other than the recaros the interior was well behind what you'd get in say, a VAG product.
That lovely subaru exhaust bark though.. awesome seats, massive performance and 4wd thrust.
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
The low purchase price made up for the fuel bills though TBH although I really enjoyed mine I struggled to see who the target market would be for the car when it was first offered at £33k. Yes it was fast and distinctive and definitely rare but the price put it well out of reach of the previous gen subaru fan-boys and there aren't that many who could put up with the low 20's mpg I achieved over the time i had mine or the stiff ride. Other than the recaros the interior was well behind what you'd get in say, a VAG product.
That lovely subaru exhaust bark though.. awesome seats, massive performance and 4wd thrust.
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
2011 WRX STI Type Uk by lotus-gt, on Flickr
Having owned five Imprezas since 1997, including a 2.0 Turbo, an RB5 PPP, a wide track 2.0 STi Type UK PPP and current 2.5 WRX PPP, I am very sad at Subaru's decision, but of course, it is fully understandable. The WRX has only covered 37,000 miles and never fails to provide absolute enjoyment - the proper "ultimate driving machine"! Hopefully, it will last for many more years and intend to keep it until completely unviable. Only does about 20 to the gallon on a good day (V-Power of course) - but delivers 270 BHP, 336 lbs/ft and unbielivable grip in all conditions - particularly in the wet, snow or ice (as the man said)...
I've owned both of the latest Impreza and Evo now and my biggest problem is the lack of durability and build quality, and I'm not talking about the lack of soft touch plastics here. I had a 2009 WRX STI 330S and after only 2 years and 17000 miles, the infamous ringland failure reared its ugly head and the engine went bang. I then had to fight for over a month with Subaru and the dealer to get them to admit the car was buggered and replace the engine, during the course of which the tracker found the dealer guilty of doing 114mph on a 60mph A-road and for which I never received an apology, despite raising my concerns of them doing this on a completely knackered engine....then handing it back to me and expecting me to drive around in it. But that's another story. I'm sure not all Subaru dealers are complete d**ks.
Shortly after getting it back fixed, I was so fed up I traded it for an Evo X FQ330 SST and, while the engine has been fine, everything round the engine is slowly trying to convert itself back into dust. My first set of alloys blistered badly (the Impreza did the same) and now the second set, which I assume are just refurbished here in the UK, have all the finish literally falling off them as I fight to get another proper new set. The AYC pump gave up after only 15000 miles yet the car has been in and out the dealer 3 times to get that diagnosed and replaced, and the SST gearbox now needs replaced as well as it randomly decides to either not change gear at all, or to ram the clutch in like a learner driver. I haven't even started on the ominous vibration that's started to appear on lift off at 2500 rpm, or the clunking coming from the nearside rear. I also spent 7 months trying to get a new set of front discs out of Mitsubishi as they were warped beyond belief at only 8500 miles and now, at 19000 miles and only 1500 miles since I finally got them replaced under warranty, the garage reckon they need replaced again. How old is the car? It's just past its second birthday!
The era of the reliable and durable Japanese performance car seems to be at an end. Most of these failures are not unique and seem to be all too common on the various marque specific forums. This breed of cars were never stylish but they always had performance, handling and reliability on their side. The performance advantage has gradually withered as weight crept up (the Evo is nearly 1600kg, which is obese) and the Impreza's last iteration doesn't really handle very well at all (and I also rate my old RX8 PZ far above the Evo, though it's still miles better than the STI). Far too much soft bushing and understeer to be fun. And the reliability is now a thing of the past as well. Without those, you have an obese AWD minicab with an embarrassing spoiler.
As to why they didn't sell, I don't think it's the hot hatches at all. As far as I can see, on local roads round Edinburgh and the Lothians, nobody buys those either. I've seen one Focus RS, one Megane 265 and a handful of Golf GTis in the past month. I've yet to see a new VXR or ST on the road. People have deserted the higher spec cars of "normal" manufacturers in favour of the lower rungs of diesel ownership for the German "premium" marques. Our roads are littered with Audi TDI, Merc CDI, 120d and 320ds. Many of them used to have a hot hatch in the drive .The German marketing, backed up by the idiocy of taxing only CO2, rather than the truly poisonous exhaust gases, has made them an attractive proposition.
Shortly after getting it back fixed, I was so fed up I traded it for an Evo X FQ330 SST and, while the engine has been fine, everything round the engine is slowly trying to convert itself back into dust. My first set of alloys blistered badly (the Impreza did the same) and now the second set, which I assume are just refurbished here in the UK, have all the finish literally falling off them as I fight to get another proper new set. The AYC pump gave up after only 15000 miles yet the car has been in and out the dealer 3 times to get that diagnosed and replaced, and the SST gearbox now needs replaced as well as it randomly decides to either not change gear at all, or to ram the clutch in like a learner driver. I haven't even started on the ominous vibration that's started to appear on lift off at 2500 rpm, or the clunking coming from the nearside rear. I also spent 7 months trying to get a new set of front discs out of Mitsubishi as they were warped beyond belief at only 8500 miles and now, at 19000 miles and only 1500 miles since I finally got them replaced under warranty, the garage reckon they need replaced again. How old is the car? It's just past its second birthday!
The era of the reliable and durable Japanese performance car seems to be at an end. Most of these failures are not unique and seem to be all too common on the various marque specific forums. This breed of cars were never stylish but they always had performance, handling and reliability on their side. The performance advantage has gradually withered as weight crept up (the Evo is nearly 1600kg, which is obese) and the Impreza's last iteration doesn't really handle very well at all (and I also rate my old RX8 PZ far above the Evo, though it's still miles better than the STI). Far too much soft bushing and understeer to be fun. And the reliability is now a thing of the past as well. Without those, you have an obese AWD minicab with an embarrassing spoiler.
As to why they didn't sell, I don't think it's the hot hatches at all. As far as I can see, on local roads round Edinburgh and the Lothians, nobody buys those either. I've seen one Focus RS, one Megane 265 and a handful of Golf GTis in the past month. I've yet to see a new VXR or ST on the road. People have deserted the higher spec cars of "normal" manufacturers in favour of the lower rungs of diesel ownership for the German "premium" marques. Our roads are littered with Audi TDI, Merc CDI, 120d and 320ds. Many of them used to have a hot hatch in the drive .The German marketing, backed up by the idiocy of taxing only CO2, rather than the truly poisonous exhaust gases, has made them an attractive proposition.
Edited by Ali_T on Wednesday 3rd April 15:34
Captain Muppet said:
I know it's come up before, but I'm old and stupid and can't absorb new information - could someone please explain to me how this sort of s
t matters?
It's not a problem if you're hammering down your favourite B-road in driving rain and covering ground faster than a light aircraft, but the cheap and rattly interior does start to grate a bit on longer or less demanding drives.t matters?I loved my Impreza, a near-faultless car!
For me it was always the noise it made that put shivers down my back. The most destinctive beautiful sound I've ever heard. I had a 2003 wrx sti ppp, The power and AWD was outstanding and made mince meat of any hot hatch that was brave enough to attemp to keep up, AND I still dont know of any of the current hot hatches that can hit 0-62 in 4.5 seconds from factory.
Tax, insurance, tyres, etc were easily affordable, Unfortunately the demise for me was the fuel costs! Driving carefully, £20 would get me 75 miles, put my foot down and that £20 only made 50 miles!!! But it was an addiction to feel the power and here the noise, it wasnt possible to drive sensibly.
So ultimately I think the cost of fuel has led to the demise of the Impreza. Such a shame
Happiest driving days I ever had.
A legendary car.
Tax, insurance, tyres, etc were easily affordable, Unfortunately the demise for me was the fuel costs! Driving carefully, £20 would get me 75 miles, put my foot down and that £20 only made 50 miles!!! But it was an addiction to feel the power and here the noise, it wasnt possible to drive sensibly.
So ultimately I think the cost of fuel has led to the demise of the Impreza. Such a shame
Happiest driving days I ever had.A legendary car.
I loved my Hawkeye and I probably enjoy the current Forester even more so - with some nice modifications.
I can't say I ever cared about the interior and the actual quality of the materials was pretty good. The dash was soft-touch and the other plastics just did their job. I will say that the money was spent where it counts as the seat, pedals, steering wheel and gear lever were all top quality and those were in use for 99% of all journeys.
Also, my STI had no issues other than a knocking rear strut which every STI has had for 13 years.
Great cars, the lot of them.
I can't say I ever cared about the interior and the actual quality of the materials was pretty good. The dash was soft-touch and the other plastics just did their job. I will say that the money was spent where it counts as the seat, pedals, steering wheel and gear lever were all top quality and those were in use for 99% of all journeys.
Also, my STI had no issues other than a knocking rear strut which every STI has had for 13 years.
Great cars, the lot of them.
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