The STI Shows Up; With a $35K Pricetag

[sar593]

I'm not very good with photoshop, but I came up with this, looks nice to me.

 

[JCE]

Pure 100% fugly.

 

[Philly]

I'm not very good with photoshop, but I came up with this, looks nice to me.

Mega props on the chop. It looks better, but I don't think that any pro or anything could save it from being ugly.

So if you want an STI, that's what the Evo is for.

 

[harrytuttle]

I'm gonna hijack this thread and ask what Subaru have been smoking and how it is legal in Japan. Did you know they ruined the Legacy now for 2008? I think Subaru just feels that they need to have a wide range of incredibly ugly products to make up for the fact that most of them no longer offer driving excitement.

Seconded. It's going downhill so fast at Subaru, the laws of gravity can't even keep up. I've since moved on to only used cars for new purchases from now on (although being a bit more green-minded has had a hand in that).

Photoshop does wonders...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/1524279283_f92192221e_o.jpg

No it doesn't. The problem is not in the details, but in the overall design and how those details go together. Er, that is, they don't go together. The taillights are nice, the grille is sort of okay, and the interior is at least different if neither slightly worse or better, but under no circumstances should any of those small sketches be put together, and under no circumstances do 5-door hatchbacks work. It's probably because it's an oxymoron...emphasis on the moron.

 

[a6m5]

more pics here

D A M N.

I thought it was the end of Subaru, until I saw the new photos. The new Impreza/WRX are some of the ugliest vehicles I've seen in a long time, and the Outback edition nearly make me vomit. But these STi versions, while, yes, they are very different than the previous STi WRXs, it looks awesome. 👍 I can definitely see how this new look will upset the Subie fans, but I really like this new look for the STi personally.

 

[niky]

Personally:

That's a good angle, and terrific proportion.
Before people start screaming "Focus", try telling me how many different ways you can angle a hatch and make it useful...
hmmm... maybe Subaru should do it Renault's way?

The tail-lights are still a sore point, aesthetically...
Altezza chrome is just so... 90's.

Now here's the reason so many people "hate" the new Impreza.
The lights, the grille... the sort of anonymous smiley-face and the bulbous, wonky front bumper.
The rest of the car is actually well-done.
(in today's high-roofed, super-sized interior market, you can't hope for much more)

Now this takes care of the biggest problem with the front of the current Impreza... something I've talked about before...
replace that damn grille with something better styled...

The bumper is no longer chubby, but now it's too big, giving the Impreza a nose-heavy appearance.
Perhaps Subaru hasn't been paying attention to the trends... wrapped headlights, creative use of wheel-wells,
and suggestive front shapes help hide front overhangs. Alfa doesn't get it (with the Brera),
Audi gets it (with the TT), Ford gets it (with the Mk II Focus)
and Honda gets it (with the Civic... I won't argue about how pretty that one is, though...)

 

[a6m5]

the sort of anonymous smiley-face

Thanks a lot, niky. I've never noticed that before, and now I hate the design even more!

 

[YSSMAN]

Many of you that gripe about new cars' looks and performance, etc., tend to be a bit old fashioned. By this, I mean you prefer older cars looks and feeling and look down on technology and development, it seems....

So no more melodramatic reactions, please.

We have our reasons. Generally speaking, I think most people would prefer to turn back the clock to the time in which WE drove our cars instead of our cars driving us... Granted, I haven't had seat-time in an STI, but if it is anywhere near as isolated and "grown up" as the WRX, then Subaru has missed the point.

Sure, I bitch about refinement in "sports" models all the time; Its why I prefer cars like the GTI and R32 over the more "edgy" STI, Evolution, Type-R, etc... But when you have a company watering down a product that was already so stellar to begin with, you have to be a little upset... Think about Lotus doing the same for the Elise (Europa!) or Lamborghini with their Gallardo, they were both panned by the press (although, Lamborghini has addressed the issues).

So yes, I reserve the right to complain. When I'm expecting balls to the proverbial wall performance, I damn-well better get it. Subaru unfortunately has only semi-sorta done that, and looks wise? Its been downhill for quite some time...

===

And yes, I will change the name of the thread...

 

[Sakiale]

Actually, I hate it because it upsets the tradition--if they called it like... i dunno, Subaru NSH (New Sporty Hatchback) or something, I'd quite like it. I also hate the sedan's taillights and the chrome. But still...

Oh and I think they probably want it to look widebody.

 

[Philly]

I also hate the sedan's taillights and the chrome. But still...

Don't get me started on that Kia looking rear end. It really does compliment the poor looks of the front though.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

You guys who thik it looks like a Focus are crazy.

 

[niky]

Thanks a lot, niky. I've never noticed that before, and now I hate the design even more!

Darn it! Results not optimal! Bad me! Bad me!

 

[Sakiale]

Don't get me started on that Kia looking rear end. It really does compliment the poor looks of the front though.

My thoughts exactly 👍

 

[TheCracker]

I'm begining to warm to the new Impreza. This STi version is looking good.

 

[Kent]

I say it's awesome!
Looks good, not perfect but still pretty aggressive and unique. 👍
Nothing about the design really bothers me.

Would love to see a proper BM shake-down.

 

[Redgodzila]

I think it's a fantastic improvement over the stock Impreza and a great looking STi in it's own right. The lack of chrome grill helps the front end alot, but it needs a restyle to be truly nice. There was a report going around in the paper of a possible restyle of Aussie scoobys in the near future, so maybe we might be saved? Apart from that front the car looks great!

 

[Joey D]

I like it, in my opinion it's better looking then the "I-am-pissed-at-the-world" EVO.

 

[Jim Prower]

Eh, no. It looks better than the base model AND the WRX, yes, but no longer as purposeful. I'd rather the square-shouldered WRC bodywork.

and it's a wagon/hatch. Eevee X...err, Evo X, Please.

 

[Leonidae]

but there's still this difference: Emo x is computer controlled control freaks car, where as STi is still quite pure drivers car, where computer barely does anything else but take care of the ABS. and that silver 2-door chop worked for me, even if the rear lights were bit too shiny in the shadowy part.. 👍

 

[Jim Prower]

You keep telling yourself that...but those silver strakes surrounding the foglights (And why the hell does it even have foglights in the first place?) don't look functional to me...what happened to that nice looking WRC body?

Nice, square and broad shouldered...like an Alco PA...

The roadgoing STi looks like an Alco DL-109...

Sleek, but a bit overadorned.

Besides, the Sedan would look ten times better as an STi than the Wagon, and probably lighter to boot. I prefer Charger over Magnum any day.

So, when it comes to top-level rally rocket, give me a trunk. Give me a Lancer.

 

[YSSMAN]

So, when it comes to top-level rally rocket, give me a trunk. Give me a Lancer.

+10 if I could give you it, as it is the truth with these kinds of cars. A STi hatch just isn't "right," no matter what way you spin it. Hopefully, as someone pointed out, the US market gets that rumored sedan version...

 

[Azuremen]

+10 if I could give you it, as it is the truth with these kinds of cars. A STi hatch just isn't "right," no matter what way you spin it. Hopefully, as someone pointed out, the US market gets that rumored sedan version...

But the huge following for the STi wagon is okay?

Just let things change, else we'd all be driving around crappy pushrods with no handling and the aerodynamics of bricks.

The Jim, the WRC Hatch matches up with the production STi quite well, except for the fog lights and chrome grill insert... truly, unfixable things

 

[Jim Prower]

But the huge following for the STi wagon is okay?

Just let things change, else we'd all be driving around crappy pushrods with no handling and the aerodynamics of bricks.

The Jim, the WRC Hatch matches up with the production STi quite well, except for the fog lights and chrome grill insert... truly, unfixable things

What STi Wagon? Not in the U.S., surely...

And What's wrong with Pushrods?

Furthermore, I think the WRC bumper should, at least, be a production OPTION. It really captures STi spirit better than the "DL-109" Bumper.

Just be thankful it ain't a Caliber.

 

[Azuremen]

What STi Wagon? Not in the U.S., surely...

And What's wrong with Pushrods?

Furthermore, I think the WRC bumper should, at least, be a production OPTION. It really captures STi spirit better than the "DL-109" Bumper.

Just be thankful it ain't a Caliber.

Well, not in the US. I was thinking of mentioning how we all hate Wagons here in the US, etc. Then Brad would come in about how he loves some Passat wagon or something along those lines, attempting to explain America loves wagons, they just have to be made by GM or such

Pushrods are just dated, thats all. They are really only good for limited applications, but DOHC's can perform better all around, period. Per displacement, and pound of enigne, a DOHC is usually more robust.

And yes, its not a Caliber, thank god. I do however really like this look... and most people just seem to be having issues because its not GC8 like... kinda like how people had issues with the MR-S because it wasn't turbo powered, etc. People don't like change, thats all it really is. Or they get stuck on an image. The Lancer Evo is bleh in my opinion... just the way it looks, it tries too hard.

But we can back and forth forever on this topic.

 

[Tornado]

I was thinking of mentioning how we all hate Wagons here in the US, etc. Then Brad would come in about how he loves some Passat wagon or something along those lines, attempting to explain America loves wagons, they just have to be made by GM or such

Because the new Impreza (or any of the old ones, for that matter) were totally wagons.

Pushrods are just dated, thats all. They are really only good for limited applications, but DOHC's can perform better all around, period. Per displacement, and pound of enigne, a DOHC is usually more robust.

Which begs the question why the hell you brought it up in the first place, as it really has nothing to do with anything. And there are quite a few flaws in your argument anyways, but for the sake of the actual topic I'll let them go.

I do however really like this look... and most people just seem to be having issues because its not GC8 like...

People are having issues over it because it is not a driver's car anymore. It has far less to do with the fact that "people don't like change." If people didn't like change, why the hell is everyone clamoring over the Evo now? That has had more of a statistical change than the WRX had.

 

[Azuremen]

How many WRX's have you drove of late? And Impreza... wagon, lets see here...

Oh wait. Thats right, there have been wagon versions of the Impreza forever... and in Japan high performance versions. And even in the US, we had the WRX wagon in the previous generation trim. But yeah, there is no Impreza wagon, just ask The Vanishing Boy? I really don't see where you are going with the Impreza is "totally" a wagon bit...

You just pop in here and call it all rubbish, and it appears you are judging mostly on hear say and looks, more focus on the later. Your argument has consisted of "Its rubbish, so there for its rubbish" and "its not a driver's car anymore" and so on.

The DOHC and Push rod bit was just an example of how people get stuck on dated crap. Pushrods are rubbish, from an engineering standpoint really. But people still like them, and carbs because they know them. But you are right, its not on topic here.

Maybe perhaps if you didn't take every possible chance to call it complete rubbish, every time you saw it, I might not feel the need to rant about how thats your opinion, and it honestly seems like most of the opinions of it being rubbish are based 99% on its looks.

 

[Tornado]

How many WRX's have you drove of late? And Impreza... wagon, lets see here...

How many '08 WRXs have you driven?

Oh wait. Thats right, there have been wagon versions of the Impreza forever... and in Japan high performance versions. And even in the US, we had the WRX wagon in the previous generation trim. But yeah, there is no Impreza wagon, just ask The Vanishing Boy? I really don't see where you are going with the Impreza is "totally" a wagon bit...

If the '08 Impreza is a 5-door, then every single Impreza from before that was called a "wagon" is also a 5-door. If you are calling the new Impreza a wagon, than I have no issue with you.

You just pop in here and call it all rubbish, and it appears you are judging mostly on hear say and looks, more focus on the later. Your argument has consisted of "Its rubbish, so there for its rubbish" and "its not a driver's car anymore" and so on.

I'd love for you to quote me saying that it was crap simply because it was crap. Its a pointless car now, yes, but not a crap car. And I have explained at great detail as to why I thought it was a pointless car. Far from "I hate it because I hate it."

Maybe perhaps if you didn't take every possible chance to call it complete rubbish, every time you saw it, I might not feel the need to rant about how thats your opinion, and it honestly seems like most of the opinions of it being rubbish are based 99% on its looks.

And my opinion that it is rubbish is based 1% on looks, because I've never thought that the Impreza has been a looker. The fact that it looks like it does is regrettable, but I wouldn't give a crap if it was still the drivers car it had been before. And it is NOT. And because it is NOT I am targeting the styling. But if it was (and it is NOT) a driver's car of the same caliber as before, then I wouldn't care at all.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, not in the US. I was thinking of mentioning how we all hate Wagons here in the US, etc. Then Brad would come in about how he loves some Passat wagon or something along those lines, attempting to explain America loves wagons, they just have to be made by GM or such

As I have said before, I have a bit of a wagon and hatch fettish, but that is mainly because the cars I like are done "right," have proper looks, and more often than not, have the performance to back it up... American, German, or Japanese... Now if the STi is balls-to-the-wall awesome, then they get all the cookies. This is probably the first wagon (or hatch) variant of any model in quite some time that I haven't particularly liked... I'm not setting my standards high at all this time around, "advancement" or not.

...And furthermore, why are we (as in you) upset over others preferring older vehicles with older styles of performance? In many cases these newer, "better" cars really don't perform any better, really don't look any better, and God only knows how easy they will be to fix in the future. Cars are too complicated these days, and the same exact thing that happened to the STi already happened to the Evolution. Sure, it makes it "faster" at least in this iteration, but do we really need it?

The problem with the STi is that they wrote off everyone who had loved the previous model by making it wagon-only, making it "softer," and lastly, making it hideous. Sure the last of the current STis aren't pretty, but those before it weren't too bad... And while I did prefer the Evolution the whole time, I at the very least respected the STi. But this one?

...Not so much...

 

[Kent]

I don't think the car is ugly and I expect the performance to be on par with the Evo X. Whether or not this is forward progress I can't surely say... However, I can surely say that looking at an Evo X (which I like very much) is like looking at a galant. I think Subaru, by making a move like this one, is taking a good gamble. 👍 In the end, if the performance is great, I'm sure this car will be well appreciated.

 

[Pako]

The problem with the STi is that they wrote off everyone who had loved the previous model by making it wagon-only, making it "softer," and lastly, making it hideous. Sure the last of the current STis aren't pretty, but those before it weren't too bad... And while I did prefer the Evolution the whole time, I at the very least respected the STi. But this one?

...Not so much...

I thought STi was just a performance modification company. I didn't know they actually built cars....

Actually, here is a complete list of Company functions:

Function
- Management of SUBARU Motorsport Activities: FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
- Development and tuning of Motorsport engines / chassis
- Planning and development of SUBARU STI versions
- Planning, development and manufacturing of STI original limited edition car
- Development and manufacture of competition parts, tuning parts and accessories for SUBARU cars.
- Planning and manufacturing of STI official merchandise
- PR, promotion, operation of web site, planning of Motorsport video and PR magazine for SUBARU Motorsport activity. Operation of the fan club
- Operation of SUBARU dealers' mechanic training program
- Planning and operating the SUBARU Motorsport promotion events.
- Planning for exhibition of Motorsport at Auto Shows
- Support to SUBARU Motorsport teams.
SUPER GT Series, Super Endurance Race Series and Production Car World Rally Championship

From a standpoint of the 'looks' of the car, STi have only helped the looked of the Subaru designed and manufactured car.