The STI Shows Up; With a $35K Pricetag

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
  • 132 comments
  • 9,052 views
Turning his words about on him, eh, Sakiale?

You know, your steep roofline argument doesn't hold water against the Dodge Magnum...

78026905_DodgeMagnum_SideViewMoving_63-250-139.jpg


So, is it the world's biggest Hatchback?

While we're at it, check out this '57 Chevy Nomad "Hatchback"

57nomad2.jpg


I challenge thus: if you removed the rear doors, and made the windows from the B-pillars back steel, would it look like a panel van? that's the true litmus test of a Wagon.
 


Ooops, this one slipped under the radar...

Autoblog
The Subaru Impreza STI just made its North American debut, and for those of us here in the States, life is good. Just like the JDM version, the STI benefits from a wider track and a longer wheelbase, but power is provided by Subaru's 2.5-liter boxer four making 305 hp and 290 lb.-ft. of torque. The sprint to sixty will be dispatched in 4.9 seconds, and Subie execs are touting the engine's new torque characteristics as more tractable and effortlessly exciting. Aluminum suspension components partner with inverted struts to keep all four wheels planted and providing motivation, while a redesigned DCCD allows drivers to select six different differential settings.

Pricing has been set at $34,995 and Subaru began taking orders today.
Click to expand...

Evolution FTW in this situation, again. I still don't care much for this one, and now that its certainly more expensive than the VW R32, yeah, my choice is clear...
 
Go ahead and get your R32. I'd buy the STi for its performance. Also, it's less of a computer than the Evo, and I prefer that.
 
Same here. It also has actually lost weight compared to the previous generation, compared to the good chunk of fatness the Evo's gained. I'm really warming up to the hatch; the front's still awful, but the rear 3/4, lights aside, is pretty nice. Sure, the hatch is a departure from tradition... but it just reminds me of what every rally car was based off two decades ago. Lancia never had a problem with a hatch :).

I find it odd that people are so hesitant about the new GT-R because it's "too computer controlled", but dive onto the Evo wagon.

I'm a bit confused by the torque figure; why's it less than last year? Seems odd. Oh well; I'm curious to see what the new gen Spec-C will end up being like.
 
SlipZtrEm
I find it odd that people are so hesitant about the new GT-R because it's "too computer controlled", but dive onto the Evo wagon.
Click to expand...

Taking this thread a little off topic but I haven't spent much time in the GT-R thread and really I'm still approaching the GT-R with caution, but with the EVO, I think a lot of us are disappointed with the EVO and it's computerness. And since the STi is a hatch now, the EVO is more the lesser of two evils.
 
They're all getting far too computer controlled if you ask me, but at the very least, Mitsubishi hasn't inflated the price of the standard Evolution too much. Really, price is the only thing that keeps the two separate these days. Its even more strange when the R32 ends up splitting the difference (Evo GSR starts $30K-ish, the R32 at about $33K, the STi at $35K).

Still makes me wish they sold my crazy-ass Renault hatchbacks here. At the very least they're still fun to drive and do so without too many computers telling the car what to do...
 
YSSMAN
Still makes me wish they sold my crazy-ass Renault hatchbacks here. At the very least they're still fun to drive and do so without too many computers telling the car what to do...
Click to expand...

The Renault Megane hot hatch thingy is slower around the TG track than the GTI. Not that those cars are in the same competition anyway.
 
philly cheese
The Renault Megane hot hatch thingy is slower around the TG track than the GTI. Not that those cars are in the same competition anyway.
Click to expand...

The newer Megane RS models have a front differential and a rockhard suspension. Makes them much faster on the track than a GTI and more entertaining to drive, but only masochists will use it as a daily driver.

With the STI it's going the wrong way. First they equipped it with a worse engine than before, but now it's even more expensive than an EVO too...
Not that I can afford one anyway, but I think this one will be less of a success than the previous models. A shame, because in this land of diesels it's always a delightment to hear a powerful petrol engine, especially a boxer.
 
Hugo Boss
The newer Megane RS models have a front differential and a rockhard suspension. Makes them much faster on the track than a GTI and more entertaining to drive, but only masochists will use it as a daily driver.
Click to expand...

Quite right, but nevertheless, makes them quite interesting. I still love my R26 Megane...
 
True. I can't dig the normal Renaults, but RenaultSport always manages to transfer them into cars that create some firework! :cool:

Still I'd rather have a GTI Edition 30 though :drool:
 
-> I saw the STI in person at the LA show and based on my first impression it was a decent car. It was a complete departure to the uglified regular-WRX/S-GT, its a very good alternative to the 135i (since the hatch version won't see the American sunlight).
 
Actually I love the old wagon, basically why I own an '02 WRX vintage. Every year after '03 I prayed that they would bring the STi Wagon over here, but no luck obviously. However this new design has me less than pleased. The 2008 base WRX is fugly, and the STI is better but I'm still not certain how much.

BTW not to be nit picky, but it's officially STI now, changed from STi to STI between '06 & '07.
 
-> Although there is a lot of advancements on the new STI, but I'll keep my wagon thank you very much. As of now my wagon can beat unsuspecting STi's now. :)
 
Okay....

1: Reduce the Rally Connection by adding more bling (See Alco DL-109/PA Comparo post)
2: Only offer as wagon/Hatch/Argument no-one can seem to win.
3: put $5,000 premium over Lancer Evolution. and $2,000 over the VW R32.
4: and give Toyota the keys to the Designer's Studio.

Evo, the micro R35 GT-R, FTW.

(Or, Perhaps, a Mustang Bullitt.)
 
I think thats a pretty fair way to sum it all up. I'm still rather surprised that its more expensive than the R32. Particularly when the R32 will be far more rare in the US than the STi, and furthermore, probably costs more for VW to build and ship as well.

Oh well. Now we get to long for the older, better days like the old folks we're all becoming...
 
Yeah subaru messed up big time. Luckily residuals never were their biggest strength so they should be 2nd hand bargains like in the past. Whatever you do dont buy one from new :lol:
 
YSSMAN


Ooops, this one slipped under the radar...
Click to expand...

Can't imagine why....



YSSMAN
Evolution FTW in this situation, again. I still don't care much for this one, and now that its certainly more expensive than the VW R32, yeah, my choice is clear...
Click to expand...

Evolution definitely. This thing looks like a sighing heap, like it knows it's depressing to look at. And read "effortlessly exciting" as "feels like an electric car". Just because the torque curve is flatter down low, that doesn't make it a better sports car.
 
-> Subaru has been taking this 'rally heritage' a bit too far and take that for granted and drops the ball for it. :indiff:

-> It may look like the EVO X is a good buy out of the leagues of R32 (fall short of performance for the price/purpose), 135i (a bit fugly, but high fun factor), Mustang Bullit (clumbsy, and one color only) and the STI (ugly, overpriced, and ugly). :indiff:

-> Now it all comes down to driving each one of these car then. Because in my opinion, that will be the final deciding factor of these cars. :)

-> And guys don't forget, the next Tiburon/Genesis coupe is about to joins the fray too.

;)
 
The STI does look nice but needs smaller wing mirrors. I wonder if SEAT will make a 4wd ibiza turbo like they have suggested at one point. The old ibiza is a rally star and SEAT might want to improve on that.
 
The wing mirrors don't seem unusually large...

I would doubt the Ibiza would end up with 4WD and a turbo. I thought it was Skoda that was running rallies until recently? Wouldn't a rally-inspired Ibiza completely throw off the heirarchy in the Seat range? Plus I don't think that platform has a 4WD option in the VW empire. I do think a Leon running the S3's drivetrain could work, and would hopefully be a better drive, judging by what I've read of the Audi.
 
Well audi are making a A1 which will be apparently running on a similiar, if not the same chassis as the next ibiza and audi will offer a 4wd model. Apparently audi got seat to do alot of the work for the a1 chassis.
 
-> I've just read the news at Inside Line tha the new Evo X in the US will go right around $34-35K mark for its 5M/T GSR and $39-40K for the MR with the 5-SST. Hmm, looks like I'm more leaning towards to the STI now. Too much electronics can somehow reduce some part of your driving pleasure. I'd go for 'analog' driving feel than 'electronic'. :indiff:

USDM Evo X Pricing
 
I'm still leaning towards the Evo GSR, though, even though the price difference has evaporated.
 

Latest Posts

Back