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You’ll run out of talent before it runs out of grip!

By: Nathan D. Adlen

Bold words I know, but you have to try this car. Usually, when I evaluate a car, I try not to delve into comparing it before I have had my way with it. Most periodicals/ publications immediately compared the 2008 WRX STI to the 2008 Lancer Evolution with mixed results. For the most part, the Evo was faster around the track by a bit, more toss-able and could be purchased for a little less with a lower base price.

The comparisons were so close that it was like splitting hairs to me. Although I find track times and raw performance important, few of us will use either of these cars to compete or run them at their limits. As such, in real world driving I find the STI hard to beat – by anyone. It is so good at so many things that you will be hard pressed to find a more exciting daily driver.

First, let me apologize to Subaru for doubting their initiative when I first got a load of the regular, 2008 WRX – I was less than enthusiastic. Considering the regular WRX not very promising, I assumed they would drop the ball on the STI. I was (delighted to say) mistaken. Everything wrong with the regular WRX (looks and character for the most part) became a distant memory the moment I cranked up the 305-horsepower 2.5 liter dual overhead cam, turbocharged, 4 cylinder boxer engine.

This machine does transmissions the way I like it- manual ONLY! A floppy paddle shifter auto-box-thing is said to be in the works. Still, banging the 6 speed through its short throws and heel-tow (breaking while accelerating and shifting) down-shifts around corners makes you feel like you’re playing a video game. The exhaust note is deep and purposeful without being too intrusive. The driving experience lends itself to negating the use of the tachometer once you get used to its pitch.

It sounds just like an older Porsche Turbo – and drives like the Devil! I didn’t even wait for the full tutorial on what a shiny, round dial and a few switches located below the shifter did (I found out about the “Subaru Intelligent Drive” or “SI-Drive” a little later). I just enjoyed the linier feeling of the power pulling me back into the excellent, gray Alcantara seat.

On all of its middle settings (engine and differential) I began to hunt for corners. If you pay a visit to Denver, Colorado while having the good fortune to drive a fun car, head west to Evergreen. You will find some amazing switchbacks, sweeping bends, hairpins, extreme elevation changes and fairly empty roads. Take Squaw Pass Road (hwy 103) and head to Idaho Springs. If you are in a car like the WRX Sti, you can drive this road nearly year round. Expect bliss and dig some of the best 36 miles (1 ½ hours if you behave) of twists you can find in the states. Oh, and if you ski – Echo Mountain, which is mid-route, is a great alternative to the snobby, crowded slopes elsewhere (and it’s close to Denver).

So, as I was winding up the turbo and shifting up and down keeping the engine boiling between 4500 and 6500 RPM, the stupid smile fell off my face and I began to ease into higher shift points. I began squinting my eyes (like all brave drivers do before they DIE) as corners were taken faster and breaking waited to the last possible moments. I was driving the WRX Sti faster than ANY machine I had taken on this road… and there was some snow and ice on the shoulders.

The Sti squats more than last year’s model, but still pulls you through a corner like a fighter plane. 305 horsepower grunts at you with that unique gurgle as you let the boxer engine slow you down before pushing the accelerator all the way down at the apex of the next corner. The grip is scary-good as you sense that the tire screeching can go on a while before you surpass the limits. The more power you put down, the more control you seem to have… It’s insane!

My little voice of reason whispered in my ear and I eased off. Big Brembo® disc brakes (front, 12.7” and 12.3” rear) reeled me in and were fade free from my moment of stupidity (fade free for 45 minutes of hard driving). As I finished my loop, my knees were still jittery from the adrenaline. I had no idea what music I had blasting on the (normally great sounding) standard 80 watt, 10 speaker, 6 disc, MP3 system.

I wanted to go back to being naughty. Once I got back to the city, I immediately looked for someone – anyone in a Mustang GT, RX8, GTO, S 2000, 300 ZX etc.

What I got was a bemused owner of a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR smiling at me at a red light. After what felt like an eternity of self doubt, I opted to shake my head and wave as we casually pulled away on green (I can not be a complete imbecile with a car I’m only allowed to use for a short period of time). He smirked as if to say, “your loss.” Still, I was foaming at the mouth and really wanted to cut loose.

That is one of the drawbacks of the STI; utter temptation to flex HE-MAN muscles and attempt to rewrite the laws of physics. I settled down and opted to drive the car as if it were just a daily driving vehicle. Surprise-surprise, it drove great! As far as I was concerned, it was more compliant than the Evo I drove a month back and far more forgiving. Sure, there was a little road noise from the fat 8 ½ inch rubber (on standard 18 inch wheels and BBS wheels are available as a package for $2,000 more – or $3,800 more with navigation), but it was never annoying. The road noise was much less noticeable than the Evo’s, and the Subaru felt more sedate in city traffic.

As I tried to behave myself, I noticed something unusual in a sports car… utility. There is a 60/40 split rear seat and enough room with the seats folded down to carry some serious cargo. I sat in the back and enjoyed the fact that there was more room than in the previous model. The load height and door opening is useful for loading kids and the wide hatchback opens to a nice size. This car would work quite nicely for the new parent who hated to get rid of their sports coupe.

Looking at the STI, I had many moments of doubt thinking that one or two things were just cosmetic, but that vanished when I looked at the rear quarter view and took in the bulging wheel wells, the fat rear bumper and (my favorite) the quad exhaust pipes. The whole look is bold and aggressive and makes a statement. Not in a bubble gum chewing, sideways baseball cap, white sunglasses sort of way, but in a Mohawk wearing tattoo brandishing, mixed martial arts ass-kicking sort of way!

The interior is fairly simple and well put together without the obvious cheap plastics and overtly angular lines of its predecessor. It’s a fairly civilized place to be and creates a less intrusive environment than the Evo’s. I would have liked a little more leg room, but it is an improvement over the last model’s interior.

Between the driver and passenger’s seat is the “SI-Drive” system and the “DCCD” or Driver Controlled Center Differential. The three mode rotary dial for the SI-Drive supposedly allows the driver to control engine performance with three settings: “Intelligent,” “Sport” and “Sport Sharp.” Honestly, I kept the car in “Sport” as this felt like the most logical for dueling with traffic and punching high RPM’s without overdoing it.

“Sport Sharp” seems to quicken responses and makes the already sensitive throttle more so. “Intelligent” is the mellow setting for casual driving with the greatest efficiency. This is where I get irritated by others who gripe about the mediocre gas mileage even in this setting. Dude, it’s an all-wheel-drive, 305 horsepower, turbocharged rocket! 17 city and 23 mpg highway is poor – for an ECONOMY car. This is fine for a sports car, which it is.

Seriously, when I was at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I overheard an executive from a competing company (rhymes with fjord) mock Subaru for making a car that was so inefficient. She must have forgotten to look at the incredible numbers generated by the Sti (like 0 to 60 in about 4.8 seconds), or its success in racing, or its success on the street. It embarrasses nearly every-single-V8 built.

As for the Driver Controlled Center Differential switch: it allows you to put the power down by selecting how much slippage and percentage of the engine’s power you want to go through the front and rear wheels. Various sensors gage pre-established parameters such as wheel slippage, steering angle, throttle position and braking to help determine torque distribution. Three of the modes are automatic pre-sets and you can opt for manual adjustment (which is recommended for racing only as the pre-sets are best for most situations). There is enough tech-wiz-bangs in the Subaru Impreza WRX Sti to keep James Bond’s “Q” happy.

Does my adoration mean that there is no downside? No, there are a few issues to be sure. The most glaring problem is the very high sticker price. A base price of about $35,000 is knocking on Audi and BMW territory, especially if you add on a few options. Just add the BBS/Navigation, a couple of other goodies and you will be heading well north of $40,000 – easily.

Some reviewers and enthusiasts feel that the Sti is nowhere near as aggressive as its predecessor, it is slightly slower on the track and it leans too much in the corners. The old, aggressive nature has been subdued. It’s more of a mellow beast and is far more of a comfort machine. To this I say (reluctantly), yes. They are correct. I personally do not consider it an overall fault, but it is the truth.

You may wonder if I would take the Subaru WRX Sti over the equivalent Mitsubishi Evolution X. It depends. If I were doing serious track days, bracket racing, rally cross and other forms of private races, then I would take the Evo. It’s a great car for a lower price and I feel like there is more racing potential in the heart of the Mitsubishi, just like the former WRX Sti. Choosing the better car for all around use is easy. I would grab the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX Sti.

I think it would be in Subaru’s best interest to build a compromise; a machine that slots in between the okay Impreza WRX and the awesome Impreza WRX Sti. How about a 29K Sti without some of the expensive wiz-bangs? How about something that is equipped with only aggressive settings, (on suspension, engine, brakes and differential) lighter and cheaper than the full kit Sti? Make a striped down WRX Sti that uses the excellent dynamics, wider fenders, bigger wheels, better engine and good seats without the other pricy, heavy components – like a factory club racer? Ohhhh, that might be the ticket!

As for the 2008 Subaru WRX Sti, I say to you – test drive one. It will remind you why driving can be fun even at $4+ a gallon. It is fairly utilitarian and cheap for all the goodies you get. You can drive it every day to work and even take the kiddies to the in-laws without making too many waves. Your little Subaru will roll along patiently and easily while waiting for you to get that evil smirk. Once you slam down the clutch and bang in that perfect gear, it will reward you so quickly that it may make illegal substances obsolete.

This is not a nice person’s car. The 2008 Subaru WRX Sti is like Kimbo Slice dressed in a sports jacket; subtle, yet VERY dangerous. Man, I can’t wait until the throngs of sick-in-the-head tuners and racers begin messing with the new Sti. Already, in World Rally Championship racing, the Impreza Sti WRC 2008 rally racer has done well. I guarantee it will begin wining many races in the 2009 championship.

Yes, it costs as much as a lower end Audi, BMW, Lexus, etc., but this is not a car for those who need to be pampered. Look, who cares about the image of a proper European’s gentleman’s saloon or high end Japanese machine of outstanding social propriety when you can drive a Ninja on crack!?

My final litmus test that told me the Subaru Impreza WRX Sti is cool… my wife will NEVER let me get one.

Tags: Car Reviews //