Having sat in one for some time, interior is crap especially for the price and unlike what one commenter did say, if you want one with Nav and the nice BBS rims then it will be $40k so Subaru has missed the original plot of their rally reps here–killer performance at a killer price.

Still performs better than 90% of whats on the road at 10/10ths but for a lot less money I’d rather commute in an R32 with DSG–which I bet would stick with an STI on a canyon road anyway.

The problem with the Subaru is NOT the exterior profile.

All Imprezas need:

1) a price reduction, or an interior worthy of the price tag.
2) a 6-speed manual transmission
3) flatter torque across the rev range
4) a 3-door hatchback version ’cause no large adult is going in the back anyway.
5) if the WRX wants to ever surpass the EVO in performance, it’s gotta shift some of the vehicle mass aft. WAAAAY too much understeer in this puppy, i don’t care how advanced the differential is.

Have fun with your wagon i’ll keep the 2 door coupe DSM.

/bring a good set of tools, air tools preferably.

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-proton-r3-satria/647739/

Look at this pic. Are they similar?”

Yer right, Beat… they ARE similar. But I think the Proton looks better. Kinda like a WRX or STI filtered through VW’s styling studio. Wish they sold them here in the States.

Perhaps someone well versed in the Subie tuner community could comment?

Blautens,
The prior generation STi vs. WRX was a very stark contrast in actual hardware. 2.5L vs. 2.0L and different turbos to boot. But the single largest difference was easily the transmission and differentials.
WRX: 5-speed with 1.1:1 funkyness making it artificially taller, LSD rear, viscous center, and open front. Also known as the glass trannies; they really do break easily.
STi: 6-speed close ratio that is absolutely indestructible, LSDs front and rear with the DCCD in the center that actually worked. (’08 model notwithstanding, ‘04-’07 saw minor changes almost every year to the diffs and the center controller, that I won’t go into here…but unlike the review, those settings did make a good bit of difference. No AYC or stability control; that’s what the driver was for!)
The $5-7k premium (depending on options, rebates, etc) for the STi was a steal considering just the transmission cost difference (retail from Subaru is either $6k or $7k, I forget now.) Plenty of folks have done the tough work of stuffing a 6-speed into a WRX, which transforms it quite nicely for the better. Throw in the engine and turbo differences, plus the differentials, and the much better brake package and it wasn’t just icing on the cake: It was actually a lot more cake.
Nowadays Subaru have figured that they can swing the upmarket (I saw this trend starting with the ‘05 Legacy GT…sort of works) by adding a Nav system, a ridiculous failure of an SUV, and some leather interior. The reality is that it does not work, and a $14k price premium is just not justifiable especially considering that some of the major ‘weak points’ of the WRX have been addressed: The WRX now has upgraded brakes (just not the big Brembos) and the 2.5L engine from the Legacy GT (with a smaller turbo and some internal differences.) The transmissions break far less than their previous ‘02/’03 variants though they aren’t exactly able to deal with high-revving clutch dropping action either.

Feel free to email me if you like and I can be more specific: Just add hotmail.com to my alias here. I haven’t had the chance to get into the new ’08s yet; it is just one of those things that I haven’t done down at the local dealership, though I have a fair amount of seat time both on a course and off in the other variants dating back to the ‘99 model 2.5RSs. Definitely on my to-do list, though I’m just not as excited about this radical departure from Subaru as I have been about the previous evolutionary steps that they had been making.

-Biggly

News Flash – $40,000 is not the STI base price and $40,000 is also the wrong price for a fully factory optioned STI.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI Base MSRP: $34,995.00

Factory Fully optioned: BBS Wheels, Navigation & Fog lights, MSRP: $38,795.00

Needless to say but Destination & Delivery is an additional $645

The Base STI can easily be had for invoice $33,010 and worth every damn penny.

Look at this pic. Are they similar?

Loverman!
You’re back!

+1

;)

This thing reminds me of the 1981 Audi Quattro– you know the one, Michelle Mouton, Group B, Walter Rohl, Pike’s Peak, crowds scattering, two wheels over the edge, flames from the back. Dog-ugly interior.

Look, styling has gotten seriously wussified lately. If I see another useless crease or shiny sill plate or “statement” front grille on a car I’ll puke. Form follows function, anyone?

I think I want one.

I drove that a few weeks ago and it was amazing.
And $33 000.

I will probably use it as a beater car when the warranty expires if the interior continues to fall apart or get rid of it and go back to Acura.

I was at my dealer’s a couple of weeks ago, the day after their first one came in. Red: ticket magnet, no thanks. But it looks better in person than on film.

What’s interesting to me is that the weight distribution is a wrinkle free LL Bean button down-esque 60/40. Wow! That makes me think that this thing may not be so great when it gets wet – or snowy. Unless I can toss the rear around like my name is Petter. It isn’t. I can’t. A tree and my first LGT in the Rhode Island woods several years ago proved that…even with the Pirelli snows.

So what are your thoughts about that nose-heavy-ness?

One car is all I have room for. THe hatch makes sense and it won’t look too bad with a bike rack on top. But what about that weight distribution?

Johnny, you’re the only reviewer I’ve seen that mentions the atrocious interior quality of the new WRX/STI and Impreza. Everyone else repeats the Subaru press release which goes on about the upgraded interior. Are people blind? Do they have no knuckles for the “rap” test? And the interior styling… Whose nightmare is this?

I happened to be at my Subaru dealer last August when the first 08 WRXs and regular Imprezas were unloaded from the semi.

My own Impreza was aged 10, no problems. I had saved (being an oldster) and could afford a WRX on the spot. Sat in it. Seat too low to the floor. Back seat way too close to the floor. Back seat fold down hinge right where your upper butt wants to be. Yes I often ride in the back on long trips with extra drivers. Interior a great plastic swath of hard crap. Everywhere. Door panels a testament to the one piece plastic moulder’s art, and I haven’t seen any of them nominated for sainthood yet. Makes a Chrysler product look acceptable.

I wanted an auto, because I’m old, hate the Subaru gearshift, (I have a ‘90 AWD Talon turbo for hooning with just 45K miles on it) and because the old auto WRX had the VTD planetary center differential, and an LSD rear diff, plus VDC. The new one? $20 worth of electronics for VDC/traction control, no center diff (just the old 4 speed auto fitted to the cheapest Impreza but with a new name) and no LSD at the rear. Basically, craptastic. Mark my words, the new 09 Forester XT will be similarly decontented, I’ll bet. They seem to think nobody will notice.

Exterior. Barely acceptable. The new doors with frames just about removed my left eye when I opened the driver’s door. That’s a sharp point, so watch out for that. Overall, never been so disappointed in my entire life. This vehicle was removed from my possible purchase list on the spot.

Here in Canada, they had a few 08 Legacy GT Limiteds going for $700 LESS than the WRX last month, if you managed to see the fine print on the Subaru website. Almost down to the US price.

Guess what I’m driving now… I love it, and after 6 months of training may remember where all the controls are! The paddle shifters are great, the manumatic on the console less so (the up and down positions are backwards to me – only Mazda and BMW get it right). Rumors are that the LGT is kaput for ‘09 so I’m very glad I got this one. She be smooth, quick and comfy, with amazing traction on pure ice. Plus it’s actually handsome in an understated way. The interior is just fine.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy your STI, though. At least it has killer performance. Meanwhile, has Subaru lost the plot? Apparently so. I hope they stay in business long enough to honor my warranty.