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2008/09 Subaru Impreza STI
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Comments
I did get a good 6 hours yesterday driving through long winding country roads, 55 mph 2 lane blacktop. As I was ripping over some rough roads, hitting potholes around corners, etc I was thankful for the softer suspension. It was very comfortable driving around. I could have done all day, except I only got a 6 hour pass.
Then again, maybe I shouldn't!
Need to replace the Miata with another city car, eventually.
Also prefer the exterior of the STi but then neither car is likely to be purchased for its strikingly good looks. It's remarkable that the STi has the most recent fashion conceit, tail light LEDS, yet manages to make them look like retro parts bin leftovers from the days of disco. Hey, but this is a Subie!
Anyhow, the STi I drove had five miles on it and since it was a "green" engine (and city traffic), I didn't really get it on. But with only about 20 minutes of seat time in either car I couldn't make up my mind about how life would be six months down the road with either of them.
Anyone here have some feed back about what life's like living with an STi after the honey moon? Does the sucky gas mileage make for regrets?
The mileage doesn't bother me. I am getting about 17 mpg around town. If you are concerned about cost, if you live anywhere that has winter, you will need new tires. I wasn't quite sure until driving today in sub-50 degree weather. I was able to get the car to get loose. It wasn't anything terrible and the car handled great through it, but it was a curvy road that I have gone faster on with no slippage.
I am planning on getting either the bridgestone potenza's or one of the michelin pilot series. I will probably have to spilt the cost of tires and rims up...get new tires, put them on the stock rims now, then get rims in the spring and put these summer tires on them. About the same $$$ but at least it is broken up.
My sister has an old Subie Forester and the interior seems to have held up as good as one would expect. It seems that the tactile feel or look of the interior materials doesn't necessarily imply poor durability.
Anyhow, thanks guys for the feedback. I did email a local dealer saying that I would go for a dark grey STi at a previously agreed upon price & trade. I'll be waiting to see if he throws me a fish :P
320+ HP?
Paddle shifters?
Direct injection?
Active all-wheel drive?
Sunroof?
Ceramic brakes?
???
My local dealer can't find a dark grey '09 STi, which is pretty much what I intend to hold out for.
Interestingly, as I was talking with the sales guy, my radio was on. And it was an interview with the former head of the CIA, James Woolsey. He's an unrepentant neocon. He drives a Prius and he was discussing all the ramifications of our heavy oil dependence. If you agree with his point of view on energy, which I do, it tends to result in a degree of internal conflict as the STi isn't exactly the most earth-friendly choice :P But that's another subject, eh?
Never thought I would buy one. I was getting ready to jump the ship and go to Germans (mostly for refinement - I really was not craving for that power). But, hey - for 15 grand difference I can change my mind...
2018 430i Gran Coupe
That suckth mightily since there are a bunch of '08's hanging around on dealer lots. But, so it seems, there's a negligible price diff between an '08 and '09.
Good luck with your new STi and watch your 'six'
I really enjoy driving this car, but the summer tires have become very hard and not too grippy in the cold weather. They get me through...but if it is wet and cold I can get the wheels loose very easily. They would get me through the winter I think...I think they are better than some of the really cheap and worn tires you see on old beaters...but I want to continue to enjoy driving my STI all winter.
My initial impressions. The car seems lighter, there is less tire drag. I am not an expert and even sure I understand it completely, but the understeer seems to be completely gone. No more having to cut it too hard and then let off, back and forth around corners (ie constantly adjusting it through hard corners), it just goes where I am pointing it now.
Of course I only have an brief afternoon on them and the Firestone place put 29 PSI in all the tires which set off the tire pressure warning light when the temp dropped another 10 degrees after dark. After pumping them up to 34 psi, the do seem stiffer and slightly harder, but the lightness feeling and cornering improvement is still there.
Time will tell...but I am super psyched.
I also had my first oil change at 3300 miles with synthetic.
Still way psyched about the new rubber. This is all preliminary since I am still at under 100 miles. I figure if I post enough here, I might spur some action and I won't have to join IWSTI.
Still trying to not to have to join iwsti.
Any issues you've had so far with your car? I love mine! I don't think there's anything out there that's as practical and with the same performance. I'm guessing some mild suspension tuning can fix the understeer issues but to be honest I don't think it makes a difference in my daily commute.
I would like to put it on a track for fun so maybe then I'll consider some suspension mods.
tom
I have noticed in the cold weather that the auto temperature isn't so great...it either blows too hot or too cold, it never seems to equalize. I need to put the fan on manual setting it to low to keep the cabin at the right temperature.
No real issues. It runs great. I only have 3400 miles on it...got the oil changed with synthetic when I had the tires put on.
With 200 miles on my new setup...The understeer is a lot better with the new tires. If I were you I would consider getting new tires on new rims and just selling the stock setup. I am somewhat apathetic on selling things and think I will be taking it to the track, so I think I will get affordable track rims for the stock tires and burn them up...but I don't think I need summer/winter tires with my new all seasons, other than track work.
The stock rims are heavy and I wonder if I would see even better performance if my new tires were on lighter (and better) rims.
Yes...I really enjoy it. Perhaps if I had an M3 to compare it to, I might be as critical as the things I read on the web...but I can drive it all day. It handles great, oodles of power and very practical from an everyday usage perspective.
I got the stock radio...the radio really stinks...but I just listen to either my ipod or mp3 disks and I find the sound to actually be pretty good in that configuration. The radio sound though is miserable at best.
I'm going to put AS tires on the stock heavy rims and probably get a set of lighter rims for the summer tires. Maybe consider changing out the rear sway bar too.
I agree with you, most of the time I'm sure AS tires will be fine for daily use, but the sticky summer rubber is nice too!
tom
Don't know where you live but some of the bigger dealers like mine went and bought out STis from smaller dealers- I'd call around and see.
Good luck!
tom
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor
It's freezing with snow to come here in Seattle so I just had some all weather tires installed yesterday. A little quieter and smoother than the summer tires, and for everyday driving I'm sure they'll be just fine.
Mike, any ideas on reasonably priced lightweight wheels for the STi? I'm planning to get a new set for the summer tires.
tom
You know me I have to tinker and fiddle with things to get them tweeked out so if this plan works out look for lots of little tidbits on the car.
I just received my order from Turninconcepts with all my whiteline bushings sway bars, group N mounts and shifter bushings for the 05 LGT so I'm sure that some of those improvements will also be put on the STi when/if I get it.
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor
Looking forward to your thoughts Mike- the car is good but I'm sure with a little tweaking it can be better!
tom
The 2099's are not out yet. Sorry, couldn't resist
I too am mostly interested in the '09 WRX prices. Thanks for any input.
You might want to post in this thread:
Subaru Impreza & Impreza WRX STI: Prices Paid & Buying Experience
This thread is STi specific whereas the above thread is for all imprezas.
Good luck- they're wonderful cars! I can't imagine what they'll be like in 2099!
tom
Bad news? Inflation has brought the price up to $124,999.
Aren't cars going to fly and have time travel capability? Mr. Fusion?
I guess we'll just have to wait Juice!
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2009/05/2008-subaru-impreza-wrx-sti-parting-s- hots.html#more?mktcat=enabler&AID=10364102&PID=3202266&kw=N&synpartner=edmunds&m- ktid=cj260233
Bob
Without that no way I would get it. And mine doesn't have a fluff of the BBS wheels or Nav - just plain base one. At that time it was just a couple of grand or less from what I would have paid for '09 WRX Premium, even with VIP deal and not counting in financing discount.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Owners are willing to make that sacrifice.
Heck, 2008 base WRX owners complained it had lost its edge and was too refined.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
The comments about it being a bad road trip vehicle are not accurate in my opinion. Sure, it is smaller than an SUV, but it still has plenty of room to pack away family gear, have the kids watch videos in the back and the highway ride is pretty good. I have done close to 5-6 hours in the seats and they are extremely comfortable. I did change out the summer tires for Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus, so perhaps that has made the ride even better for me.
Perhaps my satisfaction comes from the fact that I don't have an evo to drive to compare...so I am left with nothing but the fun parts of the STI and cannot complain about how it handles, the cornering, etc.
I have been reading a little bit about driving techniques on a competitor forum...and addressing the body roll before the corner by breaking hard and accelerating through makes a huge handling difference. Once the initial weight transfer is complete, it smokes through corners and even handles switch-backs easily.
Oh well, it's good that the test is over. Send that poor STi to an owner that will appreciate it!
tom
The new model, no problem..
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To get the performance and mileage you'd expect, buying a catted Downpipe and doing a Cobb Tune is critical, easy and not very expensive. With that, and sway bars, the car is still a great daily driver but incredibly rewarding to drive. It is tame around town, but a monster when you open it up. The low and midrange come to life. Complaints about it being soft on the track don't translate to the rough streets, especially with the sway bars, since some give keeps the car stable in rough terrain in corners. The car is designed to be stable in rough terrain, not to maximize G's on the track. Reviewers seem to miss that real world reality. Plus, we all tend to modify the car anyway.
This car, with those 'light' mods is highly recommended. I liked the Mitsu a lot too, but not as a daily driver. The Subie is more versatile and has a nicer interior, the Mitsu is better on the track - especially when both are in stock form. The choice then is more about preference and what you're going to use the car for primarily. I don't think one is "better" than the other.
The WRX (non STi) is a bargain though - were it not for the discount, I would have gone for that. My only disappointment with the car is that my previous WRX with mods got 30 MPG average much of the time - mileage with this is 6 MPG lower in same conditions. Subaru should consider direct injection to boost mileage, and perhaps work on aerodynamics.
I actually test drove the 2008 for fun on a vacation day with a friend...while I needed a new car, the STI wasn't really on the list (the GX35 was the leading contender)...I sat in the car with my friend and my immediate thought was...Hey, I actually fit in this thing.
While the car is loud, it is a pleasure to drive. I can drive the STI all day long. I drive an '02 MDX on most road trips and I found this more comfortable to drive. The MDX is absolutely fabulous, don't get me wrong...it might be the best road trip vehicle I have ever driven in...but as a driver, the STI is super comfortable, powerful and fun to drive.
Instant passing by dropping it to 5 is nice. Edmunds mentioned how they missed a gear in the hill race course...the car naturally downshifts 5 to 4. So 5 to 6 you need to remember to push the shifter out. The downshifting is great when coming off a highway from 70 to 25 around a corner. I find the downshift so great that I don't mind having to remember to push out while shifting up.
It is quite fun driving a racecar packed up for a road trip. I was thinking about how a 911 would look with the same amount of stuff in it plus 4 people. In addition to how fast and cool the STI is...Its overall practicality is what makes it work for me.
I wish I had heated mirrors- you'd think that would be standard on a Subaru!
tom
I don't necessarily recommend sliding on all fours around snowy corners between 3500-6000 rpm but the car almost drives itself. It really feels like the engineers designed it specifically for these conditions.
It is definitely worse than my previous then-called "cheap" WRX from '03. Wasn't this generation supposed to be "refined"? Refined my foot. Cheap hard plastic...
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I was considering a second set of rims for the dunlops to have a summer set...however the Michelins seem great so far. I haven't seen any HOT weather, but on normal dry days, they stick on the road more than I drive.
I am not sure what to do with the dunlops. I have about 1000 miles on the stock tires...I don't think I could even get $400 for them.