I drove an '08 STi today, and it's the best yet.
Thread Starter
Old School
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,983
From: Union City
Car Info: '99 RBP GM6
I drove an '08 STi today, and it's the best yet.
And I'll tell you why 
:
Exterior:
The STi was blue with black interior with gold BBS wheels. The fender flairs are nice and stylish, and big. There are reverse vents in the bumper for radiator heat and the rear of the front fenders have engine bay vents just ahead of the front door. The doors are light and open and close with great fit and feel. Yeah, I didn't really care for the front grille, but the SoA rep said there will be an option available that gives a minimalistic look with a emblem delete. There will be other exterior options available as well like a front lip, BBS wheels and others. The rear lights are not as ricey as I thought, they are quite nice looking and the rear hatch design is great, it's a great fit and works/looks great. There are a few patches on the body that have some rock guard installed, but not up front where its most needed, but that's why we have Jeremy to help us get protected
.
Interior:
The seats are made of suede, alcantara and vinyl. The vinyl portion isn't that impressive to me, but it's along the sides, so it doesn't effect the seats grip of the driver/passenger all too much. There is a latched top for the armrest, which has a decent size compartment inside with an extra 12v lighter port and the AV input jacks if you get the Screen/Navi option. This car had a very nice LCD screen which had Navigation, car systems monitoring, and audio player. It was touch screen and extremely easy to use. It's also plays video and it was bigger than double din size over all. I didn't mess with the steering wheel controls, but it has cruise and audio on wheel. It has more leg room, more head room, more hip room up front, and way more leg room in the back. The area in the hatch with the back seats up is the same as the older sedans trunk space, and the back seats do fold down 60/40 for more space easily.
Engine Bay:
Much more cramped, but what can we do? It has a small e-turbo used as a smog pump of sorts. ABS relay is moved as it the air filter box, they switched positions. The intercooler is deep and about as big as the current STi version. Otherwise it's pretty much the same as any other turbo subaru in the US.
Suspension:
The front suspension is still inverted macpherson strut, just like our subies and the rear is a new multi link design. With the fender flares and estimated the gas between the tire and the inside portion and also outside portion, it seemed to be at least 25mm on EACH side. That a lot of space for wide rubber. Stock the STi comes with 18x8.5 wheels with 245/40/18 Dunlops. The tires are ****, much worse than the bridgestones of previous years. However the extra space makes for an easy 275mm fitment and with a fender roll a 285mm tire should fit without too much issue. Aftermarket parts will be great for this car, it's going to go a long way to improve the stock handling.
Drivetrain:
Pretty complicated to understand at first, but once you take 5mins to understand how it works, it's simple enough. New maximum tq split is 30/70. The SI -Drive is cool and definitely makes a huge improvement when put to Sport-Sharp setting. The STi now has a VDC and it can be easily disabled. The VDC can control the slides by applying brake and managing engine tq, or it can set to just applying brake, or off. The center diff can be locked at 50/50 to adjusted anywhere between that and 30/70. It of course also has an auto mode. Overall we had VDC off, Sport-Sharp setting, and Auto minus for the center diff. The brakes are slightly bigger, and have vented rotors all around.
How did it drive?
Well, it understeers worse than any subaru yet created. Why do I like it so much then? Well, it's the potential it has. The amount of rubber you can stuff under there is amazing. The car just needs better tires, alignment, and a rear sway bar it would be pretty damn nice. Of course, more hardcore mods would make is super quick and twitchy, but just to rid it of the understeer those 3 is probably all it needs.
I co-drove it with Navid Kahangi, owner of PDX tuning. I've known him for several years now, and he is a great driver. He felt the same as I did. The car has great power, especially throttle response in Sport-Sharp. The power was clean and predictable. It handles well, it just needed better tires primarily. Even still, he knocked quick times today. I was about 1.2 seconds off his times, and found the car to be quicker on the steering than previous models, as well as having a much better turning radius. It didn't have as much body roll as I thought it would, but definitely could use some tightening up with spring, sway bars, coil overs, etc.
It's refinement, and new suspension design, and Subarus attention to detail puts this car above and beyond. It will sell well, and It's performance should be top notch with some aftermarket mods.
If you guys have any questions, I'll try to answer them best I can. Iwill link to pictures once people put them up. A few I-clubbers were there today to check it out so they may have pics as well.
-Gagan
:Exterior:
The STi was blue with black interior with gold BBS wheels. The fender flairs are nice and stylish, and big. There are reverse vents in the bumper for radiator heat and the rear of the front fenders have engine bay vents just ahead of the front door. The doors are light and open and close with great fit and feel. Yeah, I didn't really care for the front grille, but the SoA rep said there will be an option available that gives a minimalistic look with a emblem delete. There will be other exterior options available as well like a front lip, BBS wheels and others. The rear lights are not as ricey as I thought, they are quite nice looking and the rear hatch design is great, it's a great fit and works/looks great. There are a few patches on the body that have some rock guard installed, but not up front where its most needed, but that's why we have Jeremy to help us get protected
.Interior:
The seats are made of suede, alcantara and vinyl. The vinyl portion isn't that impressive to me, but it's along the sides, so it doesn't effect the seats grip of the driver/passenger all too much. There is a latched top for the armrest, which has a decent size compartment inside with an extra 12v lighter port and the AV input jacks if you get the Screen/Navi option. This car had a very nice LCD screen which had Navigation, car systems monitoring, and audio player. It was touch screen and extremely easy to use. It's also plays video and it was bigger than double din size over all. I didn't mess with the steering wheel controls, but it has cruise and audio on wheel. It has more leg room, more head room, more hip room up front, and way more leg room in the back. The area in the hatch with the back seats up is the same as the older sedans trunk space, and the back seats do fold down 60/40 for more space easily.
Engine Bay:
Much more cramped, but what can we do? It has a small e-turbo used as a smog pump of sorts. ABS relay is moved as it the air filter box, they switched positions. The intercooler is deep and about as big as the current STi version. Otherwise it's pretty much the same as any other turbo subaru in the US.
Suspension:
The front suspension is still inverted macpherson strut, just like our subies and the rear is a new multi link design. With the fender flares and estimated the gas between the tire and the inside portion and also outside portion, it seemed to be at least 25mm on EACH side. That a lot of space for wide rubber. Stock the STi comes with 18x8.5 wheels with 245/40/18 Dunlops. The tires are ****, much worse than the bridgestones of previous years. However the extra space makes for an easy 275mm fitment and with a fender roll a 285mm tire should fit without too much issue. Aftermarket parts will be great for this car, it's going to go a long way to improve the stock handling.
Drivetrain:
Pretty complicated to understand at first, but once you take 5mins to understand how it works, it's simple enough. New maximum tq split is 30/70. The SI -Drive is cool and definitely makes a huge improvement when put to Sport-Sharp setting. The STi now has a VDC and it can be easily disabled. The VDC can control the slides by applying brake and managing engine tq, or it can set to just applying brake, or off. The center diff can be locked at 50/50 to adjusted anywhere between that and 30/70. It of course also has an auto mode. Overall we had VDC off, Sport-Sharp setting, and Auto minus for the center diff. The brakes are slightly bigger, and have vented rotors all around.
How did it drive?
Well, it understeers worse than any subaru yet created. Why do I like it so much then? Well, it's the potential it has. The amount of rubber you can stuff under there is amazing. The car just needs better tires, alignment, and a rear sway bar it would be pretty damn nice. Of course, more hardcore mods would make is super quick and twitchy, but just to rid it of the understeer those 3 is probably all it needs.
I co-drove it with Navid Kahangi, owner of PDX tuning. I've known him for several years now, and he is a great driver. He felt the same as I did. The car has great power, especially throttle response in Sport-Sharp. The power was clean and predictable. It handles well, it just needed better tires primarily. Even still, he knocked quick times today. I was about 1.2 seconds off his times, and found the car to be quicker on the steering than previous models, as well as having a much better turning radius. It didn't have as much body roll as I thought it would, but definitely could use some tightening up with spring, sway bars, coil overs, etc.
It's refinement, and new suspension design, and Subarus attention to detail puts this car above and beyond. It will sell well, and It's performance should be top notch with some aftermarket mods.
If you guys have any questions, I'll try to answer them best I can. Iwill link to pictures once people put them up. A few I-clubbers were there today to check it out so they may have pics as well.
-Gagan
250,000-mile Club President
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,770
From: Bizerkeley
Car Info: MBP 02 WRX wagon
It is indeed a very impressive package, I would be so excited to be buying one but for just a couple of things- 1) I don't have a garage and I think it is too nice a car to leave out in the rain parked on the street, and 2) having just spent a good downpay ments worth of money on Tein HG coil-overs for my '02 wagon, its going to be a while before I'll be budgeting car payments.
Nay-sayers abound- I know, but I think it looks great, and show me one other car on the market for less than 40G with that kind of power and capability- along with room for stuff in back- (even though with the seats up it seems to have a smaller cargo area, with them down its as big or even a touch bigger than my old wagon in that category).
And as for the cool differentials and stuff- well the evo might be in the ballpark, but nothing from Audi, BMW or anybody else gives the driver such a range of tweaks and control, I will definetly get one eventually, just not probably for a year or so.
Nay-sayers abound- I know, but I think it looks great, and show me one other car on the market for less than 40G with that kind of power and capability- along with room for stuff in back- (even though with the seats up it seems to have a smaller cargo area, with them down its as big or even a touch bigger than my old wagon in that category).
And as for the cool differentials and stuff- well the evo might be in the ballpark, but nothing from Audi, BMW or anybody else gives the driver such a range of tweaks and control, I will definetly get one eventually, just not probably for a year or so.
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From: Santa Clara CA USA
Car Info: 96 Chevy Impala SS, 06 GMC 2500HD (former 02 WRX)
FYI, link of Mark Mervich's pics from AutoX today....including some of the STI on course
http://markm.zenfolio.com/p769152855
http://markm.zenfolio.com/p769152855
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From: Castro Valley
Car Info: 04 WRB Sti/05 Titan
Forester Specialist
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From: Sonoma County
Car Info: '98/'04 Foresters (S & XT)
in the DRIVER PERFORMANCE mag i just got:
* "ultra low expansion brake hoses"... hmmm standard braided hoses????
* VCD system
* incline start assist (YES!!!!!!!!!!)
* larger intercooler
* pop up headlight washer (O RLY... interesting)
btw, at that STI party last month, seems like no more aluminum hood...
* "ultra low expansion brake hoses"... hmmm standard braided hoses????
* VCD system
* incline start assist (YES!!!!!!!!!!)
* larger intercooler
* pop up headlight washer (O RLY... interesting)
btw, at that STI party last month, seems like no more aluminum hood...
Registered User
iTrader: (10)
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,498
From: Dublin, California
Car Info: 09 STi, 10 Cayman S
...you guys obviously haven't researched this much. STI keeps aluminum hood. Its amazing in person, don't hate on it until you see it and drive it. All I gotta say. Its going to beat the pants off of all previous subies and is much more refined.