I'm not sure what you're expecting for around $32k ????

This has got to be the performance bargain of the decade......Subaru are not trying to compete with the likes of Audi, BMW, etc., that's not the point of the STi............most of the $$ are invested in bringing the technology/performance aspects of a rally-bred race car to the general public......I know I'd rather have the specs as they are now, than be offered leather, moonroof, Bose system and ****-poor (mediocre) performance.

As a lot of other people have said.....$32k is NOT a lot of $$ for a car these days (just take a look at the price for your average POS SUV).

I'm ecstatic about the specs and I think the price will be in-line with what we're getting.............personally I wouldn't flinch at dropping $40k on a Subaru (or Nissan or Mitsu) if it offered what I'm looking for in a car............and the Sti certainly has everything I'm looking for at the moment.

If people are offended at these prices, just wait 'til Nissan introduces the next evolution of the Skyline to the US........mmmmm, salivating already.

 

I personally think the Sti will sticker for just short of 33k (in other words 29,999.99). So that means by the time you put a radio in it, floor mats, taxes, etc., you will walk out over 35k lighter in the pocket book. And I am fine with that. Actually, I am kinda hoping that it costs a little more cause then I stand a better chance of getting mine! (It will weed out the insane from the casual car-buyer). This is the first car <that I have heard of> that actually gives the driver control over the torque split. Usually you have to spend a few million and get a Prodrive equipped Sti. Being that I am not Tomi Makkinen, I'll gladly pay 35k to get it.

BTW: I think the dealers that haven't agreed to MSRP on your order are slime *****. I went to a good dealer, put my 1k down and they happily wrote on the purchase order that it was to be sold for MSRP. Just walk away if they don't do this. It is not helping anybody by paying outrageous fees just to get an Sti...Subaru never sees that money, but if they see how much people are willing to pay, then they will jack the price for next year, which is unfair to the rest of us. It's a little thing called "Capitalism", read into it otherwise it will really bend you over...

 

OK, here's pricing from the point of view of a late 30's car guy that has a wife and 2 kids. I've had several enthusiast's cars and tend to mostly buy used, but once in a while buy new.

If I thought performance was king and the STI was over 33k.....
I'd buy a new Cobra. 390 bhp and a 12 second quarter is going to toast the STI. (Flamers preparing to holler about handling/build quality/etc. please read on. STI is king of none of these categories...)

If family use got top billing and the STI is over 30k...
I'd buy the G35. For 32k, that sharp looking coupe is going to be hard to beat.

If I thought going around corners was a lot more important than just straight line forward thrust......
I'd get the $28k RX8. Car and Driver just picked it over the Cobra and the G35!

If the STI is 30k or under.....
I'll buy it, day 1, as a primal reaction. No radio, no wing, no floormats, no cares. 30k is a powerful psychological plateau.

If the STI is 32k or over and that's bare bones.....
I hate to say it, but I'll be looking hard at the EVO (just read a bunch of stuff from overseas sources that claim they like the EVO a little better than the 300 hp Prodrive WRX) and the Cooper works MINI. Pricing on the EVO is very agreeable, and I'm hoping the Cooper works 200hp kit for the MINI will be 4 or 5 grand, for a total of 25k. That's a lot easier to swing/digest than 32k >.

If the STI is too expensive for what you get, the EVO gets bad marks for reliability (not likely) and the Cooper works kit is pricier than I thought.....
I may lose temporary control of my reasoning and buy that 20k Neon. Hey, with a 7 year warranty, I can put up with a cheap interior!

My .02 worth. Others in my demographic group, comments are welcome!

 

RWAGNER,

You've got some pretty good argument/logic there. The RX-8 is gonna be a fantastic car. I'd never buy one because I still hear the echos of that un-piped RX-7 at the drag track when my brother and I used to run our cars there. That was the most God-awful sound I have ever heard and so I swore that I could never own a rotary (even though they are cool engines).

However, you have two faults: Cobra and Neon SRT. The 7-yr warranty on the SRT does not cover the paint flaking off and the thing rusting within 2-3ys. Nor does it cover the sick days that you will be burning when you have to take off work to sit in some dealership. Serious reliability problems...no joke.

I hate Mustangs. They have been historically slow for the amount of hype that Ford puts behind them (like the botched horsepower figures recently). My 4-cyl Z24 has whooped about a dozen V6 stangs at stoplight races. My buddy's 99 V6 Camaro whoops the V8 GTs with only a chip-kit and air filter kit. The Cobra is finally where the Mustangs should be. However, you forget that Subarus are AWD. There will be plenty of smoked Cobras when stoplight racing Sti's, guaranteed. 390HP is great, if you can keep it from making a big smoke cloud. Plus the victory will be all that much sweeter when I open up the rear doors and take the baby seat out!

I gotta give the Cobra props, but I think you under-estimate the new wave of 'Rice-Rockets' about to be unleashed...

Oh, almost forgot. My pals in Germany tell me that the Euro-spec Sti will 0-60 in 4.6s, which is the same as what C&D Tested the new Cobra at. That Sti is less powerful than the US-spec, but will also probably be lighter than the US-spec too. Food for thought.

 

No doubt, the G35 is definately a top pick in my mind, especially with the coupe and the new 6-speed option and LSD on the sedan. I've only riden in the automatic sedan. It still had pretty impressive performance. That coupled with a luxury interior make it a great buy for $30k+

However, I hate when designers make the console so that it is nearly impossible to get an aftermarket head unit. The G35 is like this. For this I applaud Subaru for not putting one in at all, yet providing a place for it. You are being charged way more for a factory stereo system than an aftermarket one that has 3x the features and sound much better. The factory stereo system is always the first thing to go in every car I've owned. Why are people so hung up on this. If you want a radio, go get one.....any one of your choice. Do you not like choice?


" I know I have [actually looked at the STi]. And beyond power and handling the STi has nothing else to offer. Someone mentioned that an Evo has to pay for a spoiler. Well, an Evo comes with a radio and speakers though!" Wow. If you would trade 29hp, DCCD, a short trhow shifter, .5L extra, 1 extra gear, forged wheels, etc. for a cheap (maybe $250 street worth) radio and speakers..... WOW!!! By all mean go buy a G35. Leave the STi, and even the Evo for someone who will be mostly listening to the engine and tire squeal than the radio.

I too have opened my mind to the SRT-4. Neons do fairly well in Auto-X. I can only imagine the SRT-4 will be just that much better. I don't know about its torque-steer. Should be a fun highway car as well. Wider/stickier tires and limited slip diff would make it a lot more appealing. RWD would make it even better. Should be mod freindly. Only time will tell how well it will hold up. But not a bad base for under $20k.

 

I sense sarcasm!

You took my quote out of context. A previous post replied that the Evo, while base $29 but you have to pay for a spoiler so it's really $30,500 (which sounds expensive for a spoiler option). But my point was that true, but then the STi is missing some things that the EVO has, like a radio. And a radio/speakers option is by no means cheap. This is easily a thousand or two (if not more) option, so really, add that to the STi.

True, the STi has other things the EVO doesn't but I was just trying to keep things from being too bash-EVO-ish

 

A Thousand or two? Okay, assume the WRX and the STi both had the came equipped with same stereo system. Pull out all of the paper thin speakers and the 6-disc changer and sell them to the highest bidder (Ebay for instance). No one will buy the speakers at all, well maybe some kid will want to pull the magnets off. The deck won't clear $200 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=38640

Like I said. The components aren't worth $250. Now Subaru would have you beleive the deck alone is woth $600. WE all know factory options are grossly over-priced. That would buy some of the best head units offered. You always come out with more sound and features for the dollawr when you go aftermarket.

 

don't get this the wrong way..


but if you don't feel justified paying for a STi @ 30 Ish price

get out of the waiting list.


and "STi has nothing to offer but power and handling"

want luxury? get a Benz!

 

RichiQY -- Why the hostility? And what's the right way to take you telling me I should get off the waiting list (just one of them of the many dealers along the west coast I'm signed up for to make sure I get the best deal on it?)

I was merely trying to inject some food for thought into this discussion. If you don't agree then fine, speak up, but you can do it politely. We're all car fans here.

metoo -- Sorry, I think we're speaking the same language but just getting our lines crossed. I agree with you on the quality. Unless I am missunderstanding you, then you're saying that most people will buy speakers and system for under $600? I think most people will end up paying well over that. SOA will most likely charge that for their (severely lacking, as you correctly point out) system. But that does need to be added to the cost of the car for people that are comparing an EVO to an STi -- assuming they will get a stereo for an STi and would stick with the stock EVO one, which, I'm betting, most will.

Anyway, I didn't mean to get hung up on the stereo issue. But, unlike a 5spd vs 6spd gearbox, a radio is an option which nearly all people will have to spend money on after buying the STi, whereas, it's already taken care of on the EVO side.

 

i know you r a true fan

no hostility..

i meant the dude that started this thread or anyone who thinks 30 ish is too steep

 

RichiQY -- ok

 

The reason I threw out this question in the first place, is because
I love CARS, fast cars, not just Subarus.

Yeah, I could afford 35K for a car-- but would I WANT to pay that much?
I mean, leather interior and Bose sound is nice! Luxury AND speed are
not exclusive!

And, since I HAVE driven many fast cars in my life, I have a point
of comparison. A BMW can be driven, all day, at 100 mph without
breaking into a sweat. And you are cradled in leather and fine
materials. I love my Subie, but the interior is CHEAP! Nice, but cheap.

My original post "hillarious"? Why? Because I want to pay good
money for a good car? Dude, a car is more than performance:
it is image, history, quality of construction, reliability, and comfort.

If I ONLY wanted raw performance, I could buy a Mustang SVT,
or a Vette... but a car is the sum total of its character: the sound,
the smell, the feel or the wheel. I car must have SOUL!

Here's what Mark Gillies of Automobile magazine said:

"It's one thing to sell an Evo or Sti on its performance merits
at a price less than $30,000, but persuading people to part
with more than that for what looks like a warmed-over compact
sedan is a much lower-volume proposition... After all, these cars
are hard-core, aimed at people who put performance and speed
above styling, luxurious interiors, and prestige."

I see myself as a "typical" enthusiast: house, kids in college, income
of $70,000+, bills to pay. If I buy a fast car, I'll drive it to work, to
Walmart, to pick up kids, AS WELL AS occasional canyon racing.

But, first and formost, it is TRANSPORTATION; it just happens to be
FUN transportation, that's all. Transportation CAN be bare-bones,
but oh, it's so much nicer with air conditioning on a 104 degree day.

I already WENT through my midlife crisis: I don't need a mistress,
but a good, long-term relationship, which means fun AND practicality,
both in cars and in women! (You young guys can laugh-- just wait!
You'll see... trust me.)

 

#1 CRUTCHFIELD. You can put an entire stereo system in the car for $500.

#2 I wasn't trying to bash the EVO, simply pointing out that it lacks the aspects of the true sports car that the STi is. I hope I didn't come across as if I was.

As for everything else, the STi is a Rally car, not a luxury car or a road racing car. It was designed for one thing, going fast in the dirt. So basically, if you want luxury go buy a BMW or an Audi. If you want all out track peformance go buy a 350Z or a Z06. It's been said time and time again that you have to buy a car that matches what you personally want. The STi isn't for everyone. For the Rally enthusiest or amature competitor this car is the steal of the century. For a middle aged family of 4 that takes long trips, this probably isn't the car. Follow me? I'm not trying to be offensive or bash anything.

BTW, you guys do know what STi stands for and what STi is, right? STi is the motorsports and performance division of Subaru.
http://www.impreza.subaru.com/micros...p?pageID=intro
This car isn't a SUBARU, or Just a SUBARU. This car is an Impreza that was taken off the standard production line and then built by STi. So I guess they're right. I wouldn't pay $35k for a Subaru, but I will gladly pay $35k for an Impreza built by STi.

 

You talking about the $30k Impreza WRX STi or the $500k WRC car here?