Just got back from a trip and ofcourse i never brought the sti with me so im glad to come back and drive it again.....the dealer told me the stereo comes with factory wiring and should be easy to hook up but i didnt really open up the covered up deck to find out...and no i didnt really notice ne thing extra that was a surprise and came standard with the car....and wut sucks is i never even get the owner's manual yet because the dealer told me it didnt come in yet, so im tryin to break it in not knowing wuts the highest rpm suggested while breaking in (i assume its between 3-4). I found out how to adjust the shift light on my own and i kinda noe how to work the dccd, and jus found out the seats are adjustable by height

The rims i chose was gunmetal but it came out as silver so im assuming itll be gold or silver instead of gold or gunmetal

I believe i got it for the msrp...the price at five star subaru was $31,690.... so after all them other fees i paid for, the total was somewhere around $33,300

So far, the car is great, i love the feel, but im still kinda getting used to the clutch because it's a lil harder than the normal wrx and the torque gives a kick. I love this car....the only thing i hate is that since its black, i gotta clean it up often cuz jus my first day driving it and it got a lil dirty. But it looks great in black....ill prolly post up some pix sometime next week cuz im bringin the car back to the dealer for detailing so itll look cleaner.

 

How is the handling? Does the DCCD make it feel like a RWD car or does it still feel well rounded like the WRX?

 

Yes, we need more info!!!! How does it drive?? Details please, details....

I dont care if you're still beaking it in, i'm sure you've noticed a lot of things that are worth telling. How does the climate control work???? Does the shift light make an audible beep? ...........

 

Climate controls excellent....the thing kicks in really high on auto

Shift light doesnt make an audible noise,

and gotta get back on dccd im not so sure if im setting it up right so i didnt feel like testing it out until im positive how it works....but the owner's manuals just came in and imma pick it up tomorrow so ill get back on that question

other than that, the car's handling excellent....i dunno why someone posts up some quote that motor trend complains that the sti's steering response is slower than the evo, the evo comes from a really damned good bloodline in rally racing, even though handlings claimed better in the evo, it dont really matter to me cuz its all up to wut you prefer personally. i got no other great cars to compare it with, but i found no problems with handling so far....imma baby this car until im used to it and break in time is over so ill get back to u on that

 

jus came back from driving my car around and i have to make a correction....i just found out that u can set the shift light to go on as well as beep...

so the shift light is audible....

 

All right... I am going to post this reply in hopes that people don't get all stupid on me.

This is what I heard from a buddy of mine that works at SOA.

The radio isn't factory installed because of gas guzzler tax. Apparently, the added weight of the radio + components puts the STi MPG over gass guzzler tax limit.

Just wondering if anyone else heard this line. I myself don't really care because I am not getting an STi, but it was just a little FYI.

 

It's true.

The other weight reduction items such as lightened glass and aluminum hood were required to offset the increased weight of the trans and diffs. as well as the new engine.
My own Subie sources tell me they tried everything possible to reduce weight in order and avoid the dreaded 'Gas Guzzler' tax, without sacrificing strength or performance. Folks say it wasn't an easy task.

The trade-off is to reduce power output to increase the mileage numbers.

The stuff about not providing a radio because enthusiasts wnat their own was made up by their marketing folks.

- Janq

 

Dude, can I pick'em or can I pick'em!
First I guessed the MSRP rate within $200; (after being laughed at)

I then correctly guessed the weight within 80lbs; (again laughed at)

And I correctly guessed the 0-60 to the second (C&D); (and hated on)

And I also correctly guessed the 1/4 time to withi 2/10ths of a second (C&D); (again, shots were taken)

Now this...http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=359101

Man, I gotta go buy a lottery ticket ASAP!

- Janq

 

If Subaru really wanted to cut down the weight than they could have cut out the automatic climate control system,power windows or power door locks. Each of these items weigh more than a radio. I have heard people say on here "the stock radios suck so who wants one anyway, or that they would rather put there own system in. That is not the point however. When you pay $32-33k for any car it should come with a radio in it. It should be an option to delete it if you want to not the other way around. Shame on Subaru for doing that. If you add the price of putting your own system in the price gap between the Evo and the Sti grows even larger. I think the Sti is a spectacular car but I think the Evo gets the nod for coming in about $2-3k less and being able to run door to door with the Sti in almost every performance category. Every single magazine that has tested these two cars head to head has the Evo winning by a small margin.

 

As a $32K car should also come with power door locks and windows as well as an automated HVAC system.

I'm fine with the radio delete as in my young days performance cars came with this option. Its just been a long time since I've heard of any one doing it (since the '92 Vette I believe).
Besides, the radio can be installed at the dealer, added to the overall cost of the vehicle and financed in as though it came stock anyway. No big deal for those that want that 'option'.
For those that don't and wnat to spend less for better than OEM equipment, Best Buy or circuit City is just around the corner.

You can't add on pwr. locks & windows at port or DIO.
While A/C can be done that way (Honda used to do it all the time back in the '90's as a DIO installed item) its not optimal or most efficient for the maunufacturer or dealer (time & storage space).

Besides, if the radio came with the car it would be $700-900 more expensive and people would hate on the fact that the 'stock' radio sucks and the car is that much more expensive than an EVO!

- Janq

"Somtimes you can't win for losing!" - Unknown

 

I understand your point completely. What I am saying is that Subaru should have included the radio for that price but give the customer the choice to delete it and save money. I am sure that most people would rather have a radio in it than not. I am sure a 2 or 3lb radio wouldnt have made the difference between this car making it past the gas guzzler tax and not making it. A regular climate control system would have been fine for this car instead of the automatic system that weighs more. If the Subaru cost the same as the Evo and didnt have a radio it wouldnt have been so bad in my opinion but it already costs $2-3k for starters.

 

Ohhhhh!

I didn't interpret your post that way.
Mea Culpa

In that case yes, I agree with you totally.
And yes dealers or the port could maybe remove the radio prior to delivery. bUt that would be an additonal cost & logistice item for Subaru, which would be passed on the consumer.

My sources with SOA indicated to me that the weight thing was in fact a real issue (not a marketing excuse/ploy) and that it wasn't just the weight of the radio & speakers but a combination of that plus the reduction of weight through many other items (i.e. thin rear glass, exclusion of mats, sound deadening reduction, aluminum hood, etc.) that as a whole got the Subie to a weight that just barely allowed the car in its current state of tune to not have the dreaded "Gas Guzzler Tax". Other wise they would have had to detune the car to keep its CAFE numbers in the green. Keep in mind the add-on pieces (new engine, DCCD, f&r LSD, rear wing, HID's) added a lot of weight to the Impreza, which results in more weight to chug around town using precious fossil fuels.

I'd much rather have to buy my own radio than pay a gas guuzler tax of several hundred dollars and get nothing for it in return.
Frankly, if it had such a tax I would not be as enthusiastic about it and I'll bet the same would be said by others. Further, it would have a tremendous negative impression on Subaru overall from a marketing standpoint. Subies are'nt really the most fuel efficient of platforms which as a fact has to date flown below radar.

- Janq

 

The thing that is baffling to me is how Mitsubishi has conquered all of these problems and have a car that weighs the same as the Sti. With a 6 speed manual in the Sti vs a 5 speed in the Evo the Subaru should have an easier time getting past the gas guzzler tax. Again, I would much rather have a radio standard and give up power door locks and automatic climate control. Although these cars are rally bred cars they will still be primarily driven on the street so having a luxury such as a radio should not cost extra. I understand and respect your points as well but I just cant get past the fact that a $32k can come without a radio.

 

Wow, I completely disagree. I can always add a head unit, amp, and some good speakers for MUCH less than the $810 or whatever SoA is charging for their "stock" stereo, and it will sound tons better. I can't add power windows, power door locks, or a climate control system after market.

And to be honest, if I pulled up to a stoplight next to an Evo and the driver was trying to talk to me and I had to reach over the passenger seat and squeak/squeak/squeak roll that window down, I'd be embarassed to hell. The same is true with the door locks...if my passengers had to hold up the handle when shutting the door or I could only open my car door with the key...bleh.

But a $32K car without power windows and door locks would be OK? Evo owners would be laughing their tails off if the STi lacked power windows or locks. "...and you paid HOW MUCH for that STi? $31,500??? Bwahaha. Eh? What? Oh, roll your window down so you can hear me, dork!!"