Will any of the 4 colors offered for the STi be ANY different than what the WRX has?
What I am asking is, will the STi have any exclusive exterior color in comparison to the rest of the model line?

 

black has gold(multicolored?) flecks in it

 

That's Java Black (as opposed to the MY02-03 midnight black). And it's the new black for Subaru this year so it'll be available on the WRX also. IIRC the current MY03 Forester is in Java Black also, but I could be wrong.

 

Whichever color they chose, I hope they do a better job with the overall paint job. About the only complaint I have with my WRX is the quality of the paint - it is sooo thin! After 2 years it has white specks where the paint been chipped off on every single inch of the car safe the trunk hood.

In retrospect, I should have gotten silver cause it hides that stuff better than the blue.

 

You guys forget that the WRX is considered an entry level sports sedan, so you almost have to expect a poorer quality paint job (amongst other things). I know for sure that Toyota has the same problems with their Celicas. There's very little doubt that the quality is any better with other cars in the same price range. I wouldn't doubt it either with the STi. At these prices, you're paying for the engine....kinda like how it is with the Trans Ams and Cameros (cheap 12sec cars). Being badged WRX or STi doesn't necessarily mean that it's completely different from an Impreza.

 

I think many paint finishes have become more chip and scratch prone as manufacturers have moved to more environmentally-friendly water-based paints. My Audi looks like it's been spattered by a 12 gauge............I don't think you can blame it on Subaru nickel-and-diming it..........it's amazing how well the finish holds up if it's treated properly i.e. washed with proper auto detergent (or just plain water) which doesn't strip away the wax and then carefully waxed once in a while. I live in NY state where salt is liberally applied all over the winter months and my paint shines like new (apart from the stone chips !!).