MrBlobby

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/subaru/wrx-sti/

Do you think he has a point? Not sure if i'd agree if a new Golf R is the modern equivalent of an Sti. Apparently it only does 3 more mpg than the Impreza so it doesn't really win in the economy department.

Suppose has a point about Subaru not really moving forward with the development of their cars but this seems to be more apparent since the depature of WRC?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

The trouble is, people like Ford, Vauxhall and VW made their money on mass-market cars, then added a niche car here and there, some of which have had cult status.

Subaru started out in the UK with a niche car, built it up by having brilliant after-sales service, then wrecked it all by NOT continuing the development, withdrawing from rallying, this destroying the car's raison d'etre, and lastly, having some of the worst, greediest after sales anywhere.

I currently have the UK car I bought in 1998, brand new. It's heavily modded, but doesn't get driven as I stopped wanting to put fuel in it at £1.4 a litre.
When I bought it, it turned heads, and was the quickest thing in it's class. Far and away better than the so-called hot-hatches.

Would I have another now?

NO WAY!!!!!!!

There is not enough, if any, daylight between Subaru and the competition, I've seen the Americans get the same car at 25% off, the Japs get better cars for 30% off, and the UK treated like scum, with dear parts, stupidly poor after sales, and very high prices for what it is.

The mass-market now have cars as good, or more fun, for less or the same money, with better after-sales service, and far better built.

Thanks, but no thanks.

Shaun

ROFLOL - whilst there is an element of artistic license within that review, if you remove that element, it's pretty much nail hit squarely on head imo.

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Subaru pulling out off Rallying never really bothered me as never really been into it.

Back in the day 220bhp wasn't bad for a 4 door saloon, compared to cavalier gsi 150bhp, Mondeo st, ford focus st, golf gti. Most were barely 150bhp. Only ones to come close for money was the sierra and Esscort Cosworth

Now adays though Subaru's need to be faster, with cars like Astra Vxr running 260bhp and the new Astra I think is even more. Clio's running 197 bhp, it confuses me why Subaru don't just give us the same cars they produce in there own country, and then just make a few adjustments for the UK

To be fair your buying and Impreza for its road presents and handling. I think twin turbo is the way forward, small turbo for take off bigger turbo for top end.

Shaun

Not sure TT is the "way forward" in all cases.

Subaru really did (and still do in Japan) make good use of twinscroll technology. Nowadays we have single twinscroll variable-vane turbos (not that this is new tech by any stretch) ala A45 AMG etc. If you get to drive this type of set-up, you get the best of both worlds..... peak torque from 2k (ish), flat decked all the way through till 5500rpm.

This is where Subaru are so far behind, coupled with their emission issues of their 2ltr units (used in the STI).

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Didn't VW do a 1.4 twin turbo golf running 170bhp, Renault clio 197 is 2.0 non turbo. Both have reasonable mpg, I think the main thing is the AWD should be able to be switched to 2wd on all models for long runs help mpg and rear wheel fun for those who like it. There's loads of options, never driven twin scroll Impreza before so can't comment

Shaun

I think the key bit here, is that there are multiple ways to skin a cat...... unless you're Subaru.

Trinity

iTrader: (28)

No Jay, they didnt.

It was a 1,4 with a turbo and super charger and was rife with maitenence problems.

FWD cars are unsafe and should be banned. All cars should be AWD with xenons

All Subarus should be Twinscroll JDM cars - the car would have a much warmer reception from journalists if this was the case. Such a shame, but as mentioned, greed is a big factor.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Exactly...they seem more interested in skinning UK buyers.....

Lunchmoney

I liked that review. Even taking it with a pinch of salt it seems to agree with many other reviews.

I particularly enjoyed the opening lines “Look at the car in the picture and what do you see? A rally-honed legend, or a family saloon with a hole in the bonnet and a stupid wing on the boot? Yeah, thought so.”

If I had £30k to spend on a new car (which I don’t) I would not be buying a new Impreza. Not sure what I’d get…. Probably hunt down a good quality 2006 JDM STI and keep the change

Trinity

iTrader: (28)

In all fairness, they have been saying that about Imprezas and Evos ever since the first ones

But £30k once you've added some better seats and probably sat nav...and with an engine that might melt, tough call.

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Well I was pretty close.

So what are the main advantages to twin scroll, I know how they work, is it just power delivery?

Trinity

iTrader: (28)

If you know how they work, surely you can answer your own question?

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Not really, forgotten what the benefits where, and if you haven't driven one then its difficult to say

Trinity

iTrader: (28)

Then, explain how they work, while doing so you realise what they do better!

BMWhere?

You might be able to get a base Golf R for similar money, but once you add all the options that come standard on the STi then you're closer to 40K!

Lunchmoney

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbocharger#Twin-scroll


(Did I mention I spend free time at work editing wiki pages? )

mslorach

iTrader: (22)

Searching through the archives of Scoobynet I've found links (most long dead) to bad reviews of almost every new model impreza since the year 2000. And also including the legendary P1 and 22b. The thing is that Subarus have always been marmite cars, even to enthusiasts. The new one is getting slated at the moment but thats happened to every other model since the bugeye. Personally I think it's great, no it's performance is not miles ahead of the competition like it used to be but at almost 300 bhp it's still a nippy motor and I think it looks really good, with styling that looks like it is distantly related to the "classic" Impreza (if you half shut your eyes and look at it in the dark ) . I don't think it's getting a fair review anywhere, but thats turned into a bit of a tradition for Subarus.

Rob669

It's an article written by a man feeling boring and middle aged. Of course you can still have some fun driving and I'm pleased that companies like Subaru still make these cars. The fuel consumption is pretty rubbish, but it was about the same in the Clio 197 (which really has about 180+ ish BHP). But BMW seem to have improved mpg and performance. And arn't all dealers pretty rubbish, Renault are for Renaultsport models.

Steve001

iTrader: (7)

You'd have thought that the modern STi would be running 350bhp minimum standard.

Edited to say f**k I prefer round numbers make it 400 standard

XDevil666

He says
Means the guy drives like a ****ing bitch and can only handle this day and age of ***** automated driving

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Hit the nail right on the head there. The outgoing model had up to 340BHP, 296 isn't that much by comparison to the new crop of hot hatches.

Alan Jeffery

Having driven a ridiculous amount of cars, I find that I don't recognise most of them from the road tests published. He obviously started out with an attitude.
It's all very well having high power from something driven by the front wheels, but you can't use it where I come from! (Rural) and the Impreza still knocks spots off most cars when on real roads.

Carnut

Evo did cars with big bhp and class leading handling, where did it get them.

Why do they have to be better than the competition, whats wrong with just a alternative option. In fact they get compared to golfs and suchlike but are bigger cars. Maybe we should see them more as a cheap M3 with awd not sure, they seem to be in their own class really.
They do seem to out handle the competition though, they can match the lap times of smaller more power cars and on a tight track even beat them.
Not common as muck either.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yep, thank God someone has had the nerve to actually spell it out in plain words even those who still kneel at the altar of STI will understand... hopefully! It's sad, but very true!

Shaid

Disagree with the TT move forward idea.

Subaru tried it with the legacy and whilst it was brilliant when working right it was unreliable, blew engines, went through fuel at an alarming rate and had the dreaded valley of death which would ruin the whole driving experience.

They just about got it right with the Legacy BH/BE Revision D but it still had its flaws hence why for the later legacies Subaru went Twinscroll instead.

scoobyranger

I think part of the reason we've got this one option wrx sti is the poor reception of the last couple of imprezas.
Perhaps subaru are testing the market atm? Albeit at our expense.
Whilst I doubt it will happen, I hope they'll come to their senses and release a performance pack for it to up it around 320-340 which I think would be an acceptable level.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

The problem is its UK version of a Impreza STi ,amazes me that a Subaru Impreza STi in Japan starts off as quite a good base car(2 litre engine, twin scroll turbo etc) that most of us in the UK want. But then Subaru UK get there hands on it and fu6k it up, giving us a engine we dont want and the power that the Impreza PPP models where running 13 years ago.

TBH the new WRX is the USA/Japan is a better car then our UK STi, the WRX in the US has the 2 litre engine and twin scroll set up with a 6 speed manual gearbox, makes you laugh when there so called entry lever turbo impreza is better then our top of the range STi.

fat-thomas

iTrader: (4)

the impreza started to die with the 2.5 hawkeye, then the abortion that was the hatch finished it off totally.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Agree, I love the look of the hawk sti, but the 2.5 just does not give you confidence, I could drive any 2 litre Impreza and not have to worry about anything, but when I had my 2.5 hawk STi every little sound, or if the car warmed up to quick etc this would get you paranoid, and when you worrying all the time about your engine breaking it takes the fun away from owning the car.