less than favourable sti7 review
04 August 2002, 01:17 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.autoweb.com.au/A_1463/newcartest.html
note that they pay less than £19k sterling in aus. for the sti 7 too!
Paul W
note that they pay less than £19k sterling in aus. for the sti 7 too!
Paul W
04 August 2002, 03:09 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,414
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Subaru's MY02 Impreza STi is an affordable supercar. While its modest pricing earns some concessions, there's no excuse for the fact its tuned-for-Australia turbo engine has the worst torque range of any vehicle on the market...
It's pretty sad that the STi gets gobbled up by ninety percent of traffic in normal day-to-day driving. No joke - caught out at anything less the mid-range rpm, the Super Rex is an absolute
s-l-u-g.
To give you an example, not long after picking up our test car, we found ourselves stopped at a set of traffic lights with our lane ending about forty metres ahead. The lights change green, we engaged first gear and stomped the loud pedal all the way to the floor - just to make sure we could merge into the next lane with plenty of room to spare. What followed was tragic. Despite its wide-open throttle, the STi proved unable to muscle its way past a humble Mitsubishi Colt in the adjoining lane....
We couldn't even pull out a nose length before we had to abort and hit the brakes...
Embarrassing - not to mention dangerous - situations like this quickly teach you the MY02 STi is a no-goer at anything below mid rpm. It's tractable - yes - but don't expect any useable acceleration.
Keep the throttle floored past 4000 rpm, however, and - bang! - the STi transforms into a head-kicker. It slams your head back with the subtlety of an uppercut to the chin.
Unfortunately, though, this sensation is short-lived because local tuning (to suit our relatively low grade 98-octane fuel) has slashed the STi's top-end power. You see, in order to maintain engine longevity, Subaru Australia has been forced to cut back top-end boost pressure...
This boost graph tells the story of the STi's on-road performance - bugger-all up to about 4000 rpm, a giant rush from 4000 to near 5500 rpm, followed by a steady drop-off towards the 7500 redline.
It's the most non-linear power delivery you could possibly imagine.
Lurking under the MY02 STi's aluminium bonnet is a familiar sight - the EJ20-series flat-four with quad camshafts, 16 valves, 8.0:1 static compression, a single turbocharger and intercooler. The MY02 STi also brings Subaru's new AVCS (Active Valve Control System), which varies inlet camshaft timing over a 35-degree range to improve emissions, tractability and - supposedly - low rpm torque.
Furthermore, Super Rex is equipped with a larger intercooler (including an automatic water spray) plus a higher capacity IHI turbocharger than the normal WRX model. Set up to deliver maximum huff, the Japanese-spec car is listed with their politically-correct 206kW, but in de-tuned Australian guise you're looking at 'only' 195kW at 6000 rpm along with 343Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.
Ripped off!
For the first time, the STi backs its flywheel with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Those six ratios are stacked very close together, which means it's easier - though not necessarily easy - to keep the engine running in its optimal rev range. Like previous Subaru 'boxes, the 6-speed has a notchy but decisive shift, while the clutch is relatively heavy and prone to shudder when cold.
In terms of outright acceleration, the STi is quick - but it's no pacesetter.
Unlike 'the old days', the current STi is shaded by the local Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, HSVs and - unless you're prepared to be ultra brutal on take-off - even cars such as the 5-speed SS Commodore and Ralliart Magna.
Somehow, despite weighing 1470 kilograms (a considerable 200 kay-gees more than the previous STi sedan) Subaru Australia say their new hero can manage 0 - 100 km/h in 5.45 seconds; we can't help wonder where the 50-horse nitrous shot was hidden! Independent testing reveals more realistic low 6-second 0 - 100s. But critically, without a huge clutch-dumping launch, you're well up into the 7s.
Top speed is limited to 235 km/h.
Driven like it should be - not mindlessly caned, mind you - the STi gulps through a fair amount of fuel. Use its power and you'll inevitably pay - we averaged nearly 15 litres/100 kilometres over our combination of urban and highway driving!
And make sure you're careful at the bowsers - the STi requires a minimum of (rare) 98-RON fuel. Inadvertently filling up with lower grade fuel increases the risk of engine damage - and don't expect the Subaru 3-year warranty to come to the rescue in that scenario."
oh dear...
It's pretty sad that the STi gets gobbled up by ninety percent of traffic in normal day-to-day driving. No joke - caught out at anything less the mid-range rpm, the Super Rex is an absolute
s-l-u-g.
To give you an example, not long after picking up our test car, we found ourselves stopped at a set of traffic lights with our lane ending about forty metres ahead. The lights change green, we engaged first gear and stomped the loud pedal all the way to the floor - just to make sure we could merge into the next lane with plenty of room to spare. What followed was tragic. Despite its wide-open throttle, the STi proved unable to muscle its way past a humble Mitsubishi Colt in the adjoining lane....
We couldn't even pull out a nose length before we had to abort and hit the brakes...
Embarrassing - not to mention dangerous - situations like this quickly teach you the MY02 STi is a no-goer at anything below mid rpm. It's tractable - yes - but don't expect any useable acceleration.
Keep the throttle floored past 4000 rpm, however, and - bang! - the STi transforms into a head-kicker. It slams your head back with the subtlety of an uppercut to the chin.
Unfortunately, though, this sensation is short-lived because local tuning (to suit our relatively low grade 98-octane fuel) has slashed the STi's top-end power. You see, in order to maintain engine longevity, Subaru Australia has been forced to cut back top-end boost pressure...
This boost graph tells the story of the STi's on-road performance - bugger-all up to about 4000 rpm, a giant rush from 4000 to near 5500 rpm, followed by a steady drop-off towards the 7500 redline.
It's the most non-linear power delivery you could possibly imagine.
Lurking under the MY02 STi's aluminium bonnet is a familiar sight - the EJ20-series flat-four with quad camshafts, 16 valves, 8.0:1 static compression, a single turbocharger and intercooler. The MY02 STi also brings Subaru's new AVCS (Active Valve Control System), which varies inlet camshaft timing over a 35-degree range to improve emissions, tractability and - supposedly - low rpm torque.
Furthermore, Super Rex is equipped with a larger intercooler (including an automatic water spray) plus a higher capacity IHI turbocharger than the normal WRX model. Set up to deliver maximum huff, the Japanese-spec car is listed with their politically-correct 206kW, but in de-tuned Australian guise you're looking at 'only' 195kW at 6000 rpm along with 343Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.
Ripped off!
For the first time, the STi backs its flywheel with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Those six ratios are stacked very close together, which means it's easier - though not necessarily easy - to keep the engine running in its optimal rev range. Like previous Subaru 'boxes, the 6-speed has a notchy but decisive shift, while the clutch is relatively heavy and prone to shudder when cold.
In terms of outright acceleration, the STi is quick - but it's no pacesetter.
Unlike 'the old days', the current STi is shaded by the local Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, HSVs and - unless you're prepared to be ultra brutal on take-off - even cars such as the 5-speed SS Commodore and Ralliart Magna.
Somehow, despite weighing 1470 kilograms (a considerable 200 kay-gees more than the previous STi sedan) Subaru Australia say their new hero can manage 0 - 100 km/h in 5.45 seconds; we can't help wonder where the 50-horse nitrous shot was hidden! Independent testing reveals more realistic low 6-second 0 - 100s. But critically, without a huge clutch-dumping launch, you're well up into the 7s.
Top speed is limited to 235 km/h.
Driven like it should be - not mindlessly caned, mind you - the STi gulps through a fair amount of fuel. Use its power and you'll inevitably pay - we averaged nearly 15 litres/100 kilometres over our combination of urban and highway driving!
And make sure you're careful at the bowsers - the STi requires a minimum of (rare) 98-RON fuel. Inadvertently filling up with lower grade fuel increases the risk of engine damage - and don't expect the Subaru 3-year warranty to come to the rescue in that scenario."
oh dear...
04 August 2002, 03:49 PM
#4
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have said it on another thread but I am now getting power at 3500rpm after 4000miles I wonder if it will be coming alive at3000rpm after 8000miles and it now pulls all the way to the redline. Mine is standard UK spec STI running optimax
Steve
Steve
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Uncle Creepy
Other Marques
43
27 December 2015 04:02 PM
Welloilbeefhooked
General Technical
0
11 September 2015 06:49 PM