New 2011 STi owner - not too happy
03 March 2011, 07:07 AM
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New 2011 STi owner - not too happy
just replaced my trusty old 1999 WR Blue turbo (Swiss) special edition with a spanking new 2011 STI 4 door (blue) Sport, and so far am not yet over the moon...
(we have 3 trim levels in Switzerland - the Sport is the cheapest without things like parking sensors, satnav and heated seats.. and unfortunately without the recaro's).
What I don't like:
1. The Seats suck. SUBARU really fkuced up by getting rid of the old seats they've used for 10 years. The new ones have smaller side bolsters on the bottom and back, theyr'e not as hard and the shoulder bolsters are non existant.
2. The noise - is a bit excessive. There's sporty and there's excessive annoying boom. This is too much. Have not driven long distance / time yet (fairly short work commute through non urban area) so don't know how tiring it'll be yet. Sounds good as a novelty but could have been toned down a bit.
3. Headlamps: dipped beam pattern cuts off too abruptly from bright to dark (there's a VERY distance transition) so on non flat roads with a bit of up and down you can't see as far ahead as with a more graduated beam. Main beam is pretty good though.
4. the boot has no external keyhole or button. You have to open with the lever by the drivers seat - even if you only want to put smthg in / out without getting in the car. How dumb.
5. Heating system seems to have a mind of its own. I hate these modern temperature controlled systems which blow hot air in your face. (Best heating system I had was in my old Mk 2 Ford Escort mexico ! where I could get warm feet and cold air in my face)
6. Size and shape (while parking) - is obviously different from the 99 model and no doubt I'll get used to it.. but parking in tight spaces s pretty nerve racking right now. Do not feel secure yet. This'll hopefully improve as I get used to it (still only 250 km on clock !). Outsie of course it looks pretty cool. Rear visibility while parking is not as good as the whole backend is higher and the C-pillar design is more cluttered. The bulging wheel arches increase the risk of scraping while parking in tight spaces
three are some nice touches of course:
- the red footwell lights when opening the door and illuminated ignition key. (The kids think this is way cool..)
- the way the lights come on as soon as the ignition key is inserted
- the way the lights dim when you open / lock the car (gimicky but nice)
- Overall interior design is more impressive than the 99 model was when I bought that, nearly 12 years ago
- Having doors with window frames is better than the frameless design.
- and "The Wing is back.."
Driving - it feels more planted with less roll (like it says in the brochures) and the brakes are good of course - although I haven't hammered it yet as it's still new.
The 3 different go-fast settings (economy, sport and sport-sharp) are both useful and fun. Have been keeping it in ecomomy mode as standard and occasionally switching to sport sharp while accelerating / uphill. Now, that IS impressive.
Still early days - but at the mo' I feel like it's a great piece of machinery let down by a few things... especially the seats issue.
Am looking at getting some Recaro Speed's and having them re-trimmed (unless I can get a pair of the UK model recaros from Subaru UK (as they have the same trim as mine - grained black leather + black alcantara) or a pair of the old bucket seats from the previous models and get them re-trimmed.
Steve
:-\
(we have 3 trim levels in Switzerland - the Sport is the cheapest without things like parking sensors, satnav and heated seats.. and unfortunately without the recaro's).
What I don't like:
1. The Seats suck. SUBARU really fkuced up by getting rid of the old seats they've used for 10 years. The new ones have smaller side bolsters on the bottom and back, theyr'e not as hard and the shoulder bolsters are non existant.
2. The noise - is a bit excessive. There's sporty and there's excessive annoying boom. This is too much. Have not driven long distance / time yet (fairly short work commute through non urban area) so don't know how tiring it'll be yet. Sounds good as a novelty but could have been toned down a bit.
3. Headlamps: dipped beam pattern cuts off too abruptly from bright to dark (there's a VERY distance transition) so on non flat roads with a bit of up and down you can't see as far ahead as with a more graduated beam. Main beam is pretty good though.
4. the boot has no external keyhole or button. You have to open with the lever by the drivers seat - even if you only want to put smthg in / out without getting in the car. How dumb.
5. Heating system seems to have a mind of its own. I hate these modern temperature controlled systems which blow hot air in your face. (Best heating system I had was in my old Mk 2 Ford Escort mexico ! where I could get warm feet and cold air in my face)
6. Size and shape (while parking) - is obviously different from the 99 model and no doubt I'll get used to it.. but parking in tight spaces s pretty nerve racking right now. Do not feel secure yet. This'll hopefully improve as I get used to it (still only 250 km on clock !). Outsie of course it looks pretty cool. Rear visibility while parking is not as good as the whole backend is higher and the C-pillar design is more cluttered. The bulging wheel arches increase the risk of scraping while parking in tight spaces
three are some nice touches of course:
- the red footwell lights when opening the door and illuminated ignition key. (The kids think this is way cool..)
- the way the lights come on as soon as the ignition key is inserted
- the way the lights dim when you open / lock the car (gimicky but nice)
- Overall interior design is more impressive than the 99 model was when I bought that, nearly 12 years ago
- Having doors with window frames is better than the frameless design.
- and "The Wing is back.."
Driving - it feels more planted with less roll (like it says in the brochures) and the brakes are good of course - although I haven't hammered it yet as it's still new.
The 3 different go-fast settings (economy, sport and sport-sharp) are both useful and fun. Have been keeping it in ecomomy mode as standard and occasionally switching to sport sharp while accelerating / uphill. Now, that IS impressive.
Still early days - but at the mo' I feel like it's a great piece of machinery let down by a few things... especially the seats issue.
Am looking at getting some Recaro Speed's and having them re-trimmed (unless I can get a pair of the UK model recaros from Subaru UK (as they have the same trim as mine - grained black leather + black alcantara) or a pair of the old bucket seats from the previous models and get them re-trimmed.
Steve
:-\
03 March 2011, 07:19 AM
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Did you not look at the car before you bought it ??
Some of your issues surely would have been spotted with a test drive / look around the car.
Hope the good points out shine the bad ones for you.
Some of your issues surely would have been spotted with a test drive / look around the car.
Hope the good points out shine the bad ones for you.
03 March 2011, 08:59 AM
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no - I bought it mail order ;-)
yes I looked several times and had a test drive - during the day, so the headlight issue was a surprise. As was the boot. There's a button for the boot on the key fob but the dealer said it only works on the legacy (maybe also the luxus model which has all the extras..).
There are of course many other refinements and improvements I didn't mention... but the seats issue is probably the biggest bummer.
What made me decide to sell the old one was when I gave it a good clean and found rust starting round the rear arches. (I hadn't washed it for ages so had not noticed this). Otherwise it was in fine condition. Always garaged and serviced on time. I'll put some waxoyl down inside the new one to try and stop it happening this time, as I'll probably keep this also for > 10 years.
St
yes I looked several times and had a test drive - during the day, so the headlight issue was a surprise. As was the boot. There's a button for the boot on the key fob but the dealer said it only works on the legacy (maybe also the luxus model which has all the extras..).
There are of course many other refinements and improvements I didn't mention... but the seats issue is probably the biggest bummer.
What made me decide to sell the old one was when I gave it a good clean and found rust starting round the rear arches. (I hadn't washed it for ages so had not noticed this). Otherwise it was in fine condition. Always garaged and serviced on time. I'll put some waxoyl down inside the new one to try and stop it happening this time, as I'll probably keep this also for > 10 years.
St
03 March 2011, 09:13 AM
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xenons will always had a sharper "edge" on the dip/beam...I'm afraid that comes with the territory... be ready to get flashed a bit too...on bumpy roads they can dazzle people coming in the opposite direction.
The seats... well.. I had the recaro's in mine and apart from the bolster leather wearing quickly they were terrific seats...well worth the upgrade... (sorry a bit late for you)
The seats... well.. I had the recaro's in mine and apart from the bolster leather wearing quickly they were terrific seats...well worth the upgrade... (sorry a bit late for you)
03 March 2011, 10:35 AM
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I looked at a set of seats that had been taken out of a 2009 car as a replacment for my classic seats and I agree with everything you have written about them, they are shocking and do not belong in a car costing that sort of money!!!
If you really do want to keep the car for 10 years I would seriously look at aftermarket seats.
If you really do want to keep the car for 10 years I would seriously look at aftermarket seats.
03 March 2011, 11:35 AM
#6
I hear what your saying about the lights as you could not of for seen what they were like when you had a test drive in day light but everything else must of been apparent i.e. seat, noise, heating and the shape and size.
I don't want to sound like im having a go but when I buy a brand new car I take it for an extensive test drive. The last thing I want is to buy a car that has a load of things I don't like.
Bottom line is you should of noticed all this before you bought it.
I don't want to sound like im having a go but when I buy a brand new car I take it for an extensive test drive. The last thing I want is to buy a car that has a load of things I don't like.
Bottom line is you should of noticed all this before you bought it.
03 March 2011, 01:21 PM
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I know what you mean about the seats, I found them a bit of a squeeze in the 2011 STI that I sat in. Even more so than my old MY99 UK car.
It's odd that the old JDM STI seats were (are ?) larger than the EU ones. Since drivers from the JDM market might actually be slighter in build than their EU counterparts, their logic is unsound.
It's odd that the old JDM STI seats were (are ?) larger than the EU ones. Since drivers from the JDM market might actually be slighter in build than their EU counterparts, their logic is unsound.
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03 March 2011, 02:54 PM
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I think that there will always be things that you don't notice in a test drive, and become more obvious once you're actually using the car day to day. Or maybe I'm just unobservant.
Whatever, I hope that the good outweighs the bad for you, Steve. I love noise, so that wouldn't be a problem for me, though!!
Whatever, I hope that the good outweighs the bad for you, Steve. I love noise, so that wouldn't be a problem for me, though!!
04 March 2011, 08:04 AM
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@ VisorGirl
I like some noise too and I like the sound of the new STI - it's just a bit too much (there's a very strong boom in the lower rev range)
On my old 99 Turbo I removed the air box in front of the air filter and then you can hear the blow off valve between gear changes. Now THAT was a satisfying sound..!
If I can change the seats - I think everything else I'll get used to (except maybe opening the boot when I come back with a heavy bag of groceries one day !)
St
I like some noise too and I like the sound of the new STI - it's just a bit too much (there's a very strong boom in the lower rev range)
On my old 99 Turbo I removed the air box in front of the air filter and then you can hear the blow off valve between gear changes. Now THAT was a satisfying sound..!
If I can change the seats - I think everything else I'll get used to (except maybe opening the boot when I come back with a heavy bag of groceries one day !)
St
04 March 2011, 10:31 AM
#10
If you have a problem with the headlamp cut offs, maybe its wise to get the beam aim checked an re-adjusted. The range should be no worse than halogens.
I know with many UK cars, many delears don't properly check the beam aim when they PDI the car (or don't know how to...even though its easy).
The consequence is many brand new UK cars on the road have incorrectly aimed headlamps, be it too high or too low....and they stay like that for three years, where it is finally rechecked for MOT (although MOT stations often miss it too, or pass a car with lights aimed too low).
I know with many UK cars, many delears don't properly check the beam aim when they PDI the car (or don't know how to...even though its easy).
The consequence is many brand new UK cars on the road have incorrectly aimed headlamps, be it too high or too low....and they stay like that for three years, where it is finally rechecked for MOT (although MOT stations often miss it too, or pass a car with lights aimed too low).
Last edited by ALi-B; 04 March 2011 at 10:33 AM.
04 March 2011, 01:43 PM
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I took my RRS in to have the xenon dips lowered, having got fed up of being flashed 3 or 5 times a night... only to find out they were actually too low, and the resulting reflection off wet tarmac was equally as blinding as having them too high.
They need to be crack on.
Tx
Keep up with the current info
It's widely accepted the lean map is/was the issue... the piston's don't help I admit...but once correctly mapped there have been zero failures (apart from the Yanks..but their idea of a tune is stick a dirty great turbo on it and wonder why it goes pop)
They need to be crack on.
Tx
Keep up with the current info
It's widely accepted the lean map is/was the issue... the piston's don't help I admit...but once correctly mapped there have been zero failures (apart from the Yanks..but their idea of a tune is stick a dirty great turbo on it and wonder why it goes pop)
Last edited by scooby L; 04 March 2011 at 01:46 PM.
08 March 2011, 10:51 PM
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@ VisorGirl
I like some noise too and I like the sound of the new STI - it's just a bit too much (there's a very strong boom in the lower rev range)
On my old 99 Turbo I removed the air box in front of the air filter and then you can hear the blow off valve between gear changes. Now THAT was a satisfying sound..!
If I can change the seats - I think everything else I'll get used to (except maybe opening the boot when I come back with a heavy bag of groceries one day !)
St
I like some noise too and I like the sound of the new STI - it's just a bit too much (there's a very strong boom in the lower rev range)
On my old 99 Turbo I removed the air box in front of the air filter and then you can hear the blow off valve between gear changes. Now THAT was a satisfying sound..!
If I can change the seats - I think everything else I'll get used to (except maybe opening the boot when I come back with a heavy bag of groceries one day !)
St
I hope that you're getting used to the car a bit now. I haven't seen one up close!
