Well 2 weeks ago i went out to the local subaru dealership and told them i wanted to drive the brand new 08, and i was considering trading my 04 in. No problems with going for a drive, dealer drove it off the lot and showed me the new stuff they added for 2008 which was pretty cool. He launched it twice from different modes so i could "feel" the difference. Also showed me how well the brakes stop from 80...considering i have the same brakes i think i should know :hsugh: Then it was my turn. Drove up and down the same street just getting a feel for it. Tried out the Intel, Sport, and Sport # modes and honestly the only one i felt different was the Intel since it tones everything down to save on gas. I then asked him if he cared if i launched it once to see how it was. Launch was perfect and got 2nd perfectly. He then says "and that was with traction control on, try it with it off". So i turn it off and have another go. this time not such good news. Still had an excellent launch but the shifter wouldn't go into 2nd....or 3rd....or 4th.... Stopped and had to wait for the clutch to cool down. I have driven a stick since i was 16 and am now 23 so i think im pretty good at it. i said it was a nice safety feature that when you rip on it a lil too much the tranny says NO MORE. He pulls it up into the spot where they put cars that are basically in the bag for them to sell. Finance guy comes out and i tell him to get my keys cause im taking mine home. Explain the whole situation to him and he just leaves and tells me i should put an after market clutch in that brand new car..... foot notes: drove new 08 STI and had the clutch overheat from doing 4 launches within about 30 minutes. car had 39 miles at beginning of drive and 43-45 by the end. dealer still wanted to sell me a broke ass car.
Thats crazy! I bet those 39 miles were the worst EVER!!!! I hope they fix that before they sell it to someone
i am told by a few of the mechanics at SoG that the 08 is inferior in multiple ways (again they're opinion but they haven't steered me wrong yet)
UNDERSTATEMENT OF YEAR. I've driven one... There are not enough colorful words in the English language to describe how UNPLEASED I am with it. I'd rather own a Chevy Cobalt over then 08 STi. Or ANY 08 Impreza for that matter.
thank you. i was expecting it to be at least somewhat exciting to drive...and its the most boring car i've drove in a while. on a sidenote, drove my buddy's cobalt SS and was pretty suprised
I really liked the 08 STI minus the stereo. I thought it was crap. The 08 WRX I thought was horrid. Admittedly I have not driven the 04-07 STI. If they are as raw or hard as people say I doubt I would like it. I am just getting old I guess.
If 05~06 was given 245's on 8.5" wide wheel with +6.25 caster (aka the only performance gains that the 08 has) then 05~06 STi=SRT4 quickness and leave 08 STi in cloud of OEM raw fuel over richness.
I dont think Ive heard of that problem anywhere prior to this, strange. Also I'd drive the 08 over my 04 on the daily -- it's not as big of a POS on the inside or w/ ride quality
:lol: Love these threads. All over NASIOC and IWSTI too. Previous STi owner drives the new car (or just reads about it) and decides it's not worth it to upgrade. All of a sudden the new car must be 'shitty'. For more evidence see the AP1->AP2 S2000. New Miata, new 350Z, etc, etc, etc. I'll give you a couple points though. 1. I've never driven an older STi so I can't compare. 2. My car's been in the shop for two days having the power steering whine fixed. Oddly enough, between a toyota, a honda, and now a Suby I've never bought a new car that didn't go back in for warranty within the first 6 months 3. This thing is solid, really fast and fun to drive. And it's also different than the previous gen. Which apparently automatically makes it terrible.
Edit: and 4. I bought one so I feel some responsibility to defend it and therefore am only about a objective and a prev. gen owner. and 5. Let's see if they stop selling the car this year because of how 'shitty' it is. :eek3:
You are one of those people that would buy it for that...the increase in comfort. I do agree that is it refined more so than the 04~07...however, it is refined for the type of people that want a comfy 'sports' car.
Look at the market that they are selling the STi to. It isnt to the 16-25 year old market anymore. They are targeting an older crowd, and with that older crowd comes more creature comforts, and a higher price.
I dunno, but when I get in the market for a $40,000 AWD turbo vehicle I'm going with the Misterbitchy EVO X
Interesting Article on how the cars respond to Mods. Now, I know one comparo article about one of each vehicle does not a definitive decision make, but it seems that the STI might take well to mods afterall, possibly better than the EVO this time. Also, and I remember reading about this awhile back, but it appears little was done to the power of the Mistu, could this possibly be due to the paddle shifter/auto tranny being maxed out and not accepting any more power coming through it? Time will tell I guess... http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=7&article_id=6850
But *I* aka MYSELF does not desire a 'comfy' and 'refined' car such as the 2008 SUBARU Impreza WRX STi 5-Door. The person such as myself, aka I, aka ****THE**** WJM, desires a 2005 SUBARU Impreza WRX STi 4-door Sedan in CGM or PSM. It *IS* the most perfect car (in sedan form) that SUBARU has EVER produced. Aside from that, I am *PERFECTLY* content with my 1996 SUBARU Legacy Outack Wagon (4EAT) that would arguably be THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE and THE MOST UN-REFINED car EVER if longfury and/or Alex were to drive it. Otherwise, the Outback is *NEARLY* PERFECTION to me, aka myself, aka I, aka ****THE**** WJM.
If i'm spending 40G's on an AWD car, it'll be a use RS4! $35G's+ is an up-market automobile. and it better do more than just be quieter. :squint:
i have to many of these but i couldn't resist.. I really just think a era has ended.. 40k could buy you alot quicker and or more fun cars than a new sti or evo, if thats your thing. (read c6 vette solstice gxp-sky redline most of which can be found for closer to 30k...wait im recommending pseudo american cars over japs? sad day!)
I think its highly debatable that the Skystice Twins are any more fun than an STi/EVO, and they are certainly not quicker, the C6 is closer, but again, the fun factor is debatable. Besides all three of those cars are two seaters, aimed at a very different market. What other four door is going to give you anywhere close to the performance of the EVO/STi? None. And a used RS4 would be choking on MitSubaru exhaust all day if you're going for the speed thing...
good point. i was really just saying "this could be a fun car" or just do what the rest of us do, spend 25-30k on a my04-07 and money into mods. i loeve my sti and i only recommended those because i drove one of each and found them fun so i was offering alternatives for said factor
Gotta family too,... Still don't need a $40K HATCH. WRX wagons are uber sexy, but a not at that price. The 08 STI does not tempt me at all.... I would rather buy a Legacy,20G and a Super Siegel tune and keep my money for when Subaru gets there head right and produce a REAL STI!!! The 2.5RSTI will have to stay around for a while longer.
I am definitely not trying to persuade you into liking the new STI, just stating that there are plenty out there that do. I, am one of them....:tasty:
i think the biggest issue with the 08 debate is how people form there opinions. now this is just a observation not fact so dont jump my shit! ( a la iwsti) and i am not saying one way or the other. but for the most part people who had my04-07 STI and actually use it as a performance car (i.e track days, drag) do not like the 08 because of the way the suspension is. firts time owners love the car and why not. its a subaru! it is aimed at a older more relaxed market. someone who wants a quick car thats fun and needs to take the kids and nagging wife to places. but 40k? no... not worth it to me.
^I agree! I bet Will (WJM) would be glas to sell his Legacy Outback w/ a Ver. 8 swap for a fraction of the cost! Now that would be fun to watch beating up on Porsche in!:keke: