irish44j said:z31maniac said:
STi - You can tell it's still a quick car, but it felt slow compared to the SS, obviously. Brakes and suspension feel fantastic (again short test drive), the ergo was good and I fit with plenty of room with the helmet. This car has the STi short shifter, gearbox also felt good, but man is it a close ratio gearbox! But I would want the Limited for the better stereo, but would need to see if I can still get a helmet on with the moonroof that comes with the STi Limited, I wish the seat was still 1-2" lower so you feel more like your sitting IN the car vs ON it.
Much more useable space, decent sized trunk, etc. I could actually put an ice chest, small set of tools and a couple of foldy chairs in the car for HPDE use. The STi for '18 has bigger 6 Piston Brembo's with larger rotors and two piston rears, new DCCD tuning and it's all electric now instead of the hydraulic/electric hybrid in the past. And according to dyno's, the '18 is putting down 15-20whp more than the 15-17 STi's.
I spent awhile chatting with the sales guy, who is an enthusiast that owns a WRX and a BRZ and has sold Subaru's for a long time. He said the engine stuff is overblown and that 99 out 100 times, the issues come from guys that beat the crap out of them, have crappy mods and or tune's, and don't properly maintain them, or all 3.
A few little poitns:
1. IDK why people worry about getting the "upgraded" sound system on cars. Even the upgraded factory systems are generally garbage compared to pretty much anything mid-to-upper end aftermarket. I'm guessing that the new STI probably has a lot of integration of "other" things into the stereo HU? Or is it just a stereo/video HU? If the lattter, get the base, replace the HU and speakers with aftermarket for less money and better sound/functionality. I am speaking regarding my '09, so it may not be as seamless in the new one, I haven't looked (yet).
2. Interesting about the seat being too high. Again speaking of my 09 (with sunroof), I'm 6' tall and have the seat all the way "up" (using the manual height lever). At the low setting it feels like I'm sitting on the floor under the dashboard. Guess it's not the same in the new car - hmm.
3. I'm imagining you going to the dealers with your helmet in hand, and some service writer making note "deny warranty claims to that guy" hahaha.....
This. I bought my wife a 2016 Forester XT right as the 2017s were hitting the lot. We were turning her base model 2014 lease in and they threw us a bone on this fully loaded XT because someone ordered it and then backed out. I was initially exited because it came with the Harmon Kardon sound system; but, it was just as horrid as the base model Foresters head unit from 1990. I mean I know Subaru has never been known for having high quality sound systems but in this day and age of technology it can't be that hard to have a decent sounding stereo in a $35k car.
As for height adjustments in the WRX/STI or any of the other cars that share a similar interior platform (Impreza, Forester, and Crosstrek) the cars with cloth seats have a way better feel and seating position. They all have height adjustments. It's the cars with leather and sunroofs that have the school bus driver seating position that just plain out sucks.
