I bought one of these new and kept it for a year. It is astonishing. Ultimately I sold mine because I got so fed up with everybody trying to race me all time. Here's what you need to know: It will deliver exactly the fuel economy that Subaru claim: 27.2MPG. On a trip you can get 34, if you drive careful and have precisely zero fun (that's UK gallons not US gallons). The performance off the line is amazing, but the clutch does smell like it's melting every time you launch (and when you do any kind of hill start). The brakes are perhaps even more impressive. The handling is surreal. This is a proper driver's car. Much more involving to drive than a similarly priced German hot hatch with electronic gearbox. And there aren't too many cars that will keep up on the twisties. The wing serves no purpose other than to goad other road users into racing you. You can't really enjoy the boxer rumble unless the windows are open or you buy a new exhaust. Ride comfort is non-existent and you will probably start to suffer with spinal compression injuries if, like me, you live in a rural area. As a result of the suspension, there are lots of rattles in the cabin. The boot lid hits the body if you go over a bump and removes the paint on the corners of the lid where it shuts. Road tax is almost the highest band, and will cost you £500+ per year. The standard stereo is piece of junk, and the Bluetooth pretty hopeless (the new model has a revised unit). That sounds negative, but I'd have another WRX STI (if it didn't have the wing and they made the suspension a little more compliant). If you are a proper petrol head, you'll not be satisfied with a hatchback that feels like a front wheel drive. I knew about the fuel consumption and tax before buying, and was happy with that. Just bear in mind that it will inevitably cost you a bunch a year after you buy it, because the tax will be due, it'll need a service and the tyres might be due for a change, all in the space of 2 or 3 months... and that little lot is £1,500+! I had a lot of fun in mine, but now I drive a nice anonymous de-badged BMW, and nobody tries to race me ever. Which is a good thing, because in comparison to the STI it's a snail.
David Hurst planing to get mine in 1-2 years , thanks for sharing me everything i need to know . But even tho this car has a lot of negative side , i'll still gonna buy it ahah . Maybe i'll learn my lesson after 🤔
Nice review evo, keep up the good work. I recently purchased a 2015 WRX STi Launch Edition and it's a great driver's car. Driving the STi like a madman on bumpy backroads as I frequently do, I'm too busy having fun to notice that the interior is just okay. For the price, the STi is a great performance car. No, it isn't a refined luxury sports sedan - thank goodness. There are too many comfy, wanna-be sports sedans with soft suspensions and an automatic-only transmission (like the lame Audi S-3 that is automatic-only, here in the United States. The STi, the Evo 10 (my previous car) and the Ford Focus ST (my other car) are capable rally cars that are really fun to drive! Buy an STi and enjoy driving it before every car turns into comfy cruiser like Audi and BMW have become or, just as awful, when every car turns into a joyless appliance like the Nissan Leaf.
I just bought the 2019 as a daily driver. I got the low lip spoiler to fly under the radar if thats possible in an STI. It is a fantastic drivers car and here in Florida the roads are good so comfort is not an issue for me.
@@ostfahrstreifen8421 I am not sure if the EJ20 is coming to UK, but in Hong Kong, we get the EJ20 (2.0L) Japan edition instead of EJ25 (2.5L). It revs more smoothly and has that high-rev punch and you will have to rev it hard, like old school Honda Civic Type R. The EJ25 has more low end torque though... For me I prefer the EJ20 which has that punch at the rev limiter.
Yeah, I don't think he has a clue what he's talking about, cos it's only the WRX's that's lost the uel headers, the sti still has. Them, I've never liked this guy, didn't seem to know too much and isn't honest, just kisses up manufactures asss
I own this car. the power band is from 3.5k rpm to redline. at 4.5k rpm there is a second surge of additional power and it holds until red line. the gearbox is designed for you to always stay within this power band and never go below it, ever. Subaru tuned the new ecu and the car produces more power than before. judging by the trap speeds of 104mph from multiple review sites, that should put the car at 330hp crank. I will confirm the trap speed in spring when the drag strip opens near me. when you compare the STi to the WRX you will only note a marginal power increase on paper. but the point is that it is all about the power band and the STi is at 40+ hp advantage over the wrx for several thousand rpm all the time. at the track, the wrx will always be losing ground. also, although I have not tracked it yet, I can tell you that if you never drove the 15STi and are commenting about it or comparing it to older generations (that you may have owned) then you should stop. you cannot even imagine what the new STi is like. if you set the diffs to max rear bias via manual mode, it will break the rear end loose like a rear wheel drive car but the suspension is so stiff that it will instantly re-grab the broken momentum and snap your torso violently. the car will turn its nose exactly where you assign it to and it will do it with or without your consent.
I forgot to mention that the power band is not a peak or valley and then a dip or nose-dive at the end. it holds flat for several thousand rpm's until the rev limiter puts a stop to it. you have about 330+ horsepower for pretty much the entire half of the available rpm band.
+ARGH28 I agree with you 100% I love mine and the way it handles/drives. So much fun!!! but for many its the numbers on paper at the end of the day. I find it funny but many who own Miata (MX-5) enjoy the hell out of their cars and is around the same HP as a corolla. I always feel there are cars for everyone but appreciate all of them.
It doesn't do enough in each successive generation. Subaru has made their STI basically a grocery-getter, simply by refusing to push the boundaries. The public is quite comfortable now with 300hp, it's not a big deal any more. The gap between STI and other competitors is now relatively 0 where it used to be much bigger. The culprit is undoubtedly that H4. We get the impression now that the architecture is virtually maxed out. This is further supported by tuners who, when wanting to produce any gains safely, need to make major changes to the internals. The chassis only receives minor improvements each year; sways, tuned suspension, etc. The DCCD has barely changed since the first US model year. Just save yourself a ton of money and get an even quicker STI in an 04-05 version. edit: to be clear everyone (fanboys included), I believe customers should demand more out of Subaru and more out of successive generations of STI.
Major changes to the internals can be done at the factory though, so I'd say it's a maxed out architecture at the price they want. A fully forged set of spinny bits isn't unheard of at 30k, but I haven't seen that kind of motor turbo'd from the factory. My guess is the combination of those two pushes them over the price boundary, and adding more power to a performance AWD drivetrain puts them in gas mileage territory they can't stomach anyway.
You are too caught up in specs. What competitors have closed in? Golf R has the power, but it doesn't have the hardware. M235i is out of its price range. Evo doesn't exist. And in any case, it's turbocharged... 100AWHP is a reflash and downpipe away, for a couple hundred dollars. A couple hundred dollars won't put LSDs and a better suspension under a Golf R. STI is in a class by itself.
I'm really happy about that because the wrx is one of the few cars that stay true, which do not get more expensive and more powerful in every generation just for being faster and totally different from its predecessors so subaru jsut made another great car instead of just focusing on better and higher specs
lookatmySB Exactly. 04 STI is still a good car... no need to reinvent the wheel. Only thing I wish they did was make the FA20 2.5L. They could put the NA version of that in the FR-S/BRZ... that car really needs more power/torque
Is this car internet enabled? I mean if i select Sport# mode, will it auto post to my twitter n facebook or do i need to do it myself? "Driving WRX now in Sports mode. So exciting!" #sports #wrx #petrolheads #lifeonthefastlane
Did he just say the BMW 235i is close to the STi in terms of money, rofl! What a lot of people seem to forget is that while it's not an Evo, the STi still gives you the best track performing car you can find for the $$$. Think about it, between the DCCD (3 auto settings + 6 manual ones), SI-Drive (3 settings), stability/traction control settings (3 if I'm not mistaken) ... this car be driven in over 80 different ways (9*3*3) considering the torque split, throttle response and etc...etc... With this being said, I still can't wait for the FA motor to find it's way to the STi engine bay. I'd love to see Subaru leap ahead of competitors (which it really doesn't have - price range wise), and bring out a 1.6T or 2.0T hybrid (good old brake regen and etc...) boxer combo for the WRX and STi on the next versions of WRX and STi. That would be awesome, IMO.
In real world conditions, the DCCD doesn't matter much. And, if anything, 99% of drivers who know how to use their DCCD put it in Auto - or full lock. I feel like most STI drivers really just want RWD anyway. As for the $$, in most other countries it's actually pretty close. Here in Canada you can spec out an STI to be the same as an M235i.
jagerx There is some truth to what you are saying, but I'm also looking at being able to drive the car in more than just a dry track day. I haven't seen many rear wheel drive vehicles in rally, though there are some ... very few match what AWD/4WD can do. At the same time, the STi can go I think 75% RWD as well, so if you want to drag the car or whip it around a track, that's also there for you. I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I'm an engineer at heart and I simply cannot find anything (new) that can match all that you get from the STi except the EVO which is no longer being made. And I've driven a bunch of Mercs, BMW, R33 GTR (fun car) and American cars. If Subaru was able to stuff that 2l turbo FA motor with a battery pack or two () in the STi for the next gen, wow, that would be just awesome! The NSX is heading that way if I'm not mistaken, oops getting off track now. By the way, girlfriend is Canadian and I'm up in the Mississauga area often ... yeah, you guys can keep your highly price cars, lol.
Hector Djibaou I know what you mean. It's a special recipe, that's for sure. 6mt, high output engine, AWD with proper diffs. Now if that were hatchback still, it would be even more rare. I think something went wrong with getting the FA into the STI. Because I agree that makes total sense. Rumours suggested that was going to happen. A tuned FA would be great. Electric augmentation would be even better.. now we're talking!
Phil It's just an overall better motor! If power was all I was after I'd just throw a bigger turbo ... supporting mods and etc...etc... why do all that if the ej's have design flaws that are corrected in the FA series motor. Besides, the FA has been proven to be able to dish out ridiculous amounts of power with proper supporting mods. Cosworth (unless I'm mistaken) pushed their BRZ to 532ft of torque and the owner did say that on an ej series motor, the same turbo they used in the BRZ would've topped out in the 400 on torque.
Grant Hilti It was a joke and if anything, he is right. The car is aimed at young idiots and by saying, "Sport hashtag," it fits the demographic perfectly.
While I do think the car is awesome, I feel kind of empty when watching it. Ive never preferred the evo over the sti or vise-versa but watching the sti now, without its main competitor, the car with which it has battled for supremacy and grown with for the past 2 decades, it makes me feel like the car could be, and would be much better if Mitsubishi got there shit together and made another "proper" evo. It kinda just makes me sad.
I owned an '06 WRX with I/U.L.H./E, wheels/tires, and coil-overs with only 40K miles on it when I got it stock, so the warranty was already expired cause the car was 4 years old by then with one owner who absolutely baby'd the thing. The interior and performance of the car were mint and if it didn't have an odometer you would've thought it was new. Unfortunately I was 18 and a speed racer and ended up flipping the thing just after owning for a year and it didn't even have 50K miles on it yet... I'm not going to lie, it brought tears to my eyes because I had saved up for 4 years to buy my first car and spend the $5K a year on insurance to own it but since it was modified I didn't get a penny for it even though it had full coverage. So it took me another 3 years before I could afford another decent car and I ended up with an '05 black BMW 328i with a 6 speed and 70K miles and I like the the thing a bunch! but its not nearly as performance oriented as my WRX was and its a shame for that. I did put I/H/E and a set of wheels/tires, and coil-overs on it so I could drift it which Im thankful it has enough power now to do but now I want it as a D.D. and a new STI for a project car. Eventually I will own the new 2014-2015 model and I'll do exactly to it what I mention in my previous comment.
i loved my new 2013 STI, but sadly got 4 speeding ticket already hehehe. but what can i do? my STI the asking for more speed and you can feel the power. no regrets buying this STI over EVO. plus people always taking picture of this subaru. and im proud that i have one!! cheers!
He said it exactly right - "it's not that much of an improvement over the last car" and " the days of Subaru offering superior performance over anything else are gone" is dead on. However, the other cars don't offer AWD and this car is a car you can do something with that in my opinion, is the most fun thing you can do in a car - go off roading and get it dirty and muddy. Nothing can be more fun then to do spinouts, 360s, and sliding in the mud and dirt. Then to go wash it all off....yeah, I want one.
Shawn Moses I agree the sti is based on a rally car the golf is not. I love both cars. But I guarantee the golf R is more comfortable to drive day to day on normal roads.
Mick Delaney I should hope so but if you buy a STI or EVO for comfort, you deserve to get let down. STI is for pure fucking around and fuck the police and everyone else, lmao. Sorry for swearing
Three things I wish Subaru would do to the WRX STI line-up: improve the quality of the interior; give the option of a DSG semi-auto transmission and increase the power plant by at least 40 horses and 40 ft-lb of torques.
That's exactly what they have to do to get our business. The car can clearly handle say 400 hp easily; I'm sure they could bump it up to 340-350 and even higher torque. The interior is still really cheap when a Ford Focus or a Hyundai/Kia really does look like it's more expensive on the inside. Good progress so far, yes, but it should be better. I would also probably buy something with paddle shifters for my DD and manual for a summer/weekend driver.
Don't hate 300hp is right for an STI, it has always worked, too much more would corrupt the STI essence (like the new M4 - nothing to do with previous M3s) Maybe up to ~330hp it's alright, and wider torque band, but seriously if you want more performance on a new STI, the best is chassis, suspension, traction and less weight (which is pretty much what they did!) So stop complaining
Not relevant, becuase whatever the lap times, Golf R is a MUCH better car overall and it would probably be faster around the track as well since it has a much better engine (significantly better power and torque curves and response) and gearbox. Quality, refinement, comfort, luxury, equipment, etc. are on a level that Subaru (or any Asian manufacturer in that segment) can't even dream of achieving.
Just because a Cupra beat an R is irrelevant...the Cupra is probably faster than the STi too. As far as a whole package goes, the STi can't compete against the R, which is a fancy econo car. The FQ-440 would be nice to see on vid.
There are 2 hatches faster than the R: the Leon Cupra not available in the US and the AMG that costs $15k more and is the the same speed essentially according to Autocar. You make no sense. This is 2015 not 2004...get with the times.
Great video and agree with all points - the 19 in my garage (USDM) has more power (290 awhp......they sandbag the numbers)....adding ohlins and a CAE shifter. Best bang for buck around that is a simple, cheap car to keep.....50 dollar oil changes.....cost a year so far about 100 dollars.....(not counting my upgrades..). Brilliant. Fun. Not flashy or show off in nature like an M3 or 911 or super car......and on the street, fully their equal if not better........
Subaru should go rallying again, come to think of it if Lancia were allowed to make a decent car again they should join the WRC along with Mitsubishi. While we are at it the WRC formula should go back to homologation specials, no 5000 detuned road cars no entry! I'm sick of seeing Citroen winning with cars they don't actually make!
Wait... So they got rid of the unequal length headers in this model (and some previous models if I heard right)?? Why?! I know I've seen some aftermarket U.L.H. for a few of the "EJ" series engines but I'm unsure if the aftermarket industry has made one for this engine yet. I'm sure they probably have though, since Subaru tends to use the same engine for newer generations of the WRX's and STI's (not always though). That would be one of the first mods I bought along with intake, exhaust, and adjustable coil-overs. I'd have custom rims made of the same design and painted an ultra glossy black and then just fit them into some 275-285 size tires with some wheel-arch flares to make them fit. Then of course all new titanium internals and upgraded valvetrain, fuel, and cooling/oil systems so I could fit a massive turbo on there. If I owned an STI it would either be a hawk eye model from '05-'07 or one of these new models and have 550-600who on a somewhat conservative tune but just with top of the line high performance race parts that can handle that kind of power but still allow the car to run for at least 150K+ miles if only driven hard at the track once, maybe twice, a month.
Great review. My favorite part has to be when you shine sad light on the hp not changing from the previous model. It is the truth, it is the truth. I'm not even half way through the video, but this video has been great thus far and I assume will end on a fine note
I prefer the noise of this WRX than the older ones. Around here, it seems that 9/10ths of the cars around here are older Imprezas with exhausts big enough to fist. Like hearing the same song over and over again on the radio, it just gets tiring. This one is similar, but a nice change.
I feel like they are trying to "mature" the car along with the original fanbase of the car. ...the only issue with maturing something is making sure it doesn't get slow like an old person. Or fatter.
Exactly. When in reality, every generation is more and more trying to "stand out" and straight ballsy and nuts. Next gen should be specifically built to get beat on! LET US HOON!
I would have thought they would have used the new 2.0l direct injection, chain drive engine but with a turbo to keep the weight down and still remain the same power and torque.
I'm getting a 2006 WRX for my first car, got a spoiler and hood scoop. I'm goning to be driving In 6months and this summer I'll be practicing driving it. Damn it will be a lot of fun.
EliasTheHunter Its just basic math. If something weighs 100 lbs.... 40% more would be 140 lbs. 140% more would be 240 lbs. As far a chassis stiffness goes, 140% stiffer chassis would obviously be better than a 40% stiffer chassis. Less flex in the body.
we don't even want an FA motor the EJ257 would be good if you put EL headers and better Pistons and rods then round it out with an 18g turbo and you would have a perfect factory 360 hp.
I hate everyone calling our roads boring, we have real gems everywhere off he highways but cops are all over and I live in Maryland which if I'm not mistaken was the speed camera capital of the world. We have them everywhere and even cops it busted by them because they're not ran by the police force... I hate these cameras!
Thanks for this. I've been struggling on whether I should get rid of my Mazdaspeed 6 to get the new STi. I'm not sure how I feel about the wing, but I like everything else.
I wonder how much innovation is actually going with every new STI, since Subaru is no longer competing in the top tier of the World Rally Championship? Instead of rally-inspired, trickle down innovations, the new STIs that come out nowadays are the same basic car as it was when they were still in the WRC, with a steady stream of minor tweaks with each model year, planned out for release in advance. And what was he on about with the whole unequal length intakes thing? Was there a generation where they had really unequal length grill openings? Oh wait. Never mind, I think he was talking about the "pig nose" ones with the big central upper intake flanked by two smaller intakes.
Motor Trend gave this car the nod over the Focus ST because it's a well sorted, accurate and confidence inspiring chassis. It's a well received car right around.
the interior is a massive improvement over the old car... not sure what your on about there. maybe your standards are not like mine lol and i agree they need to start adding more power now they have mad the handling perfect. 450bhp would probably be perfect
that Subaru just looks like the civic tipe R here in japan, even the wing is very similar. I wonder who is faster the tipe R or the sti. for people that does not know the Japanese tipe R is unique for japan is not the same that they got in europa and the sti in japan is a 2.0 liter not 2.5.
6:35 - this exactly... makes me sad. Frankly I'd still rather have an Evo VIII or IX than any of the more recent offerings; these cars should be raw, no compromises.
Since they stopped rallying they aren't limited by cc so why are they not making this thing a 3.0 and making a load more power? All I really took notice of was "longer wheelbase, heavier, no extra power". When you take the extra performance away that a WRX used to offer all you're left with is a cheap feeling economy car which is thirsty, noisy and compromised. Other makers have come a long way since the 90's but the poor WRX seems like it's not gone anywhere.
If Subaru pulls it off with the electric motors for torque and combustion combination I think they are working on , it will rival the best sports cars.
I bought my 1st evo 11 years ago.. then have had two more and some sti's in there too... I just don't think at 34 years old I can be seen in these cars anymore. Not that I don't like them.
I wouldn't mind them keeping the power the same as previous generation, but they really should have at least updated the engine itself. The regular WRX has a more advanced engine than the STi, even if the STi makes more power. Raw power will never be a problem with this car. A simple tuning can get reliably you 50 to 70 extra horses out of it at the flywheel.
Perhaps Subaru really do not know which way to take this car now - Should it become softer and more accessible to a bigger audience or go a more radical lightweight way?? - it seams like they have done a lot (+140% Stiffer is a lot) but without getting some really strong and new POS´s to add to the car. It is not a bad car at all and the real fans will still go for it, but is it enough I wonder? when the competition is rapidly growing from much stronger Brands. All in all it´s not nearly as good looking as the concept was leading one to believe (The concept was fantastic looking IMO) - overall it feels like a status quo, even that it is still a cool and fun drivers car. It was always a radical car with the big rear wing and it´s large intake etc. But now it just does not feel not so radical anymore - It needs a new appeal and extra dimension to stay alive as a legend. I think Subaru should shake the Design big time and take a huge step forward. And if they need to go back to Rally to make it happen so much the better. What do you think Subaru should do with the legend in the future ?.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought one of these new and kept it for a year. It is astonishing. Ultimately I sold mine because I got so fed up with everybody trying to race me all time. Here's what you need to know:
It will deliver exactly the fuel economy that Subaru claim: 27.2MPG. On a trip you can get 34, if you drive careful and have precisely zero fun (that's UK gallons not US gallons).
The performance off the line is amazing, but the clutch does smell like it's melting every time you launch (and when you do any kind of hill start). The brakes are perhaps even more impressive.
The handling is surreal. This is a proper driver's car. Much more involving to drive than a similarly priced German hot hatch with electronic gearbox. And there aren't too many cars that will keep up on the twisties.
The wing serves no purpose other than to goad other road users into racing you.
You can't really enjoy the boxer rumble unless the windows are open or you buy a new exhaust.
Ride comfort is non-existent and you will probably start to suffer with spinal compression injuries if, like me, you live in a rural area. As a result of the suspension, there are lots of rattles in the cabin. The boot lid hits the body if you go over a bump and removes the paint on the corners of the lid where it shuts.
Road tax is almost the highest band, and will cost you £500+ per year.
The standard stereo is piece of junk, and the Bluetooth pretty hopeless (the new model has a revised unit).
That sounds negative, but I'd have another WRX STI (if it didn't have the wing and they made the suspension a little more compliant). If you are a proper petrol head, you'll not be satisfied with a hatchback that feels like a front wheel drive.
I knew about the fuel consumption and tax before buying, and was happy with that. Just bear in mind that it will inevitably cost you a bunch a year after you buy it, because the tax will be due, it'll need a service and the tyres might be due for a change, all in the space of 2 or 3 months... and that little lot is £1,500+!
I had a lot of fun in mine, but now I drive a nice anonymous de-badged BMW, and nobody tries to race me ever. Which is a good thing, because in comparison to the STI it's a snail.
David Hurst planing to get mine in 1-2 years , thanks for sharing me everything i need to know . But even tho this car has a lot of negative side , i'll still gonna buy it ahah . Maybe i'll learn my lesson after 🤔
+Jeff Cleary - yeah, but you'll have fun learning the lesson! :-D
Hi, yours was an STi?
No
Richard Nixon yes, STi Type UK - 2014 model.
Subaru WRX review on a channel called 'Evo', quite awkward
Nice review evo, keep up the good work. I recently purchased a 2015 WRX STi Launch Edition and it's a great driver's car. Driving the STi like a madman on bumpy backroads as I frequently do, I'm too busy having fun to notice that the interior is just okay. For the price, the STi is a great performance car. No, it isn't a refined luxury sports sedan - thank goodness. There are too many comfy, wanna-be sports sedans with soft suspensions and an automatic-only transmission (like the lame Audi S-3 that is automatic-only, here in the United States. The STi, the Evo 10 (my previous car) and the Ford Focus ST (my other car) are capable rally cars that are really fun to drive! Buy an STi and enjoy driving it before every car turns into comfy cruiser like Audi and BMW have become or, just as awful, when every car turns into a joyless appliance like the Nissan Leaf.
Subaru IS STILL INTO RALLYING. They are the rally kings of USA. See the series called LAUNCH CONTROL.
I just bought the 2019 as a daily driver. I got the low lip spoiler to fly under the radar if thats possible in an STI. It is a fantastic drivers car and here in Florida the roads are good so comfort is not an issue for me.
Unequal length intakes? Isn't it supposed to be unequal length headers?
Your face is a header
also in the description it says "two litre", but it's 2.5l
@@ostfahrstreifen8421 I am not sure if the EJ20 is coming to UK, but in Hong Kong, we get the EJ20 (2.0L) Japan edition instead of EJ25 (2.5L). It revs more smoothly and has that high-rev punch and you will have to rev it hard, like old school Honda Civic Type R. The EJ25 has more low end torque though... For me I prefer the EJ20 which has that punch at the rev limiter.
Yeah, I don't think he has a clue what he's talking about, cos it's only the WRX's that's lost the uel headers, the sti still has. Them, I've never liked this guy, didn't seem to know too much and isn't honest, just kisses up manufactures asss
NO! Only USDM EJ257 2.5L STI has unequal length headers. Rest of world gets EJ207 2.0L engine with equal lengths header for twin scroll turbo.
I own this car. the power band is from 3.5k rpm to redline. at 4.5k rpm there is a second surge of additional power and it holds until red line. the gearbox is designed for you to always stay within this power band and never go below it, ever. Subaru tuned the new ecu and the car produces more power than before. judging by the trap speeds of 104mph from multiple review sites, that should put the car at 330hp crank. I will confirm the trap speed in spring when the drag strip opens near me.
when you compare the STi to the WRX you will only note a marginal power increase on paper. but the point is that it is all about the power band and the STi is at 40+ hp advantage over the wrx for several thousand rpm all the time. at the track, the wrx will always be losing ground.
also, although I have not tracked it yet, I can tell you that if you never drove the 15STi and are commenting about it or comparing it to older generations (that you may have owned) then you should stop. you cannot even imagine what the new STi is like. if you set the diffs to max rear bias via manual mode, it will break the rear end loose like a rear wheel drive car but the suspension is so stiff that it will instantly re-grab the broken momentum and snap your torso violently. the car will turn its nose exactly where you assign it to and it will do it with or without your consent.
I forgot to mention that the power band is not a peak or valley and then a dip or nose-dive at the end. it holds flat for several thousand rpm's until the rev limiter puts a stop to it. you have about 330+ horsepower for pretty much the entire half of the available rpm band.
ARGH28 i dont like how the gears are so short but other than that its fucking insane
+ARGH28 I agree with you 100% I love mine and the way it handles/drives. So much fun!!! but for many its the numbers on paper at the end of the day. I find it funny but many who own Miata (MX-5) enjoy the hell out of their cars and is around the same HP as a corolla. I always feel there are cars for everyone but appreciate all of them.
Torque cuts out about 5500rpm .. Redline 6500 rpm
Front grill looks soo much better than the USDM grill.....
i thought i was the only one who noticed haha
societykrew we don't even get the rear fog light :(
It doesn't do enough in each successive generation. Subaru has made their STI basically a grocery-getter, simply by refusing to push the boundaries. The public is quite comfortable now with 300hp, it's not a big deal any more. The gap between STI and other competitors is now relatively 0 where it used to be much bigger. The culprit is undoubtedly that H4. We get the impression now that the architecture is virtually maxed out. This is further supported by tuners who, when wanting to produce any gains safely, need to make major changes to the internals. The chassis only receives minor improvements each year; sways, tuned suspension, etc. The DCCD has barely changed since the first US model year. Just save yourself a ton of money and get an even quicker STI in an 04-05 version.
edit: to be clear everyone (fanboys included), I believe customers should demand more out of Subaru and more out of successive generations of STI.
Major changes to the internals can be done at the factory though, so I'd say it's a maxed out architecture at the price they want. A fully forged set of spinny bits isn't unheard of at 30k, but I haven't seen that kind of motor turbo'd from the factory. My guess is the combination of those two pushes them over the price boundary, and adding more power to a performance AWD drivetrain puts them in gas mileage territory they can't stomach anyway.
You are too caught up in specs. What competitors have closed in? Golf R has the power, but it doesn't have the hardware. M235i is out of its price range. Evo doesn't exist. And in any case, it's turbocharged... 100AWHP is a reflash and downpipe away, for a couple hundred dollars. A couple hundred dollars won't put LSDs and a better suspension under a Golf R. STI is in a class by itself.
I'm really happy about that because the wrx is one of the few cars that stay true, which do not get more expensive and more powerful in every generation just for being faster and totally different from its predecessors so subaru jsut made another great car instead of just focusing on better and higher specs
lookatmySB
Exactly. 04 STI is still a good car... no need to reinvent the wheel. Only thing I wish they did was make the FA20 2.5L. They could put the NA version of that in the FR-S/BRZ... that car really needs more power/torque
cycleflight Good point, but, that's assuming that they can't sell them at a higher price point. I'm betting they could!
Is this car internet enabled? I mean if i select Sport# mode, will it auto post to my twitter n facebook or do i need to do it myself? "Driving WRX now in Sports mode. So exciting!" #sports #wrx #petrolheads #lifeonthefastlane
hahahahahaahh
At 3:26 *Unequal length intakes* Sport Plus? Sport Hashtag? Moving on to another channel.
Did he just say the BMW 235i is close to the STi in terms of money, rofl! What a lot of people seem to forget is that while it's not an Evo, the STi still gives you the best track performing car you can find for the $$$. Think about it, between the DCCD (3 auto settings + 6 manual ones), SI-Drive (3 settings), stability/traction control settings (3 if I'm not mistaken) ... this car be driven in over 80 different ways (9*3*3) considering the torque split, throttle response and etc...etc...
With this being said, I still can't wait for the FA motor to find it's way to the STi engine bay. I'd love to see Subaru leap ahead of competitors (which it really doesn't have - price range wise), and bring out a 1.6T or 2.0T hybrid (good old brake regen and etc...) boxer combo for the WRX and STi on the next versions of WRX and STi. That would be awesome, IMO.
In real world conditions, the DCCD doesn't matter much. And, if anything, 99% of drivers who know how to use their DCCD put it in Auto - or full lock. I feel like most STI drivers really just want RWD anyway.
As for the $$, in most other countries it's actually pretty close. Here in Canada you can spec out an STI to be the same as an M235i.
jagerx
There is some truth to what you are saying, but I'm also looking at being able to drive the car in more than just a dry track day. I haven't seen many rear wheel drive vehicles in rally, though there are some ... very few match what AWD/4WD can do. At the same time, the STi can go I think 75% RWD as well, so if you want to drag the car or whip it around a track, that's also there for you.
I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I'm an engineer at heart and I simply cannot find anything (new) that can match all that you get from the STi except the EVO which is no longer being made. And I've driven a bunch of Mercs, BMW, R33 GTR (fun car) and American cars.
If Subaru was able to stuff that 2l turbo FA motor with a battery pack or two () in the STi for the next gen, wow, that would be just awesome! The NSX is heading that way if I'm not mistaken, oops getting off track now. By the way, girlfriend is Canadian and I'm up in the Mississauga area often ... yeah, you guys can keep your highly price cars, lol.
Hector Djibaou I know what you mean. It's a special recipe, that's for sure. 6mt, high output engine, AWD with proper diffs. Now if that were hatchback still, it would be even more rare.
I think something went wrong with getting the FA into the STI. Because I agree that makes total sense. Rumours suggested that was going to happen. A tuned FA would be great. Electric augmentation would be even better.. now we're talking!
why do you want the fa? even a older non avcs ej207 can make 230wkw with just an exhaust and a remap.
Phil It's just an overall better motor! If power was all I was after I'd just throw a bigger turbo ... supporting mods and etc...etc... why do all that if the ej's have design flaws that are corrected in the FA series motor. Besides, the FA has been proven to be able to dish out ridiculous amounts of power with proper supporting mods. Cosworth (unless I'm mistaken) pushed their BRZ to 532ft of torque and the owner did say that on an ej series motor, the same turbo they used in the BRZ would've topped out in the 400 on torque.
Finally, an honest review. What a breath of fresh air.
4:08 'Sport hash tag' LOL!
I know right, fucking idiot.
Grant Hilti It was a joke haha
Grant Hilti It was a joke and if anything, he is right. The car is aimed at young idiots and by saying, "Sport hashtag," it fits the demographic perfectly.
It actually means 'Sport Sharp.'
# in music means sharp...
Will Delaney Good job. Way to really add to the conversation by stating something that was already established.
While I do think the car is awesome, I feel kind of empty when watching it. Ive never preferred the evo over the sti or vise-versa but watching the sti now, without its main competitor, the car with which it has battled for supremacy and grown with for the past 2 decades, it makes me feel like the car could be, and would be much better if Mitsubishi got there shit together and made another "proper" evo. It kinda just makes me sad.
dccd doesn't make the car more rear wheel bias, putting it in auto- will just make the center diff less stiff so you can corner alittle tighter
I owned an '06 WRX with I/U.L.H./E, wheels/tires, and coil-overs with only 40K miles on it when I got it stock, so the warranty was already expired cause the car was 4 years old by then with one owner who absolutely baby'd the thing. The interior and performance of the car were mint and if it didn't have an odometer you would've thought it was new. Unfortunately I was 18 and a speed racer and ended up flipping the thing just after owning for a year and it didn't even have 50K miles on it yet... I'm not going to lie, it brought tears to my eyes because I had saved up for 4 years to buy my first car and spend the $5K a year on insurance to own it but since it was modified I didn't get a penny for it even though it had full coverage. So it took me another 3 years before I could afford another decent car and I ended up with an '05 black BMW 328i with a 6 speed and 70K miles and I like the the thing a bunch! but its not nearly as performance oriented as my WRX was and its a shame for that. I did put I/H/E and a set of wheels/tires, and coil-overs on it so I could drift it which Im thankful it has enough power now to do but now I want it as a D.D. and a new STI for a project car. Eventually I will own the new 2014-2015 model and I'll do exactly to it what I mention in my previous comment.
They should bring out a prodrive model, to really spice things up a bit.
i loved my new 2013 STI, but sadly got 4 speeding ticket already hehehe. but what can i do? my STI the asking for more speed and you can feel the power. no regrets buying this STI over EVO. plus people always taking picture of this subaru. and im proud that i have one!! cheers!
He said it exactly right - "it's not that much of an improvement over the last car" and " the days of Subaru offering superior performance over anything else are gone" is dead on. However, the other cars don't offer AWD and this car is a car you can do something with that in my opinion, is the most fun thing you can do in a car - go off roading and get it dirty and muddy. Nothing can be more fun then to do spinouts, 360s, and sliding in the mud and dirt. Then to go wash it all off....yeah, I want one.
Wrong the golf R is all wheel drive
Mick Delaney I guarantee you drive a golf r, follow a sti wherever it wants to go, your golf will fall apart
Shawn Moses I agree the sti is based on a rally car the golf is not. I love both cars. But I guarantee the golf R is more comfortable to drive day to day on normal roads.
Mick Delaney I should hope so but if you buy a STI or EVO for comfort, you deserve to get let down. STI is for pure fucking around and fuck the police and everyone else, lmao. Sorry for swearing
Haha yeah true my heart prefers an sti/evo but my head says Golf just because I'm a family man and the golf is better for the kids!
I do not care for a damn audi s1, s2 or s3, I love my STI
Three things I wish Subaru would do to the WRX STI line-up: improve the quality of the interior; give the option of a DSG semi-auto transmission and increase the power plant by at least 40 horses and 40 ft-lb of torques.
That's exactly what they have to do to get our business. The car can clearly handle say 400 hp easily; I'm sure they could bump it up to 340-350 and even higher torque.
The interior is still really cheap when a Ford Focus or a Hyundai/Kia really does look like it's more expensive on the inside. Good progress so far, yes, but it should be better.
I would also probably buy something with paddle shifters for my DD and manual for a summer/weekend driver.
Dexter Jerome and add $10K AND PEOPLE WILL FUCKING CRASH. 400hp with no control is shit, look at Pontiac gto, lmfao
Don't hate
300hp is right for an STI, it has always worked, too much more would corrupt the STI essence (like the new M4 - nothing to do with previous M3s)
Maybe up to ~330hp it's alright, and wider torque band, but seriously if you want more performance on a new STI, the best is chassis, suspension, traction and less weight (which is pretty much what they did!)
So stop complaining
Track Battle vs Golf R!!
^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^
+ Evo X - Have Subaru made a better drivers car than the Evo with 6 years of additional development? Or does the Sti still not compare.
Not relevant, becuase whatever the lap times, Golf R is a MUCH better car overall and it would probably be faster around the track as well since it has a much better engine (significantly better power and torque curves and response) and gearbox. Quality, refinement, comfort, luxury, equipment, etc. are on a level that Subaru (or any Asian manufacturer in that segment) can't even dream of achieving.
Just because a Cupra beat an R is irrelevant...the Cupra is probably faster than the STi too. As far as a whole package goes, the STi can't compete against the R, which is a fancy econo car. The FQ-440 would be nice to see on vid.
There are 2 hatches faster than the R: the Leon Cupra not available in the US and the AMG that costs $15k more and is the the same speed essentially according to Autocar. You make no sense. This is 2015 not 2004...get with the times.
Great video and agree with all points - the 19 in my garage (USDM) has more power (290 awhp......they sandbag the numbers)....adding ohlins and a CAE shifter. Best bang for buck around that is a simple, cheap car to keep.....50 dollar oil changes.....cost a year so far about 100 dollars.....(not counting my upgrades..). Brilliant. Fun. Not flashy or show off in nature like an M3 or 911 or super car......and on the street, fully their equal if not better........
I'm going to get either an Evo X or an STI. I'll be happy with either.
Subaru should go rallying again, come to think of it if Lancia were allowed to make a decent car again they should join the WRC along with Mitsubishi.
While we are at it the WRC formula should go back to homologation specials, no 5000 detuned road cars no entry!
I'm sick of seeing Citroen winning with cars they don't actually make!
Very unique sort of nostalgia car, pure essence of rally.
I wish that wing was an optional extra in Canada
The new STI looks so good in this video!
It do not have the same grill then the usdm sti sadly..
Wait... So they got rid of the unequal length headers in this model (and some previous models if I heard right)?? Why?! I know I've seen some aftermarket U.L.H. for a few of the "EJ" series engines but I'm unsure if the aftermarket industry has made one for this engine yet. I'm sure they probably have though, since Subaru tends to use the same engine for newer generations of the WRX's and STI's (not always though). That would be one of the first mods I bought along with intake, exhaust, and adjustable coil-overs. I'd have custom rims made of the same design and painted an ultra glossy black and then just fit them into some 275-285 size tires with some wheel-arch flares to make them fit. Then of course all new titanium internals and upgraded valvetrain, fuel, and cooling/oil systems so I could fit a massive turbo on there. If I owned an STI it would either be a hawk eye model from '05-'07 or one of these new models and have 550-600who on a somewhat conservative tune but just with top of the line high performance race parts that can handle that kind of power but still allow the car to run for at least 150K+ miles if only driven hard at the track once, maybe twice, a month.
it was the unequal exhaust headers then made the noise not the inlet!
6ysr ago bt still d best car around d corner..really love ds STI..i js subscribed bcz u said 'i luv ds car'..u☺
2015 STI are still unequal length FYI. The WRX are equal.
Great review. My favorite part has to be when you shine sad light on the hp not changing from the previous model. It is the truth, it is the truth. I'm not even half way through the video, but this video has been great thus far and I assume will end on a fine note
I prefer the noise of this WRX than the older ones. Around here, it seems that 9/10ths of the cars around here are older Imprezas with exhausts big enough to fist. Like hearing the same song over and over again on the radio, it just gets tiring. This one is similar, but a nice change.
I feel like they are trying to "mature" the car along with the original fanbase of the car.
...the only issue with maturing something is making sure it doesn't get slow like an old person. Or fatter.
Exactly. When in reality, every generation is more and more trying to "stand out" and straight ballsy and nuts. Next gen should be specifically built to get beat on! LET US HOON!
Agreed, the last Scooby I loved was the RB320. The magic has gone now.
I would have thought they would have used the new 2.0l direct injection, chain drive engine but with a turbo to keep the weight down and still remain the same power and torque.
Why no track duty? I think you'd experience the improvements more at the track then in daily driving.
it looks much better then the previous Impreza!
In America Subaru is back in rally and they now have Travis pastrana back on thier team
The STi still has unequal length headers! Other than that, great review!
I'm getting a 2006 WRX for my first car, got a spoiler and hood scoop. I'm goning to be driving In 6months and this summer I'll be practicing driving it. Damn it will be a lot of fun.
Lucky kid
Just got it today actually and getting my liscense in a month. Thanks man.
You're such a bloody noob.
So the EU STI model has the FA20T and not the EJ like in the U.S.?
When did they announce that they were bringing back to the UK? Last I heard it had been canned here
Can't wait for you guys to review the new RS. I've been watching that video of yours with the lead designer.
It still has the rumble. Thank you!
@1:00, chassis stiffness was increased by 40% not 140% but good review nonetheless.
What's the difference?
EliasTheHunter Its just basic math. If something weighs 100 lbs.... 40% more would be 140 lbs. 140% more would be 240 lbs.
As far a chassis stiffness goes, 140% stiffer chassis would obviously be better than a 40% stiffer chassis. Less flex in the body.
Anyone know why European STi's get the mesh grill, which looks cleaner, and the US gets that bridge piece?
"Unequal length intakes"? You mean exhaust header. Sti still has that.
This is why I'm fairly certain that his "Sport hashtag" comment wasn't a joke but him being an idiot.
Is the STI reliable ?
we don't even want an FA motor the EJ257 would be good if you put EL headers and better Pistons and rods then round it out with an 18g turbo and you would have a perfect factory 360 hp.
I ll be interested when they bring back the hatch/wagon models
Such a legend! And it looks so good when it's dirty!
Subaru did gone Rallying again since last year. Checkout Rally USA and Launch Control.
Subaru is rallying, at least in America. Watch Launch Control! ^_~
No UEL headers?? no infamous boxer burble? Right then I need to make an order from Borla Exhaust :)
Way WAY! better than the previous generation...classic Subaru at its best
My next car !
Whats the acceleration and the top speed
S# meant Sport Sharp (as in a Music note)
woulda buy it with 400+ hp and not less
You dont need 400hp unless you drive on boring american roads, that's not what its aimed at. SMILES PER HOUR DUDE
I hate everyone calling our roads boring, we have real gems everywhere off he highways but cops are all over and I live in Maryland which if I'm not mistaken was the speed camera capital of the world. We have them everywhere and even cops it busted by them because they're not ran by the police force... I hate these cameras!
MotorsportMonkey correction* smiles per gallon
I live in germany and I love to drive something between 250-300km/h which id like to reach easily,and 300hp is imo not enough for this quest.
EE DRAKEDOG
Yet it would be much faster than the Polo 1.4. you are driving at the moment, right?!
Why do You wear yours watch on right hand?
"Sport hashtag", really? It is sport sharp and clearly says so on the knob, not "sport hashtag" (facepalm).
It was a joke for fuck sake (facepalm)... he said "sport sharp" as well... he knows what # means in music...
Mzn T it was so funny. Great humor, many laughs, such wow!
Grant Hilti
The talk was not about a good or bad joke, it was about you not getting it ;)
You must be fun at parties..
I'd really hate to party with the host of this video or any of you Internet police people!
I think the Design team went AWOL for the last few versions, thankfully it looks decent.
Regarding the power, thank God for tuners
I keep forgetting that they get a ej207 vs our ej257.
3.25 uneven headers not intake...
it only has 1 "header"
What is the music used at 0:45 seconds?
Thanks for this. I've been struggling on whether I should get rid of my Mazdaspeed 6 to get the new STi. I'm not sure how I feel about the wing, but I like everything else.
I wonder how much innovation is actually going with every new STI, since Subaru is no longer competing in the top tier of the World Rally Championship? Instead of rally-inspired, trickle down innovations, the new STIs that come out nowadays are the same basic car as it was when they were still in the WRC, with a steady stream of minor tweaks with each model year, planned out for release in advance.
And what was he on about with the whole unequal length intakes thing? Was there a generation where they had really unequal length grill openings? Oh wait. Never mind, I think he was talking about the "pig nose" ones with the big central upper intake flanked by two smaller intakes.
I neever saw the ARTEGA GT in a propper review, PLEASE REVIEW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Motor Trend gave this car the nod over the Focus ST because it's a well sorted, accurate and confidence inspiring chassis. It's a well received car right around.
To be fair it was a WRX but yeah the chassis is well sorted.
the interior is a massive improvement over the old car... not sure what your on about there. maybe your standards are not like mine lol and i agree they need to start adding more power now they have mad the handling perfect. 450bhp would probably be perfect
450 hp . You joking . You mean 350 hp
This has a 2.5-litre, not a 2.0! The 2.0 was sold only in Japan! Even the guy said the same!
SOMEBODY CORRECT THE DESCRIPTION!
Divx, what is this 1999?
that Subaru just looks like the civic tipe R here in japan, even the wing is very similar. I wonder who is faster the tipe R or the sti. for people that does not know the Japanese tipe R is unique for japan is not the same that they got in europa and the sti in japan is a 2.0 liter not 2.5.
Subscribed! I expect you to hold up your end of the deal re. Subaru and rallying.
6:35 - this exactly... makes me sad. Frankly I'd still rather have an Evo VIII or IX than any of the more recent offerings; these cars should be raw, no compromises.
Since they stopped rallying they aren't limited by cc so why are they not making this thing a 3.0 and making a load more power? All I really took notice of was "longer wheelbase, heavier, no extra power". When you take the extra performance away that a WRX used to offer all you're left with is a cheap feeling economy car which is thirsty, noisy and compromised. Other makers have come a long way since the 90's but the poor WRX seems like it's not gone anywhere.
If Subaru pulls it off with the electric motors for torque and combustion combination I think they are working on , it will rival the best sports cars.
+svtwrc No. Just... Don't. It would ruin the STi feeling.
Same motor since 04. The one that literally self implodes
I'm feeling like since the Impreza III the brand has become more of a Street cars brand rather than a Rally cars one :/
I bought my 1st evo 11 years ago.. then have had two more and some sti's in there too... I just don't think at 34 years old I can be seen in these cars anymore. Not that I don't like them.
The Evo is the only true Rally legend
the unequal length INTAKES? HUH?? 3:27
I wouldn't mind them keeping the power the same as previous generation, but they really should have at least updated the engine itself. The regular WRX has a more advanced engine than the STi, even if the STi makes more power.
Raw power will never be a problem with this car. A simple tuning can get reliably you 50 to 70 extra horses out of it at the flywheel.
How do you guys think it compares to a Hyundai genesis 3.8 V6??
please do sti vs evo PLEASE
Perhaps Subaru really do not know which way to take this car now - Should it become softer and more accessible to a bigger audience or go a more radical lightweight way?? - it seams like they have done a lot (+140% Stiffer is a lot) but without getting some really strong and new POS´s to add to the car.
It is not a bad car at all and the real fans will still go for it, but is it enough I wonder? when the competition is rapidly growing from much stronger Brands. All in all it´s not nearly as good looking as the concept was leading one to believe (The concept was fantastic looking IMO) - overall it feels like a status quo, even that it is still a cool and fun drivers car.
It was always a radical car with the big rear wing and it´s large intake etc. But now it just does not feel not so radical anymore - It needs a new appeal and extra dimension to stay alive as a legend. I think Subaru should shake the Design big time and take a huge step forward. And if they need to go back to Rally to make it happen so much the better.
What do you think Subaru should do with the legend in the future ?.
that steering wheel is straight out of a VW GTI… Also you mentioned you recently tested the Golf R 7 ?? where, when?
Maybe it's just me but these Catchpole vids are a more ordinarily shot than Bovingdon and Meaden's vids. A lot of talking and in-cabin footage.
unequel length intakes? lol its the headers they chagne and thats only in japan. the new wrx is a differnt engine so does't have them
sport hashtag????? sport sharp maybe ??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful blue beast from japan
If they bring the Golf R/GTI R to Canada, I'll take that, thank. Great review by the way.
The WRX is an old car underneath
Subaru go rallying again !
Front end looks like the EVO 9/10
Doesn't sound like the WRX STI have evolved enought since a couple of versions ago. Not even a new engine.
2014 Mitsubishi evo gsr or 2015 subaru wrx sti?
Sti if you want comfort..Evo for speed
Imo I would go for the sti Bc it still is pretty quick 0-60 in 4.5 seconds is not too shabby
EVO moves around more! So EVO!
subscribed for subaru