Thoughts on new Sti?
 

I'm thinking about getting a new wrx or sti. Any of you folks have the newer generation? I'm curious how they compare. I've looked at used, but it appears new is going to be a better value. Definitely miss my old car.

Honestly, I haven't driven one, I sat in one at the dealer, I really like the interior and the cabin. I gotta think they're a pretty sweet car still. I'd buy one and slap some wheels on it and leave the rest alone, and have a sweet reliable and fun daily driver. I also really like the way the sedan looks...

Really?

I was thinking more along the lines of slamming it with some 13's and some 6" spacers. Man that mini has made you soft.......you big pussy!

I know, I'm just a big daisy these days...

Wouldn't that be if you bought a VW bug?

You might also consider a Legacy GT! H6 or 2.5T...

We did drive the Legacy, I would definitely choose the H6 in that case.

Really, what was wrong with the turbo 2.5?

The 3.6L H6 is about the same on power (a little less if I recall correctly) but it also runs on 87 octane.

So they still make the legacy GT? That could be nice as well. I really miss my STI, but a WRX may work just fine for winter use. The P-car is great, just getting a little tight when hauling around the two teenagers. It might be nice to not get it so pelted with rocks every winter as well. I like the looks of both the sedan and the wagon, but considering wagon for practical reasons. My son is also getting close to driving age (next year), so maybe I should be thinking '78 GL instead! I'm sure you can guess which car he's pushing to drive.

Looking at Subaru's homepage, it doesn't seem like they are offering the Legacy GT anymore (or an Outback XT for that matter).

That sucks.

I just saw that and in most cases - auto only for tranny.

Subaru's really tried to streamline their lineup over the last few years:

- All Legacies are sedans
- All Outbacks are wagons
- No more turbo wagons
- No more manual wagons

And with the Impreza chassis being as large as it's become, I can see why there's no need to sell a Legacy GT or Outback XT; the WRX already fills that spot well. There are almost no people that want WRX performance *and* Legacy/Outback space. People that want a sporty car tend to want the slightly smaller car... which is as big as the Legacies used to be anyway.

IMO, the last awesome niche car Subaru made was the '09 Outback XT: turbo motor, manual gearbox, wagon utility, sleeper looks. Since then, it's either economy, performance, or utility: pick one. :(

I know in '11 there was a legacy GT Limited that had the 2.5 Turbo and 6speed... (Or was it 5?) Don't know for sure they had it in '12 or will in '13.

You're correct on the '11 Dean, but a nice one is hard to find.

So it looks like wrx or sti will be the option then.........or the '78 gl.

I may have found one! Plasma Blue Pearl 5 door sti. Seeing what they can do on price. Hoping for under invoice.

When will the next body style come out and will there be a bump in power? I haven't been paying attention to the "buzz".

I've heard they are going to reduce weight (as a rumor) if the weight savings are big the same 305hp would feel like a bump ...

but i think they could get 350 out of the car pretty easily ... then again they are switching to a 1.6 direct injection turboed motor ... so i dunno

The 2013 is unchanged from 2012. If there is anything different it is supposedly very minor.

sorry i was talking about the 2014 WRX/STI which won't be an impreza... ya the 2013 will be teh 2012 with 1 digit different in the VIN and most likely nothing else changed.

I'd love to get a new ('08-'12) STI hatch to replace Jenn's '10 Impreza hatch as the primary family car. The 6-speed, brakes, and S-Drive are what would drive me to get an STI over a WRX - being able to set three different tunes, the interior, etc., make me want to sell the '04 and start over.

The GR chassis is much more solid than the GD, although it does like to get upset by mid-turn bumps (soft Impreza suspension most likely the cause). The noise level, interior and exterior styling, and over all fit and finish make it a much more refined car - however the all-plastic door cards are obnoxious.

si Drive is pretty useless. All it does is remap the drive by wire throttle, so on lower settings, it's literally the same as just not pressing the throttle as far down. That's it. In fact, on my OBXT, putting it in "intelligent" mode results in the worst gas mileage.

Now, if aftermarket reflashes are able to use the si drive knob to actually switch full boost/timing/fuel maps, that would be awesome, but I'm pretty sure all you can do is remap the throttle pedal curve. As such, I'd be happier with another cup holder or the bigger seat heater buttons than si drive. At the least, they could have made it a 3way switch on the steering wheel instead of taking up the center console with a big knob.

I think a 5 series BMW with X Drive is the way to go. just sayin.

Nah. I had the 335xi for three years, and that car was pretty boring to me. About 2 months into it and I was missing my STI.

At any rate, I struck a deal on a Plasma Blue Pearl STI hatch, with SPT exhaust, STI short shifter, home link, and a couple minor options for $500 under invoice.

I get it in October. I'm pretty stoked!

Sweet!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Nick, should be a good occasion to have a get together. Maybe we can go drag-race some semis on I80 :lol: like the good old days

Definitely, as long as we can do it in a construction zone, I'm good!

I'll bring the arm-length burritos.

Legendary!

Mmm,! Burritos!

Welcome back to the fray, Nick! Let me know when you need wheels :lol:

From what I've read, that's the case. You can set three different maps. Basically a clean Cobb AP. If not, it's a worthless contraption :(

Congrats! I'm jelly. I'd want a plasma blue or satin white.

Thanks Aaron,

Oddly enough, my first thing I'll need to buy are some snow tires! Skipping the whole performance snows this time and getting the real snow tires (Blizzack WS70). Maybe that will bring us a real winter!

Thanks, those were my favorite as well.

Congrats I like those colors as well.

I've got a set of ws70s on my outback. I'm less than impressed... awesome in the snow, but uninspiring in the dry. Granted, down in Reno we have much less snow, but I'd much rather have a set of wintersports or something a little more high performance in the dry.

Actually... of you're interested in my ws70s I would probably sell them and get some wintersports... 245 or 235 17's (id have to check) thought they might be a little tall for an sti because they're for an outback, but they would give the sti a little more ground clearance of they dont rub.

Thanks for the offer Scott, but I'll be running them on the stock wheels (18's). I know they are mushy in the dry as the tread blocks are really soft. They are remarkable in the snow and morning ice up here though. On the 335xi I had them and they were really capable. I have LM60's on the Turbo, which are good in snow, but awful on hardpack snow and ice. I had a couple of interesting sideways moments on the way to work last year. No snow donkeys to blame, just me. Literally was coming around a corner where a friend was at a stop sign. He called me later, saying..."nice drifting". Little did he know I nearly had a load in my pants, and little to no control over the car.

Flying out tomorrow to pick it up! I'll post pics when I get back. I'm giving a presentation at the Sketchup conference in Boulder, then drive back. A little nervous about the presentation, but pretty stoked about the STI!

Congrats, sounds like a nice drive too. Looking forward to some pictures..

There are SI Drive tables for boost target and throttle mapping. Timing and fuel have "cruise" and "non-cruise" tables but these are not selected by the SI Drive.

I guess boost target is kinda useful. Just put a 1:1 throttle map on all 3 SI Drive settings, then have like a 12 psi low map, 16 psi standard map, and an 18 psi scramble map.

Actually... would that work? Or is "I" mode different. It's supposed to be adaptive according to the marketing literature from Subaru, but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't.

Latest "buzz" is that the 2014 WRX will get a turbo version of the direct-injection 2.0L that now comes in the BRZ, etc. And the '14 STI may be late in the model year (if at all) and who knows what it will be? There is definite talk of separating the WRX (and STI) from the Impreza linup.

"I" mode is no more "adaptive" than the others, or than anything ever on the USDM WRX+, as far as I know.

If I were in charge at Subaru (ha!), this is what I would do:

"Teh Gas Mizerz" Mode:
- Some kind of low-flow air pump to keep wastegate open at all times and kill boost as much as possible (patent pending?)
- Closed/Open Loop transition table to keep it in closed loop for as long as safe.
- Fuel and timing tables to match.
- Some ghey-ass throttle mapping to satisfy gas-mileage standards even when driven by a C-average 17yo rich kid with a lead foot, a little dick, and/or a Napoleon complex (flat-brim hat not included).

"Intelligent" Mode:
- A 12psi target boost map that tapers off the turbo at higher RPM (to let it live longer).
- Closed/Open Loop transition tables to keep it in closed loop for as long as safe (at this boost mapping).
- Fuel and timing table tables to match.
- Cable-throttle-like throttle mapping.

"Sport" Mode:
- A 16psi target boost map that tapers off the turbo at higher RPM (to let it live longer).
- Closed/Open Loop transition tables to keep it in closed loop for as long as safe (at this boost mapping).
- Fuel and timing table tables to match.
- Cable-throttle-like throttle mapping.

"Tuner" Mode:
- A 20psi target boost map with minimal boost taper at higher RPM (and this turbo can handle it even here at 4500', albeit with reduced life...)
- Transition to open loop above 0psi.
- Fuel and timing table tables to match.
- Cable-throttle-like throttle mapping.
- Launch control and flat-foot shifting.
- Signed waver, worldwide registration, and warranty is null and void.

Here she is
 

At 200 miles, I hit a ginormous tumbleweed in Colorado. With a few hours on the polisher, I got them all out. I thought for sure there would be a dent, given the noise. Instead it was about six 5 foot long scratches on the drivers side.

Very different from the '05. Feels more solid. Still in break in mode which will be over this week. No snow tires in hand though. Should have ordered them before I left!

Another view

That is Hot, love that color. Great car man.

Nice!

I actually have a set of the TRmotorsport wheels like you have on the Turbo, in 18x8.5 ET48, 5x114, if you want to keep from killing the stockers in winter (they're actually very pretty).

Looks beautiful man.

Mmmmm, wouldn't it be cool if the tails were smoked? Looks like a great ride though.

I'm still a fan of just the solid red overlays.

http://www.iagperformance.com/images...age_02_600.jpg