[JC]

Originally Posted by cody

Pssh, whatever.

I don't know what wikipedia you are reading? It clearly says the chassis was stiffened for safety and not performance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_...the_GD_chassis

Pros

Subaru claims that the GD chassis is 148 percent and 82 percent stiffer in torsional and beam rigidity, respectively, than the GC chassis. This stiffness is primarily due to the addition of a steel "ring" which encircles the cabin at the B-pillar. Rather than being for performance, the stiffness was added primarily to increase safety.

In terms of safety, the GD chassis earned a "Good" rating (highest mark) from the IIHS's offset crash test. 4 stars front driver, 5 star front passenger and 4 star side safety ratings from the NHTSA. In a magazine article from the Dec. 2005 Firehouse magazine (a periodical written and made for firefighters), Ron Moore writes how it is well-known that the Impreza chassis has great protection in its B-pillars. This side structure has 8 layers of high-strength, high-tension steel including a round steel bar running through the middle. The author notes how drivers simply walk away from horrific side-impact accidents.

Cons

The GD chassis gains nearly 200 kg in weight over the GC chassis. Most of this weight comes in the form of chassis stiffening as the car was made to meet every country's crash standards. The weight also hampers the cars maneuverability, transistions and turn-in capabilities.[citation needed] The GC Imprezas were notable for being very lightweight despite having AWD. The WRX Type R STI Version VI using the GC chassis, at 1260 kg, was lighter than the competiting Mazda RX-7 type RZ (1270 kg) and Honda NSX type S Zero (1270 kg). In this fashion, the GC chassis has a better advantage.

The author of the forementioned article also notes that the Jaws of Life need to cut the Subaru's B-pillars at certain points in order to cut through the car frame.[4] This information was not widespread before, so there have been many incidences where firefighters could not cut the B-pillars due to their structural integrity. This may become a concern if the driver or passengers need to be cut out of the vehicle quickly.