Article Comments - Ford Mustang Shelby GT vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

96 messages, Last post on Apr 18, 2008 at 4:24 PM

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Ford Shelby GT500, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Comparison Test: Ford Mustang Shelby GT vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - So why compare two cars whose target customers are so different? Well, first of all, they cost the same. The STI is slightly pricier at $39,440, only marginally more than the $39,180 Shelby. With as-tested prices within $300 of each other, the reality of cross-shopping these two on price alone isn't an arguable point. (more)

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#37 of 96 Re: BMW 335?? [ateixeira] by byronwalter Dec 20, 2007 (5:49 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 20, 2007 12:16 pm) Whenever I take my Audi in for servicing the sales rep usually just hands me the keys to nearly any Audi that interests me. The last time it was the S5, which I declined to drive since I have no intention of buying one (and didn't want the temptation, I'm weak). Some of the Audi dealerships were provided with S5's just for test drives which they will later sell as "slightly used". Subaru might consider a similar practice with their key dealerships. Anyhow I thought our "moderator" promised us a vicarious treat about a recent STi test drive Replies to this message: ateixeira (Dec 21, 2007 10:15 am) byronwalter (Dec 21, 2007 1:41 pm)
#38 of 96 awesome by badonkabonk Dec 20, 2007 (6:13 pm)
It is so cool how in the vid the cars screech the tires on the dirt. Wow. Come on, Edmunds. Even if it is some amazing old flat test track that's been dusted over by the sands of time, you could turn down the foley a bit. It's a screechorama.
#39 of 96 Re: BMW 335?? [aviboy97] by gzgtp Dec 21, 2007 (5:20 am)
Replying to: aviboy97 (Dec 20, 2007 9:29 am) Porcupine=pricks on the outside BMW=pricks on the inside That being said, may car owners everywhere have a great holiday season!!
#40 of 96 Re: BMW 335?? [byronwalter] by ateixeira Dec 21, 2007 (10:15 am)
Replying to: byronwalter (Dec 20, 2007 5:49 pm) I think you're far more likely to get a test drive in an STI if you show up to service your, say, Legacy GT spec.B, and call ahead to make an appt. They will know you're seriously considering one, and not just going out for a joy ride. My dealer is very cool about that, the salesmen know me, and will toss the keys, like you said. I haven't asked for STI keys because that's not what I'm looking for. It's tough, would you buy an STI with 85 test drive miles on it? Knowing that half a dozen teenagers had driven it hard prior to your purchase? Replies to this message: byronwalter (Dec 21, 2007 1:41 pm)
#41 of 96 Re: BMW 335?? [ateixeira] by byronwalter Dec 21, 2007 (1:41 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 21, 2007 10:15 am) "It's tough, would you buy an STI with 85 test drive miles on it? Knowing that half a dozen teenagers had driven it hard prior to your purchase? " Not a chance. That's why Subaru might consider providing their premier dealerships with a STI for demo purposes. Supposedly after a few months my Audi dealership will unload their S5 as a slightly used car. As for the STI scheduled for a local Subaru dealer, I suspect that they will treat the car like dragon's teeth... ya wanna drive it, ya buy it. I'm really interested in what this new critter will look like in full 3D
#42 of 96 Test Drive Writeup by paisan Dec 21, 2007 (6:37 pm)
Sorry guys, got hammered at work and was sick one night, didn't even logon for 2 days. I promise I'll write it up over the weekend. As for the Audis, they are real real heavy, even the S4 is approaching 4,000 lbs. Which makes it a nice car but with that weight won't handle. I would think but haven't checked the numbers, similar case with the 335i. As for "just as fast" you can say that about almost any modern car. Heck my mom's 4-cylinder automatic Kia Optima has hit 120mph with me behind the wheel. -mike Replies to this message: merrycynic (Dec 21, 2007 10:53 pm) byronwalter (Dec 22, 2007 9:18 am)
#43 of 96 Re: Test Drive Writeup [paisan] by merrycynic Dec 21, 2007 (10:53 pm)
Replying to: paisan (Dec 21, 2007 6:37 pm) Hope your feeling better. Looking forward to your review. I've always admired Audis. I think Audi started to goof when, it they started to put big heavy V8's in their performance cars. Unless they can somehow put those big motors behind the the front wheels, I think handling and braking are going to suffer. Interesting that Audi's arch rival BMW is going back to where Audi was; smaller blown motors. BMW already had a weight bias advantage, I guess it it'll be even more so. IMHO, Audi still has a better AWD system. Audi seems to have forgotten how to make the most from that AWD system though. Those lowered cars look snazzy, and may have some advantage on the track, but compromises their winter weatherability. I just love a car that can be driven(!) on any road, any time, any where, in any weather, with anybody and with all their gear!
#44 of 96 Re: Test Drive Writeup [paisan] by byronwalter Dec 22, 2007 (9:18 am)
Replying to: paisan (Dec 21, 2007 6:37 pm) "As for the Audis, they are real real heavy, even the S4 is approaching 4,000 lbs. Which makes it a nice car but with that weight won't handle. I would think but haven't checked the numbers, similar case with the 335i. " My two liter A4 is heavy but... it handles surprisingly well. A year or two back Road & Track got a slalom speed that was a tick faster than the STi. It does handle better than the S4 due to less metal hanging off the front. Sounds like you are feeling better, so get to work! Thanks for your TownHall work.
#45 of 96 STi Review by paisan Dec 23, 2007 (10:58 am)
Ok, so I finally am able to sit back, relax, and give you guys my impressions of the 08 STi, first hand, non journalist view, non professional view of it.... Let me preface my write-up in that I've been a Subaru fan for years, starting in the late 80s when my cousin bought a 1988 XT6. I bought my first Subaru in 1997, a 1988 XT6. It wasn't perfect, the air-suspension needed replacement after some time, and this started my work on Subarus. Since then I've been working on them in my spare time and even grew a small side business out of it. My Subaru resume includes the 1988 XT6 Automatic, a 1991 XT6 Manual, a 1992 SVX AWD, 1996 Impreza L AT, 1994 Legacy Turbo Sedan 5MT, and now daily drive a 2005 Legacy Turbo Wagon 5MT. I also have been road racing and track instructing since 2002 and auto crossing since 2000. Enough of my Subaru background, as I could write for hours about my Subarus and the good fun I've had working on and driving them. You are reading this for the '08 STi info! So it was a fairly cool evening here in the Northeast, a few friends got together for dinner in NJ. Chatted about Subarus and reminisced about the past, past Auto-Xing and the future of where Subaru will be heading too. After dinner, we headed out to the parking lot, very similar to the old days in the late 90s when we would meet in parking lots and look at our cars and talk for hours about Subarus. The 2008 STi was parked right next to my 2005 LGT Wagon, interesting how similar in stance these cars both have. I sit down and begin to explore the car, the legend, the car that has grasped us since time began! This was my first time getting a close up look at a car long before the general public would even be able to order it! Could this be? I guess after being a loyal fan for so many years I finally got a peek at the future Ok, so I sit down and immediately I feel that the seats are a tad wider than my Legacy GT seats. The elbow room in the driver's seat is also a bit more, allowing my ample 300lb frame a comfortable seating position. Forward visibility was superior to that of the previous STi due to a more elegant and slender intercooler scoop, slightly larger than the scoop on my LGT but subtle. The dash was well laid out with the GPS/stereo unit placed high on the dash, something that I have missed since my 1997 Isuzu rodeo which placed the stereo at the top of the dash, above the HVAC controls, and above the air vents. Being a driver, this is very important to me because when I drive, I like to drive, and controlling the stereo atop the dash like that makes it much easier while keeping your eyes and senses on the road. Footwell lighting matching the dash lights gave a great accent as well. Closing the door was with a nice thud, and without the frameless windows closed better than all the other Subarus with the exception of my SVX. The feel was that of my Legacy in terms of the fit and finish, light years ahead of the previous generation. Not quite up to SVX levels, but the SVX cost almost the same amount, in 1992 as the STi costs in 2007. Other similarities to the SVX include struts under the hood to hold it up and a subtle rear spoiler. S-drive is included on the STi, which allows for 60% max throttle and boost levels to provide a more economical drive, which the Sport Sharp mode allows increased throttle response and boost levels above the standard levels. This is a very nice feature because most of us will be driving this car on a daily basis and could use the fuel-savings mode often. Other interesting interior items include VDC that has 3 modes. Mode 1 is standard VDC, Mode 2 allows the brakes to interact, but doesn't allow the fuel cutting of the standard VDC mode. Mode 3 is completely off mode with no fuel or brake interaction. The center differential also is interactive with the usual STi setup where you can vary the initial torque split F/R and lock it at 50/50. Interestingly there is another setting which allows for "tarmac" or "dirt" mode. In Tarmac mode, the diffy will be a bit looser varying the power F/R more so, in Dirt mode, the diffy will be tighter to a 50/50 split. Pretty nifty and useful for those folks who will and should be tracking this car. Visually, the car is very aggressive with wide fenders in both the front and rear. This is very reminiscent of the 22b where the rear fenders/quarter panels incorporate a wider stance. This makes a very strong statement, since in the past to go from a WRX to an STi one could theoretically bolt everything onto a WRX and get an STi. With this new/old setup, you can't simply bolt on parts to get to an STi. These wider fenders allow for 245 tires as stock, and one can fit up to a 275 width tires in stock format with no other modifications. So we started to roll out of the parking lot and bam the car takes off. Significantly smoother throttle and turbo engagement than the previous STi with the turbo kicking in at lower RPMs as well. The next thing you feel is the ride, firm, yet smooth. I would say it's 95% as good a ride as my 05 LGT but the performance is about 30% better than that of my LGT. Handling through the twisties was outstanding you could feel the diffys moving the power around but it was all done in a smooth and un-abrupt manner. Stopping was outstanding with the 4-pots F and 2 Pots rear, no wheel locking or chattering or uncontrollable stopping power. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to track it or take it for too much of a wild ride. Weaving through traffic was settling and nothing un-expected came out of it. Ride was quiet and just amazing for the performance levels. I think they have really taken this to a new level in terms of performance and comfort. This is the grown-up version of the STi with all the trackable items you could want. Missing in this version is the IC sprayer which was pretty useless, because when you needed it sprayed you'd most likely be in the middle of a turn or shifting! Quick Positive Points: o Great dash layout with the stereo/GPS up high. o Interior is quiet and up to Legacy Levels o Struts under the hood o Wide fenders and quarter panels o Cabin room is larger than that of the LGT, especially the front passenger. o With seats down the storage is very close to that of the LGT Wagon, slightly smaller o S-drive very strong point o Center diffy control will no doubt make this very popular with the track/rally crowd o Quad exhaust outlets and exhaust note very nice and classy o Linear power coupled with a ride quality far beyond that of the previous gen. o Black Brakes, no more glitzy Gold o Buttery soft shifter and clutch mechanism o Tilt/Telescopic wheel The low points: o Rear roof antenna is a bit old and could be incorporated in the quarter windows o Rear window switches are un-lit o Bluetooth is an option, even with Navi o No boost gauge incorporated in the cluster o Manual seats and no heate Replies to this message: paisan (Dec 23, 2007 10:59 am) byronwalter (Dec 23, 2007 1:11 pm) paisan (Dec 23, 2007 1:36 pm) and 2 more...
#46 of 96 Re: STi Review [paisan] by paisan Dec 23, 2007 (10:59 am)
Replying to: paisan (Dec 23, 2007 10:58 am) The low points: o Rear roof antenna is a bit old and could be incorporated in the quarter windows o Rear window switches are un-lit o Bluetooth is an option, even with Navi o No boost gauge incorporated in the cluster o Manual seats and no heated seats o No moonroof option o No memory Tilt/Telescopic wheel I expect that once the Legacy Spec B and the whole Legacy line grows in size in 2 model years that we will see a lot of the features in the Spec B get incorporated in the STi as the premium Impreza trim level, the next legacy will have a 3.6L H6 w/6speed and around 300hp. I also expect that in the 2nd or 3rd year the STi will gain power levels as well, since the power levels in this model are on par with the outgoing STi model. On the gauges I prefer the white lettering luminous ones with red needles on my LGT over the red lettered w/white needles on this new model. Look for SPT Boost gauge to have matched font unlike previous gauges, it also has PSi instead of Bars so you can actually understand it. In conclusion, after having been a Subaru fan for over 10 years this has become one of my all time favorite Subies. I would say that the only one I like more would have to be my 92 SVX, which a lot of the items have been brought over to this latest iteration of the Impreza Supercar. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the 08 Impreza STi and look forward to tracking this car this summer. In 2 years when the new Legacy comes out I will be taking a hard look at the 2010 STi, the 2010 Legacy and decide which one I will upgrade my 2005 Legacy GT Wagon in for. -mike Replies to this message: byronwalter (Dec 23, 2007 1:11 pm) paisan (Dec 23, 2007 1:36 pm) byronwalter (Dec 23, 2007 2:16 pm) and 1 more...