The 2008 Subaru Imprezza WRX STI

The Impreza WRX, affectionately known as a ‘rex’, is no stranger to Aotearoa. It’s a sharp looking, four-wheel-drive, turbocharged, compact and quick car, so it doesn’t take a scholar to see why it has been a popular choice here over the years. The Impreza WRX came about in late 1992 to rival the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (Evo) on the world rally circuit. Ever since the standard Impreza WRX has been about, so has the Impreza WRX STI (Subaru Tecnica International) model (don’t ask me why there’s no h in Tecnica; language barriers?). The STI models have always been quicker and more powerful than their standard WRX counterpart.
    Nostalgia aside, the 2008 model has taken on an all-new look. For starters, you can only get the STI in hatchback. In the past, most STI models were sedans. Also, it appears to have really lost most of its aggressive visuals of yesteryear, bearing an uncomfortably close resemblance to a Mazda 3 hatchback. That’s my two cents anyway, but the Impreza WRX STI targets a lucrative market, of which a lot of is based solely on looks. Many buy a WRX for the image alone, and with the new appearance only sales figures will tell whether it’s doing the trick. Prejudice regarding the looks aside, the new chassis has proven itself better balanced and handled than its ancestral STI forgoers which does compensate for its
    emasculated image.
    Climbing inside, the interior is fairly standard, but inviting and comfortable. The WRX series has never bent over backwards to provide a pretentious interior, as its rally genes and heritage mean it’s to be kept as light and practical as possible. It’s no hick-town paddock basher inside either, with an appealing dashboard look, concise and effective heads-up display, and all driver controls located very well. The sports seats are great, but a little more leg room would be helpful. Height issues aside, the interior is tip top.
    With harrowing drink-driving statistics and a dangerously large number of idiots with whom to share our roads with, occupants of the WRX STI can breathe a little easier thanks to the five star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) rating, which is the highest mark possible. Front, side and curtain airbags feature as well to help keep occupant safety in check. With the permanent Subaru all-wheel-drive system and improved overall weight distribution, the WRX STI has further accustomed itself to the incredibly variable road conditions in New Zealand. The independent McPherson strut and double wishbone suspension package ensure handling is right up there, as STI drivers should expect. And should things start to get out of hand, the Brembo performance braking system brings matters under control with ease.
    What lies beneath? A 2.5L, four cylinder boxer (horizontally mounted) engine equipped with a better turbo setup and larger intercooler capable of hitting 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. On demand it’ll throw out 221 kW, or 296 HP, at 6000 RPM on a strict diet of 98 octane fuel. Unmodified, the engine really does have a pleasing ring to it which could be well complimented by an aftermarket exhaust system if desired. Also, judging by the larger intercooler, an impressive blow-off valve release sound could be attained with the infamous HKS super-sequential, a modification that’s been hand-in-hand with Subaru enthusiasts for quite some time.
    On the road the air temperature was only 8 degrees outside, proving a real bonus as the cooler air really boosted the turbo system’s performance, literally. An M3 on the Southern near Sylvia Park found out the hard way. Taking the wheel, my first instinct was to get liberal with my right foot to see what this car could deliver. A plant of the accelerator and some sharp shifting on the six speed gearbox evokes a formidable thrust, with the turbo really doing its thing at around about 4000 RPM. Cruising at either 100 or 50 km/h was as breeze which is great, as there’s not much that sucks more than a manual that just won’t sit comfortably on 50 (except for an automatic). As for overtaking on the open road, a drop from sixth to fifth gear will comfortably do the trick and if you shift down to fourth, you’re (quickly) away laughing. The adjustable shift light sitting right above the tachometer (the RPM gauge) tops off a truly fine driving experience.
    Easily sending shivers down the spine of supercars worth over twice as much, the $59,990 price tag of the Impreza WRX STI isn’t bad at all. It delivers supercar performance at an average of 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres of fuel consumption and is an ultra-new, all-round performer fit for New Zealand conditions. Many thanks to Evan Cambell and Craig Wright of Winger Subaru Greenlane for making this article possible, cheers!