Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

Why does the 08 get such a bad response from people?

out mapping one today and I think I have fallen for it.. fantastic car..

People that hate them so much have you actually been in one?

Simon

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Yep, still poop

stuart2008sti

iTrader: (1)

Simon you are right people have not seen one up close or driven one they are just like sheep and follow what other people say.they are a very good car and a step in the right direction.but alot of people are loyal to the saloon and will take some convincing.time will tell.

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

it is a totally different car but with lots of familiar bits

Simon

corradoboy

I've sat in one, but not drove or ridden in it. I hate the looks, but then I always say ALL Scoobs are ugly. The fact that for the first time on Top Gear it matched the lap time of an evenly spec'd Evo, and was faster than all previously tested Impreza's means something. During the review Clarkson showed it driving like a pig, the usual atrocious understeer whilst the Evo was as sharp and precise as ever, yet no quicker in the hands of The Stig. A mate who has one has said he was surprised that over the same regular routes, the hatch is quicker than his previous Blob and Bug-eye STi's, yet never feels as though it is. Smoother, more composed, better built and apart from the looks, a better car overall. If we come out of this Credit Crunch with anyone in Britain able to afford such cars, it will be good to see people start modding them and realising some more potential, and who knows, maybe by then Subaru will have face-lifted it like they did the Bugeye. I lament the loss of the saloon shape, but having seen the saloon variant on sale in the US I don't think I'd have it. I was very dismayed when I saw that the frameless windows were gone too. All in all, it's a good car I think, hidden under a styling disaster.

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

I agree, great looking car.

Black-Hawk

iTrader: (4)

STI good WRX bad, what mods and what road dyno figures did you get simon?

EddScott

If I had the money and it was a case of new EVO or new STI I wouldn't ditch the STI out of hand. I actually quite like them and I think they look much better in the flesh than in the pics on the net.

I'd like to make my own decision rather than follow the fashion of knocking the Impreza.

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

Got to agree with you Simon, a lovely car. It'll grow on people in time.

Milamber

iTrader: (2)

Hasn't that always been the case

haroldhettaturbo

iTrader: (2)

Sat in a 31K sti in a dealers showroom wehn we met there for a meet.

Was very underwelmed by the interior for 31k.

And I didnt fit, the seat bolsters were killing my legs.

Wouldnt mind a test drive though to make my mind up

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

Even modified still looks like a big pile of peup. Will never grow on me. You can't polish a turd. And the drive isn't particularly good either. Way too soft for my liking. Performance isn't bad as standard though.

Apostle

So Simon /JGM you remapped Mog?

Does it need uprated pump or injectors or plugs (as well as exhaust and AEM induction) ?

I will have you do mine "hopefully" before the summer if all pans out as planned.

I aim to add Harveys ported and wrapped uppipe and manifolds in the quest for nigh on 400 / 400....


And yes they are lovely - especially my euro spec BBS / Recaro spark silver baby

Much improved over my last Bug eyed wagon (modded to 285bhp) - which was badly received but very good.

And to be honest every "standard" classic looks like an old cortina in comparison.

Technology will always move forward and these new Sti's dont take too much to get serious power. A little bit roly-poly but some new sway bars and that should be addressed too.

wiley

iTrader: (63)

its so good, reason why its the main car of the new f&f...
i quite like them, although they look to mazda like

wiley

hodgy0_2

i like it

wasnt the hatch an admission from Subaru that the current WRC leaders i.e. Citroen and Ford have the config spot on and the classic saloon shape was never goung to win the WRC

bigarf

iTrader: (67)

i never liked the hawkeye when they first came out,but love them now.think the new sti will grow on me in time.

EddScott

I hated bugs when they came out but now I would take a bug or a hawk over a blob.

As for the styling, I'm not sure why they went with a hatch - possibly because of WRC, possibly because most were doing the same - even Mitsubishi have the ralliart thing.

As for the overall design I think it was designed while GM had a stake in Subaru (not sure if they still have) by ex-SAAB designers - AFIAK anyway.

TINO.wrx

iTrader: (5)

nice, cars and have driven them at a prodrive driving day. trouble was the 2nd gear kept coming out so the instructor had to hold it in for me!! they've gone through a few cars this way. but if i had the cash id get a nice jdm sti ;-)

steve

scoobmj

iTrader: (3)

first saw one last year, it just didn't seem to stand out much.

which is a shame because impreza's have always been different in a good way

spot the difference...



i am not knocking anybody who has a hatch scooby, and i am sure you love it as i do my classic but i can understand why Subaru changed their winning formula.

all imo

sticks

iTrader: (1)

not my cup of tea,but it's alright!

corradoboy

Mazda 3

mgcvk

Its a lot of money to spend on a car which is down right plain and ugly. It may drive great, may be mechanically brilliant and possibly be a dream to map but just looks hideous. I don't think people are jumping on a bandwagon, I think the bland looks have taken everyone by surprise especially after the whole Bugeye debacle. Bugeye with headlights changed = problem solved, the hatch needs a lot more work to make it aesthetically pleasing. I've got an '03 wrx with mods but still find a well kept classic an attractive and to a certain extent an iconic car. If I had the dosh, at the drop of a hat I would have a version 5 or 6 Sti as well. VW, Ford, Vauxhall and even Kia for goodness sake can all produce attractive hatches. Why can't Subaru?

dunx

iTrader: (3)

I've driven one sensibly, and it did absolutely nothing for me, I'd rather keep my bug-eye and the £20K if that's o.k.

If I won one, I wouldn't give it back...

LOL

dunx

P.S. The boot sill was still a touch too high for the dogs.... fine for my MTB tho'.

reeperb5

i think there ok for look.. never driven one though...

but hey... no one likes change....

Mikkel

Sat in one, never driven one.

The problem they have is the way they look. A few tweaks, like the older STIs, and it is a weapon. Perhaps if they called it something other than an Impreza we could have accepted it as an ugly new hatchback from Subaru to supersede their ugly but iconic super saloon.

Moral of the story, never try to redo an icon or you end up with a poor reflection.

legacytt

i dont like them its just going along the lines of astras, focus, mazda3 has been mentioned and a vw golf even, i wonder what the next one will be like.

Chris.B

iTrader: (4)

Sexual

Nurse Gladys

When I first saw it I really didn't like it.

It looked too much like many other cars on the market.

It has lost it's individuality - often referred to as ugly...

I must admit now though it is growing on me - especially after seeing a WR Blue with rally graphics at Christmas - she looked rather nice.....

I certainly wouldn't say no if I could afford one......

andyswagon

i like them hugely simon, they drive so much better than all previous models feeling more solid. only thing i dont like is the chav rear lights but apart from that a fantastic car!!

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

I didn't like the look/idea of the hatch when it came out but after seeing a couple of STI's on the road (there's a mean looking dark grey one round here) I think they look smart.

The rear lights are the only let down for me, but adding the red (like above) sorts that.

I'd deffinately have one and the hatch probably makes them more practical for loads than the older saloons (one of the reasons I love my wagon so much)