[twiSTies]

I'm looking to buy a daily driver and convert the STi to a track car in the next year or so, so I've been looking at the 2008 Tribeca, a Forester Sport, and a Legacy GT Limited for starters. They had A LOT of 08 Impreza stock on the lot (prompting me to remember my salesman saying how he didn't expect them to sell), so I decided to do some compare/contrast with the old Impreza model.

The interior has been said to be more upclass in magazine reviews, but all I could see was cost-cutting. The door panels no longer have ecsaine or cloth swaths on them, but are instead completely plastic with some aluminum plastic pieces on the arm rest and around the door handle. The ebrake is no longer covered in leather, it is now plastic. The shift knob is also now rubber instead of leather covered. The pedals are no longer made of aluminum, they're standard plastic.

The center stack looks better than the old Impreza, especially with the new navigation screen, but the trim no longer has a polished metal finish, it is now all gray.

The older Impreza did not use a radio antenna since it was in the rear glass. The new one has a roof mounted antenna.

The older Impreza has plastic guards in the wheel well to protect the engine bay and suspension from water. The new Impreza has half of one. The area directly behind the wheel is now exposed painted metal.

Pictures don't show off the top fender line like seeing the car in person does. It looks very Bangle-esque to say the least.

As far as options, the 5 speeds came with the STi short shifter and one had the navigation package. All had audio controls on the steering wheel.

The WRX with Navigation, heated cloth seats, and the short shifter retailed for $30,482 MSRP.

Maybe its just me, but I see little improvement to the car overall. There are bits and pieces that would be nice (like the Navigation, audio controls on the steering wheel), but then there are obvious clues that the car has been decontented a bunch to cut costs, which didn't work since a lightly optioned WRX is cresting $30k now.

As far as styling...I'll let these pics speak for themselves about the new car:

[jeremyk]

30k does seem really steep for a wrx..... is that becker subaru?

[JD_STI]

I was driving behind an 08 5-door yesterday. From behind it looked like it was taking a dump. The wheel fenders in the back overhang the tires about 2 inches. It looked horrible. I was laughing when i drove by the guy, and then I told my car I love you (there was no one in the car with me).

[twiSTies]

Originally Posted by jeremyk

30k does seem really steep for a wrx..... is that becker subaru?

Yup!

They located the last 05 CGM with silver wheels on the east coast for me in October 05 and sold it to me for invoice. Ever since, they've gotten two other customers through me. I'm working on a 3rd since they treat me so well there.

If you look at the WRX, it does not say, "I'm worth $30k" at all anymore. At least with the old STi, you knew that the interior had some nice bits to it, and the drivetrain was fantastic. This car...it's more Ford/GM for $30k.

[ScubaSmith7599]

Yet another very disappointing review...

In a few years I might be ashamed to say, "It's a subaru" when people ask me what my car is.......

[Rootus]

Could you clarify your comparison a little please -- were you comparing the '08 WRX to your STI, or to a 02-07 WRX?

[twiSTies]

Originally Posted by Rootus

Could you clarify your comparison a little please -- were you comparing the '08 WRX to your STI, or to a 02-07 WRX?

To both really, there wasn't much difference in the interior between the two cars 04-07. The door skins still had cloth in the WRX, ebrake and shiftknob were still leather, pedals were still aluminum, etc.

[arkleseizure]

Originally Posted by JD_STI

...and then I told my car I love you (there was no one in the car with me).

And I hope that guy can't read lips!

Yeah, I spied the 30k WRX (with nav) today at Pence during their Subaru car show...that seems really steep for that car. I mean as much as I paid for the STi?

[JD_STI]

Originally Posted by arkleseizure

And I hope that guy can't read lips!

Unfortunately I spend more time in my car than in my girlfriend, so we're pretty close.

[QuickSilverSTi]

Looks too much like the Saab 9-2X style...

<---- doesn't need a second Saab-ish wagon.

[VSGTS14]

blah, sti ftw.

[D_STI]

I still have my hopes up until the STI arrives. In no way does the new WRX say: "I'm worth 34,000k (here on the island)". Between the new WRX and the MS3 I would take the MS3 w/out thinking it twice!

[reflexxi]

Originally Posted by D_STI

I still have my hopes up until the STI arrives. In no way does the new WRX say: "I'm worth 34,000k (here on the island)". Between the new WRX and the MS3 I would take the MS3 w/out thinking it twice!

I would have to agree. Stripping the WRX of its unique rally-car look to a mainstream hatchback has (to me at least) removed the car's identity that I fell in love with years ago. There's NOTHING performance oriented about the car's looks. A set of sport wheels and a slightly more aggressive front bumper would do wonders for the WRX and make it deserve its $30K price tag.

It looks like Subaru might keep the magic with the 08 STi, however...

[AddiSTi]

Isn´t it at least fair to compare yours to the new STI when it hits the streets?

Bone stock WRX have never had any chance when compared to the STi in the looks department. Compared to the STi, the WRX has always looked dull.

[VSGTS14]

the sti has always been the rally beast, not the wrx...it's just a different approach.
i think there's going to be more sti's on the road now than wrx's. the new sti is going to put the 08 wrx to shame (which it should, they're not suppose to be the same).