[Rootus]

The reviews may hurt sales a little, and early on. When people start throwing wide tires on their '08 STI and spanking all comers in the autocross, the reputation will improve. The JDM '08 STI proves the performance is there, it's just a bit of soft tuning on the USDM version that needs to be worked out.

I don't like the '08 STI because I think it's ugly, but I don't see a problem in the performance department. It is perhaps not the same bang-for-buck deal it was a few years ago, but it's still an exceptional performing car for the money. People cross shopping it against $45K BMW's is high praise.

I was well on the path to becoming a future Evo owner until I started seeing all the problems the X's are having. And I went and sat in an X, then sat in an STI. No doubt about it, while Mitsu has a decent looking exterior, Subaru is better at the interior by far. Even the seats on the X suck ass, I'd rather have the seats (if I couldn't just keep the ones I have now that is ).

I said it before and I'll say it again, it's the 5-door hatch design that is the only real danger to the STI. And the fugly front end ... again. Now just give it a facelift, tune the suspension like the JDM car, bump up the power by 50 hp and nobody will remember what an Evo is...

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by USNSTI

Like I said, stories from your local dealership do not equal hard sales figures.

That's very true. For an opposing piece of anecdotal evidence -- my local dealer doesn't have any STI's right now, and hasn't for a while. When I bought my '06, there were a bunch on the lot. Last time I was over at Carr, they had two. One presold, one for sale. And Carr is one of the biggest Subaru dealers in the country.

[Portland Dave]

As far as sales of the STi go there is more going on than people not liking the car. All manufactures are feeling the downturn in the economy. In 04, there wasn't that many cars in this niche of the market here in the US. Now there are plenty to choose from. Is the STi just a flashy Impreza. That's like saying was the GTO just a flashy LeMans (and to add the price difference between models would be about the same in today's dollars). It doesn't surprise me that the cost of the STi went up the way it did. It's made in Japan and the US dollar is so weak now that the price has to go up. It's just economics.

When I read the car rags, I get the impression that the Evo X was built to be a track car, the STi as a rally car and as stated in one of the articles the driver said the STi acted like a rally car when they are driven on a asphault. Now if the tests were in rally environments, who would do better? My bet the STi. Subaru didn't tame the STi, they worked with rally car people to build a chassis that was stiffer and more responsive to those demands. Now I don't race my car so I can't comment on handling in that regard but compared to my 05, my 08 is solid and I feel just as confident in it's handling.

Oh, and family guys like to by cars that handle like rally cars too.

[USNSTI]

Well I would like to believe all the rally hype. But we all know that's just not true. The rally cars are not even close to what we drive on the street. Don't believe me? Just try jumping your street car 170 feet in the air like Ken Block did with his rally car. Then report back to us on whats left of your car, if you survive that is. anyway, back on topic. I think Portland Dave is very right, sales will most likely suffer no matter what they build, due to the state of the economy now, and probably for the next few years. But of course, they will be comparing sales not to previous years, but to other cars in the segment. If they are out sold by the Evo X or other rival that is a big problem. If they are out sold by say, the 2004 STi, that would be dissapointing. But not really bad news if taken in context...

[denver133]

[quote=USNSTI;1727741]The rally cars are not even close to what we drive on the street. Don't believe me? Just try jumping your street car 170 feet in the air like Ken Block did with his rally car. Then report back to us on whats left of your car, if you survive that is. QUOTE]

Quote of 2008 so far! LOL

[mofoSTI]

I think that you are over thinking this.

[the ambush]

Originally Posted by MaStA

...I just think for the money you aren't really getting many gains especially after they boosted the price as well. ...

here in canada the 08 is loaded and 2000$ less than my 06.
i dont wanna be rude but i think its safe to say that you can blaim your deflating dollar for the price increase.

[MaStA]

Originally Posted by the ambush

here in canada the 08 is loaded and 2000$ less than my 06.
i dont wanna be rude but i think its safe to say that you can blaim your deflating dollar for the price increase.

Well I don't think the dollar has anything to do with this honestly. Seeing as you can get the BMW 135 for basically the same price with many more features.

Our dollar may have gone down some, but Canada's economy has boomed lately. Our dollar is still worth slightly more than the CAD, but I guarantee very soon in the future our dollar will go back to being worth 1.5 CAD and back to like 130 yen, etc. Either way I think the pricing was released before our dollar sunk so bad. Either way the price increase has nothing to do with the options not even being available...yet standard...that is just simply stupid.

[polyol]

I went into the dealership showing interest in the new 08 STi when it first came out...and they were pretty cool...though they did not let me take a test drive. Granted when I rolled into the dealership in the past with my STi they guys would throw me the keys on a whim.

Since then the salesman has called me no less that 5 times. He says hey come check out this and that. I play along but have not been very serious and quite frankly have been honest pointing out what the 08 lacks (still crap steering, still crap seats, still crap paint but higher cost).

Today he called me and said, "come in and we can go for a test drive." I say bla bla bla seats steering etc. Then I say, most likely I cant be serious unless you offer me invoice and he was more than receptive to it. I asked him have you been selling the new sti much and he said, "no...not really...honestly we have been having a hard time moving them". Suprised I was like oh realy. Anywho...just though I would share.

IMHO the only reason I would move to buy a new STi would be the fact that you can stuff HUGE tires under them, hatchback utility, and new car smell.

[PCW]

First post in a long time. Let me just tell you my take. I owned 06 STI and loved it for the short trips and run a rounds but to be honest, it was horrible on longer drives. In fact I traded it after 1 year. I have often said the STi was one of my most favorite car and also one of the worst cars I have owned. I am now considering getting an 08 STI because of the changes they have made with the softer suspension, better interior by far and the redesign. With that said, I don't really keep cars longer than 3 years tops, really more like 1-2 years. As much as I thought it would be a blast using the car the way it was intended, rally wise, I never once drove it like that.

I think SOA will ride this design for a least 3 years, they will always make changes every year to set a part model years, but I feel very minor changes.

Just my 2 cents

PCW

[limited777]

Read This: This was an interesting find......

Video: Subie TV

[chmura]

Originally Posted by limited777

Read This: This was an interesting find......

Video: Subie TV

Is this vid legit. So the 2009 STI is going to have 320-330hp? Wider fenders/tires?

This info true? Why would they be telling this so early on?

If this is all true I will be getting a 2009 for sure.

[BigDan]

Originally Posted by chmura

Is this vid legit. So the 2009 STI is going to have 320-330hp? Wider fenders/tires?

This info true? Why would they be telling this so early on?

If this is all true I will be getting a 2009 for sure.

Looks and sounds like an old video. Video proved nothing.

[USNSTI]

Originally Posted by chmura

Is this vid legit. So the 2009 STI is going to have 320-330hp? Wider fenders/tires?

This info true? Why would they be telling this so early on?

If this is all true I will be getting a 2009 for sure.

That was just a vid of a test mule going around a track, with a cheesy voice over track spouting off random figures. What about that would seem legit?

[JWA]

Originally Posted by USNSTI

Well I would like to believe all the rally hype. But we all know that's just not true. The rally cars are not even close to what we drive on the street.

That's just not true. Even the king of the hill Open Class rally cars like Ken used in his jump videos are surprisingly closely related to the street versions. Sure, all of the main systems and components are upgraded to top-shelf race parts, but that is the top of the line class where you wouldn't expect any less. The production classes run the cars a lot less modified than most of the modded street cars on this forum with the main additions being safety items.

In stock class RallyCross, which I race in the National series, the STI is the car to have. It is simply better on the dirt than the Evo. The Evo, which I have owned, is more of a scalpel built for the roadcourse whereas the STI is a chainsaw built for the dirt. At least that's the way it was with the last generations of each car. I didn't even like my '07 STI on the street, but it was magic on the dirt.

For this generation I personally reviewed everything and decided that I think the new STI will be slightly better on the dirt than the old STI and better than the Evo X. We'll see what happens, but there is truth to what was said above about the Evo being more of a track car and the STI being more of a rally car.

As to changes for '09 - I wouldn't be surprised to see the Recaros added as an option here but I would not expect much else. I'd bet that we'll get Recaros and maybe the silly start button for '09 and '10, then maybe a limited run lighter/hotter version in '11 or so. Don't hold your breath for much more. At the end of the day, it's only money. Buy the car when it comes in and enjoy the hell out of it. If they change something and you want it, upgrade then. The extra time with the car now is worth something. "A bird in the hand..." and all.