[AustinSedz]

A fun thing to consider, other things aside.
New platform = global platform
Global platform = electric power steering
Electric power steering = poor steering characteristics
= no fun

The only brand that has managed to pull off a 'successful' electric steering is Porsche, and they were testing it in racecars almost 20 years ago.
Even still, you put someone in a 992 and a 997 and their comments would be something along the lines of 'the new one is obviously faster and more refined, but the old one is more responsive and raw.'
Look what it did to BMW.... they went from sharp handling sport sedans to powerful vague boats on wheels.

The STi was probably one of the last cars being sold to still have hydraulic steering.
At this point it's highly unlikely it could carry forward to a new chassis, so that's another point against a future successor existing that would be an improvement rather than a compromise.
That and Subaru's limited experience with electric steering till this point has been on pedestrian models and not sport trims.

 

[AustinSedz]

As long as you have the 40+ thousand dollars for the all electric STI. I’d say 40k is the low end…. Going all electric or hybrid is gonna have this vehicle in a totally new cost bracket. I personally could not afford a 40k+ Subaru… and really I wouldn’t want to be able to. At that point you just go with something better and faster! By then Tesla will be your premier electric and for the price of the electric STI you might as well get a Tesla who is gonna have the better track record! Thoughts????

Lol, Tesla 🤢

 

[AustinSedz]

Automakers at this point in time are able to do one of three things with their performance cars. Either give one last hurrah for their Internal Combustion Engine cars, adapt their performance cars to have electrification in mind already, or axe them completely. Time and money are against Subaru and it forced their hand.

And then there's Porsche... making a full blown EV platform (Taycan) and converting other chassis for EV trims (Panamera and Macan) while simultaneously building more badass large displacement N/A cars with manual transmissions (GT3, GT4, etc.).
AND, also making their other trims (Base, S, GTS) fast medium-displacement turbos, while still offering lower end models with 'fair' sized turbo motors (Cayman/Boxster and Macan 4cyl turbos), and hybrid trims in many models as well.
And to put the cherry on top, Porsche has invested tens of millions of dollars in developing, testing, and producing a synthetic alternative to gasoline that is 'net zero' and will likely be available to us within the next decade....

Subaru and their basic turbo 4cyl in every single model are really behind lol 🤦‍♂️

 

[AustinSedz]

I'm not really a motorhead and I hadn't had a "motorhead car" for 50 years and I never got the cars I wanted to build then more than started. In fact all my cars have had been stock. In 2012 I after my stock 2004 WRX died. I had appreciated the WRX strengths and thought an STI would better its weaknesses so I bought a used 2005. I was impressed and began learning of the cars potential. In 2015 it was built. I thought it might be the last real chance to be able to drive a car like that on the street.

I wasn't far off . . .

I mean, a built blob is sort of right on the money in terms of a 'drivers car'.
The only way to go further with that is to pick up something that is far less practical, like a Miata lol.

With the exception of the STi (which still got fatter), most brands started getting fat in like 2009 and really killed the fun in like 2012.
Cars started getting like 3-500lbs heavier 'for safety' and then around 2012 electric power steering went into everything and every car lost it's road feel.

My other car is a 2009 and in 2013 the next gen did get faster, but it also got electric steering... and bigger... and slightly heavier.
Owners of the new cars still comment how much more direct and raw the old car was.

Look at BMW!
They used to be the 'ultimate driving machine' and now they are like cigarette boats on wheels.
Fast... but fat and heavy and numb... and now they are just stupid looking 😂

 

[AustinSedz]

I am not a Tesla fan. I have never been interested in one. I don't really need something faster than an STI, I just think it's the perfect practical/track/performance/family car in the world. But yes, if the price gets up there much past 40K that changes everything. I wonder if they can still do hydraulic steering with an EV?

I quite literally despise Teslas.
Not because they are electric, but because they are Melvin mobiles and the whole culture behind them is misplaced vapid clout.
They also aren't cars designed to be cars.
As someone who went to university for automotive design, they irk me super hard.
They are new technologies in car form.
The ergonomics behind them is terrible, they aren't designed as cars being their primary function.
The ipad in the middle of the dash that doubles as a speedometer is a testament to that.

I get the same vibe from Tesla owners as I do from people who used to own blackberrys and would tell me how much better they are then a 'stupid buttonless iphone'... look how that turned out.
Not my people, which is why I do not see myself ever owning one.

I really hope to god someone comes out with an awd EV that weighs under 3500lbs with a respectable range and is quick.
It's literally what I'm holding out for, the STi being my daily.

Until that happens I'll put 100$ tanks of gas in my 20k Subaru, laughing at the cloutbois who think they are superior because it only costs them 5$ to charge their 60k ultrasuede-wrapped Mazda 3 that handles and looks like crap.

The one EV I know of that is in the not-so-distant pipeline that I am excited to see is the Lotus EV sedan.
Being a Lotus, I know what the brand identity is, so if they can tick some or all of my boxes I might just have to take one for a test drive!