Being a long time Subaru nut, (fan is too gentle of a word in my case) I was pissed when Subaru stopped production of the STi sedan in 2008. The WRX, nor the STi, are supposed to be hatches. That's what the Audi RS3, and Ford Focus RS, and ST are for. The two rally rivals, the Subaru WRX/STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution have always been sedans; to butcher one and make it into a "hot-hatch" is the equivalent of making a BMW M5 Gran Turismo.
When Subaru launched the redesigned WRX/STi as a 2008 hatchback, the whole shuddered; car magazines hated it, enthusiasts cried and yearned for the real thing, and many an admirer turned their head in horror. The 2008 car made a Mitsubishi Evo X look good-- and that's no easy feat. Cut to the chase here-- the mistake of a hatchback STi was quickly realized. This past winter, the STi sedan was born again. And boy was it missed-- by me anyway.
Packing 305 horses in its 2.5 liter flat four, this new Scoob is the epitome of "sports car." Now, mind you its no Audi RS4, but this little guy can tear it up with the best of em. Quicker to 60 than a Mercedes C63 AMG, faster around the slalom than an Audi S4, and better gas mileage than an Evo means this rally-bred sedan can perform on par with much more expensive machinery. For the $65k that the C63 costs, an STi owner can perform a variety of upgrades that will net a 200ish horsepower gain. Or if he chooses to do brakes and handling, he'll have a vehicle that can outbrake a ZR1 Corvette--for a third of the cost. And, seeing as it still gets better than 20 MPG, you won't have to waste your money on gas guzzler tax. How's that for a true performance bargain?
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