Subaru WRX STI: In or Out?

Julian says, "Wise men treasure the old."

It's almost times like these when I feel there's a need to shatter the stereotype. Fact of the matter is that no STI has it easy in Singapore in the manner of perception. Shrouded by the overwhelming perception of it being an Ah Beng's car in Singapore, or perhaps simply just remaining oblivious due to misplaced impressions, I'm taking it upon myself to have the car with the traditional 'gold rims on blue body' crack through perceived norms.

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a rather sacred car, especially to car enthusiasts like you and me. The older it is, the better it feels (it doesn't necessarily mean it drives better than the newer one).

While it's a no brainer that the new WRX STI (the Japanese marque decided to drop the Impreza moniker) has been revamped and refined, it's missing a whole lot of 'special' in it. Now, before you start slamming your keyboards and sending in the nastiest feedbacks via our comment box, hear me out. Not all old cars are 'special' and, for that matter, not all new ones are.

As some of you may already know, the GC8 that you see here has been converted from a version 2 WRX to a version 5 STI. Is it a fair comparison then, you ask? My reply to you is, every bit so. You see, the GC8 here underwent such an achievable change (including the engine, gearbox, suspension, etc.) that the specs of the car mirror an STI.

Needless to say, this shows when you drive it. Admittedly, the car is certainly more raw than the new one but that's something we can appreciate. But that's not why it's 'special'. You see, this 'special' feeling can come even when you're seated inside the car and doing absolutely nothing.

For starters, boost gauges in the GC8 aren't digitalised ones like the new model. Secondly, you do not have such tech wizardry (and luxury) to choose the different driving modes to suit your mood. As far as I'm concerned, all cars should be manual and should have only one driving mode. And the old rocker is just that - what you see is what you get.

I've had the opportunity to try the current STI and it's, by and large, a very capable car. But it's the sort of car that's out to earn money and money only. The GC8, on the other hand, is the kind of car that's out to give drivers the sort of satisfaction that will put a grin on your face permanently, even when the wife can't.

The new STI may be a lot slicker and smoother in more ways than one on the road compared to the older sibling. But it's missing the very two basic principles that should be present in a car of its genre - relentlessly raw and absolute attraction. The mouth-watering GC8, of course, is a little of both.
Regan refutes, "If you want the new, you have to stop doing the old."

So Colin McRae won several rallies with the Group A GC8 Impreza 555 back in the 1990s and just like many enthusiasts out there, you dream of driving the same blue GC8 rally car. Dream on.

Let's make things clear. I'm not saying you shouldn't idolise Colin McRae. I, for one, have also dreamt of owning and driving one of these machines. But I've kind of come to terms with reality.

As mouth-watering as it may be, imagine how beat the GC8 has been, probably by previous owners trying to impress their friends by doing horrible clutch dumps and pretending to be rally drivers down the streets (I really don't know where else you can go for some rally fun on our tiny red dot).

Really, the GC8 is great at what it is meant to do, it's pretty much impossible to not look like a great driver in one and if you put a booming exhaust on, the car is perfect for scaring toddlers and pissing off the neighbours. But it's also old (that's a fact) and feeble with a sparse and uncomfortable interior.

Not with the new WRX STI though.

It's young and strong (you don't say!) with a roomy cabin that feels sporty and luxurious, thanks to its carbon trimmings and Alcantara material. A driver will still look terrific in the new WRX STI although it's hard not to startle the child and annoy the neighbours with the awesome soundtrack. But seriously, how many WRX STIs don't?

With the new car, you still get the 'standard' stuff such as a powerful Boxer engine, now with 296bhp and 407Nm of torque driven to all four wheels by the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a solid short stroke six-speed manual transmission, three pedals, a proper handbrake and a huge-ass rear spoiler. All new, of course!

Then there are nifty new features to assist too, such as a multi-function display with an in-built boost gauge, Subaru's Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) modes, Active Torque Vectoring, and taking things to a higher level - a multi-mode Driver's Control Centre Differential (DCCD) for the 'hardcore' drivers.

The GC8 may have been a legend, but you cannot deny that updates are unavoidable. And just like everything else, perhaps it's time the Ah Beng gets a new car.