I bought this car knowing that is was a year round performance car. The AWD is a killer in the snowy winters and blows away most cars on a dry summer day. There is a little bit of turbo lag but its not horrible. Once the tach sweeps past 2750 or so, the turbo kicks in hard and you get very quick and progressive acceleration all the way to about 6200 rpms where the power falls off. This definitely isn't a high revving Honda but the turbo pushing you back in the seat is a worth while trade off. Handling is somewhat of a double edged sword with the GR STi. The AWD system gives phenomenal grip on almost any surface but the added weight really makes for prominent understeer under normal driving conditions. But if you hit the gas on turn-in and the DCCD is set to rear bias, the rear comes around really well. The suspension is softer than previous STis and doesn't help by adding noticeable body roll too. I think if you were to add 2mm thicker roll bars front and back and a set of coilovers, these problems would be solved without making the ride quality unbearable. Braking is amazing thanks to the huge Brembos and sticky OEM tires. Brake fade has never been an issue, and I have tested them on more than one occasion. The stock pads, while they put out TONS of brake dust, are great and for being so grippy very durable. Build quality is on par for what is essentially an economy car. The Alcantara on the seats is great of spirited driving, as it grips you better than leather ever could and the seats have just enough lateral support to hold my 6' 3" 210 lbs frame in place. There are definitely a few creaks and rattles when going over uneven surfaces but nothing that is audible over the radio. The EJ25 2.5 liter turbocharged flat-4 engine seems bulletproof in my experience. When I first got the car I over revved a few times and there hasn't even been a hiccup in how she runs. Aesthetically, this car really did grow on me. I always loved the wagons shape but the front fascia wasn't really my speed (that WIDE lower grill opening), the nose was to high off the ground and the headlights looked too much like other cars on the road. But once I saw it in person, I really really liked it. It worked better than it ever looked in pictures. The interior is full of hard plastics and faux Alcantara fabric, not the worst I've seen but definitely not the best. In terms of cost, yeah, she was expensive, but when you get behind the wheel, you really see what you truly paid for. The locomotive-like torque band and AWD grip really make it worth it. And that was stock, for another $500, I reflashed the ECU and gained another ~45hp and ~45 lb-ft of torque. Thats almost unheard of! And what a difference it made. After the reflash, it felt like a totally different car. turbo lag was slightly reduced, the power band was extended (negligibly) and the car just pulled a lot harder. Definitely worth the money! My STi is loads of fun to drive, snow or sun, it doesn't matter! I love this car and wouldn't trade it in for anything in its price range on the road today (well, maybe a 2011 STi, but oh well)!

Man what can i say about this car! Its a fun speedy monster! With plenty of trunk space! The people who are in the market for this car usually choose this or an evo. I have nothing against the Evo, its a fun car. It is more of a track car than a daily driver. Anyone that has more use on a real road than a track consider this one. See it in person as most pictures cant grasp the beauty of this car. The transmission is bulletproof, the car is comfortable, and most importantly it is quick! Its overlooked by many because its a hatch, until you accelerate! Gas mileage is about 17 city, 25 highway. What do you expect from a car with 305 crank horse power! Lets just say where ever your going your getting there quick! My only gripe is that sound system! Paying this much for the car and this 10 speaker system sounds like its 2 speakers. Not to worry though, the boxer rumble from the engine makes all the difference!

You have to drive it to "feel" it. The WRX STI is an amazing car. The torque off the line and the AWD through the corners is amazing. It's also fun in big city traffic. Great reliability and warranty. Nothing compares to the WRX STI!!!!! unless you are a rich spoiled brat and you spend $60+K for a "Look at me" car with half the performance.

Bought this car after my 240sx, 300zx, and GTI. I really enjoyed my time with it and totally regret selling it. I thought I no longer needed a fast car or stick shift. It turns out I was wrong. I loved the car, it's great acceleration, the turns in the corner. Superb. I loved the space I had in the trunk. Just all around a great performer. Here are the mods I had: Tint 15% all around Red overlay tailights Debaged Subaru All Weather Floor Mats Gunmetal finish on stock STi wheels Whiteline Swaybars (front and rear) Hawk Ceramic Brake Pads R205 Badges JNA Front Lip Hella Supertones RED

This is one of the best cars Subaru has ever produced. With its new styling, and performance upgrades, the car is not to be read by the cover. You have to own it to understand. It has all the performance aspects a kid is looking for and all the practicality that an adult can use. With its new interior upgrade, going from cloth to leather and suede, the dash being redone, and the styling of a Legacy, you cant go wrong. The performance of this car is to be explained by no other then the drivers of Subaru's rally team's. The engineers had thier help in the aggressivness of the cars approach, but still subtle enough to take a relaxing stroll. This is by far an outspoken product produced by one of the best companies to come, though they have been producing the same reliable and trust worthy product for 50+ years.