Subaru: From ritches to rags
I know Subaru’s performance cars boast “a face only a mother could love” but as most enthusiasts know, it was never about that. They were meant to be fairly priced, reliable, AWD sport sedans. What in gods name happened to that philosophy?
Take for example the 2008-09 Subaru WRX STi, year after year, the model inches further away from the rally car inspired version of itself. The new model is heavier, UGLIER ( I know that contradicts what I said in the first line but it’s terrible, just terrible!), and making very little head-way towards performance superiority.
They added an extra couple of horsepower to the new model - so what? It replicates acceleration and lap times of the former models. History proves that it’s handling always finished second to the Mistubishi Evo and history is certainly repeating itself with the 2008-09 model.
If Subaru is trying to break into the near-luxury automobile market (With its sound deadening material and GPS navigation system) and widen its audience, I suggest discontinuing their STi. They are losing sight of what made the car attractive in the first place.
Things can only get worse with the introduction of the 2009 Subaru WRX. Many of the parts were borrowed from the STi model, including some styling features. I must say that the ‘09 model does gain 40 or so horsepower due to a larger turbo and increase in boost. But why? Why close the gap between the two cars? Nick what do you think?!
