Yesterday at work I finally got a chance to take the 08 STi out for a true shakedown. I had to pick one up for a dealer trade a ways away. Got to do some driving onn some windy PA back roads as well as an hour long haul on the turn-pike.
I tried to take some pics with the cellphone on the straightaway stretches but nothing spectacular. I'll go over the more "everyday" things that you don't really have enough time to get a good feel for on a quick test-drive
View out the frontt:
Not much can be said about the view out the front. No real problems with anything intrusive. The only problem I could forsee was the plastic protecting the gauge cluster is curved... I didn't have any problems with it but on a very sunny day that might be annoying.... not sure though. As far as the gauge cluster itself is concernedI like it a lot. I'm used to more "numbers" on the spedo (the 40-60 jump took some getting used to at first) but everything was easily visible unlike the tribeca. Nothing spectacularly different from the older models except for the location of the DCCD readout. I don't like how they did away with those red illuminated "blocks". The small LCD just doesn't do it for me. I like the revisions to the center console a lot. Things feel "meatier" the new dials for the climate control have a nice tactile feel to them. Things are where you would expect them to be. Not much else can be said
View out the back:
A little more difficult than the previous years in some ways. There are a few more blind spots than last time and the rear glass might take some getting used to. I had no problem backing around places using my rear-view and side mirrors... but then again I'm also used to backing up 26-foot trucks from my previous job. It is nice not having the midget-bleacher directly in the middle of your rear-view though.
Comfort:
Say what you will about the lack of posterior-al longitudinal-movement preventative support....... yeah....... I'll agree. But damn these seats are much more comfortable. In the old STi I couldn't sit in it for more than 20min without feeling the pain in my lower back. These ones kept me happy the whole trip. If you use it for daily driving you'll love the seats in terms of comfort.
Other thoughts:
Just a few random things in no particular order than caught my attention.
-Love the new dark headliner. Much better look
-Damn the sun-visors are cheapy
-Almost too quiet
-Factory sound system still absolute garbage
-Si drive is interesting. I never really took it out of S# though.
-Feels a bit more tame and mature than the previous models like everyone says
All that being said. Would I buy one if I had the cash in hand? No.... probably not. Here's the problem. For the same cash you can have a Spec B. It has the 6-speed and Si drive but you get so much more bang for your buck in terms of a street-vehicle. The impreza has always been the "detuned rally car" in my mind. The fact that it's trying to be the new legacy almost makes it redundant. Apart from the DCCD and bigger brakes there's nothing that would make me want the 08 STi over an 08 Spec B.
If you really want one though.... you won't be disappointed with it.
