Classic pearls of the future - Subaru Impreza WRX STI
10/29/2014
A trademark shaking boxer sound, turbo-induced top performance, four-wheel drive and a brute appearance not only brought Subaru success in rally racing, but also on the road.
With the second-generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI, customers willing to buy could put rally-proven technology in their own garage for comparatively manageable sums of money. Although the victories in the World Rally Championship were still achieved with the predecessor (see picture above), the second edition of the Impreza WRX STI, built between 2000 and 2007, also had a lot going for it. The English in particular could not get enough of the hot Japanese car in Europe, but other markets were also Impreza fans.
The engine output of the initially two, later 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer tended towards 300 hp, the four-wheel drive and the handling of the compact notchback sedan were continuously improved. Finally, the appearance was refined several times - particularly in the area of lamp design - and adapted to contemporary tastes. The choice of paint finishes was modest; true rally fans naturally opted for blue, complemented by gold aluminum wheels.
From the driver's point of view, the STI required a great deal of (self-)control. When the turbo kicked in, it moved forward brutally, almost regardless of the surface conditions. The cockpit with thick bucket seats completed the sporty driving pleasure. And thanks to the four doors, you could even buy the Subaru as family transportation back then.
The WRX STI models were not particularly rare, but the stock of original cars is likely to be manageable, and prices will rise at the latest when the Playstation generation wants to buy real classics.
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