Not specifically

I've seen it mentioned by quite a few people elsewhere as well.. so thought I'd give my take on it.

 

Noticed on a thread on NASIOC that a few owners were complaining the door/sill area in front of the rear wheel is really bad for catching stone chips.This was a car that had done 3000 miles and was already through to the primer - something like this would drive me nuts on a new car.

 

if subaru had any sence what so ever they would do a complete rethink on the hole look or even go back to the hawkeye and just add more power and a slightly new look anyway thats my ten pence worth lol

 

This makes for some real grim reading folks.

I was clutching at the hope that the new STi would be one of those cars that looks better in the flesh than in the pics, it appears not.

 

That's a shame to hear that.

I'm still reserving judgement until i get to see/drive it.


The boot must surely be more practical than the boot & ski hatch i've currently got though.

Maybe lOOking like the other cars on the road is a slight blessing, in that the scum of the earth wont be interested in it, or wont notice it.

 

****, don't like the sound of that.

 

The hatch design may be more practical if you're going to the tip or collecting a door from B&Q or something where you can drop the rear seats. However, as I have two children under 4, with car seats, this wouldn't be practical. I would struggle to get a small 'wizzy' wheels pushchair in that boot, where as the saloon I can get this in as well as a full size pushchair (just about..)..!

I'm not saying the saloon has a big boot, far from it, but the hatch boot, below the parcel shelf, is tiny and a very impractical size. Granted, you can remove shelf, but then every thing is on show and at risk of being snatched..!

I was really surprised by the lack of leg room inside. I set the drivers seat (and I do like to have it quite close to wheel, considering I'm 6ft) then sat in the back. My knees were squashed against the back of drivers seat..! It definitely has less room inside than rival hatches.

I think IM realise they may have a bit of a dead duck on their hands, judging from what the guys on the stand weren't saying..

Unfortunately, I can see a lot of Subaru dealers going under with this model..!

 

I too saw the new STi at the Autosport show. I was waiting on seeing the car in the metal before casting judgment on it but, & I hate to say it, I was dissapointed. I can understand Subaru's intent to make the car less overtly rally car & more appealing to a wider motoring market, however I think the compromise has gone too far & dulled, or diluted, the essence of what Subaru has built of the back of the Impreza. (Let's not forget that until the rallying Impreza came along, the public's image of Subaru - if they'd even heard of it - was of cheap farmer's pickups & estates...)

Looking at the '08 STi, it is an improvement over the new wrx, but let's face it, that's not difficult. As Jasonius said, I too heard a lot of general public type folk saying it looks like anything else on the road. It doesnt seem to have any road "presence" in the way other cars have beauty, style or design.

The interior was a let down as well. It looks like it's be built to a price by using cheap plastics (not new in the Japanese car world) but better quality is expected these days. For a top of the range model, the interior was too average and devoid of quality finishes.

It seems too many loyal Subaru fans are dissapointed with it, & I think that it's unlikely to find mass market appeal, but I hope I'm wrong, & the buyers flock to it, but I think in reality Subaru has missed the mark.......

 

So they come out in March. I'll lOOk forward to the sale prices mid-summer then.

 

I've seen the new sti myself at the autosport show and i'm really disappointed.I thought it was going to be wider but it looks just like a normal wrx,i don't like the fact you can only have it has a hatch back rather than a choice between saloon or hatch. Didn't think much of the new Evo but Mitsubishi have stuck to the recipe fast 4 door saloon,subaru haven't and thats the reason i wouldn't buy one.

 

Lol, could be a few gOOd deals around by then..

I really hope I'm wrong and the car does find market appeal, but I think I'm clutching at straws..

One more nail, the interior, IMHO the 05> cars had a very acceptable interior, much better than the Tokyo taxi's of previous MY's. The 08 however, as Izzy says, looks like it's built to a budget, a very low budget..!

 

Judging by some of the comments in this article https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...th-2008-a.html the market they are after is more women and older people

"Another indication of the changes is the sales focus for the new Impreza, its biggest selling vehicle, and a model traditionally driven by its high performance turbocharged derivatives. Aimed more at older and female buyers, the new model will be led by sales of the normally aspirated and, eventually, diesel sales. Subaru plans to sell 7,300 units per year by 2010."