Looking at the dash pics seems the jdm gets push button start, must be keyless as the usual ignition is blanked off.

The UK steering wheel has buttons - is one of these the sport sharp button? It will be easier to change if steering wheel mounted rather than by handbrake.

These Litchfield rear lights will be a must have.

 

Top of the range Sti has Recaro heated seats, sat nav, push button start (keyless entry system), fog lights (among other features which I don't know). I am not sure if the UK models have these but in Sweden there is only one version as above (full spec), in Germany there's the 'normal' one and the 'sport' (+5k euros) which has recaros, sat nav, push button start, foglights etc.
I saw one in the dealer a couple of days ago in black and looked much better in the flesh than the pics. The WRX is ugly though. The recaro seats offer good support and the interior is improved but still is plasticky, not up to the german standards yet

 

Yes JDM has PUsh start and keyless entry, IIRC the UK doesn't

The UK has the steering wheel controls for Stereo which is Optional extra for the JDM. (No does not have the # button on it)



As fran says, Europe was trying to go away from "Optional extras" just offering two Spec's during initial orders

1) STD spec
2) Top Spec with "Sports pack"

The Top spec had

Recaros
18"s
Sat Nav
Privacy Glass
Heated Folding mirrors
Push Button
Keyless entry

I've heard of 2 that have cancelled UK orders due to no Top spec and probably go to Car Supermarket for a Top spec model for same price as UK STD Spec IIRC

I suppose depending on Sales how much of Top Spec blends into STD Spec

Tony

 

When I test drove one last week, the dealer said something about a better spec STI coming out in the summer in the UK with Sat Nav etc..

 

It looks like a rover 25. mg zr (i think that's the right model) with four exhausts stuck on the back. Why the four exhausts? Check out the mg zt, zs, zr because they have knicked the exhaust spoiler heat sheild.

 

There are two sets of buttons on the steering wheel for the UK spec STi. LHS are stereo controls, RHS are cruise control. Folding mirrors are also standard on UK spec.

 

LOL soooooooooo original

John

Thanks

I know they were "Folding mirrors" on STD UK but some bumpf i saw some time ago, " Folding and Heated" mirrors were only on Top Spec??

Tony

 

Tony, sorry to be picky, but the seats are made by Recaro (not RecarDo!)

.: RECARO :.

Not listed yet on their site yet, but appear to be some sort of mix between their Sport-line and and Cross-Speed ranges!

 

Thanks for pointing that one out -- it had been bugging me too. I assumed Tony was confusing the seat manufacturer with the well-known engineering firm
Ricardo engineering

 

Al & ABC

Dooh. Senial Dementia and now Dyslexic I'm going down hill fast, you'll get old one day

Tony

 

Lol, no worries mate... although I'm getting to know the 'old' feeling quite well myself these days!

 

Me too! And thanks for your interesting, informative and enthusiastic posts, Tony.

Andrew

 

And they sent him out with a full tank of petrol too - not many cars on dealer forecourts like that!!

Also the front grille looks so much better without the Hyundai/Vauxhall chrome - Bulldog at Twyford changed the grilles on both of their demonstrators.

 

Only general disappointing things on the 08 STi

1) The tacky "Peugot" grey fog light surrounds
2) The "Gay" all silver "Lexus" rear lights (so what's new there then)
3) UK car low spec'd compared to the "EU" car for same money
4) Steering on the UK/EU too soft compared to JDM(perhaps due to not having the quicker rack)

IIRC IMHO

Tony

 

hi were you at santa pod a few weeks ago. thought i saw this car. nice motor btw glad them bloody back lights have gone.
cheers mick

 

That car is Iain Litchfield's MY08 demonstrator.

 

i feel the subaru history has been tarnished by a car that no longer resembles the impreza heratage , i feel they have let us down bad , im not saying its a bad car - it looks nice but its not an impreza , they should have stuck to making the saloon and brought that out as a seperate model in the hot hatch catogory , evo fans must be laughing there pants off

 

So would you also say that the Escort Cosworth isn't an Escort? That was a hatchback not like the REAL Escorts (MkI, MKII)!!!

What if they made a convertible Impreza, would that not be an Impreza because it doesn't have a roof?

What about the Impreza Wagons? Are they not Impreza's because they are also a hatch not a saloon?



The Impreza Heritage that you mention isn't about being a saloon, its about being a rally car! Its rallying that made the Impreza what it is and its rallying that will keep the Impreza alive!

 

Hmmm found this Tony after posting on the previous thread!

Test drive the STi tomorrow.

Will ask about PPP / Prodrive models, Top spec etc. models.

Nice like earlier to the accessories .. the Subasonic.com site doesn't have prices!


What's the wait time like now, and what extra for goodieslike navigation option / quickshift fitting ...?



All will be revealed I hope tomorrow!