Review in this weeks Autocar on Sti MY06- hate the suspension ??

Any views, really damning ?

 

Think this is the review -
It would help....


The instructions were simple: ‘Leave the hotel, turn right and follow the road to the coast.’ Yet I’m lost already, trying to retrace my tracks and get back on course. Then I spot a sign I recognise – Col de Vence – a plateaux 963 metres above sea level and accessed via a phenomenal twisting mountain road, at times used in the Monte Carlo rally. Subaru’s recommended route notes are jettisoned to the back seat as quickly as the throttle hits its stop.

Having updated the STi’s suspension only last year, Subaru has left the dampers as is, instead tweaking the drivetrain with faster-acting centre and front differentials, and a second yaw sensor. Over the route’s many left-right flicks there is now more directness to the turn-in and the STi feels lighter and more agile.

But passing the summit something’s missing from the typical Impreza experience. The signature off-beat engine rumble is noticeably muted; a casualty of new equal-length manifolds fitted for better economy and emissions. There is some compensation, as the new STi gets a larger 2.5-litre four-cam flat-four engine producing 19bhp more than the outgoing 2.0 litre. Although the increase in outright punch is not staggering, pick-up from lower revs is improved and the transition between on- and off-boost now less sudden.

Fifty rapid miles on and the STi sits cooling in the car park. No question, it remains a magnificent device, especially on roads like this, but when the driving is done cracks soon appear in its appeal. This facelift, the third for the Impreza, adds an aggressive new nose, which works on the STi but sits rather oddly on the less-extreme models. And the new WRC details – roof spoiler, rear diffuser and crystal rear lights – look somewhat crass, leaving the Impreza missing the purity of its original design.

The car’s mechanicals may feel robust and technically advanced, but despite this latest update, the rest of the car is dated and outclassed. The cabin design, packaging, materials and finish are simply not good enough for a car at this price.

The STi remains one of the great driver’s cars, now even better than before, but viewed outside this narrow remit the picture is less rosy. The Impreza architecture is now five years old and the game has moved on. For Subaru, 2007 – when the all-new model is expected – can’t come soon enough.

 

EH?? I didn't think it was fitted with the equal length manifold. Isnt that just the JDM cars, and also that the reason for the equal length manifold was more power and torque, not emmissions?

I also recall part of the Autocar article saying that the ride was the wrong side of awful! I find that a bit hard to believe. I think you've either omited that bit or the above is from a diff article

NS04

 

I think they're spending to much time in BMW's and Merc's - do we really want soft riding performance cars..???

Give me the Sti monster any day of the week.........fire breathing harsh riding beast of a car........if it was'nt for Impreza's and Evo's the car world would be a boring place.

Autocar......stop the slagging now !!

Rant over...

 

I think the MY06 STI UK is an awesome car, and I think the journos are jumping on a bandwagon that it is outdated. The drive is utterly fantastic IMHO, and it is a nice all round compromise. The cars that ride softer, quieter, need less frequent servicing or look nicer are all either far more expensive, dull to drive or simply don't cover a tricky road in the hands of an average driver anywhere near as fast/composed. I don't think the STI is in any danger of getting left behind. Drive one and make your own mind up.

 

my 05wrx has a much better interior compared to a golf, which is comparable in price, but then the engine/4wd system must cost big money.

sure its not up to the standard of a beemer or audi, but you can't have everything, and when an STi and 320d SE are around the same price it comes down to the same thing - engine, grip & 4wd or fuel economy, 2nd hand value and boredom

 

are they really changing this car again?

gonna run out of names for them soon, what's the new-new age gonna be called?

by the way, is there a name for the latest style? we've had blob eye, bug eye and all i can think of at the mo is fookin stoopid lookin eye. but that's just my view of course

 

They're changing the car cos it's time for a 'Full Model Change'. The GD-series has been around since 2000, so it already has a relatively long model life cycle for a Japanese car.

 

jap's eye

 

[QUOTE=DonnieDarko]my 05wrx has a much better interior compared to a golf,

I also have an 05 WRX and there is no way it is has a better interior than the golf!!! I have just got rid of my V6 golf and although the impreza is in a different league in terms of performance and handling the build quality of the car is no where near the golf.

 

Agree completely John. Amazing how similar some reviews of new cars can be! I'd want some justification in saying that a car is "getting left behind" In what respect? I'd be very confident against the Impreza against any car of comparable price as a performance car. I'm also dubious about their factual knowledge. Evo got the technical specs of the WRX wrong in the last edition and I still suspect that the 06 UK car does not have equal length manifolds, despite Autocar's claims!

NS04

 

Didn't sound anything like equal length manifolds in the one I drove today.

 

I'll be finding out on friday.

 

The one in Car is a good review, and it didnt say that it had equal length headers. It only said that the overall shape of the car was dating a bit now, but still got a long way to be as dated as a 911 shape, still look like the one my old man had about 20 years ago!

 

The review car must've been JDM because I heard that all the Euro models will be retaining the unequal length headers as the sound of the engine is a major selling point over here.

 

Yes, that's what the head of PR in the UK told me. Japan and UK markets are different and as much as we may moan about getting less equipment and power at least Subaru are listening to what we like about the car and retaining that, even if it is at the expense of efficiency. I'm sure the equal length manifold equiped cars still sound good, but it'll be a sad day when the scooby looses its rumble once and for all.

I drove down the local high street the other day and ended up behind a Bentley Continental R Sure enough, he got a lot of admiring glances BUT people were still craning their necks to see what was making that sinister burble and it most certainly wasn't the Bentley.

The sound of a car is important to an enthusiast and the flat four with unequal length manifolds makes one of the nicest and most distinctive noises of any car.

NS04