There was/is so much hype about the car and specs are available everywhere so I am going to talk about what is not written everywhere and answer the million dollar question.."is it worth the money?"

Although the STi's have been released overseas for many years prior, this is the first year that Subaru has introduced it to the US domestic market. With the hype comes the price. I have seen prices range from $30-$39k (yes) pre-tax. I got lucky and rolled out with mine for $28.

I asked myself, can I really justify paying that much for a 4 cylinder 2.5 liter ugly car? Well, as soon as I test drove the car, the answer was a resounding YES (the 300 HP didn't hurt either). Without hesitation, the car demonstrated itself to be every inch as agile, quick, and controlled as I have previously heard. The car didn't even squeak around hairpin turns.

Ugly

Yes, the STi is ugly. It has a big scoop and wing. While functional, it also attracts a lot of attention. The wing works to keep all tires planted into the ground 99% of the time and actually works to stabilize the car at high speeds in the most unkind conditions (think blizzards, wind gusts). I don't use the winged trunk most of the year and opt for a 2002 WRX wingless trunk in the summer, and this keeps the ricers' attention off me. The hood scoop.. well, the RS hood (no-scoop) is a replacement option but it does weigh a lot more since the RS hood is a metal composite while the STi hood is mostly ABS plastic. Replacement of the hood blocks airflow to the TMIC and while a FMIC is an option, installation requires a new front bumper beam which is not DOT compliant. This potentially means denial of insurance coverage in a front end collision.

Aftermarket Support

For every dollar spent on the purchase of this STi, there is an extra $2 of aftermarket parts for it. There is almost no end to performance upgrades. I simple flash of the ECU could bump you up to 350 HP. Limitless here.

My modifications

Radios were an "option" in the 2004's STi's so I filled the empty din with an Alpine DVD HU and a flip screen monitor. Also I splurged on navigation, MB quart speakers and tweets, and a JL sub. The cars are pre-wired for speakers but the wiring is pretty crappy for a $30k car. I quickly learned the car had little to no insulation and as a result, the road noise blocked out the sweet tunes from my speakers, so I had the entire car insulted with Dynamat dropping the decibel level from 120 to 80 at 80 MPH. The Formula-1 ceramic 6-window tint was last. Lastly, I noticed that the stock tires created a lot of road noise so I purchased Pirelli P-Zero Nero M&S tires for all around quiet driving. Now I have no glare, can hum to my tunes without being distracted by road noise, and never get lost.

Quirks

Many owners, including myself, have experienced defective rear struts. I have gone through two sets replaced under warranty by SOA (Subaru of America.) Although this is a common occurrence, SOA has yet to release updated parts. Thankfully, the dealer where I bought the car is great. All repairs have been done with a smile and free loaner. There was a rattling noise coming from my steering column but dum-dum on the cruise control circuit cured that right away. For some odd reason, the 2004 STi's wheel pitch is 5x100 and not the regular 114.3. This makes looking for wheels very difficult so I decided to go with some cheap Rotas.

Comfort

This car is very uncomfortable on long drives. The seats are as stiff as the suspension. The bride/recaro/simpson-ish appearance of the seats are functional as they are good looking. Again they will keep you planted just not comfortably, but you probably already knew that.

Bottom Line

This car is a great second car to take to the mountains or for canyon runs but I highly recommend getting another daily driver (or keeping your present peach.) Since I live near Tahoe, this is great in the winter but not for traffic. This car wants to go and FAST....hey it looks fast standing still but your clutch foot will hurt doing so. Oh and don't forget to forage money away for some insulation.

Specs (the good)
Engine Type dual overhead cam turbocharged and intercooled horizontally-opposed four-cylinder with variable valve timing
Engine Size 2.5 liters / 150 cu. in.
Horsepower 300 @ 6000 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 300 @ 4000 rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheelbase Length 100.0 in. / 173.8 in.
Curb Weight 3263 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 10.9
Fuel Capacity 15.9 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline
Tires P225/45 WR17 Bridgestone Potenza RE070 Brakes front/rear vented disc / vented disc Suspension front/rear independent inverted MacPherson strut / independent inverted MacPherson strut Drivetrain front engine, full-time driver- controllable all-wheel drive



Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 28,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: WRX Impreza, WRX Impreza STi