Whatever floats your boat

 

I know I'm spitting into the wind here, but to say an STI has no soul therefore means a MINI has no soul. I mean, what is a MINI really? A cheap BMW with little link to the past. The Subaru is true to it's heritage....a long line of turbo performance cars going back to original WRC champ Legacy. Subaru's are quirky cars in the way Saab's and Porsche's are quirky. Small manufacturers are like that.

By the way - the WRC race car is based on a production shell and motor...by the rules. This isn't NASCAR where an approximate silhouette is all that's needed.

Appreciate the car for what it is or is not, but please, don't pretend the MINI is something special and the STI is not. The Cooper too has a cheap interior, rough motor, and unrefined demeanor. Different strokes. Or something. Me?? I'll own both, thanks.

I've got a friend with an '04 STI being built. Fully built Cosworth longblock. And a 6sp dogbox. Big turbo and FMIC. It has soul. It's got so much soul, it will reach up and rip your soul out and burp you back up. 700HP and AWD = Z06 eater.

 

no soul! Bah. Look at a 22B and you'll see it. Drive one and you'll feel it.

 

... please read "Shogun" by James Clavell..... the STI is Samurai

 

YO! is that a real 22B? that is one of my favorite cars of all time! is it yours? is it here in the states? i'd actually drive to VA to see this. how? who? tell me please!

 

I'll take my Legacy over the Impreza STi, thanks.

 

I have years ago. I feel asleep many times trying to finish it....the moobie was better,

just a random pic. Subaru of America does have a real RHD 22B at HQ in Cherry Hill, NJ. I have touched it and ogled it. I can dig up pics if you want.

same here, same here! a lightly modified LGT is supremely more capable objectively than a stock STi. And, better looking to boot.

 

AFAIK, there are only two legit 22b's in the US. One is built entirely from genuine parts and the other is at SOA. It makes it way out to events a few times a year but the twin plate clutch isnt very streetable. It was at the SOA Motorsports day and at the Wicked Big Meet in Mass this year. You can also see the supercharged awd R2 running around at some subaru events too

 

^^ first you might want to loose that tribecca look. it's not
accepted too well... not sure about that tiny car but the SUV.
too unique (?).

 

Agreed! Makes me think of that alien in... pick a movie.

 

i think the Aveo and Yaris would do much better in the 'cute' car
category.

the car has to appeal to someone that likes holding stuffed animals
if you want to sell tiny cars like that (no joke).

 

Those MINIs are pretty cute...

 

MINI's are "comical cute" not just "cute."

a cute girl will never win a pagent.
but a cute girl with character will.

wait a minute...wth do i know about pagents? i dont!
but i do know you can't win just because you are cute.

 

The R2 is a "kei" car that is way too small to be sold here. I can touch the front and rear glass when I sit in the front seat! Ours are fully optioned out with alcantara seats, HID headlights, etc. which to me seems silly considering its a kei car.

The styling was too controversal for the japanese market as well and the R2 was replaced by the Stella which is sold out. Unfortunately, we dont have one of those at work. :(

 

you work at SOA? Can you shed any light on plans for '08? PM is fine.

 

[QUOTE=Patagonian GT;1229681]I have years ago. I feel asleep many times trying to finish it....the moobie was better,

The "moobie" had none of the culture of Japan in it...... and what a surprise when "Dr. Kildare" came out of the closet....not that there is anything wrong with that...... (ducking)

 

true. the book was excellent, just long. And as for Richard Chamberlain, I think I knew that while watching the moobie on TV as a kid. No shocker there.

two favorite epic movies were 'Shogun' and 'Shaka Zulu' - my pop was a history buff and made sure we saw both more than a few times.

 

The STi is an awesome company car. Especially when I am allowed to mod it.

We traded a '04 TL in on the MINI. The MINI is much more fun. You loose some quality on the sound system but other than the MINI is better.

For those having questions about the STi's race heritage, it is the basis for the Group N rally car. The car can have a roll cage installed, racing seats, new struts, springs, wheels, tires, tranny and engine mounts to be fully preped for racing. WRC cars are allowed more modifications but must use the stock chassis as the production car you see on the road.

For the original poster, the carbon fiber interior is an add on over the stock plastic like a sticker. The interior is in need of an even better update. The '04 version is basically the same as what is in the '02 WRX. The '05 had a slight update but still the same quality that is found in the $17k 2.5i.

The boy racer wing will get you noticed. The local officers love to watch and stop STi's. I will get a few unknowing individuals to rev their motors, however most know what the car is capable of and leave me alone.

 

well, that's where we differ. i would use the TL as my commuter and
use the MINI as my weekend car. there's no way a TL can replace a
MINI and vise versa.

 

We agree to disagree then. The TL is a nice car. However it has no emotion, it isolates you from everything around you. The MINI however is full of emotion from a driving standpoint and observer. Just this weekend parking at the Chiefs game we got all kinds of stares and complements from other tailgaters. Parking in a sea of BMW, M-B, Audi, Caddilacs, etc. we get "nice car" "look good" or just big 'ol smiles. The STi is emotional purely from a driving standpoint. I don't care about the interior quality, boy racer looks, etc. It is a purely fun car to drive in all weather, all conditions.

 

nono, im not disagreeing with you so we don't agree.
wat im saying is you don't need emotion on a commuter/daily driven car.
as long as it has the reliability, nice stereo, nice comfy seats/interior, nice
looks, decent cargo space, (good fuel economy always a plus) then it will do.

a car like the MINI on the otherhand has really no useful utility... has
really no room to comfortably transport more than 1 additional passenger,
cargo space is a joke unless you are very articulate, so they have to
have emotion and character... they are completely 2 different kinds of
cars so you get both.

 

Funny, today I was driving through a parking lots, a sea of cars, and went by this thing with a huge wing and thought how ridiculous it looks. Sure enough, STI.

Obviously some ppl buy these things but they got to lose that wing ... so ... What is it you guys call that? Oh yeah ...:impatient I wonder if its even functional.

Its like ... whoa, look at me ... I'm so cool:impatient

I didn't even realize my car "had" a wing until I remembered it pops up at 75mph ... far more tasteful (IMO) and at a speed where it might do something.

 

^ I agree, I hate it when cars have oversized wings. There are few cases in which it actually improves the look of the car. If it's a truly good design, a wing will ruin it in most cases. Although in the case of a Subaru STi, a big wing may be an improvement...

 

chows, that's great. but why did you quote me on your post?

i don't think STi's are cute at all..

 

I love the wing, its the only car Ive ever seen something that rediculous look good on.