One of my colleagues has griped that the STI's clutch is a bit herky-jerky and that the rev-limiter cuts in too early, at 6700 rpm when the car is still pulling hard and smooth.
And though Josh and I tend to agree on many things automotive, I disagree with him on the former. But I'm with him on the latter...
Though I hadn't driven the STI in quite some time, I found the clutch take-up short yet progressive enough that smooth take-offs and gearchanges weren't a problem. However, there's no getting around the fact that the clutch is pretty stiff. So much so that it brought back memories of a '70 Chevelle SS396 4-speed I had many years ago. Yep, the STI can become a real pain in the butt (or more accurately -- left leg) in stop-and-go traffic.
On the upside, I enjoyed the shifter's perfect placement (the lever's a bit tall, putting it right in my hand) and solid, mechanical feel. And Josh is right, the pedals are ideal for heel-and-toe downshifts.
As for the seemingly conservative rev limiter, I concur. I'm not one to zing a car past redline; even if I'm driving really hard I usually grab the gears right before the needle hits redline. But I must've hit the limiter a half-dozen times over the weekend with the STI. The force-fed flat four's pull doesn't taper off at all and there's no discernable increase in harshness and vibration to urge you to change up. Seems like that redline could be 7,000 rpm or so without hurting the engine.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 9,260 miles.
e34bmwlover says:
05:31 PM, 09/16/08
WOW dude do you shift with your legs crossed? Can you teach me too?
johnnyturbo says:
05:44 PM, 09/16/08
e34,
Haha! Brain fade -- I meant left leg (edit made)
haub says:
06:25 PM, 09/16/08
Weird. I notice the Japanese version Subaru WRX STi can rev freely to 8,000 rpms...
Seen here:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=123381
subytrojan says:
06:40 PM, 09/16/08
That is correct, haub.
The EJ207 2.0L H4 engine in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) STI can (and has for awhile now) rev to 8,000 RPM. :o)
slickersdrip says:
06:49 PM, 09/16/08
One day I hope I can make a casual reference to a car like a '70 Chevelle SS396 4 speed that I drove and then hop into a new STI and take off, too.
bbastyr says:
04:27 AM, 09/17/08
The clutch is a lot lighter than the '06. Since the engine doesn't have much power until the RPMs start to climb, smooth take offs are tough, as you have to remember to rev it a bit to get going. I have the Subaru STi short shifter kit, and it really improves the shifter action. Subaru's are always a little notchy. As for the redline, the stock turbo starts running out of breath around 6500 RPM and really falls off from there. There's really no reason to go above that point. It's better to shift just prior to the redline. And set the shift indicator buzzer to remind you to stop hitting the redline!
sbcooke says:
07:22 AM, 09/17/08
The STI I got came with a factory installed short throw shifter. It is slightly jerky due to what seems like engine power delivery in sport sharp and a little to the clutch...however I have started getting good at it and am able to accelerate with very little issue now. Flipping through gears is smooth and fast for me.
I do notice...it is much easier to drive hard than drive easy.
I have only hit the rev limiter twice so far. It is fun to put your foot to the floor when accelerating...in 4th with my foot to the floor you don't have to worry about hitting the rev limiter...it is hitting 120 MPH in an instant and not getting busted that is the problem.
joefrompa says:
07:58 AM, 09/17/08
Just curious, but I though the STI red-line was 7000 rpms? Might your tachometer be out of calibration?
I know many Legacy GT's and STIs have redlines raised to 7000 as well...
Joe
P.s. I'm going to share a link to an article written about how a Stock Legacy GT is a better road course car than an STI....bwahaha :)
subytrojan says:
08:33 AM, 09/17/08
Off the top of my head, I believe the STI's EJ257 motor has a redline of 6,750 RPM. The car's instrument cluster may "show" a redline of 7K on the dash, though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine
Joe, that article is probably about an LGT versus the previous generation STi/STI, which is believable because of the Legacy's longer wheelbase and multilink rear suspension. One should remember the current STI is based on a shorter version of the Legacy chassis with a Tribeca-inspired rear double wishbone suspension. I'm guessing it might be a better road racer than the LGT.
Chris and Brian Lock have campaigned a Subaru Legacy in the Grand Am Koni Challenge the last few years.
http://www.gotoracing.com/main.php?page=grandam
The ICY (Inner City Youth I think or something like that)/Phoenix Racing Team has also seen great success--even more than the Lock brothers due to the factory support they have--with their Leggys in the same series.
http://www.icyracing.com/index.htm
This may give you some mod ideas, too. :o)
joefrompa says:
09:01 AM, 09/17/08
Suby - Random note to you. Have you read up about Subaru Extra-S gear oil for the trans and rear diff? Owners are truly reporting fantastic differences in shift feel. A dealership near my work recently started selling it fro $12/quart....previously, you could only purchase it for $20/quart (shipped) or about $145 for a 5 gallon container shipped to you.
Besides tint, short shifter, klasse detailing products, and a set of winter tires....I've almost got enough saved up for the next LGT mods: Sway bars and Extra-S fluids for the trans and rear diff. It'll be another year or two before I get into other areas....bwahah
Joe
joefrompa says:
09:07 AM, 09/17/08
Ok, here's a few quotes:
Mark of DMS:
"I personally do not recommend dropping the legacy chassis beyond anything over 5-10 mm. Our setups are designed with this in mind for a reason.
I still have been able to get faster lap times with a legacy than an STI with similar setups, and the same driver for both cars on multiple occasions."
Quote from Joel Gat Crew GOTO:Racing
Grand Am Cup ST, Subaru Legacy GT
"I was one of the designers/builders/crew on the ESX 25-hour endurance car. After several hours at the wheel, driver Gary Sheehan was able to turn a 1:59.xx on the low boost setting. In only 30 minutes of track time, driver Brian Lock was able to punch out a 2:00.xx in the Grand Am Cup Legacy GT, which was running stock intake through exhaust, including stock mufflers and resonators, with just the cats punched out, with boost at a mere 13 psi. Both cars were on equal size tires. The ESX car was putting out about 20-30 hp more than the LGT.
What's the mean? At least in race trim, stripped of luxury, the LGT is a faster road car than the STi. Yep, you heard me right. The LGT is a faster road car than the STI. I've designed, built, and crewed for more professional road racing Subarus than anyone else in the US, I think, and I feel the LGT is a better platform.
After this last weekend, I'm done being interested in an STI Limited to replace my '05 STi. Now I want an '07 Spec B to replace my '05 STi..."
And yes, last gen STi.
This made me so happy I bought the car I did...hehehe.
subytrojan says:
10:10 AM, 09/17/08
I have not heard of the Subaru Extra-S gear oil, Joe. You may also want to look up "Uncle Scotty's cocktail" on NASIOC, too. It may even be mentioned on LegacyGT.com.
Those quotes you threw out there are *no* surprise at all. I'm glad *your wife* is really happy with the car. :o)
athakur999 says:
01:53 PM, 09/17/08
The "cocktail", unless there's a new recipe out, only worked well in Subaru's 5 speed transmissions. People who had tried in the six speed transmission like in the STI seemed to have bad results with it.
The "Extra-S" is just Subaru's synthetic MT oil. It came out a few years back. Glad to hear dealers are selling it by the quart now, might have to pick some up.
johnnyturbo says:
02:16 PM, 09/17/08
Though I witnessed it firsthand, the STI's redline can also be seen in photos of the tach in our various STI roadtests and on Subaru's site. The redline appears to be 6700 rpm given that's where the additional red hash marks start.
bbastyr,
Hmmm, I don't remember the previous gen's clutch being stiffer...maybe I need to hit the leg machines at the gym?! Yes, you do have to rev it a bit to enact smooth take-offs, but it becomes second nature in short order.
And you're right about the slightly notchy shift action, but I like its positive, mechanical feel. As far as the buzzer, we have it set to redline and I still drew its audible hand slap!
JD
joefrompa says:
04:45 PM, 09/17/08
Hey guys,
Couple of things:
1. Uncle Scotty's Cocktail has been pretty rigorously proven to cause some uh-oh transmission wear. I can find links if you want. I would NOT use it in your trans.
2. Subaru Extra-S, like you said, has been out for a little while as Subaru's synthetic gear oil. Dealers ARE NOT selling it in quarts....except one, in Doylestown PA, out of their performance shop (The King of Parts, google it). TurnInConcepts is also selling it for $20 a quart shipped...kind of a rip-off.
It's nothing fancy from a chemical standpoint, but for some reason owners absolutely rave about the change in subaru transmission behavior when switching to it. Compared to the reviews of owners switching to redline and other gears oils, I'm inclined. Otherwise, I was going to switch to AMSOIL 75w110 severe gear oil...which seems pretty badass but very few subaru owners have used it in their trans/diff (it hasn't been out that long).
My wife is not really sold on the car just yet....it's power delivery is too herky jerky and takes too long to arrive for good fuel economy driving, it sways alot....just give me 2 years man. I'll be getting 250 whp and 300 wheel torque out of it before you know it, some sway bars, summer rubber, and bettering the shifting...she'll fall in love :)
Joe
subytrojan says:
05:05 PM, 09/17/08
I haven't tried Uncle Scotty's cocktail nor am I planning to. Some people really seem to like it.
bbastyr says:
04:27 AM, 09/18/08
1st Gear is really short, and if you are putting your foot in it, hitting the fuel cut-off is pretty easy to do . . .
sbcooke says:
06:50 AM, 09/18/08
Agreed on 1st (and 2nd) gear fuel cutoff. The redline is 6700 rpm on the tach. The car is still pulling at that point...I am not trying to beat any 0-60 times...I think the main reason to extend it would be to change the shift points to improve stats. That isn't important to me. I am not sure in the 60-100 band the shift points are not a problem if you were racing the car.
joefrompa says:
07:43 AM, 09/18/08
Not sure about the STI, but I know the LGT best acceleration times are from shifting short of redline....the car peaks in the 5000 rpm range, so shifting around 5800-6300 (gear dependant) yields better times than shifting at redline.
Joe
P.s. Suby...I'll find some links about Uncle Scotty's Cocktail...