2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: Heel-and-Toe Hero

Specs are as follows for WRX STI 330s
325.5 HP at 5400 RPM
346.6 Lb-ft @ 3400 rpm

Yeah!

dmac11, the WRX STI 330 is probably only going to be retailed in the United Kingdom. Maybe Scott will send someone to Europe (pick me!) to drive one or get Alistair Weaver or someone else across the pond to drive it.

Subytrojan, the buzz was that they were going to bring the WRX STI 330 here. Because they fell real short on sales and performance expectations for the current STI.
Hence the changes, if they could bring the buyers of the EVO, R32, Mazda3Speed, BMW135 and other cars to the STI 330 Market, then the enhancements they made and brought to the US model would be well worth it.

If they don't bring it, then that is a poor decision on Subaru's management's part.

I believe the STI 330 and 380 are similar to the Evo FQ models. They probably wouldn't pass emissions regulations or something else wonky here in the good ol' US of A.

Then again, Subaru of America likes to not do things that would make sense (e.g., not selling the Legacy Wagon after MY2006). :o)

What? Pedal placement on the e46 is perfect. You don't heel-toe a BMW, you roll your foot, using the left side for the brake and the right for the gas.

I am with subytrojan here that the STI 330 will only be for the UK market like the EVO FQ cars.

But I agreed with dmac11, if the STI have 330 hp today, it would give it that performance advantage it had when it came out in 2004.

blueguy,

Aren't you just describing the heel-and-toe technique ("you roll your foot, using the left side for the brake and the right for the gas")?

That's the technique I use, and in the M3 I find it difficult to pull off. Due to the relatively wide spacing between gas and brake, I have to cheat over to the right if I want to be able to roll onto the gas, and sometimes that means the left side of my foot slips off the brake. The pedals feel considerably closer together in the STI; in fact, it's kind of hard NOT to heel-and-toe in this car when you're braking before a corner.

-Sadlier

I'm a ball of my right foot on the brake pedal, side of my right heel to blip the gas kind-of-guy, Josh. You have me wondering which method is more popular.

subytrojan, I use your method.

Well my final thoughts on the STI 330. Can't see how
hard it is to make it emissions legal in the US, all other manufacturers can do it while increasing the HP and torque. But this car really needed to reach that power at lower RPMs. The SI drive needed a better I (intelligent) mode, to really increase the MPG. Reduce boost, and let turbo kick in later when changing it to I mode.. I could go on...blah blah.. Better power and better gas mileage, can't go wrong with it.

Subaru obviously saw how they missed the mark with
the 2008 WRX, so they already came out with the upgraded 2009 WRX with 265 HP, and better handling, both places it really dropped off. I think they added an improved body kit as well. It should really clean up in that segment of the market. But for the higher dollar WRX STI, yes I would be upset if I bought a 2008 STI, and they improved it drastically for 2009. But that goes without saying when you buy something, that it will be improved on, but you take the chance of getting it now.

That said, why not grab the market for the upper segment and Improve the STI, to make it the STI 330 and bring it to the US for no increase in dollar amount. Oh well, their financial loss..

I was going to trade in my car for it if it came out in 09.

I use the ball on the brakes, side of foot on the gas method in my car. But I was always under the impression that that technique worked better for cars with gas pedals hinged at the top, and actual heel-and-toe shifting was for cars with the gas pedal hinged at the floor. I've never driven either of the cars being talked about here though, so I don't know what their setups are.

I was thinking about the pedals today after reading this and I was noticing the fake carbon foot rest is pretty poor. The footrest is, well I am not sure yet, but seems like just a plastic platform with a plastic chrome colored footrest. I have noticed the top part is sort of compressing into the carpet. I am going to pull it back and see what is there. It seems pretty plasticy and not really able to support me pressing my foot hard against it. Like if I pull my wallet out, I press my left foot down harder...and well I am afraid I might go through the floor. This is probably my only real complaint of the car...some of the fairly cheap components that are carryovers from the the 17k model.