My esteemed colleague Ms Riches recently mentioned that she thought our long-term 2008 Subaru STI rode better than our long-term Evo MR. When we first pitted the two cars up against each other in our comparison test, the Subaru did indeed have an edge in overall ride comfort.
Fast forward to today. The STI has around 17,000 miles on it, and the suspension feels crashier than I remember it being when new. Sure, it never absorbed lumpy pavement with the crisp, controlled--if firm--response of the Evo, but the STI feels sloppier and more disconnected than it used to.
I submit that this impression might be amplified by the STI's chorus of creaks, rattles and road noise. But then, why so creaky and rattly (new tires might ameliorate the road noise) already?
It's possible that all of these phenomena stem from another observation made during said comparison test--the STI's chassis, being a hatchback, is more willowy than the previous-generation's sedan bodyshell.
No doubt some Subaru aficionado will cite documentation claiming vastly improved torsional and bending modes for the new car. In which case, go figure.
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor @ 17,580 miles.
huyracing says:
12:30 PM, 01/ 9/09
i highly doubt any subaru owner will rush to defend that. subaru owners may love their cars, but they understand and accept all the little "quirks" that otherwise make it seem like junk to the rest of us. every problem that arose with mine was written off as normal by the dealerships... oil consumption, clutch noise, transmission noise, car shaking side to side at idle, transmission wont go into gear, rattle creak rattle, etc. etc. etc..
redliner says:
12:43 PM, 01/ 9/09
...it's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.
subytrojan says:
12:58 PM, 01/ 9/09
Are you talking to me, Jay? :o) I have not found any hard numbers stating improved rigidity and the like.
FWIW, I think the LT STI has been beat on more than the "average" STI.
byehl says:
01:58 PM, 01/ 9/09
On my '05 Saab 9-2X Aero (WRX Wagon) adding a rear strut tower brace dramatically reduced the creaks and rattles. With quick-release bolts the bar could be easily removed when hauling large items.
Of course, eliminating the creaks and rattles just makes the wind and road noise all the more annoying.
jederino says:
03:46 PM, 01/ 9/09
Great post. I've had no rattles in my 1997 Maxima up to 170K, but it's just mildly sporting. I want something more fun, but I doubt I could take the rattles and creaks that some to plague a lot of sports cars. My buddy's 90's 300Z was very rattly, too. Are any sporty cars tight for the long haul?
felonious says:
04:00 PM, 01/ 9/09
"FWIW, I think the LT STI has been beat on more than the "average" STI."
I disagree. You should hear the things I did with my old STi. :) (Not all of them smart.)
tsy says:
04:35 PM, 01/ 9/09
"FWIW, I think the LT STI has been beat on more than the "average" STI."
To this I would agree.
Remember this?
May 11, 2008
2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: A Taste For Dirt
Driven down washboard and pothole ridden dirt roads? Not your typical driving even for an SUV. But at least doable and even fun in an STi. Still, not something I'm planning on doing, and no doubt not something your average STi driver will do. There are always exceptions though. . . :)
A lot of creaks and rattles come from the cargo cover- maybe you guys should try to get rid of some of them. A couple of minutes and some felt pads may do wonders. And maybe a rear strut brace.
"Are any sporty cars tight for the long haul?"
Porsche. Pretty tight build.
subytrojan says:
05:32 PM, 01/ 9/09
Well, felonious, I have a pretty good idea of what has been done to the LT STI in its time here. And being a WRX owner, I think I have a good idea of what is done to most STIs (moment of silence for those that get riced out).
kurtamaxxxguy says:
11:04 AM, 01/10/09
The '09 Foresters have their share of rattles on rough roads. The lack of liners in glove box and overhead compartment guarantee you will hear stuff bouncing around inside them.
The felt pads felonious suggested will diminish the cargo cover rattles,though
Why not drive your favorite EVO down those same dirt roads a few times and see how it does wrt rattles?
joefrompa says:
01:31 PM, 01/10/09
Re: 09 forester rattles...
In my experience, first year models typically have more rattles than later years. Just a nature of the beast sort of thing for me. Speaking as an early 2006 civic SI owner, that's held true for me here...and in my 03 saturn ion for that matter.
Sure, plenty can be done to dampen it. But in the sub-30k price range, I don't think those things can be expected as much.
By the way, this STI has been much worn down stock tires. I wouldn't put too much faith in any suspension crashing until new rubber is fitted.
Huyracing - Regarding your subaru issues:
Shaking side to side when idling - Normal, the engine is not perfectly balanced and the pistons fire horizontally and not vertically. It doesn't take much force to rock a car slightly side to side.
Not being able to shift into certain gears - Normal. You bought a car that is physically connected to 3 wheels. Not an Audi, with it's clutch packs. A symmetrical AWD system in the Subie. And due to this, and the way the gears are setup, you can't always access reverse. New trans fluid helps make it more slippery, but sometimes it's not going to happen until you move the gears around a bit.
Clutch noise - ? Not sure what noise you experienced
Transmission/Drivetrain noise - Normal function of these agricultural, John Deere transmissions and differentials. Lots of gear whine, "chunking", and other noises. Again, new driveline fluids do dampen this.
Rattle, creak, rattle - Normal. It's a Subaru :)
Joe
MS3lvr92 says:
09:25 PM, 01/10/09
That sucks... I would rather have an evo any day. I've just always liked them over the STIs for no specific reason.
tsy says:
02:22 AM, 01/11/09
"I've just always liked them over the STIs for no specific reason."
Coke vs Pepsi. I've always liked and respected both. Just because you like one doesn't mean the other is junk. ;)
MS3lvr92 says:
06:10 PM, 01/11/09
agreed tsy,
but pepsi is junk
Eddie1971 says:
04:55 AM, 01/12/09
....regardung the oil consumption...My STI hasn't used a drop through break in. How hard are you pushing it? I think the creaks are difinitely the cargo cover. Pepsi is junk too...
Eddie1971 says:
04:57 AM, 01/12/09
I also gave my STI the first oil change this past weekend..I got Valvoline 5W-30 synthetic. I can feel the difference already interms of power on the highway. It accelerates even in top gear better than before. I noticed the MPG has gone up too.
_Ty_ says:
12:24 PM, 01/19/09
As a 2008 Impreza owner in my experience nearly all of the car's rattles come from two places: the cargo cover in the rear hatch area (which I gladly removed, I personally like to see it open back there), and from the the plastic trim covering the A-pillars where it meets the dash just below the windshield. This plastic trim tucks under the dash plastic and the two make contact. Whenever you hit a bump or expansion joint it causes the piece to shift just enough to produce a plasticky rattle sound. I've found that by pushing them each down with your hand before driving it actually stops it for the most part, and it's far worse in the winter as opposed to summer when the plastic expands a bit and thus pushes up against the dash with more pressure. A simple piece of felt damping pad under this area would have solved it and I wouldn't be surprised if Subaru does this in future years.