2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI: Still Feels Light, Still Accelerates Hard

No, coletrickle, this price is for a brand-new 2009 STI. Read the whole entry, please. -ER

Right - I understood correctly.

A 2009 STI can be had for $36,700 and THAT is the "bargain" given that MSRP is $38,200.

I fully expected the TMV on this car to be sub $35K, (even with the wheels).

Who's paying up for this car in this economy? I don't get it.

At $36,700 I think know you can get better value elsewhere.

Cool picture though. Almost makes me want to get one.

I think it could be had much lower than that TMV right now.

Cole,

I have no idea who is paying for this car in our economy. When the old STI was out I saw a ton of them on the road (still see a fair share of them). Since this new STI has been out, I can count the number of them that I've seen on one hand-- two fingers to be exact. I live in Austin, Texas, too, so a car like this is to be expected (with a younger demographic and a generally high income). I haven't seen too many EVO X's, either.

In 2001 I bought one of the first bug-eye WRX's. I managed to pay invoice at the time for it (which was tough to do and forced me to go out of state, but I got sweet rocket of a car for under $24,000).

Subaru has lost it's way over the past few years.

This new generation WRX and STI (2008/2009) looks horrendous. Utterly horrendous. And the interior finish, (though perhaps acceptable for the WRX price), is completely absurd and out of place on a $37,000 car. Like Slicker, I've only seen two of the 08 STI's in the wild so clearly I'm not alone in thinking this car is rip-off.

I'm mad.

I'm mad that I sold my bug-eye.

I'm mad that Subaru doesn't get it.

I WANT to buy another WRX or STI but...they're so cheap inside and so flimsy feeling and so godawful ugly that for $37,000 I'll just buy a BMW like everybody else in the world.

Like some others said, at $36,700 it is still at least 6 grands too much. Sure it's a rocket and handles great but its interior makes it not worthy of anything over $30k.

If BMW can price the 135i at $36k I don't see how the STI can cost anything more than that.

All Subaru's feel cheap and make you look like a jackass, but you were a jackass in a cheap fast car with "go anywhere" AWD. Now it is too expensive. The warranty is useless in America, anyways... so just go find a (far better) previous gen STI and go hog wild if you really want a Subaru.

Nice post. Who pissed in your Cheerios?

Hate to say it, but Subaru jumped the shark with the newest generation STI. I used to own an '04 STi, and good as the latest model is, the performance/dollar value that made the previous generation STi so compelling just isn't there anymore. Especially now with the the new WRX pushing 265HP. Subaru either needs to cut the sticker price of the current STI down to the low-mid 30s, or seriously upgrade the package (more power, JDM-spec suspension tune, real Recaro interior) vs. the competition -- which includes Subie's regular WRX.

I really want to like the WRX, but the interior did make me throw up a little bit in my mouth. Not quite as much as the Cobalt SS, however. Wait a minute, I just realized it isn't just the domestics with poor interiors. I guess I'd prefer a 135i over the STI, but you would have to sacrifice all that 5-door utility. Choices...

Why is the warranty "useless"?

I'm afraid that that there was no shark jumping. Look, the old "really really cool STi" sold for about 30K. I know, I bought one new in '05. The new STI is a much better car, it looks better (no stupid rice wing) handles better, is more practical (hatch) and the interior is way better. I paid low 30s for my '08. Anyone paying MSRP today isn't trying to hard and try driving a 135i in the snow. And if it's not fast enough just spend 2K and go to stage 2...

Regarding the warranty... Subaru got into the habit of denying warranties some time ago, so good luck with that if you plan to drive your car hard. They hate warranty work because they get paid less to do it. I guess your mileage may vary... there may be an honest Subaru dealership somewhere, but I have yet to find one.

After driving an 09 WRX really hard, I'm not sure I could justify going 12k higher for the STI. 24k for a base WRX or 36k for the STI. You can do a lot of modding for 12k. Or just make your house payment for a year.

i agree with blueguy,

beat up on the STI all you want. Yeah its a horrible buy. But only because you can have almost as good of a car for a lot less. The base WRX should be the STI's biggest competition. 200 lbs lighter, a similar, almost equally amazing engine, and over 10k less.

huyracing, the amount dealerships get paid for warranty work probably depends on the rates SOA sets for them. It may not always be less than the customer pay rates. This was my experience working in the service departments of a BMW and Acura dealerships.

blueguydotcom, are you seriously considering a 2009 WRX to replace the MCS? Or did you simply take one for a quick spin?

One point everybody overlooks, the WRX and STI are uber hatchbacks. I like hot hatches, and these are as hot as they get.

I see a white 2009 STI sitting at Puente Hills Subaru with a huge "$9,000 off" sticker on its side. Sounds like a steal for anyone in the market for an STI.

I love the WRX/STI numbers and I love that they are hatchbacks....but I think they're awful looking. Its a shame, really.

remember people, the subwoofer costs extra...

I own a 2008 STI, and I have none of these issues:
+ Does not burn a drop of oil
+ I have no squeaks and rattles (btw, I live in New England where the roads are disgusting)
+ my things don't fly everywhere in the hatch on the rubber mat
+ The interior is not cheap.
+ Looks fine to me, and that's all that matters. Plus most people do like the looks.

I have never seen so much garbage and nit picking about a car. Every car is overpriced, and the STI is no different. Personally, I got my STI for $2,000 less than what Mitsu wanted for a Evo GSR. Now you want to talk about cheesy interior......except for the seats, I wouldn't give you 50 cents for it.

From what I've read and have been told, Subaru is strict about proper maintenance and use of the vehicle. Their warranty is very clear about what they cover, and will void over. They warn you in CAPS about oil change requirements.

Change the Subie's oil regularly, do the services on schedule, and don't abuse the vehicle, and they honor the warranty.

Launch control, re-chip, race, or otherwise abuse/alter Subie, and its warranty is toast.

That's my neck of the woods, dalaw! :o)

LOL @ bkochuk's comment! Tru dat!

Which interior are you referring to, Eddie1971? The Evo's? Or the STI's? I'll assume you're dissing the Evo's. :o)

Those bellyaching over how much better things were in the "good old days" haven't done their math. I did, before I bought my '08 STI, which is worth every penny that I paid (2% under invoice in April 2008, with BBS wheels but not the gawdawful factory Nav -- you can do far better in a nav for far less $$). Looking at the annual rate of inflation, the '08 STI is just about on target. In other words, in 2008/2009 dollars, adjusted for inflation, and with comparable equipment (which you really can't do, the new STIs win hands-down for creature comforts), it's roughly the same cost as those rattletrap stripped-down bugeyes were at the time. Do the math, you'll see it's the case. And in the meantime, cost of manufacturing, transportation, etc etc has gone though the roof, and yet Subaru has managed to more or less hold the line on price, in inflation-adjusted dollars. So contrary to the price whiners, kudos to Subaru for making a car that is civilized enough to drive yer boss around in, yet still goes like stink and handles as well or better than any previous STI, and does as well off-road on snow, ice or mud as it does on the highway.

A better comparison would be against the Mistus, BMW (1- and 3-series), etc, and that's been done to death. For the combination of practicality, AWD for northern climes, and sheer driving fun, there's still nothing else in its league.

Actually Erin, if you ditch the BBS wheels (buy aftermarket- they're lighter, better looking, and about the same price if not cheaper) and the short shifter (it's actually harder to shift the short shifter accurately, and overpriced-once again, buy aftermarket) the MSRP drops to $35,717 with your cargo tray- which is nice to have. Figure a sub-invoice deal in this economy and you'd be at below $33,700. With 3.9% financing for 63months.

Sounds like much more reasonable a price? :)

Of course, because it's a Subaru, you'll want to put better tires than the awful Dunlops that come with the car to match your new wheels, and then you'll want more power to match the tires and go stage 1, and then you'll want even more power and go stage 2 as you continue pouring paycheck after paycheck into your car. . . :)

Suby, yes I'm seriously considering the 09 WRX. It's basically that or a 328/335. I sold the Mini last week so right now I'm in a rental.

My bro-in-law beat on his WRX for about 6 years and it never failed him. That's interesting. The power, the room, the hatch, the handling, the whole package is pretty attractive for 24k.

I have issue with the 5 speed - wish it were 6 - and lack of freeway cruising gear. I'm worried I'll get 21 mpg with it all the time. Also, a tad worried it's gonna start to feel too boy racer. finally, the idea of paying out for maintenance is odd to me.

Wife doesn't like the cloth. She wants leatherette like my Cooper or leather. as I'm leaning more toward leasing, I can't mod the car with leather.

Also, the lease deals on the WRX are a bit awful right now. Or at least the money factor given to me by the dealer was bad. If BMW brings back a good rebate to clear inventory tomorrow, I'll go for them. The 328 will be cheaper to lease (much more so with the included maintenance) and I get a $500 rebate from BMWCCA.

I'd prefer a lease as I want a 1 series or M in 3 years. A used BMW would make the 1/M a bit more likely too...

blueguydotcom, that sounds like a decent plan you have there.

While you would have to have routine maintenance done on the WRX, Subaru does have a wear item limited warranty to cover items under *normal* use.

https://www.subaru.com/my-subaru/warranties-2009.html

Wear Item Limited Warranty

Wear item coverage is 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Items covered are brake pad/shoe linings, clutch linings, and wiper blades.

The MY2008+ Imprezas don't seem very boy-racer in my opinion. And that's something I like about them. I'm guessing fifth gear is fairly tall on the current WRX. My 2004 WRX will turn 3,000 RPM @ 75 mph in fifth.

I prefer cloth seats as I feel the seats hold me a little better in the turns compared to (relatively slippery) leather. :o)

I wouldn't fault you if you got a Bimmer, though! :o)

Blueguy, seriously? You might go back to an E90? As I recall from years past on this blog, you were never really happy with your 330i.

I'm totally caught between my love of fun and utility in one package (WRX) - v. a known commodity. As BMW didn't change the rebates for this weekend, it's all about either a used e90 bimmer or a WRX hatch.

Precision handling and comfort or hammer-like workman/brutal fun. If I buy it I can mod it but my wife is really against buying new in this market. She knows by the time our kid is 3 I'll be clamoring for something else and she's worried I'll suck up the depreciation on a Rex.

Erin, is that a vote for the WRX? :)

You bet it's a vote for the WRX -- I don't want to hear you complaining that the sport-package 328i is too soft and slow. :)

Either way, I see a lowered suspension in your future.

Erin i woke up set on the 09 WRX. I had a 1 PM appt. This morning I dropped into a dealer for a spin in an 07 335i manual. It was the same route I took when I bought my 03 ZHP.

I didn't buy that 335i manual. Instead I got my mitts on another CPO 335i manual in LA. I paid 27k for it (26.5k with my BMWCCA rebate). Edmunds trade-in value for this 335i is higher than what I paid for it. Edmunds lists the car at 33k with CPO. Maybe you guys are off by a couple k. I don't know. I do know I really, really like my new used car.

The 09 WRX had become my #1 choice over the 328i with the automatic. Comparing the manuals on the WRX and 335i...well the bimmer felt like home.

:)

Congrats, blueguydotcom. We better not hear you complaining about your second E90 in *any* way now.

suby, lol. I hope not. The 09 WRX is a great car... so much car for the money.

hey, congrats of the 335i, great car!

about warranty work, being an actual automotive technician... i am telling you, you get paid less. it varies, but generally its 70% of regular work. as a technician, you can make over $100k a year, but it takes a lot of hustle. (for many, that includes having loose morals)

huyracing, we had two or three guys that were making about $100K at the BMW dealership I was working at. As a warranty admin who did the "booking," if one is doing his or her job properly and efficiently as a tech, he or she won't make less doing warranty work, at least not when it comes to servicing Bimmers. You also need good service advisors, too.