I've never cared much for the new STI's styling -- in spite of the flared fenders and scooped hood, it strikes me as generic and kind of awkward. Specifically, the stock grille looks like it could be any econo-car's, and the "tinfoil under glass" taillights strike me as too juvenile. So I did a little research and saw a couple of nice aftermarket pieces that I'd get, were our LT STI my own car...
For the grille, I'd swap out the flying Subaru badge and generic egg-crate insert for a mesh insert (with matching lower intake insert). Take a gander at the photo -- that insert is sold by flatironstuning.com. As far as the taillights, I like the blacked-out look such as that provided by harmanmotive.com.
What do y'all think -- do you agree that these relatively quick and easy visual mods are a big and tasteful improvement?
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor
lenoroc says:
04:18 PM, 03/ 2/09
I dig the mesh grill and the blacked-out taillights look great as well, but it's dampening an important safety feature (brake lights, duh).
clarkma5 says:
05:17 PM, 03/ 2/09
Not a fan of the mesh grill, I like the stocker a lot more. As for the tailights, I like the OEMs but I've seen some people do a red light conversion on them that makes them look like Maserati Granturismo lights.
Overall, though, I think the new STi hatch is a great looking car and I see no reason to fiddle with it.
jederino says:
05:20 PM, 03/ 2/09
I'd like to see the red light conversion! I am also disappointed by the tinfoil stock brake lamps.
roar02ram says:
05:34 PM, 03/ 2/09
I like the mesh grill, but I like the red light conversion instead of the slightly '80s/'90s blackouts.
cwc1 says:
06:10 PM, 03/ 2/09
Tin foil tail lamps are so 5 years ago (or more). I was never a fan of them anyway. So, the harmanmotive lights are an improvement.
biturbomunkie says:
08:10 PM, 03/ 2/09
imho the mesh grill makes the STi even more generic, almost mazda3ish. also, the subaru flying piece on the stock grill makes the car seem wider and meaner.
as for the taillights, i think the red overlays w/ center cutouts (aka the granturismo style) look best - they make the STi a sleeper (at least from behind).
cx7lover says:
03:56 AM, 03/ 3/09
Still ugly.
dougtheeng says:
06:10 AM, 03/ 3/09
The whole front end is hideous, not just the grille. The only thing that could improve it is....a tree.
rsholland says:
06:22 AM, 03/ 3/09
No question that the stock grille is not styled as well as it should be, but the accessory grille is not the answer either. It just looks too "Pep-Boy-like" to me.
I also agree with lenoroc about the blacked out tail lights being a potential safety issue.
blueguydotcom says:
09:04 AM, 03/ 3/09
Car looks fine as is. The current impreza looks fine. You drive cars on the inside. The exterior is irrelevant.
cah11705 says:
02:59 PM, 03/ 3/09
I say just put the front end of an old sti on...maybe an 03 or 04?
billybobbovine says:
09:05 PM, 03/ 3/09
The red tail light conversion looks really good.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/sti_01.jpg