Having the new STI on my short list of next rides, I was not at all happy when SOA announced the MSRPs of the various STI models. The one that has my interest is the STI with NAV, which stickers for a whopping $38,795; which is $1,000 more expensive than even the priciest Tribeca. For another point of reference, the outgoing STI's MSRP was $33,495. A comparably equipped '08 model stickers for $34,995, which is a $1,500 increase...
Note: MSRP prices are from SOA web site and SOA media site, and do not include destination/delivery charges which is an additional $645.
Now as great a car as the US-spec STI may be, it does not have a moonroof. It does not have power seats, or even leather seatsâlet alone front seats with decent side bolsters which this car demands. There are no auto-up windows; or even a fold-down center rear seat armrest; and there are no lit vanity mirrors on the sun visors which, incidentally, feel like cheap hard cardboard. The raised front center armrest is optional, when it should be standard. If you opt for th NAV unit, you can only store 1 CD, and not the expected 6-CD storage. There is no multi-gig hard drive to store music, nor does the NAV unit have real-time traffic alert capability. The NAV unit does come with satellite radio—which I don't want—thereby adding salt to the already festering wound... Nope, there are a surprising number of things that one would expect in a near-$40K sports sedan that are M.I.A.
Now it can be argued that the STI is about performance, and everything else doesn't count. Not true. If Subaru is going after a more mature buyer with deeper pockets, which they have indicated on more than one occasion, those things count.
The tweaked exterior and performance aspect are super, but interior screams "BEAN-COUNTERS RULE!" The funny thing is the Impreza 2.5i 5-door, with NAV, stickers for $20,995âwhich is a flat-out steal. Can anyone honestly tell me that the NAV-equipped STI (also an "Impreza") is $17,800 better than a NAV-equipped 2.5i? I love the new STIâbut I hate the price.
Oh yeah, I know, you gotta pay to play... Maybe so, but with this news a new NAV-equipped WRX 5-door, while still expensive ($28,950), is looking better every day...
Subaru Hikes Price on 2008 WRX STI
Now as great a car as the US-spec STI may be, it does not have a moonroof. It does not have power seats, or even leather seatsâlet alone front seats with decent side bolsters which this car demands. There are no auto-up windows; or even a fold-down center rear seat armrest; and there are no lit vanity mirrors on the sun visors which, incidentally, feel like cheap hard cardboard. The raised front center armrest is optional, when it should be standard. If you opt for th NAV unit, you can only store 1 CD, and not the expected 6-CD storage. There is no multi-gig hard drive to store music, nor does the NAV unit have real-time traffic alert capability. The NAV unit does come with satellite radio—which I don't want—thereby adding salt to the already festering wound... Nope, there are a surprising number of things that one would expect in a near-$40K sports sedan that are M.I.A.
Now it can be argued that the STI is about performance, and everything else doesn't count. Not true. If Subaru is going after a more mature buyer with deeper pockets, which they have indicated on more than one occasion, those things count.
The tweaked exterior and performance aspect are super, but interior screams "BEAN-COUNTERS RULE!" The funny thing is the Impreza 2.5i 5-door, with NAV, stickers for $20,995âwhich is a flat-out steal. Can anyone honestly tell me that the NAV-equipped STI (also an "Impreza") is $17,800 better than a NAV-equipped 2.5i? I love the new STIâbut I hate the price.
Oh yeah, I know, you gotta pay to play... Maybe so, but with this news a new NAV-equipped WRX 5-door, while still expensive ($28,950), is looking better every day...
Subaru Hikes Price on 2008 WRX STI
flicmod says:
06:20 AM, 11/19/07
The 1 Series isn't looking too bad now, is it Loren? :-)
stovt001 says:
07:03 AM, 11/19/07
Agreed^
Wow, ugly car, even uglier price. I guess no one told Subaru that America isn't in much of a spending mood these days.
rsholland says:
07:43 AM, 11/19/07
The problem with the 1-Series is it's not offered in AWD or a 4-door, and both those features are important to me.
opfreak says:
07:50 AM, 11/19/07
I both agree and disagree. The price was fairly expected. And if you take into account the dollars fall. Of about 8%, your not seeing a price increase just a loss of dollar buying power.
But from what I hear the interior is not up to pay for a 34k car which is being targeted towards a more upscale market.
the imperza without nav and the priemum package is even a better steal at about 19k.
the wrx suffers from the same price problem. I'd pay 25-26k for a decked out one. But add the preimum package, and maybe the nav, and boom you up to 30k. OUCH.
flicmod says:
08:21 AM, 11/19/07
Agreed Bob. That's why BMW needs to bring the 5-door over! AWD doesn't really matter to me. I'd sooner have RWD. But I can understand where you're coming from considering you're a Suby owner, right? ;-)
drwales says:
10:06 AM, 11/19/07
AUTHOR: drwales
DATE: 11/19/2007 10:06:35 AM
EMAIL: leamon@grace.nascom.nasa.gov
rick8365 says:
11:48 AM, 11/19/07
I have been pretty big into the new WRX and STi - love the style - but this kind of overview / breakdown makes me want to rethink.
Saw a few 1 Series 3 doors while away a couple of years ago.....a very nice looking car. If they can make a 5 door and have the proportions stay in line I think it would be great.
(Is there already a 5 door 1 in existence anywhere?)
flicmod says:
11:51 AM, 11/19/07
rick8365,
Yes there, is a 5-door 1 already. It's sold in the UK and, I believe, other parts of Europe as well.
http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/index/0,,1156___bs-MQ%3D%3D%40bb-S08%3D%40sit-bmwuk,00.html
That link's gonna screw up this entire page... I just know it.
estreka says:
01:05 PM, 11/19/07
The used car market is going to boom from this recession and weak dollar.
opfreak says:
05:00 PM, 11/19/07
estrka, currently we are not in a rescession
blueguydotcom says:
05:04 PM, 11/19/07
For that price a bunch of cars have moved back into the likely running for my family car. Sad, as the STI offers a nice blend of utility, size, performance and power. I'd rather just a 335i sedan ED for that kinda money. The EX35, A4 and GTI moved back onto the lists too. Bummer.
WRX with prem pack is a decent 27k
tube_amps_rule says:
11:13 PM, 11/19/07
Quote:
For another point of reference, the outgoing STI's MSRP was $33,495. A comparably equipped '08 model stickers for $34,995, which is a $1,500 increase.
This is not true.
The outgiong model came with BBS wheels (albiet 17" on the '07 vs. 18" on the '08) and fog lights. Now it is a $2000.00 option. A comparably equiped '08 is $36,995. which is a $3,500 increase.
rick8365 says:
04:32 AM, 11/20/07
Thanks, flicmod....I checked it out, very nice. At first glance, it didn't have the same appeal for me as some other 5 doors (GTI), but the more I looked the more I liked. I hope we have the option to get these here in the US at some point - a nice practical package - I'd be interested.
rsholland says:
06:44 AM, 11/20/07
tube amps rule
I was comparing this year's entry-level STI with last year's model. If I'm not mistaken last year's STI Limited was priced the same as the regular STI, and it did not have BBS wheels. But your point is noted, and adds more evidence to support my point. Thanks.
The funny (sad?) thing is, Subarus have always been noted for being excellent values, at least that's been true for regular Subarus. Not so for their premium models, be it a STI, Tribeca Limited w/NAV, Outback H-6, Legacy spec.B, etc.
tube_amps_rule says:
07:51 AM, 11/20/07
rsholland,
True the limited didn't come with the BBS wheels but it did come with a sunroof, typically a $900 option that is not available in 08'
Good catch though. That limited was a smokin' deal. Where's my time machine?
bbechtel16 says:
01:07 PM, 11/20/07
BDC: Do you also wish the GTI was RWD? I think the GTI is a great deal if you don't mind that it's a VW and that it's FWD.
ateixeira says:
01:50 PM, 11/20/07
Keep in mind the 07 did not have VDC (stability control) nor did it have side-curtain air bags, plus it used a relatively cheap strut suspension in the rear.
So the 08 got those 3 important upgrades.
The price is high, though. I was hoping they'd remain flat, especially in this market.
SubyTrojan says:
07:15 PM, 11/20/07
Price doesn't matter in this situation for me. I think it's worth $40k. More importantly, I still want one! :o)
blueguydotcom says:
11:49 PM, 11/20/07
becht,
The WRX/STI could be nice. i haven't driven one yet and I plan to wait until my wife is pregnant before even dipping my toe in that world. From past experience driving them (including heavily modded rexes), they seem indestructible (or so the owners I know claim and seem to prove with their driving style). The AWD system in the last gen Rex/Legacy is maddeningly annoying to drive though. Hopefully the new gen cars have improved the AWD system as my last experiences made me want to get out of the car immediately. Can't say I'm an AWD fan anymore than a FWD fan. I've heard Audi at least is making their newer cars RWD biased. I can't recall if the new Rex has a different AWD system but from my quick research the 08 rex sadly seems to use a 50/50 power split.
I've lived with BMWs for years and both were worse than my last VW (Mrk IV) and my wife's Audi A3. If I can survive constant visits for repairs to my e46, then I'm not the least bit concerned with reliability as a measuring stick for car purchases anymore.
flicmod says:
07:53 AM, 11/21/07
Of course not, Loren. You're a Suby fan-boy! :-P
tube_amps_rule says:
08:59 AM, 11/21/07
El Cajon, CA
Blueguy,
What don't you like about the AWD on the rexes? I have an 06' wagon and my only real complaint is the open diff in the front. The inside wheel is quick to spin in the tight turns.
Just curious.
blueguydotcom says:
01:37 PM, 11/21/07
tube, in my experience WRXes don't exhibit a RWD bias, so it makes driving them feel just off to me. My bro-in-law's brother has a seriously modded rex that has well over 300 hp and tons of suspension mods, yet everytime I've driven it I feel like the AWD system binds up and prevents me from entering corners as I like. I have the same problem with Audi's Quattro and BMW's xdrive. The systems seem to prevent spirited driving. I've read Audi's new A4 will feature a 40:60 split on the quattro's next year.