2004 Subaru WRX Sti Test Drive

2004 Subaru WRX Sti

The 2004 Subaru WRX Sti isn't some knee-jerk reaction to the current popularity of fast little imports. Far from it. It's well evolved. The WRX Sti is a road version of Subaru's rally car, repeatedly a winner in this demanding form of racing. The WRX Sti is an all-wheel-drive burner with 300 turbocharged horses under its hood-scooped hood. Is it fun? Oh yes. Prices: US $30,995 base; as tested, $31,545.

Heritage

In 1992, a funky all-wheel drive car came on the Japanese marketplace as the Subaru WRX. This hot little number was destined to become Subaru's flagship car in the demanding road-rally series. At the time, it had 237 horsepower. In 1994, Subaru introduced the model in Europe, amid whines from the US and Canada that we wanted the car, too. But we wanted the Sti model. The Sti had 271 horsepower. There were modifications over the next few years, until in 2000 Subaru brought out a 276-horsepower version. The howling of those in North America grew louder. "Give us this little scooter. We can handle the horsepower. Hey, didn't we handle muscle cars like the Plymouth Road Runner, Dodge Dart G/T, Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino?" But, no, we couldn't have the Sti model. The main reason was that Subaru Tecnica International (STI) didn't want to bother meeting our emission standards. But demand for the car was present so the coveted WRX Sti came to dealer showrooms in North America. It cost about $30,000 and was faster than anything comparable. Today, it is challenged only by the Mitsubishi Evo. Together, they represent the ultimate "bang for the buck" bargains. It's easy to spend twice their price and be left in the dust.

Coachwork

The 2004 Subaru WRX Sti looks the part of a race car, from outside or inside. Atop the hood is a functional scoop forcing air into a turbocharger for the 2.5-liter boxer four engine. On the trunk is the biggest wing since Richard Petty flashed a Plymouth Superbird around NASCAR tracks in 1969. Remove these two items and the WRX Sti would look like the Impreza it's based on. Open a door and you're greeted by Recaro racing-style bucket seats in the front. These are only for the trim-and-fit. There is stong lateral support in the form of wings that touch the rib cage and a base support that prevents a driver sliding sideways in hard cornering. Instrumentation is clear and always glowing, with the tachometer central in the cluster. A three-spoke steering wheel attests to sporting purposes. To the right of the driver, on the floor console, is a knurled wheel that can manually move power front or rear, as needed. Leave it alone and the car does a remarkable job of power distribution, even when exiting curves. Strong headlights help night driving. Visibility in all directions is very good and entry and exit for this four-door is easy. One item it doesn't have? A radio. Subaru says a radio, and floor mats, would only add weight.

On the Road

It's under full acceleration that the WRX Sti has few peers. It blasts 0-to-60 in an astonishing 4.6 seconds! The quarter-mile goes by in 13.2 seconds at 103 miles per hour. Brembo brakes (almost 13-inch) haul the Sti from 60-to-0 in 110 feet. You accelerate faster, corner quicker and stop shorter than just about anything else on the road. And with all-wheel drive you can do this in almost any weather. The WRX Sti does not demand a compromise when the road turns wet. The clutch is remarkably light for such a performance car, and engages easily. There are six speeds from the manual transmission and gears are closely spaced. You'll shift frequently. Redline comes at 7,000 rpm and the engine bogs if you hit that magic number. Steering is dead-on accurate. Traction is aided by 17-inch wheels sporting 225/45R17 tires with a special tread design. As you might expect from 300 horsepower and 300 lbs-ft. of torque, this car wants premium gas. It returns 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Comfort is the main sacrifice the 2004 Subaru WRX Sti demands for its prowess. The ride is stiff and every road imperfection will be felt. But it's not unbearable, the way some sports cars can be.

Summary

Get ready to stand in line if you want a 2004 Subaru WRX Sti. Only 3,600 will be brought to North America this year -- 300 a month to distribute among 600 Subaru dealers in America alone. And don't even think of trying to dicker the sticker price. You'll wear out your welcome at the dealership. Fact is, this special car is easily worth its price. It has the virtue of being quicker than sports cars twice as costly, has every needed safety feature, is top-rated by Consumers Digest, earned top ratings in crash tests, can carry four people and their luggage, and is easy to enter, exit and drive. Its ride quality is not so rough as to be a turnoff. Its fuel economy is not a serious sacrifice. Indeed, one wonders why more people wouldn't buy a WRX Sti. It's a secret to most of those over 30; no secret to anyone under that age. They know. They give it a thumbs-up and wish they had $30,000 for one. The only thing it needs is a selectable suspension setting, becoming more common now on sports cars and sedans. Give us a "comfort" and a "sports" setting and then export 10,000 a year to our shores. This is a fantastic car that deserves all the accolades it gets from auto writers.