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Subaru WRX STi: A Valediction For A Legendary Car

Topics: Subaru WRX

Subaru WRX STi: A Valediction For A Legendary Car

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite Automotive
3 April 2018

The Subaru WRX STi is driving rock ‘n roll. It is motoring Motörhead. A world without it is just automotive Coldplay; sterile and pc. And, like Lemmy, we shall never see its like again. At least not in this guise. EU emissions regulations have finally got the better of the strong and reliable 2.5L boxer engine it seems.

Not A Review Of The Scooby Doo.

Not in the normal sense anyway. The car tested here is the last of the line although there is a final edition that has some extras on it. I couldn’t get my hands on that at the time but Subaru, my favourite car brand, were good enough to let me have one last blast and loaned me this one for a week. What a week it was, the highways and byways of Wiltshire echoing to the sound of Subaru.

It’s like giving up smoking. Allowing yourself to puff away like Stevenson’s Rocket for one last luxury week before quitting. Giving up a habit can be so tough. Waving goodbye to a legend is like that. I guess at least we know that the Subaru WRX STi will still be out there on the used-car forecourts of the UK. No doubt over time many will be ragged-out to the max but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

Out In The Last Subaru WRX STi

Over the years DriveWrite has driven all the versions of this iconic car, glorying in the attached legacy of the World Rally Championship and the late, great Colin McRae. I spent a happy week with the last of this legendary line.

Much driving ensued. Vast quantities of fuel were consumed and many miles covered in typically British weather. The main images show the actual vehicle after a run through some fast country roads. This is a car that can leave you breathless. Not especially powerful, the (relative) lack of horsepower is made up for by a level of grip from the symmetrical four-wheel drive that laughs in the face of our muddy, broken roads and hairpin corners. It begs to be driven. I had a wonderful time but now that time has passed.

There’s a specification for the tested car and you can read my last full review by following this link.

What Then For The Future?

What indeed. Subaru are beginning to tout the attractive Viziv, currently in concept form, and it, like all new vehicles from the Japanese company, will be based on the new Subaru Global Platform where the emphasis is on making Subaru vehicles the safest cars… …in the world.

We learn that there may be a replacement for the WRX STi based possibly on this car or on the rather lacklustre Impreza hatchback.

Whatever comes next, there will be changes under the bonnet. Whichever model is selected to provide the performance version it will be sure to have a smaller, more efficient engine and could even be – a hybrid! I know; I know.

Chris Graham, managing director of Subaru UK is reported to have said: “I’d never think it’s the final, final edition [of the WRX STi]. We don’t yet have any dates from Japan for a relaunch, but I think we could see it as a hybrid.”

Another comment from Mr Graham also foretold the demise of the manual six-speed gearbox, alas, alas. Apparently it is not compatible with Subaru’s ‘Eyesight’ safety system (which certainly works well as I proved) which is more ‘geared’ (sorry) towards the ‘Lineartronic’ auto. An auto ‘box on a WRX STi? It’s just not right. In fact, it’s unconscionable.

This is all brought about by the Dementors of Europe whose brief it is to suck the fun out of life. They killed Scooby. Blame them.