08 STI Test Drive Impressions w/ Pics!!!

how much leg room is there in the back seat of the ms3? the new sti platofrm has about 2-3 in more than the prior model. I test drove an ms3 but never sat in the back to see how it felt. do you have the demensions by chance?

thanks.

I know in the MS3 with the driver's seat all the way back I can still sit in the back seat without my knees touching. However, I'm a little shorter than average, about 5'5".
 
I'm 6'1 and about 280, and I had no problem sitting in the back seat of mine when checking it out.
 
The back seat seemed to have more leg room than the MS3 but the back area seemed a little smaller. I wouldn't say the STI is ugly. I think the STI looks good just because it looks so much like the MS3. The MS3 is definitely the better looking car between the two though.
 
Not that one should believe everything in the mags, but Motortrend and C&D tested the new STI and it is slower than the previous gen car (in a straight line). It trapped like 100.xx. Personally I dont know how a MS3 owner can bash its looks since it bears a strong resemblance to our cars. I think it looks okay, much better than the standard WRX 4-dr. But, I think for nearly $40K thats a big pill to swallow for what was originally an econo-box Impreza. I "do" like it though, its just lots more expensive than my MS3 Sport which I think stickered at $23K and some change. Its definitely no performance "bargain."
 
OMFG!! theyre brothers!! they look like twins.. haha...yea it does suck knowing that subaru jacked mazda's ideas and designs.

if i had a choice, i'd still go for a ms3 over the sti. the ms3 looks a bit more aggresive and i'm sure its more fun in the twisties than this thing.

i was looking at the new wrxs at the dealership and i must say subaru is totally lacking in the appearance department. thought the sti was gonna be nice but i still dont like this one. the black modded one from the other thread looks much nicer xD

 
^^ Wow, you are crazy if you think the ms3 is going to be more fun in the twisties. There is no way in hell that the ms3 will outhandle this thing, the sti has always been designed with handling in mind and I believe it will outhandle all of the previous sti's (which, not surprisingly, all handle better than the ms3).

As for the looks, I agree it looks like the speed in terms of overall body shape except the front bumper, front headlights/grill and tail lights are all HIDEOUS. What the hell was subaru thinking? Interior looks much better than the previous gen, however.
 
^^ Wow, you are crazy if you think the ms3 is going to be more fun in the twisties. There is no way in hell that the ms3 will outhandle this thing, the sti has always been designed with handling in mind and I believe it will outhandle all of the previous sti's (which, not surprisingly, all handle better than the ms3).

s***!, for $35k base price, they BETTER outhandle the ms3. The STi is a hardcore road machine, the ms3 is kind of raw too, but is not up to the STi.
 
Have a better driver in a MS3 and it could win. Just because a car is designed for it doesn't mean the driver can handle it.
 
Have a better driver in a MS3 and it could win. Just because a car is designed for it doesn't mean the driver can handle it.

I don' think so....An average driver in a STI would beat a good driver in a MS3.. The traction of the MS3 just cannot compare to the STI.
 
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The only way the MS3 can perform to the standards of an STI is to give it a sizable budget of modification money to catch up. Our advantage here is that we don't need 10K, which is the bare difference between the cars. Maybe 3k, if that.

What is known is that the MS3 wasn't designed to compete with the STI, but perhaps more on the level of the GTi or Cobalt (previous '07 SS model) and cars like this.

If imitation is flattery, then this STI is downright trying to kill Mazda with kindness.
 
Looks like a sick ride. That e-brake would sort of piss me off as well... Pictures look great but I would have liked to have seen the seats. If I'm going to pay $40k for a car, those seats better grip me like a mofo. park bench... not cool
 
All you would need is a set of coil overs and some swaybars and you would easily keep up with that STi in the handling dept. Go the extra mile, add the sub chassis bracing and youre good to go.

I do like the looks of the new STi.. Im glad im not the only one who thought the MS3 looked great! Thanks for the compliments Suburu!
 
I just can't fricking get past how much they copied, it's not even accidental-looking.

(uhm)

Well we always knew that the new gen was going to be a hatch but didnt know how. I would not call it copying because there is only so much you can do with a hatch design to a certain aspect. They look rather similar but I would not say it is copied. The STI's ass is rounder and there are subtle differences but I do see your point.

If you want to say a car is copied then compared the protege5 to the Kia Spectra 5 because thats what it literally is.
 
i just spit out my coffee when i saw the front and rear seats. subaru, seriously now, what the hell?

i'm sure it's a blast to drive and it sounds nice. but, the dealerships around my area are asking $36k for a completely base STI. honestly, if i'm spending that much, i'll go for another 2-3g's more and get a 335i.
 
i just spit out my coffee when i saw the front and rear seats. subaru, seriously now, what the hell?

i'm sure it's a blast to drive and it sounds nice. but, the dealerships around my area are asking $36k for a completely base STI. honestly, if i'm spending that much, i'll go for another 2-3g's more and get a 335i.


You mean 135i :-)
 
You mean 135i :-)

nah, 335i. the 335 starts around $39k. i'm sure i could find a nice used one for around $36k, ha.

the 135i will be along the same base price as the STI, maybe a grand more or so.

either way. i'm plenty happy with the MS3 bang for the buck. plus, i'd go with our interior 10/10 times over the STI. of course, i would like a DCCD in ours...along with the obligatory AWD. heh
 

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