Joyride: 2006 Subaru STi

So last Saturday we got a 2006 Subaru STi on trade. Poor sap traded it for an FJ Cruiser...which isn't all that bad, but he lost an awesome car.

I woke up this morning to cloudy skies and wet streets, water droplets arranged like morning stars on my windshield. I love this weather, and here in Arizona, we don't see it often enough. I pulled into our dealership after a longer-than-normal commute, thanks to Arizona drivers who confuse rain with snow, and lo there was the Subaru STi, staring me in the face. I could have sworn that the headlights followed me as I slowly pulled past, begging me to drive it.

And so I did. The monstrous wing on the back got my heart pumping even before I turned the key. The four cylinder engine didn't rumble as it turned over; more like it purred, softly, deceivingly.Turning out of the dealership I punched it, thick tires glued to the wet road, and before I could blink I was going 60 mph. The road was a bit rough, and feeling every single bump caused me to slow a little. The brakes felt extremely solid, and not a bit touchy, and instilled perfect confidence in me, the driver.

The freeway on ramp could have allowed me to easily get up to 120 mph, but traffic stopped me short, another chance for using the brakes. The Subaru all wheel drive kept me going in a straight line, regardless of the rain or the 300 horsepower lurching the car forward with heavy shifts. That's one thing...the shifter felt a little stiff, and although a short shifter, it wasn't nearly as smooth a transition as my Civic Si. Of course the Suby would demolish that ol' Si, even if I turboed it.
The STi was a blast to drive, and I can see why auto reviewers rave about the car. The car felt light and nimble, but with the lightness some of it felt a little cheap. The doors, for example, were extremely light and pingy sounding, and the interior felt like a $15k car, not a $30k one. I would definitely love to drive the current model, mainly to see what improvements Subaru has managed to make to the car. I'm not sure if it would be my first choice for a daily driver, with the somewhat rough ride and the shoddy shifter, but it would be a hoot to drive every now and again.
Thanks for reading.
-Biggs