There may be a universal hatred for the start of the working week, but I love Mondays, especially the one on which CAR held its Ultimate Hot Hatch Shootout and I experienced the physics-defying capability of Subaru’s Impreza WRX STi.It was a warm day under the African sun. There were blue skies above and a mere breeze of fresh air chilled the sweat on my brow. If you imagine me standing on beach filled with gorgeous bronzed bodies, you’d be wrong. In actual fact, I was behind the wheel of the new WRX STI while the super Scooby headed for the exit of the pit lane at the Killarney circuit!
A matter of hours before saloon car racers Hennie Groenewald and Phillip Kekana would push 18 of South Africa’s hottest hatches to their limits for CAR magazine’s January 2009 Performance Issue – on sale now – deputy editor Hannes Oosthuizen gave me a chance to complete shakedown laps around Killarney at the wheels of some of the shootout competitors.
My introduction to the new WRX STi was actually a bit underwhelming. As I planted the loud pedal into the carpet at the bottom of the driver’s footwell, my sweat turned red, blood rushed to the back of my spine and I was ashen-faced by the first bend. All that on-demand thrust and supernatural levels of grip was exactly what I expected – but the savage moment was dampened by the lack of an expected mad roar which should have accompanied the car.
Subaru has pulled a canine tooth from its WRX STi by curbing its fearless war cry. For years, none have been able to resist nor mistake the substantial sound of the super Scooby’s flat-four turbocharged boxer. Now fitted with four rear exhaust outlets (as opposed to the trademark, dustbin-sized one), the STi just doesn’t sound as scary as those that have come before. But apart from the uninspiring soundtrack, you have all of 221 kW and 407 N.m to blast wherever you point the STi and that, my dear friends, is a level of unequalled fun and blissful delight that few, if any, potent hatchbacks can deliver.
What if the new Subaru lost its composure and went farming (to use a phrase from the world of motorsport)? Well, even though I pushed the WRX STi as hard as I could (or dared), there was never a hint that the Scooby was about to spear in an unexpected direction or lose control completely! This car is, was, and always will be an esoteric speciality… a brute that means business (think Donald Trump on the brink of sealing a billion-dollar deal). The STI is a rush of ecstasy in an adrenaline-fuelled world. It is, in a word, awesome!
The steering feel is similar to the application of a sensual massage to a pair of tense shoulders. The six-speed box can not be faulted, the grip is immense, the brakes superb, the ride, firm, but direct. This car rewards those who fall in love with it at first glance. And another thing… to moan about the STI’s looks is as pointless as refusing to eat caviar because you don’t like the way that it is harvested! You either love the taste of caviar – or you don’t.
Back on the track, we headed towards the back straight which concluded with a ferocious hairpin! Hard on the brakes at an indicated 190 km/h, I went in too early, which almost always results in understeer. Regardless, with a slight tap-off, I went wide and managed to keep it together planning the exit towards the last straight. The thoughts of how awesome this car is kept running through my pulsating veins, but as I pulled into the pitlane, I couldn’t help but wonder whether this car would appeal to many. It is not difficult to drive, but it seemed incongruous to picture folk of all gender and age in the driver’s seat.
For example, placing a Barbie look-alike in the driver’s seat could be as weird as waking up to Elton John mowing your lawn. It most probably won’t happen because he doesn’t like mowing lawns, nor does he know squat about lawnmowers. Believe me – the STI is for racers and their fuel-filled brains.
Download wallpapers from the Track Shootout here: Batch 1, Batch 2 and Batch 3, or Batch 4.
Listen to the exhaust note of the Impreza WRX STI.
Watch two Ultimate Hot Hatch Shootout videos
You can also view the behind-the-scenes or the Franschhoek Pass Shootout galleries.