Subaru Impreza sedan test drive since 2012 sedan
STI virus
It affects instantly, with the first acceleration, and it is very difficult to remove from the bodySubaru Impreza WRX STI is a car for a narrow circle, for experts, and, moreover, very well prepared. For those who prefer a stool to a soft chair, who gets a mock without adrenaline, who loves, when the world around flicker with kaleidoscopic speed.
This car is able to reveal only to people self -confident, but capable of proportion to the degree of their skill with the indications of the speedometer and the steepness of the turn. Therefore, most often, WRX STI is bought by professional race carbackers or those who have not lost in life of the bustle of a childhood dream of victories at authors. They perfectly understand that this car is not for everyday everyday trips. It was not created in order to demonstrate to the city crowd to show outsider the owner’s insanity, but so that he could once again experience his character and honing skill. What makes you do it again and again, sweat, get tired and risk, finally? The same virus, of course. The symptoms that he causes are not subject to treatment.
There are plenty of powerful all -wheel drive machines in the market, any motorist will say, there is both Audi, and BMW and even Mercedes. And he will be a hundred percent right. But here is the whole thing - in pepper. Such sharp dishes, as close as possible to rally car, besides quite democratic in price, in our market there are only two - Subaru impreza WRX STI and MITSUBISHI Lancer Evolution, which already in its ninth generation seemed to debut in Russian show rooms (there will be an opportunity - I'll tell you about him). But the new version of the WRX STI, however, is a special thing. What will the owner receive for 50 and a small thousand dollars?
Nothing extra
In fact, he will buy a motor, suspension, transmission and a slightly modified body. As well as a non -inhabitant interior in which it is difficult to find at least a hint of luxury (this should be addressed to other manufacturers). Look, however, how menacingly Impreza WRX STI looks like a hungry predator, with which for some reason, at the first look, the desire to contact him disappears. And right! In addition to the changed appearance in general, what happened as a result of a recent renewal of the Impreza basic model, swollen wings are visible under an increased track, an aerodynamic body kit perfectly inscribed in the body, whose elements have become larger than before. So, another on the roof on the roof was added to the rear massive spoiler, above the rear window, which, according to racer of the factory rally team, increased the clamping force and improved the aerodynamics of the car as a whole. The gear of the air intake on the hood, 17 -inch golden discs - everything looks somehow defiant and, at the same time, quite harmoniously, I would even say - elegant.
And in the cabin? I perhaps hurried, refusing him to luxury - this is a relative concept. For some, the luxury is a tree and chrome, and someone in STI will seem to be almost riding of perfection. Because it has excellent lateral support - not only in the lower back, but also in the shoulder zone. Which means that the back will be less tired during lateral overloads. Moreover, the central part of the seats is trimmed with suede - you will not slip. But it is still necessary to fasten up - too many horses are harnessed to this minor car, and too restless zummer reminds of safety belts. It is not difficult to choose a convenient, and best - with almost straight back, it is not difficult to land. Even the absence of longitudinal adjustment of the steering wheel does not interfere - the column moves only in height, which is compensated by a fairly wide range of seat adjustments.
The controls are conveniently located. However, it would be strange to notice some ergonomic miscalculations in such a car. That's just to the joystick of the volume of the audio system you have to stretch a little. There are no buttons on the steering wheel or next to it, which is only for the better - to be distracted by the slightest extraneous action when managing Impreza WRX STI. Yes, and the sound that pours out of the speakers, I note for the sake of justice, is not especially happy - the creators decided not to spend money on good music, and therefore I personally listened to the audio center only in traffic jams. No one, of course, prevents the installation of an excellent system for additional money. But this car can hardly become a musical salon and in general, a place to relax - it requires constant work and concentration.
The driver is obliged to look at the road, casting only a short glance at the instrument shield with a not very soothing bloody-red color and numbers. The main and largest dial on the panel is a tachometer. It is marked so that the working area is at its very top - it is very convenient. On the sides of the tachometer there are two smaller circles - on the left sensors of the fuel level and the temperature of the power unit, on the right - a speedometer, the last value of which indicates a speed of 260 km/h. The rounded style can be traced in all details - in three handles of climate control, in ventilation deflectors, in the gearbox, and in the central part of the steering wheel with Litera STI. In general - simple, but with taste.
You can go and fly
The predatory appearance of the WRX STI fully corresponds to the internal content - a unique all -wheel drive system in combination with a turbocharged 2.5 -liter opposition engine. This engine, by the way, is today the key to Subaru over Mitsubishi. The extra half-liter of its volume added lower classes and expanded the working range of revolutions. That is, they excluded what the owners could have previously nervous. I will say more, now on this car, despite 281 hp. Under the hood, you can relatively calmly ride in the city. Although anyway - this car is not for the faint of heart. It is enough to pave the pedal to the floor once so that the tachometer arrow passes 3,500, and you will get acquainted with the animal essence of the motor. This side of his opens, of course, a turbine. The pickup is such that you will be seized to the seat, as when taking off on a jet liner. And with a competent handle with a 6-speed manual man transmission, it seems (or it is) that even in the snow you can exchange a second hundred 5-6 seconds after the start. To do this, only three switching is needed - from the first to the second, and then to the third. Moreover, at what moment should be switched to increased gear, the sound of high tonality and a red light bulb flashing on the instrument panel will tell. It is located just in the middle of the tachometer. Moreover, it is not necessary that it lights up when it reaches 7000 rpm, namely, the red zone begins from this mark. A small lever on the shield allows you to independently install signal speeds. For example, I moved them from 7000 to 6400, leaving 600 revolutions in reserve, at the time of reaction and switching.
In the city, I dare to assume that most future owners will be enough that the power unit offers up to 4000-5000 rpm. In addition, the first and second programs are clearly brought closer, while the third is already much longer. Considering that at the first until the moment when the limiter of maximum revolutions works, you can accelerate to 60 km/h, and on the second already up to 90, on the city streets the driver hardly will have to often twist the motor. And moving from one program to another is a pleasure: the gearbox lever has short and clear moves, the clutch pedal is informative and, as it should be, is quite a gesture. In general, this car requires effort. The same brakes are clearly not for female legs, slowing increases directly proportional to the effort attached to the pedal. That’s why, by the way, at the first moment it seemed to me that the brakes were not enough - at first the pedal move is quite light. But the Brembo caliper and the entire system were created with the sight on a serious, one might say - a sophisticated driver.
When it smells fried
Let me express a little complaint to the Bridgestone Potenza tires, which personally made an ambiguous impression on me. These tires are heated for too long, and do not show special tenacity on wet asphalt, and wear resistance, judging by the smell after intense driving, is in doubt. One example.
We are going with the editor -in -chief on two cars, one after another, as usual, we rush. A smooth and fairly wide 90-degree turn. In the turn - a little wet, not even wet asphalt. Even gas, but at the exit I get a skid, while it passes a turn like on rails, without the slightest difficulty. The point is not only about the Subaru all-wheel drive scheme, but also in tires that have already lost their clutch properties in the middle of the turn due to moisture, while Pirelli Zero Nero only slightly squealed.
Another thing is that sliding on Impreza WRX STI is a separate song. First of all: on the tunnel between the front seats lurked the key and a small wheel. Auto mode is used by default, which is reflected in the corresponding symbol on the dashboard. This means that the electronics work itself and 41% of the moment is supplied to the front wheels, and 59% to the rear. This ratio can change thanks to the new cylindrical central differential DCCD. If you press the key, then the central wheel can independently change the degree of electromagnetic blocking of the central differential. The extreme upper position of this wheel means blocking, in this case the engine power will be redistributed between the axes in almost equal proportions. More often, of course, you use an automatic mode in which electronics takes into account the speed of rotation of each wheel, the angle of rotation of the steering wheel and the degree of pressing on the accelerator pedal. But in any case, and it is felt right away, the new WRX STI is more willing to turn into a turn, demonstrating not insufficient, as it was before, but actually neutral rotation. With all this, you quickly, for the most part, intuitively master, and you begin to experience true pleasure from driving. By the way, the gear on the hood helps to clearly track where the car’s nose looks. A rather sharp steering control is with rapid restructuring, and you suddenly understand that you are moving much faster than the flow. And you catch yourself thinking that it would be nice at the next traffic light to be the first in the row. And - shoot. Hear the delightful sound of an opposite motor, packed by a whistle of turbocharged. Wait for a flash of a red bulb, quickly squeeze a short clutch, and fly on. Because you can adhere to the principle: the speed is less than the pits, the main thing is the gas and the gas pedal to work carefully.
Shaking? Mercilessly! The suspension is tough, one might say, dentist. But this is exactly what is needed, is simply vital. Moreover, for a more aggressive driving, if you can engage in tuning, I would have made it even tougher. But standard springs and shock absorbers, preserving a rather decent clearance, allow you to very well control the car and effectively use the power of the power plant. We can say that the car simply provokes extreme exercises. The main thing is that a feeling of permissiveness does not arise, and the sitting at the wheel is ready to cope with slipping at any time. But slipping is, as it were, an integral part of the character Impreza WRX STI. True, we must remember that in addition to all -wheel drive and ABS, there are no stabilization systems in STI. Therefore, I will not talk about what exactly is happening, and how to do in certain cases. This is taught in special schools, the correspondence course is not suitable here.
In a word, Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a very fast, extreme, and, according to the majority, is uncomfortable. The future owner must be ready for this. And if he someday can fully realize the potential inherent in the STI designers, he really can think about a sports career.
Text: Andrey Osipov
