Test Drive Subaru Impreza WRX STI since 2008 Sedan

All photos Subaru Impreza WRX STI since 2008

Fifty fifty

In the past, current and, probably, the future life they are inseparable rivals. And although in the leaders of the world championship today, other models, these remain cult.
For many, they are embodied all the brightest, extraordinary. Mitsubishi and Subaru are very close in many ways: four-wheel drive, 280 hp, turbocharging, 17-inch wheels with bridgestone tires, Bilstein shock absorbers, Brembo brakes. It is possible to argue about the features of the settings of the active differentials of Lancer or talk about its aerodynamics. But be sure: Subaru will oppose no less effective and interesting developments. In general, such cars will always not wait to check in battle, grip a thin line between the abilities of the machine and its own.

Workout.

Outside windows endless autumn rain. Therefore, the measurements of the speakers are still postponing, but by using the bad weather, trying on the car to everyday life. They have even fickers of isofixes for children's seats! Nevertheless, count the armrests and the cup holders in these machines are too prosaic. After all, it is hardly in the arms of tenacious seats, feeling serious efforts on pedals, feeling the racing horns of six-speed boxes, you begin to look different on a lot. It is not so important, a cloth or skin is trimmed with salon, soft or hard plastic instrument panel. The main thing is that all this obeys a single ideology: he kept, fixed, was comfortable, grip, understandable and well readable.
A small advantage is still for Subaru. His style is expressive, more spectacular, brighter. In addition, the combination of devices is more convenient, like a steering wheel, and ventilation spins. But Lancer opposes the emotionality of the induction of the impregnation of an excellent sports seat, made as if to order, precisely under me. Yes, and the gearbox in Mitsubishi works more clearly, protecting from errors when switching.
The first driver's impressions give a small advantage of Lancer. The suspension is more comfortable, in everyday life it is clearly easier, understandable in management, even despite the very sharp steering wheel. Where the Impreza begins to rest on the entrance to the turn, Mitsubishi follows the selected trajectory. But Subaru takes his more comfortable, tracked and much less noisy motor, clearly demonstrating the advantages of additional 500 working volume cubes. The rest of the Imprex is tougher, requires a driver of more attention, reluctantly forgiving errors in control.

THE BASIC INSTINCT

The tachometer arrow froze on a five thousandth mark (when the transmission is enabled, the electronic stopper takes off the clutch, not allowing the motor to unwell more). Start! Lanser Evo IX jerk jumps forward, but then the turnover is falling to 2000. Approximately hemisheconic confusion of the turbine seems eternity. Finally, approximately 3000 rpm follows hurricane jerk, accompanied by a rigid metal roar of the power of the motor. Locked the transmission, shoved in the hands of the steering wheel, immediately became too sharp, washed off the columns of the dynamometer road. It seems that this energy does not occupy, but approximately after a half of the kilometer of the transfer, the acceleration rate is exhausted. The remaining 34 kilometers maxima Lancer gets slowly. In principle, it is very emotionally, and the engine is spinning great up to 7500 rpm, that's just a start a little spoiled the picture. Try to play clutch? The lost shares of the seconds are like, but the smell of burnt linings resembles: such a technique should not be abused.

With the handling at first glance everything is in order. Evo so and provokes to puff. But with increasing speed, the behavior of the car is becoming more straightforward. He seems to be eagerly overtaken in turn, but then under the charge begins to inexorably straighten the trajectory. Relief of gas, steering, but the car reacts very lazy to the driver teams, demanding one reduce speed. Attempts to swing Lancer in advance, at the entrance to the turn, lead to a sharp drift of the rear axle, which immediately flows into a too wide side slip. I remember Evo VII traveled quite differently. Here are clearly large for sports carns of the body, obviously merit of fairly comfortable pendants. I go through the transmission settings: asphalt, gravel, snow situation changes slightly. But it is worth a pretty press on the accelerator, Lancer is still stuck outwards.
Subaru Imprem WRX STI is not as a sharp steering wheel. Several movements of the gas pedal, and the machine, as if led by a circular, obediently hangs in the controlled drift. Overload imprints the body in the side support rollers so that you don't want to smooth your hands once again. Imprint is logical and obedient: I clicked on the gas shifted out the turn, removed smoothly went inside. Although it is smooth, of course, it is not exactly exactly expected. A little overdo it with a burden, I wilt theft, and it seems to be a humble Impreza shot on the arc so that the road immediately became narrow, and in my head a thoughts thought: just not to miss!. A little later we will find a common language, let's start to understand each other with a half-clow, but the panibrates will not forgive this car anyway.

Troubleshooting, I remember about the adjustable blocking of the central differential (the interclauses are also available, but they have factory settings). It turns out that turning on manual control, you can easily facilitate my life, adjusting the explosive nature of the car. With a completely blocked center, the car becomes more straightforward, partly similar to Lancer. Having received freedom, Subaru is clearly more accurate in turn, but is less stable in managing side sliding.
The impregnation of a confident lancer starts, allowing it to be honestly throw a clutch and immediately, without tricks to get the most intensive acceleration. Completed transmission gear ratios and cut-off at lower revs (7000) lead to the fact that the driver is already almost on the first kilometer, it turns through all six steps of the box. Then he simply expects when the car reaches the maximum speed, which is as much as 10 km / h below than the Lancer. Oh, no wonder the creators of the latter carefully engaged in aerodynamics!

Eternal Boy

Their rivalry does not take. As in the races, then one, then the other breaks into the leaders, in the tales of the taking aversion, kilometers, points. The latter, for sure, would have changed a little on other roads, with other weather, on other tires. Yes, and depending on habits, priorities, training drivers. On the asphalt Subaru Imprem Sti is tougher, more aggressive, it is more aggressive to manage it. However, this does not mean that Lancer Evolution IX is less expressive. He is righter, more dynamic, although in it and a little less rally anger. And in general, both cars are worthy graduates of the highest automotive schools. Therefore, the sympathies of experts were quenched fifty-fifty. And only a little bit differently ...
Sergey Voskresensky: the fight of cult cars made reconsider established stereotypes. It turns out that the famous Lancer Evolution, though very fast, but more peaceful than it seemed before, a more civil and practical car. He gave way two tenths in his interesting and hard opponent.

Lancer Evolution IX Saving a racing, explosive, unbridled character, managed to get closer and clearer to the usual driver.
Total rating of 7.9
+ Impressive accelerating dynamics, designed for everyday drive handling and smoothness, comfortable seat.
- noisy engine, not very expressive behavior on the road in combat modes.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a powerful, hard, proximity car fully allows you to satisfy the driver's ambitions.
Total rating of 8.1
+ Flexible, temperamental engine, well-balanced driving features, good workplace ergonomics.
- Hard for the daily driving of the suspension, the mediocre clarity of the switching box.