Subaru WRX STI – Thom Blackett’s Driving Impressions:
Even though the design would look more appropriate in a high school parking lot than slotted next to the CEO’s Mercedes, this little rocket is best kept in the hands of mature, knowledgeable drivers. Why? Because it’s so darn fun to drive wickedly fast in areas where signs caution of narrow twisty roads and urge drivers to slow considerably. Problem is, flinging the STI through a batch of twisties at high speeds can feel as safe as driving a Buick down the highway at 65 mph. On a remote road in the mountains above Malibu, I was able to search out the limits of the STI with countless sweepers and tight turns, gaining more appreciation for the steering’s excellent feedback, the almost nonexistent body roll accented by just a touch of oversteer, and the Bridgestone Potenza tires’ outstanding grip. As the run progressed, I felt increasingly comfortable tacking on a few extra mph’s through each turn. It became clear that the STI could take whatever I threw at it – my skills would likely find their limits much sooner.

What stole some thunder from the experience, other than the CHP officer who flagged me down halfway through the run (no, not for my driving – there was a disabled vehicle on the other side of a blind corner), was steering that felt a bit too light at high speeds and the tradeoff for that stellar handling, namely a stiff ride that carried every ridge of every pothole to the driver’s backside. The brakes were touchy, yet extremely responsive even after the lengthy, spirited downhill stint. But most disappointing was the transmission. Accented by a titanium shift knob that was part of our tester’s Performance Group package, the six-speed manual gearbox looked like it might provide some serious fun, though in reality the tranny felt notchy and made mistaking fifth for third and sixth for fourth a little too easy.

Subaru WRX STI – Christian Wardlaw’s Driving Impressions:
Just when I thought the 2006 Subaru WRX STI couldn’t possibly get any more capable, I bent the car into an unfamiliar hairpin marked by a giant yellow diamond sign recommending a speed of 10 mph. The corner was blind, a cliff and guardrail on the left with a rock wall on the right, and it turned out to be a decreasing radius turn. I was doing at least triple the recommended speed, and as the road tucked in toward the right, I twisted the STI’s steering wheel to similar degree. The sticky Bridgestone Potenzas dug in without complaint, the car rotated upon its axis with the grace of a figure skater, and delivered a thrilling hint of power-on oversteer as I exited the turn and rocketed down the next straight. After that, I liked the STI plenty, despite a few misgivings.

My complaints about the Subaru, however capable and confidence-inspiring the car might be, include a clutch that is too soft, and brakes that didn’t produce the kind of bite I expected on a different but equally harrowing occasion. A car like this, with a gearbox as tight as this, deserves a clutch that engages decisively. Maybe I needed more seat time, but I found myself slipping the clutch too much and botching my launch or letting it out too early and bogging the engine. Approaching a tight series of S curves on an off-camber bend, the brakes didn’t slow the WRX down as expected, leading to a cheek puckering entry into the first turn. Finally, it’s very easy to hit the rev limiter in first and second gears, frustrating because the engine feels like it can pull for a least another grand before it’s time to shift.

Despite these concerns, the Subaru WRX STI is undeniable fun, a real thrill ride, one with incredible handling and performance. Always eager and willing to play, the STI will endanger your driver’s license if you exercise little self restraint. It’s been two years since I’ve driven a Mitsubishi Evolution, a car that has seen its share of tweaks and upgrades before a complete redesign arrives for 2007 or 2008, so it would be unfair to make any attempt at comparing it with the STI except to say that I prefer the Mitsubishi’s styling, seat comfort, and control layout. However, in terms of driving, the STI equals my hazy memory of what the Evolution delivered – a race-ready rally car for the street sensation.

Subaru WRX STI – Ron Perry’s Driving Impressions:
After experiencing the Subaru WRX STI from both the driver and passenger seats, it’s everything I thought it would be. The engine pulls hard at all revs, propelling you quickly into corners while the AWD provides cat-like grip to maintain high entry and exit speeds on corners. Brakes and steering are tuned to give maximum feedback and the tight, short throws for the six-speed manual transmission are a joy to navigate but harmonizing the clutch and transmission to get smooth shifts takes some practice. The gearbox is definitely one of the best I’ve experienced in a while. The ride is harsh, but that’s expected in a purpose-built car like the STI and I feel the tire noise intrusion into the cabin is excessive.