Subaru WRX STI – Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the Design:
Being a car reviewer definitely has its share of perks, like getting a free car to drive and evaluate for a week or more, and the ability to let your own ride sit quietly as the miles rack up on another’s odometer. Except for instances when test cars are unavailable, there really is no reason to crank up your personal auto. That being said, I chose to leave the STI at the office for the weekend, opting instead for the relative obscurity of my Mustang. Making this decision especially interesting is the fact that I’ve jumped at the chance to house red Corvettes, silver Minis, and yellow SSRs in the past, and to top it off, I’m not all that fond of my ‘Stang.

Granted, the STI’s powertrain and handling could be exploited all weekend without eliciting a hint of boredom, but that would require wrangling through L.A.’s nightmarish traffic to reach some open roads. And that would mean being seen in the Subie, in all of its gold-wheeled, aero-kitted, hood-scooped, and outlandishly large rear-winged glory. This thing demands attention, but I dare say it’s not for its exquisite looks, so under-the-radar type drivers or shoppers looking for a sleeper need not apply.

Subaru WRX STI – Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the Design:
As fun as this car is to flog, I greatly disliked being seen in it. The snarky new front styling, the STI graphics, the gold wheels, the rear wing – it’s all too much for a guy approaching 40. But next year, my fellow Oldie Oldersons, Subaru is bringing a Limited version of the WRX STI to market. This model gets silver wheels, a lip spoiler on the back, and a toned-down appearance. You might still feel like you’re suffering a mid-life crisis, but at least your car won’t be screaming about it to every onlooker and passer-by. Inside, the design is fine. I liked the bright orange gauge cluster, but it didn’t match well with the light green lighting for the remaining controls. Silver trim and blue inserts for the seats and door panels keep monotony at bay, and while most controls are properly located and well marked, I disliked the ratcheting tuning knob for the stereo.

Subaru WRX STI – Ron Perry’s Opinion of the Design:
Where do I start? The Subaru WRX STI’s design will go out of style as quickly as it can accelerate under full throttle. The oversized street racer wing, along with the smaller one that resides higher on the rear glass, need to go in favor of something subtler if Subaru wants to attract older buyers. Also in need of a makeover are the gaudy gold wheels that clash with the boisterous blue paint, and do we really need fifteen STI emblems pasted all over the car? Seriously, one or two would suffice. The rally style functional hood scoop I can live with but I would need a trunk release button on the key fob since opening the trunk with the key before unlocking the doors sets off the alarm. Inside, a subtler color scheme would be appreciated for more mature drivers that love the performance but don’t want the flash. I’ll wait for next year’s Limited model.