Subaru Will Regret This...
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
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Happy Driving!
NO mention of American Rally OR Launch Control? Subarus PERFECT SEASON first in 30 years? Cmon Albon..
I found out about Piloti through a Drivers club magazine, Seriously nice shoes.
The shift shoes are legit
ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE A CVT STI
THEY BAT SHIT CRAZY
I know people will say well they are well they arnt they are calling it a sti but as we all no badges dont mean shit
RIP amazing cars. Everyday it feels like cars are getting ever more boring. As a 2000s kid, it feels like a nightmare being an adult, not being able to buy the car he loved seeing as a child.
Well the 90s and 2000s versions exist still. Just not the modern versions of the same cars.
@@extragoogleaccount6061 Problem is: those 90s and 2000s cars are 20-30 years old now, getting ludicrously expensive and hard to maintain.
Should look into a series called Launch Control.
Im selling my Focus RS, bought an nd miata, tuned it to 210hp, slapped a short abarth diff, and Im back with interesting lightweight car again;]
This is why you get the old cars and rebuild them. I've got three and I'll die before they do.
It's not just subaru, all the brands nowadays make suv/ev slop rather than cool, inspiring cars
the JDM or the sports that we grew with NSF or any hollywood related car dissapeared cuz emissions and the demand of the market, people still don't know why the SUV became popular... but well if they can offer a SUV capable and cool, they will buy it, if they keep selling sports car thinking their 100% are car enthusiast they are making a BIG mistake such as Chrysler. Subaru Wilderness is the new peak of fun on off-road market, and since the US people are more gen Z millenial gluten free, Subaru is hitting hard and effectively with those suvs and we can see it in the charts, sad that they are not making more sporty cars? maybe... but that WRX Ts is very capable even with CVT
@@PKCeltic21 you missed the point..
It's about them putting an STI badge on a car that isn't oriented to enthusiasts like they should have. They probably thought that since they kept making STI for this long, they might as well do a new one, but this is a poor attempt to boost interest in a new sti. Because previous sti model is the one, I and many other people would rather buy. It's a LOT better looking, it has a manual and it has a more advanced AWD system. The new sti makes no sense. It doesn't matter what they did to make a cvt feel better, you want to have a manual in this type of sports car.
S209 had 341hp while the s210 has barely 300.
The front headlights are too squinty, in the back the "diffuser" part is ridiculously too big, looks like cheap plastic without any purpose and just makes it too tall looking. Interior is also trash, with suv like tablets just slapped onto it. Compared to previous sti, it makes it seem like they lost any pride and passion with the sti model and it was like a side project to them. Buttons also feel cheap and low quality, lots of gloss plastic everywhere. It's like they did it because of a tradition and they are done making ICE cars, so they created something and called an sti.
@@PKCeltic21 how do suvs are capable or even "COOL"?!?!?
Any wagon/estate does a better job at being practical and utilitarian. They usually get stuck once they get on grass even. They don't have enough head room. They need cameras just so they could see, if you will hit your front or not. Also a threat to pedestrians. They take more space and have worse mpg.
Now idk where do you get cool from. But unless you are a soccer mom, suvs are lame. How many kids told their dads that they want an electric suv that looks like an alien blob. There is a saying even: "if you buy an suv, you overcompensating for smth"
You missed out on details like Subaru's massive comeback during the second half of 1999, the very quick and innovative, while unreliable 2000 Impreza and Richard Burns won the 2001 World Rally Championship. I think too many videos always failed to mention Richard Burns, who honestly deserves better tbh.
Also, Colin McRae got his first WRC victory in the Subary Legacy on the 1993 Rally of New Zealand.
Another thing about the 1999-2003 seasons, there were a lot of manufacturers and drivers who were also very competitive, Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Peugeot and Citroen. As for the drivers, there were Carlos Sainz, Colin McRae, Marcus Gronholm, Markko Martin, Richard Burns, Petter Solberg, Juha Kankkunen, Tommi Makinen, Sebastien Loeb and so many more drivers. WRC was very competitive at the time and Subaru still managed to be placed high in the drivers and manufacterer's championships between 1994-2005.
The Impreza also won 46 rallies between 1994-2005 and it's tied with the most amount of victories with the Lancia Delta.
In the UK, Subaru was very popular for having two homegrown WRC Champions who are still the only British World Rally Champions. Colin McRae and Richard Burns were household names and were talked about in school playgrounds during the 1990s and 2000s. Today, both drivers are still remembered and helped Subaru become one of the most iconic manufacturers.
Don't forget Possum Bourne
@@maykay.jaykayman9647 Very true, he helped put Subaru on the map during the 1980s and he got Subaru their first WRC podium during the 1987 New Zealand Rally.
Possum also won the 1993 Asia/Paciifc Rally Championship in the work's Subaru Legacy.
He stuck with Subaru for his entire career, he was a legend who deserves a tonne of credit.
RIP Possum
Yeah, as a huge WRC fan who grew up watching highlight reels of Subarus battle against all the brands you mentioned, the number of oversights and inaccuracies in Albon's summary of their WRC endeavors was really disappointing. At least for me, you just kind of assume these guys know what they are talking about and did adequate research for their videos... until they talk about a topic you actually have knowledge on, then you realize everyone just presents whatever narrative they think would suit them best. Has happened to me a dozen or more times now with channels I really dug and respected but it is still just as disappointing every time. Not mentioning Burns' WRC title with them just felt sacrilegious, fr.
Furthermore, as you rightly pointed out, the Impreza is the 2nd most successful rally car of all time. If I knew nothing about the sport, I reckon the impression I would get from this video was that Subaru had a prodigious rise and quickly fizzled out, consistently struggling to match their peaks with decreasing returns year after year, and that couldn't be farther from the truth. Except for 06-08, maybe lmao.
@@tylercampbell2362 The last season I consider Subaru to be a strong team is 2004. Petter won 5 rallies (6 if it wasn't for the penalty during Rally Mexico) and Mikko Hirvonen was still inexperienced at the time and wasn't a consistent point scorer. (This was before he became very competitive with Ford).
Richard Burns was originally going to be Petter's teammate, sadly it was never meant to be.
In my opinion, I think Burns could have potentially won the 2004 season and maybe helped Subaru get 1st or 2nd in the manufacturers.
As for 2005, even though the season didn't go very well, there were a few wins taken away from bad luck like the rock from Japan and the Kangaroo during Rally Australia.
2006 and 2007 was a disaster and those regulations never suited the car. Funny enough on eWRC, the 2006 and 2007 cars ended up being one of the most successful Impreza's outside of the WRC. Robert Kubica also won a rally with the car.
Colin McRae's passing was another tragic event and like Burns, Colin was intended to rejoin Subaru with Richard Burns' co-driver Robert Reid in the 2008 season.
As for 2008, Chris Atkinson briefly was challenging for the 2008 championship with consistent points with the 2007 car prior to the 2008 car's debut during the Acropolis Rally.
The last thing that was intended to happen was the 2000 and 2002 WRC champion Marcus Gronholm were in talks to join Subaru with Petter Solberg for the 2009 season, but the housing crisis happened and the deal never went through. He did drive a privateer Impreza run by Prodrive during one of the rallies during the 2009 season.
Subaru's downfall was a change of leadership in the team, regulation changes and the car was beginning to show it's age from 2005 onward.
@@rosegraham5283 Wowzers!
A true historian. I love reading comments like these. Thankfully we have people that assist in correcting others oversights.
challenge of the year: find a popular car that albon's brothers didn't own
Volkswagen Saveiro
Is that a win?
Volvo S60R?
Dacia Logan
@ epic
Renault kiger
Toyota was not cheating in 1994. The rules that Toyota broke were introduced in 1995.
Much like Mitsubishi did when we watched them collapse into pure shit, Subaru has been taking a steady walk to the grave. Even the most recent STI's are reminiscent of the Evo9, just the worst and final send off to their best car to make way for grocery getters. Unfortunately the vast majority of consumers are empty headed commuters whose only contributing demand for a car is how many texts you can send before you drift into oncoming traffic
Nah even the Evo 10 was better than this shit
Subaru is still widely loved for there AWD Forrester and Outback. Those Crossteks are selling like mad too so they'll probably be fine. People swear by them in places with mountains and cold weather.
it's such a tragedy. I swear every time I check my rear view mirror, the person behind me is on their phone! I honestly believe that laziness will kill cool cars 😔
just the enthusiast market are talking shit about the brand, Subaru is doing great and charts can confirm that is outselling Toyota's and Lexus, Mitsubishi only have L200 as the only capable truck and the rest of the line are pure shit, not for Subaru, their AWD standard for all models and Eyesight made them the best brand for the Japan industry RN, Subaru is not only the WRX STi, nor manual trans, the Wilderness option is now their market, if you can't deal with it well keep purchasing blown subarus from those "enthusiast idiots" who only buy car to not properly tune and later on blame the brand for their idioticy, im a fan of WRX but lets be real, rn most of the people who blame Subaru for their "decadence" are only crybabys.
@@PKCeltic21 It's certainly not outselling Toyota, even here in Canada, we also don't get the L200 here
I can't believe it, Impreza is the reason why I into cars, The WRX STi will always best car I ever know, especially in some racing game, especially in rally
I'm still looking for a clean Hawk Eye sedan!!
@@albonfilms "Flying Vag" grille by ex-Alfa designers, too ?
The WRX STI understeer like a FWD pig, and has a playschool plastic interior
@@NoNoseFlappy69well then you better drive it good
The Sti has been doing nothing but winning American Rally for decades. Even completed the first PERFECT rally season in 30 years. WRC rule games were stale. Despite subarus failures its still the most "winning" team in WRC... That should tell you something.
Subaru and Mazda have had a really similar trajectory. Did well with racing in the 80s and 90s, had a car that spoke to women/hairdressers, then slowly turned into an suv manufacturer with a single enthusiast car who is now being supported by Toyota.
The WRX STI died because it lost it's competitive rival, The Mitsubishi Evo. Once the legendary rally rivalry of the 90s and Tuner Scene from the 2000s faded as the STI lost it's competitive spirit always rivaling against Mitsubishi Evo. I think it's time the Impreza to rest in peace and join the Evo.
Or create a new challenger to mock Subaru and force them to come back
and now with the GR Corolla and Yaris, they have competition, but it's with a company that owns a ton of their shares, so they're heavily discouraged from trying to compete.
@@s4dg Subaru was said to come back this year but without competition it doesn't make much sense
The Sti has been doing nothing but winning American Rally for decades. Even completed the first PERFECT rally season in 30 years. WRC rule games were stale. Despite subarus failures its still the most "winning" team in WRC... That should tell you something.
@@crisnmaryfam7344 They were never the most winning, Lancia hasn't been taken off their perch yet, though Toyota is getting close.
The 22b is such a gorgeous car
Owning my first Subaru. As a straight dude, I’m 100% a lesbian in my wrx
It’s not just because Subaru doesn’t care about enthusiasm anymore, but also competition with Mitsubishi at the time when the Evo was still around. Since the Evo has been gone nearly 10 years, Subaru doesn’t have to make anything that is related to what real enthusiasts want from them. As long they’re making money from selling their most popular car, they don’t really care anymore which is really sad honestly. I bet you there be that one person who works at Subaru and looks back to the glory days of WRC and they say to themselves, “I missed those days where everything used to be cool like the WRX STi. I’d wish we go back making cool cars again.”
There’s still potential, they’d have to switch to competing with the gr yaris or the hyundai i30 though, that’s the closest we’ll have to an evo level competitor for a while
One rival has fallen but new ones arise. The gr yaris, gr corolla, type r, and elantra n are the top of the segment. There is no reason for Subaru to not be competitive and they already have years of development and reputations built up for themselves
Should look into a series called Launch Control.
@@jaits7 Should look into a series called Launch Control.
@@crisnmaryfam7344 I am familiar with the series but I'm talking about production cars that us consumers can buy. A regular WRX isn't competitive enough nor is in the same segment as a type r or a gr product as to if it was a real sti
I feel bad for Subaru even though I'm not interested but I saw many Japanese carmakers such as Nissan and Honda and most of car companies are crumbling and some of them are still have a soul and most of them are gone due to the electronic cars
As for Subaru fans, you would be missed those jumping Subaru, blue Subaru and your favorite 1990s and 2000s Colin McRae and after new WRX, it was gone like dust
Should look into a series called Launch Control.
and subarus recent "perfect season"
Almost all car manufacturers are crumbling, Toyota and Hyundai are the only ones really doing anything
"NOOOOOO THEY KILLED THE ICON!!!" Cried the mofo with is 20y old car who is no way in hell "stupid enough" to buy a brand new car from a dealer.
Also the dealers: You vill pay the 25k markup and you vill like it
It’s not the consumer’s fault that manufacturers put out worse cars for higher prices than most can reasonably afford, BEFORE the dealerships tack on further mark up.
@@Yedaboys69 "Worse cars" yea right bud...
@@Yedaboys69 that worse car is kicking ass to every brand car sold in the US by a fair % lol.... even Toyota and Lexus are losing to Subaru so... yeah "worse cars"
I know it is far from an STI but I just picked up a Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness for my wife and this has been my first exposure to AWD. Its only been winter driven since it's brand new but it shreds. It is so easy to powerslide in the snow. I can't even imagine how awesome a WRX STI would feel with a nice intake/exhaust and of course 6MT...
It's a blast! You can look at an auction if you have the skills and time to buy and fix one.
This video conveniently overlooks Subaru's ARA and rallycross programs with Vermont SportsCar. While it hasn't seen that close of competition in ARA outside of a few years where Block and McKenna brought full WRC spec cars, they've had a good presence in the US rally scene.
Vermont Sportscar has been making some serious beasts with the VA and VB platform cars, I got to visit the shop when I was on vacation a few years ago and it was so awesome to see the cars up close
"... the car that built Subaru's entire legacy" * *shows a Subaru rolling over* *
Nearly one year as an owner of a 2017 WRX (my first Subie), and even though it's a bit rough around the edges - both my wife and I love this little monster. Finding constant excuses for roadtrips :) Hope I'll be able to keep this beast for a very long time, expecialy considering the direction they are going...
Yeah, my dad has the 2016 WRX and 2020 STI now he's saying he won't sell them.
Solid watch man, thanks for the story. I am in the process of rebuild a 2005 STI tip to butt. Will be posting videos on my other channel One Mans Adventure.
as great as manuals are, the Subaru CVT isn't as bad as people portrait. it's probably the best CVT on the market. and I don't think it's gonna be the end for STi forever. the car market is in a weird spot rn but you can see from many brands that sports focus is coming back. just like how there wasn't gonna be another Nissan GTR, there will be another STi
The only thing modern consumers care about these days are the price tag & luxury badge. The only passion that is left is filing the office reports on time.
If engine is loud & vehicle too masculine, it's bad & must be nerfed.
It's a sad time for Car Lovers.
almost every pony.muscle and sport car is dissapearing, at least Subaru have the WRX Ts and the BRZ, Nissan only the 400z, Honda Type R, Toyota Yaris GR and GT86, and the people still complaning about "we need more enthusiast cars" dude... you are NOT their market anymore they still selling those cars cuz they can, not because they need it
It still amazes me that nobody talks about how Toyota is the major share holder and how Subaru kills off the STI and oh look Toyota has a 300hp manual AWD car. Toyota is killing Subaru
Exactly what I was thinking!! Not a coincidence
Thank you, lesbians, from 90s for keeping Subaru alive
Subaru was supporting the Lesbian community waaaaaay before it became trendy lol
They have no direct competition in rally anymore without that theres no passion in developing the wrx maybe we’ll see a change with sedans returning to rally
The writing was on the wall over a decade ago when the EVO X marked its Final Edition in 2015. Japanese automaker has reached their limit in their automotive sphere: regulations and cost. There was also a shift in market shares with sedans to SUV.
WRX is not a volume seller, but Subaru kept it because they could afford to, and did it for their enthusiasts. They can no longer afford a STI variant. Development of new technology has hit its limits. Subaru's boxer platform has reached it's performance limit (while reaching emission regulations). EV was the concept, but that's not looking feasible for now.
A hybrid might be an option, but that requires the cost a a platform that can use their boxer engine, E-AWD (I doubt they would keep a symmetrical AWD with a hybrid drivetrain), and a hybrid component for performance and efficiency for emission targets. Money, money. Plus, the current WRX was designed to meet performance demands for the current generation.
The announced Subaru S210 STI is just because Subaru wanted to keep its lineage for their own sake. Subaru's presence in the racing and icon world has diminished, so an STI version doesn't justify development cost, as well as performance limitations as I mentioned earlier.
Will the STI return in some hybrid or EV? Yes, likely. Will it be this generation? Nope. Will it be priced outside the average buyer's price bracket by the time it releases? Very likely. Will most Subaru enthusiast buy it? No, because they would be too busy commenting on the internet in 2035 how Subaru lost their way, again.
the enthusiast keep crying and blaming the car companies, but they need to blame the idiots with those regulations, they are the main reason sports car industry is almost dead and the SUV, 3 cil turbo engines with CVT are almost mandatory (and im a fan of CVT for comfy driving but also manual trans to feel some adrenaline)
@@PKCeltic21 Regulation is the killer of high-performance cars. Toyota offsets this by selling enough hybrid models to offset their global emission output to allow them to keep cars like the Supra, GR86, and GR Corolla around.
Other Japanese manufacturers can't keep up. Honda may have their chance in the next decade if their hybrid vehicles can clear a path for them. Mazda is Mazda.
As enthusiasts, we also have to change our definition and reality of affordable sports car, and high performance cars. You can't have 400hp in a $30,000 car, that's not how logistics work. The world is moving towards carbon neutral. What's the most fun we can get out of EV or hybrid vehicles? Available power. What's is the achilleas heel? Weight. What is the current solution to the weight issue? Solid-state batteries.
Technology is getting nearer to that moment, and it won't be long before enthusiasts can enjoy a lighter, EV and hybrid sports car.
I have a modified 2002 WRX. A highly modified 2009 Forester X 2.5 and a 2006 stock Forester automatic for the winter. This summer the 2009 Forester is getting a STi 6speed trans, hubs, axles, brakes, rotors and R180 rear diff. Next summer a EZ30 swap. These cars are so easy to work on. If Subaru won't build it. Build it yourself.
Damn straight! Your collection sounds a little like mine lol. My wife drives either our 2009 Tribeca or our 2014 Outback 3.6R Limited. I daily a manual 2008 Outback 2.5 XT Limited, and I'm adding an imported white version 3 Impreza WRX STi RA. I built a US-spec '95 Impreza years ago, but it was no WRX, and it was certainly no STi lol.
Subaru is where my heart and soul are. Subies are part of the family. I love 'em. My wife loves 'em. My nieces and nephews LOVE going for rides in the "Draggin' Wagon" which we have come to affectionately call "Earl Grey."
Cheers 🍻
I think that subaru did also managed to streamline the process for maintenance too . I have a mechanic friend that works at a subaru dealership and he told me that they streamlined the allignment of all the car so much that instead of doing it in 1h ( if I recal correctly) as deemed by corporate, they are able to do it in 30 minutes. This is why the brz have the different rear subframe : it allow them to not break the flow of mechanics.
All mechanics should be able to do an alignment in 30 mins if everything goes well, on any vehicle.
@Treaxvour You have never been to the rust belt, have you ? After a few years EVERY cam bolt seizes, half the bolts snap off.
@ As a canadian , I can confirm lol
Those ads were clever
2nd gen leagcy owner here, na ej25 5speed its such a blast! i don't see myself getting away from the old subies any time soon
Got both 2nd and 3rd gen manual wagons. Love both of them. The 2nd gen is gutted out with a bigger high compression engine and absolutely rips. The 3rd gen is lifted with ATs and goes over pretty much anything.
What a great documentary on Subaru's history. I'm a former jdm golden era ('90s-mid '00s) Honda/Toyota owner and I'm now my 3rd Subie. I really want to keep loving the brand, they really used to make awesome fun ugly cars that you'd love so much after driving them and would not want to get rid of them. It was very sad to see the STi get cancelled and I really wish they'd bring back the Forester XT too. But sadly Subaru seems to have forgotten its fans and except for the WRX, now they build nothing but boring, bland cars. If they don't bring back the STi/Forester XT and now with the Legacy being phased out, this may be my last Subie vehicle. This was a great video.
I have driven several WRX models.
I don’t understand why the VB gets hated on. It’s a fun car to drive. Plus that 2.4 turbo flat 4 makes plenty of street-able power. 🎉🎉🎉
I’d like to know people’s reasons, thank you.
It’s purely an ugly vehicle, no individualism, I don’t like the interior dash.
As for performance, it’s felt good. Nice drive. I test drove a 2023 and a 21 STI… both were stock… sti felt faster but not as refined. I got the STI instead of the VB
is it worth it to buy a 2016 wrx sti now in 2025 ? I found a stage 2 with around 35k mile .....
@@MohammeddAlanazi I’d get 2018+ the STI had faulty rod barrings from 2012-2017. Anything from 08-2017, id want a rebuilt engine and that’s a whole different topic
@@victoriousf Can only say, “Good choice!”
The STI is always going to be a better buy. Especially when you go to sell it.
What are your plans for the car?
@@MohammeddAlanazi
Are you someone that will only purchase the STI versions?
I always find myself getting lost in your videos with all the cool history and knowledge you bestow upon us. Amazing vid albon 🤘🏽💯🔥
lmao, so far for subaru saying there will never be an automatic STi ever just a couple years ago
We need a new iron block EVO to cone back to the USA and that will re ignite the urologist approved STI 😂
Not a fan of Mitsubishi, but if that's what it takes, so be it.
@13:26 OMG a thousand thumbs up for accuracy, pointing out the DCCD is variable lock up and not variable torque split!! So many people miss that
Sorry my American friends but the real successor to the STI and Toyota Celica is the Toyota GR Yaris now onto its second version and 6th year of production. Short wheelbase 3 door that looks like their highly successful WRC car since 2018 I think. Toyota have carried some of the GR Yaris features into the GR Corolla but it isn’t as light and nimble.
The GRY and GRC are absolute weapons. If my GTI blows up tomorrow, I'd happily replace it with a GRC.
I wish we got the GRY here in the states though.
All these people crying about the STI being gone most probably never had one and are sad they'll never own a new one. There will be a replacement coming, just hold your horses and chill out and be patient.
I wanted an STI from watching Pastrana (I’m too young to have watched McCrae) but now that I finally have a job that pays enough for one, it doesn’t exist for me to buy it 😢
the bugeye imprza did come in an STI. theyre just quite a rarity to find :)
Hey that was my Forester Xt doing the launch! What a surprise!
In NZ we had/have the Japanese DM imports. WRX's, STi's, Legacy RS and GT, Evos. I've seen many a pocket rocket launch from the lights. Even owned 5 turbo and twin turbo Subaru's myself!
Really great video. Loved the detailed history. I owned a ‘13 WRX and now a pro-tuned ‘23 WRX. Totally agree with their fumble on the CVT S210
My parents had two generations of the Subaru Leone, my dad really dug them. First car we had with air-conditioning and electric windows. Fancy. I love the connection to my Toyota 86.
i have a 2004 Subaru Legacy 3.0R sedan in black with 245hp and i LOVE IT it has the famous ez3o engine subaru's 6 zylinder Boxer wich is awesome
I get where you’re coming from on all this from an enthusiast viewpoint, and I can see it happening to you. You’re going to get old like me one day and be talking about “back in my day”….I mean you’re doing it now. But the day is coming for you and it’s coming soon, that you are going to want a reliable “appliance” to drive that doesn’t break the bank, and that’s because of wife-kids-house-job will take priority over shiny go fast thing.
I’m old as dirt now, but I’m still kind of an enthusiast and really like both my Crosstrek and Forester even with the boring CVT. I live on a snowy mountain 3 miles from the pavement, 25 miles from town, and these cars get me, the wife, the dogs and our stuff, to and from civilization with minimal maintenance, good mileage and excellent traction. 95% of the time the Subaru is better than driving a Truck or SUV, and to me that’s pretty cool.
The Impreza platform is too low to the ground, leaving it susceptible to potholes and ruts in the summer and not enough underbody snow clearance in the winter. It would be cool if they put one of those turbo engines in the Crosstrek though, but the mileage would suffer. I think they did a good job on balancing the power and mileage with the FA 25.
They killed it when they split the sti and the wrx
FYI Japan doesn't buy manuals. S210 is Japan ONLY.
STi Subaru - 😍
STI Disease - 💀☠
I don't know how many times this has to happen for car manufacturers to take note. Underdog starts racing > fails initially but lessons learned identifies places where the company is weak > keeps pushing until they start winning > lessons learned trickles down into all products > gets the cream of the crop of engineers for hiring > builds credibility > enthusiasts take note > friends and family who don't care about racing catch up 10 years later and start buying, because the product is legitimately great. After a couple more generations of record profits, management goes "I don't know why we're spending all this money on racing or a halo car that doesn't sell a lot of units" which is the cue for the greybeards to retire and the new hires to find a different company to work at. Company has record profits for a few more product generation, but as quality falls, customers go away and suits are left wondering "where did we go wrong?" Bottom line is you always have to be testing, pushing the limit, and there's a 10-20 year time constant for decisions to become apparent.
I love my 12 year old Legacy, never had an issue. Convinced my Dad and Sister to get Forresters. Would probably get another myself but corporate are miserable. Dad's piston rings blew, a known problem with that model, even had a class action suit about it, but head office wouldn't honour it to cover the repair costs. I'm done with them since. Dont know when I'll get a new car, but it wont be a Suby.
Holy fuck, a video that isn't about a rusty RX-7, amazing to have you back!
So Subaru realized (after ~ 40 years) that their first recipe was the correct/selling one... quirky weird utility vehicled that just work in most scenarios. Owning 2 Subarus, i can safely say that my 2009 Justy (as the name says) is just perfect (although it's just a rebranded daihatsu sirion, but subaru would be capable to build new small sized justyies by themselves if they wanted). It's got great fuel economy, it's small for easy parking, has a pretty big interior for what it is and overall really reliable, has cost us waaaaaay less to own than our 2004 Forester XT, that i had to basically completely rebuild, but it's still a fun car with the AWD and turbo Ej205 engine.
Anyway, really nice video and overlook on the whole history of our beloved starred company. Thank you!
Unfortunately so many car manufactures have fallen this way. I'm the Proud owner of a 2007 Volvo S60R 6spd Manuel, and Volvo has moved so far away from this car it's not even funny. I will say, at least, their new V60 R-Design has a nice 8 spd automatic and they have NOT moved to CVT's. Infact, their Hybrids don't use CVT"s which I actually found confusing, but was very happy about that after driving one.
I bought my wife a 2019 XC90T8 Hybrid, and it had an 8 spd automatic still. Which was great because you would still get that nice shift thunk at high throttle and you could feel what the car was doing.
I think a good transmission honestly makes more difference in car feel than almost any other part of the car. It's what transfers the power to the wheels afterall. the wrong transmission will make any car feel yucky.
I have driven a few rental cars with CVT"s and they just feel GROSS to me. there is no feel to them at all and you can't really tell how fast you are going by feel alone. I Get that it keeps the engine at peak power and torque, but it's so boring. it feels wrong with what I grew up with and being a car enthusiast.
Not to mention CVT's WILL break and need maintenance much more frequently than a traditional automatic.
I at least want like a DCT or Automatic with a locking torque converter. I want to at least feel the car. you know?
For now it looks like it's mostly a Japanese car thing where they are going all out on CVT's. I hope it doesn't permeate to more european companies.
(Note: I do have something very hopeful and positive to say at the bottom of this.) As someone who has owned a Hawkeye STi since 2008, which was converted into a full-fledged competition-only monster in 2014--I do not exaggerate when I call it that; if you want specs, I can provide them, and onboard videos are on my own RUclips channel--(as well as a 2.5RS coupe since 2012 or so), I think it's fair to say that multiple critical things conspired to kill off the iconic badge:
- The loss of one critical that pushed the STi to get better and better: The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Of course, this could be argued to be irrelevant because the area where the two were true rivals was in WRC--which by then both had left--but the marque was also the market rival in the USA. It didn't help that the Evo gained a shite-ton of weight in its final X generation (even as it *finally* maxed out its tech tree in the USA for the first time in terms of fancy differentials and gearbox and the like), making it so that Subaru was able to not-insignificantly rest on its laurels in terms of performance without really losing out to said rival, but... Still.
- The fact that Subaru was unwilling to move past the EJ engine family for the STi model (confirmed to be in part because they did not want to lose the iconic boxer "rumble"). This engine was good when it was first introduced, but simply lost the ability to evolve to keep up with emissions regulations. This engine's production limitations--without significant investment into revisions and upgraded internal components that Subaru was simply unwilling to make--caused the STi to simply lose out in terms of power output versus its market competitors (which were now things like the Audi TT-RS and Mercedes GLA 45, which were packing a minimum of 350 horsepower). Yes, said competition was more expensive, but the fact that they were producing more power than the Subaru with the same or smaller displacement meant that the Subaru was now looking like it was falling behind, technologically, even as the STi continued to rise in price (which, to be fair to the STi, was pretty much inline with inflation at the time--but that never really enters into the minds of the consumers, so it will *always* look like you're paying more for the same, when in reality, adjusted for inflation, you're paying roughly the same for a slightly more refined version of "the same").
- Additionally, worse for the entire lineup, the fact that they stuck with the EJ engine for the STi means that Subaru literally couldn't risk the WRX making more power with the newer, more efficient FA turbo engine in the WRX. This means that the FA engine was automatically given a (pardon the pun) evolutionary dead end of 270 horsepower or so--at least while the STi was still around, which was for many, MANY years. Yes, eventually the FA engine was given a 2.4-liter variant with a broader power band, but it still never met the same power output as the STi model, even as the STi model was being retired from production. (Seriously, the potential of the FA24-turbo engine is
- The introduction of a six-speed manual gearbox in the WRX in 2015--which was a *GOOD* thing for the WRX, to be fair--took away one of the most critical things that ever set apart an STi model from the WRX. Sure, it lacks the DCCD system, but that slowly became more and more of just a marketing tool and had less impact on the actual performance of driveline, as it had by then been reduced in the amount of front/rear power distribution range versus earlier models (the full-lock function is nice, but let's be real: how many drivers actually ever used that when it was appropriate to do so? I'd wager less than 5% of them.)
-----
The biggest shame is that the Subaru WRX--now with the heavier-duty six speed that always made the STi notably heavier than the WRX--is still at around the same weight as the STi was when it was introduced to the USA in 2003 (2004 model year), which is around 3,300-3,400 lbs. This means that Subaru has managed to keep the platform from gaining weight while still meeting safety standards and the like, as well as continually evolving the chassis and even creating a new, more efficient engine family that can fit in it. They have everything that they need to build a properly good modern STi, they just refuse to do it. Imagine if they took the current WRX, give it the last-(real-)gen STi's proper big Brembo Brake package, carefully firm up the suspension to enhance handling without utterly ruining the comfort entirely, reinforce the internals of the 2.4-liter engine and give it a more potent turbocharger to produce 350+ horsepower and have it rev to 7,000+ RPM, give it a flex-fuel system from the factory (maybe even make it so that it produces something like 375 horsepower on E85 from the factory!), give it a minimal *body-color-matched* body kit with widened wheel-arch flares complete with an STi-style "big wing", take advantage of the widened wheel arches to pack some nice 265-wide tires under it, and then finish it off with the premium interior that they're putting in their JDM-only "STi" model. MAYBE even bring the DCCD system back. Price it starting at around $50k USD (posting this at the beginning of 2025, when the video was posted, so inflation caused by events recently set in motion will DESTROY this suggested price in short order, I know), and it would be excellent.
The truth of the matter is that they *could* do it. But *will they?* One can only hope.
I still think the EJ is better than the FA. Perhaps in terms of stock engine and emissions the FA is far superior, but in terms of actual motor potential the EJ is still far superior, which is why the Subaru USA Rally Team Vermont Motorsport built new VB Rally car still uses an EJ (or an "EJ derived engine", they claim it's a Vermont custom but it's def based on the EJ platform). As does that VB "Project Midnight" car they built (they try and hide this fact, and there is even an engine cover to try and hide the engine, but if you look at photos, despite the cover, you can tell it's an EJ). As has the BRZ in GT300 always used an EJ. Similarly, the Prodrive P25 (the most expensive Subaru made / sold to collectors) uses an EJ. All Subaru factory backed motorsport cars have always used an EJ. Subaru has always had the tools to make the EJ insanely good in any new STI if they ever wanted, but they always wanted to make their cars budget price, plus they were focusing on emissions and selling SUV's I suppose. I guess what you said is true, i.e. the FA is the better stock engine and the better engine for driving around town and meeting emissions, and it can get that initial horsepower bump more efficiently with minor mods / adjustments, so you could probably have a small HP bump for the consumer in it more easily and cheaply, but I still think the EJ is the superior engine, especially in terms of peak potential (which at the end of the day isn't really applicable to 99.99999% of consumers, so it makes sense how they're handling it currently, i.e. use the FA in consumer cars, and EJ in motorsport cars).
So happy we got the STI here so we all get to know what a rally legend would look like on cheap tires, crappy wheels and stance driven by 16 year old Billy Bob fast on a straight and not being able to take a corner to save their life!
I'm 60 years old, still have my 2002 WRX bugeye. Yup!
Also had 4 Saabarus.
And I do like the VB, yes I do.
I'm 57, and still have the MY99 WRX I bought brand new just before my 30th birthday.
It’s a shame i got into cars so late in life, the first suby gen i was paying attention to was literally the 2022 one, at that point it was likely a bit too late
buy an old one and restore it, or even buy one already mint. It will have more charm, plus hold value, maybe even appreciate in value (depending on year / model / condition). But if it's a nice specimen car you cannot daily it. It will have to be your 2nd car and for weekends only. You can have some beater econo car as your daily.
GC8 was the iconic rally impreza.
24:40 I can't imagine why WRC wasn't helping them sell cars in 2008, as they hadn't won a manufacturing championship since 1997.
the x in wrx doesn't stand for experimental, it doesnt stand for anything really, its just an undefined mathematical variable meant to represent that you could use the wrx for any purpose.
Looking back those Subi ads make sense now
All Subaru needs to do is put the STI 6 speed, not the weaker 6 speed they currently use, into the VB. Let owners actually take advantage of the new engine without worrying about blowing the transmission.
I own an 09 Altima with the CVT. Upgraded all I could on the motor and looked at putting a turbo on it until I found out that you cannot turbocharged a CVT transmission car. Last call of her own with a CVT that's for dang sure.
22b still my favorite car of all time and I don’t really know why. Quality vid mate
2005 was absolutely peak Subaru. The 2005 Outback looks so much better than all the others.
I daily an 05 STI iv owned many cars this is the one I'm keeping forever
Great video. As a lifelong Subi fan, I could not agree with you more. Subaru has no soul anymore. Their cars, while still looking the part of the quirky, fun to drive, go anywhere vehicle, have no substance beyond that. There's no character, no feel, no feedback... No fun. I traded in my 2022 Outback XT after only a year and a half, for a 2015 Forester (not even an XT, because you can't get them in manual) and I found that thing that was missing. Subaru is just not a driver's car anymore. It's a car for people who spend more time looking at their phones than the road. RIP
Sti is no longer a separate brand because the normal car spec is already forcing the limit the regulation allows
Maybe the Subaru rally division did live on, as part of Toyota GR Rally Squad. And maybe the STi did live on, as the Toyota GR Yaris and the GR Corolla.
That and hyundai, they’ve been making big waves for their size lately, i do hope they fix the reliability problems they’ve had, how fitting for a suby successor lol
Can i get some of the drugs you're on?
My partner has a VB WRX and honestly it's still a great car to drive despite the aesthetics. The looks have grown on me.
So sad. I owned a Brat and 6 other subies, including a a first batch in the US bug eye WRX moded with a stage 3 Prodrive. Had a 15 STI too. Was a subie ambassador for a while. End of an era, but subie has been heading this direction over the past decade. Had a Legacy and a couple Outbacks, and yes am a outdoor person. Don't plan on going back to the brand, they just are not what they used to be.
Long Live the third pedal
seems like the new trend in the car industry is to forget all of ur fuckin history
i don't like it but i expected this to happen. there's no reason for them to make the STI anymore, especially when their main rival (mitsubishi) is dead.
I’m afraid for a lot of racing related stuff/cars/culture. Racing is expensive and I’m not sure GenZ is really into it
If well implemented, a CVT can be an extremely good match to a fast car. Even the original rubber band driven version was banned from Formula racing for unfair advantage. For normal city/street use, the most enjoyable (and fastest) cars I have ever driven, were a Volvo 340 CVT and a FIAT Panda Selecta. Though I do like manual transmissions such as in my Alfa 33 boxer as well.
It’s good to see the Leone being mentioned
Now they glue engine blocks with sealant and CVT transmission. How did they fall so far, don’t realize when you fall, it’s not just about getting back up, it’s extra extra pressure and difficult
Just a small detail: Toyota was caught cheating in the 1995 WRC, not 1994, that was won legitimately.
Sports cards and motor sports is moving to automatic transmissions. And CVT was banned in F1 because it was too fast. Face it, it’s the future no matter how much enthusiasts hate it.
I think the best way for Subaru's STI to regain its luster is to return to the WRC, but unfortunately, this is not possible with the current Subaru, which does not have a B-segment vehicle in its lineup. Although it is unrealistic, my personal hope is that Subaru will also participate in the co-development of the GR Starlet, which is said to be released by Toyota in the future, and enter the WRC's Rally 4 category under the Subaru STI brand.
That last little segment of the video hits the nail on the head perfectly. Couldn't have said it better myself. Also the WRX was originally built by necessity of homologation requirements, but since homologation requirements loosened in 1997 with a WRC rule change and Subaru pulling out of the WRC in 2008 this was inevitable. Seems like sales kept up enough to justify continue selling the WRX and STi
Step 1: Develop 2-door chassis reminiscent of the 22B Impreza
Step 2: Don't uglify the design of it like you've done on every model since then
Step 3: Slap a beefed up EJ engine in it mated to a proper STI manual transmission
Step 4: Bask in glory
15:39 subaru svx mentioned rahhhhhh. My favorite subaru
Great video. I had an 05 Crystal Grey 2.0l STI Peanut Eye.... tuned to the balls. Biggest regret of my life so far letting her go for a steal many years ago. I think about "feeling like a rally driver one last time" almost every day. Sorta hurts.
Cheers
Heard this story so many times and it never gets old
I love the Impreza. I bought another one and now I'm doing gymkhana.
I’ll be getting a Subaru Ascent next fallowed by another STI. Wish the Ascent was a little more sporty, or at least came with a manual.
y'all tripping, the Bugeye is the best looking Impreza. The only downside is no STI stateside.
All they needed to do was make the fa24 to have 300 or 310hp on the tr and the ts trim from the factory and it would’ve pleased the crowd. Hell, just give us the sti transmission with dccp without the power bumps and people would’ve been happy. It just sucks because we all know how capable fa24 is and underpowered from the factory. Most likely cost savings and government fuel efficacy standards are killing it
They are chasing the sales. Same happened here with our Ford Falcon V8's and turbo 6's. Sales went down to enthusiast levels, so Ford culled them and is now selling 4x4 SUV's by the truckload.
Thank God I have an sti that was cheep and I know it's gonna be valuable on the long-term ❤
The VW GTI is no longer in a manual, neither are AWD Subarus.
I refuse to own a CVT!!!
I saw works Subaru cars in the 1973 or 1974 Southern Cross Rally. First time I'd seen a hot Subaru.
Still have my 2002 WRX sitting in the garage. LOL. Love my Bugeye.
The writing was on the wall for Subaru, for what they did to the Subaru Legacy/Liberty, after the 4th generation bl/bp.
Fantastic video as always, almost perfect! Although I do feel you missed the opportunity to talk about Subarus best car the Type R, or the V-spec series or the 555 model that sparked the blue and gold, or the fact that the RA had a fully closed deck block from factory.
Their engines have made minimal increases in power while also making no major improvements in MPG since the US arrival of the STI in 2004. It's a fact that the STI has become inferior since it's 2004 debut.
I owned a wrx , i loved it , it dint love me back..
I own a tata nano now, its nothing special but that car loves me
for the record, the McRae edition was 555 blue, not the lighter world rally blue