About the Subaru WRX STi
Andrew Williamson purchased this Subaru WRX new. Andrew Williamson wouldn’t buy this car again because: “I have had 12 previous WRX Sti’s including three rally cars, and was expecting the same great backroad driving weapon that these cars have always been. The 2020 car, largely as a result of its wheel and tyre package, misses the mark by a large margin. “
How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.
I haven’t had any significant reliability issues with my 2020 WRX Sti. It does rattle like a mongrel and has done so since day dot, which is disappointing in a modern car. Much of this is that the poor old girl is being punished by the complete lack of give from the tyres.
What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?
No real problems here. It is a Subaru, and in my experience, unless you tweak and tune the car into silliness, they remain a pretty solid car to own. Retained value is not a strong point and is probably the most expensive part of its ownership.
How has the purchase and aftercare experience been with your car?
I hate the purchase and aftercare experience with any car. I just want to walk in, choose what I want, pay the man his money and leave. I don’t want to be treated like a valued member of their family, mainly because I am not. I wished they would have left me alone when I asked.
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
Its a Subaru WRX. The whole premise of these cars was that they were a cheap, shopping trolly variant that went like stink. It has become more expensive than it should be, but what hasn’t these days? The only features that really disappoint, given the price, are the multimedia and audio. It is terrible by any measure and I am stunned that Harmon Kardon have allowed their name to be associated with it.
What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?
Economy has never been a Subaru strong point and this WRX does not break the mould. Having said that, it is returning 8’s and 9’s on the open road when used as a commuter. If you are trying to wring its neck, then the economy becomes unimportant.
In regards to the performance, the old EJ tries hard to drag the lumbering mass of flubber into excitement, but compared to WRX’s of old, this car is FAT and heavy. You can really feel the weight transfer into corners, even given that the trick to getting the most out of a Subie is not to chuck it into corners but to drive it out of them. When trying to drive out, the bulk of the car is most evident.
What do you think of the technology in your car?
As mentioned above, Subaru would have probably done themselves more favours by shoving a $30 single DIN AM radio in a slot, rather than fitting the MMI and entertainment system that they did in this car.
Everyone I know (except me because I don’t really care about this stuff) has thrown the TomTom based factory unit away and purchased a replacement. Shouldn’t have to do this in a car at this price point. My pet peeve with any new car is a push-button start (unless it has an electronic handbrake) and this WRX has one.
Every time I get in my car I mentally picture the automotive engineer that designed this feature and I just want to wring the life out of them until their eyeballs burst. Just give a key, and a barrel to stick it in, you morons!
What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?
This is where it all gets ugly for the 2020 WRX. The wheel and tire package (245/35R19) is overtly track-oriented, but unless you live on Amaroo Drive at Kenthurst in Sydney, who lives on one of these? No suspension can make up for the deficiencies created by 35 profile tyres on a heavy car on a backroad like Thunderbolts Way.
We live at the end of a 10km long shire gravel road that, while being well maintained, as seen the demise of 7 tyres to sidewall damage because of their profile. I’ll own the first two as I enjoy chucking the car around, but after ripping the sidewalls out of these two, I have driven our road at 30km/h trying to miss anything on the road.
I have still donated to the Pirelli and Yokohama coffers as a result of potholes, bridge expansion joints and any errand pebble lying on the bitumen that has cost me another 5 sidewall failures. Completely impractical for Australian roads to the point of being unusable for anything other than trackwork or cruising around the beaches in Sydney.
Do you have any additional comments about your car?
Looking for a good, low mileage 2006 Sti if anyone has one. Blue with gold wheels of course.