New Car Previews: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

There's just something about a car with a big hood scoop and a massive rear wing that appeals to the sport car loving enthusiast in all of us. Sometimes, we don't want our cars to reflect our age. Sometimes, we don't want to have professionalism in every aspect of our lives. Sometimes, we like our cars equipped with big spoilers and hood scoops. Sometimes, we like our cars loud, fast, turbo charged, and with the ability to handle any corner that comes our way. Sometimes, we just want to have some fun. However, with the introduction of the 2008 Subaru STI, it seems that the company might have forgotten, at least in part, about that three letter word.

From the outside, there are more than a few things not to like about the new design for the STI. Namely, what if I don't want to drive a wagon? Yes, the four door, sedan STi is gone, and has been replaced with the wagon only STI (note the capital I). While there's no denying that the STI still looks pretty good, not everyone wants a wagon. And, honestly, sometimes we want our $35,000 sports car to look like it's a sports car, and a little less like a minivan. For the undistinguished eye, the STI looks far too close to the Forrester, sans the more rounded back end and small spoiler off the top of the rear window. Yes, it may have been a tad bit ridiculous, but who didn't love the big square box like spoiler on the back of the outgoing model? It was different, it looked sporty, and it let people know that your car was fast. Oh, and by the way Subaru: FLARED FENDERS DO NOT FIX EVERYTHING. Please, put the fenders of the STI back where they belong, or at least a couple inches closer to the rest of the car. Flares on the fenders do not make a car cool, and the more their flared, sometimes the more awkward they look.