'STi' is a magic combination.
When there's a new version, it doesn't need to be a beauty,
as long as it's blue and has an air intake, huge wing,
and golden wheels.
Except for the golden wheels, it suits that description.
We could have compared it with an Audi S3 saloon,
which is just as powerful and has 4wd.
Or an even more powerful Mercedes CLA 45 AMG with 360 PS.
But we'd rather test it against a Japanese competitor.
The Nissan 370Z Nismo, with 344 PS.
Just like the Subaru, it's very expensive in The Netherlands,
because of the high tax on cars with high CO2-emissions.
The WRX is almost 80k euro, the 370Z almost 90k.
But what is the most exciting car of the two?
The Subaru coughs to life,
And sounds very typical when stationairy.
When you hit the trottle, it starts to scream and whistle,
above 3.500 rpm, hell breaks loose.
It revs until 6.500 rpm.
It has a lot of character, but also a short powerband.
Most modern engines deliver a lot of power from the start,
this engine is different.
But of course, this is how an STi should be.
It's the same story with the gearbox. No double-clutch auto...
but a tight, nice manual transmission.
The steering is better than before.
It's more sensitive and heavier, again very characterful.
VW Golf R and Audi S3 are way easier to drive fast,
in this car, you have to work to be really quick.
Shifting down really quick to be the fastest...
you have to work, but it's a lot of fun to do so.
A badly paved road is not a problem:
this is een streetlegal rally car.
The WRX sticks to the road and is playful at the same time.
This car costs 88000 euro in The Netherlands,
but for that money, you get the fastest 370Z, the Nismo.
That means you get 344 instead of 328 PS,
different suspension, new wheels and spoilers.
it looks like it came straight out of The Fast & The Furious.
The exhaust is one of the most important changes.
The steering is very direct, and the back end has more traction.
In both tight and smooth corners, this is better than the normal 370.
When driving, the 370 feels like a very serious sportscar.
From a low seating position you're looking over a high bonnet.
And it has Synchro Rev Control. You press a button...
...and it revs automatically when shifting down, very nice.
It's good to see that even with a manual,
electronic tricks can make it more fun.
The gearbox is fabulous.
I think the Japanese might make the best gearboxes.
You feel exactly what is happening, great fun.
But, is this more fun than the STi?
Hard to tell, because they're so different.
Cars like this used to be affordable in The Netherlands
So they offered a lot of value-for-money.
Now, these cars are punished for being polluting.
I want to move to Belgium, where the STi costs only 45k.
That would be perfect, I could use it as a normal family saloon.
And 10 years later, in my midlife crisis, I'd buy a 370Z Nismo.