But for the longest time, the STI has not really been known for more than that.  It wasn’t the first car to come to mind for a family ride or comfortable date night.  It certainly was not the head turning vehicle that weekend warriors looked for, and honestly, is so often related to street racers and younger generations, it is overlooked as a daily by the elders.  But for 2015, I would dare to say that has changed.

I was first introduced to the STI heavily while I lived in Japan, and while the vehicle was an amazing specimen on the streets, I always found it lacking in comfort.  Even for the amazing roads overseas, the ride was always rough, engine a bit harsh, seats horrible, and once it hit the modded category, it went a bit down hill.  Amazing, but not my dream car.  I thought I wanted one for a while, but I could not get passed those issue or the ricer-boy stigma.  It wasn’t for me then, but it might be now.

While maintaining the core features that have made this car amazing, from the boxer motor to the amazing differential, the new 2015 Subaru WRX STI left me impressed, wanting more, and enjoying every moment in the ride.  While the shape and styling are very distinctive, especially with the large table as a wing in the rear, the interior finally has the quality improvements that generations passed lacked.  From top down, the dash controls and information provided are easy to read, all framed by a solid dash that doesn’t have the thin plastic feel to them.  It’s no longer a hollow sound you hear when you hit a bump.  The seats are comfortable, even for racing fit, and overall the drive is easy when on the road for a while, but adapts well to the twists and turns its thrown into.  It was enjoyable in every way, which is more than I could have said for my past experiences.

That’s all great, it really is, but some fear that with all these ‘luxury’ improvements that the ride, the king of the rally, has lost touch with its legacy.

And that could not be further from the truth.

The 2015 WRX STI has surpassed the legacy vehicles, and with the inclusion of all the amazing rally technology, I would argue that Subaru has done more to introduce solid performance vehicles to a growing market, and the packed technology shows that it can all be affordable.  No longer do you have to buy a STI and head to the show to get a boost gauge and metrics computer installed, or research the newest trick diffs.  Those were great times, don’t get me wrong, but to buy from the factory an amazingly well balanced and feature packed sedan and be able to track it the next day sounds amazing to me.  This vehicle is making that technology accessible, and just as it got so many hooked on AWD in the past, it will get the consumers looking for more in the future.

That’s what makes this ride so amazing.  Here is something I can commute in comfortably, drive my family and friends around in, and even pick a date up for a classy night out.  But the next morning, I can hit the trail a hard, get the paint covered in dirt and mud, and know that the vehicle will be able to make it home safe and comfortably.  It’s a Jeckle and Hyde situation, a multi-tasking ride of sorts, that proves itself from the start.

That bar?  Yea, it’s a bit higher now.

The post A Rally Cry – The 2015 Subaru WRX STI appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

But that statement can’t be said for every vehicle out there, and while a few put up an amazing fight, I recently rediscovered that joy I felt in the 2002 in the 2015 Subaru BRZ Series.Blue.  And as I sit back and look at those words I just wrote, it’s hard for me to believe on premise, while in action, every word is the truth.

Before I start, I want to make a few things clear.  First off, the BRZ is not the most comfortable car for me.  It’s low, small, and the seats are designed to hug you tighter than your little cousin showing off his bear hugging skills.  I hit my head almost every time getting into that car, and getting out could only best be described as a graceful fall.  This is to no fault of the vehicle though as I am taller than the average owner of this vehicle, and maybe a bit older.  And definitely a lot less graceful.  Again, these issues are to no fault of the car or Subaru, and honestly became something I cared less and less about as I drove more and more.

Styling wise, this is one of the best looking, affordable vehicles on the road.  The curves of the body mixed with the sharp angles in the lights, wrapped in an STI package, just make this car a head turner from the start.  It is deceivingly small in nature, and while getting in and out is a bit difficult, there is plenty of space inside to not feel cramped and actually be able to stretch my legs out (something I can’t even say for the new 2015 Corvette, but more on that later).  It’s stance is a bit higher than I would like to see in styling, but it all made sense as a complete package.  I felt like I was looking at a true tuner’s car, something with so much potential for growth in terms of aftermarket, while also being a solid example strait from the factory.

But styling doesn’t affect the drive, and that’s what I fell in love with.  This is not the fastest car by any means, and even though a few tried to challenge me at lights based off the aggressive looks, that wasn’t where the BRZ shined by any means.  No, instead it was the corners that this little hot RWD ride would just shine through, eating up every twist and turn, staying firm to the road and barely letting in.  Its weight was enough to stay planted, and with the limited power, losing control of the rear end was more difficult than I would have thought.  The car wanted to drive the mountains, to climb its way to the top, and be a fun experience the whole time.  And again, it was not the fastest we could have done that drive in, but it was the one vehicle that kept asking for more, kept asking to go a little faster and hit that apex a bit harder. And every time we pushed, it was able to shine even more.

Even more impressive is the foundation of the BRZ.  This is a base vehicle, that while shining on its own, has so much potential, and Subaru knows that.  This vehicle is designed to be customized, to be built and improved upon.  The number of examples already out there on the market are astounding, with even our friends at Revvolution building their own, one off custom BRZ with the help of a slew of Colorado shops (article coming after it is complete).  As an enthusiast, someone who rarely leaves a vehicle stock, this excites me.  While part of me hopes that other manufacturers will catch on to this opportunity, I know that it wont happen, and I am okay with it.  This isn’t the standard Civic I remember seeing at every show growing up, the car that everyone seemed to build and modify with mixed results.  Instead this is a vehicle going in with a sense of style, drive, and excitement, looking for more pizzazz to add to the streets.

It’s not often that I leave a drive actually missing the experience.  It’s a feeling I rarely experience, and while The Dog set the standard for me in terms of that, the 2015 Subaru BRZ is the first new vehicle to match the excitement right out of the box.  The new standard has been set, and the challenge is open to the next manufacturer to deliver the simplicity and excitement found in this hot little ride.

The post Bringing Fun Back In the 2015 Subaru BRZ appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.