Car Control is Important

One day, when I grow up, I want to be this good..... (and please don't ever let me be the Segway guy in there - that looks like the scariest job in the world).

New STi Ads

Finally, someone at Subaru remembered what the STi was all about. If only they had shown the guys who designed the new one this ad before they started (and the engineers who dialed in the understeer as well for that matter), and I might have gone out and bought another one.

New Cars and Reviews

Reading car reviews takes up a reasonable amount of my spare reading time (and having just got through the yearly highlight known as Evo's Car of the Year article, I'm into even more at the minute). It's amazing what a review can do to the desirability of a car, although there are some reviews you tend to ignore if the fancy takes you (reading an Edmunds review on a 911 for examples, where they ream the car for a small trunk....).

Anyway, the STi has apparently arrived, or at least been reviewed, and it's kind of a mixed bag - it's not really any better than the old one, apart from it's quieter (which isn't really what most STi drivers want in their little boxer enginer), and it's now more expensive.

And then there's Jeremy's review of the new R8, which confirmed that if I ever make it into semi-rich land, I'm going to have a hard time deciding between that and a GT3 (or the RS version..).

New Sti gets US Official Release

So I managed to miss the LA car show last week, and one of the highlights was that the STi is officially released over here.

Same power, slightly less torque than last time round (which makes me wonder why) - at least the interior is better I guess.

The photo on the left is actually the rally car, rather than the STi for sale, so delete the roof vent and rear spoiler for true effect (or click on the link up there to see the road going model).

I still haven't decided whether this time round, if I was in the market, I'd get an STi or an Evo - still waiting for proper driving tests in the mags to make my mind up (although I'm not in the market, so neither one will end up on my driveway unless the wife fancies one). The Evo looks better, but Mitsubishi are pissing me off by only offering the MR with the semi-auto box. Do people not understand that we still like to change gear properly, with a real clutch under your left foot?

STI Official Pics

Finally! And it looks better than I thought. Will Wee Dod dive into his mattress of cash to purchase one? Stay tuned for our next installment of (if) the price is right.....

Colin McRae Dead

Totally shocking news just coming out that former World Rally Champion Colin McRae died today in a helicopter crash up near his home in Scotland.

He was 39, and the first (and I think still the only) British winner of the World Rally Championship in 1995, in the now famous blue Subaru WRX.

There are some reports that his son Johnny was with him in the copter, along wiht 2 others, but this is yet to be confirmed.

I'm gutted...

New STi?

If only - this is just another keen persons mock-up, but they're definitely on the right track if you ask me.

New WRX Ad

It looks better when it's moving I guess, and going sideways around corners is always fun, but I still like the old versions better (yes, even the bug-eyed or dodgy nose ones). I'm holding out until I see the STi one properly (might have a pic saved somewhere - I'll post it if I find it/get a chance today)

Impreza WRX STi Spec C Type RA-R

Two reasons for this post - possibly the last STi variant before the new model comes out (and only 300 available for sale in Japan), and the complete ridiculousness of the guys accent as he attempts to speak in ze engleesh. The sound of the engine as he blasts down the road is worth it though.

2008 Subaru STi

A car very close to my heart (the last one was stolen almost a year ago now, and still no sign of it).

This is a pic of what is reported to be the new shape for 2008 - it looks like the official unveiling is going to be next month (maybe?) at the New York Motor Show. More details of what it might involve are here, courtesty of Jalopnik.

There's also speculation the WRX may be no more, but somehow I can't really see this happening, given it was the car that lead the way long before the STi ever appeared. Guess we'll find out at some point.