Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2.0 Spec C Review: Back to the old school

What we like:

Explosive on boost performance

sublime steering

taut handling

bang-for-buck

no frills driving machine

bragging rights to a rally car for the public road

What we dislike:

Harsh ride

unrefined drivetrain

hard cabin plastics

looks not too different from a standard STI on outside

07 production

To further preserve and cool the engine, the intercooler water sparay syatem also sprays a light mist to the engine oil cooler when required. Obviously, the gearbox is a good old six-speed manual. Subaru says that the box has been further strengthened over the standard STI's to cope with the extra torque. Shift throws are short but like in the other STI models, shift quality is a tad on the notchy side and you'll need to manhandle the gearbox to wring out its maximum.

Inside, the Spec C gets the serious, no-nonsense feel and look.The all-black three-spoke steering wheel and gear lever gets STI's trade mark cherry red stitching while the seats and door trims are clothed in black Alcantara instead of blue in the standard STI. The rest of the cabin is a standard WRX STI affair which means hard plastics and no design flair.

At $116,000 at current COE prices, the Spec C is cheaper than the five-door STI. Yes, you do get an older car in theory but there's nothing old about the way the Spec C goes. A colleague of mine recently said that cars these days are far too predictable and too easy to drive. The Spec C is neither predictable nor easy to drive fast but get it right and it'll truly reward you with the best driving experience for under $120k. The Spec C offers pure driving thrills and performance that is unparalleled at this price -point-to-pont, this car can outrun exotics that are more than twice or three times its price, to put it simply.

Though I've never been a big Scooby fan, I must say the WRX STI Spec C left a seriously huge impression on me. Despite being a model of the previous generation, it still delivers a properly excellent old-school driving thrill that no current-generation Scooby can come close to, let alone match. Its chassis is stiffer than the regular STI, while the body is lighter by 70kg. Add in a sharp, precise steering and a punchy engine and you have a car that is highly suited for motor racing. No wonder Subaru used it as the homologation vehicle for Group N rally cars. (By the way, CK is so smitten by it that he is rather tempted to commit infidelity on his ride of over a decade - Ed)

Credits: Story and Photos by Raymond Lai