Getting Behind the Wheel of the Subaru WRX STI (VAB)

Thanks to writing this blog, I’ve had the chance to drive all sorts of cars over the years. My husband, in particular, has recently been hearing more and more from people he knows: “You’ve got to take it for a drive and tell me what you think.” So whenever we head to the Royu Driveway, he gets to try out another new car. (Lucky him!)

This time, thanks to the kindness of one of our blog readers, I got to drive a manual WRX STI. They had ordered it just before order books closed in December 2019, and it was delivered in April. They’d made the trip all the way from the Kanto region, combining a drive in their new car with a road trip to the Royu Driveway.

The weather held up that day, and we arrived in our 911 Cabriolet (992) and Cayenne E-Hybrid.

Here are the details of the Subaru WRX STI I got to drive:

Trim: Type S
Engine: 2.0L DOHC twin-scroll turbo
Drivetrain: AWD (all-wheel drive)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Maximum output: 227 kW (308 PS) / 6,400 rpm
Maximum torque: 422 N·m (43.0 kgf·m)
Equipment: 19-inch wheels and tires, RECARO seats, Bilstein dampers, Brembo ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels, and more

I’ve become much more comfortable driving manual Boxsters and GT3s than I was a few years ago. Still, Subaru manuals had always seemed intimidating, so I was a little nervous.

My older brother is a Subaru enthusiast who has owned a succession of manual Legacy models. The one time he let me drive his, I could barely even get it moving. (Back then, I had no experience driving a manual at all.)

So how did it go this time? (笑) I’m not well versed in the technical side of cars like my husband is, so my impressions are mostly based on feel. Please read them as the thoughts of “a woman who likes cars a little more than the average person.”

The WRX STI: A Car for Experienced Drivers

To cut to the chase, I found the manual WRX STI (VAB) to be a car best suited to experienced drivers. For someone confident in their driving skills—especially their handling and throttle control—it must be a tremendous amount of fun.

Our 911 (992), for example, is so capable that it can feel like there’s very little left for the driver to do. Even someone like me can make their way around twisty mountain roads like Royu with reasonable confidence. It doesn’t feel scary even at speed; if anything, it feels like there’s plenty more to give. And it turns so eagerly that I don’t have to think much about things like its rear-engine layout or weight transfer—which can even make me feel like I’ve become a better driver.

The WRX STI, by contrast, reflected my driving ability right back at me. If I tried to take a corner without thinking it through, there were moments when the tires felt close to breaking traction, and carrying more speed made me nervous. There’s no automatic rev-matching, of course, so I had to work the clutch myself when downshifting.

The gear lever also felt like it demanded a more experienced hand. There were times when I wondered, “Did that go into third? Maybe fifth? No, judging by the engine note, it must be third…” It made me realize that even though I thought I’d mastered driving manuals, I still had a long way to go when switching to a different car.

It wasn’t really about the car’s performance. Rather, I felt it laid bare just how much I usually rely on the car to do the work for me.

I’ve driven several manual cars—the BMW 320i, Porsche 911 GT3, 981 Boxster GTS (981 and 718), Mazda Roadster, Honda S660, and Subaru Legacy—but the WRX STI was honestly the most challenging of them all to drive, especially when it came to the clutch.

The clutch’s engagement window felt narrow. If I let it out without being precise, I’d get a jolt—or nearly stall the engine. (I actually stalled while reversing into a parking space.) It really drove home that this was a proper sports car.

My husband, though, said, “Really? Was it that hard? I didn’t think so.” The WRX STI’s owner also told me:

Your husband drove it like a pro right from the start! He was really good!

So I guess my own driving skills were a pretty big part of the problem. (笑) With that in mind, here’s how the test drive went from start to finish.

Inside the WRX STI: Interior and Driving Impressions

As soon as I climbed in, the cabin had that unmistakable “this is a sports car” feel.

The clutch had just the right feel—not too heavy, not too light.

When I started the engine, it sounded milder and quieter than I’d expected. I remember my brother’s being much louder—maybe he’d done quite a bit of modifying to it. (笑) I eased the car forward, but accidentally revved it way too hard: “Vroooom!” Startled, I lifted off the accelerator, and the car gave a sharp jolt as the gears engaged.

The owner explained:

“When your husband drove it earlier, he mentioned that the clutch engages quite early.”

Sure enough, I’d expected the clutch to bite around the same point as it does in the Boxster or GT3, and pressed the accelerator accordingly. But the WRX STI’s engagement point was much earlier.

Once I kept that in mind, I was able to shift gears reasonably smoothly.

Once we got moving, the sound of the boxer engine was fantastic. Somehow, it reminded me a little of the 718’s engine note. I knew the engine would sound great when revved, but it’s hard to really get on the throttle when you’re driving an unfamiliar car—and someone else’s, at that.

My husband often tells me:

“You won’t know what a car can do unless you drive it with a bit more commitment. You don’t have to be so timid. Just drive it the way you normally drive our cars.”

And that day, the owner told me:

Go ahead and rev it out more! (笑) It’s not just a regular passenger car—it’s a sports car, after all! (笑)

“Right, of course…!” I said, and decided to give it a proper go on a straight. As soon as I pushed the accelerator past a certain point, an incredible surge of acceleration kicked in, and I instinctively eased off.

People used to call it a “big-hit turbo,” and I think the acceleration feels a lot like that.

Wow—so this is what turbo lag and a sudden boost feel like!

In the Boxster and GT3, accelerating makes the body squat and feel more planted, giving you a sense of speed as if the car is hugging the road. In the WRX STI, it felt more like being pushed forward with tremendous force from behind as the car glided along on rails. (I can’t quite find the right words…)

I bet it’s incredibly quick on the highway.

The ride was smoother than I’d expected, too. The owner had driven a long way to meet us that day, but said they hadn’t felt tired at all.

I spent about 20 minutes in the car, riding in the passenger seat while the owner drove and then getting behind the wheel again myself. As I mentioned earlier, I came away feeling that the manual WRX STI is a sports car for experienced drivers—and an exceptionally fun one for anyone confident in their driving.

Afterward, the owner got to take a ride in our 992, and I was so glad they enjoyed it!

I’ve still got a lot of practice ahead of me if I want to become a better driver!

To the owner: thank you, truly, for giving me such a special opportunity! My husband is planning to write his own review of the test drive soon, so I hope you’ll look forward to that one, too. (笑)