Picking up my 06 STI Today, never owned a manual - any tips?

[k. ote]

Unlike the crap in RS/OBS/WRX transmission in STI is buttery smooth.
The tranny seems to be completely different. Or it feels that way.
At least that was my impression after sitting in a car at the auto
show.

As for the tips, they are mostly for people buying a used STI:
beware of the people who learned to drive a stick on an STI.
You might get stuck with a $2k bill for the rebuild.

The STi tranny is completely different.

ADVICE FOR *ANY* OTHER CAR WILL BE COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS AND MOSTLY WRONG
TO THE NEW STi DRIVER. PLEASE DO NOT OFFER IT. (I don't mean to direct this
at you, Body Roll.. I mean to direct it at that grant fellow.)

 

[k. ote]

I am now completely adjusted to the STI shifting - thank you. I have put
over 200 miles on it already, and as I stated previously I am not learning
on the STI I already had some experience in friends cars.

Don't fool yourself. The only way I've ever seen someone who's driven
other manuals shift my car smoothly is by slipping the clutch wayyyy too
much.** If you smell burning after more than about four months when
starting on a hill, you're slipping it too much.

** (Well, except for an M3 driver friend of mine. He shifted perfectly and
his timing was impeccable.)

 

[k. ote]

Doing well. I am still trying to get the hang of the shift from 1 to 2.
I am trying to do it without revving the engine too much (unless I am
trying to pass). I have been stalling out about once per day from stops,
but doing well.

That's fine. It's not hard on the car when you're moving so slowly.. not
really. The STi is beastly strong. In a previous note I suggested you slam
your clutch down faster when shifting from 1 to 2. Do that.. really slam it
down fast, and you'll find the shift to 2nd will be much easier.

Also, you *can* engage it while the engine is slightly too fast for the gear
and the speed you're going. You'll feel a slight surge, but it's the only
way to keep the RPMs down.

I find the lowest RPM I can shift to 2nd in is right about 2400 RPM.. and
that's on level pavement. On a downhill it's down around 1800, and on an
uphill I have to get it up to about 3000. The trick is to shift as soon as
the engine will let you, which is right about 1000-1200rpm less than when
you disengage from 1st.

The only other thing I am still working on is downshifting - right now I
am shifting to neutral and braking when I have to slow down a good deal.
For example, if I am going 50mph in gear 5, and I sense that I'll have to
slow down quite a bit I usually pop it in neutral and then if I slow down
to 30 before I can accelerate again I will shift to 3rd from neutral and
with the clutch down rev the rpms a bit (to match 3rd gear) before
dropping the clutch. Is this the proper method?

You *must* rev-match for the downshift. Do this, and get used to it:

.. Clutch down HARD AND FAST, foot OFF the accelerator at the same time.
.. Pull it out of gear, and leave the shifter in neutral. Leave your foot
down on the clutch.
.. Rev the engine up by exactly 1300RPM (the faster you get, the closer
you'll get this number to about 900-1000 RPM.)
.. Gently push the shifter into the next-lower gear. You'll find it'll slip
in by itself when you rev up just enough.
.. Ease up on the clutch.

The trick to doing this successfully is to disengage the clutch REALLY
QUICKLY, and to make sure the RPMs are up enough to shift down.

My car refuses to downshift without a rev-match unless the driver really
rams it in there, and then I cringe and ask them to pull over.

 

[k. ote]

I wouldn't drop the clutch, and it is OK to brake with the car still in
gear.

With an STI, I would go learn how to do heel-toe braking. It will allow
you to brake, operate the clutch and match revs all at once. Takes a
little practice, but its the best way once you get the hang of it.

Some people's feet are too big to do this without driving booties or
foot-hugging footwear. I wouldn't overwhelm the guy with attempts at
advanced technique yet. He's still having trouble downshifting.

 

[k. ote]

You'll know you have the feel for your tranny when you can
drive it up from first to 5/6 and back down again to 2nd
without the clutch at all. Don't expect this to happen
until you have a few years of familiarity with your car.
I've been able to do it on all my cars except my current.
I'm at about 60% success rate on clutchless shifting with
my RS - likely will have it mastered in a year or two.

Yikes. Doing it with an STi is wayyy harder than this post makes it sound. I
strongly recommend nobody try this with their STi unless they've had race
practice. Getting it right on the STi will take too much tranny-damaging
practice to be worth the trouble just so you can show off a clutchless
shift.

--

 

[k. ote]

I would also advise short shifting at first; don't let the revs get too
high. The transmission is very smooth, but the gears are very close
together. Invariably, even people experienced with a standard, go from 2nd
to 5th a few times. That's not a big issue, except that acceleration will
be flat when that happens and the car may chug. However, it is worse if
you are downshifting at higher revs. Hence, it is better to keep the revs
low when you are learning and avoid damage.

A friend of my friend's dad took his first STi to a track with the
salesperson present (with dealership's full sanction apparently) and
downshifted 5->2 and blew the tranny on the spot. Like JD says: take it
easy until you're used to the taller gears. There's six of them, so there's
lots to choose from going around corners and obstacles.

You also have to learn to be soft with the shifts. The car doesn't respond
well to ham-fisted shifting. But once you get the knack of it, it is one
helluva lot of fun to drive.

What he said: be gentle on the shifter. The car will be very angry at you if
you force things too often.

 

[Cam Penner]

Yikes. Doing it with an STi is wayyy harder than this post makes it sound. I
strongly recommend nobody try this with their STi unless they've had race
practice. Getting it right on the STi will take too much tranny-damaging
practice to be worth the trouble just so you can show off a clutchless
shift.

YEARS of practice. You can force yourself to learn it
faster, but it's hard on the car. You can only really
practice when you're "in the zone". Otherwise you're going
to be grinding and gnashing. It requires an intimate
knowledge of what the engine sounds and feels like both at
the time you slip out of gear and at the time you slip into
gear. In general, when you're in the zone it will slip in
within a second. If it takes you longer than that, you're
not in the zone, and watch out. You'll be grinding things.
Best leave it for another day when you are better in tune
with the car.

 

[Adam Frankel]

K. Ote,
I appreciate your post. All very good tips and I wish I had read them
earlier. Yesterday I did get into a fairly serious accident with my STI.
I am ok - I just have a sore neck and a minor burn on my forearm from the
airbag.

I am unfortunately waiting to find out if the car is totalled, and if not I
may be facing a month rebuild. The engine is not damaged, but everything
got pushed back a bit.

The mechanic insists it is not in terrible shape but needs new parts from
Subaru, and that he has repaired cars in much worse shape before and they
dned up being alright.

I have learned my lesson, and think that I should be ok after the STI is
repaired (or declared totalled and I will likely get a new one).

-Adam

Thanks to your responses to my previous posts, I have decided to pick up
the STI.

Tomorrow I will be picking it up from the dealer. I will be having a
friend drive it from the dealer to my home. I do have some experience
driving a manual, but I still am not totally comfortable yet. Is there
any
advice one can give specifically related to learning on the STI? I will
be taking it on small residential roads this weekend while I learn it.

Yes. Here's some advice:

. Don't try to downshift to 1st. It won't happen, the car will hate you
for
it, and you'll feel bad trying to force it. When you learn what to do to
double-clutch your STi (don't try it yet until you get your timing down)
then you can start downshifting to 1st AT LOW SPEEDS. Yes, 1st is a
really,
really tall gear.

. REV MATCH for the downshift! I can't stress this enough. It's hard
enough
shifting a new STi without rev-matching. The more you rev-match, the
closer
you'll be to double-clutching, and the closer you'll be to shifting
perfection.

. Reverse is LONGER than first. That is, doing X RPM in 1st will get you
going slower than doing X RPMs in reverse. Keep this in mind. I find it's
nearly impossible to reverse with the clutch fully engaged over short
distances of a few or even ten or twenty feet. It goes too fast for touchy
manoeuvering, or I go too slow and it stalls.

. The difference between 1st and 2nd is enormous. It'll feel almost like
1500 RPM difference between 1st and 2nd to get a comfortable shift. Keep
this in mind. The rest of the gears are much more predictable.

. Be careful! The accelerator is extremely touchy. Well, I mean in a 300HP
car what else do you expect?

. Do not drive with the DCCD set to anything but wide-open, or Auto when
you
are on pavement. Tight cornering with it set to anything else will
generate
a horrible noise that will make you (and everyone who knows what car
you're
driving) cry. Nothing's going to be damaged, but.. be gentler on your car
and don't hurt your new baby.

. The stick will be *stiff* when you first buy it. It'll be cranky and
will
refuse to shift perfectly without Just The Right RPM. Take it easy and
don't force it. It'll loosen up after about 6 months or more.

. The car understeers around corners--this can be distracting until you
get
used to it.

. Do NOT shift on a curve in the rain until you have your timing down pat.
The weight transfer could kill you. Literally.

. TAKE IT EASY and don't drive beyond YOUR OWN COMFORT LIMITS for at least
6-12 months. Just about every STi in my area except for mine has been in a
serious accident because 1. The drivers all thought the tires were
stickier
than they really are in the rain, 2. The drivers thought they were godlike
in the rain.

. The A/C makes an absolutely ENORMOUS difference in the speed with which
the engine revs down without pressure on the accelerator. Keep this in
mind: when the A/C is on, shift faster or use the accelerator more.

. The first six months or more--pretty much everytime you rev it up even
to
a measly 2K and begin engaging reverse, or take too long engaging first,
or
start on a hill you WILL smell burning clutch. A new STi's clutch is so
easy to burn they even make fun of it on Top Gear:

"They've made it harder, edgier.
Less of a car.. more of a bar-room brawler.
[..later..]
This Subaru is a HUGELY manly experience.
The noise it makes.. 'sgot a macho gearbox, it's got macho steering, it
even
smells of man.. the essence of .. *snifffff*.. burnt clutch. Splash it on
all over before going out at night for a curry, and a fight."

. Finally, when depressing the clutch, do it QUICKLY. Really slam your
foot
down on it when disengaging it. If you don't, shifting will be much
harder.
I find that when I'm driving to work in the mornings, the car is cold and
seems to need violence on the way down, and then smoothness and precision
on the way back up again.

General hints about your new car:

. WARNING! Go EASY on the brakes! They're godlike, but replacing the
rotors
or even just the pads (and having the rotors machined) costs a fucking arm
and a leg. While I've known people whose rotors have lasted and will last
for another two or more years (four+ total,) I've had my '04 STi for about
two years and my rotors are right on the edge of needing replacement and
my
pads just needed to be changed last month. Engine brake and downshift to
slow down wherever possible. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Good luck! And don't just become another statistic and trade it in after a
year.. keep it for at least 1.5 years before deciding whether you really
want to keep it. Everyone I've known who's had one has traded it in after
about a year. I don't know why. Something about the cost of brakes, the
cost of gas, the cost of maintenance, the cost of and of and of and of.

 

[M.J.]

Stop it Frankel! Nobody is falling for your sick jokes!

Tell us about your experience with the STI and not some
sick made-up troll story. Right?

M.J.

K. Ote,
I appreciate your post. All very good tips and I wish I had read them
earlier. Yesterday I did get into a fairly serious accident with my STI.
I am ok - I just have a sore neck and a minor burn on my forearm from the
airbag.

I am unfortunately waiting to find out if the car is totalled, and if not
I may be facing a month rebuild. The engine is not damaged, but
everything got pushed back a bit.

The mechanic insists it is not in terrible shape but needs new parts from
Subaru, and that he has repaired cars in much worse shape before and they
dned up being alright.

I have learned my lesson, and think that I should be ok after the STI is
repaired (or declared totalled and I will likely get a new one).

-Adam

Thanks to your responses to my previous posts, I have decided to pick up
the STI.

Tomorrow I will be picking it up from the dealer. I will be having a
friend drive it from the dealer to my home. I do have some experience
driving a manual, but I still am not totally comfortable yet. Is there
any
advice one can give specifically related to learning on the STI? I will
be taking it on small residential roads this weekend while I learn it.

Yes. Here's some advice:

. Don't try to downshift to 1st. It won't happen, the car will hate you
for
it, and you'll feel bad trying to force it. When you learn what to do to
double-clutch your STi (don't try it yet until you get your timing down)
then you can start downshifting to 1st AT LOW SPEEDS. Yes, 1st is a
really,
really tall gear.

. REV MATCH for the downshift! I can't stress this enough. It's hard
enough
shifting a new STi without rev-matching. The more you rev-match, the
closer
you'll be to double-clutching, and the closer you'll be to shifting
perfection.

. Reverse is LONGER than first. That is, doing X RPM in 1st will get you
going slower than doing X RPMs in reverse. Keep this in mind. I find it's
nearly impossible to reverse with the clutch fully engaged over short
distances of a few or even ten or twenty feet. It goes too fast for
touchy
manoeuvering, or I go too slow and it stalls.

. The difference between 1st and 2nd is enormous. It'll feel almost like
1500 RPM difference between 1st and 2nd to get a comfortable shift. Keep
this in mind. The rest of the gears are much more predictable.

. Be careful! The accelerator is extremely touchy. Well, I mean in a
300HP
car what else do you expect?

. Do not drive with the DCCD set to anything but wide-open, or Auto when
you
are on pavement. Tight cornering with it set to anything else will
generate
a horrible noise that will make you (and everyone who knows what car
you're
driving) cry. Nothing's going to be damaged, but.. be gentler on your car
and don't hurt your new baby.

. The stick will be *stiff* when you first buy it. It'll be cranky and
will
refuse to shift perfectly without Just The Right RPM. Take it easy and
don't force it. It'll loosen up after about 6 months or more.

. The car understeers around corners--this can be distracting until you
get
used to it.

. Do NOT shift on a curve in the rain until you have your timing down
pat.
The weight transfer could kill you. Literally.

. TAKE IT EASY and don't drive beyond YOUR OWN COMFORT LIMITS for at
least
6-12 months. Just about every STi in my area except for mine has been in
a
serious accident because 1. The drivers all thought the tires were
stickier
than they really are in the rain, 2. The drivers thought they were
godlike
in the rain.

. The A/C makes an absolutely ENORMOUS difference in the speed with which
the engine revs down without pressure on the accelerator. Keep this in
mind: when the A/C is on, shift faster or use the accelerator more.

. The first six months or more--pretty much everytime you rev it up even
to
a measly 2K and begin engaging reverse, or take too long engaging first,
or
start on a hill you WILL smell burning clutch. A new STi's clutch is so
easy to burn they even make fun of it on Top Gear:

"They've made it harder, edgier.
Less of a car.. more of a bar-room brawler.
[..later..]
This Subaru is a HUGELY manly experience.
The noise it makes.. 'sgot a macho gearbox, it's got macho steering, it
even
smells of man.. the essence of .. *snifffff*.. burnt clutch. Splash it on
all over before going out at night for a curry, and a fight."

. Finally, when depressing the clutch, do it QUICKLY. Really slam your
foot
down on it when disengaging it. If you don't, shifting will be much
harder.
I find that when I'm driving to work in the mornings, the car is cold and
seems to need violence on the way down, and then smoothness and precision
on the way back up again.

General hints about your new car:

. WARNING! Go EASY on the brakes! They're godlike, but replacing the
rotors
or even just the pads (and having the rotors machined) costs a fucking
arm
and a leg. While I've known people whose rotors have lasted and will last
for another two or more years (four+ total,) I've had my '04 STi for
about
two years and my rotors are right on the edge of needing replacement and
my
pads just needed to be changed last month. Engine brake and downshift to
slow down wherever possible. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Good luck! And don't just become another statistic and trade it in after
a
year.. keep it for at least 1.5 years before deciding whether you really
want to keep it. Everyone I've known who's had one has traded it in after
about a year. I don't know why. Something about the cost of brakes, the
cost of gas, the cost of maintenance, the cost of and of and of and of.

 

[k. ote]

K. Ote,
I appreciate your post. All very good tips and I wish I had read them
earlier. Yesterday I did get into a fairly serious accident with my STI.
I am ok - I just have a sore neck and a minor burn on my forearm from the
airbag.

I am unfortunately waiting to find out if the car is totalled, and if not
I
may be facing a month rebuild. The engine is not damaged, but everything
got pushed back a bit.

The mechanic insists it is not in terrible shape but needs new parts from
Subaru, and that he has repaired cars in much worse shape before and they
dned up being alright.

I have learned my lesson, and think that I should be ok after the STI is
repaired (or declared totalled and I will likely get a new one).

-Adam

Seriously? This is the part where you tell us what happened.

 

[Adam Frankel]

It is not a troll post. I really really wish it was a troll post.

What happened was, I became too confident in my abilities and the all wheel
drive that I tried to make a really tight curve (one where the sign said
10mph) at 40mph. I was in 4th gear and did not apply the brakes. The car
understeered a bit, went off the road (which was on a 30 degree incline) and
hit possibly one of the biggest trees in existence.

I feel that I have learned my lesson (the hard way - but it could have been
much worse) and can move on with my life and my driving.

Should I be hoping:
a) that the car is totalled, take a $2k or so loss (on the sales tax and
depreciation of the value of the car) and get a brand new STI

b) that the car is not totalled, wait a month and a half for $15,000 worth
of repairs, and continue driving this STI (the mechanic who is a friend of
mine insists it will be like new)

c) that the car is totalled, get a different car because the STI is
something I probably cannot handle

Thanks.

PS to prove that this is not a troll post I will post a few links showing
the car (and me) a day before the accident.

http://photos-749.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545749_2177.jpg

http://photos-750.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545750_2649.jpg

http://photos-752.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545752_3580.jpg

http://photos-748.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545748_1683.jpg

http://photos-747.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545747_1202.jpg

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

It is not a troll post. I really really wish it was a troll post.

What happened was, I became too confident in my abilities and the all wheel
drive that I tried to make a really tight curve (one where the sign said
10mph) at 40mph. I was in 4th gear and did not apply the brakes. The car
understeered a bit, went off the road (which was on a 30 degree incline) and
hit possibly one of the biggest trees in existence.

I feel that I have learned my lesson (the hard way - but it could have been
much worse) and can move on with my life and my driving.

Should I be hoping:
a) that the car is totalled, take a $2k or so loss (on the sales tax and
depreciation of the value of the car) and get a brand new STI

b) that the car is not totalled, wait a month and a half for $15,000 worth
of repairs, and continue driving this STI (the mechanic who is a friend of
mine insists it will be like new)

c) that the car is totalled, get a different car because the STI is
something I probably cannot handle

Thanks.

PS to prove that this is not a troll post I will post a few links showing
the car (and me) a day before the accident.

http://photos-749.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545749_2177.jpg

http://photos-750.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545750_2649.jpg

http://photos-752.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545752_3580.jpg

http://photos-748.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545748_1683.jpg

http://photos-747.facebook.com/ip006/v39/91/49/24400704/n24400704_30545747_1202.jpg

I'm glad you weren't killed. I think you should really do some hard
self-examination, then get what you want. many people learn quite well
from an incident such as your's - others have a life filled with stupid
behaviors. Unless you plan to visit the track, you find a WRX is just as
much fun, after 2-3 small mods to the suspension, as the STI, ON THE
PUBLIC ROADS.

'A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the
mistakes of others.'

Carl

 

[Adam Frankel]

I have been a good driver my entire life, clean record with no tickets or no
accidents for 8 years up until this point. I feel I can move on from this
and not make the same mistake again.

My thoughts are this:

1) It is not the car's fault that I had this accident

2) In fact - if any car could've handled that turn, it just as likely
could've been the STI

3) The car possibly saved my life

So I feel that since the fault is mine and not the car's that switching cars
would be admitting that I cannot learn from my mistake, and I do not believe
I am that type of person.

 

[Cam Penner]

It is not a troll post. I really really wish it was a troll post.

What happened was, I became too confident in my abilities and the all wheel
drive that I tried to make a really tight curve (one where the sign said
10mph) at 40mph. I was in 4th gear and did not apply the brakes. The car
understeered a bit, went off the road (which was on a 30 degree incline) and
hit possibly one of the biggest trees in existence.

AWD makes no difference to handling when you're not
accelerating (or using the power to maintain your current
speed). You would have hit that tree in either a FWD or
RWD car anyways.

Unless there is a change to your approach to driving in
general, I'd decline another STi. Get an RS or if you must
- a WRX, and put the difference into performance driving
school. You'll end up with a "less capable" car, but be
faster AND safer anyways.

 

[k. ote]

It is not a troll post. I really really wish it was a troll post.

It's okay dude, I believed you, and I think "M.J."'s post was more a "Aw
man, it can't be true" attempt at humour.

I was in 4th gear and did not apply the brakes.
The car understeered a bit, went off the road (which was on a 30 degree
incline) and hit possibly one of the biggest trees in existence.

Holy crap dude..!

Should I be hoping:
a) that the car is totalled, take a $2k or so loss (on the sales tax and
depreciation of the value of the car) and get a brand new STI

Hope fot it to be totalled. After an accident, the car will feel tainted.
Things won't sound the same, strange extra things will happen months after
the fact (like your 6-cd changer burrowing scratches in your prized CD
collection) and after a certain time period, the insurance people will
start thinking you're pushing normal maintenance of the car into insurance
claims.

ANY accident that isn't cosmetic will never be repaired back to 100%; on a
performance vehicle like an STi, unless you have a pit crew to fix the
issues as they arise like the rally racers do, problems that seem slight
could turn into problems which could turn into new accidents. Do your best
to get a new car out of this. Especially with a moved engine, you now have
to worry about your transmission, your drive shaft, your axles, your wheel
bearings, your differentials, your control arms.. god the list goes on.

b) that the car is not totalled, wait a month and a half for $15,000 worth
of repairs, and continue driving this STI (the mechanic who is a friend of
mine insists it will be like new)

It won't be. It'll *ALWAYS* feel different. Nobody I've ever talked to has
felt their performance car is back up to snuff once it's been in an
accident. Normal cars that don't need precision alignment and pin-point
accuracies in the body--oh sure, those can be fixed so you don't notice
anything. But on a car that's supposed to be capable of 155mph? Or more, if
you're in a Canadian model? Yikes..

c) that the car is totalled, get a different car because the STI is
something I probably cannot handle

Don't give up. The fact that you're posting here is proof you're not
completely lost.

 

[Body Roll]

Adam Frankel wrote:

It won't be. It'll *ALWAYS* feel different. Nobody I've ever talked to has
felt their performance car is back up to snuff once it's been in an
accident. Normal cars that don't need precision alignment and pin-point
accuracies in the body--oh sure, those can be fixed so you don't notice
anything.

^^^^^^^^^^^ I don't think that is true. Most jap cars are fragile.
Perfformance or
not. Detrua 6 packs are a bit better, but are also far from
indestructible.
What you get after repairs are done is not exactly what you had before.

 

[JD]

I have been a good driver my entire life, clean record with no tickets or
no accidents for 8 years up until this point. I feel I can move on from
this and not make the same mistake again.

My thoughts are this:

1) It is not the car's fault that I had this accident

2) In fact - if any car could've handled that turn, it just as likely
could've been the STI

3) The car possibly saved my life

So I feel that since the fault is mine and not the car's that switching
cars would be admitting that I cannot learn from my mistake, and I do not
believe I am that type of person.

You should, first of all, go take some lessons. The STI is a
high-performance car that is not really the best thing to learn on. If you
made a mistake like taking a turn in 4th, you are not ready for this. There
are a myriad of other things that can get you into trouble if you don't know
better, even if you do learn from this one.

 

[CompUser]

PS to prove that this is not a troll post I will post a few links showing
the car (and me) a day before the accident.

Glad you're doing ok. Liberty Subaru--I grew up
a town over from there, my sister had a 70's Suby
from them. I wonder if I'd know the curve, heh.

K.ote speaketh the truth. ;-)

 

[Adam Frankel]

Doubt you would know the curve. I don't live close to Liberty Subaru - they
just happened to be the best deal on an STI within a 1 hour radius of me.

 

[Body Roll]

Should I be hoping:
a) that the car is totalled, take a $2k or so loss (on the sales tax and
depreciation of the value of the car) and get a brand new STI

If your insurance does cut a check for the new STI be sure to pull
crapenza
RE-070 right off and invest $1000 in a set of Advans. I don't know
what kind of deal Subaru struck with Bridgestone and what kind of
ass they pulled RE-070 out of, but it's probably the same pile
of stationwagonware that RE 960 pole positions come from.
Good enough for RS maybe (if you are nearing a retirement),
but completely unsuitable for the STI. evo that comes for $2-3k less
wears
advan neovas out of the door. Needless to say my goodwill towards FHI
took a good beating in the last 1.5 years. Crapenza 92 OBS came shoed
with being a small part of it.