From Automobilemag.com
http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_sh...x_sti_limited/

Limited to just 800 units, this U.S.-only STI variant is aimed at the shy, quiet wannabe banzai rally driver. The transformation from wild-child base STI to the business casual STI Limited was achieved primarily by swapping the regular car's gargantuan rear wing and roof-vane spoiler for a far more subtle, single decklid spoiler. The Limited also gets foglamps, a front air dam, unique Enkei wheels, and black Brembo calipers in place of the usual gold grippers. Inside, heated leather seats, satellite radio, and a sunroof improve the livability. Of the 800 cars, half will be painted white and half will be gray.

 

Will anything be changed on the powertrain or is it mainly visual enhancements?

 

Same drivetrain as a regular STI.

New SAE ratings are like 290hp/293tq.

 

The car does look alot better without that wing.

 

Now that is a STI I would spend my money on. Too bad this isn't the normal version, and they aren't making 800 of the ricer version.

 

The grill is hideous...otherwise not bad

 

I like that WAAAY better than the giant-wing gold caliper factory rice version.

 

Odd, the front fender/hood doesn't like up with the driver's door.

 

Nice powertrain, but still not a good looking car IMO

 

Right... they just look ricey though. This version of the STi still uses Brembos, right? Just a more subdued color.

 

"All Impreza WRX STI models are powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter DOHC Boxer engine producing 293 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 290 lb.- ft. of peak torque at 4,400 rpm."

Other turbos are down a bit under the new rating system. I think Subaru should have cranked the boost, what, a 1/2 psi to keep the rounded numbers, eventhough actual performance hasn't changed.

 

Should we up the boost by 1/2psi? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A; multiply by the probable rate of failure, B; multiply by the average warranty cost C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a warranty repairs, we don't do it.

Are there a lot of these kinds of problems?

You wouldn't believe.

Which car company do you work for?

A major one.

 

Yeah... people keep trying to convince me to get a programmer for my Audi A4 to bump power from 200hp/207tq to ~260/300 which I have to admit would be badass. They all tell me it will hardly affect reliability at all, but I have to question that statement because if it wasn't going to dramtically affect reliability, then you'd think Audi would have at least increased stock boost by half that much as thus be quite a bit more competetive power-wise with other cars in that class.

 

isn't it a rental anyways?

 

A lease and a rental are two different things- you know it's a lease - I mean you must have literally asked that or brought that up about my car a minimum of 5 time in the 6 months I've had it... so I don't know why you always call it a rental other than to denigrate my purchasing decision every chance you get? That must be it considering you keep asking it in question format even though you should know the answer by now.

But yes, it's a lease - and if something blew up not only would I potentially void the warranty but I might violate the terms of my lease and be forced to buy it at the end which is the last thing I want to do.