We're Cheering Ourselves Up With An £18k Used Subaru WRX STI
Last week, we brought you the sad news that Subaru is discontinuing the WRX STI in the UK. They’re simply not selling in the numbers required for it to stick around, so while it will continue to be sold elsewhere, it’ll be disappearing from Subaru showrooms on our British Isles.
We can see why - cars like the VW Golf R and Ford Focus RS offer similar power outputs and four-wheel drive with far less of the drawbacks, making the hot Subaru far less attractive these days. Regardless, we’re pretty gutted, and have sought therapy in the classifieds. Where we found this used WRX STI.
This 2014 Subaru is among the cheapest of the current-gen cars on sale in the UK, weighing in at £18,495. It’s clocked just 24,000 miles in its three years on planet Earth, and since the STI hasn’t really changed in that time, you’ve not much to lose but plenty to gain from buying used.
Power comes from a 296bhp, 300lb ft 2.5-litre boxer engine which - unlike the four-banger in the Golf R - isn’t bothered about trying to hide the fact it’s turbocharged. Yes, it’ll use up far more fuel than the Golf as it whisks your from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds, but it has way more character than the engines found in more conventional rivals.
Further separating the WRX STI from the mainstream is the all-wheel drive system. Here, it’s a proper symmetrical setup, not some part-time, front-biased Haldex wannabe.
There’s a school of thought that suggests an STI Subaru must be in WR Blue, preferably with gold wheels, but there’s something refreshingly different about this one being in Dark Grey Metallic.
Rounding off a thoroughly tempting used buy is the fact that this particular STI has a full service history, and has been through only one owner from new. Fancy taking the plunge?
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
why is every other post something from the classiefieds saying how tempted “we” are. this is news and features it just seems like you guys are running out of things to write about
It’s about two a week, not sure I’d call that “every other post.” And nothing to do with “running out of things to write” - we enjoy writing them and people enjoy reading them (stats reflect this) ;)
I could never fully appreciate the looks of the new subaru.
I was spending the day in the scottish borders on sunday and saw one parked outside a house at the start of the day, then saw the same one at about 5 in the evening buzzing along the windy roads.
I wasn’t too bothered when the WRX STI left the UK. Not because I dislike it- quite the opposite- but because the version sold in Japan is cheaper, and has a different engine which is smaller, lighter, produces the same power, but more torque, and revs higher. If I could afford a WRX STI, I would’ve bough the JDM version anyway.
My mind..
The only used sti’s in Portugal (subaru doesn’t sell cars here anymore)
Why they depreciate?
Is pretty weird, isnt isnt logic that if something stops production their cost skyrockets? That same model in my country is “cheap” at 40k
This car is so good and looks bad at the same time..You see a beautiful subaru angry front, and a really ugly KIA RIO ending. Its confusing.
But its a beast, so i guess its ok
Now this folks, is why you come to Australia for the Daily Evo Vs Subie dose :) I just see them driving around casually!
Or America. You can buy many older performance cars for prices at $20 k or under.
Actually thinking about trading in my audi s4 avant b8.5 for one of these. When I see them on the road I just see rally car and love it. Look so much better covered in mud