It used to be a bulletproof motor, but the tune they started running in 2007+ was crippled by the EPA. They had to get emissions down, so they leaned it out on spoolup. Good for emissions, bad for everything else. If one were to reflash the car in the dealer parking lot on delivery, I'll bet you'd never have a problem.

I'm in the same boat, but an Sti is off the list. I gotta make the jump to an SUV or Crossover soon. We need the extra seats and being a homeowner, we need trunk space to haul crap from the store. I had to leave my trunk wide open trying to bring home a compound miter saw from Home Depot. I know it's not something you do every day, but those little instances add up.

So far, I like the Highlander, Pathfinder, 2016 Pilot, Santa Fe & especially the new Murano. For sedans, I like the A4, 3 series & the Q50. All get pretty pricey with options. I like the new Maxima, but wish it came with AWD. Gonna miss the Z and wish I could keep it.

This commercial, lol

I am ambivalent about STI's, but imagine living in Colorado; they are everywhere. Quite a practical vehicle, but IMO the non-STI models of the WRX are much better looking. If you have a "Baby on Board" why go for the performance model anyway? I am not a father, but I imagine after having a baby I would want to drive much more conservatively (sanely) than I drive in the Z. I am sure the WRX has plenty of pep.

Every car has a throttle and your right foot controls all that whether you have 30 hp or 3000. If you have to rely on power output to be disciplined with your driving, you're doing it wrong.

I'm going for the performance model because the baby will not always be on board and while I will make sacrifices for my children and family, I don't have to give up my hobbies :)

Local guy switched from a Nismo to the new STI last year and he loves it. I love having two cars but if I had to consolidate the STI would be on my list as well.

I'd like to get out of the Z myself, but can't (too far upside down).

I've even considered going boring and getting something like a MB C250 (4cyl turbo, AT). I have just lost the fun of driving since I only do DD stuff and nothing else.

Wow, and I thought I was the only one. EXACTLY why I traded my Z. It sucks man...lol.

STI is hideous and can believe you guys are giving up Z's for this thing, to each his own :)

Have you ever driven one? They're pretty entertaining. AWD is a lot of fun. And you can't see the outside of a Subaru from the driver's seat. :roflpuke2:

LMFAO, you got me on that one. No I've never driven one, aesthetics first man, gotta look good before anything else :)

I have to agree; since I am not blessed/cursed with a family I personally don't need to make compromises when it comes to a performance vehicle. I want mine to look awesome, handle well, be RWD and be quick. The only other reasonable vehicle that would fit that bill would be a Corvette or a Porsche. Honestly the Z looks as good as either, and around here they are as scarce as hen's teeth. Plus I just paid my Z off :happydance:

As for the OP and his situation, the STI sounds like a perfect choice.

I still miss my STi. I should have kept it. Damn near 400 ft/lbs at the wheels at 3500rpm, and AWD grip. I'd have detuned it a bit and kept it for my daily driver had I known the idiot I sold it to would blow it up in 3 weeks. 75k miles, only one CEL ever and it was because I didn't reconnect a sensor after a long night of installing parts. The next owner filled it up with a tank of 91 in Bumfuck, North Dakota in the winter on a map for 93+meth tuned in Houston less than 2000 miles after he bought it and went out to show his friend how fast his new car was. I'm sure it hauled ***. Once.

If you buy a Subaru, you have to make your peace with two things- the exterior and the rattles. Oh God, the rattles. These cars perform great, but you never forget you're in a cheap car with an expensive drivetrain and an interior where you can still kinda see "Fisher Price" stamped on some of the plastics.

Q50s ?

Yeah - I am doing my research on the car very heavily at the moment. I have went for rides in some older ones to see how they do with age. Exactly what you mentioned with rattles and exactly what I expected. Doesn't bother me a whole lot really. My Z has already developed a couple rattles itself but overall I'm good with it all.

It sounds like I would do a Cobb Stage1+ right out of the box with it to stay on the safe side. Or just ride out the warranty, or buy an extended warranty, but I'm not a fan of those, and it's very unlikely it will stay stock under my ownership. I would do the Cobb Stage 1+ as a Band-Aid and get a pro-tune very shortly thereafter.

This. I'd keep it stock for the first few hundred miles and stay our of boost, and then once I was convinced it wasn't a lemon flash it to a map that doesn't grenade the motor.

Also, sway bars. Have them waiting when you bring the car home.