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AUTO REVIEW
OK, a little cold shower in the form of that car, of course, but I’m going to say this after working all day, please. But I’ll bet a
some important detail: the 2.5 L tur- about it: no way it’s more fun than this aging 35-year-old Steve Schutz would have bought
bocharged engine in this year’s STI dates wonder of a car, which is very much a John a WRX STI had it been available. (It’s got
back to around 2004, providing 305 HP, McEnroe in a world of Roger Federers. room for car seats in back!) Thank you Sub-
which translates to a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 aru for selling this car. And to potential buy-
seconds via the only transmission offered, a Anyway, the WRX STI has options galore ers I’d add: Get it while you can.
six-speed manual (Yay!). The turbo lag I al- including advanced features such as blind
luded to above, which I find so entertaining, spot protection, smart cruise control, and If you’re in the market for this kind of ve-
is mostly absent from competitors such as park assist. Pick all of those for your spouse’s hicle, call Phil Hornbeak at 210-301-4367.
the Ford Focus RS, Volkswagen Golf R, and Lexus RX 450h, but ignore them in this car.
Audi S3, all of which offer more sophisti- Please. There are other add ons that make Steve Schutz, MD, is a
cated drive trains. The Focus RS, for exam- sense, naturally, and for those I suggest you board-certified gastroenterolo-
ple, is priced just about where the STI is but call Phil Hornbeak at BCMS headquarters. gist who lived in San Antonio
comes with a more robust 350 HP in addi- He will help you find the perfect WRX STI in the 1990s when he was sta-
tion to a manual transmission. or any other vehicle you’d like with special tioned here in the U.S. Air
member pricing and benefits. Force. He has been writing auto reviews for
Subaru already sells the STI with a mod- San Antonio Medicine since 1995.
ern 2.0 liter twin-scroll turbo engine with Is the WRX STI sophisticated? No. Is it
very little lag, more power, and better emis- luxurious? Give me a break. But is it fun?
sions/fuel economy/blah blah blah in Japan, Hell, yes! Would your humble 53-year-old
and I’m sure it’s “better.” I haven’t driven car reviewer physician want to drive one
every day? No, give me a Lexus so I can relax
visit us at www.bcms.org 45
