I didn't purchase the car as an autocrosser, but I have none the less taken it to SCCA autocrosses 4 or 5 times with fantastic results. If you think the car is a terminal understeerer, then you don't know how to modulate the throttle. The car is actually quite neutral at speed and very easily provoked into oversteer. It's definitely overweight (as is this particular driver), and the outside front tire takes a beating, but I've faired better than average against all EVO's and STi's. Last weekend, I beat all the regular WRX's (no STi's showed) and 2 out of 3 EVO's. Not bad for an overweight, only fun in a straight line car. For what it's worth, the less than stellar Elise driver went down again as well.
I will admit, I did hit 2 cones on one lap this past weekend, the first cones I've hit in this car, due to oversteer.
The critics are wrong, the car is great, but easily misunderstood. It's not quite EVO territory, but a hell of a lot nicer. It's not quite 330i, but a hell of a lot faster. Oh yeah, it's also 6-8k less than the EVO and at least 10k less than a 330i (equipped). I'll stick with the Speed6
Iguess the guy who takes all the pictures at the Fresno SCCA thought the car looked fast standing still. I really don't know why he took this picture of the car parked, but who am I to complain.
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