1999 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Version 5 review from Australia and New Zealand

No faults as yet apart from one of the key remotes failing.

Security system (2 of) can catch you out if not attended to in the right steps.

This is the second fantastic WRX I have owned, the first being a 1997 wagon. Not planning to purchase another, a chance opportunity arose for me to acquire this limited edition model based on the 2 door rally chassis. Only 399 were imported into Australia (1 apparently falling off the loading dock in Yokohama Japan). This is the most powerful STi delivered to Australia (apart from the 22B which can't be road registered here). On paper, 206kw with 350nm of torque @ 4.9 sec - 0-100km. I can say this car really gets up and goes. Compared to the standard WRX there is an immediate feel of more torque. Acceleration wise, the smaller turbo on the 1997 model spun up quicker, but ran out of steam in the high end of each gear. This is where the STi just keeps on going! It's like an avalanche of power after 3000 rpm!!! Suspension and breaking are vastly improved as well over my previous car, it also seems to appear that the build quality is considerably higher on this STi. Only downside with the car is that you tend to get hassled more (compared to the 97 wagon) from other speed racers.

Hope to take it off the road shortly and drive on occasion, but in the mean time it's a daily drive I really look forward to!!!