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Hello everyone and welcome in this video we are checking out the 2018 Subaru WRX STI
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Type RA that type RA standing for
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record attempt
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Dating back to a records attempted Subaru did and then this name has stuck around the type RA so it has some changes
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versus
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the standard
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STI
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You've got a new intake. You've got a new exhaust the exhaust alone giving about two additional horsepower reducing back pressure by 50%
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They have actually now sodium filled
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exhaust
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Valves which are just on the type RA to help pull some of that heat away from the combustion chamber
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They have new Pistons
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they say you know the reason behind the Pistons is for the slight amount of additional horsepower and also because
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They want this vehicle to be able to just go out on the track running all day
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They know that the people buying a type array
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You know or the type that might?
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Might want to take it to a track and as a result. They want to make sure that those pistons are good
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So they've strengthened up the pistons a bit and with a retuned calibration for the engine
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You get five more horsepower
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So a little disappointing and that they didn't change the horsepower and that you know a 2007 type r AR in japan was making
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320 horsepower and eleven years later
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We're making 310 horsepower torque is unchanged 290 pound feet the torque curve
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however has improved on the lower range so from
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2000 to 3000 RPM they have improved it a bit
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And they've also changed out the third gear ratio so four point five percent more aggressive third gear ratio
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so in combination with slightly more power slightly more
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To work on the low end you know you and perhaps feel a difference
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It feels quick honestly, and I'm going uphill and it feels like a good responsive engine. I'm keeping in the sweet spot about 4000 here
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There's definitely turbo lag as is associated with this engine from 2004 essentially you know changes have been made to it
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But the engine does date back a good ways one of the things
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I really like about this is the steering wheel itself I wouldn't say I necessarily feel a huge difference in
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Steering feel versus the standard STI, but the steering wheel itself is super nice. It's got a nice comfort to it
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It's not leather wrapped. It's got this suede
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Alcantara wrap to it which feels wonderful
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Nice amount of like squishiness to it. That's the world
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I'm going to use to describe, but I do really like the steering wheel so what are their changes have been made to the car
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Versus the base STI well, it's got a carbon-fiber roof that has pulled out eight pounds of weight
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And it has lowered the center of gravity just pulling out the roof has lowered the center of gravity two millimeters
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They've got new wheels so now it's on 19-inch wheels
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versus the 18s
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They pulled out weight in several different areas
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They say the total weight difference between this and a base STI with Recaros is
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68 pounds so a decent amount of weight that they have been able to pull out of it 68 pounds lighter than the base
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STI with Recaro seats so how does it feel driving?
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Good actually it feels it feels quite good. It's there's a little lightness to the steering feel
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Not you know
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I was just driving the BRZ TS and I feel like the steering feedback and feel on that car is superior to this
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STI RA
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But you know it does what you want it to do as far as the steering is concerned
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I'd just say that the feedback isn't quite there, and it's a bit light
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versus the BRC
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Ts it communicates a bit more with you
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Throttle pedal you do have turbo lag
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If you keep it up in these higher rpms and part of the fact that they change that gear ratio helps you do that
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With third gear keeping it an aggressive third gear ratio
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So keeping it above 4000. Yeah, you still have turbo lag
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I mean it's certainly there so and this is an engine that wants to be in high rpm to make power and
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Unfortunately if you're below that the boost threshold is pretty high, but they have changed it a bit by changing that torque curve
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To you know allow for those lower rpm that lower rpm torque to be there so from 2,000 to 3,000 rpm
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They have improved the map a bit so I think that's probably a more important story than the fact that they've added five horsepower
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Now what's the challenge with this vehicle?
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Well the challenge is that they're charging 50 thousand dollars for it, so you know a base STI is
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$36,000 this is
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49,000 without destination and with destination it's very close to
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$50,000 that's a lot of money
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So you get new wheels you get a new suspension
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It's got Bilstein dampers all around you've got a new engine tuned stronger piston so you can stand on the track all day
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New intake new exhaust there are a lot of changes carbon fibre roof, but is it
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$14,000 worth of changes is that improvement there?
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I don't think it is it has more down force that has vents in the rear for the rear
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wheels, which actually are functional they help reduce lift and drag this actually has a
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1.4. Percent lower drag coefficient versus the base STI which is interesting because you know they've worked on improving the downforce so they have improved
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It aerodynamically
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but
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The you know what are you paying for it and part of it like?
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Realistically has to be said that you're paying for that type of a badge. There's only going to be 500 of these made
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There's only going to be 500 of the BRZ ts
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Made and so you know it's a limited edition
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there are some people who really love these sti's I used to own one it was a
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solid fun car
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And and you're gonna pay a premium for that so there's a fifty thousand dollar price tag on a car that isn't gonna perform
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Necessarily as a fifty thousand dollar price car should but it has some cool unique features to it that are exclusive to this
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version of the STI that you don't get you know with the base STI
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And you can't get otherwise so it is cool what they've done. It is an enjoyable car to drive
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I'm gonna get some time to drive it a little bit later on the track and see how I like it there
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One of the things I do want to say I have been driving the BRZ TS as well
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And I think the biggest change there
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Ts standing for tuned by STI the biggest noticeable change at least for me is the tire so they've gone from the primacy tires
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Which are low grip, a lot of fun
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In a BRZ because you can get the tail out
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And they've switched over to michelin ps4s tires so the pilot sport fours
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And those tires have so much more grip than the primacy tires. You can really thrash
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that
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BRZ now and not go over the limit of grip
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Which is interesting,I think it's going to be cool on the track
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I think for daily driving like, I would never recommend someone to get worse tires from a safety standpoint or performance standpoint
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But the car is fun with tires that have not quite as much grip because it's a bit more tossable
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It's a bit more playful
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It is really cool with the ps4s tires though and having that additional grip
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it
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Turns it into a different car and it really would allow it for you know if you're gonna modify that current put more power into
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It those ps4s tires are really gonna. Let you take advantage of it
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So really enjoy driving the BRZ. I love the steering feel in it. I love the tire update
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I think it's a wonderful car. You know the power isn't there like everyone wants it to be, but it's a fun
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Really well behaved very good drivers car this STI is a bit updated. So if you like the current STI
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It's not a huge difference. You've got a bit more low-end torque
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And and five more horsepower a bit more aerodynamic. You can actually adjust the rear wing, but overall you know it's not
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Leaps and miles ahead of what the current STI is it drives very similarly it feels very similarly
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They do for 2018 they introduced six pot
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Brakes on the front so six pot Brembos rather than four pot two pots still in the rear and so that is an update that
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Goes for all sti's not just this one so a lot of exclusive stuff just for the Type RA
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But as far as the brakes up front they upgraded that
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For both the regular STI and the type alright the type RA does get drilled rotors
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Where I don't believe the 2018 does so specific to this vehicle drilled rotors?
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And those upgraded great upgraded brakes, so you know some minor changes, but a lot of changes overall
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And it does you know kind of add to a more fun feel and a more exclusive feel certainly with this car
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So thank you guys for watching if you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below