Here is an STI from a time when it was considered a performance bargain. The modifications are minimal, which is uncommon for a WRX. With its Limited trim and silver finish, it exudes a more refined subtlety than the typical STI. Many racing fans were upset when Subaru decided to stop making the WRX STI in 2021. On the other hand, the car slowly died as the competition’s better performance slowly passed it. By the early 2020s, a 2.5-liter boxer-four engine with only 300 hp and 20 mpg wasn’t good enough. On the first day of the 2000s, things were different. In 2007, 800 STI Limiteds were sold in the US. This one is for sale on Bring a Trailer, which is owned by Hearst Autos, along with Invoice Pricing. The GD-chassis car made its successful debut in the United States in 2004, along with the STI badge. Back then, this simple four-door Subaru car could tear up a snowy day going sideways and go straight up against a V-8 Mustang, making its driver feel like Colin McRae. Sure, good times. Unfortunately, many of these cars ended up in the hands of careless people, and many would-be Ken Blocks changed them by gymkhana them into the next curb. Performance Subarus that are still built to original specs are the exception, not the rule, and the rate of loss was about the same as the boost level. This is different. The clock reads 40K kilometers, and there have only been a few changes from the factory. They were all made by Subaru’s own Performance Team. When this car was brand new, the dealer-installed air intake and cat-back exhaust would not have been covered by the guarantee. In the US, the EJ257 flat-four engine made 293 horsepower. In Japan, the STIs had a 2.0-liter supercharged engine that made almost the same amount of power. When the road is wet, limited slip front and rear differentials send power to the ground, and a center differential that the driver can choose sends power from the front to the back. It has a manual gearbox with six speeds. After this version of the STI, a hatchback model came out that was noticeably softer and felt less focused on the driver. It wasn’t a rally hero, but it was a more comfortable Impreza for daily drive. This 2007 STI is even more raw when you drive it. It feels more small, steers better, is lighter, and makes more noise. That’s the kind of Subaru racing hero you want. The Limited has some great features, like automatic climate control and warm leather seats, but the novelty is more appealing than the comfort. With its simple 17-inch wheels and small rear lip spoiler, the Limited may have been the least noticeable STI of its time. Even though it looks nice on the outside, it’s still a really troublemaker at heart. This STI, which is number 51 of only 800 made, might become valuable one day. Even if production starts up again, Subaru will not be able to make the STI this way anymore. The sale ends on March 19.
