After a long wait, the sticker price for the STI S209 has been announced, and it is $63,995. This is before any dealer markup, which is pretty much a guaranteed since there are only 209 of these STI’s available.


This makes the STI S209 not only the most expensive STI ever, it is the most expensive Subaru ever sold here in the US.

S209 STI


The first question that comes to mind is will anyone buy the S209 at this price? I think that the answer is definitely yes. Given how few of these cars that are available, the fact that it is the first true “S” car that has been available to the US market, and the fact that Subaru and Subaru Technica International (STI) really did a lot to make this car special, I have no doubt that all of the S209’s will sell out.


But the real question that we have been talking about lately is, is it a good thing that there is now a $64,000 STI?

Given that the C8 Corvette was just announced a few weeks ago, and its starting price is just $60,000 there have been a lot of comparisons drawn between the S209. Which would you rather have? A C8 Corvette that makes 495 hp, is mid-engine, and has an 8-speed dual clutch transmission standard, or a 341 hp STI that is custom assembled and modified by the Subaru masters at Subaru Technica International?


If you start looking for other options that are in this new ballpark the competition is even stiffer for the S209 when you consider something like an Audi RS3 or an BMW M2. And that is the kind of competition that an STI would have if it were in this price point.


There is no question that the S209 is special. It is hand build from the engine up at the Gunma STI facility. And while it is the most expensive STI ever, it is also most likely going to be the best and most capable STI ever in factory trim. There has been a lot of interest in this car and in what Subaru would do to modify and improve upon the current generation STI. This shows that to Subaru knows that the enthusiasts want an engine that can both handle and make more power, and that they can deliver (at least in part) on this as well. And let's not forget about the improved suspension, wider wheels and tires (with factory flairs even), and the functional aero.

S209 Development


If you look at the S209, and the STI Type-RA before it as test cases, the reception of these two models is showing Subaru that there is a demand for an STI that offers more performance than the standard model, and that there is a customer base that is willing to pay a premium for that STI as well.


The STI is getting a complete re-design in 2021, and it is getting an entirely new direct injected engine. If you asked me, what that new STI needs to really get back on top of all of its competitors is to make 400 hp from the factory, come fitted with 255 tires at a minimum standard (275’s would be much better), and it really needs a dual-clutch transmission as an option (and to keep the proven manual 6-speed as well for the purists). Any one of those is a pretty big up-grade, and all 3 would seem impossible.


But if you take this data from the S209 and the STI Type-RA, and if you could put all of this in an STI that has a $53,000 sticker (just for sake of argument), all of those changes doesn’t seem so far out of line. And even though it would be a big increase in cost, this would be a huge increase in performance for Subaru and for the STI. And even if it is a few thousand dollars more, wouldn't it be worth it to have a car that comes from the factory with that level of performance?
Then can absolutely do it. The question is will they.


If the sales and reception of the S209 make Subaru even the slightest bit more willing to bring the STI into a new realm of performance, it is absolutely a good thing.

 

- Jon Cooley

For more on the S209, click here.