You're a fast driver looking for a car you can wring the last drop of performance from, rewarding your mad skills. You want to be a fast driver and improve your not-yet-mad skills in a truly capable, but friendly car. You want to embarrass owners of fine, exotic automobiles. You have no shame. You read Jalopnik.

Style is more important to you than substance. You have "EVO" tattooed across your shoulders in flaming, tribal letters. You think your 1994 cherry red Corvette is the height of sophistication. You aren't prepared to sacrifice luxury, image, servicing costs and your drivers license at the altar of speed. You're 30 going on 45. You prefer car sites where the editors wear copious amounts of khaki.

Speed Merchants: Yes

Fashion Victims: No

Treehuggers: No

Mack Daddies: No

Tuner Crowd: Yes

Hairdressers: No

Penny Pinchers: No

Euro Snobs: No

Working Stiffs: No

Technogeeks: Yes

Poseurs: No

Soccer Moms: No

Nascar Dads: No

Golfing Grandparents: No

• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

• BMW 135i

• Lotus Elise/Exige

• Volkswagen R32

• Manufacturer: Subaru

• Model tested: Impreza WRX STI

• Model year: 2008

• Base Price: $34,995

• Price as Tested: $39,440

• Engine type: 2.5 Liter DOHC Boxer Four

• Horsepower: 305 @ 6,000rpm

• Torque: 290lb/ft @ 4,000 RPM

• Red Line: 6,500 RPM

• Transmission: 6-speed manual

• Curb Weight: 3,395 lbs

• LxWxH: 173.8" x 70.7" x 58.1"

• Wheelbase: 103.3"

• Tires: 245/40 18

• Drive type: AWD

• 0 - 60 mph: 4.8 seconds

• 1/4-mile: 12.7 seconds

• Top speed: 155 MPH

• EPA Fuel economy city/highway: 17/23 MPG

• NHTSA crash test rating: N/A

Also see:

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