Colorado Pantera Club - Subaru WRX STI Vs. Pantera

Colorado
Pantera
Club

A Playmate for the Pantera:

Subaru WRX STI

Now that your humble webmaster has purchased a cute 2004 Subaru WRX STI, I've had a chance to put it through its paces in the hills. So I can now comment on how this car compares to my Pantera. The following is a summary of my driving impressions - both good and bad - about both cars.

1972 DeTomaso Pantera

Engine: Ford 351 c.i. Cleveland V8, normally aspirated and carburated
Transaxle: ZF 5-speed close-ratio synchromesh
Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Max. Horsepower: 400 (est.)
Max. Torque: 400 ft-lbs (est.)

(click to image enlarge)

Strengths:

Brute V8 horsepower is your friend with the Pantera. Acceleration is outstanding, with plenty of power throughout the rpm range. You can be in any gear at any speed, then mash the accelerator and you'll be thrown back in your seat. Screaming out of corners under power is a blast in this car. Tons of low-end torque means you can forget a downshift and still launch out of a corner.

Cornering is excellent, although this car favors high-speed cornering over tight hairpin curves. The mid-engine layout gives a very balanced, confident feel. Heavy duty sway bars front and rear combined with the incredibly low center of gravity give this car virtually zero body roll. The trick for cornering with the Pantera is to steer with the rear. The car naturally understeers but this is corrected by giving it some slight throttle through the corner. The car is forgiving as well and provides the driver with a lot of road feel. The Pantera will give you a lot of warning before it breaks loose and is relatively easy to get back under control.

The Pantera is a natural attention-getter...which is both good and bad. It always draws a crowd at the gas station, and who wouldn't want to be seen driving a sleek, low, Italian exotic car with the rumble of an American V8 coming out the back? Of course the local police can hear it coming a mile away too, so keep an eye on your radar detector.

Weaknesses:

The lack of power steering makes getting this car through tight corners a real chore for the driver. The steering ratio isn't as fast as the Subaru either, which increases the amount of manual input the driver must put into the wheel. Your forearms get a work-out in this car.

The clutch pedal is burdensome and the shift throw is pretty long (compared to the Subaru) so quick shifting is much more difficult.

It isn't too surprising that the Pantera is pretty much worthless as a daily driver since it lacks most of the creature comforts that new cars offer. Ergonomics are horrible, and it's loud and abnoxious. It tends to overheat in stop-and-go traffic...and forget about carrying more than one passenger. Fuel economy? Don't even ask. As long as I own my Pantera, OPEC will remain in business.

2004 Subaru WRX STI

Engine: 2.5 L horizontally opposed 4 cyl., turbocharged with electronic fuel injection
Transaxle: 6-speed close-ratio synchromesh
Layout: Front engine, all-wheel drive
Max. Horsepower: 300
Max. Torque: 300 ft-lbs

(click image to enlarge)

Strengths:

Quick, nimble handling combined with lots of high-tech driver aids makes this car a real treat to drive. And 300 horsepower never hurts, either. The computer-controlled power distribution system really helps get this car through the corners by minimizing wheel slip. All-wheel drive combined with the high performance tires (factory stock) makes this car stick like glue. Handling is superb, especially in tight corners. For the most part this car can be flung around like a go-kart. Yet the ride is firm but not punishing.

The power is excellent as well. Acceleration is very quick, just be sure to keep the rpms in the turbo boost range. The short-throw 6-speed gear shifter is effortless to throw yet still gives a satisfying feel of gear engagement. You can basically slap it into gear.

Of course, the fancy instrument panel plus all the creature comforts of a Subaru make this car a very pleasant daily driver. This car is just as happy tearing through some twisty corners as it is going to the grocery store. It can also streak across the desert effortlessly at 100+ mph and still get 22 mpg.

Weaknesses:

Although the turbo lag on the WRX STI is not as bad as the regular WRX (thanks to the STI's 2.5 L engine) it is still evident. There is a significant power loss if you let the revs drop below about 3000 rpm. When you hit that 3000 rpm mark when accelerating the car takes off like a rocket, which isn't always good if you're not expecting it. Those of us used to nice linear V8 power delivery will need to get used to this. The car exhibits some torque steer when pulling out of corners. Unlike the Pantera, you can't use the rear end to help steer this car through the corners.

When the STI comes loose, getting it back under control is not nice as the Pantera. It is very easy to over-correct. This is because the computer will be trying to distribute the power to get the car to grip again, so you have to basically let the car do what it wants to do and hold on tight and let the computer save your butt. Once again, this is new to those of us used to our old rear-wheel drive V8's.

Fuel economy varies wildly from about 10 to 25 mpg depending on how you drive it.

E-mail me at: matt@coloradopantera.com

Back to the photo page.


	Now that your humble webmaster has purchased a cute 2004 Subaru WRX STI, I've had a chance to put it through its paces in the hills. So I can now comment on how this car compares to my Pantera. The following is a summary of my driving impressions - both good and bad - about both cars.
		1972 DeTomaso Pantera Engine: Ford 351 c.i. Cleveland V8, normally aspirated and carburated Transaxle: ZF 5-speed close-ratio synchromesh Layout: Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive Max. Horsepower: 400 (est.) Max. Torque: 400 ft-lbs (est.)
	(click to image enlarge)
	Strengths: Brute V8 horsepower is your friend with the Pantera. Acceleration is outstanding, with plenty of power throughout the rpm range. You can be in any gear at any speed, then mash the accelerator and you'll be thrown back in your seat. Screaming out of corners under power is a blast in this car. Tons of low-end torque means you can forget a downshift and still launch out of a corner. Cornering is excellent, although this car favors high-speed cornering over tight hairpin curves. The mid-engine layout gives a very balanced, confident feel. Heavy duty sway bars front and rear combined with the incredibly low center of gravity give this car virtually zero body roll. The trick for cornering with the Pantera is to steer with the rear. The car naturally understeers but this is corrected by giving it some slight throttle through the corner. The car is forgiving as well and provides the driver with a lot of road feel. The Pantera will give you a lot of warning before it breaks loose and is relatively easy to get back under control. The Pantera is a natural attention-getter...which is both good and bad. It always draws a crowd at the gas station, and who wouldn't want to be seen driving a sleek, low, Italian exotic car with the rumble of an American V8 coming out the back? Of course the local police can hear it coming a mile away too, so keep an eye on your radar detector. Weaknesses: The lack of power steering makes getting this car through tight corners a real chore for the driver. The steering ratio isn't as fast as the Subaru either, which increases the amount of manual input the driver must put into the wheel. Your forearms get a work-out in this car. The clutch pedal is burdensome and the shift throw is pretty long (compared to the Subaru) so quick shifting is much more difficult. It isn't too surprising that the Pantera is pretty much worthless as a daily driver since it lacks most of the creature comforts that new cars offer. Ergonomics are horrible, and it's loud and abnoxious. It tends to overheat in stop-and-go traffic...and forget about carrying more than one passenger. Fuel economy? Don't even ask. As long as I own my Pantera, OPEC will remain in business.
		2004 Subaru WRX STI Engine: 2.5 L horizontally opposed 4 cyl., turbocharged with electronic fuel injection Transaxle: 6-speed close-ratio synchromesh Layout: Front engine, all-wheel drive Max. Horsepower: 300 Max. Torque: 300 ft-lbs
	(click image to enlarge)
	Strengths: Quick, nimble handling combined with lots of high-tech driver aids makes this car a real treat to drive. And 300 horsepower never hurts, either. The computer-controlled power distribution system really helps get this car through the corners by minimizing wheel slip. All-wheel drive combined with the high performance tires (factory stock) makes this car stick like glue. Handling is superb, especially in tight corners. For the most part this car can be flung around like a go-kart. Yet the ride is firm but not punishing. The power is excellent as well. Acceleration is very quick, just be sure to keep the rpms in the turbo boost range. The short-throw 6-speed gear shifter is effortless to throw yet still gives a satisfying feel of gear engagement. You can basically slap it into gear. Of course, the fancy instrument panel plus all the creature comforts of a Subaru make this car a very pleasant daily driver. This car is just as happy tearing through some twisty corners as it is going to the grocery store. It can also streak across the desert effortlessly at 100+ mph and still get 22 mpg. Weaknesses: Although the turbo lag on the WRX STI is not as bad as the regular WRX (thanks to the STI's 2.5 L engine) it is still evident. There is a significant power loss if you let the revs drop below about 3000 rpm. When you hit that 3000 rpm mark when accelerating the car takes off like a rocket, which isn't always good if you're not expecting it. Those of us used to nice linear V8 power delivery will need to get used to this. The car exhibits some torque steer when pulling out of corners. Unlike the Pantera, you can't use the rear end to help steer this car through the corners. When the STI comes loose, getting it back under control is not nice as the Pantera. It is very easy to over-correct. This is because the computer will be trying to distribute the power to get the car to grip again, so you have to basically let the car do what it wants to do and hold on tight and let the computer save your butt. Once again, this is new to those of us used to our old rear-wheel drive V8's. Fuel economy varies wildly from about 10 to 25 mpg depending on how you drive it.
	E-mail me at: matt@coloradopantera.com
	Back to the photo page.


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	Contents copyright 2004.