The 2019 Subaru WRX STi is here, and potential buyers want to know is the car a good daily driver? I go over every inch of this 2019 Subaru STi to give you everything you need to make the best decision for you!
One thing to remember. If your tire/wheel is damaged by a pothole, the city/township is responsible and will pay for repairs. Just write down where the hole was.
This is not true. Each state has different laws. Some do not hold state/county/city at fault, some do. The ones that do, usually require the the state/county/city was aware of the pothole in advance to your accident... and still they are usually given a fair amount of time to fix it (i.e. 7 days) before you can hold them liable. You will also need to photograph the pothole to prove there was one and take pictures with landmarks/signs in the background to show location; also take a picture of the damage to your car. Bottomline, know your local laws - it will help you save money and time.
As a proud owner of a 2019 WRX STi Limited, I can tell you that the STi is a great daily driver for those who love to drive. I drive about 60-70 miles round trip to work every day and have no issue whatsoever. I love cars with stiff suspension because I want precision and predictability. As of rush hour traffic, I got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic a few times but it did not bother me at all. A few weeks ago when we had pouring rain, the STi handled the road like a dream. BTW, nobody will be wearing high heels to drive an STi. ;)
@@RaitisRides Forgot to mention, the stock exhaust is too tame in my humble opinion. I can see why so many STi owners have switched to after market exhaust for better rumbling sound.
hell yeah. The reason so many people would not like this for a daily driver is the EXACT reason we would love it for a daily driver. Funny how that is.
The STI will destroy a Starbucks drinking, skinny jean wearing soy boy as a daily driver but will be totally at home for someone who manspreads, has calloused hands, and been dropped several times on the floor as a kid.
I love how this guy give very detail how to live with this car. You can say all you want but this guys say the reality about daily life with this beauty.
...another thorough review...you truly leave no stone unturned! I myself daily drive a 2018 VW GTI looking to move up to a Golf R in the not to distant future, but after seeing your review of this STI. I will happily give this ride a serious look. Thanks again for your hard work! Great channel!
I think it’s time for Subaru to redesign the WRX. The current design has aged well, but it’s time for changes. They need to introduce a new engine for the STi.
Great review Joe. Your passion for the STI and experience enhance the talking points. I daily my ‘18 STI. When I was considering trading up from my ‘16 WRX I was warned the STI is too stiff. When I took my first drive I was happy to find for me the ride felt even better. I feel that the ride of the STI makes you feel connected. And yes the wheels look great but they’re a bear to clean.... I laughed when you mentioned it. Only thing worse is what you go thru to clean the calipers. In the end all worth it. I’m 6 mos and 8,000 miles in and still look forward to driving every day I jump back in. Merry Christmas bro
I am so glad tat you enjoyed this one! I really love the Subaru STI, and I am very tempted to get another one. Thank you for sharing your input and perspective! I am so glad that you are enjoying yours. I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well! 2019 is going to be HUGE! I am so glad you are on this ride with me!
A few months ago my wife wanted to test drive a BRZ. We went to a dealer and the first thing we saw as we drove into the lot was this same 2019 STi but it was a limited with a low lip spoiler. We didn't even bother with the BRZ and test drove this STi instead. We didn't know at the time that we were in the ONLY 2019 Silver STi with a low lip spoiler not just in Florida but in the entire south east. Even today there is only ONE in Silver with a low lip spoiler in all of Florida. If you go on CarGurus, there are under 20 in the entire United States! We loved the car, it's like no other sedan you have ever been in, you have to drive one to understand. I wish they weren't 43K because even though I don't need one, I'd love to buy it anyway.
i got 2016 sti limited top notch, stage 2, full turbo back exhaust, intake, cobb v3, 4"inch 1 tips double staggered wall deleted mufflers... 347hp! beast as a daily driver.
I just bought a 2019 base STI two months ago.It is a great car.I purposely did not get recaro seat,push button start because it added 2500.00 to the cost. I wanted performance options like the short throw shifter.i do not daily drive this car,it is a weekend warrior,therefore gas mileage is not an issue.I love the EJ motor,and while It may be outdated,it is dependable and a classic.Who know's what the future will bring for the 2020.
I was searching for a standard model and it would up I got Recaros on mine because I got very favorable pricing on that particular car...and, honestly, I personally like the standard seatbacks more. The side bolsters of the Recaros definitely wear a bit faster than the standard seatback.
I custom ordered my 2018 WRX STI in August of 2017. I added Recaro racing seats, short shifter and upgraded exhaust. This car has been my daily since I took delivery in Nov 2017, I have put almost 10K so far and I love it just as much as I did the day I took delivery. Great review!
My 19 STI is a daily driver and it suits me just fine. The clutch is light enough to not bother me in traffic. Average about 17-18 mpg for city driving and about 22-23 on the highway. I also tightened it up with an upgraded pitch mount brace, tranny mount and rear diff inserts. Love the ride and the way it feels.
The STI is my favorite daily. The brakes are good, but not harsh. Handling is sporty, but not harsh. Road and highway noise is actually good. The engine is responsive. The clutch is easy to shift smooth. The oem short shifter and quick ratio steering rack are two of my favorite features. But number one has to be the close ratio transmission. There's a good gear for any speed. It doesnt die in 4th like some cars. Everything put together makes me feel like I'm supposed to enjoy every drive. Plus i can fit camping gear in the trunk, or seat adults comfortably. That makes it a perfect daily for me. And as a bonus, this moonroof doesnt bother your ears at highway speeds.
I was going to buy one of these, 2018. The salesman had it parked in the sold spot. I made a promise to myself I would test drive 2 other vehicles. I test drove a jeep, and a golf gti. The wrx seemed like a lot of fun, but the gti was just so much better and cheaper. Yeah I suffer the few times it snows, but I could just see myself living with the gti everyday. Plus, the 75k transferrable warranty was just awesome.
I daily my STI. No complaints! You can easily forgive the 'stiff' ride if you consider the many pros of the car. HUGE trunk and cabin space that can fit half your household and groceries. Safety features are commendable. Ground clearance is excellent, but scraping the front plastic panel would be a headache to fix.
Awesome car. Im an Enthusiast it sounds crazy but I have no problem daily driving this , a gt500 and even a viper. Rip Focus rs, Cts-V wagon and Mitsubishi Evo, such a great rally car. Love Subaru!!!
I have to say also, as happy as I am owning a 2019 Subaru WRX STI Limited, it's all worth the buy with it's new features. Front and rear Camera, blind spot detection, Harmon Kardon sound system, and a moon roof. The STI has been always my dream car and I've achieved my dream and hard work in getting the STI Limited. The best part is I live in the the Philippines and bought it here. It's so much fun driving it here. 😊😁
On my third Subie, a 2019 STI Limited in Ice Metallic Silver with the lip spoiler. Loving this car, makes even the most mundane trip more fun. It shines in the curves, especially when the pavement ends. Of course it needs more power, but even 310hp can get you into trouble if you're not paying attention! Excellent review - if you bought this car to drive it, it will be an enjoyable daily driver.
Just bought the STI Limited, first big purchase I have made (I’m only 19) and gotta say I love these cars. I grew up in a mechanics shop and gotta say I’m highly impressed by this car. The drive is always smooth, and incredibly comfortable. Acceleration is nice and smooth. I can say this car really catches people’s attention, especially more so when they see a girl come out of it. Love it so much!
You have better money saving skills than I did at that age. I couldn't afford one of these at 19 if my life depended on it, and this was largely because I blew all my money chasing girls...unsuccessfully. I did have a PT Cruiser with inflatable duck hunting decoys super glued to the roof, which might also explain the 'unsuccessful' component. Congrats on the purchase!
Zac Paul wow! Haha what a ride! I am a full time college student but I commute so I’m able to hold down a pretty good part time job, as for the chasing girls.. my boyfriend is breathing proof that chivalry still exists, he never lets me pay! Helps save a coin, it’s a wonderful car I’m really proud of myself, it’s a constant reminder of how my hard work is paying off
Switch to Ceramic or Carbon Fiber brake pads. Metallic pads shed a ton of dust. Metallic pads also are significantly less in price, ideal for mass production and very common.
Hey Raiti thank you so much for doing this video. Family has gotten bigger and need an upgrade from my 2015 Civic si coupe just needing to figure some stuff out but I’ve been wanting an STI for year!! This put more insight into why I was wanting one so badly and needing one now! Again THANK YOU!!
The “stripper” STI is a GREAT bang for buck and driver focused car! There is little to no point in owning one and keeping it as a weekend car. Made a perfect addition to my 1LE and truck
I love this video and keep coming back to it.I bought a new base STI in November 2018 and have not had much of a chance to drive the car.I live in Massachusetts and there is too much salt on the road in the wintertime.Every time I watch this I learn something new about my STI.Spring is right around the corner.
Love your subi vids. I've owned 4 WRX's and now a proud owner of a 2019 STi. These are great cars for the money and the resale on these cars are unbelievable! Keep up the good work!
I have a 19 sti limited. I drive 70 miles a day. On the highway the thing is amazing. Super stable and 6th gear pulls. The rain too. Soaking roads floor is 1st gear no wheel spin. It does need more power about 50 hp. The gears are very short from 1-3 in 19. But it is an amazing machine. I love my car. This thing just takes it in the corners it is freaking amazing. The awd and the low boxer engine makes this thing turn like it is on rails. Go drive an sti at the dealership if you haven't you will want one
I test drove a 2019 STI today, as I'm thinking about trading in my 2017 WRX. I found the ride wasn't that bad at all and the rest of the car seems like it will function the same as my WRX. My only concern is the drop in gas milage in comparison to my current car.
You feel its worth the premium over the WRX? I felt aside from the performance increase, the car felt more substantial and interior was nicer.@@RaitisRides
Daily driving a manual to L.A. about 65 miles round trip isn't too bad even in bumper-bumper traffic. Dream is to have WRX as daily and STi as a weekend/track car.
On December 8th, I bought a 2019 STI Limited in pearl white. Nearly have 1k miles on it already and I love every minute behind the wheel. It can be a very practical daily driver. With the stock exhaust, it’s very subtle. With an ETS Extreme catback...you’ll anger your entire neighborhood and scare/inspire future car enthusiasts. Insurance isn’t cheap. Ride isn’t bad...obviously not as smooth as my BMW was. I’m averaging just over 20 mpg, but that includes some spirited driving. The fun alone is worth it. Also, a few days ago, there was torrential rain and localized flooding in the road. Even going 50-60 mph, I never lost control. The tread on the factory Yokohama’s is very deep and no doubt aids in hydroplane reduction. This car is a true enthusiast’s car and isn’t for the faint of heart. You probably won’t like it otherwise.
The calipers aren't as hard to keep clean as you'd think. I actually applied some ceramic coat to them and switched to ceramic pads and there's virtually no dust. What little there is comes off easy with some wheel cleaner and a power washer.
Someone in the comments pointed out a very important thing. If you live around bad roads and lots of potholes, the STI will be a pain to live with as a daily. My 07 Liberty (Legacy) GT SpecB has Bilstein shocks that are too stiff for crappy Aussie roads. I do like a stiffer setup, but the ride is often so uncomfortable due to our "modern" bitumen.
Great input Joe, I've had MBZ and Beemers but the STI gave me the exhilaration all the time. Your videos seal the deal for me to get my current car. Thanks and Happy Holidays !
I daily my STI no issues. Granted it seems SOFLO has great smoothie roads compared to else where. I can 100% agree on the back seat I have 2 car seats and I get in and out with ease. Love my STI (2016 past and 2019 current)
faekz I live in the South Broward area. When I have free time I go to the meetups at Flamingo and Sheridan aside from that I go to random events when I can find time.
Love this car. Going to test drive and possibly purchase a ‘19 WRX STI with less than 5k miles. Blacked out all around. My only gripe as of now is Subaru changed to equal length headers. Loved that rumble of the unequal length headers. Wonder if that’s an aftermarket thing now. Had a white 05 WRX wagon back in the day. It plowed through 3’ of snow without a hitch. Ah the memories lol.
As an owner of a 2016 wrx sti stage 2, daily driven the car is so much fun. Hearing the roar of the engine and feeling the pull of the car whenever you hit the gas always gave me an adrenaline rush. Only con about the car however is the gas. I find myself filling every 3 days. I wont complain tho, i got what i paid for. Whats fun without a little sacrifice ;)
STI: the baby-friendly sedan! Agreed, that the gauge cluster's usability / ergonomics is seriously good. The font and layout, for my eyes, is perfect (took one for a quick test spin at night). It is nice to have the apple carplay and android auto in the head unit from the perspective of a daily driver.
You clearly love STIs, but still make a balanced review. Nice job! I have a 2018 STI and use it as a daily, your assessment is spot on! I live in WI and due to the snow, I am in the habit of kicking my feet against the side before getting in. I am getting the ground effects retouched next week. 615 spot on! Edit: The car is awesome and brings you the feeling of what a car should be! I also have my 8yo in the back super safe. Any purist should buy this car. I had to pick between a BMW 5 series and an STi. Two track days at Milwaukee Mile and several thousand miles later, I made the right decision.
Man, Im over here listening to you nit pick all these nice creature comforts while I'm dailying my 2007 STI on raceland coil overs haha. Talk about a rough, yet still enjoyable ride.
Drives great, but the "interior is so 2010; extremely outdated feel." It was the only thing that stopped me from buying one. Instead, I bought a VW GTI SE. I look forward to seeing the new interior though.
Turbo manuals, such as the STI or RS, are not the best daily's, but it just depends on how bad you want one. You'll have to put up with the stiffer ride, tire wear, poor MPG, 91 octane, higher insurance rates etc. If those things concern you, then buy a regular WRX w/ an auto trans.
I've had 04' STI and it wasn't a great daily driver because it really doesn't have enough power down low and you need to keep the car in rev to keep it rolling without turbo lag. My friend's 17' WRX, it has so much more low end torque and the turbo is so much smoother especially with the twin scroll turbo. If the engine truly hasn't changed, then I know the only way to improve the STI as a daily driver is a Cobb Accessport.
Love this car Joe, always have........those Brembos look awesome. Love the move to 19 inch wheels. The interior is real quality.......nice materials and finishes. That wing is delicious!! Nice vid again Joe......big up to Thom.....👊
My 2019 STI has 75 miles on it. The clutch is a bit Racey for a daily and im getting 13mpg but I have been warming it up every time I drive it and following the break in process. But so far I have no regrets. I love the car
2017 STI with 60k miles. Daily drive mine around Texas. The only major repair was rack and pinon at 54k. Normal wear and tear with all scheduled maintenance. I do 3,000 mile oil change religiously. Love my car and how it drives matches my driving style.
@@RaitisRides I paid for extended warranty. So it was covered. Forgot to mention i did have a left passenger wheel bearing go out at 40k. Wheel bearing was hard to hear due to exhaust drone.
Hey Joe, love the review... here in Australia the STI gets the keyless entry across the range, also gets sat nav as standard, not sure why the US spec is a bit stripped down.... maybe because we drive on the left like in Japan and we get some extra goodies?? Who knows, anyway I'm loving my MY18 WRX premium as my daily driver, all the best for the channel, long time subscriber since 5,000 subs, keep up the good work, this time next year you will have 100K+ subs, all the best Chris in Sydney Australia
Hey Chris! Thank you so much for sharing that input from Australia! Thank you for the well wishes, and for believing in me! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
So I have a deployment coming up to Kuwait this fall with the national guard and when I return I am hoping to pay for one in cash. I was going to be that typical guy and get a 5.0 but I wanted to be smart and get something that is not only fun to drive but is a good daily driver, with that being said my friends tried to get me into a BRZ but I had the opportunity to drive a base model WRX at my local dealer and fell in love, I have no doubt the STI is perfect for me ❤️
My experience with the 2019 STI: Wheels are difficult to clean and get dirty every time you drive. You will hit the heated seat button by accident and not know it until your butt is burning. Trunk is huge and very useful. Don't try to launch in Sport Sharp unless you know what you're doing. Other WRX's and BRZ's will wave to you. After five months I'm still loving it. Right now according to car gurus, there are only two 2019 STI's with the low spoiler in silver I the entire country. That's the one I got.
Just wanted to come back and give you props, i watched all of your 2019 sti videos and got a red 2019 sti with red seat belts in November, thanks for the amazing videos and attention to detail you put in, i don't remember which one you did talking about the red seat belts but that one or similar ones really made me want it that more more.
Thank you so much for doing this very in depth review on this colour especially since this is the exact colour I am looking to get!!!! Best STI review so far!!! ALSO PLEASE DO SOME DAILY DRIVE VIDEOS WITH THE 2018-19 STI!!!!!
The stock 2019 wheel/tire package is ridiculously heavy. Do yourself a favor and step down to a 18in wheel and shave 7+lbs per corner. 19in tires are limited and more expensive as compared to 18in tires.
Great video as always joe! I own a 17 sti and you were on point. I would have to disagree with you about the traffic part though I’m hating life during stop and go traffic haha. But if you’re an enthusiast like me or you it’s not really a big deal. Overall though I love my sti and I want to keep it forever. I’m just running a stage 2 Cobb tune for the engine right now and later down the road I’ll build the engine. Nice job joe keep it up I love you’re channel 👍🏼
Great video brother 👍🏻👍🏻love the STI !!2006 Has always been my favorite of the bunch,but 15 ,and newer has really grown on me starting to fall in love with them as well fantastic car fantastic review!! I hear the 2020 has really jumped up in H.P.
I daily drive a 2015 launch edition and love it it is 100% stock and has a little over 40k miles. I thought ground clearence would be an issue but it hasen't we got like 10 inches of snow and i had alot of fun in it and didnt get any new scrapes or anything. I will say maitnance is expensive though i had to replace my rotors and brake pads OEM parts are insanely expensive aftermarket rotors and pads can be had for like 500 bucks though. Car also only takes premium which adds up about 50 bucks to fill up and I get about 18 MPG with how I drive. I had to go buy winter wheels and tires too. The stock tires are awful in the cold or any snow/rain and with the orange oem wheels with the launch edition i dont want to mess them up in the salt so I bought Blizzak ws80s and some black wheels for the winter.
I gotta say I've got myself lined up for a 2019 Subaru wrx sti limited and full loaded. And your videos have helped me out in making the final decision and push to get my dream! These videos are great! Thank you so much!!
I like having an actual key not a push start button that's really awesome Subaru kept that option because now I know if I were to buy a 2018 or even a 2015 STi later on in the future I'm getting one with an actual key with a keyless entry I'm not into keyless cars with a push start button for many reasons like I said above I like having a real key to put inside the ignition and start it or open my door if my battery or alternator were to die someday I'll own a Subaru I always wanted one
i own a 2011 sti and a 2019 sti both were used as daily drivers currently it’s the 2019 and the 2011 became a project car the 2019 as a daily is great the oem clutch feels great it’s not too stiff so traffic isn’t a issue if you drive like a civilized person it isn’t bad on gas it handles amazing you can take curves with ease the car always feels planted and as everyone knows the awd system is amazing the only thing i can say i don’t like about the car is the steering is too light for my personal preference but keep in mind i’m used to not having any type of power steering
Joe, I am a believer in the Subaru now. Big Guns Tom Camerawork is spot on. Merry Christmas and a Awesome Happy New year you guys and your families. Thanks Joe. Godspeed
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year David! I’m so grateful for your support and always leaving such nice comments! I’m glad you are part of the Raiti’s Rides family!
Love the WRX Sti reviews!! Could you please do a subtle solution lifted Subaru xtrek 2018 off road review as there is huge community loving those type of Subarus...
The first thing any MY18+ STI owner should do is dump those boat anchors for some 18s. Those 19s weigh 28 lbs. each and depending on how much you want to spend, you can drop up to 10 lbs. off each corner going with a light weight 18” setup. I took them off of my Series.Gray STI in under 100 miles and went with an 18x8.5 +45 running 255/40s. Rubber band tires are dead to me. Bring back sidewalls!
Idk if anyone helped you, but as a detailer for a couple years, really acidic wheel acid will save your brakes, just be careful, because it will eat paint but it cleans so well
Liked the “daily drivability” aspect of the video! Thanks for the extra intel. I’m working on selling my 07 3 series hardtop and gonna use the cash for a down payment towards a 2019 sti. A Subaru is my absolute dream car. I cannot wait to get my subi!