Originally Posted by
IWRBB
So I've been out looking at cars this weekend- Jake Sweeney had a blue 2015 ST with the ST3 package. The car had 31000 miles on it. They let me take it out for a test drive by myself, so I got to really test it out without a salesman freaking out. I took it over surface roads and on and off the highway a few times.
Things I noticed I didn't like:
The tires seemed really loud at about 50+ MPH. Seemed like mostly from the rear. I assume the were still OEM but maybe not at that mileage.
The car seemed to have a lot of "ticks" and "clicks" as I call em- just little pop/tick/creak noises from the interior pieces and sunroof area that would drive me crazy over time and I'd have to track down and eliminate.
The seat was loose laterally. If you took a hard corner, it would shift about 1/16". Then shift the other way when you went around a corner the other direction.
I wasn't as fast as I thought it might be, and the turbo lag was worse than I thought it would be.
Plenty of torque steer at WOT.
One of the wheels was already corroding just outside of where the centercap is. Not from prying of any sort- it just looked like it corroded under the clear coat.
Things I really liked:
The brakes are awesome, although this car had some minor roughness/noise when you hit them hard at highway speeds.
The steering was fantastic. Light, quick, responsive. By far the best FWD car I've ever driven.
The ST3 Recaros are super nice. Not too tight, just right. I'm 6'3, 200 lbs.
I could easily get a comfortable driving position between the tilt/telescopic wheel and the power seat.
Nice side view mirrors, each with a blindspot mirror.
Kinda meh on:
The gauges, although I didn't see it at night.
Sight lines weren't great, but weren't terrible either.
They are asking $19,500 online for it, the saleslady said they wanted $25,500 (!!!) before we left, not knowing I'd seen it online already. Too much for me, but I at least got to try one out to see how they drive. I liked it, I could DD one. The premium fuel requirement really sucks though. I'm looking for a car that doesn't eat gas, and having to run premium eats into that savings when it's 2.25 for reg and 2.85 for premium. I know you can run 87 and let it yank timing, but I also know I wouldn't do that.
Despite all the negaitves, I'd still give it an A. Looks nice, goes good, stops and steers really good. All the important shit is there.