WRX STI

Make
Subaru
Segment
Sedan

Subaru has a bad habit of keeping its best models limited to the Japanese market. Many of our favorite WRX STI models were only offered to Japan, while the US made do with lesser versions. We did get the Type RA last year, but dealerships went ahead and ruined it with insane dealer markups. This year, for the first time ever, Subaru is bringing one of its ultimate STI models to the US in the shape of the S209.

The S209 arrives as a limited edition special with only 209 units planned for production, making it even rarer than the 500-unit Type RA. The S209 is thus primed for crazy market adjustments but its MSRP of $63,995 is already extremely high. So even if you do manage to buy one at sticker price, you won't get a good deal on it.

According to a Subaru sales bulletin uncovered by CarsDirect, there will actually be a sales incentive for the S209 - but it's not a great one. The S209 is reportedly eligible for 3.49 percent APR for up to 63 months, which is far less favorable than the 1.9 percent/72-month deal offered on all other WRX models. Rounding the price to $65,000, the S209 would end up costing $71,231 over 63 months with a monthly payment of $1,131 (before taxes). This is all assuming you can even find an S209 at the sticker price and based on the markups seen on the Type RA, this will not be an easy task.

The S209 already costs $27,400 more than a regular STI, which starts at $36,595. For the price of an STI plus a WRX on top, you do get a wide body kit, 19-inch forged wheels, Brembo brakes, special dampers and coil springs, aggressive aero, a carbon-fiber roof, and additional power from the 2.5-liter boxer engine - 341 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque to be exact.

There are plenty of other performance sedans you can get in this price range, but if you truly love Subaru, the S209 will be the ultimate STI ever sold in the US.