Here is the online article covering all the vehicles in the contest:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=1109

There also recently was entire episode of Road & Track on Speed Vision dedicated to the contest and the cars.

 

I don't understand why everyone hates the look of the Sti. I think it looks pretty good, with the exception of the new headlights, and maybe the wing.

 

I own one and I think it looks like a turd.

 

The edited video capture from the R&T Reader Choice Awards show on speed vision: http://home.tampabay.rr.com/lstepni1/sti/

 

Hey, I love em. However, they really should've used a white one rollin on the gold BBS's...

 

i love the looks. i could stand a smaller hood scoop and a smaller spoiler, but hey, if it's functional, the so be it. other than that, the car's appearance is peachy.

 

"it's a hooligan's car..."

 

As an added bonus, I saw on the news that the STi would retain 76% of it's value over 3 years. That was the second highest of any 2004 vehicle!

 

That would be nice if it really holds true but I have to doubt it.

In my situation I have a balloon payment of around $15,000 at the end of the term on my STi and as with all of my cars I plan on selling it via a private party slightly prior to this time. Unless in the unlikey situation the vehicle is worth about the same or much less than the balloon payment I just turn the car in scott free with no penality. Whatever the car is worth over my balloon payment is just money in my pocket. That on top of fairly small monthly payments in very happy.