This is the first submission I've made in a long time, and will probably be the last.

Think. Feel. Drive.

This was Subaru's motto for a while, and my personal favourite. It epitomises the make in the most eloquent way - driving a Subaru is the most natural, pleasurable experience for anyone that actually gives a damn about driving at all. There is a comfort and ease about them, and a blatant confidence about their well-grounded, secure stance.

They have amazing feedback - the car tells you what it's doing, and begs for your input. You become one with the vehicle. It becomes an extension of you.

Their power output is strong, even in the lower models. The boxer engine is torquey, and their drivetrains put it to the ground remarkably effectively.

Push them, they beg for more.

Push them harder, they don't miss a beat.

Push too hard, and they will save your life.




One Subaru has saved my life several times. Put crap tyres and a frightened driver into the seat of an AWD Impreza, late at night and all alone. Let's go 140km/h down the road, see the only chance to turn around about to shoot past...what do you do?

Jam on the brakes to slow down and turn your arse around.

80km/h into a right-angled side road is never a good idea. Especially on poor tyres.

The GC8 tendency to snap-oversteer came into play fantastically. AWDs understeer to start with (go straight when you're turning)...hit the brakes or change speed, and they'll SNAP into an oversteer (turn far too much when turning...arse goes first) in a heartbeat.

It's this tendency that got me smack bang into the road where I wanted to be, so I could turn around.




This isn't the only time Shale has saved my life, but it was the first.

The above piece of art is a vector illustration of said vehicle, recoloured in black and STi pink. My real car is gunmetal grey - but black has a more emotional pull for this piece.




Think.

Driving a Subaru is an effortless yet powerful experience. Everything is so easy you don't have to think about it. Yet something always makes you do exactly that...think. It brings something inside you to life. You become one with the beast.

Feel.

Sure you can sense every single little bump through them...this is a good thing. You can feel what the car is going to do...the feedback is astounding. But in a Subaru, you feel...you feel alive, you feel envigorated. You feel a beast awaiting its release, both in the car and in your soul.

Drive.

You will drive like you never want to stop. You will drive for any reason, no reason. As someone pointed out in regards to a uniquie Subaru ATV... "This is the most fun you can have with your pants on!"




The lone figure above stands proudly in the midst of his domain, surveying his territory in the dark. This is his place...this is the whole world. He'll take you anywhere and will not fail to impress.

Pity you will probably not experience it...he's my first-born son, he is Shale...NO TOUCHY.