After our 8,200-mile trip, many asked, "It's a new car, why wouldn't it make it?" This post is the detailed answer. We dive deep into why taking a high-strung STi on a grueling, overweight, multi-week journey is a different beast than taking a Camry. We cover everything: the engine's surprising reliability under extreme stress, the real-world fuel economy, the brutal ride quality when loaded down, the constant anxiety from the finicky TPMS sensor, and the small, character-building parts that broke along the way.

The journey continues! In Part 2 of our cross-country road trip, we leave the desert behind for the West Coast dream. This leg of the adventure was a wild one, featuring a chance celebrity encounter at the San Diego Zoo, carving through the legendary Malibu canyon roads, a pilgrimage to Laguna Seca that ended with a once-in-a-lifetime McLaren F1 sighting, and driving our STi straight through a giant Redwood tree. From the Pacific Ocean to the Bonneville Salt Flats, this chapter covers the most iconic scenery of the trip.

You can do a cross-country road trip the sane way (boring rental car) or the insane way. We chose insane: our own 2021 Subaru STi. What followed was a journey involving a flat tire, a missing bumper piece, a surreal sunset at Prada Marfa, an awkward encounter with the owners of Walter White's house, and a barefoot man in a Vegas casino. The first leg of our 8,200-mile trip was anything but boring.

We took the STi out for its first full tech shakedown — cameras mounted, laptops running, cables everywhere. It wasn’t flawless, but the concept works. And with early support rolling in from some big names, this trip is starting to get real.

Its been a minute. Where is Clutsh, and also where has Sam been?

Buying a car is just the first hurdle. Finding trustworthy mechanics, detailers, and other auto professionals to maintain that car can be even more challenging. Clutsh Network is launching a curated directory of vetted auto shops, built on transparency and community recommendations.

The Focus RS isn't just a hot hatch; it's a legend. It's a testament to what's possible when a team of engineers, fueled by caffeine and a blatant disregard for the rules, is given the green light to create something truly special.

I have thoughts on the new S210

The ultimate car brand guide from Clutsh. We cover the pros, cons, and everything you need to know about every major automaker. Your car search starts here.

The dealership experience, however, was a nightmare. We spent the entire day there. First, the online price turned out to be inaccurate, and their initial offer was about 30% higher. But the real time sink was the finance office. They tried to upsell me on everything imaginable – seat coatings, theft deterrents, extended warranties, you name it. All to make up for the fact that they had to come down to a fair price on the car.