Here were some of the letters written after Clarkson's article on the Subaru STi.
Feb 02, 2008
Only use for STi's switches is to turn on rally geeks
Jeremy Clarkson, Jan. 26
Where did this pompous ass come from? Is he a former or current employee of Mitsubishi?
Why would you let a guy who has such a hate on for this car write the review (I know it's under an opinion header)?
Sure the gear set-up may be awkward and he may not like the looks, but I'm sure this car would blow 90 per cent of the readers away if you gave them a test drive.
Yes, I drive an Impreza, my brother has the new WRX and it's an absolute dream to drive and the looks are pretty decent.
It's fine to slam certain features during a review, however, it should be tempered with what's good about it as well.
Reading that review was 10 minutes of my life that I'll never get back.
Derek Burton, Stouffville
I just spent half an hour reading Jeremy Clarkson's piece on the Subaru Impreza.
Yeah, it took me half an hour because I spent most of the time rolling on the floor wiping tears out of my eyes!
Whatever you are paying this guy, please quadruple it.
This is automotive journalism on the cutting edge – just the kind of thing the Wheels section is, and should be, known for.
Leif Schumacher, Toronto
Here is why I picked the STi as winner overall during my Detroit auto show visit:
1) every other style of racing is a step down on skills required in rallying; every other contender car product fails by comparision.
2) purpose-built chassis/engine and obsessively driver-centric.
3) says fun all over it; perfect niche marketing; extremely good value.
Jeremy Clarkson disappoints big time. It's one thing to be controversial, but he's a spoiled brat in my opinion, because he just moves on to his next freebie car and big budget products as if a buy decision does not involve passion. He is passionless and overly dramatic. Dump him when contract comes up.
Gord Boyd, Southampton, Ont.
This new writer in the wheels section is absolutely hysterical. I love his columns. So glad you have him on.
The best quote of the week was "about as exciting as Tuesday."
I busted my butt laughing at the article this morning. Honest and real. No vanilla opinions with this dude.
Look forward to Wheels again as I have been bored the past year and with so much advertising and not much editorial. You guys are not doing yourselves any favours.
Claude Pardo, Brampton