I heard they got massive hate mail when they came out with the new 4 door charger originally
I don't understand what they were thinking, although I am pretty sure the whole reason for the 4 door was they had contracts with police....AFAIK
The STi is quick and offers reasonably good handling. However, my '86 Shelby GLHS, upgraded to the 225 hp 2.5L engine would lean all over it. One advantage the STi has is the all wheel drive, really helps from standing starts. The Sti weighs in at 3,444 lbs. That's pretty darn heavy for the power. My GLHS tipped the scales at 2,217 lbs. That means that the STi has a power to weight ratio of 11.3 lb/hp. Very good, but no match for the old Shelby at 9.85 lb/hp. My WRX was tame in comparison. Tame and not even close to the GLHS in terms of hustling around a road course. Shelby simply built a street legal race car, at a time when the fastest cars offered by other US car makers were not very impressive. This little Shelby had a very hard edge on it. Not for the nervous types.
Shelby built just 500 of these little monsters, and less than 300 survive. Originally fitted with a 175 hp 2.2L, intercooled turbo motor, they were one of the fastest cars you could buy in 1986. Three years later, I upgraded to the new 225 hp engine. I sold it not many years ago. It had few rivals... The ultimate sleeper. Hot Rod magazine tested it in 1986, with Shelby on hand. Shelby invited the SoCal Shelby club to come out with their hot rodded GT-350s. They were beaten by the little GLHS. If you can find one in decent shape, buy it. You can't go faster for less $$$.
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