Driving Northwest reviews the 2007 Subaru WRX, praising its great performance for the price and saying the only real competition a Subaru WRX STI has is from the Mitsubishi Evo. They recommend the 2007 WRX for its performance, not its style.
I like their conclusion:
To race an STI in a road rally, simply install a racing harness and roll cage and it’s set to jet. And it will jet. For those who are willing to sacrifice some comfort and style for performance, the Impreza STI WRX is a great deal.