MANILA, Philippines — The “real” drivers among my friends and family – which is practically all of them – frown at my loud preference for an automatic variant of any car offered for a test drive.  My son, the brave soul who told me what I already knew, said: Real drivers like the feeling of being in total control and the stick shift represents that power.

When I was younger not too long ago, I also found delight in that kind of control.  I fancied myself a pro because I could quickly – and almost without thinking do a neat footwork of clutch- brake-gas, not necessarily in that order. But with the traffic condition as it is these days – even before or after the holidays – the constant footwork and shifting takes me closer to road rage.

I discovered more about the pleasure of driving when I shifted to driving automatics.  One of them is that if you take away shifting from a regular drive, you have more time to truly enjoy the car, the music and even a nagging passenger.

When I found out that Subaru’s famous Impreza WRX STi is now available with an automatic transmission – I was overtaken by a strong feeling of excitement! I had to ask Nicky Mariano, country manager of Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (MIPI), to schedule a test drive for me ASAP, which was the week after Christmas. (Thoughts of driving that around in traffic – and getting stared at – already pleased me.)

Not content with the date set, I had to call him again to ask if he could send the unit earlier than scheduled – I was becoming impatient.

Let me explain my impatience.  A long time ago, the Impreza WRX STi had made me a fan of Subaru. It’s that kind of car that gives me something I wish I could have again – youth.  And it gives strong doses of youth from the time you open the door – and people around you stare!  Sit behind the wheel, and you forget your age!  The driving experience made me feel like I had a face lift, a tummy tuck, and a make-over!

Of course my former classmates, gym buddies, and casual friends who are all female will not understand why a woman my age will feel that way about a car designed for the young.  Naturally. Most of them have the luxury of having paid drivers – or husbands who drive them crazy (but that’s not exactly a car-related story).  You have to be a driver – and like that position – to enjoy this car!

The pleasure of driving a Subaru comes from its “soul” – the horizontally opposed Boxer engine that perfectly matches the drivetrain’s layout, the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.

Since the flatter configuration makes the engine sit much further down the vehicle, it has a lower center of gravity that enhances the all-wheel drive and suspension systems.

Because of that, I expected – and got – a lot of driving pleasure from the Impreza STi Hatchback.  Feelings of youth aside, the pleasure is encouraged by the balance and poise of the perfect weight distribution.

Traces of my driving-pro-fantasy showed when a lane opened.  How can I resist being light on the throttle?  I feel the pulling force of the 2.4 liter engine on my back.  I watch the rev meter jump, and I smile!  A smile after a long day of editing a variety of writing styles that can make you forget your own grasp on proper grammar – soothes the mind.  It feels like the first sip of good wine.  You must know what I mean – either about the soothing wine or the responsive Subaru.

Motor Image Pilipinas has a more precise way to explain that: The WRX STI’s performance owes its self to the wind, through aerodynamic science due to its massive air intakes which feed the engine and turbo intercooler with air.

Complementing this is the vehicle’s 2.5 liter DOHC Turbo Boxer engine which is mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox that is capable of churning out 221kW (300PS) / 6,200 rpm and 350Nm (35.7 kgfm) / 3,000 rpm – 6,000 rpm. Then the SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) lets the driver adapt the driving character of the vehicle and gives command of every condition for optimal efficient driving, Sporty driving, or Sharp driving.”

When the corner came, and the lane was still wide open – the soothing smile flowed down to my back, like a light massage.  I am pleased with the stability of the vehicle as I turn into a sharp corner at a speed I would not want to admit (because it will be imply my age – or hesitance).  I consult the brochure for the proper way to explain that (because I do not want to call on metaphors unrelated to cars).

“Full-time AWD has distinct advantages over two-wheel drive – especially in cornering.  By transmitting power through all four tires, the car steers naturally and neutrally in the direction of the end, avoiding understeer or oversteer which leads to instability in 2WD vehicles,” the brochure said.

The Subaru STi I had for that week presented options for the real, un-real or wanna-be pro driver.  The automatic transmission will delight “un-real” drivers like me, who can turn into “real driver mode” when the road condition changes.

 A quick push to the left of the stick  allowed me to operate it like a manual.  The paddle shifters on the wheel continued – and enhanced –the “in-control” mode.  In that mode, I swear, I will never need a face-lift!

How much for that natural super dose of youth? P 2.5 million for the Subaru Impreza WRX STi automatic hatchback.

The Subaru Impreza WRX STi is available for test drive at the Motor Image Pilipinas showroom room at 187 EDSA, North Greenhills, San Juan.