Well, the bugs might be along the lines of interior squeaks and rattles, thats usually the case for a first year model.

Drivetrain wise, most of the bits seem to be from other sources so they should be OK, but the D4S is a question mark. I don't expect the transmission or differential to have issues with only a 200hp car, so I wouldn't worry there.

Electrics... Its a Toyota/Subaru, it won't have electrical problems :)

I have no idea :) I'm not a big believer in the "first year bugs" when it comes to Japanese cars, simply because I haven't seen it to any great extent there (unlike American cars I've owned).

Hell they've been developing this car for many years now with the FA engine. It seems logical to me that the FA was created before the FB and that the FB is really based on the FA (simply based on the naming and how long they've had FTs running around testing, nothing else).

I think it can go either way. They can tone it down in 2nd and later years (like Honda did with the CRX Si, and Toyota did with SW22 MR2s after the 2nd year) or they could fix things, or they could just change things, or they could do nothing for three years then release an STI/TRD edition or something.. I really have no idea.

I'm not going to concern myself with it though or I'll always be waiting to see what they will change next. If there's a big change (like an STI with say 240-250HP NA, better brakes, stiffer chassis, less weight, etc) then I'll evaluate selling the one I have by then to get that version.

For me, as I've said before, it'll come down to the driving experience. If I drive the car and love driving it as I expect (and hope) that I will, I'll have one once I can get it at a price that I feel is a good deal (MSRP or higher is never that price :) ).

For you, it will also come down to reliability, since you said your were going to DD the car.

I guess I'm worried about design defects and reliability.

Why is everyone saying that this is a familiar engine? What's his name (the guy who designed the car) said the engine was entirely new.

Everything we know and have seen about this motor shows its just a modified Subaru FB motor. The only "unknown" quantity is the D4S and what has exactly been done to the cylinder heads.

They probably made the heads out of unobtanium, it has a much higher specific heat compared to traditional heads to absorb more of the flux capacitance from the D4S. :D

For high revving NA motors, knowing the redline as a feeling and not having to consciously pay attention it is very important for enjoying the car at 8-9 tenths.

But "noise" is not the solution. I like noise, but you need a proper solution that is more elegant than a shift light.

Meep meep meep - shift!

http://modifry.com/products/rlb/new_module_small.gif

Mine is on velcro so I can put the beeper under the dash, and pull it out for when I have my helmet on.