Can attest, my 2010 RS Impreza handles just as well as my GC8 WRX did, if not a little better. I felt I was going faster at the RAC Long Track in it than in the WRX. Then again, theres really not alot of space to go that quick on the RAC Track, its more about how you take corners and practicing your lines and braking points - power isnt so important there. If you were doing say a Rally Sprint or a No Limits or something, then of course theres no comparison between the two, but just to get started off and learn in, its not a bad idea.