Having chatted with Prodrive's Mike Wood about the best method of easing the STi into life at evo, he recommended a gentle routine of 4000 revs or so for the first 500 miles, then upping the ante ever so slightly with every subsequent 100 miles, taking extra care to allow everything to warm up nicely before inducing any boost. It felt like the right thing to do because, with just 170 miles on the clock when it arrived at evo, the 261bhp flat-four engine and six-speed 'box were tighter than Kylie's pants. And the adjustable shift light and warning buzzer proved a useful reminder not to get carried away.

Now we're a whisker over the magic 1000 miles the motor and gearshift have both freed up a little, which suggests this kindness will pay dividends in the long run. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty more to come from the engine, but those few weeks of self-control will make the first free-spirited slug of 7000rpm feel all the sweeter, of that I have no doubt.

First impressions? Well, it's obvious the STi is going to be a much better day-to-day bet than Barker's Evo VII RS. The ride, though firm, at least has a modicum of give to take the sharp edges off scabby surfaces, and the engine note is lusty and soothing rather than zizzy and punctuated by an intrusive and heavy-breathing wastegate chuff. The interior also has a superior look, feel and comfort level ΂- the snazzy blue and black seats offering Recaro-rivalling support and aesthetic appeal.

Naturally, a major part of the bonding process with any new car is the first wash. Running a frothy sponge over the STi reveals how aggressively sculpted the Prodrive Style additions are, especially the deep, sharply contoured sills and in-yer-face rear wing. In fact the sills are so fat I keep catching my right heel on the driver's side every time I climb out. Either my brain will adjust to the extra leg lift or that sill is going to get a bit scruffy. Otherwise, the paintwork is glossy and polishes to a satisfying lustre. I'm not bowled over by the style of the alloys, but I've already got my eyes on a set of 18-inch Prodrive items that mimic the gorgeous multi-spokers fitted to works Impreza WRCs.

Although staying below 5000rpm has been painful, no-one told me to take it easy on the tyres, so I've been short-shifting up the 'box and then attempting to maintain as much gingerly accumulated momentum as possible through the corners. Driven thus, it's clear the STi has bundles of front-end grip, excellent mid-corner adjustability and a good deal more steering weight and feedback than the standard WRX. This is very welcome, and endows the STi with a meaty, substantial feel. Not as agile and pointy as the nervously alert Evo VII RS Sprint, the STi feels confident and assertive, as though it has complete command of the road.

I've seen a few other STis around, so I'm sure some of you will have just taken delivery too. If you have, get in touch via fastfleet@evo.co.uk. If you haven't, but fancy discovering what you're missing, help is at hand thanks to a company called U Drive Cars who have an STi Type UK ΂- and an Evo VII RS Sprint ΂-΂ for hire. If you fancy re-enacting the daily Barker v Meaden 'commute' give them a call on 01869 277112 or look at www.udrivecars.com.