And so it was that a magnificently bewinged latest-generation Impreza STi with the full Prodrive Performance Pack rolled up at Evo Towers. And when I was offered the chance to be its custodian, I jumped at it. After all, how many 25-year-olds get the chance to run a 300bhp full-on rally replica? In hindsight we probably should have ordered a different colour scheme to differentiate the new STi from co-editor Meaden's old steed, but if you're going to have a rally-replica you might as well go the whole hog and ape the rally colours too.

The beauty of the Prodrive kit isn't really the hike in horsepower but the improved power delivery and thumping mid-range torque that it liberates. BG52 arrived with only 350 miles on the clock, which meant a rev limit of 4000rpm until the first oil service at 1000 miles. Although frustrating, it wasn't the bind that it would have been without the enhanced performance - there's ample pulling power from just over 2500rpm to row along on at a decent lick. Westaway Motors, Northampton, carried out the service at only a day's notice and even provided a courtesy car (a Ford Ka). Even so ΂£48 for a 1000-mile oil change does sting a bit when you've just shelled-out ΂£26,990.

Once completed it was time to have some fun and explore the full rev-range. The next few days were bitterly cold but bathed in bright winter sun - perfect conditions for the turbocharged boxer engine to deliver its all. And when you can extend the motor over 4000rpm it really justifies those cartoonish vents and spoilers. Short gearing only adds to the frenzied performance of the STi - straights are devoured in a series of brutal lunges and cornering speeds, in the dry at least, are dictated by how brave - or stupid - you are.

It seems very odd to have to call into question the Impreza's wet-weather ability but here goes: when the surface is slimy and unpredictable the Impreza can feel like it's floating on the film of water and grease rather than cutting through it. The front end never seems to dig in as convincingly as you'd hope, and cancelling out the understeer by staying on the power can be a game of high stakes - big power oversteer is your reward if you keep your nerve. Maybe as time goes on I'll find a tidier technique for driving in tricky conditions.

The evoactive trackday at Snetterton in early March gave me a chance to extend the STi without risking my licence, and with plenty of run-off and no oncoming traffic the Impreza shone - despite the damp morning session. On track you can fully commit the car to any given corner and get all four wheels drifting rather than battling with either excessive under- or oversteer. If only there was less traffic on our roads...

The first month with the Impreza has been fantastic. The Prodrive pack lifts the STi's performance back into the major league and, as for the car's looks, I'm rather enjoying the attention that it gets every time I park it up. Shrinking violets need not apply, but so far people's reactions have been positive and you certainly get the respect of the Nova boys (although I'm not sure if this is a good thing). There is an argument that these mad Japanese slingshots have had their day; that they're being squeezed by cars like the Golf R32 from below and others like the BMW 330i from above, but you can see why there's still a hard core of Subaru fans - it does all the boring things like reliability and practicality but also offers an exhilarating slug or raw power and stupendous grip. I think we're going to get along just fine.