READ READ READ here and in other groups...
TONS of info, some you need to hear..some you dont want to hear.....
Your 302 Mustang was a HELL of a lot more "Bulletproof" than a Subaru.

Welcome.

Overall they're pretty reliable. Watch out for it coming with summer
tires, though, that you may need to switch soon if you live anywhere
that actually gets a decent winter. For me the only issue that wasn't
obvious from the test drive is you need to be careful because there's
not much ground clearance at the front: a badly designed ramp from a gas
station down to the road will scrape the (fortunately plastic) ground
effects if you don't take it easy.

I don't regret buying my '04 STi at all: it's the first car that I have
positively enjoyed driving. Someday I'd like a performance car with more
storage space, but I can wait a few years to see if a Forester STI
Limited or suchlike comes out in the US. (-:

-- Mark

I bought an 04 STi and never regretted it.  It offers the best
combination of power, braking and handling of any car I've ever owned.  
I've had a bunch of hi-perf cars from an original 64 GTO to a 350HP Chev
II to a 425 HP corvette to an M6 etc.  The fact that it has 4-doors and
can carry four people is a plus!

Now it is perfect - no.  The interior noise level is WAAAAY to high but
can be helped a lot with different tires and some additional sound
insulation.  It also tends to develop interior rattles which can be very
annoying but are fixable.  I do nothing special for maintenance other
than regular oil changes.

My dealers (I have moved) have been great including the replacement of a
battery and rear struts and end links on warranty.

In summary, I love this thing.  I looked at the EVO but the dealers kept
going bankrupt and were a PITA - I could not get a test drive.

They do recommend synthetic oil. I have had my 04 since it ws brand new, it
is high mileage, and it is bulletproof.  They are noisy and a bit brutish,
but that is what I bought it for.  If I wanted a quiet, luxurious ride I
would have bought a Jag or somehting like it