Can you elaborate on "specifically rear-biased" and "let's you play with the handbrake"?

The STI runs a fixed, gear-driven, 40/60 torque split. However, the wheels are geared together and the rear wheels cannot be driven faster than the front. The lockup dial progressively locks the powertrain into a single unit, like a 4WD transfer case almost. This is the same configuration actual rally cars use, and the same thing the Evo could do for obvious reasons, it provides immense traction.

The GR Corolla can and does overdrive the rear axle. If you want it will completely lock the coupler in low traction sending nearly all power to the rear wheels, and as they are spinning faster than the front wheels it will power oversteer on command and hold that under throttle. The STI has what I would say is a more serious AWD system that’s meant to do work and it is less fun to play with.

opens the center diff for handbrake slides.

Opening the centre diff in the STI still leaves the wheels geared together, the car cannot decouple the centre differential. It’s a somewhat different effect.

The GR shifter is surprisingly good for a cable! I like the Subaru gearbox, too.

The GR shifter is definitely good for a cable shifter. My favourite ever was a modded BMW rod shifter, stock they’re not so good. The STI is far better than the WRX, I think part of the problem is the last few STIs I have driven were modded and probably not for the best.

The engine part, sure. I mean, the original EJ was developed in 1989 by a smaller company than Toyota. That's a big gap in engine technology and resources.

I personally don’t hate the EJ. A lot of people immediately go for it as a weak point but I didn’t, except to point out that EJ owners really shouldn’t be throwing that stones about engine reliability.

Subaru has long struggled with oiling in their flat engines, something Porsche has solved, and maybe Subaru has solved too now. I think it’s a shame because I’m a fan of unique and interesting engines, and Subaru certainly produces those in a widespread way.

But compared to my 2005 WRX STi, it is less engaging on the street. Most modern cars give me this feeling. Not a lot of road texture through the wheel or seat.

No doubt about it. Old cars have more feel, almost all of them. Everything modern is insulated. I also miss the old car feel. One of the appealing things about the GRC is that by new car standards it’s pretty raw. It makes lots of drivetrain noises, it has some feel in the wheel especially in sport mode, the chassis talks a lot. For a new car. It will never be as good at this as an old car.

I know from previous posts you've made that you're not a Subaru fan and that's totally fine

I think this is a misconception. I am not anti-Subaru. There is a very real and valid market that Subaru produces good cars for. I have three problems with Subaru:

1. They have absolutely and completely left the enthusiast behind. The VB is a halfhearted effort at best.
2. Subaru people are, broadly speaking, some of the least technically literate but most strongly opinionated. They don’t understand how AWD systems work or how engines work, but will breathlessly repeat that “Subaru AWD” is the greatest thing ever, and Subaru boxer engines are the reason their Forester “handles so well”. Neither of which are true.
3. The recommendation for a Subarus in places where they offer no advantage. Gosh the number of Subarus in California that have never seen snow just so people can feel outdoorsy at Whole Foods. There are distinct disadvantages to these cars if you don’t benefit from their advantages.

Subaru today produces a reliable AWD system at a good price, it’s not mechanically innovative or interesting. There’s lots of trash AWD systems out there and you don’t know what’s going on without a lot of research. With Subaru you’re getting a known quantity, it’s an effect system. No research required.

I think the STI comes from another era of Subaru. When they really were the company that enthusiasts wish for. The 22B is an all-time coolest car. The technology developed for WRC that continued along into the STI is undeniably really great stuff. They used to produce differential AWD with a low range case. Subaru did all sorts of really awesome and quirky stuff. The last generation of STI hatch continues to be one of the coolest hot hatches ever made, there’s a couple near me and we always exchange waves.

I was hoping Toyota would push the segment a bit more and produce something more raw and special feeling

In some ways they did! In Subaru’s day WRC mandated a 2L displacement. Today that’s 1.6L. Toyota produced a completely new, different, and bespoke 3-cylinder engine with tons of motorsport optimization just for WRC. Who does that anymore? It’s also successful in rallying, G16E has won the last 2x WRC2 titles.

In some ways they didn’t. While they did a lot to the E210 chassis, it’s still based on an E210 Corolla. I’m just not sure a car developed recently with EPAS and vehicle dynamics interpolation and active safety systems can be as direct and raw as an old car. The GR Yaris doesn’t honestly feel that different. I agree with you, I wish it was more raw than it is.