Imagine driving a very cool new car for a distance between 9 to 25 miles, getting out and then into another very cool car for another 9 to 25 mile leg and then repeating the same routine through 23 cars in a two day period.

Welcome to the 2010 NWAPA (Northwest Automotive Press Association) Run to the Sun held recently in western Washington.? After 23 cars and more than 450 miles of smiles, here are our quick impressions of the Subaru WRX STI.

In many ways, the WRX helped put Subaru on the map, and made people aware that Subaru wasn?t just a funky little car company that built cars with all-wheel drive and unusual horizontally opposed (boxer) engines.? When it arrived on U.S. streets in 2002, the WRX received an almost cult-like status because of its excellent rally car-style performance and handling.? Here was an inexpensive little 227-hp car that was faster and handled better than many so-called sport sedan cars costing two or three times as much.? In 2004, Subaru upped the ante by adding the WRX STi version to the U.S. market and it?s now the top Impreza/WRX model.? Available in two body styles, a sedan or five-door hatchback, the 2011 WRX STI is street legal, but short of a roll bar and other safety equipment nearly ready to run a rally.? Powered by a 305-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine, the STI accelerates from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds and has a top track speed of 158 mph.? That?s not bad for $36,000 car.

See the other 22 ?Run to the Sun? Cars here.