i'm a valet and have recently had the oppurtunity to "joy ride" a little in both cars.

stock vs stock, the sti has an advantage (only slightly) with power. my biggest complaint about the sti (actually surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet) is its handling and how it feels heavier and less "sharp" when cornering and drifting it a little. the evo just seems to have a tighter steering rack and a much more agressive stock suspension.

i do agree that the sti is a more refined daily driver and is perfect for someone who is looking to keep it mostly stock. its fast enough for most people and handles better than most other cars on the road. however, for what i'd be looking for i'd much rather have the evo and its 4g63.

 

Gotta agree with this! I test drove both extensively. The STI interior is okay, as a matter of fact both of the interiors are okay. The Evo was just the car for me. I have plently of low end torque. Anyway, it came down to looks and handling for me, since the power ranges were pretty much equal. Once I got it narrowed down to what the differences were for me, it was a no brainer to select the Evo.

m~

HNC CFO Over the Hill Gang

 

don't own both.. i still take evo over sti.

 

[QUOTE=chet]i'm a valet and have recently had the oppurtunity to "joy ride" a little in both cars.

Where do you valet at? Remind me never to drop my ride there! Given your insightful response, I believe you may have done a LITTLE more than a little joy riding in both cars!

 

I've owned both, now have an 05 STI. It has nice power and a nice powerband, decent low end torque. Interior way better except for the seats, where the EVO wins. The EVO has a unique sensation when cornering fast. You feel totally confident and in control, sort of like you were really a race driver - even if you are just a regular Joe. The STI if fun but you don't get the same feeling.

I hate to admit it but I really like the automatic climate controls in the STI. It blends in just the right amount of A/C with the heat. Dumb reason for enjoying the car but it's true. I put P Zero Nero M&S and it made the ride nice and quiet and smooth. So now my STI is biased a little more toward the BMW direction. It's great on the highway in 6th with the cruise control. I feel better riding in a car with side airbags too.

The EVO is a better extreme performance car. Overiding all the point by point comparisons is the black cloud over Mitsubishi's corporate future, which is the main reason I switched. I didn't want to own an orphan.

 

I have never driven or owned an STi, but I haven't heard someone (including all major car magazines) who's driven both say that the STi is the better handling car. That is the bottom line for all of us who chose the evo isn't it? Understeer seems to be the downfall of the STi and it is easier to make up any perceived power disadvantages the evo has with simple Mods. In contrast, it is a big challenge to get evo-like handling in the STi with Mods.