It is an arbitrary point that is old as dirt in this dimension on this planet and no secret to anyone. They spent all that time and money to develop a 2.5L engine so they could boast 300hp in the US over the Evo, they should have made sure they could do just as well at a performance statistic that is so important for American journalists and drivers.

 

You know, the Evo always wins in the heads-up comparisons. It performs better out of the box; always has.

I have to go back to Subaru having that 'X' factor. It's something you don't understand until you own one - I understand it now. It's the same reason that the British car show 'Fifth Gear' had the Evo winning it's comparo; but both guys said they'd buy the STi. And had "no idea" why they preferred it.

 

I have that same thing boom. I realize that the Evo is a good car just like the STi is, but there was just something about the STi that I liked more. I'm still trying to decide if I want to sell for a IX though, if I do sell for a IX, it will be for the 07 model...if we get one.

 

god the sti is ugly there was one at school today (college) and i almost threw up in my mouth it was parked next to a older wrx (friend of mine ) with a full cwest kit and about 380 hp and it just looked like **** compared to the older wrxs and stis

 

"ur boss drives a roadster. WHO cares? ull stuff that smoked shirt"

haha i jus fell out of my chair when i heard that. Hopefully this yr i might get one :/

 

I don't think the 2.5-liter was used with the main intentions of boasting 300hp, I think it's because they couldn't make a competitive 2.0-liter for the U.S. market while still complying with emissions regulations, so they had to strap a turbo onto a bigger motor to be competitive in straightline acceleration comparisons. That's why the European-spec STis have always been pretty weak compared to their JDM and U.S. counterparts since to meet the even more strict regulations (that the Evo seems to meet with little difficulty), they have to change a few things that make it less powerful in both markets.

 

Post made my night!

 

Okay, sure - emissions did play a big role. But an even 300/300 rating grabs headlines. It's all we heard when the Evo specs came off the press embargo and then hours later the STi was announced: "Oh the STi this, oh the Sti that, it's got 300hp! It'll wipe the floor with the Evo." Bah, and that was before a single heads up comparison test was done.

Even today people will come in the dealership and say the STi has 300hp as if we're supposed to be ashamed, even though countless tests have proven the Evo to be more then its match, its like they don't even bother to read any deeper other then 2.5L>2.0L and 300>271-286. For some people, simple things like bigger and more power is all that matters. The same goes for 0-60 and 1/4 mi times. Despite what tuners know about the 4G63 and its potential, all a lot of people would say back then is, "Oh well the STi has waaaay more potential because it has a bigger engine, the Evo is already maxed out from the factory at 19psi stock." Riiiiight.

Subaru already had a 2.0L that passed emissions, they could have tweaked the WRX engine. They already had a 2.2L. I think they went to 2.5L for more then just emissions, but I am sure it played a major part considering its the only 4cyl they use now.

 

The reason they went to 2.5L is because they couldn't hit their power targets with the 2.0L on 91-93 octane gas, not necessarily emissions. In fact, if the UK STI is of any indication (their fuel is similar to ours), a 2.0L STI would make 260 HP max in the US. In japan, 98 octane is readily available. So they went with a turbo 2.5L. Even so, initially the 2.5L engine had major knock issues.

 

notice they compared the top of the line WRX (an STi) with the normal evo (not an MR) and the evo still won.....that says alot

 

Perhaps, but I think there is a larger gap between the STi and the WRX then there is between any Evo.

 

i'd take the 06 sti over the 9 base only if they didn't change the front on the sti!

 

Keep in mind that U.S. gas is the average... (M+R)/2. Japan and Europe gas is just the RON rating (which is the higher of the two) rather than the average, so 98 octane overseas wouldn't be equivalent to 98 octane in the U.S. due to the different calculation methods. I would assume 98 octane overseas is like 95 octane here... which still better than our pisswater, I won't deny.

 

My car amazes me everytime I get behind the wheel. I regularly say out loud "wow".

 

They sure did a ****ty job with the STI. Doesn't suprise me that they rated the Evo higher of the two. We all know that both perform so closely that it would be a drivers battle when comparing the two and it all come down to preference. Never though edmund did a good job with performance reviews and the 0-60 time on the STI is a red flag for me.