As usual the Evo wins It's the standard Euro Evo vs. the Euro STi PPP. I guess they coudn't find an FQ320. Anyways here's what they said..

"...despite the Subaru's mechanical strengths, and despite the fact that this one did feel an improvement on the last Impreza I drove last year, as an overall package it's the Evo VIII that feels absolutely spot on. The Impreza still looks a bit wild, a bit overdone, and the turbocharged Japanese rally car market has surely moved on. The Evo has the wing and the bulging arches, but it has a clean look that's matched by the cool, sharp efficiency of the way it drives - light, quick and razor sharp. The Evo VIII is the car I'd rather drive -quckely -everyday."

Numbers: Evo VIII - 0-60: 5.3 sec HP: 276
STi - 0-60: 4.6 sec HP: 300

Despite the difference in power, the Evo will keep up because the STi's notchier shifter and slower steering means you need more effort to go quickly whereas in the Evo it's easier to go faster. This of course is on a B road. On a straightline the STi is faster.

 

Indeed I read this and I don't think they actually tested the STI for acceleration. The 0-60 time is just a quote of Subaru's official time. There's some question as to whether the PPP is really that fast. Really I don't like it when they give impressions that they don't back up with numbers. I remember CAR magazine compared the EVO to the M3 and said the EVO's steering and suspension made the car harried and ultimately less quick than the M3. In this report they say the STI and EVO are the same up to 3000 rpm, but the STI is faster once the turbo comes on. But I would like proof.
You can say its subjective, but when there is no actual testing
to verify your subjective impression you can easily be flat out wrong.

For example: maybe the STI is actually weaker to 3000 rpm, so when the turbo-hits, it hits relatively harder....making it feel "stronger". Obversely, maybe the EVO's quick steering ratio makes it feel quicker in corners, but ultimately makes no real difference in the actual speed with which you can negotiate them.
I like CAR magazine because they have excellent writing, but I wish they would do more hard/fast data testing and make fewer unsubstantiated statements.

 

True. Most European car magazines are like this. They tend to rate cars on how they drive and how hight the fun factor is instead of actual performance. I tend to agree with that way of thinking. When the S4 came out the performance and hardware was great so I bought it eventhough EVO and CAR said it was horrible to drive. Boy were they were right. The car was fast and it had grip but was the dullest car I've ever driven.

 

I wish they had timed the STI 0 to 60mph. The STI turbo specs, as far as I know, are unknown with the exception of max boost pressure. Those who claim to know, have hinted it is bigger than the big 16G on the EVO and might even be ball bearing. I guess I'm trying to square the "almost no lag" reported early on the STI with a larger single volute turbo now being described.


Speedlimit.....

 

Speedlimit I think the AVCS is making a big difference at low prms as well. I don't think the Euro sti has that.

 

I just read it. This reviewer would better not say couple times that he is an EVO fan. It does not help to read it as a source of good and unbiased review. Anyway I noticed UK reviewers point out differences which source is ACD/AYC.
Damn!
Two weeks more, two weeks more........

 

I wonder how they test a 300HP STI coz thats only available in US not the Europe.

 

I prefer subjective information, especially from professionals that drive many cars. I buy cars based on how they feel to drive or how much fun they are to drive. Numbers are a good backup, but still don't mean everything.

The numbers are a good source for basing differences between cars.
But, as Porsche once said, "it's not how fast you go, but how well you go fast." That's VERY true.

The new Neon SRT4 is VERY fast, but does it feel better at it than the WRX?

GR-VIII

 

It is the 2.0L Sti but it has the PPP(Prodrive Performance Pack) which bumps up the hp to 300. The USDM STi has 300 without the PPP. There are rumors that Prodrive is working on a performance pack for the USDM STi pumping out over 350hp!

 

So you'd rather believe Claudius that EVO is the only way to go then Shirokuma which prefers STi? Which one is the way to go?

 

I like subjectives too but I want them backed up, because otherwise I think you just get false impressions and wrong conclusions.

When Ford released the Focus RS some of the Brit magazines discussed how it felt as if it was as fast as an EVO or STI in the corners. They progressed from that to stating flat out that it handled as fast as EVO or STI.

Well, one magazine (Top Gear or Evo I think) tested the Focus RS on a track and found that is was in fact not as fast as stock '04 WRX much less an EVO or STI.

So....why do they think the Focus is so fast? Maybe torque steer?
Maybe lack of traction offline causing the wheels to break free at the the drop of a throttle.

Yes I love subjective impressions....but I have a problem when they turn into mistatements that are unsupported by fact.

 

Having driven an S4, I can attest to it's dullness

I also agree with the way the British mags rate their cars. Subjective handling is far more important that objective handling.

The real issue is whether of not the lack of ACD and the front LSD will reduce the EVO's subjective superiority over the STi. Also worth noting is that in the UK, the STi is about 130 lbs heavier that the EVO. In the US, both cars will weigh about the same . 130 lbs can have a significant impact on a car's subjective handling characteristics.

If I had a choice between a JDM EVO VIII RS and a JDM STi Spec-C, I'd take the EVO. However, the US market is quite a different story. Only time will tell...

 

The only feedback I'm interested in is owners. Don't care as much about magazine racing or professional drivers opinions because they aren't gonna drive the damn car to work. So, if its "tricky" to handle at high speed or difficult to push toward limits then poohey on it.

I want fun! not a car that has to babied by mere mortal drivers and can only truly be appreciated by professionals and the elite and purist. Ichy!

Speedlimit.......

 

Are you trying to tell us that shirokuma is not biased?

... no offense Paul

 

Once again the evo has prevailed