I was really fortunate. My dealer in HB had a demo car from Mitsu USA and I got to really get on it. It's a good thing I drove it, otherwise I wasn't going to get rid of my S2000.

Still, if I had to buy that particular one, I would be nervous since it had been test-driven. Of the 3 fast cars I've bought new, a '93 Mustang Cobra, an '01 S2000, and my '03 Evo, all were bought right off the showroom floor with about 5 or 6 miles on them.
That way I know they were broken in correctly.

 

I would never buy a car before driving. Just stupid. Drove the Evo twice before buying, comparing it to WRX, 350Z, A4 and my older Porsche. I really didn't even consider buying it, until I did drive it.... drove it, my wife and I both loved it, signed the papers the following weekend. If I had not driven it, I would be driving a black WRX wagon now, instead of my wicked silver Evo ....which can fly on the right dirt roads... literally FLY, about 2 feet of air and into a mud hole sideways! LOVE IT!!!

 

yeah, most dealerships should have a demo car dedicated only for test drives. That way only one car gets used. Man, can't wait till the EVO comes to canada. Gonna pick one up as soon as I can!

 

If you buy a WRX and try to convert it to an STi, even after $10,000 it still won't compare to it. The EVO has been rated better than the STi in all car mag reviews. Unless you are a die hard subie fan and into the subie look, the EVO is a better performer and more modable than the STI, even without the ACD/AYC (for the STi's DCCD) and 6 speed tranny.

 

How do you define better off? Financially, obviously yes. You will spend less on the subaru route. But the scenery, feelings, and memories the Evo could provide far outweigh what the subaru can. If you're looking for performance and true driving spirit, THe Evo will not ever let you down. If you don't bother running it at a track where you can be amazed by just all that it offers, you may never know the real differencebetween the two routes. It's kinda of like sleeping on a jet. If you just sleep the entire flight, who cares if you're in 1st class or coach? But if you plan on looking out the window and enjoying the champaigne, you know which you will prefer.