Hey guys, I'm new to this forum, but I've been on NASIOC since 2007

I officially have caught the modification bug, and have known for some time that, for big power goals, 4G63 motors are unstoppable. I've reached the threshold for reliability on the stock EJ257 motor (400whp) and I'm just waiting for the thing to pop, though I have a very SOLID tune. Currently I'm learning how to build a 2.5l STi motor .25 bore-over with an engine builder. Internals will be Wiseco 99.75mm pistons, manley H beam rods, ACL race and HX bearings, and ARP head studs. The car is currently on the stock internals and at 22-23psi and IDC is only 75%

Some of you know that even a built Subaru motor is only good for 30k reliable miles, while your bomb proof 4G63's sound like they handle 500whp as daily drivers on E85 with bolt-ons.

Now that I have the mod bug, I've been looking at 2005 Evo VIII's (heard the Evo IV 6 speed isn't too good.) My goal is to just have a fun and reliable street car with no real track days in my future.

If you switched from an STi to an Evo, what do you miss about the STi?

My car mods:
2005 STi stock block
E85
Stock Location ATP GT3076 3" inlet IWG
Agency Power 3" inlet
KStech 73mm intake w/k&n filter
TGV deletes by me
FiveO Motorsports 1200 side feed injectors
$.16 mod on stock BPV (more reliable than crushing)
Innovate LC-1 O2
Walbro 255 fuel pump
Stock STi TMIC
Aftermarket uppipe
Greddy EVO II catback
Invidia V2 catless 3" downpipe
Ported stock headers
Grimmspeed EBCS + Hallman Pro RX + AEM 3.5bar MAP sensor
Flex fuel badge
~400whp (should be making 430whp without trying)

I've had 3 Evo owners drive my car and they love how it drives. One guy that has a 610whp Evo said my car was the funnest STi he has ever driven.

 

I came from owning three subis (03, WRX, 04 STI, 05 STI). My 04 was pushing the limits of the stock motor running a SZ55 with meth/water injection at 26 psi with a ton of supporting mods. The low end torque is what really makes the STI fun to drive. Honestly though I can tell you what I don't miss, and that is taking twice as long to work on those damn things

I have a feeling that if you get an evo you will be hooked and might just walk away from the Subarus all together. But if you can have both then why not?

 

i don't even know where to begin.

you would lose to a pretty stock tuned evo though if that gives you an idea.

 

You're running those mods on E85 and only makin about 400whp? Damn man I don't have many mods, just bolt ons but I'm pushing around 350whp on 93. Anyway I ride in my friends STi from time to time, and the torque is pretty low which is fun at times, but the thing I like sometimes are the soft seats, but then I hate falling out of them when turning. Anyway if you travel on the highway a lot that's where I herd the 6th gear is like a god send haha. The 6-speed isn't bad, but prone to fail when you have reach higher torques.

 

Yeah, the torque, bullet proof 6 speed, slightly higher quality interior.

And I'm de-tuned to 400whp. We started off making 430 at 24psi.

I did all the wrenching on my car, and they are not hard to work on... actually easier for many reasons, but the stock location turbo was a b-----! That's why a lot of Subaru guys go rotated.

 

I had an 02 WRX that was a full bolt on car, stock turbo, 19psi, and tune and was MAYBE making 300whp. My quick goal for it was to get it around 400whp (before the WRX I had a big cam Trans Am making 411rwhp), after owning it for 6 months and realizing how much money it was going to take just to get it to that, I gave up, plus the boxer motors are stupid to work on (also had a 300zx TT and those are a *****, but I would have rather worked on that than the suby).

Just about a month ago I bought and 03 Evo 8 with intake, 264 cams, turboxs FMIC, downpipe back exhaust, e85 tune and 25psi which was good for about 370whp on the stock baby turbo. I have since ordered an FP Red, o2 housing, 272 cams, intercooler piping, and a few other odds and ends... performance parts I probably spend in the neighborhood of $3200 but now have a new very realistic goal with the mods of a little over 500whp on e85 and 450-460whp on 93oct. Plus the motors are easy as hell to work on, ect..

To sum it up, the ONLY thing I miss about the suby was the boxer rumble..... otherwise I can't say I would ever even consider looking back.

 

i think you meant the IX 6-speed isnt too good... but in any case, the 6-speed only came in the MRs... all other evo IX models came with the 5-speed like the evo 8s... and mod for mod, the IXs make more power.. due to the MIVEC and larger turbo.. you just have the higher up front cost with IXs being worth more than the VIIIs... but you would be very happy with either an 8 or 9

 

If you had variable valve timing like MIVEC than you would be making that much power with leas mods. I'm sure 400whp is a blast to drive.

 

honestly, 400 gets pretty boring after a little while.... lol... i drive my car everyday, and it feels slower every day...hahaha... its 402awhp and 402tq... time for the magic 500... then when im bored with that...600...and so on and so on...lmao

 

The 6 speed is nice, but from 04-06 it isn't geared right for drag racing which a lot of guys on here like to do.

I've worked on plenty of Subarus, and everything takes longer to do. I would imagine a rotated setup would be easier, but not by much. Have you ever worked on any Evos? You'll change your mind about working on a Subaru being easy once you get one.


The STI has AVCS timing advance which is similar to MIVEC. The problem with the STI motor is that it can't handle high amounts of boost, but runs a lot more timing. Even fully built motors fail on Subarus a lot faster.

 

You'll missed the creature comforts. Evo is more of a drivers car. Subie is more of a daily.

 

Never had a subie but I don't think there is much of a decision to make if youre power hungry

 

I'd pretty much skip the Evo 8 and just get a 9 SE or GSR, they have the 5 speed, a bigger stock turbo, Mivec, And generally less miles

 

I have two family members and a few friends with wrx/sti's. The low-end torque is absolutely amazing. That car starts moving nicely from under 3k rpm. But, NONE of them make any high end power. At all.

Interior wise, Subaru is by far better outside of the seats. The dashboard, the stock radio, the gauge cluster, etc. all work better and are nicer to look at. Also, no evo trans will ever shift as smooth as an STI 6 speed. (concentrate that I said smooth, not hold more power) Changing the clutch is 10 times easier in the subie as well as upgrading the TMIC. BUT, changing spark plugs and exhaust manifold is very difficult.

So, Unless you need a car to compete with, I'd say keep your subaru. If I wasn't such a die hard Mitsu guy (and I love beating up my subie brothers), I would own an STI. (I'm on my fourth mitsu, 2nd evo)

 

Yeah, totally meant Evo IX... that's what I get for replying at 12am, haha.

I have known, for some time, that mod for mod Evo's make more power.

Down here in San Diego it's not Evo's VS Subarus... it's more of a brotherhood even though we're driving a different brand.

Are the MIVEC motors as bulletproof and reliable as the previous gens? Easier to tune? Better response?

And as for low-end oomph, who's doing high compression + E85 out there? My builder almost had me convinced to do 9.8:1-10:1 until news came out that the Gov wasn't going to subsidize corn growing for E