Banghado....this is clipped from another post that I replied to but it seems relevant here.....

I too was torn in a major way between the two.....I wanted all wheel and sporty, I don't plan to race it but I want a fun daily driver that is safe and easy to drive fast if I feel like driving fast....anyway here's the post...


I debated and waited just like you did. In the end the cost difference for me is just enough to get a 2nd set of wheels and tires for winter on the EVO...especially since both cars need winter tires.

They are VERY close in performance and since I'm not racing it that made only a tiny difference. I also truly believe the EVO is easier and more fun to drive fast. I'll take that over sheer power any day. I've passed many more powerful cars on the track with a less-powerful great handling car.

Every magazine review raves about how great the EVO handles and you have to love a car that can out stop and out slalom almost every car out there, especially in every day driving. Being agile and easy to drive fast not only makes for a fun car but a safe car.

After that I assumed the Sti had the advantage of a 6-speed and DCCD. Again the magazine reviewers were never able to get better performance out of the DCCD settings beyond their automatic mode so it's only a toy as far as how I will use it. They all loved the 5-speed in the EVO and said you'd never miss 6th gear and I know I won't.

From there it was easy. The EVO has a sunroof and the Sti does not. The EVO has a rear wiper and the Sti does not. I'm not racing this car and it IS my everyday driver so the sunroof (especially on a Tarmac Black car) and wiper ARE important to me.

I love the Recaro seats and even though the Sti has sport seats all of the reviewers complained about their lack of support in turns. The Recaro's fit my frame like a glove.

My only "want" is for cruise control. The Sti has it the EVO does not. I use it quite a bit on my GSX now just to stay 10-over the speed limit. I hear it can be added but I haven't found the details on that yet.

I went and looked at an EVO and I think they are simply just a nicer looking car than the Sti.

Bottom line...I bought a Tarmac Black EVO Monday night and it will be arriving in about 2 weeks. I can't wait.

Drive them both and see. One will speak to you. The EVO spoke to me the Sti did not. You may be different. In the end it was an easy choice for me and knowing their backgrounds I suspect they both will be a little noisy and harsh but also rugged solid and well-built. No real "wrong" choice here so go with your seat of the pants fun meter and pick one.

Either way no regrets and just enjoy it...

 

Naw, I've heard the new sport compact car got the evo like 2-3mph faster in the slalom than the STi .

.95 vs .9
105 vs 109 or something evo wins all except 1/4mi.

If your interested in dragging and grocery getting get the STi. If your interested in performance get the evo. If you want to trade performance for a softer car get the STi or the G35

 

I just put a deposit myself on a white EVO still in port in Southern CA. It should arrive sometime in the first week of June. I didnt get a sunroof but I got the 3 gage cluster and the sport pedal kit. All out the door for $32500 tax/license included. Im really happy to find a place to share my thoughts and gain some insight from fellow owners.

 

If you're not going to be driving the car at 8/10 or more... it almost doesn't matter which one you get

Ignore the mag racers. If you're not racing, or even autoxing, and you just want a reliable fun daily driver, you will be fine with either one. Doubtful you'll notice that extra 3 mph in the slalom or whatever it is.

Torque, less twitchy steering and stiff-but-not-insane suspensions are all good things to have in a car you drive to work everyday. But even my WRX feels harsh on rough roads, I doubt either one of them will have that BMW-type ride quality. (And I wouldn't want them to!)

In 5 years I'll have to make the same decision except I'll be buying a used one

Duh - I'm biased - but I got that way for a reason

-bd

 

Hard to Ignore consistant results by so many articles saying Evo handles better and STi has more grunt. If people ignore magazine racing why even read comparos in car magazines? Most people see which one is faster for these cars correct?

If numberous magazine people ran faster with the evo there is a far greater chance that i'll do the same and it probably does handle better. However, I look foward to auto X the STi to see how it compares with my evo. That is one thing magazines have not tried.

IF WRX feels harsh to you I would not recommend neither the STi nor the Evo.

 

I don't get those that complain about the Evo's ride. I don't think it is harsh at all. Yes, it is harsher then my roommates WRX (and most other cars for that matter). But to me, that is a very good thing, I like to feel the road! I have not had the opportunity to ride/drive an STi, so I can't compare, but I am amazed that so many think it is overly harsh (did you not know what you were getting into?). It is far more forgiving them my RX7 (which will always be my personal benchmark for most things cars) to the point where I see coilovers in the future.

And despite it's relitive harshness, it does not seem louder then a stock WRX in back to back drives/rides.

Bottom line, the WRX/STi and the Evo (and hell, the G35, Z, R32, & SRT-4) are all very solid cars. Drive as many as you can, and rank them by your needs and your budget - then get the car that suits you best - you can't go wrong with any of them as long as you are honest with yourself. And if you approach people with these cars now nicely you can probably get some excellent test rides - which is a better way to determine the limits - in someone else's car that is broken in and driven by a driver that has some experience with the limits of the car.

my 2 cents....

 

i dont really like the USDM evo, get the sti

 

It also happened to win around the track in the SCC test. Strange but true. Must be a heck of a grocery getter.

Cheers,

Paul Hansen

 

Congrat on your new EVO...

^_^

 

i personaly dont care much for the evo. i mean your just going to throw after market part on it like the es whats a lancer ES with a turbo charger.... its an EVO pretty much throw a kit on it and you got the same thing for about the same as with you guys paid 32g for your we will only pay 25 or 30, then your aftermarket mods youll spend about 40 g all around and if you throw aftermarket turbos in you just spent more than that.

 

So i picked up my black evo today, god this thing is awesome. Not being able to push it hard during the break in is like torture. Just a heads up for the supposed "msrp dealers". fresno mitsu was/is on the list and they wouldn't do it, i got it with sun roof for 31,500. which is about 600 over msrp. they said theres only been a couple special circumstances involving other dealerships that they did them at msrp. and since black and silver are the most popular colors they were being hard ***'s. but in the end i didnt suffer to bad and its worth every cent.

 

Hi Paul

I am a little bitter that the new STi is no Spec C. I've heard the new spec C feels like the evo VII and should be 10mm lower? Have you driven one and does it really feel like an evo? 322 restrictive hp sounds good. Subaru should of given us a detuned spec C 2L engine with 300hp and spec c suspention. If they did i'm sure the outcome would not be the same. Do you know if the US STi has the lighter door pannel and hood like the spec c? Anyways, I still feel the us STi is not that great considering it does not handle as well with front LSD and electronic center diff. Something is definitly wrong with the suspention when the 2.5L has fitted. It should understeer less than the evo with the front LSD

I have to admit the STi is a really nice car but for my purpose the evo is the way to go.

 

Sway bars are cheap

-bd

 

Congratulations, now you just have to drive out the breakin period.

It was the longest 2 weeks (600 miles) of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

What the hell are you talking about?