That episode is the same comparison test they did in the magazine when they pitted the STi against the Evo. They chose the Evo over the STi just because of the Evo's slalom, skidpad, and braking over the STi's acceleration and 1/4-mile. Both cars are dominant and equal. When it comes to a car versus car contest, it's a driver's game.

 

I almost bought the Sti. The sales manager in Temecula (so Cal) is very cool and mod friendly. I had my name on list attached to my credit card. They said I would have to wait a couple of months before they could get me one. Well, during those couple of months, guess what I did? I read and researched (which was what I should have done in the first place).

I kept coming across all these road tests and performance tuner sites that kept giving the edge to the Evo over the Sti.

Things that particularly influenced me were the common comments that the Evo was very stable and reassuring at its handling limits (Rod Millen said this for one) while the Sti makes you sweat - its nervous at the limit.

Also, one tester said something like "This much understeer on the Sti is almost unforgiveable in car of this type." I hate understeer, so that was a big nail in the coffin.

The slalom times in the Evo blew me away.

Then, what sealed the deal was everything I learned about the upgradeability of the evo and the lack thereof with the Sti.

Well, I withdrew my name from the Sti list and I'm glad I did.

The one thing that I don't like about my Evo is Mitsubishi Motors in general. I don't think they have ever made a car that I have really liked until the Evo.

 

1) First of all is Subaru's reputation for superior quality, which has so far proved true.
2) Second, after reading all reviews, they seem to like the Evo because it was easy to drive, and had a better "feel", which seemed to give them giggles. However, once I read between the lines, I could see that the STi, with a narrower wheel base, narrower tires, and a softer ride only gave up an unnoticable amount of cornering, which points to a superior suspension design. Simply adding psi, or bolting on lower stiffer springs to make the car more tarmac biased, would easily put it's on track performance beyond the Evo. The Evo on the other hand is rather one dimensional. It is designed for smooth track only, where it excels, but anything out of that box I believe the STi superior.
3) The STi's suspension is more stable as noted in Motortrend, Car and Driver, and Consumer Reports, allowing it to better the Evo in emergency lane change maneuvers, and high speed.
4) The Evo cannot even E-Brake turn! Who designed that in a "rally" car?
5) The STi's 6 speed gives a competent driver so much of an advantage when choosing gears in a variety of cornering situations.
6) The throttle controlable movements of the nose using the front LSD is another advantage that an experienced driver could use to push his limits in a turn. The mag testers simply didn't have time to learn the car.
7) Also, the list of standard creature comforts and safety equipment on the STi means you are really getting more for your money.
8) I am not interested in living through the 1 in 100 owners who will modify the car to its maximum potential, then saying things like "did you see what Al did to his car, that proves the Evo is faster, uh... no I don't have any of those mods."
9) The main deciding factor is the Evos turbo lag. Car and Driver got the STi from 5-60 a full second faster than the Evo. That means that in order to be fast in the Evo you need to make a perfect launch, that is extremely hard (hence the clutch problems).
The STi however, is capable of smooth 1500 rpm launches that put you back in your seat, and beat most cars on the road. This is important if you bog the launch, you won't get waxed like you will in the Evo. Also, exiting a tight turn, if your Evo ends up in a flat spot, likely especially with the wide 5spd, you can do nothing but watch the STi pull away, with its low torque and tight-always there-gears.
10) I wanted the best car out of the box.
I got the STi.

 

Trollski, while I respect your opinions, Your going to have a hard time convincing anyone on an EVO forum. Not that you don't have valid points, but I recall the articles referred that for the average driver, the STi was easier because of its softer suspension and not so tight steering. With the exception of your first point (I can't agree nor disagree with Quality of the subaru since I don't have any personal experience with it)

I do appreciate that an STi owner is giving his personal opinion since it gives us a look at the "other side" and someone on the fence can make an educated decision.

BUT... It is just an opinion, and there's an old saying "Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one, and most stink"


BTW when is the last time you did an E-Brake turn?

 

I've never seen someone try so hard to convince themselves that they made the right choice. I love it!

 

Why do some of you guys in the states always think there is "no replacement for displacement"?????? There are reasons why F1 cars are V10 3.0 u knoe... Indy cars are similar i think but with turbocharging.(Correct me if iam wrong) Besides Your nascars over there, touring cars around the world are capped at 2.0 or around there. Rally cars = 2.0

You should not be driving an EVO or STI or any japanese car for that matter if displacement is so important to you.

Iam sure Honda could built a 5 litre big V8 with 400 bhp. But lets see Dodge squeeze 240bhp from a 2.0 = S2000. or 280 bhp from a 2.0 turbo and still pass emissions.

As for the 2.5 STI, Iam sure the US one is a alright car, but we all know Japan domestic always gets the best versions... Any guesses why THEY DUN have the 2.5 STI there???

 

A lot of the points made by alleggerita and Trollski are very valid and part of what makes it a very difficult decision.

Let me add/underscore a few that I've been mulling over:

STi:

Haven't driven it so my opinion on this car is limited.

If the steering rack is not tight, that would be a complaint. I haven't driven it yet so I wouldn't know, but I know i like tight steering response like the Evo has.

If the suspension is any boatier than the Evo, that would be a complaint. The Evo's is good stock.

No CD player standard BUT optional 6-disc in dash I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong). Would prefer a CD playing AM/FM headunit included at that price.

Front LSD and active, adjustable center diff standard but really I doubt either of those would ever come into use on it for me as a daily driver.

6speed - probably better fuel economy potential and definitely better gearing than the Evo 5speed.

CD player should be 6-disc in-dash like most other cars in that price range. As a daily driver car that would be important to me. Hey, I never said everything in my list would be performance-related. I'm not tracking the car.

Pure opinion but I'd have less worries owning a Subaru, both service-side and just in general. Mitsu's so shady. I worked for them for a short time. Shady.

Hate the wing BUT looks good with no wing.

Better looking car when dropped and wing taken off. Evo is better looking stock though and when changing wheels, tires, kit, etc.

Evo:

Love the engine and turbo performance.

Better price/deals on price.

Wing looks decent. Beware of removing it - it looks terribly more like a base Lancer without it.

Pure opinion but it looks like a lot less car from outside, especially in the American market. It LOOKS like it is a riced-up Lancer (I know full-well it isn't but that is how it looks to most people, so if image is important to you it might matter).

Issues with clutch, rust, etc. Yeah yeah we've all been through that discussion a million times and the STi has issues too. I'd still feel more confident in a Subaru as my daily driver to not break down than in the Evo.




Anyway that's my ramblings on this topic.

 

While this may have been true in the past, the 2.5 STi disproves it today.

 

Hell, why not offer engine choice for both here in states or overseas? I'm sure there are those that don't give a rats *** about having .5 more liters and some that have to have it no matter how much the cost.

Only time will tell how the USDM STI fairs mod wise since its still a new platform. Give them some developement time and I bet the 2.5 will be up there with the rest for mods.

Buying these cars is equivalent to buying your favorite name brand clothing, if it fits your personality then you're going to buy it no matter what anyone else says, which is why I got the STI.

"Pure opinion but it looks like a lot less car from outside, especially in the American market. It LOOKS like it is a riced-up Lancer (I know full-well it isn't but that is how it looks to most people, so if image is important to you it might matter)."

Heh, a wolf in sheeps clothing. This is not such a bad thing really. You will draw less attention from the popo. Anyway, the Evo looks good with or without the wing

 

Perhaps your right. Ive never driven the 2.5STI. But I have driven the latest JDM STI's and I dont like them. The STI Spec C is a different beast though, British and European reviews are hailing this car to be a worthy adversary of the EVO. Understeer is non-existent and it doesnt feel like an STI. Handles more like an EVO...haha

 

So in the Top Gear review of the new STi vs. the Evo 8 and FQ-300, what's the music in the scene where they say "you...outside...NOW!" and then he says "trying to decide which is best...is hard". That music sounds awesome. Please if you know, hook up the info. Thanks.

 

Post the vid

 

Ehh...I got it off of KaZaA. I'm pretty sure www.racingflix.com has it, but they're server is flippin' slow.

 

Ohhh i think I know what your talking about

The song was also featured in the movie "Heat" at the end credits

Moby - God Moving Over the Face of the Waters

Great song! Very dramatic..