But where is the fun in that??

Mr. AWD

 

Ok, you're right. No more speculating.

So..............................................um , uh....................................... hey, how about that new Neon?! ..................................Yeah............ .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ..................

............nah, we'll just go back to speculating about the Evo and STi.

 

I am an Evo fan, think both cars are great. But I've seen lots of really nice WRX's, have a friend who is putting as much STI stuff as he can on it and has dynoed @ 320 wheel hp in his REX, STI style body kit, STI intercooler etc. etc. And seeing his car doesn't stun me as much as seeing the Evo-7 around town. Now tha skyline.....

 

the evolution is an awesome car, but for $30000 it is a little less awesome. now the sti, i dont know where they get the ***** to sell that thing for $40000 but i think most people will choose the evo with those two choices. unless you are a rich, die-hard, subaru fan.

 

Where are you getting this price from? And don't tell me a dealer told you or read it from a magazine, STOP spreading rumors man. We know NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING about the these cars, spec, price, etc etc... Come on guys, wait 'til these cars hit the showroom before talking trash will ya?

 

The prices bantered about on the STi have been between $32 and $35k.

The one big tangible thing you're getting with an Impreza (any Impreza) over a Lancer (any Lancer) is tougher car, a more dependable car and a better car to live with day to day.

I've owned Mitsu's and Subaru's and as much as I love the Lancer (I've been pining for one for YEARS - I'm no newbie, mind you) I think I'd go for the STi given the choice.

But it will be very interesting to see this all play out. Hopefully dealers will allow test drives (at least to us 30-something's who already drive $40k cars). We've bought 2 Legacy's from our dealer and they know that their greed with the WRX was what pushed me to an Audi 2 years ago.

 

spreading rumors? why dont you cry to subaru about spreading the rumors. here is all of the info that NO ONE knows:

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=09896364

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=09677808

let me quote them too, just in case you dont want to click on the links.

"STi sources say U.S. emissions requirements and lower octane fuel will likely cut into the non-U.S. output of 276 hp, so we’ll stand by the 261-hp estimate we’ve heard for STi’s turbo four. "

"As for price, in Japan, the bad-tempered street machine starts at about $26,000, while in the United Kingdom it’s more like $40,000. Our sources say the U.S. price will come in somewhere just under the U.K. price. For 2004, the first full year, Subaru projects 4000 sales in North America. "

 

That tells me nothing, still a RUMOR if it's not from Subaru. What is your problem dude, all I'm saying is until the Evo and the STi gets here, dont' talk smack about either one. You know nothing about neither cars.

 

they are getting it from STI!

second i am not "talking smack" about either car. i am saying $30000 is a bit much for the evo and $40000 is alot much for the sti.

we know nothing about the evolution? what about all of the info that has been posted here on this website?

here is one of the hundreds of websites
http://www.urbanracer.com/features/mitsu_lancer.html

that info is from Pierre Gagnon, president and chief operating officer of MMSA. is he high enough in the chain for you?

 

It's widely known that the STi is a better car to live with day to day. But when it comes to toughness and dependability, both the Evo and the STi are at the same level. This is based upon what has been said regarding the JDM and Euro models of both cars. We should expect a similar situation in the USA.

 

Just wondering, what do you mean by its a better car to live with day to day? Are you talking about the fact that the Evo is a much stiffer car and is highly reactive to impurities on the road?

 

Yes, and it sucks gas and eats tires like a ****.

 

Couldn't the ride be softened a bit though anyways with a better, softer suspension?

 

its all just subjective opinions anyway. some people prefer stiffer suspension.

 

1) Toughness/dependability - going by what Brits say about both cars and both manufacturers in general, Subies are generally regarded as more dependable cars that can also withstand more abuse. Going by personal experience, though I am comparing ownership of a 1999 and then 2002 Subaru to a 1995 Mitsu, the Mitsu always seemed more fragile. However, it did suffer more abuse than the Subies, as those are my wife's cars and they're babied by comparison!

2) Prices - I just did some scouting of prices around the world and here is what I came up with. I'd just say, it doesn't help paint a clearer picture of what we can expect.

First - the STi when it first appeared in the UK in November 2001 was priced from 25,995 pds, or $38,028 US. Understand, however, that due to various, extensive and confusing laws in the UK, car prices are substantially higher than in most other countries. I don't know the details since it's been a while since I read about this, but it is true. Check back issues of EVO, Top Gear, etc and they have articles every few months complaining about this.

ANYWAY, if you figure that the $38,028 is probably at least 12% higher than a US price, this would convert to $33,464.

Currently, the UK prices for the WRX are 21,495 UK ($33,620 US) and STi comes in at 25,995 UK (21% more than WRX) or $40,658 US.

Again, you gotta toggle those prices back to compensate for higher British car price levels. Using the 12% reduction, that would make the UK WRX $29,586 US and the UK STi $35,779.

Comparing those prices (well, the WRX, anyway since that is all that is available here right now) to the US, these prices still look way high. The base price of a 4 door sedan WRX 5 spd in the US is $23,995, which is a whopping 40% less (than the adjusted UK price) for the same car! CONSIDER THESE THINGS WHEN COMPARING WHAT THE CARS COST ABROAD!

Finally, in Australia, the WRX is $41,490 AU and the STi is $55,130 AU. This comes to $23,201 US for the WRX and $30,828 US for the STi. Suddenly, these prices look a lot better, huh? I mean, in Australia the WRX's price (adjusted for currency difference) is only $700 off from the US price.

With the difference in price between the WRX and STi in Australia coming to 33%, this would equate to a US STi coming it at $31,993.

Australia, despite the fact that they love rallying, has suffered from some of the same problems as the US in getting the Jap companies to give them the 'good stuff'. Part of the problem is the same as they run into here, with crash and emissions standards. They cleaned up the AU versions and they are coming in at an adjusted $32k.

I'm not making promises, and who knows, I could end up totally wrong. But I wanted to point out that there is reason to believe that prices will be reasonable.

And BTW - all these comments that $30k - $35k is high for these cars is really ignorant. I think what's happening is too many people (kids) who are really pretty new to these cars (i.e. first learned about them playing Gran Turismo) are weighing in with opinions like they're long time experts.

Consider all the people out there who talk about getting WRX's and spending $3k and making them faster than STi's. Yes, this can be done, but you aren't getting the "full package". And you're voiding your warranty.

Try adding up the prices of all the STi parts (including that variable valve timing engine setup) and the labor to install them then add it to the price of a WRX and you'll be shocked. And you still won't have a warranty.

Could it be that people are fretting over these prices because most of the fans of these cars are teenagers (or thereabouts) and they dearly wish they could afford such cars but can't? Seriously! When I was about 23 years old, I DESPERATELY wanted a Ford Escort Cosworth RS. But the imported and legalized version cost $51k! Could I afford that? HELL NO! I couldn't afford a $25k car at that age! But did I cry about that price being a ripoff? NO. Heck I didn't even know very much back then about cars and I didn't have the Internet back then, but I knew that the car was something truly special, with lots of race engineered parts and technology and accepted the fact that I couldn't get one.

If all the kids who can't afford these cars would leave these boards and go chat about Civics and Focus' (like they probably should) these boards would clear out overnight.

Just use some common sense!