Just traded in the STi for a 2012 E92 M3! After test driving several cars, it seemed to be the best blend of performance and luxury. Pretty fast out of the box...

 

I owned a 2009 WRX before I got the 2011 Evo X MR. I drove a 2008 and then a 2011 STi every time I go back home to visit my parents in Asia. Of these four cars that I have had pretty decent amount of seat time, I prefer the 2011 STi. While the steering feel on the Evo X is about a gazzillion times better than any of the Subaru's, the Evo X just doesn't have the "special" feel to me. You sit high up, removed from the vibration of the car, and the pedals are too close to the seat (the result of non-telescoping steering wheel). I feel like my body is wrapped around the car in an Evo X, whereas I felt like the car wrapped around my body in the STi or WRX. I know this is a weird thing to say, even more so considering the Evo X has those nice Recaros. But it's just that. There are just things one can't quantify by numbers.

As a car, the STi offers a tremendous driving experience. You feel like you're operating a sports car, even if it is in numbers slower. In an Evo X, I felt like I was operating something to simply go faster.

I hope this helps your decision. It the ideal word, I'd like both an Evo X and STi (and maybe a S2000). But if I can only choose one, I'd pick the STi. So when it's time again to change my car, I'll be looking for an STi.

 

You didn't read this thread at all did you?

 

Congrats on the purchase, good choice.

Although if you had 30 grand over the purchase price of an Evo to play with, we could have given you some other interesting suggestions

 

Out of curiosity, what others would you have recommended? I looked at the CTS-V...nice car, but not a fan of the coupe. Merc AMG, not a fan of the automatic....Z06, not a great choice for Chicago winters or transporting my 3 boys....GTR, would only consider new and that's way over my price range

 

I am/was on the same boat about 2-3 months ago. All the vehicles I looked at were 09-10.

I test drove both the CTSV coupe and Sedan. Sedan was pretty awesome but the coupe.. meh. Drove a c63 and e63 AMG, good throttle but no drive feeling, yea it is not a slow car by any means but you dont realize you just did 0-90mph, my evo has a better feeling from 30-60.

Test drove an m3, it wasnt bad at all but I felt gimped after the AMG/CTSV. It is not as luxurious nor does it have the performance of either.

Was stuck at an 09 GTR for the longest. 22k miles 60k. Was only a signature away and I wouldnt be keeping the gtr stock. The day I get it I will be getting intakes, TBE, boost controller and tune which would blow pretty much all "street" cars away and you get the same feeling with evo driving when you gun it. I am not gonna talk about all the pro's and cons. But then I decided I will wait till I can afford the 2012 without any problems. I could get a loan now for half of it but no need to dump in my liquid for it, just yet.

I drive a 2010 and in my mind it just seems a bit weird to get an older car than that even if it has less miles on it. Downgrade is how I see it unless you are going with a very exotic vehicle or a classic.

Congratz on your purchase, hopefully you will enjoy it. If you need more tweaks, you can always get intake/exhaust and a JB3 tune and maybe later down the road you could do headers and supercharge it