Noobie wanting to learn..
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2005
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Noobie wanting to learn..
In the market for a daily driver and am considering a VW 337 GTI,an STI,or an Evo...Just wanting to have some good conversation and learn something new about a great car.Although Mustangs are my first love,I've always enjoyed taking a small displacement engine through the gears on a long winding road.I use to own an RX-7.Thanks for any advice and hope to learn alot.28
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 78
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From: Seattle
Hey,
I now own a 2005 silver evo MR. I used to own a 2003 evo VIII (traded it in), and have had a few chances to drive the STis quite hard. I have little experience with VW.
It seems to me that if you like winding, twisty roads, you're going to enjoy the evo more, especially the older '03s and '04s, because they have a "laser-grip" type feel, makes you feel like you're in a go-kart, and have tremendous road feel. You are able to feel every slight imperfection in the road through the wheel, and cornering is extremely predictable. The MRs, as I've experienced, have less of the laser-grip feel, and feel more refined. There is a small "dead-spot" in the center of the wheel, and you need to turn the wheel more to get the same effect you did in the '03 and '04s. I attribute most of this to the new bilstein suspension the MRs are equipped with, as turning in for a corner is also a bit slower, but much smoother. With the MRs, the suspension progressively loads as you dive deeper and deeper into the turn, while the older versions' suspension would load pretty quickly and you would keep it loaded and release it through the exit. Overall, I must say that in cornering, the MRs seem less "racy", and you lose some of the road feel, but specs say they're faster, and I think this is a result of the softer but smoother suspension. As in straight line speed, again the MR feels more refined as it accelerates smoother from 0-60, with 3rd gear coming up a bit quicker than the '03 and '04s. The older versions seemed perhaps even quicker in the 0-60 sprint, with a little more of what i call the "ferocious" quality- the bite that launches you hard and fast. Again, the MR is supposed to be faster in specs in the sprint.
Now with the STi...
The STi struck me as an incredible car all around as well, and I personally liked the 6-speed. Although slowing down the 0-60 sprint with an extra gear shift thrown in there (3rd, 2nd only goes to 58mph), in the twisties you can keep your rpms in boost range much easier, and there is virtually no sign of turbo lag if you shift correctly. Overall, the STi felt even softer than the MR. It was a little slower turning into corners, and the suspension is softer, and that is what Subaru intended for it- it is more toward the "family car" end of the spectrum than a full race car. It's .5 liter displacement advantage over the evo gives it a little more "grunt", but again, it doesnt posess the same technical finesse that the evo does.
It is entirely up to what you are looking for in a car. All 3 of these cars that I've described are incredible, and are at the very top of their class. For handling though, I would definitely go with the evo.
p.s. one thing you may want to look into is the safety ratings / features of both cars. Inarguably, the STi is the safer car, with side airbags standard. However, it again depends on how you're gonna use the car. Curtain airbags and crumple zones are not going to help very much if you slam the wall of turn 4 at 110mph on the track.
I now own a 2005 silver evo MR. I used to own a 2003 evo VIII (traded it in), and have had a few chances to drive the STis quite hard. I have little experience with VW.
It seems to me that if you like winding, twisty roads, you're going to enjoy the evo more, especially the older '03s and '04s, because they have a "laser-grip" type feel, makes you feel like you're in a go-kart, and have tremendous road feel. You are able to feel every slight imperfection in the road through the wheel, and cornering is extremely predictable. The MRs, as I've experienced, have less of the laser-grip feel, and feel more refined. There is a small "dead-spot" in the center of the wheel, and you need to turn the wheel more to get the same effect you did in the '03 and '04s. I attribute most of this to the new bilstein suspension the MRs are equipped with, as turning in for a corner is also a bit slower, but much smoother. With the MRs, the suspension progressively loads as you dive deeper and deeper into the turn, while the older versions' suspension would load pretty quickly and you would keep it loaded and release it through the exit. Overall, I must say that in cornering, the MRs seem less "racy", and you lose some of the road feel, but specs say they're faster, and I think this is a result of the softer but smoother suspension. As in straight line speed, again the MR feels more refined as it accelerates smoother from 0-60, with 3rd gear coming up a bit quicker than the '03 and '04s. The older versions seemed perhaps even quicker in the 0-60 sprint, with a little more of what i call the "ferocious" quality- the bite that launches you hard and fast. Again, the MR is supposed to be faster in specs in the sprint.
Now with the STi...
The STi struck me as an incredible car all around as well, and I personally liked the 6-speed. Although slowing down the 0-60 sprint with an extra gear shift thrown in there (3rd, 2nd only goes to 58mph), in the twisties you can keep your rpms in boost range much easier, and there is virtually no sign of turbo lag if you shift correctly. Overall, the STi felt even softer than the MR. It was a little slower turning into corners, and the suspension is softer, and that is what Subaru intended for it- it is more toward the "family car" end of the spectrum than a full race car. It's .5 liter displacement advantage over the evo gives it a little more "grunt", but again, it doesnt posess the same technical finesse that the evo does.
It is entirely up to what you are looking for in a car. All 3 of these cars that I've described are incredible, and are at the very top of their class. For handling though, I would definitely go with the evo.
p.s. one thing you may want to look into is the safety ratings / features of both cars. Inarguably, the STi is the safer car, with side airbags standard. However, it again depends on how you're gonna use the car. Curtain airbags and crumple zones are not going to help very much if you slam the wall of turn 4 at 110mph on the track.
Last edited by evolveMR; Jan 10, 2005 at 10:20 PM.
out of your choices, the evo will more closely resemble the rx7 since you have to wind it up to get any real fun out of it & it has the smallest motor in the bunch. you can almost eliminate turbo lag with a stroker though.S2000 is a good canyon car (don't really like honda) but the best for that road trip would be either a Lotus Elise or a Caterham.
i say get the evo 8. rs is too basic & the MR is borderline yuppie status.
gti has an inferior plaform, & the STI is turning into an MR with mushy suspension.
i drove an 05 STI the day after getting the 03 evo & was glad i didn't pay the extra $7k for the STI. just duddn't handle as good. BUY THE BEST HANDLING CAR!!! power is easy to get but handling isn't.
i say get the evo 8. rs is too basic & the MR is borderline yuppie status.
gti has an inferior plaform, & the STI is turning into an MR with mushy suspension.
i drove an 05 STI the day after getting the 03 evo & was glad i didn't pay the extra $7k for the STI. just duddn't handle as good. BUY THE BEST HANDLING CAR!!! power is easy to get but handling isn't.
Evolving Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 132
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From: Mi
The say the ultimate production go cart type feel of a car is the Lotus Elise.
Next in line is the EVO. 2 turns lock to lock with no centering and you can imagine
how fast the steering is. That is why they say it is like a race car feel.
Next in line is the EVO. 2 turns lock to lock with no centering and you can imagine
how fast the steering is. That is why they say it is like a race car feel.