So what you are saying that from LA to Vegas which is a 5 hour drive, you recommend
the 6MT rather than the 5MT?

 

i know what everybody meant, just that when i drove an STi (was modded too), the difference isn't really that big btwn that car and my stock IX. i just think maybe sometimes ppl exaggerate a bit too much.

the IX is much more responsive than the VIII i drove for 3 hours last year. there is no less than 250 lb-ft of tq from 2500 rpm and on (according to motor trend). maybe when compared to the VIII the STi seems to have much better low end.

moving on thanks for the attempt to clarify.

 

the 6spd will have better top end since it has an extra gear.

other than that, the difference btwn the evo _VIII_ and VIII MR's 5spd and 6spd is more significant on road courses like Warrtalon said. the gearing is significantly close on the 6spd than the 5.

however with the IX, the first four gears are pretty much identical (but not exactly the same).

i've read that the 6th gear is only a couple of hundreds of rpm difference from the 5th on the highway. it isn't a big difference, but i guess having a 6th gear can help putting a bit less stress on the engine.

i just got back from a trip from socal to norcal (400 miles+ trip), and my 5th gear was awesome. pretty quite to my standard, while passing people was a piece of cake. the 5th gear is only at 4000 rpm when u're at 90 mph. but even going at 70 mph u're right where the turbo spool starts, so one stab at the throttle and the car moves.

hope that helped. sorry i talk way too damn much.

 

yeah the 6mt is not for gas... my dad didnt believe how high the rpms are at 80mph. also the mr is rated with worse gas mileage, in case anyone is wondering.

 

The only problem with having a 5 spd in the Evo is that you feel the need to shift again...hahaha At least I do anyway.

 

The 6th gear in the MR is about the same as the 5th gear in the 5-speed Evo. Sitting at 80mph in top gear in both (6th gear in MR vs. 5th in GSR) ..the RPMs are only off about 1-2 hundred RPMS. I'm at about 3.3K-3.4K rpms at 80mph in my MR.

The gear ratios are a *little* closer in the 6-speed. Just think of a 5-speed Evo's gear box and shove a gear between 4th and 5th. That's what the 6-speed feels to me, because other than racing, I'd never cruise in 5th gear at all. It's a tall 4th gear/short final gear, basically.

But don't listen to me. I am the king of misinformation.

 

not for gas conservation? o... haha i thought since it was revving high that it would be constantly in boost while driving on the highway which led to more gas consumption, guess not

 

look at the mods and 1/4 time in my sig and tell me that the sti is better than the evo...

 

^ exactly why i want an evo lol

 

BUMP
most people in this thread have XI, but I'm in between 03-04evo and same range Sti
I plan on modding, i/e tune and basic stuff, but the issues with early evo's (clutch paint etc) are holding me back but I'm still leaning toward evo, if I would have money for IX I wouldn't even think about Sti but I don't have the money now, and I know its an evo forum lol, but would appreciate any suggestions