The analogies and write ups in this thread are great. Good objective opinions IMO.

 

I went 05 STI-->05 Evo VIII-->06 Evo IX. They are both great cars and I don't think you'd be disappointed with either. My reasons for the switch was at the end of the day the Evo "in my opinion" was just more fun to drive. From the STi I miss the side airbags, fantastic gauges (best looking of any car I've owned), the sound of the 2.5, and as others have mentioned the transmission. That tranny was built to withstand just about anything. The STi was much more comfortable too, the STi seats feel like lazy boys compared to the Evo seats. The suspension was also much more comfortable in the STi, the Evo (atleast the GSR and RS) are downright punishing, the STi felt like a lexus in comparision. I also loved the styling of the 04-05 STi's. They looked the part and put the 06+ STi's to shame. I like the looks of the 04-05 STi's more than the Evo VIII's and IX's.

What I prefer about the Evo's...definitely the ability to mod easily and cheaply. Scowling at the IX will get you 20 hp LOL. The Evo is a lot easier to work on. It feels designed to have parts switched with ease. This may come as a suprise to many also but my Evo's have felt better built than the STi. Maybe I've been lucky with the Evo's and unlucky with the STI but my Evo's have been solid, no rattles or squeaks whatsoever. The STi on the other hand rattled like a tin can. I had rattles everywhere in the STI. Another thing Il ove about the Evo, the rear window wiper!! It rocks especially when you get a lot of snow and rain. I could go on for hours but I'll stop there. They are both awesome cars and you can't go wrong with either, for me the Evo was just more fun.

 

I need to take a test drive, there's a stock one locally which is much slower than my STi, but it's a good oppurtunity to see if I like it, if i do go with the evo it'll be intake/tbe/flash/mbc/cam the first week i have it and i'd hope it puts my sti to shame

BTW: right now I have a 04 sti w/ 32k miles, intake/catless tbe/tmic/protuned stg2/17x8" wheels w/ 245x45 tires... basically stock but much better than stock if that makes sense heh, ran 12.7@107 at our local track where a stock sti never goes faster than mid 13s @ ~102

 

I sold my sz55 STi, bought an Evo IX and have never looked back. This car is absolutely awesome. The high performance sound this engine makes with a tbe doesn't make me miss the boxer growl from my Subie one bit. My Evo with just a tbe and boost controller feels much faster than my Sti was even with Cobb stage 2.

 

Before I bought my 04 evo new, I contemplated buying an sti. I had driven a wrx and I was not impressed. Two of my friends raved about their evos and I spent a year looking for the right car. I was able to score a yellow 04 evo in early 05 for $24k brand new. I have owned over 10 performance and sports cars. Everything from a Buick GN to a TT FD3S. I am no stranger to performance. I took delivery of my new evo. As I had researched extensively on this and other evo forums there were a few people who were grumbling about Mitsu's bad warranty and service program. Most of these guys had modded their cars and some had even joined the SCCA and spent some time tracking their cars. I had a plan: I would drive my car stock for 12 months. If all was well I would mod the car all the way. As painful as this is for me to drive a car that is capable of supercar performance (ie 996tt or Lambo Murcialago) with a few mods, I would wait patiently. I drove my car easy and read the forums for potential problems. I didn't launch the car hard or power **** the tranny. I knew the drivetrain was a potential problem. At 1500 miles my tranny developed a grind shifting into 5th gear at approx 80mph. That is when I would have my car in 4th gear past 4000 rpm and shift into 5th the tranny would grind. The car developed some squeaks and rattles as well. I went to my local mitsubishi dealer in Houston that had the best reputation for service (Gillman Mitsubishi). I waited at the dealer for over 2 hours (no loaner car of course) to get the verdict. The service manager couldn't replicate the rattles and squeaks (I am crazy) and the tranny shifted fine at legal speeds (55mph and less). Since I took my car to 80 mph in fourth which was not a legal speed before shifting to fifth, they would not warranty my car's defect and this was not a defect. The tranny functioned well at low speeds and fifth gear was overdrive and not meant for agressive driving. **** Mitsu and **** Gillman. I promptly sold the car. I did not buy mitsu world famous and top of the line product for bull**** like this. It took me a year to get the courage to try another awd car. Nobody would let me test drive an sti. I could test drive a 911 turbo or a ferrari before I could test drive a subaru. I finally got to drive a used sti and could not believe the difference. The evo at 2k miles creaked like my 89 Mustang 5.0 CONVERTIBLE going over a railroad track. The sti feels like the acura and lexus quality i am used to. I have 14k trouble free miles with no grinds, rattles or squeaks. I have a 6spd that can smoke all four tires all day at 500 hp without complaining. I have a utec and turbo back 3.5" exhaust. When I pull up to a light cobra mustangs and vettes take notice. Recently I spanked the crap out of a evo mr with boost controller and exhaust. I was on the brakes up to 130 to keep from running into him. My buddy has a evo 8 with every bolt on including hks cams and al's dynoflash. We run neck and neck thru 5th gear. He's selling his car now cause he's tired of the daily beating the ride gives him. Me I am just learning how to enjoy throttle induced oversteer. Maybe I can start drifting too. EVO whatever. Suby rules. Oh yeah, I remember running out of gas in the evo 8 at 150 miles, my worst tank in the sti I got 240 miles. So If we race on the freeway you'll have to exit to fill up, while I keep going.

 

I could've had either car, and, frankly, was leaning heavily to the STI. despite the initial vomit reaction to the re-designed cowl. Problem is, I test drove both the STI and an EVO IX GSR the same day. Game over. The STI seemed to have more bottom end to me, I liked the clutch better, but the EVO just handled much more like the Porsche 997S I test drove the week before (and cannot justify spending the $$$$$ on). The EVO handling won me over.
I still enjoy my Stg. 2 WRX, but for me the this was a flat no brainer. EVO all the way. I have not regretted my buying decision.

 

Well I took an indirect STI to IX path...05 STI --> 05 Hemi Magnum --> 06 IX

Basically I bought the STi based on HP, the fact that I loved the hoodscoop, and Subaru's reputation for building lasting vehicles. I agree with those that miss the sound of the engine/exhaust on the Suby, and I also agree the Mitsu has less personality. There was just "something" about driving one - it just felt special. I really had no reason for trading the car in except that Subaru p----ed me off with some alignment/tire issues, and the fact that my wife and I have had 32 cars in 8 years! (We havea sickness!)

The downside on the Suby was without a doubt the cost to mod it. The exhaust I wanted alone would have cost me $1200! We know what that much can do for me on the 9. And to be honest, I didn't even bother looking at another STI when I decided to come back to this kind of car because the 06 is just ugly. The only way I can even stomach the look is if it's a white with gold wheels, but then to put that same black and blue interior in it just wasn't doing it for me this time around.

As usual, this topic comes down to personal preference because in my opinion the two cars are soooooo close in stock form that it doesn't matter - it really is what you want out of your car. I bought my WW IX a month ago yesterday, 1500 miles on it, and I don't regret it for a minute.

PS - The Magnum just didn't cut it in ANY way. It only lasted 4 months! AWD sucked on it, 4400 lbs.! and the Hemi was a gas hog. I knew that though because it was my third Hemi. Try driving your STI or Evo and then go test drive a Magnum or 300 - what the HELL was I thinking?? LOL

 

omgthatsfunnay

Everyone here seems to be hitting the same nail on the head (except creaks and rattles, that seems to be randomly affecting each car).

STi = more grunt and personality.

Evo = potential and accuracy.

The drivetrain was also a serious consideration for me, too. I could abuse the CRAP out of the STi transmission and it never winced. I decided that wasn't proper, so if I *did* get the Evo, I would have to shift smoother. I noticed soe of the grinds and notchiness from day one, so I did a few basic mods and after 6k miles it's only gotten better. I've installed shifter bushings (modified kartboy) and a front engine mount (proflex). Those two modifications allowed the cable shifting mechanism to much more accurately select the desired gear. No grinds, no notchiness, no lockout. Just buttery engagement. The clutch does downright suck. The STi had a much much more stout dlutch. (I miss that.) ):

The problem with the Evo clutches wearing out so danm fast seems to be that there's some steel stop pins. (why they're there, I have NO idea). Once the clutch wears to a certain point, it hite the pins and slips. This is why so many Evo owners complain that "the clutch suddenly died". There's still lenty of material left, but the pins prevent it.

 

hmm...im sure when it comes to the clutch its the person behind the wheel. the only clutch i wore out was my 02 WRX @ 35k. right now im at 35k on my VIII clutch and its still holding strong. pedal feel doesnt show how strong a clutch is. all of the cars ive owned have had their quirks...the sti was more forgiving i guess might be the right way to say it. my evo's transmission is smooth, but if you dont know the finess one could disagree. now if i was putting down more power i may be on the other side of the fence....but here im talking stock.

I owned a 02 WRX, 04 STi, 04 R32, 05 WRX Wagon, and now the VIII RS. basicly i can say i like the balance of the subaru better, but i like the raw feel of the RS over all the cars that i've had. in all driving departments i feel the evo is superior...althought i only know acd in the . i do love the way a EJ revs and sounds...the low end grunt of the AVCS equiped subies is sweet.

the only other car i would consider right now would be a spec c if SOA allowed it to grace our shores.

i think its a guy who owned a elise that said "the sti is a sledge hammer and a evo is a scapel."

 

I had a 2004 Sti and traded it in for the Evo 9 MR and I love it. The car is deffintly better quality in many ways. The Sti is a little faster and more responsive stock than the Evo stock but with simple mods the Evo is a beast. The Evo is impossible to make a u turn but more percise in the corners. The Bilstien suspension is pure qaulity compared to the crappy struts and tophats the Sti had that kept breaking. If you look under the Evo and the Sti you will understand how much better suspension technology and qaulity went into the design. The only thing I miss about the Sti was the boxer sound but the Evo still sounds sick even with the stock exhaust. I deffintly reccomend the Evo over the Sti.

My Sti





My Evo

 

I test drove and researched both the IX and my 06 STI significantly. I even visited multiple dealers just to be able to get multiple test drives out of 'em (carry that credit report to impress the snooty sales people).

All in all, I chose the 06 STI over the IX because I could see myself driving the car everyday instead of just a weekend warrior. I am the first person to admit that the Evo's power potential and steering are better than the STI's, but these things about the IX made me choose the Subaru route:

a) I didn't like the clutch play of the IX. It felt way too long compared to the STI's much shorter clutch play. "Clutching" the IX felt like a truck.

b) I didn't like the Evo's nervous, twitchy steering wheel. Normal cruising at 30-40 mph the car transferred every little groove into a twitch or a jerk on the wheel. Of course, when you hit a turn hard the Evo takes care of it...but the IX just felt a little too sensitive for me. I like the heavier and "tanky" feel of the STI.

c) I actually missed the hoodscoop of Subarus looking out the Evo's windshield. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a room staring down a window.

d) The overall feel of the IX felt like a go=kart. A very fast and very accurate handling go-kart, but nonetheless it felt and sounded like a go-kart. No Evo exhaust can match a Subaru exhaust.

You will miss some things and you will forget some things about your STI. Sometimes I do fantasize about the Evo (grass is greener syndrome; every car nut has that) but I think back to everything I remember about the test drives and I confirm that I made the right decision FOR ME.

 

wow thats alot to read, try some cliff notes.

i have a '03, with below mods. No creaks, no grinds, no problems. hmmm, maybe your car was missing the "driver mod"....

so u have a utec and exhaust and 500hp? wow, unless u are not mentioning your full mod list, id like to raise the BS flag on that.

and ur buddy with bolt on/cammed evo 8 hangs with u until 5th gear? damn, thats awesome cuz a bolt on evo 8 with cams is around 340-350 whp... which is not nearly close to your amazing 500hp (whp or bhp?) it just shows that the underpowered evo was right with your 500 hp beast...

lol....

 

As far as general reliability issues go, the Evo IS much more sensetive to how it's driven. If you have smooth techniques and can launch properly (very little clutch slipage) you will be fine with durability. The transmission doesn't break, it's hella stout, but bad shifting leads to synchros wearing out. Get the front motor mount and shifter bushings and you'll notice an immediate improvement in chifting clarity. Switching fluids may put a band-aid on the grinds, but it won't mechanically fix the problem. Get the bushings and problem solved.

As far as the front diff, rear diff, and transfer case... The ONLY way I see those being broken is sheer abuse. (Hell, if tuner shops like AMS can repeatedly throw over 900hp at the drivetrain, a measly 286hp can't do much damage unless the driver abuses the car). I believe the '03s had a lot of problems that the newer models won't see. If you only want to take the car to the drag strip, expect to break stuff unless you're ultra smooth.

From what I've learned, the engine is as stout as a rhino. It may feel "peakier" than the STi's block, but that's all in displacement/turbo/etc, but that's how it drives, now how it's built. I mean the engine itself. As it's been stated before, the 4G63 block has been around for over a decade. Mitsu is going to release an all aluminum block in the Evo X (or so I've read) in '08 or '09. That means the IX is the last generation to get the venerable 4G63.

I don't forsee any maintenance or reliability issues that could take me by surprise. I maintain the car religiously, and because of modifications My warranty is pretty much gone unless something electrical goes out. If the clutch dies, I'll expect to buy a new one. If the tranny or TC goes, then I guess I'll have to spot the bill.

 

I decided to pick up an 06 evo ssl last night after having owned 2 wrx's and an 06 STI. Initial impressions;

-STI has much better bottom end, this is especially magnified during the break-in period.
-STI feels more "sophisticated" whereas the evo feels like a racecar, meaning that the STI feels like a better daily driver
-EVO has MUCH MUCH better steering feel
-EVO exterior trumps the STI, imho
-STI interior is far better than the EVO and you get more gadgets for the money
-cheaper to make the EVO faster<---most important factor for me

I don't know if I have buyers remorse or what, because I'm missing my STI. Either way, both cars are great, but I'm still wondering if I made the best choice. I guess I just need to start the modding process and whoop up on some STI's.

 

Good response. I am in the same situation. I don't have an STi, I have a 277whp MY02 WRX, 6MT. A few days ago the wife and I were talking and we agreed it was time to sell the Scooby and get something different. Granted, I love my car. We bought it new and I have kicked myself for not waiting for the STi. Now that I am in the situation to buy either an MR or STi, I just cant see past the hideous alfa-rooby nose on the new scoobs.
My dilemma is either to buy a new STi and have a good understanding of the car or buy the EVO I lust after and go through the learning process again?
I am stationed in England so I have access to all the EDM/JDM goodies, and I have the WRX done up nicely. I am sure I can do the same with an EVO.
The MAJOR factor is how reliable is the EVO? I ask because Subaru voided my warranty when we PCS'd here. That was a very dirty thing to do to us military folks. Luckily the WRX has been trouble free (except for a faulty IACV).
It amazes me to see how responsive the EVO is to very little money spent. The BR stage 1 nets some VERY impressive gains. After I started to read up on the EVO's I new I had to have one.
What do you think? Is the EVO a good reliable car? I heard nasty things about tires gone by 10k and clutches between 10-20k? This cant be common???

Steven