Why didn't you buy the STI?
I owned an STi (2004). I wanted a Spec C, SOA didnt deliver one. MMA did hook us up with the RS. Having owned subies before the STi, it was time for a change. I havent looked back since. If SOA brought us a Spec C Type RA TODAY...I wouldnt give up my RS for a subie. Suspension is better, I like the 4G63 better.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,002
Likes: 12
From: somewhere testing various tires, brakes, and suspensions.
1, too boy-racer (i.e. that mailbox for a hood scoop - seemed to scream "hey, look at me, I have a v8 complex) ((Albeit, our VIII wing says the same thing...err))
2, did not like shifter (was not the short throw - stocker was long and shimmied / vibrated).
3, subie dealer(s) did nothing but bad mouth the Evo, to the point over overkill (its so bad, breaks...blah, blah, blah) ((So got me thinking they are scaried of it).
4, dealer sucked - let me drive a 04 with 5k miles on it that had a bad life - was a piece-o'-crap -- clutch wasnt working right, suspension was rattling and bumping (I even had my father in the car - even he couldnt believe how crapy the car was, and that they would let a potential buyer drive it in that condition).
5, costs more than Evo, and dealer wasnt going to move on price.
6, after lots of reading, reviews, and videos (thank you Top Gear). Evo could make more power for less. Clarkson best summed it up - a fighter jet to a bomber.
7, I (at the time) had manuf. discount.
8, see number 7.
Couldnt be happier with the Evo.
2, did not like shifter (was not the short throw - stocker was long and shimmied / vibrated).
3, subie dealer(s) did nothing but bad mouth the Evo, to the point over overkill (its so bad, breaks...blah, blah, blah) ((So got me thinking they are scaried of it).
4, dealer sucked - let me drive a 04 with 5k miles on it that had a bad life - was a piece-o'-crap -- clutch wasnt working right, suspension was rattling and bumping (I even had my father in the car - even he couldnt believe how crapy the car was, and that they would let a potential buyer drive it in that condition).
5, costs more than Evo, and dealer wasnt going to move on price.
6, after lots of reading, reviews, and videos (thank you Top Gear). Evo could make more power for less. Clarkson best summed it up - a fighter jet to a bomber.
7, I (at the time) had manuf. discount.
8, see number 7.
Couldnt be happier with the Evo.
Wish I got an Evo..
This is my second post in over a year of being a member on EvoM. Straight to the point, I drive an 06 WRX and wish I waited and saved for an Evo. Most all my friends drive the STI and it's a nice car. I think a post earlier in the thread put it perfectly, the STI is a tuned up street car while the Evo is a tuned down race car. I've put enough $$$ in mods on my 06 WRX to beat the STI in just about any performance category, yet still it doesn't have that tactile feel of the Evo.
The responsiveness, the compliance in the suspension just can't be had in an Subaru Impreza. A lot has to do with the Evo's suspension geometry which is built from the factory tuned for track duty and respond to mods well. The STI can respond to the same suspension mods in good way but can easily be ruined also. In fact, at the local autox you'll see a handful of modded STIs that simply don't keep up with their stock conterparts (yes, I understand that driver has much to do with autoxing).
Best advice is to go and drive both and you must drive them both like you would everyday. With these to cars, you'll come to a definete decision. I've never really heard of an Evo/STI owner that was still racking his/her brain over which to get after they drove both.
The responsiveness, the compliance in the suspension just can't be had in an Subaru Impreza. A lot has to do with the Evo's suspension geometry which is built from the factory tuned for track duty and respond to mods well. The STI can respond to the same suspension mods in good way but can easily be ruined also. In fact, at the local autox you'll see a handful of modded STIs that simply don't keep up with their stock conterparts (yes, I understand that driver has much to do with autoxing).
Best advice is to go and drive both and you must drive them both like you would everyday. With these to cars, you'll come to a definete decision. I've never really heard of an Evo/STI owner that was still racking his/her brain over which to get after they drove both.
Last edited by Yoo Shin; Oct 16, 2006 at 12:57 PM.
1: Hit my head on the roofliner (unless i did the detroit lean!) and the rear seat was insanely cramped
2: The 6-speed, 300 crank rated STI still got owned by the 5-speed 271 crank rated regular GSR evo in tests. Everyone should REALLY be comparing the STI to the MR, (both 6-sp and 300 hp rating), while the regular GSR will still beat an STI stock vs stock
3: No headunit/stereo included when i was looking (wtf?)
4: personally i liked the evo styling better
5: STI felt sluggish, lots of body roll and softer suspension
6: STI was more expensive, couldnt justify price difference
7: Evos powerplant and its AWD system, also mod friendly and easier to push power out of for smaller cost
8: WRXs are everywhere
9: STI frankly felt more like a sedan
2: The 6-speed, 300 crank rated STI still got owned by the 5-speed 271 crank rated regular GSR evo in tests. Everyone should REALLY be comparing the STI to the MR, (both 6-sp and 300 hp rating), while the regular GSR will still beat an STI stock vs stock
3: No headunit/stereo included when i was looking (wtf?)
4: personally i liked the evo styling better
5: STI felt sluggish, lots of body roll and softer suspension
6: STI was more expensive, couldnt justify price difference
7: Evos powerplant and its AWD system, also mod friendly and easier to push power out of for smaller cost
8: WRXs are everywhere
9: STI frankly felt more like a sedan
I was going to buy an STI but for some reason it was going to cost me a lot more to insure than the EVO. So I got the EVO. I'd actually like to have an EVO, an STI, and a 350Z as cars to build up and then sell.
I got the EVO because the Subaru dealer (Chase Parkway Subaru, Watertown, CT....they are HORRIBLE!) sold the STi that I had put a deposit on. Pi$$ed me off real good. Why accept a deposit if you're just gonna sell the car to someone else anyway? I love the EVO, though.
Originally Posted by pltek
i did not own STI but drove it on multiple ocassions.
I prefer evo, obviously, but one things that strikes me about some of the responses here is that evo costs less than sti, it must be a lot of California folks here where dealers have 100 of these sitting on their lots and selling them at invoice.
In New England, especially now, you will not get an ove for too much off Window sticker. So forgetting the RS which you cannot compare to an sti, you must compare an STI to an MR (at least because of the 6 speed tranny)
STI MSRP is about 33K
MR MSRP is about 37K
So please explain to me how is it that many people here are saying the EVOs are cheaper???
Even the IX non SSL lists out at aroung 32K. I could have gotten a brand new 06 STI for just over 30K,
Anyhow, just a bit confused here
PS
I prefer evo, obviously, but one things that strikes me about some of the responses here is that evo costs less than sti, it must be a lot of California folks here where dealers have 100 of these sitting on their lots and selling them at invoice.
In New England, especially now, you will not get an ove for too much off Window sticker. So forgetting the RS which you cannot compare to an sti, you must compare an STI to an MR (at least because of the 6 speed tranny)
STI MSRP is about 33K
MR MSRP is about 37K
So please explain to me how is it that many people here are saying the EVOs are cheaper???
Even the IX non SSL lists out at aroung 32K. I could have gotten a brand new 06 STI for just over 30K,
Anyhow, just a bit confused here
PS
i think the biggest reason people are getting the evo also is Price and due to the fact that subies are EVERYEHERE
Last edited by iheartevos; Oct 16, 2006 at 02:49 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Reno, NV
I drove an STI and the Evo MR I ended up with on the same day. I didn't notice any dramatic performance difference between the two (but how much can you thrash it on a test drive?); I chose the Evo mainly because I liked the interior and exterior looks better. I did know that I was giving up the STI's cruise control, auto climate control, and side air bags...
BTW, the Subie dealer here in Reno was quite friendly; the salesman was a 19 year old WRX fanatic who encouraged me to run the car hard during the test drive. On the other hand, after the test drive the Mitsu salesman tossed me the keys and said "Why don't you try it for a couple of hours without a salesman?" So I did...
BTW, the Subie dealer here in Reno was quite friendly; the salesman was a 19 year old WRX fanatic who encouraged me to run the car hard during the test drive. On the other hand, after the test drive the Mitsu salesman tossed me the keys and said "Why don't you try it for a couple of hours without a salesman?" So I did...
Last edited by dramsey; Oct 16, 2006 at 03:58 PM.
Evolved Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 27
From: Southern California
I tend to make long posts, but here we go...
Like someone else said before, I was watching the Jackie Chan movie Who Am I, and there was a pretty cool car chase involving what I later found out was an Evo IV. However, I knew that at the time, the car wasn't offered in the U.S., plus I was mostly about Hondas at the time. At the very end of my senior year in high school, Subaru had brought over the WRX, but I wasn't too interested in it, but one of my friends who drove a '65 Mustang kept talking about it and how he wanted it, so I figured I'd look into it to see why he was so into the car. However, I was more into wanting to swap an H22A (Prelude DOHC VTEC motor) into my car, so I was busy researching that. However, one of my friends who used to drive a turbo'd Integra GS-R was telling me about how he had test driven a WRX and said it was pretty quick.
Once I started college, the WRX craze was on. I test drove one and really liked it, but wasn't particularly fond of the bug-eye headlights. That and no money kept me away from it. Initial renderings of what the Evo VIII would look like really intrigued me, but that was in 2002. However, I heard about the Impreza line's restyling due for the '04 model year and really liked the official pictures. I started hearing about the Evo finally coming out as well, but like most haters, I was too fixated on the use of the viscous center differential and rear mechanical LSD as well as the absense of a front LSD, ACD and AYC. But days later, Subaru dropped the bomb and showed the specs of the '04 STi: 2.5-liter, 300 hp, 300 lb.-ft, front and rear LSD, DCCD, etc.--pretty close to JDM, but with a larger, more powerful engine. At first, I thought that Subaru had Mitsubishi beat and was pretty much telling my friends that it would be impossible for Mitsubishi to win at this game.
Then the magazine road tests started coming out. I remember Motor Trend pulled a 13.09-second quarter-mile time out of a brand-new Evo, which blew my mind, but I couldn't believe it or accept it since common sense would expect it to be slower than the more powerful STi. However, in almost every magazine comparison, the Evo always came out on top, praised for its superior handling and steering feel. I still wasn't convinced, though. I wasn't going to get an STi, but I wanted a WRX.
Things changed a bit later. One of my friends who was a firm believer in V-8s (being an owner of a Camaro Z28) invited me to go with him to look at an R6 motorcycle that he wanted to buy. When we got there, I noticed the owner of the motorcycle also owned a white STi with a carbon fiber trunklid and coilovers. After my friend decided to buy the motorcycle, I asked the guy if he would take us out for a spin since I had never ridden in an STi, and he happily said yes. The guy didn't launch, but I was amazed at the pickup it had, plus he took a turn clearly marked "20 mph" at around 45, and there was just a little tire squealing but tons of grip. My friend was making weird noises in the backside, later saying, "I'm a believer now." It was a completely different level compared to the WRX.
Around the time I knew how much money I could put toward a car (end of 2005), the '06 cars were already dominating dealerships, and I hated the new look of the Impreza line. I was looking desperately for a new '05 still around (since I didn't want to get a used car this time around), but there weren't any. I stumbled upon this website again (since I had joined in 2003 but didn't visit it regularly) and found the awesome pricing, and it was a no-brainer. But OTD prices aside, I thought of a few things that really made me pick the Evo:
* No more new '05 models meant I had to get a '06. I didn't like the '06 Impreza front end or ricey taillights, but I really liked the IX's cleaner grille (over the VIII's split grill) and the smoked headlights and taillights (which looked significantly better). Simply put, I liked the Evo's cleaner, sleeker looks compared to the STI. While they're both based on econoboxes, the Evo just seemed more visually sophisticated.
* While both cars shamed plenty of sports cars, the Evo had always been renowned as the better handler on a consistent basis, and about half of the time was faster in straight-line acceleration. I figured with the addition of MIVEC, it would only get better, even if only by the slightest margin.
* I figured the numerous Evo updates (ACD and turbo upgrades resulting in increased hp and torque for 2005, MIVEC and interior/exterior updates for 2006) compared to the few STI changes (Saab 9-2X interior carryover, yaw sensor and wider rear track for 2005, questionable exterior updates for 2006) showed that there were good efforts to make the car better during its lifespan.
* No nearby Subaru dealership ever let me test drive an STi, but I found a Mitsubishi dealership that offered me a spin in a IX. And there's no way I'm going to buy a car I never drove, no matter how good the magazines say it is. Unless it's a Ferrari, that is.
I always knew I made the right choice, but I was completely satisfied after driving my friend's '04 STi (with a Cobb AccessPort and Cobb springs) back home from Las Vegas to the OC. Even with his mods, my car seemed faster and more nimble. His shifter felt like crap (which might not be consistent with all STIs since his was a bit older and had some wear-and-tear at that point of ownership), and didn't have the overall solid feel that my car has.
Like someone else said before, I was watching the Jackie Chan movie Who Am I, and there was a pretty cool car chase involving what I later found out was an Evo IV. However, I knew that at the time, the car wasn't offered in the U.S., plus I was mostly about Hondas at the time. At the very end of my senior year in high school, Subaru had brought over the WRX, but I wasn't too interested in it, but one of my friends who drove a '65 Mustang kept talking about it and how he wanted it, so I figured I'd look into it to see why he was so into the car. However, I was more into wanting to swap an H22A (Prelude DOHC VTEC motor) into my car, so I was busy researching that. However, one of my friends who used to drive a turbo'd Integra GS-R was telling me about how he had test driven a WRX and said it was pretty quick.
Once I started college, the WRX craze was on. I test drove one and really liked it, but wasn't particularly fond of the bug-eye headlights. That and no money kept me away from it. Initial renderings of what the Evo VIII would look like really intrigued me, but that was in 2002. However, I heard about the Impreza line's restyling due for the '04 model year and really liked the official pictures. I started hearing about the Evo finally coming out as well, but like most haters, I was too fixated on the use of the viscous center differential and rear mechanical LSD as well as the absense of a front LSD, ACD and AYC. But days later, Subaru dropped the bomb and showed the specs of the '04 STi: 2.5-liter, 300 hp, 300 lb.-ft, front and rear LSD, DCCD, etc.--pretty close to JDM, but with a larger, more powerful engine. At first, I thought that Subaru had Mitsubishi beat and was pretty much telling my friends that it would be impossible for Mitsubishi to win at this game.
Then the magazine road tests started coming out. I remember Motor Trend pulled a 13.09-second quarter-mile time out of a brand-new Evo, which blew my mind, but I couldn't believe it or accept it since common sense would expect it to be slower than the more powerful STi. However, in almost every magazine comparison, the Evo always came out on top, praised for its superior handling and steering feel. I still wasn't convinced, though. I wasn't going to get an STi, but I wanted a WRX.
Things changed a bit later. One of my friends who was a firm believer in V-8s (being an owner of a Camaro Z28) invited me to go with him to look at an R6 motorcycle that he wanted to buy. When we got there, I noticed the owner of the motorcycle also owned a white STi with a carbon fiber trunklid and coilovers. After my friend decided to buy the motorcycle, I asked the guy if he would take us out for a spin since I had never ridden in an STi, and he happily said yes. The guy didn't launch, but I was amazed at the pickup it had, plus he took a turn clearly marked "20 mph" at around 45, and there was just a little tire squealing but tons of grip. My friend was making weird noises in the backside, later saying, "I'm a believer now." It was a completely different level compared to the WRX.
Around the time I knew how much money I could put toward a car (end of 2005), the '06 cars were already dominating dealerships, and I hated the new look of the Impreza line. I was looking desperately for a new '05 still around (since I didn't want to get a used car this time around), but there weren't any. I stumbled upon this website again (since I had joined in 2003 but didn't visit it regularly) and found the awesome pricing, and it was a no-brainer. But OTD prices aside, I thought of a few things that really made me pick the Evo:
* No more new '05 models meant I had to get a '06. I didn't like the '06 Impreza front end or ricey taillights, but I really liked the IX's cleaner grille (over the VIII's split grill) and the smoked headlights and taillights (which looked significantly better). Simply put, I liked the Evo's cleaner, sleeker looks compared to the STI. While they're both based on econoboxes, the Evo just seemed more visually sophisticated.
* While both cars shamed plenty of sports cars, the Evo had always been renowned as the better handler on a consistent basis, and about half of the time was faster in straight-line acceleration. I figured with the addition of MIVEC, it would only get better, even if only by the slightest margin.
* I figured the numerous Evo updates (ACD and turbo upgrades resulting in increased hp and torque for 2005, MIVEC and interior/exterior updates for 2006) compared to the few STI changes (Saab 9-2X interior carryover, yaw sensor and wider rear track for 2005, questionable exterior updates for 2006) showed that there were good efforts to make the car better during its lifespan.
* No nearby Subaru dealership ever let me test drive an STi, but I found a Mitsubishi dealership that offered me a spin in a IX. And there's no way I'm going to buy a car I never drove, no matter how good the magazines say it is. Unless it's a Ferrari, that is.
I always knew I made the right choice, but I was completely satisfied after driving my friend's '04 STi (with a Cobb AccessPort and Cobb springs) back home from Las Vegas to the OC. Even with his mods, my car seemed faster and more nimble. His shifter felt like crap (which might not be consistent with all STIs since his was a bit older and had some wear-and-tear at that point of ownership), and didn't have the overall solid feel that my car has.
Did research and came to the conclusion.. despite it's power disadvantage, the evo was a better car. Oh yeah I hate the way that motor sounds. And the 4g63 has been around for over a decade.
Mainly, the shark fins. The sacramento subby dealers just watched from their porch as I checked out the STI. That hood scoop made me not wanna test drive it anyways, but you shoulda seen the Hyundai dealers sprinting @ the tiburon!!!
Evolved Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 0
From: Frederick, Maryland
Originally Posted by Evo IX MR
The Evo just fits my personality and driving needs better.
I'm amazed at how many people were denied test drives in the STi, but then again, I'm not. The sales staff didn't want to let me test drive one either. I finally got the back-handed slap that "You can drive one around the parking lot." So, it was. I agreed, then pulled out on to the highway, mashed the throttle up one side of the road and down the other, then told the sales person, "I'll take it, but not this one."
Over at Mitsubishi I was handed the keys. If I hadn't been such a fan of the STi since its introduction I may have purchased an Evo just for the simple fact that they just handed me the keys, no questions asked.
If I wanted to build a straight-up race car, I would've chosen the Evo, hands down, but since my intention was to have a great street car, I went with the STi.
As for as I'm concerned, there is no wrong choice between these two.