Okay I am 100% aware of all the threads that are made about this on a daily basis. However, I have not been able to find one which deals with a comparison of handling after suspension mods. I am aware that the EVO handles much better stock, and that it responds much better to engine mods. What I am wondering is how the two cars' handling would compare with equal suspension mods(more specifically, coilovers). Does the STI catch up in terms of handling? Or does the EVO benefit just as much and make the gap between the two's handling characteristics remain constant? Hopefully asking another question about STI's vs. EVO's will not upset anyone too much. Thanks in advance.

 

I don't think it's that black and white. The two cars have their strengths and weakness's. I don't know STi's that well, but they may respond well to different mods. So doing the same to each car isn't nessacerly going to give consistent or accurate results to compare the two.

From what I know guys with STI's throw a big ol' rear sway bar on to dial out the factory understeer, which RSB's only masks the understeer by inducing oversteer. Not exactly the right thing to do, but it can work, I guess. Guy's with Evo's make the mistake of jumping to coil-overs with no need for them and usually get cheap-o's with 894739485 damping adjustments

 

look at any competition based evo vs sti the evo will dominate 9 times out of 10

 

well from what ive experienced, an evo an an sti come close when you do suspension mods, ive yet to see one way better than the other.

 

sti has its place somewhere some body cant get a evo or cant get financed for one so they ended up with subby then again lots of people like the sti over the evo as they feel it looks better or they are more familer with subbies so does not really matter both cars are beast in there own way

 

evo is better it takes A LOT of suspension mods to make an STI turn lol. on an evo just do a bump steer kit rear trailing arm bushing rear sway bar and coilovers and you are pretty much good lol STI you need front rear sway coils all bushings bracing etc. lol and their **** costs much more

 

here's one slightly related

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-handling.html

but it's more about fixing some of the evo's faults in relation to the sti.. the sti's got a really nice 4wd system but the suspension could use a workover from stock

 

As I was schooled by a very well known suspension guy..evo's will get some added corner ability when you just lower them.. the wrx's and sti's 02-06 do not. they actually loose corner ability. Its not that they suck just that you need to do almost every basic suspension mod to get them to handle any better when you lower them. Same is true on evo's, you do gain a little but to really get the max out of it you need to do more than just lowering springs..Love the basic package with a few extras.

Oh after being properly educated I took a ride in some evo's and sti's around town that had the standard lowering spings and nothing else..the evo turned a little better but the STI's wanted to "push" in a corner a little more than I expected.

 

I agree. It would be hard to compare modded to modded. There are all different types, brands, and levels of modifications.

 

I've driven both back to back with similar mods ...

Evo: IX, GTWorx springs, Whiteline sways (F&R), bump steer kit, Hankook RS2
STI: MY06, Springs, rear sway, Falken RT615

As I remember, the STI had a little crisper turn in, but through the corner and on exit the Evo had a much better balance. I was on the throttle earlier out of the corner and seemed to hold more speed through.

This was on a figure 8 course for testing.

 

that's odd, stis had traditionally better corner exit compared to evos.. they respond much better to slow in fast out, evos tend to push mid corner

 

Thanks for the pretty non-biased help guys. I am trying to decide whether I want a IX or an 06 STI. They both have their pros and cons. I think I am going to pick up whatever I can get a better deal on.

 

good luck and have fun with either.

 

lol, way to go , asking on an evo forum :P

 

I used to have an 05 STi. After I sold it I picked up my 06 EVO IX RS. I've AutoX'd and have done one track day with each of them. I never changed the suspension on either. I love the way the EVO feels. You really have to fight with the STi to make it do what you want. The EVO enters a corner faster, but the STi did pull out of a corner better (torque). Either way I'm definitely faster in the EVO. The EVO feels balanced and just flat out handles better. I'm not saying I wasn't fast in the STi, but I just had to work harder to make it do what I wanted. They're both fun cars and make for great competition.

I've always said if you're looking for a better daily driver get the STi. If you want to track + mod get the EVO. They respond so much better to mods. I'm just starting to mod mine now.