Bought an '05 STi at the end of May and because my wife loves it so much I rarely get to drive it so I'm looking to buy something for myself. I drove the regular 2004 EVO VIII around a track quite a bit when it first hit stateside and I didn't really like it's drivability for regular street driving and it's interior was horrible (besides the seats) hence why I bought the STi. But now that the MR is coming to the states I'm debating getting one; supposedly all of the things I didn't like have been addressed (except for the dash) but I still want to know how the regular EVO's have been to live with on a day to day basis..ie Gas mileage, quirks, squeaks, annoyances, trouble spots/ reliability. Also...do the US cars get AYC? I see nothing about it on Mit's web-site, in fact I called my local dealer and they didn't even know what the MR is so I figured they wouldn't know. If we in the US got the FQ cars my decision would be easy but of course we get screwed again. Thanks for any info...

 

the MR has the same dash w/an extra button for the ACD (active center diff) but that's it. other than the gauge cluster, the dash is the same as a stock lancer. the interior was not a focus for US sale. mitsu's mindset was to send something over to destroy the WRX. they succeeded for 1 week & then subie lashed out w/the STI. mitsu has bounced back again with the MR. most people don't like the stiffer evo's feel. i do. it tells me exCtly what i'm driving on. a car is only as good as it's suspension & tire combo.

 

I here that Suburu is coming out with a........I believe a Sti type C, which has more power .

 

I have almost 7000 miles on my evo. Since I picked it up, I have averaged 20.4 mpg. The ride is a little rough, but it doesn't really bother me, I guess I've gotten used to it. Haven't had any problems to speak of as far as reliability or other annoyances, although I don't have a ton of miles on it yet. Definitely a blast to drive, it puts a big smile on my face every time I start it up in the morning. Just my perspective on the car.

 

The new Subaru is called the STi WR1. It will be just as fast as the MR. That's it.

Eva01

 

To answer this question we would have to know what your goals are for the car. Are you planning on modding it? racing? only daily driver?

 

The Evo has been my daily driver for about almost 6 months now. I have never been to concerned with driver comfort so I might not be the best judge , but even so, the Evo is NOT hard to live with. True ,It won't ride like a Buick, but the seats are so supportive it's hardly noticeable, and definatley not a problem. And, from what I've read, the Bilstien struts on the MR actually provide a more comortable ride than the standard Evo( I assume it's just the struts, though the MR spring rates may be different as well, anyone know??). I average around 20 mpg which is not bad at all considering the car's performance. I have noticed a few squeaks and rattles here and there, but again, nothing to avoid buying the car over. I guess the bottom line is, if your a performance enthusiast, the car's brilliant performance FAR, outweighs the very minor sacrifices you have to make to drive it, Just my opinion though, everyone's priorities are different.

As for the AYC, I have not seen it mentioned in anything I've read in regard to the MR, so I would say it does not have it.

 

Ive had my evo for almost a year I average around 21-22 miles a gallon (mostly highway miles) tires wear quick but so does STi I haven't had any problems at all with mine but some have had clutch issues (mostly people who race a lot).

 

Moving to FAQ's Forum.

 

I like performance driving not drag racing and I guess I'm willing to give up some plushness for the performance. I do like the mod potential of the EVO but I'm not into stupid mods that kill reliability; that's why I'm jealous of the Europeans and their FQ 300 and 400 cars which come with 3 year warranty's. To be honest I was spoiled on German performance cars which have good performance and very high build quality and plushness...but you pay the price for it. I keep having to remind myself with my STi that it's a Japanese performance car and that they cut a lot of quality corners for the sake of lightening the car. Don't get me wrong, the STi is a phenomenal car and has amazing performance but it has little anoyances that I'm not used to like plastic bits in the cockpit that vibrate and make noise, a trunk lid that is so light that it makes noise going over bumps, just small stupid things that with most German cars you don't ever notice. I'm sure the EVO is the same but like I said, I'm willing to give up my aquired taste for plushness and quality for a more focused performer. It will be a daily driver and it will get driven in snow on occasions and it will run time trials up some of our local curvy roads (Virginia City Hill Climb) or as two of my buddu's refer to it "Hooligan Runs" where we drive up some of our remote Mt. pass roads as fast as we feel comfortable trying to stay as close to the guy in the lead as possible. And if the MR is as good as a performer as they say it is, basically all that the STi is with a little more in the handling department I'd be happy ...as long as the little quirks weren't to outrageous, where you can't hear the stereo over the door panel squeaks. Like I've said, I have a '05 STi and I have driven my buddy's EVO VIII but I wanted to get a bigger concensus from owners about things they like and dislike about the car.

I'll feel you guys in on my impressions of the STi for any that are curious. The STi is awesome, it's wicked fast but the gearing is a little too close ratio ie. you have to shift into 3rd before 60mph and you have to shift fast because it revs super quick. The brakes are outstanding but lack a little in initial bite (stock pads, can be remedied) you have to put some effort into the pedal but it will stop you like the arresting wire on an air craft carrier from 100mph +. The EBD works great, in fact during hard braking if your lighten up on the steering wheel the car will stop perfectly with no change in direction what so ever. It's also very forgiving in corners, you can trail brake, and brake mid-corner and it never looses composure, it amazes me cause I deliberatley try to screw it up mid-corner and I can't.
The pedals are perfectly spaced and heel-toe is very easy. The short throw 6sp shifter is nice but it took some getting used to 6 speeds.
The stock springs are wrong for the car so once you change to the correct Pink springs that come on the Euro cars (they sofetend the springs for the US market..bastards!) the handling and ride improve drastically, less body roll and more compliant over high-speed bumps (120mph+). The handling in the '05 is awesome but requires a little faith. The EVO I noticed is easier to drive fast around corners, it feels more composed especially compared to the '04 STi. In the '04 the car would start to understeer and you would have to drop the throttle in order to induce a little oversteer; in the '05 STi if you get on the throttle too early the car will start to oversteer but if you keep the accelerator planted it will all of a sudden start to track perfectly and launch you out of the corner like a rocket...I think the new Yaw rate sensor helps by applying brake to the inside wheels when it senses understeer. Like I said the EVO felt easier to drive fast in corners but I actually lapped faster at the track in the STi but I imagine the MR will fix that. Gas mileage is something else about the STi which isn't stellar, freeway driving I can average around 22-24 mpg but in town if I'm driving it fairly spirited from light to light it will average around 15mpg. The interior isn't too bad, the seats look great but the bolsters suck unless you weigh 250lbs. The back seats are comfy and have ample leg room unless you're 6'7". The dash is to die for, very Audi in design and look and the programable shift light and beeper is pretty handy. The new stereo and HVAC controls are nice and very easy to operate while driving. It's recently developed an anoying plastic sounding vibration coming from the turn-signal stalk when going over semi rough roads and the truck lid bumps when going over pretty bumpy roads but I guess this is to be expected from such a light 4-door car. The doors actually close with a pretty solid thunk as long as the windows are rolled up, if rolled down and you close the door it sounds like a VW Thing door. If any of you have any questions feel free...

 

rejeuvenating post after moderator moved it here to die unseen...

 

i read and heard that the wr1 will be faster than the mr