Drove an STi today....
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From: Marietta, Ohio, US
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Drove an STi today.... And wow.... I am floored. A good friend of mine just received it off the truck about 2-3 weeks ago. I got to see many at HyperFest (Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia), but sadly I hadn't driven one until now.
The interior fit and finish is much nicer than the Evo VIII (IMHO). The car pulls beautifully through all gears. You can really feel the 300HP/300tq at 2500 RPMS all the way to 6700RPMS. What an amazing automobile... If you ever get a chance to drive one of these, drop everything and do it.
My only complaint is the leg room, but being a 6'6" lad doesn't make many cars fit me well. I would almost venture to say the civic is a bit more comfy (legroom wise) than the STi, but the STi has a fair amount of head room as compared to an EX with the standard moonroof.
Surprisingly, we didn't get nearly the looks from other surrounding motorists as I would have expected. However, he did choose silver w/ gunmetal wheels, which is much less noticable than his old Rally Blue 2.5RS Impreza w/ gold wheels.
A few months back, I drove an Evo VIII. Also an impressive car, but I liked the shifter/action in the STi better. The steering seems to be a little less nervous in the STi, and it tends to have a bit more feedback than the Evo.
We will be venturing to Mid-Ohio, Summit Point Raceway, and hopefully Watkins Glen soon to give the car a better run for its money.
BTW: This is the only STi I've ever seen with a baby seat in the back...
He has a 1 year old son, and this will be his daily driver. Somehow he managed to trick his wife into thinking the car was practical for the family because it was a four door.. 
He will run ZR Bridgeston Blizzak performance snow tires in the winter, as I do on my 2k1, while most who own this car will probably garage it. Carpet queens are lame, you bought the car to enjoy it. Might as well enjoy it all year round.
The interior fit and finish is much nicer than the Evo VIII (IMHO). The car pulls beautifully through all gears. You can really feel the 300HP/300tq at 2500 RPMS all the way to 6700RPMS. What an amazing automobile... If you ever get a chance to drive one of these, drop everything and do it.
My only complaint is the leg room, but being a 6'6" lad doesn't make many cars fit me well. I would almost venture to say the civic is a bit more comfy (legroom wise) than the STi, but the STi has a fair amount of head room as compared to an EX with the standard moonroof.
Surprisingly, we didn't get nearly the looks from other surrounding motorists as I would have expected. However, he did choose silver w/ gunmetal wheels, which is much less noticable than his old Rally Blue 2.5RS Impreza w/ gold wheels.
A few months back, I drove an Evo VIII. Also an impressive car, but I liked the shifter/action in the STi better. The steering seems to be a little less nervous in the STi, and it tends to have a bit more feedback than the Evo.
We will be venturing to Mid-Ohio, Summit Point Raceway, and hopefully Watkins Glen soon to give the car a better run for its money.
BTW: This is the only STi I've ever seen with a baby seat in the back...
He has a 1 year old son, and this will be his daily driver. Somehow he managed to trick his wife into thinking the car was practical for the family because it was a four door.. He will run ZR Bridgeston Blizzak performance snow tires in the winter, as I do on my 2k1, while most who own this car will probably garage it. Carpet queens are lame, you bought the car to enjoy it. Might as well enjoy it all year round. 
I sure wish my car was newer
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From: St. Louis, Mo
Rep Power: 364 Was it stock? I only ask because everything else I'd read said that when dealing in the handling category, the EVO ran circles around the STi.
Then again, hell, I'll take either one. They're both awesome cars.
Then again, hell, I'll take either one. They're both awesome cars.
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From: Washington State
Rep Power: 306 I know what you mean about feeling the power even at 2500 RPM. However, the max HP is not achieved until 6000 RPM, and the turbo doesn't even start spooling up until after 4000 RPM. Just credit that feel to the 2.5 L displacement and excellent tuning on Subaru's part. 
I drove one about 3 weeks ago, and after about 5000 RPM the tach climbs silly fast. You reach redline before you know it. I can't wait to pick mine up in less than 6 weeks!
Oh, and the Evo (in tests) has handled better than the STi . . . but I would call that a FAR CRY from running circles around it.
Indeed. . . Evo, STi. . . both incredible cars. Can't wait until break-in is over so my friend Jason, with his Evo, can take me to the track for some serious drags.
I drove one about 3 weeks ago, and after about 5000 RPM the tach climbs silly fast. You reach redline before you know it. I can't wait to pick mine up in less than 6 weeks!
Oh, and the Evo (in tests) has handled better than the STi . . . but I would call that a FAR CRY from running circles around it.
Indeed. . . Evo, STi. . . both incredible cars. Can't wait until break-in is over so my friend Jason, with his Evo, can take me to the track for some serious drags.
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From: Marietta, Ohio, US
Rep Power: 0 Well, admittedly I had a salesman in the car with me on the Evo test drive, but he did encourage me to get on it slightly as this was his first ride in one as well. I don't know why, perhaps it is a personal preference, I just prefer the STi to the Evo VIII.
I'm not hating on the Evo, as it is an amazing car as well. And the intended point of my 'Nervous' handling statement regarding the Evo was this: IMHO the Evo's steering is actually too tight. I don't care for it to be that way myself. It isn't sloppy, and neither is the STi. There's a difference between slop and different steering box ratios. The steering box ratio in the Evo seems to be much higher in the STi, meaning less rotations of the wheel lock to lock. Sometimes a lower steering ratio is good for your average driver.... C'mon, these aren't shifter carts, they're cars!
Anywho, once again, not hatin on the Evo. Love them both. Just a personal preference to the STi after test driving two of the best new cars on the market.
Next on the hit list for a test drive: 350Z
I'm not hating on the Evo, as it is an amazing car as well. And the intended point of my 'Nervous' handling statement regarding the Evo was this: IMHO the Evo's steering is actually too tight. I don't care for it to be that way myself. It isn't sloppy, and neither is the STi. There's a difference between slop and different steering box ratios. The steering box ratio in the Evo seems to be much higher in the STi, meaning less rotations of the wheel lock to lock. Sometimes a lower steering ratio is good for your average driver.... C'mon, these aren't shifter carts, they're cars!
Anywho, once again, not hatin on the Evo. Love them both. Just a personal preference to the STi after test driving two of the best new cars on the market.
Next on the hit list for a test drive: 350Z
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From: San Mateo, California, US
Rep Power: 0 The STi's you see in the dealerships should be already sold. I've talked to dealerships in Cali and in Illinois and if you see an STi, they have been sold already. Made to order baby!
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From: Washington State
Rep Power: 306 I've driven all three (the STi and the Z just 20 minutes apart.)
All were fully broken-in, so I was allowed to mash the gas all I wanted. The Evo DOES handle quite well, although I know for a fact that with just a couple braces, the STi could easily handle just as well, if not better. The 350 felt like a true sportscar. The 3.5 produces gobs of torque nice and low. . . great for drag and autocross. All three will pin you in your seat. . . with the 350 having the most punch, the Evo giving you a decent jolt when boost hits, and the STi with it's almost non-existent turbo lag, the speed sneaks up on you and is scary the first couple of times you slam the pedal.
All were fully broken-in, so I was allowed to mash the gas all I wanted. The Evo DOES handle quite well, although I know for a fact that with just a couple braces, the STi could easily handle just as well, if not better. The 350 felt like a true sportscar. The 3.5 produces gobs of torque nice and low. . . great for drag and autocross. All three will pin you in your seat. . . with the 350 having the most punch, the Evo giving you a decent jolt when boost hits, and the STi with it's almost non-existent turbo lag, the speed sneaks up on you and is scary the first couple of times you slam the pedal.
I like ruining your threads.
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yea, the 350 has more a sledge effect when accerating, while you can feel the STi gain power through the RPM's. Ive never been in an Evo, so i cant compare it. But you are absolutely right about the STi turbo lag... there is none. I kept waiting to feel the boost kick in, but it just gradually builds and pins you harder against your seat. I had perma-grin on my face for a week after getting a ride in it. Def gonna be my next car.
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From: Mesa, Arizona, US
Rep Power: 0 Yea I have seen a few STi's on the road they look nice and sound pretty good. I wish I could test drive one.. but I have heard that the interior feels really cheap, and not very well made.
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From: San Antonio, Texas
Rep Power: 377 Tee hee. I plan on tricking my wife in a few years as well. Since we just got rid of her 2 Dr for a 4 Dr Mazda 6. When I get rid of this car next Christmas, I shall invest in a 4 Dr as well. By then, I should be able to pick a nice used Evo, or STI or SRT-4 or any other 4 Dr "Family" car. Tee hee.
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Rep Power: 297 a lot of source said evo8 handle better than STI (Rally point of view) and in RAlly it will be the winner althought it has lower hp and torque.
STI is smoother. but smooth is not ideal for rally.
but they also said evo8 has very bad interior whilte STI is nicer.
STI is smoother. but smooth is not ideal for rally.
but they also said evo8 has very bad interior whilte STI is nicer.
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From: Oklahoma
Rep Power: 304 I say give Sub and Mits a year or 2 to refine the sti and evo. then they will be more worth the investment... (some say this attitude is that of a person who mearly cannot afford either, which is true but I think the next years models will be better anyhoo)
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From: Marietta, Ohio, US
Rep Power: 0 I don't mean to get off on a rant here....
Regarding the validity of a 'Rally Performance' comparison based on the STi and the Evo VII's performance as a street legal US Car, well... there is no validity to a statement based around that.
As for Rally 'handling'. A us street legal car can never compare with the highly complex coilover system used in the WRC spec rally cars. Also, the Evo and the STI will make nearly exactly the same amount of horsepower and torque in their rally counterparts. This should be already known, but the FIA (governing body of WRC) has rules that WRC open class cars are to be restricted at 300HP MAXIMUM.
Yes, the STi is smoother in my opinion, but as orion_squall stated, smooth is not ideal in rally. Not ideal isn't exactly the way I'd state it.... Nonexistent is more like it. No rally car is smooth. They run nearly uncorked engines and drivetrains, and they race on gravel. There is nothing remotely close to smooth about rallying.
The STi and Evo both are based on their WRC counterparts, both are far from the 'real deal'.
And if you want to base it on current rally standings, neither of them are all that hot. The Peugot 206 WRC is currently the platform to beat.
All rally cars are built at specific car building shops, just like any other real race car. I realize this may be obvious to some of you, but others should probably know this.
The STi's and Evo's roll off the assembly line bone stock, and are taken to their respective dismantling points and are then stripped nearly down to just the unibody structure, and rebuilt to WRC Specs.
And if you want to base recent rally results on the models racing in WRC today, take note of how many Evo's caught fire over the last 3 years and burnt to the ground. It happens to all rally cars, but I seem to take note of it more frequently in the Evolution series WRC cars.
And let us not forget the overall reliability issues of the Mitsu 4G63 engines. Crank walk, anyone?
My overall point to this is, it all boils down to personal preference and driver ability. When it comes down to it, that is what makes a car do what it does. Put me behind the wheel of an Evo VIII, and put Tommi Makinen behind the wheel of a Yugo, and he would still kick my ***.
Please research WRC and their street legal counterparts before making statements comparing them.
Regarding the validity of a 'Rally Performance' comparison based on the STi and the Evo VII's performance as a street legal US Car, well... there is no validity to a statement based around that.
As for Rally 'handling'. A us street legal car can never compare with the highly complex coilover system used in the WRC spec rally cars. Also, the Evo and the STI will make nearly exactly the same amount of horsepower and torque in their rally counterparts. This should be already known, but the FIA (governing body of WRC) has rules that WRC open class cars are to be restricted at 300HP MAXIMUM.
Yes, the STi is smoother in my opinion, but as orion_squall stated, smooth is not ideal in rally. Not ideal isn't exactly the way I'd state it.... Nonexistent is more like it. No rally car is smooth. They run nearly uncorked engines and drivetrains, and they race on gravel. There is nothing remotely close to smooth about rallying.
The STi and Evo both are based on their WRC counterparts, both are far from the 'real deal'.
And if you want to base it on current rally standings, neither of them are all that hot. The Peugot 206 WRC is currently the platform to beat.
All rally cars are built at specific car building shops, just like any other real race car. I realize this may be obvious to some of you, but others should probably know this.
The STi's and Evo's roll off the assembly line bone stock, and are taken to their respective dismantling points and are then stripped nearly down to just the unibody structure, and rebuilt to WRC Specs.
And if you want to base recent rally results on the models racing in WRC today, take note of how many Evo's caught fire over the last 3 years and burnt to the ground. It happens to all rally cars, but I seem to take note of it more frequently in the Evolution series WRC cars.
And let us not forget the overall reliability issues of the Mitsu 4G63 engines. Crank walk, anyone?
My overall point to this is, it all boils down to personal preference and driver ability. When it comes down to it, that is what makes a car do what it does. Put me behind the wheel of an Evo VIII, and put Tommi Makinen behind the wheel of a Yugo, and he would still kick my ***.
Please research WRC and their street legal counterparts before making statements comparing them.
Last edited by RallyEX; Aug 27, 2003 at 10:32 PM.
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