While i was at my dealer (they also sell subaru's) I got a chance to test drive the WRX STi, the torque was great. Plenty of power. While i was test driving it, a friend was at the back seat (salesperson was riding shotgun) I just realized how much power it had when here we were 3 heavy adults and the car was still flyin'. I then switched with my friend and I sat in the back, the car was the car crazy stiff. I was bouncing all over the place at the back of the car. Makes me smile when I think how the rx8 is much more of an everyday car. Heh, this might be something small but what i thought was cool about the STi was that it had a nice built in compass on the rear view miror, like lexus.

Still havent' had a chance to test drive an Evo, but that STi was sure fun to test drive.

[i]Still havent' had a chance to test drive an Evo, but that STi was sure fun to test drive. [/B]

fun to test drive being the key. but is it an everyday driver? its a very fast car that you can cruise around in and race other cars to the next red light and victory is usually yours. some people just need to walk around saying my car goes from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds but thats all they end up saying. there's nothing else to talk about.

I have not test driven any of them (RX-8, WRX, EVO) but is the WRX available in somethign besides that awful blue color and the black and blue interior? And that wing has got to go. Can you get it without that?

I've already made up my mind though. I'm getting an 8. I am going to wait for the 05's though. I just need to squeeze one more year out of my Accord.

The STi comes with the giant wing. Ditto the 2tone black/blue interior. Bodycolors are White, Black, Blue, and Silver.

It *does* have a stiff ride. And it's in no way as "nice" to drive around all the time. But like RX-GR8 said, some people need that 5.2 slip to prove their cars worth. Not that Joe Average is gonna be able to nail 0-60 time like that...

Finally, despite all the whining about RX8 mileage, my STi equipped friends all report mileage of sub 15mpg around town.

i will admit the STi is a great car. Ive been in my friends STi and i was def jealous. Its a really nice car and ride. If i had to buy another car the EVO or STi would be it! NO questions asked!
But here is the problem with the car. 30K+ and no STEREO!!! ur kidding right.

Yeah, that's right, it has no stereo. My suspicion is that Subaru wanted to have the same weight as the Evo because their curb weights are exactly the same.

Also, if you're curious about specs on any car, just go to edmunds.com which will give you all the info you need. You can use the price with options tool to figure out the msrp and retail prices of your ideal configurations. Hell, you can also just go to the manufacterer's official page to get all that info.

I drove my friend's EVO. My thoughts:

1) Lots of power but only after turbo kicked in. Before that it felt like any other 4-banger

2) The car is one rough ride. My friend drove from Knoxville to Cincinnati and said that he was bounced around. It's definitely not good for long trips. It is the stiffest car I have ever riden in.

3) The seats suck! I counldn't get comfortable. I like the RX8 seats better

4) Steering is extremely quick. I definitely had to keep both hands on the wheel.

5) Interior is cheap.


Great car for performance. If I can own a weekend car I think the STI or EVO would be it. Personally I like the STi more, nothing beat that "power bulge" on the hood!


Magic8

STi or EVO would be a car i would lease for a couple of years and return. It's a fun car but for long trips, I'd take my wifes car or something. The interior on both STi and Evo are bad. The STi i test drove actually had an alpine sound system, dealer said they put that in, but its not included on the cost. Sitting in the front wasn't so bad, but as a passasenger sitting on the back, it was too bouncy. The seats at the back were slippery... should have been buckets.

Originally posted by RX-GR8
fun to test drive being the key. . some people just need to walk around saying my car goes from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds but thats all they end up saying. there's nothing else to talk about.


You bring out a good point here. Some people, especially younger enthusiasts, have 0-60 times memorized for every make and model, and he who gets the last tenth wins. I was like that too, in the Great Musclecar Era.

But the quality of the experience of ownership is what matters most. If a car is fast, it is fast- although some others may be even faster, it hardly matters in real world ownership. The Sube is a great car, and it is a wonderful performer for the money. But for me, at the end of thee day, it is simply a competent, well built sedan tweaked to the gills (much like the GTO's and 442's of my day.)

The RX-8 is like a work of art- different engine, different body, unique concept. More like the Jaguar XK-E was compared to the musclecars.

meeh..

I test drove the car as well in Melbourne. I hated the Turbo lag - it will be pain to drive in traffic.

Don't you find there is lack of feedback from the steering - not as direct as you would like for a stiff suspension. I found even the 8 has more steering reponse - but the best of the lot has to be the Honda S2K. I would be in the S2K forum if I can afford to have a 2 seater

takahasi:

I definitely like the steering better on the RX8. The dealer told me that there actually was 0 turbo lag. Heh, but there is.

My wife saw the STI parked as an ad car in front of COSTCO. She said "What is the deal with that car? It looks like someone went crazy with their Burger King money and decorated there impreza with all that crap!"
I kindly explained that it was a racing beast with a powerful engine, easily can outrun my 8. But, inside I still thougt it was a funny comment.

your wife looked at the visual aspect of the car and you explained the looks by saying it could beat your 8. the 8 has that car beat in so many other ways.

I agree. A big engine is all the STI has going for it. Everything else, 8 all the way baby!

Originally posted by cebat
My wife saw the STI parked as an ad car in front of COSTCO. She said "What is the deal with that car? It looks like someone went crazy with their Burger King money and decorated there impreza with all that crap!"
I kindly explained that it was a racing beast with a powerful engine, easily can outrun my 8. But, inside I still thougt it was a funny comment.

haha before I bought the 8 i was about to buy an EVO. I took my mom to see the car, I had put a deposit on a BBY Evo. And her response and i quote "It looks like our Galant on Steriods" i explained the power of the car and she said.. "but if you aare gonna go fast look good doing it, your not 16 anymore get something with style" BTW she loves the 8 and anytime i take her out shopping or for lunch/dinner she ALWAYS wants me to take the 8 and she likes my dad to come along so she can sit in the backseat. and use the freestyle doors.

No matter what people say i think the STi and EVO are great cars. For the comment about not being comfortable in the EVO, I thought the Recaros were nice as hell. I sat it in and test drove it.. NICE! I think the RX-8 is a lil more comfortable only because its gives each person in the car their own lil personal space.

I went with my parents last month to show them a few of the cars I was interested in. I showed them the Evo and Sti, and they preferred the Evo (although they had misgivings about a manual). Then they saw an 8 in my neighborhood, and they loved it, so gradually I started to consider it. They're probably almost as excited as I am about my buying it.

It definitely has far superior style imo. When I had my test drive (w/o the p&m), I had a grin from ear to ear. It has incredible balance, way more power than I'm used to anyways, and the brakes were unbelievable. I know that I'll eventually want more power. From reading here I know that the aftermarket products will be plentiful though so that shouldn't be a problem.

For the exterior looks I'm not fond of impractical body kits, so with an Evo or Sti I would never be happy with the exterior. To me the 8 is the full package, and I can't imagine buying another car right now.