VikingDJ

I was debating on trading in my rx8 for the sti, and I coulnd't get myself to do it. So I took my old beat up 95 golf, and traded it in for an 04 silver sti. I have heard several opinions on this car about how it drives, the ugly interior, and the overall daily driving ability of it. I can say that in my opinion, YOU WERE ALL WRONG!!! When I test drove it, it was more then I expected it would be. Yes it is a firm ride, but it's what a sports car shoiuld feel like, even though this is a sedan. The seats to me are more comfortable then the rx8,and the interior is pretty nice looking, and the car simply is night and day performance wise cmpared to rx8. In fact, I think it handles better then rx8, but they are close. I spoiled myself and gave myself the best of both worlds, and it's worth the car payment. The rx8 is so refined and luxurious and looks like a true sports car. The sti may not look like much, but it drives like a pure sports car. The power is simply amazing, and it's going to make a better daily driver once I put all seasons on it then the rx8. I know this is subjective, but this my opinion, and I am so glad I have this car to use daily, and rx8 as a half daily driver fun car to tour around in. Thanks for your opinions on my previous post, and I'm glad I did not trade in such a wonderful car like the rx8, for a equally wonderful car like the sti. They are both amazing machines, but they are also apples and oranges when you try to cmpare them, so they should not be compared. Anyone who is considering an sti, I recommend you take a look at it. The demand is dropping just like it is on rx8, so you can get the car for a great deal just like the rx8. IKE, I suggest you save up your money and get one of these. I'm sure you know that already, but this car is just like you said it would be.Enjoy your rx8 folks. I'm gonna enjoy both.

RevTo9K

Excellent choice. Living with an STi as a daily driver is living well. Having more than one exceptional sports car really helps you to appreciate each of them. Enjoy!

TODreamer

congrats on your purchase

Speed-ER doc

congratulations. please post pics!

shelleys_man_06

I hate you. :D

mpt_yellowRX8

I hate you too! My next vehicle will be something for my wife. It's funny how they complain about the price of the 8 and then want a $90k Mercedes, but I do most of the driving so it is okay I guess.

I drove the WRX and didn't like it compared to the 8, didn't get a ride in the STI though. I wish I could get both but..... one day in the future!

Shocka

congrats dude.. awesome purchase..

mqandil

Congrats On Your New Baby. Good Choice, And Nice Review, And Yes We All Hate You. Enjoy

VikingDJ

Thanks guys. I'm gonna take pictures tomorrow and post them up on yahoo. Silver is a great color for this car. Blue was just too common, and silver gives the car more of an everyday car look. If you take away the big hood scoop, and big wing, this looks like your basic sports sedan with nice rims. I am even considering posting on sti forum to find someone who recently purchased a silver wrx and wants to trade trunks. I'll just have to rememever to swap locks. The wing doesn't look as bad to to me in person as is it did in pictures, but I still don't care for it all that much. Maybe I will change my mind after I have had the car for a little while, but I would like this car to be a sleeper. In fact I wouldn't mind taking off the sti tag in back, and the decals in front, so it's the ultimate sleeper. Just on my way to work tonight, I had several people challenge me. They simply are not even worth the gas and boost. I am dying without a radio, but I have one and will soon be installing it. I am also dying during this break in period as well, since dealer gave me a 1k mile break in period. I have been shifting at 4k max, but even then the car is really taking off. Before too long, I'll really be able to know just how different the rx8 and the sti are. From what I have experienced so far, they couldn't possibly be more different in the way they drive. There is indeed turbo lag, but thats to be expected. It's not as bad as many people have indicated however, but I suppose if you are comparing it to the rx8 in smoothness, it's complete night and day. You can't use the word "smooth" in a sentence to descibe the sti, but it's nice to have two completely different cars, and I cannot stop smiling due to the fact that I own my #1 and #2 choices of cars. Don't be jealous, because I am now $45k in debt, but my job promotion will allow me to get both of these cars paid off in 4 years. I feel like a kid who woke up christmas morning and got his first bycycle that he specifically asked his parents for. It's a true dream come true, and I'm gonna forget the fact that I have to basically live and breathe for both these cars for the next 4-5 years as long as I can.

Lawerence

Awosome.
Im very happy to hear you walked away with the STi

I can understand what you mean about the badges...everytime I get beside an STi i have to try to get him to run It would probably get a little annoying for the STi driver...after a while.

Did subaru give you a good deal on the car? i've heard recently about people paying slightly above invoice for STis.

VikingDJ

I got it for $234 under Edmunds Invoice ($29,500), which I think is pretty good. The 05 model is currently selling for about $500 over invoice at the dealership I went to. The 05 model has a few more goodies, so the msrp is also about $700 higher as well. it would have run be about $1200 more to get an 05 so I decided to take their last 04 model, since it was in perfect shape, and I was at threshold of my finances to begin with. They gave me $500 for my old beat up 95 golf that had 220k miles on it, and needed some maintanence. I was gonna keep it since it's a perfect daily beert car, but I have no room or use for it, so I let it go. I will miss that car, but It was gonna need about $1k worth of work to get through inspection this fall, so it was a smart move. I'm gonna take some pics of both rx8 and sti together, and I'll post it up tonight.

Ike

Grats man! Your amazement with the STi will simply grow and grow, driving an AWD turbo car rewards someone that knows how to drive it well and is familiar with their unique nature. Just wait until you hit that perfect launch after you're done with the break-in.

VikingDJ

Here's the yahoo link. I just took some quick snapshots. rx8 is dirty, but I wasn't going to clean it just for these quick pics. I drove both back to back, to get a real view on them, and they are both a blast to drive, but for completely different reasons. Once I break in sti, I'll really be able to know what it's all about. You can see just how refined the rx8 is, and how much better looking it is in pics. There is no comparison. Interior wuality, no comparison. Features, no comparison. All in rx8 favor. Performance, no comparison, handling, Handling, deflintelt better, but not too far off form each other. Those in favor of sti. Two differerent cars, for two types of people. I happen to be both types of people.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/vik...bum?.dir=/1374

sti_eric

Welcome to the club! Don't forget to visit http://www.imprezawrxsti.com.

Congrats on the new purchase, but beware! Boost is addicting!

Ike

Am I cracking up or do you have RX-8 floormats in your STi... Go order yourself some Prodrive floormats, they are VERY nice!

VikingDJ

LOL Way to notice that IKE. It didn't come with them, and I got all weathers for the rx8, so I had them in attic. They will do until I can somehow find a set of sti floormats. No luck as of yet.

Ike

This should help you out


http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591323

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=605902

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578662

VikingDJ

Thanks man. Should have known to ask you before trying to search for them. I ordered up a set. Much appreciated.

truemagellen

once FI comes out the 8 the STI will be like driving a Power wheel car

Ike

Blah blah blah you're going to have a hard time keeping up with most stock STis once and if the RX-8 has a solid FI kit, mainly because they will be low boost applications unless you have a ton of coin to drop. Plus it also becomes a highly tuned and finicky car at that point, while the STi retains it's warranty and will be safer and cheaper to mod because it's built for FI. There are regular WRXs running in the 8s and 9s in the 1/4 mile, there aren't even any 8s in the 13s yet

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

oh geez, here we go again.....

VikingDJ

For the rx8 to compare to sti in performance, yet give you all the goodies it currently has, it's gonna cost you at least 40k, and will go into another price class, so keep that in mind. I realized I'd rather just keep my 04 rx8 and get the performance sti, then wait for the mazdaspeed to come out. They will likely take away some amenities in the m/s version to keep the price from going out of control, and to reduce weight. If they end up having a fully loaded GT with navigation, then add suspension upgrades and 50+hp, it's going to easily exceed 40k. IT'S OK. RX8 OWNERS ARE ALLOWED TO BE JEALOUS OF STI PERFORMANCE UST AS STI OWNERS ARE ALLOWED TO BE JEALOUS OF RX8 LOOKS. One is an average looking rocket with a huge wing and hood scoop, and other is a moderately powered sports car that looks stunning. I line these two cars up and wonder why the rx8 just looks so much faster then it is. Mazda definitely needs to do something FAST with the rx8, but for me I am happy now with it's performance as it is.

cortc

They come with floor mats, go back and ask them for it...

m477

Let's be realistic here. The MS RX-8 isn't going to cost $40k. Mazda already knows they can't sell a $40k RX-8 and they're not going to try. It's just like the MS Miata, which came in very reasonably priced at $25k, despite all the naysayers claiming it would be $30k+.

The main thing you're overlooking here is that it is far, far cheaper for Mazda to buy parts in bulk directly from a manufacturer than it is for an indivudual to buy parts one at a time at retail.

VikingDJ

As a base model car, you are right. For a 36kmsrp car with every option, plus upgraded suspension, a boat load more power, and all the extras, you bet your *** it would have to hit 40k. That's about as realistic as it gets. My guess is that they will limit the amenities and make it a pure performer, which will reduce it's cost. I can't imagine a ms rx8 selling for invoice or below like the current model is though. If you think mazda will give us exactly what we have now, plus the addition of of all those components and a turbo or s/c you are dreaming. If by some miracle I can get a fully loaded gt with navigation with all the mazdaspeed bumper,spoiler, ect ect, that has 300hp for 36k at invoice, you bet your *** I'll be at dealer in two seconds to buy. Sorry man, it just isn't happening unless they take away **** like navigation and other extras. It's likely the ms will not reach anywhere near 300hp, and more like 265-270, so assuming it's not a limited production it doesn't include navigation as option. and car car sells for near invoice, it could very well be below 40k when all is said and done. The more realistic guesses would be 33-34kmsrp with a possibility of 7k worth of extras like you can do with the current rx8. They also may just increase the hp a bit with some tweaks and mod the car as it sits now like they did in Japan. The only thing I know is that if you added all the goodies into my sti like moonroof, leather, bose audio, heated seats, power seat, and refined the interior to the luxury of rx8, it would definitely exceed 40k. That's why the sti is so basic in everything but performance. They too realize they have to sacrifice amenities and spend less on refining the car to make people be willing to buy it. I doubt we'll see such a wonderfully refined car like the rx8 give you that kind of power and performance without sacrifiinc any amenities, yet only cost a few k more. Time will tell.


As for the floormats. NO the sti does not come with floormats. It's not a standard feature. If you hassle them, you can probably get a set of regular wrx floormats, but if you want STI, it's an option or accessory you have to pay for.