JmurphRx8

Thanx alot! Yea i loved my 04 but there are so many enhancements to the handleing, suspension, and road/interior noise, It also feels like the engine is alot smoother. Not to mention the interior actually feels like a $30K car. I'm very happy with my purchase, enjoy your ride, i know you will

Audioslave8

Awesome lookin car there murph, be sure to post some higher res pictures if you can.

Steiner

Is the steering noticeably improved or is there just less body roll. There's a debate on the STi forums about that subject I'm wondering what you think, haven driven both now.

Did the quicken up the steering rack too?

JmurphRx8

They have def quickeded up the steering rack. compared to the 04 the handleing is alot tighter, less body roll and the suspension feels alot softer absorbing more of the shock (if that makes any sense). The handleing feels alot more connected. overall the build quality feels amazing, I'm very impressed with this car, it's just so solid. I feel like its well worth the $30k + price. There is also alot less road noise that enters the cabin. I actually like this interior as much as I did in my rx8. I felt the 04 was more bare bones and almost gocart like, where as this car is clearly a race car meant to be a daily driver. Inside and out, this car is amazing, i'm very happy with my purchase (i'm really excited about this car if you couldn't tell)

Steiner

You're not the first '06 owner to comment on the interior noise. I'm tempted to drive one just to see how it compares to the '04 and '05 model.

Psylence

"GoKart-like handling" in a Subaru?

I think I just threw up a little... go drive an Elise.

JmurphRx8

~Have you ever even driven an STi? And i didnt say "gocart like handleing" i just said the car was "gokart like"

Steiner

Well if you didn't say it I will. The STi does have go-cart like handling. If somebody doesn't know that then they haven't been in one before. It may not handle like a 2000lb Elise or Miata, but those are roadsters designed for nothing else but handling. In every other aspect they are completely impractical for daily driving.

Rhawb

The STi has sharp handling, but it doesn't have any sort of a gokart feel at all. If you're saying it does, then you obviously haven't driven a Miata. It's a totally different feeling.

Steiner

^^^^

...It may not handle like a 2000lb Elise or Miata...

Rhawb

True, which is why I wouldn't really put it into the "gokart" category. It still feels too heavy to achieve that feeling, even if the handling is amazing. (and for the record, the RX8 fails to achieve that feeling too)

VikingDJ

Comparing handling of my STI to my S2000, and my previous RX8, I'd say the S2000 feels more go cart like. I've driven a Miata, and that is definitely go cart material. I can't imagine an Elise. The STI and RX8, no way. Nonetheless, the STI is a superb handler like the RX8. I wouldn't call it go cart like though. However if you haven't driven a lightweight roadster, I can see why you'd call it that.

Rhawb

Exactly. You need that super lightweight, tossable feel to really get it into that "gokart like" category. I agree that if you haven't been in one of those nimble little roadsters, it'd be easy to call the STi or RX8 "gokart like", but it becomes infinitely harder after you've actually been in one of those little cars.

However, with the S2000, I still think it has a bit of a heavy feel, even for a roadster. I think the handling feels a lot like the RX8. I'd classify it as almost gokart like.

RX-Hachi

I've driven go-karts (woop de doo), I'd rather be driving my 8. :D

JmurphRx8

wow who would have thought one word could have sparked such a debat. I really wasnt even talking about just the handleing...i meant it in the sense that the car was just so bare bones and simplistic like a gokart.

Pkskull77

I've got to be honest with you guys, the 8 is not signifigantly better looking than the STI. The wing, and hood scoup aren't for everyone, but it's still a good looking car.

I remember when I owned the 8 looking at it and thinking wow what a beautiful car. I would detail the hell out of it and take it for a ride, thinking I was driving the best looking car on the planet.

Now that I don't own the 8, I'm not as impressed with the looks. The 8 is full of funky, and very questionable lines and angles. The car is so busy that it often seems to get in its own way. Jermy Clarkston makes the same comments on Top Gear, and I remember thinking is he nuts, but now I can see what he is talking about.

Moral of the story? Realize that looks are very much subjective, and when you make a statement like "looks like $hit" you actually should be saying "I think it looks like $hit."

Ike

You've driven the wrong karts then. To compare any of these cars in handling to a proper kart is laughable. You want the most fun on 4 wheels on a racetrack a shifterkart kart will make you pretty bored with just about every road car there is. Really the Miata is just as poor a comparison as an STi or Evo, mainly because you don't get the kick in the pants, and that's half the fun of karts. All the cars mentioned have stunning handling yet they don't even compare to a kart. On the other hand when you say "go-kart like" I can find something in all of them that would justify that statement.

In other words, the STi probably has about as much in common with a kart as the Miata does. Unless we're talking about those silly karts at the local batting cages, then the Miata certainly has more in common

Pskull coverd the rest of what I had to say. Also, grats again Jmurph, the car looks great!

BlueEyes

One of my buddies told me shifte karts pull sustained later force of 3 g's. Is this true?

Ike

I've heard that claim before, and having raced them I'd believe it. 3 g's sustained may be a touch on the high side but it's not far off. 3 g's peak is probably more like it. In short they're the closest thing the average person will ever get to a Formula 1 type ride.

Japan8

They are in JDM. A STi Forester and Legacy are due out as well as some other special model.

JmurphRx8

~ I totally agree with you... I loved my 8 more than anything when i had it, but now that i don't I see all quirky things others pointed out. Some people hate the looks of the STi and hey thats fine thats their opinion. I honestly love the looks. Even though some bash it for its outrageous looks (spoiler, scoop) I know they still at least respect the car because of what it can do. But it's worse when a car has questionable looks and a lack of performance.

RotorManiac

'06 looks better but I'd still buy an Evo... any Evo. please dont start flaming me now, because I have many reasons to believe this.
I like the STi, love the 'boxer sound' and most of all, respect it. But in all magazines (especially british), track times and any other tests of comparison, it comes second... I dont know why, never driven either, maybe a guru can explain me. all the editors love the evo? maybe... in the track the difference in lap times is big enough to make you wonder -whole seconds!
I know in the US the STi is on steroids making 300hp compaired to euro spec, but there are some very powerful versions of the evo too, like the FQ320 and FQ340.
hell, even in the Rally Acropolis Super Stage, that took place in Athens, in front of 65,000 people, all subarus lost compared to evos... it was clear that understeer was a big problem, but still I expected something better. fans tried to blame it on drivers that were showing off, but I think that's a lame excuse...
please feel free to comment

Pkskull77

Going around a track with equal drivers, the EVO will win, no doubt about it. Fact of the matter is, the cars are very very very close, and 99% of the population couldn't drive either car well enough to take advantage of the extra handling capabilities the EVO has.

Performance aside the STI is a far better everyday driver. The interior and the ride is much more refined. The STi’s all wheel drive system is much better in bad conditions, in other words the STI is better in snow and rain. Finally, the EVO takes a lot more rowing to get it moving, as the STi can be driven quickly without pushing it up to redline due to the extra torque of the 2.5.

Although I can’t back this one up, I just don’t trust Mitsu. I keep hearing stories about Mitsu going out of business, and about warranty nightmare, and EVO reliability. Performance is the ultimate goal of sports cars, but to me the small gains of the EVO are not worth the other stuff. If not handling as well bothers you that much you can drop a 1000 beans, and make your STI handle better than an EVO.

Ike

You want the best all around car you get the STi, you want to most potential and the best handling, you get the Evo. The things that pushes the STi ahead in my book are...

Subaru > Mitsubishi as far as customer support, safety, reliability, quality of dealerships, and general non douchebaginess

The STi has a nicer interior and things like cruise control and climate control.

The STi is a more comfortable ride, it's also less laggy (better around town).

The Evo steering is great, when you're on the track. It can be downright scary if you're a little groggy in the morning and on your way to work.

The HP potential of the Evo is great, but the STi isn't far behind and is catching up month by month.

Can't really fault either choice, but as someone that drives a lot of miles the STi is just more appealing.

Aoshi Shinomori

Got to drive my brothers EVO RS, the steering is so precise and the response is not comparable to anything I've ever driven. So quick and yes it can be very scary