rotten42

you're a tool...please sell the car!

VikingDJ

You need to do what others do, which is not play fair. Evo and STi owners alike wouldn't dare challenge certain cars on highway, as they would get embarassed. Their strength is the dig, and shut down before 100mph, so you can't ever lose. Play to your car's strength, and his car's weakness. Roll with him on the highway, because it's your best chance against an awd car. I don't know of any Subaru period that's deadly on highway. Even my STI is vulerable, and leaves a lot fo be desired from lets say a 70mph roll up to very high speeds. I can name a handful of cars that will edge it out if I raced like that, because of the way car is tuned. I believe an RX8 has a shot at the Legacy GT on highway with the right manipulation.

This is what you do. You roll start race, get ahead, then shut it down before he can ever catch up. You claim victory, and never race again. I did that with a cocky g35 owner who knew he could kick my rx8's behind on highway. I caught him off guard, jumped ahead, then put on brakes and puleld off. I WIN.

It seems like this is a sibling mind game here, and the key is not which car is faster, it's who can win, whether you play fair or not. Have fun, and be safe.

j_s2000

im about a well-rounded car. when i purchased the rx8, back in sept 2004, as per my research it has 238hp. since common sense showed that car is not optimized after 10k miles, i kept it. now it has 17k, still waiting for it to open up

zaglo6204

stoplight killer ain't a well-rounded car, homes... an rx8, on the other hand, is.

VikingDJ

While this is 100% true if that is all the car is good at, rx8 owners are still envious, and still want that strength. If they didn't, they wouldn't come on here and make comments like this all the time. Deep down many of us want a car that gives us everything, yet can be affordable. The fact is it's just not possible in this price range. An EVO or STI that's built from scratch as it's own distinct vehicle, and is as refined and beautiful as an rx8, and can do what it does would simply be too expensive. An RX8 that can perform like an EVO or STI is also too expensive. So it's back and forth, and while many are happy and content with what they own, they still want to dominate in every category of looks, refinement, and performance.
So in the end, you should have RX8 owners who enjoy their car's strengths and purpose, and don't care about what another car is better in.ANyone who doesan't do this is simply wishing their car had the best of it all, and it's just not gonna happen without shelling a boatload more $$$.

Japan8

Or buy a 2005 Goat (GTO). It doesn't have the RX-8's looks, but at least it doesn't look like a riced econobox and the interior is pretty nice. Add suspension mods and it'll handle. Stoplight and the highway... you'll easily run and many times beat the Legacy GT, STi, Evo, Mustang GT... etc. Best... you'll have the American V8 rumble.

grapes

Who cares ,just find a new forum and don't waste our time. REALLY

Renesis_8

Int-x would open your car quite a bit, with super cat and your other mods, maybe not too much on peak hp, but ur average power will increase, throttle response, these are figures that cant be shown on paper, however you'll be able to feel it, and would result in a faster car. or give the 4.778 gear ratio a try too?
________
Marijuana Card

zaglo6204

my statement was meant to be taken in general, not in context. it still holds true.

I love the STi (now STI) to death, as I would have bought one if I could have. Whether someone likes it or not does not make it a well-rounded car. While it does indeed have 4 doors, its just not THAT versatile with the stiffer suspension & quickness.

Ike

That depends on what you consider versatile... My Evo handles great year round in all weather conditions with one set of tires (if I choose), carries more than I would have ever dreamed (4 wicker chairs, an end table, an area rug, and several gallons of paint as well as misc. painting supplies in one trip this weekend). If I'm feeling saucy it will smoke many cars from a dig or a roll and I happen to think it looks great doing so. Yes it has it's fair share of compromises (stiff ride, few amenities, and the looks aren't for everyone) but it does everything I need and want a car to do.

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

it does seem like you want more of a stoplight killer than a well rounded car. Do what you feel you should do, for me, the 8 is perfect, i have a friend with an evo 8, dont care how much he takes me on straight line performance, its all about taking the other car through their weakness liek someone already mentioned..

Ike

It's looks like a Cavalier that drank too many protein shakes. It'll handle but it will take huge amounts of money to make it feel as good as an RX-8, S2K, or Evo. It'll be a handfull in winter, it won't have the space of a Sedan and the seats are made for fat Americans The GTO is a nice car and was in the running when I got the Evo, but was probably not even in my top 5.

Ike

Where exactly would you "take him"?

rotten42

for a guy that has owned a WRX and no an Evo you aren't in the position to comment that other cars aren't exactly beautiful.

Ike

Tell me it doesn't look like a Cavalier on roids... I didn't proclaim it to be ugly or beautiful, simply made an observation. Now go work on your reading comprehension. By the way, you're no longer allowed to comment on the performance of other cars since yous doesn't have as much as mine

j_s2000

rotten42 =
lol

VikingDJ

I agree. However, our cars look like an economy car on roids too (Impreza and Lancer), so lets be fair here. I do respect the GTO a lot. For what it is, you can't go wrong. Best bang for the buck by far in straight line performance and pure n/a muscle, but you compromise, just like we have, but in a different way. Someone out there has the same love for the GTO as you have for the EVO, so like yourself, more power to them.

rotten42

comprehension - fu


both your cars are/were fast but ugly

Rx8 is slow but good looking. In my book you are no further ahead. The 8 is fast enough to do anything I need it to do driving around the city. I don't go to the track anymore so the extra power is a waste. Both the wrx and Evo are still light years behind in their interior design.

Ike

I really don't see it as the best bang for the buck in a straight line, especially not by far. The SRT-4, Mustang GT, and Evo IX are all pretty impressive for the money. Consider that the Evo IX can run high 12s @ 107mph stock and low 12s @112+ with less than 1k in mods, the SRT-4 runs high 13s stock @103 and can run low 13s at @110 with a few boltons and some traction . You could also make a case for the Cobalt SS and Ion Redline.

Like I said already, I like the GTO, I respect it, but I'd probably save myself a bunch of money and buy a WS6 instead.

Ike

When having a pretty interior and car makes it more fun to drive I'll care. The neat thing is I liked the looks of my WRX and I like the looks of the Evo (strange how opinions work huh?).

I need to get to the Wendy's in my city quickly, it's 1/4 mile away, and I'll be there in around 12 seconds. Oh, and I'll be driving so fast and having so much fun that I won't even be able to look around at my inferior interior (gotta concentrate on the road.

VikingDJ

Well, if you wanna go by just 1/4 mile times, and ignore the other aspects, then sure, I'll agree with you. It's easy for people to ignore all aspects of what is considered straight line power. 1/4 mile does not tell the whole story, yet people can hide behind those numbers. How about a rolling start? How about a longer drag strip to allow the GTO to show it's colors? How about lining the cars up, and pulling off a full mile race like in Need For Speed Underground? I go on my experience getting reeled in by one, and when you go beyond 1/4 mile, you are TOAST. On the highway, you're burnt toast. I'd love to see 1/2 mile or even full mile drags get half the attention like 1/4 mile does. Line up a stock STI or EVO against one of these on a 1/2 mile or mile stretch, or a highway roll. It's gonna get ugly. Mod them both up to their max potential, it gets even uglier. I just can't be partial, even though I own an STI. I'm not gonna forget these important details when comparing cars in straight line power, and the price you can buy them for.

This is my basis for calling the GTO the best bang for the buck in straight line power. I looked into one, and got a price of $29500 last year, and with that LS2, and that price, I came to this conclusion that it was by far the best bang for buck in straight line, taking all things into consideration. AFter that test drive, I knew exactly why my STI got hosed by it on the highway. It still wasn't enough to make me ever buy one, but I gotta give it props. You can mod it, and you won't find much that can take you. I guess if you don't think this has any validity, and you just wanna stick to your car's strength in a straight line and from a digup to 1/4 mile then shut her down, then I won't try and convince you otherwise. We'll just agree to disagree. However, facts are facts, so ignore them or acknowledge them. The old cliche' comes out once again. There is no replacement for displacement.

sti_eric

Japan8

I dunno... the 2004 with the LS1 is pretty cheap... like $20k cheap. A 2005 will run you around $24k. A 2005 Mustang GT is still running $24-25k at least. I don't see how a Mustang GT is clearly a better value... and I'm a Mustang guy.

SRT-4 has the big problem of being a Chrysler product. I'd buy just about anything else first.

Cobalt SS... I dunno... just something about the looks... kinda like a ricey Cavalier (opps... that's right... it is!). That and FWD... ewww. I'd rather have the Cavalier on riods with the MANLY American V8 rumble.

And for some people here... handling isn't everything. Having it is nice, but as long as the car doesn't drive like a Camry or Accord... when you live in somplace like Florida or Georgia... does it matter? There ARE NO twisties to take them in...

Ike

1/4 mile tells a lot more of the story than you realize, trap speeds give you a pretty good idea what will happen from a roll. The Evo IX traps within a couple MPH of the GTO. The SRT-4 traps about 5 mph less and it's about 10 grand less, add some of the mopar stages from the dealer (or go aftermarket) and you're hanging right with the Goat for a lot less money, or drop 5k into it and you have a car you spent 25k on that will whoop the GTO.. Notice I never mentioned the STI, it's because it would take a decent amount of money to make it hang with the GTO.

As for modding to max potential, there are numerous Evos that will anhilate the fastest new gen. GTOs in this country. Show me a new GTO that runs 9s and can trap 150+.

Since you guys are talking about used cars as well you guys seem to be forgetting about the 03+ Cobra, in a straight line compared to the GTO it's faster, and mod for mod it's the same story. The F-Bodies would be much cheaper and easier to make faster than the GTO as well.

To GTO is pretty impressive performance wise, but to say it's the best bang for the buck by far (in a straight line) is an extreme exageration IMO.

VikingDJ

If you wanna start talking about mods, you are really in a different bang for buck category. I'm going by new vs new, right out of the box, with a full warranty. Looking at the cars as they sit in showroom waiting to sell, what is the best bang for the buck in straight line power? One could argue the SRT, however, the GTO will trounce that car badly, even in 1/4 mile. I have seen the GTO sell new for $27500 in some cases.

As I suspected, you hid behind the 1/4 mile and standing start theory, and mod potential theory which changes everything, but also compromises the car's warranty and longevity greatly. When you are dealing with high displacement cars, you are always playing catch up in this category, and modding = catchup. I can hop in an auto GTO and run low 13s in my sleep practically, while the guy in the stock EVO is beating the living **** out of his car to keep up. Then the race continues, and it's all over. Also, I would like to point out that you didn't argue the fact that after 1/4 mile the GTO would eat the STi and EVo for lunch. So how much does 1/4 mile play a role? A lot, but these AWD cars like EVO and STI rely on that launch, and the race ending early, so without it, they are in big trouble. Sometimes it doesn't play as big of a role as you think, and it's NOT a true test of straight line power either. Cars like the EVO and STI are not built and tuned for this, and simply cannot touch these big displacement cars in this category without that dig start and shut down right after 1/4 mile.

I understand fully that 1/4 mile does tell a lot, but you seem to constantly hide behind that without looking further into it. I noticed how you argued your point talking about 1/4 mile and 1/4 mile trap speed, but took no regard to the other aspects of straight line performance that I talked about. How about full mile and full mile trap speed?; If you don't think that changes the game and the numbers all together you are in denial. That's a big part of straight line power like it or not, and in the real world actually has more meaning. I've talked to guys with modded GTOS. They admit that AWD and high mods is a tough task in 1/4 mile, but he challenges all to race from a roll, and carry the stretch out to a more realistic street distance. Smartly enough, they refuse that challenge.

I think we are arguing two different points here. The only basis I go by when looking bang for buck is how the car is when you buy it. I won't mod my STI to high levels beyond stage 1 because it's my daily driver, and I need to get a good 150k near trouble free miles out of it. If I want it to be as fast as a GTO not just in 1/4 mile but in 1/2 mile,. full mile, and various rolling starts, I'm gonna seriously compromise the durability, reliability and longevity of this car. That is to be said with all those cars yu have discussed.