dragula53

Hey folks, it has been real. I traded my 2004 RX-8 for a 2006 WRX STi yesterday. Man this car is a blast.

The RX-8 was beautiful, and sitting behind the wheel was absolutely awesome. The engine revved like butter and slicing through traffic was just smooth as silk. As far as looks go, I can't think of a new car right now that I like better than the rx-8(except the lotus elise/exige. moan)

I really wanted to love the rx-8, but there were just too many issues for me to feel good about keeping it long term:

1) They had to reflash my ECU because the car was stalling at stop lights.

2) Hard Starts. Nothing is more embarassing than getting into your car with 2000 miles on it with your friends and turning the key for 10 seconds and the engine not turning over. The owner's manual says this is acceptable. I happen to disagree with the owner's manual.

3) The gas mileage. I wanted to avoid saying something about this, but since getting home from the desert after a 5 month hiaitus, I have been getting 12 mpg, 200~ miles per tank and I haven't been driving hard at all. It has just been cold. From my initial estimates, the STi's mileage is far better so far, although I am breaking it in gently as well.

4) Minor complaints about poor design: The center arm rest. every time somebody rests their arm on it, it collapses into itself. just a bad design.

5) The integrated stereo/heater/dashboard: Another minor complaint, but annoying enough for me to mention because I would love to add an ipod to my car stereo. Being told sorry at the best car stereo install shop in the state.

6) I got the base model rx-8, and without DSC especially in the rain and snow it is easy to throw the tail out. Now, I don't really mind it too much, because that's one of the joys of having a rear wheel drive car, but it is disconcerting how little warning the rx-8 gives you before swinging.

That's it. I'm done rx-8 bashing. Mayb some day somebody will search for rx-8 issues and keep me in mind before pulling the trigger on a new one.

Peace folks, I'll continue to lurk. Even with all of the issues I had, I will miss the RX-8. It can't be beat for behind the wheel feel.

alamike

Good move. It sounded like your RX8 was a lemon. You probably should have bit the bullet and got the Elise. In a year, you will probably end up trading for it.

dragula53

My mileage was normally very reasonable 18-20.

just something about the cold and rotary engines, I reckon.

but getting 12 miles per gallon in a car with 238(?) horsepower was just totally unacceptable, under any circumstances.

Right now I can't justify an elise, both for price, and availability. no lotus dealers within a state of me.

X-MAN S

Congrats on your new purchase. I have never driven an STI, how is it so far?

dragula53

300 ft lb of torque at 4000 rpm is nice. Being able to stomp on it in any gear and go somewhere is definitely a change from having to row through them in the rx-8

I don't get the comments like "Wow, nice car" like I did in the rx-8.

The wing sucks, as does the "other" spoiler on the roof. functional or not, I feel like a 17 year old with a honda when I look at them.

I get more engine noise, but less road noise.

the headlights are BRIGHT. it's nice to have foglights again too. and daytime running lights.

4 real doors rocks.

Fun factor, I give it a 10.

Style, excluding wing(s), I would say it is a pretty mean looking car: 7.

This car is all testosterone and *****, instead of a sexy little sports thing.

VikingDJ

Congrats man. I too loved my RX8, but the multiple visits to dealer got so annoying, and the long term reliability left me a bit concerned, so I let mine go. To me still though, the RX8 was a car I hated to see go. Had the RX8 I bought not had so many small things go wrong, it could have prevented me from getting rid of it. My 04 STI is great for a daily driver, but leaves too much to be desired in looks and refinement to be a fun car for me. The 06 STI is nicer then mine I will say. I like the front end more, and the interior has improved a bit. Looks like you were able to get over the sexy sports car look, and settle into the performance aspect. At the time I got my STI, I couldn't get myself to trade the RX8 in for one, so I ended up owning both. I was also fixated on the S2000, since I wanted a convertible as a fun car, so I sold the RX8 for that. I think you made the right choice based on your tastes. The car appears to have some good long term durability to it, along with superb performance, so I think you will end up enjoying it more. Hopefully you found the car you can enjoy for many years. Good luck!!

alamike

The closest Lotus dealer from my house is about 250 miles away. I have seen a few around town. I had a WRX and it was a nice little car. When I decided to trade, no local dealers would let me test drive a STI. I don't like to buy a car without driving one.

dragula53

They let me drive the STi after credit approval.

Ike

Grats on the STI, have fun with it!

rx8wannahave

dragula...if I was getting 12mpg I would trade it in also, so I don't blame you. Your 8 sounded like a lemon...or at least bitter for you.

Enjoy the STI!

VikingDJ

I would have thought by now it's changed on test driving the STI. I remember when buying my 04, I could not test drive it. The fortunate thing is that someone trade in their sti already, and they allowed me to drive that one instead, not the one I was planning on purchasing. I do think that if I pushed it, they'd have let me, but I did not come off to the salesman as a all but guarenteed buyer, because I was ready to walk out of there if the price, financing, and trade in on my other car was not to my liking. I think they sensed that. I guess some dealerships still won't allow test drives.

buzzardsluck

bye, have fun

I agree about the armrest, its terrible.

Animagix

i'm getting about 12mpg/200 miles a tank with my car as well. It's freezing cold here now, I'm sure it'll get better if i'm driving mostly highway and when it gets warmer.

I'm pretty close to jumping ship to something with awd/turbo (pretty obvious choices out there)

Chrisbert

Congrats on the new ride. All cars are fun at first, and then you start to want something new / different. Expensive toys they are.

Umbra

Shoulda got an evo, it's an sti with better looks or traded it in for an RX-8 that works right. My gas milage is usually 20-22, I don't have starting issues, the DSC works great, it came with fog lights, but yes the center console is a bit crappy.

With the 8 (a shinka) I've had people:
Stand in front of the car in the driving lane at the grocery store to get me to stop to tell me that I have a nice car (an older guy).
Tell me when they grow up they are going to buy my car (some kids).
Roll down their window at a stop light to tell me nice car (a 30 year oldish woman).
Turn around and watch me drive away (tons of people).
Tell me they want to go for drives in my car (my 3 year old) and got very upset and cried when I told him Shinka was hibernating for the winter.
Have your car win car shows stock.
Have family not know what color your car is (I thought it was purple now it's black, I thought it was black now it's purple... I thought it was maroon now its...).
Getting asked "that thing has 4 doors and seats 4?, no way!"

I agree with you on the lotus as probably being the only real (under $120k) that has better looks, what killed me there was trying to get one.

dwill9578

Dido and Dido, I'm getting such horrible milage it's unreal. It really hates the cold, I haven't had any issues with my car besides the dealer telling me to rotate the tires every 7k. When I went to rotate them for the second time at 14k I was told they would not rotate them due to "cupping" and I needed new tires. I erks me a tad cause I would have rotated every 100miles if I had too. Also all of the tires looked fine until you put it on a lift and really checked them out . So mines gone anyday now after I buy two of the cheapest tires I can find, it also helps my lease is almost up too and the residual value is a joke.

dragula53

Ouch. I personally prefer the STi's looks over the evo.

I have had negative experiences with mitsubishi service and reliability (GTS-X eclipse with the same engine that you find in the current evo).

Subaru does not give me the same impression of dubious reliability, and the STi looks a hell of a lot meaner (if you ignore the big wing).

And there is something to be said about an extra 30 horsepower/torque at a lower rpm with 12psi of boost instead of 18(or was that 20?)?

From what I understand, the evo accelerates similarly to the WRX because of the STi's shorter second gear, and an extra required shift to get to 60mph.

There are pros and cons to both to be sure. The evo has tighter steering.

I don't know if the intercooler water sprayer on the STi was even worth the effort of engineering/installing.

The Evo is also missing some important creature comforts... like cruise control.

I think the evo is pretty schnazzy, and wouldn't mind owning one, really, but I have a big ol soft spot for Subaru. And I am not just trying to justify my purchase. There is a great deal to be said about rock solid reliability.

Being approached and complimented on how beautiful your car is is ego inflating to be sure, but there is more to owning a car than the approval of others.

Tell them that you get horrifying mileage, that you burn oil and that your car can flood, requiring dealer service if you accidentally slip the clutch when you first start it, and that sometimes you have to be patient with starting it, because it won't always start.

Appearance isn't everything, nor is having a buttery smooth engine/cornering ability. They can make you overlook or live with some other faults, but that doesn't mean the faults aren't there.

Yeah, getting one is a pain, and I imagine service is not cheap.

Ike

dragula53

dido is so hot

nolarx8

Ike you finally showed a picture of yourself

Ike

Over all I would say that Subaru makes better quality cars than Mitsubishi. However, don't compare the engine from your Eclipse to the one in the Evo, the 4G63 in the Evo is virtually bulletproof and is probably more durable than the STI engine. Looks are subjective and I like the looks of both cars, though have always felt there was something a little more menacing about the Evo, whereas the STI was a little more rough and tumble.

The STI makes closer to 1 bar, or about 15 psi, mainly because it has a fairly small turbo. The intercooler sprayer on both cars isn't very useful, but could come in useful on warm days at the track (the newer Evos no longer has the sprayer). The current Evo 9 stock for stock is faster than the STI and dynos in the area of 20whp higher. Guys are also getting numbers with a few boltons that STI guys could only attain with a turbo and fuel upgrades. Yes, it would be nice to have cruise on the Evo, but honestly I think I used my cruise 5 times in the 3 years I had my WRX. These just aren't cars that you want to put in cruise very often.

I have a big soft spot for Subaru as well, but the Evo was too tempting for me. If you want the best handling car with the most potential, you get the Evo. If you want the car that performs close to as well with a nicer interior and some more creature comforts and probably a little better reliability, you get the STI.

dragula53

Don't forget the more civilized casual driving capabilities of the STi. Less peaky torque due to higher displacement, and suspension that isn't nearly so harsh. A more friendly daily driver.

If I could have both, I think I would take the Evo as a track car over the STi.. As a daily driver, STi, please.

Ike

I agree for the most part.. The steering and driving experience in the Evo still trumps the better ride in the STI and all the other little bits (for me). Don't fool yourself into thinking the STI is much better than the Evo when it comes to being a daily driver, they're still close and the STI ride isn't exactly plush. If you compared the STI to the Evo IX MR the rides are both softer than the RS and GSR Evo, plus the mivec on the IX gives the Evo more down low and it pulls harder up top than the STI. Either way you can't make a bad choice.

dragula53

The STi seems quite a bit larger than the RX-8 in every way. Instead of slicing through traffic with an exacto knife, I am now smashing through traffic with a hammer.

The cornering is probably better than the rx-8 though, and all wheel drive is confidence inspiring.

there's something to be said about being a brute.

*grunts*

unpocoloco

Can't really blame you for getting the STi. When I was car shopping, I eventually narrowed it down to an STi, an RX-8, and a Civic. Each had their appeal.

The STi was frickin' FAST, wow. I think you should get a complementary neck brace when you buy one of those things, for when your head snaps back into the headrest when the turbo kicks in.

The RX-8 had the looks, and also the originality factor. I'm known for being weird (Keep Austin Weird), and so it only seemed fitting that I'd get the one car that doesn't even have any cylinders, and doors that open backward.

The Civic was clearly the best, most responsible choice of the three. It would be the easiest to pay off, probably more reliable, and definitely gets the best gas mileage.

In the end, I decided I was tired of doing the most practical thing, and while the STi impresses dudes, the RX-8 picks up chicks. That was the clincher for me. If I had liked the STi styling more, I might have gone with it instead!