rotarypower

i like the STi over the 8, but i was wondering why you guys would prefer the rx-8 over the sti? i found the torque of the rx-8 to be way too lacking for the pricing... i understand that some factors about choosing the rx-8 over the sti are it's rotary powered, interior and exterior styling, and mazda but what else?

i think the sti is better in terms of AWD, HP and torque, engine, weight saving strategies (glass, no standard stereo)

just wanted to hear some opinions on this

wakeech

*cough*searchplease*cough*

maverikk

I would just like to make one statement to all those "torquies": If you want torque pls take a DIESEL! I have a torque engine right now (Audi 1,8turbo 150 hp) and I don't like it, it is NOT sportive...

The Rx-8 is a sports car LIKE NO other! (And for me it will be a great successor to 2 MX-3s, which was marvellous too).

nostatic

Even with the "weight saving strategies", the STi still tips the scales at 3263 pounds, or 250 pounds heavier than the RX-8.

As far as drag performance, it's no contest. MT reports a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds and a 1/4 mile time of 13.1 seconds for the STi. The Evolution is even faster according to MT.

In terms of traditional definitions and overall measurements, the RX-8 is much closer to "sports car" than an STi.

In Canada, there will be at least a $10,000 difference between the two cars (RX-8 cheaper), so they're not really in the same price category up here.

knihc2008

also, sti is fugly!

zoom44

what's this about glass?

and the sti has that gargantuan, ugly wing thing on the back. that's some kinda joke by subaru, right?

sti is nice just not for me. the regular wrx would be enough for me if for some reason i didn't get the rx-8.

Trac

both car's really serve a different purpose.

the RX-8 is more of a style over substance type car. It's made to turn heads with it's looks, not really it's performance numbers.

the STi on the other hand is basically there to make you jizz your pants after you've driven it. but looking at it, it's sort of an ugly duckling. when comparing it to the RX-8, it's not even a contest.

RX-8 = Sexy, stylish, "sporty" car.
STi = 4-door, "meh" styling, true performance vehicle

i wanna go with an RX-8 mainly because i can get one for $5K less, and turn many heads while crusin downtown in it. :D

ed

zoom44

yeah, because you know, 0-60 in less than 6 seconds is slow, the numbers the mags got in slalom don't count for anything and of course its incredible braking is just not important.

BRx8

i agree with above...why? simple, how often am i gonna race the car or go to the track? am i really gonna try and make every turn into my driveway at 90mph? am i gonna try and race every Honda Civic at the light? no...i want a car that is as fun to drive as it is to look at, and the RX does have it all for me, in and out of the vehicle...

the WRX was my favorite car in Gran Turrismo and i drove my friends WRX STi when it first came out...unfortunately i do think they lack any styling appeal and should only be legal on dirt roads...they definitely look like the epitome of a rally car...i for one like exotic looking sports cars...for example my 3000GT, or the Supra, or the RX-7...i'm not the rally car type guy...i guess if i wanted to go off road, i'd buy an SUV

Trac

whoa there tiger.....no need to get defensive.

i'm here comparing the two cars....and when you compare the performance numbers of both, the STi blows the RX-8 out of the water in EVERY category.

i didn't say the RX-8 has no performance appeal....i said that it's not so much geared at the PURE performance junkies. It's geared more towards the people who want style/luxury with their sporty capabilities. The STi competes with the EVO, which competes with the S4.

the RX-8 competes more with the S2000 & 350Z. they're sporty car's....just not on the same level as the others i mentioned before it.

runny_yolk

Like you, I'm trying to decide between these two vehicles. Here in the US the price difference is probably $3k for similarly equipped cars (RX8 SP vs STi). I will definitely drive both cars before final judgement but here is my current thinking:

RX8: light, nimble, more compliant ride, nice interior/exterior (materials, workmanship, etc)

STi: questionable styling (I happen to like it, wing, hoodscoop and all), monster amounts of power to make up for it's additional weight, all-wheel-drive for better performance in less than ideal situations (having had a pretty bad skid in my FF car, I'm terribly frightened of driving in the rain with an RWD).

Keep in mind that the WRX was essentially a $15K econobox with a monster engine. Your money is going towards the engine/suspension, etc. The STi is perhaps a $20K car with the monster engine/suspension. It's up to you to decide whether you want to pay mostly those sorts of things or for a more generally refined car. One other thing that was pointed out to me is that there are a lot more moving parts in the STi, thus many more points of potential failure than an RX8, something to think about.
That said, in the end it will really come down to which on puts a bigger grin on your face after driving it. I'm confident that nobody will be able to fault you no matter which you choose.

Elara

*sigh* why are we having this conversation again? Perhaps we should go to an STi forum and ask them in a rather challenging manner WHY they aren't buying an RX-8! It's pretty simple, actually. I don't want an STi. I want an RX-8. Why do I need more reason than that?

maverikk

No, not really rain. It's ice and snow. A aquaintancy of me hit a bridge when spinning around "being passed by your own rear....". This is where theses electronic gadgets and helpers will go to work for you! I would never disable ABS, DSC or whatever in my car....

runny_yolk

No offense, but not everyone who posts or reads this forum is sure that they want an RX-8. Be happy that you know what you want, not all of us are so decisive! ^_^;;
Besides, there ARE similar posts in the WRX forums for people asking why they shouldn't buy an RX-8 instead of the STi.

Smoker

Its all about Different needs my friends.

RX-8 gets you:
- Sport Car Styling
- Luxury Interior and features
- Rotary Engine, RX Bloodline
- Brand new Car from the ground up

Most people here probably weight these things pretty heavily and therefore would definitely pick the RX-8 over the STi.

On the contrary, if you post the opposite question on the WRX forum or the Evo forum, they would probably tell you that the RX-8 is not even AWD, or that it doesn't have enough power etc etc.

ReX-8

Unless you participate in the SCAA rally, drive like Solberg or Makinen, or wants to give your money to the police/government, otherwise how often you are going to use all that 300HP? I think the 227 in the standard WRX and the 250 in the RX-8 is way enough for daily driving. Also Subaru and Mitsubishi are competing fiercely in the AWD market, but the RX-8 is one of a kind out there.
Although the STi does look great (flying through the air and drifting on the dirt), the big hood scoop and big rear wing, but the RX-8 comes with the sexy rear doors, nicely designed interior and details.

MarkW

OK, well I have a UK MY02 STi (265bhp) and I have an RX-8 Hi Power (237bhp) on order to replace it.

I do really want the RX-8 and cant wait for it to arrive, but part of me worries how much I'll miss the STI when its gone.

Both great cars (and different) IMHO.

Quick_lude

This brings to mind a quote from Michael Shummacher: ""I'm looking forward to the new car," Michael said. "We know that it is faster than the old car and when you're a driver, you never can get enough speed"
You're also thinking in terms of the archaic speed limits of North America.. What about Europe where higher hwy limits are allowed? Also some of us (me) WILL be lapping/auto-x'ing this car.. and for us there can NEVER be enough performance(hp/handling/braking)

threeputtwash

With this kind of logic, I'm assuming you're going for the 210 hp engine in automatic. "Unless you participate in Formula 1 events, drive like Schuey or Montoya, or want to give your money to the police/government, otherwise how often are you going to use all that 250HP?".

Seriously now, who wouldn't want the RX-8 to have gobs of power and weigh like a Miata (3000lbs isn't exactly light to me). Those of you who think the car is "perfect" are just fooling yourselves.
Lighter, faster, better, cheaper. I want it all, and I want it now.
But we can't have it all, so we have to compromise.
In the end, it's all about compromises.....

RX-Nut

I for one think both cars are great. The STi has outstanding performance and is one of Subaru's elite vehicles. The RX-8 is downright stunning and has the unique history and appeal of the rotary engine.

Personally I cant compare them. For one, the STi is AWD and is turbocharged. Why even compare that to a NA rotary? I dunno, to me it's like apples and oranges, but that's just me.

Anyhow, I'm bias towards the 8 simply because I love the RXs.

Besides the STi (WRX) look just dont jive with me. It's shape can't take an image of a Datsun 510 out of my head. Plus the 8 is in a movie.. beat that! Hahaha..

Elara

No offense taken. I just don't understand the point of posting something like this in such an inflammatory manner. Now, if someone came here and said something like "What do you guys feel are the advantages of the RX-8 over the STi, and why?" Not "I like the STi better than the RX-8, how come you guys don't all feel the same way as me" which is basically how it was posted. And if I find out people here are posting stuff like that over there, I'd like to discuss their net manners with them.

eclps0

ok you cant compare a 1.3 liter rotary aginst a boxer 4 turbo its in a diffrent class, the rx8 is a rwd not awd and its making a shitload of hp for a n/a 1.3. So there other terms you have to put in, The rx8 is a better car than the sti, why u ask with very little displacment its making 250 hp 50 hp less than a turbo boxer 4 with a 2.5 liter. Now heres an example give the sti a a 1.3 and lets see whats faster, The sti with 1.3 or a 1.3 roatry n/a.

ps i rest my case thankyou and have a good day

gord boyd

Rear-wheel drive cars are like having good sex. I've had two
quattros but have not been in a sti, but here is the differences:
Rear Drive *** AWD
1.)accelerating thru' a corner:
get into a groove *** impressed with adhesion
2.)during rain/snow on curve:
car rotates around you-control *** faster but some danger*
3.)doing the twisty's:
using weight-shifting *** using lots of torque
4.)power drifts:
subtle shifts of rear outward *** more mechanical


*and thus why insurance rates high due to no. of accidents

These aesthetics are simple and available every day.
Call me a "hedonist" but I rank "fun-to-drive" as a very high priority during 4 seasons not just winter and rains.
Safe sex is not for me.

RobDickinson

As has been said before, I dont want a pig ugly econobox thats been professionaly kevin'd.

I dont want AWD, I dont want turbo lag either.

I want a purpose built sports car, not some souped up shopping trolley.

I'll admit that 9 out of 10 times (or even 10/10) the STi will probably complete the same jouney/track quicker than the RX8. So what? Personaly I'll have more fun in the 8. Its why I like the Lotus elise so much, fun and fast, but not at licence loosing speeds.

Ali

For what it's worth, this week the UK's Autocar magazine ran a "best fun car under £15,000" feature. Of the 20 cars featured, the MX-5 won comfortably. My Civic Type R came second.

Now, more interestingly, they took along a full Prodrive spec WRX STi as comparison. This is the UK special 300bhp edition. It only managed to lap the circuit less than a second faster than the Civic. Looking at the figures, the Civic and the RX-8 are very closely comparable in straight line speed, yet eth RX-8 has higher grip, infinitely better steering and a better chassis. i can only assume it would have been very close to the STi's lap time.

As has been mentioned before, the STi is a bloated hog of a car compared to both the RX-8 and the CTR. It was also interesting to read that very few people took the STi out on the track and those that did didn't take it out twice. Not because it was slow, but because it was dull! They actually rated it lower than the top five (MX-5, CTR, Clio Cup, 106 GTi and Saxo VTS for fun).

Also remember that a PPP STi costs nearly £7000 more than the RX-8 over here. Evo magazine have also rated the RX-8 as fast as the Golf R32, Alfa GTA and Focus RS, and far better in it's chassis.

Power isn't everything.