Beware: The Subaru STI

[tabahr]

1/4 mile in 13.29 seconds, stock on regular radials.

17" wheels with huge Brembo brakes... Stock

Hot Rod magazine basically went as far as to say it is a better buy than a new Mustang Cobra. It matches it exactly in the 1/4 and kicks it's tail around the road coarse. ...and it is cheaper too.

not to mention the 4 doors, and 18/24 MPG.

Now, don't get me wrong here, I dislike rice as mich as the next guy. BUT... this is NOT rice. This really delivers!!!

I think it looks stupid, though. If they put a more subtle hoodscoop on it and downsized the shopping cart wing, it might be more paletable. I just cannot see a 30 something white guy driving it. It looks like something a highschool kid would do to mom's grocery getter. It is definitely "in your face"

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

You have to admire, and maybe be jealous of the performance of the STI, but I couldn't live with the way it looks, it's just plain fugly - 4-doors, stupid looking hood scoop, bugeye headlights on the older ones, atrocious wing. Some of the yuppies are buying them up, though. Glad my car's not stock

[Performin Norman]

Pretty cool technology indeed.

I had a chance to test drive a Lancer Evo. I wasn't too impressed with it for some reason. Maybe because I drove the Z06 before and after the test drive. Fun cars for sure but I'm not sure they are worth $30k. JMHO

[NJSpeed]

A good friend of mine is about to buy a STI in a few weeks personally i love the car i agree it looks litte funny but they handle so well and are just damn fast i wouldnt consider it rice by anymeans.. rice is supposed to suck and this by no means does

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

I have seen times for the STi down to 13.0... I think 13.2 isn't really crediting the car with its full ability...

...but it by no means matches the SVT Cobra's 1/4 mile times. Not even close. The Cobra is comfortably around 12.7 in the hands of a capable driver. Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords hit a 12.7 @ 106 with it. If you notice the trap speed seems a bit low, it is because it is. The 3-4 upshift was fumbled during that run. A clean shift, and the Cobra crosses at 12.5. Keep in mind MM&FF are the same people that hit a 12.8 in a 4th gen Z28. They push the cars hard, unlike mags like C&D.

One thing to consider is the fact that the STi comes with no stereo to coserve weight... so if you want to listen to music, you are going to have to fork over some cash on top of the sticker price.

But there is also a huge difference in the mod potential of the Cobra versus the STi. Everyone knows that the Cobra with some exhaust work, new supercharger pulley, and drag radials will be in the 11's all day. When you start dealing with 4 bangers that are "high-string" from the factory, you start to run into dimishing returns in the way of mods. By no means can you get an STi anywhere close to the 11's with as much ease as you can in a Cobra.

Personally, I like the look of the STi - spare the hideous gold wheels and dumbass spoiler... The rest of the car is pretty good looking to me. I drove a standard WRX this past summer and was amazed by its handling... I would really love to get behind the wheel of an STi some day

[Jeff95TA]

I wouldn't mind having one as my daily driver, especially in the winter with the AWD. A little small if you have kids, that's why I ended up with a GTP.

[tabahr]

Originally posted by Jay 02 TA ws6
it by no means matches the SVT Cobra's 1/4 mile times. Not even close. The Cobra is comfortably around 12.7 in the hands of a capable driver. Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords hit a 12.7 @ 106 with it. If you notice the trap speed seems a bit low, it is because it is. The 3-4 upshift was fumbled during that run. A clean shift, and the Cobra crosses at 12.5. Keep in mind MM&FF are the same people that hit a 12.8 in a 4th gen Z28. They push the cars hard, unlike mags like C&D.

This was HRM doing these tests, not C&D. HRM tends to push the cars fairly hard. Also these numbers are corrected for altitude.

Mustang 13.30
Subaru 13.29

That was with both cars on the factory radials. HRM admitted that the mustang was traction-limited and a simple set of drag radials would easily give it the race.

[wolfdogs]

its nice for sure. but to me, its still a "matchbook car"......not an American muscle sports car......... just not the same......

im old fashioned though......... look how long i used Web TV.........hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Ryan98MechamT/A]

I think we are missing the point here. The WRX STi is not a "sports car." As we all know, it is one of the best WRC cars on the circuit. And as far as the car not responding well to mods, I would have to disagree. With the right combination of parts and tuning, the car is capable of quite a bit. But I would have to agree that you are not going to get the dramatic increase in accelleration the Cobra does from the same type of mods, they are two completely different animals and both do certain things well where the other does not.


But a 4 door sports sedan that looks fairly good, that can dip into the 12's with a few mods, can autocross all day, make a trip to the snow with no problems, pick up the kids and get the groceries is one hell of a package.


Im a little bias though, I used to drive a WRX before coming back to a TA.

[coloradoformula]

Yes, I do agree that the subaru STi is a amazingly fast car from experience (I've been straight up spanked by one). However, my question is, how much boost is the car running on? I've heard somewhere around 14.5 psi stock. If this is true I'm not really all that impressed. 14.5 psi is a lot of boost and IF a stock ls1 or lt1 could handle it I'd bet the Sti wouldn't stand a chance. I'm a big naturally asperated car fan. As all my friends agree, there is no replacement for displacement. Not to mention the awsome sound of a roaring V8. I just have no place in my garage for a Subi.

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Originally posted by coloradoformula
Yes, I do agree that the subaru STi is a amazingly fast car from experience (I've been straight up spanked by one). However, my question is, how much boost is the car running on? I've heard somewhere around 14.5 psi stock. If this is true I'm not really all that impressed. 14.5 psi is a lot of boost and IF a stock ls1 or lt1 could handle it I'd bet the Sti wouldn't stand a chance. I'm a big naturally asperated car fan. As all my friends agree, there is no replacement for displacement. Not to mention the awsome sound of a roaring V8. I just have no place in my garage for a Subi.

The fact is the STi IS pushing that much boost stock, and the LT1 or LS1 f-bodies are not. You can't compare hypotheticals about modified cars versus stock cars. The only fair comparison is stock versus stock... certainly the LS1 or LT1 is easier to mod -- so go to it. But you can't build much of a defense around a hypothetical superhcarger that you don't have... that really isn't fair.

[coloradoformula]

Originally posted by Jay 02 TA ws6
The fact is the STi IS pushing that much boost stock, and the LT1 or LS1 f-bodies are not. You can't compare hypotheticals about modified cars versus stock cars. The only fair comparison is stock versus stock... certainly the LS1 or LT1 is easier to mod -- so go to it. But you can't build much of a defense around a hypothetical superhcarger that you don't have... that really isn't fair.

Very true but you also can't compair a forced inducted car to a natrually asperated car. All I was trying to say is that straight motor for motor the LT1/LS1 would stomp the STi. LS1/LT1's are at a disadvantage when it comes to this comparison because of this over-boosted machine. I hate these cars that come off the show room floor advertising 300hp from a supercharger/turbo. Straight motor is the only way to go.

[TimeLord]

I have driven one[+ a WRX and a wagon],they are fun as hell.

I also got a ride[as did my daughter]in Tom Mcgeers N.A. rally car,it was a near death experience,these cars are INCREDIBLE and cannot and should not be compared to F-Bodies in any way.

They should be compared tp Skylines,EVOs,AudiS4 or BMW AWD.It is like comparing apples and screwdrivers.

My friends STI was making 450HP + with PCM,turbo,cooler and injectors . Until he lost in in a turn going WAY too fast and totaled it!!!

[TimeLord]

Then why did you compare BIG 5.7 liter engined to small 4.6 engined Mustangs,the STI comes STOCK with the blower so it is fair.

LS1 stock will get blown away by STI,if only because of the 1.7/1.8 stock 60 ft.

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Originally posted by coloradoformula
Very true but you also can't compair a forced inducted car to a natrually asperated car. All I was trying to say is that straight motor for motor the LT1/LS1 would stomp the STi. LS1/LT1's are at a disadvantage when it comes to this comparison because of this over-boosted machine. I hate these cars that come off the show room floor advertising 300hp from a supercharger/turbo. Straight motor is the only way to go.

*Sigh* I guess I am not going to convince you...

But one thing you should consider: If it isn't fair to compare a N/A car to a turbo charged car, then why is it fair to compare a 5.7L car to a 2.5L one?