Any body ever drive STi's and compare them?

[ScaryFatKidGT]

Has anyone ever had the chance to drive a 04-05 or 06-07 STi.
The 06-07 STi's have widder tires and longer gears raitos and i was wondering if they made a big difference in handling and acceleration/driving or not from behind the wheel?

But I was mainly looking for a comparison between 04-07 and a 08-09 STi's for a comparison/review other than the test magazins it seems like they all are saying the 09's are better in every way except being fun to drive isn't that the point of a STi over a WRX, to not just have a little more power but to be a fun car to drive? I mean seriously STi means fast and fun not quiet, roomy and easy to drive. You know if you want more power in a nice car get an Infinity G35, Acura or a CTS or somthing with ur $35,000.

I guess im wondering if someone has driven both and still thinks there as good of a sport rally car and as fun?




Is this better??

[KAG]

.........what?

[greenspeed]

You read something somewhere

[Huffer]

Grammar 101. Sorry, try again.

Use the EDIT button on your original post.

[Okin DaVanh]

I'm guessing he's looking for an "opinion" on the 2 model years??? Has anyone here driven the 2 different years to form an opinion different than the editors of the test magazines??? Maybe??


But if all else fails..... Follow Huffer's suggestion, and use teh "edit" button :smt023

[ScaryFatKidGT]

I'm guessing he's looking for an "opinion" on the 2 model years??? Has anyone here driven the 2 different years to form an opinion different than the editors of the test magazines??? Maybe??


But if all else fails..... Follow Huffer's suggestion, and use teh "edit" button :smt023

Yea exactly what i was looking for but the STi's also changed a little from 05 to 06

but yea thats what i was looking for all the test magazines just compare it to the EVO 10 and thats it and say its quieter and stuf but thats about it. I was wondering if anyone had experience with the handling and throtle responce between the 3 moddles of STi's

[peugoby]

I've driven an '04 STi with a couple bolt-ons.
I've also driven an '07 STi, but not as extensively.

Both are extremely similar cars. The steering felt the same. The '07 felt fresher than the '04. I think the '04 needed to be re-tuned as it had a lot of parts the old owner took off before trading it in. The RE070's were pretty worn on the '04 but still gripped quite well.

For comparison I've driven an '03 EVO GSR w. 270whp, 325whp, 380whp, and 425whp (same car just different tunes) and also an '07 Legacy Spec B. . I'd much rather have the EVO or Spec B. over the STi.

[ScaryFatKidGT]

I've driven an '04 STi with a couple bolt-ons.
I've also driven an '07 STi, but not as extensively.

Both are extremely similar cars. The steering felt the same. The '07 felt fresher than the '04. I think the '04 needed to be re-tuned as it had a lot of parts the old owner took off before trading it in. The RE070's were pretty worn on the '04 but still gripped quite well.

For comparison I've driven an '03 EVO GSR w. 270whp, 325whp, 380whp, and 425whp (same car just different tunes) and also an '07 Legacy Spec B. . I'd much rather have the EVO or Spec B. over the STi.

ok thx yea i think the steering rack was changed from 05-06 to but it was only cuz of the larger tires

What reasin would u take the evo and the 200-300lbs more spec-B over the STi?

I looked at the Spec-B's and some used ones because its a LEGACY of cource but at 250lbs more than an STi and 100lbs more than the GT limited with the same HP il just get a GT and put coilovers on it

[peugoby]

I thought all '04 - '07 STi's had 225/45/17's? I guess I don't pay close enough attention.

I like the EVO more because of the steering rack, the precise gear box, styling, rarity, seats and tunability. The brake feel is also top notch. The steering is absolutely the best I've ever felt, there is no "dead zone" and it is perfectly weighted. Its just an extremely precise and well thought out machine. Don't get me wrong - I'd love an STi as well!

I like the Spec B. because it is simply the best Legacy ever - State side. I've been a legacy fan for a long time and the Spec B. is truly something special. The Bilstein's and STi gearbox are fantastic. I also love the simple styling, the special interior fabrics and the overall feel of the car. I'm sure an STi is overall a more capable machine, but as a daily driver, its hard to beat a Spec B.
The look is a little more sedated than an STi (I myself really like the looks of the '07 STi Limited)

They're all great machines, you really cannot go wrong!

[TheAngryPidgeon]

Top Gear doesn't like the new STi, but it is faster in the hands of the Stig than the Evo 10, which they do like.

[xXGTBspecXx]

04-05 STi is an amazing car hands down..but it doesnt compare to the 06 in driver feel. the 08 is well... i cant really describe the feeling.. but it left me speachless the first time i drove it.. im not really that great at describing the way things feel. but lets just say despite the looks of all three of the STi model years(06 looking the most pissed off) they get better and better as they progress. the 08 has to be the best of the three hands down...

but hey this is just my opinion..

[ScaryFatKidGT]

I thought all '04 - '07 STi's had 225/45/17's? I guess I don't pay close enough attention.

I like the EVO more because of the steering rack, the precise gear box, styling, rarity, seats and tunability. The brake feel is also top notch. The steering is absolutely the best I've ever felt, there is no "dead zone" and it is perfectly weighted. Its just an extremely precise and well thought out machine. Don't get me wrong - I'd love an STi as well!

I like the Spec B. because it is simply the best Legacy ever - State side. I've been a legacy fan for a long time and the Spec B. is truly something special. The Bilstein's and STi gearbox are fantastic. I also love the simple styling, the special interior fabrics and the overall feel of the car. I'm sure an STi is overall a more capable machine, but as a daily driver, its hard to beat a Spec B.
The look is a little more sedated than an STi (I myself really like the looks of the '07 STi Limited)

They're all great machines, you really cannot go wrong!


In 05 they switched to 245 somthings and a wider circle from lock to lock because of it and in 06 (when the body style changed) they made the gear ratios longer slightly, for better "drive ability" im wondering if thats less race ability.

i guess i didnt relize the STi 6 speed adding another gear was so heavy but maybe that = more power handling

[sybir]

In 05 they switched to 245 somthings and a wider circle from lock to lock because of it and in 06 (when the body style changed) they made the gear ratios longer slightly, for better "drive ability" im wondering if thats less race ability.

i guess i didnt relize the STi 6 speed adding another gear was so heavy but maybe that = more power handling

No, they didn't. I own an '05. The 06 and 07 cars had slightly taller gearing which is nice, but I have no issues with my '05, and it's not a huge difference.

04-07 STi's ran 225/45/17 RE070's, only difference was that the hub swap in '05 went to a 17x8 wheel.

The 6MT along with everything else on the STi adds a little weight, but the peace of mind when pushing the car is worth the weight. FWIW, my wagon weighs ~250lbs less than the STi, and the STi still feels more nimble and lighter. Power and an intuitive drivetrain will do that (wagon is a 4EAT)

A buddy owns an '08, and I've driven it; it's a very nice car - much quieter. It's also softer, but my car is on coilovers, ALK, swaybars, bushings, etc, so it's not a great comparison. I'd rather DD an '08 and track an '05 - that's about how they feel.

[Magoozle]

I'd rather DD an '08 and track an '05 - that's about how they feel.
That about sums up this thread.

The extra gear in the 6 speed isn't where all the weight comes from. If you ever get a chance to see someone rebuild or take apart a 6 speed, go watch it, you will see how different the 5 and 6 speeds are.

As was mentioned there was a slight change in wheel width from '04 to '05 when they switched to 5 x 114.3. But they were all 225's until the new '08 with the 245 Dunlop's. Ok I am starting to ramble. :lol:

[ScaryFatKidGT]

well if i could i would daily drive an indy car and use my subaru for vacations and stuf lol so yea

I think the 04-05's look alot better IMO

how do the longer gears of the 06-07 affect driving?

so all sti's have 225 but they changed the rim size? soooo it made the tires widder and shorter by a little bit?

[sybir]

Sorry, missed this.

Gearing on the 06/07's is just a little better for freeway driving; I don't own one so I can't say how noticeable it is.

To give you an idea of what the gearing is like, 4th gear in my STi is the same ratio numerically as a USDM WRX 3rd gear, and 6th is pretty close to 5th gear in a USDM WRX if not exactly the same. STi's are faster in a lot of cases because you can keep the car in the meat of the powerband when you're cornering, etc, but a WRX with a big turbo actually has some advantange if you can keep it spooled because you have less shifts and can keep building boost longer in each gear. A 0-60 (or 0-90) run in an STi is a pretty frantic experience, you don't get more than a second in first gear, second isn't much longer and you can finally start relaxing once you get into 4th.....

As for tires, the tire stays the exact same size from 04-07. The 8" wide wheel just means the tire is set up with a wider base, so the sidewall doesn't flex as much...but it's minimal. Actual tire width and height are exactly the same.

[scenicrearview]

i recently spoke to a guy down at edo performance who went from an 07' to an 09' and he says they are pretty similar but if he could go back he would definitely go back to the 07'