///M-Spec
Staff Emeritus
- 4,928
Took some time this afternoon to drive a WRX STi and a GTO.
Let me just say this before anything else. Now is a wonderful time to be an auto enthusiast. The number of quality driver's cars ranging from 30-40k is simply amazing. My biggest problem now is deciding on one.
I had to wait for the owner of the local Subaru dealer to arrive with the Java Black Pearl STi, as it was his personal daily as well as demo car. The sales critter I got stuck with didn't know a damn thing about Subarus (what the hell was he doing there?) so I had to familiarize myself with how the DCCD settings worked. After stalling the car once because I thought it was in neutral instead of 1st, we're off.
Boy, this thing doesn't have any idea what the hell turbo lag is. It builds boost damn fast and even below 3k doesn't feel especially flat-footed. The Evo is a dog down low by comparison. As a matter of fact, the Evo has nothing on this car in the motor dept. It makes wonderfully linear power and is super responsive for a turbo car. I have NO trouble believing its a low, low 13 second car. Only serious problem with the STi is the drivetrain can't keep up; shift too fast and there is a horrible sounding BANG as the center diff figures out what to do with all the torque you're feeding it. Big disappointment.
Just like the Evo there is quite a bit of understeer. But push a little deeper and the diffs go to work and the car just sorts itself out. It is fascinating... but at the same time a little creepy if you've grown used to a basic RWD LSD set up. We took a highway on ramp at speed and the car felt like it was crabbing up the ramp while torque was moved around all over creation. It made it hard to hold a line in fact... but with practice and familiarity, I suppose it would become second nature.
Still, the Scooby had very direct confidence inspiring handling and was every bit unflappable as a Porsche or BMW. Vast amounts of grip is available and the suspension feels ready for anything. It also has a much more civil ride than the Evo... but still pretty uncompromising.
Downsides: The low rent interior. I don't know if I can stare at the horrendously ugly plastic console day in day out. The entire inside of the car looks like it was made by Hasbro. I know this is a hardcore driver's car and everything, but my god, man couldn't they have done something for my 30 grand?
The Evo has better steering. By comparision, the STi feels a little wooly. The shifter in the Evo felt more positive. The Evo has very slightly better body control and feels just a tick sharper everywhere. Bottom line is the STi is more civil for everyday use... you can loaf around town and its not especially hard to live with. The Evo just feels every bit like the track machine it is, everytime, all the time. It only has one setting: 11.
Let me just say this before anything else. Now is a wonderful time to be an auto enthusiast. The number of quality driver's cars ranging from 30-40k is simply amazing. My biggest problem now is deciding on one.
I had to wait for the owner of the local Subaru dealer to arrive with the Java Black Pearl STi, as it was his personal daily as well as demo car. The sales critter I got stuck with didn't know a damn thing about Subarus (what the hell was he doing there?) so I had to familiarize myself with how the DCCD settings worked. After stalling the car once because I thought it was in neutral instead of 1st, we're off.
Boy, this thing doesn't have any idea what the hell turbo lag is. It builds boost damn fast and even below 3k doesn't feel especially flat-footed. The Evo is a dog down low by comparison. As a matter of fact, the Evo has nothing on this car in the motor dept. It makes wonderfully linear power and is super responsive for a turbo car. I have NO trouble believing its a low, low 13 second car. Only serious problem with the STi is the drivetrain can't keep up; shift too fast and there is a horrible sounding BANG as the center diff figures out what to do with all the torque you're feeding it. Big disappointment.
Just like the Evo there is quite a bit of understeer. But push a little deeper and the diffs go to work and the car just sorts itself out. It is fascinating... but at the same time a little creepy if you've grown used to a basic RWD LSD set up. We took a highway on ramp at speed and the car felt like it was crabbing up the ramp while torque was moved around all over creation. It made it hard to hold a line in fact... but with practice and familiarity, I suppose it would become second nature.
Still, the Scooby had very direct confidence inspiring handling and was every bit unflappable as a Porsche or BMW. Vast amounts of grip is available and the suspension feels ready for anything. It also has a much more civil ride than the Evo... but still pretty uncompromising.
Downsides: The low rent interior. I don't know if I can stare at the horrendously ugly plastic console day in day out. The entire inside of the car looks like it was made by Hasbro. I know this is a hardcore driver's car and everything, but my god, man couldn't they have done something for my 30 grand?
The Evo has better steering. By comparision, the STi feels a little wooly. The shifter in the Evo felt more positive. The Evo has very slightly better body control and feels just a tick sharper everywhere. Bottom line is the STi is more civil for everyday use... you can loaf around town and its not especially hard to live with. The Evo just feels every bit like the track machine it is, everytime, all the time. It only has one setting: 11.
The car is clean enough to eat off. Inspection IIs right on schedule, gets Mobil One every 5k and needs nothing --well nothing right away, anyway (but let's face it, she's a car with almost 80k on her). I have an offer from the local BMW place that's not too bad --provided I buy a ZHP from them. 
I would figure not, but had to ask. : ) The ZHP would probably be the only negotiating item it seems then, not bad. . . : )
