Hey what do you guys think of the new WRX Sti 2004 compared to the Type R?

 

It's the one car that would make me seriously consider selling my Type R. 300 Hp all wheel drive.. Only bad thing is the price, but when you look at it, it really is a bargain for what you get and so was the Type R.

 

You can't honestly compare the two together, One is a NA sub 2.0L fwd 2dr and the other is a complete opposite.

But they are both fun to drive I'm sure and both will be the center of attraction for time to come, But what I'm saying it that An R is an R and A STi is an STi-

For what it is worth, I would like to own the STi with My R but...

 

I would agree that the STi is an awsome machine but it is just out of my price range. For the last couple of days I thought about selling the R after the summer but I havent really used the full potential of my R yet so I am going to stick with it. Now, on the other hand if I had the money to get a STi I would sure get rid of the R but it is out of reach. I think so far it is the best performing car for the money just like the R has been since 97.

 

The press embargo will be lifted on May 1st, then we should start seeing some press about the new STi. My first impression was, what a great car. But I keep hearing bad things about the new gearbox and the new motor on the Subaru boards. Time will tell. I do think it's a very neat car and a worthy successor (or partner) with the R, but not sold on the reliabilty of it yet, especially given the current WRX's propensity to munch gearboxes and Subaru's unwillingness to repair them under warranty.

 

Well, it depends on what you want to do with your car, the R from the factory comes with a radio..hahah...but seriously, it's a nice ride, but i'm not big on the way rally cars handle on the street, and in addition a 30K price tag before dealer add ons, I think I'd rather a 350Z or an RX8 when it hits the market. The STi is a grocery getter with toys, not a sports car, keep that in mind when you go to look at it. Fast, maybe, but never as much fun to drive as an ITR....

Later,
Aj

 

A grocery getter with toys?? I don't agree man. If the thing's got better acceleration, better grip, better stopping power etc.. why would it be not as much fun to drive as an ITR? granted they're totally different.. I mean, I have an ITR too but I'm not a die hard..

 

Well, better grip is relative, if you're talking about the street on a rainy day, perhaps that's the case, but, as far as high speed street driving, or on a road course at speed, swinging around the weight of an all wheel drive car, especially a heavy four door, isn't such a great thing, unless it's raining. With a set of slicks, the playing field is pretty level any way, and if anything, It's a lot easier to set up an ITR for road racing than a scooby. The sccoby really was intended for rally not road racing.

As far as out accelerating, that's tru, but, the drive train on those cars feels like crap, and really does feel like you're driving a four door, not at all like the fit and finish of an ITR tranny, nor does it have the appeal of a 9,000 rpm readline, or 15lb flywheel. It maybe slower, but the type-R still has that sort of go-cart feel to it, that really provides a more sports car feel, that is nearly impossible to get out of a subaru.

I dont have time to rally personally, nor the budget, but I do love to road race, and if it's a question of what makes a better road race car, I think you'd have to agree that the ITR is hard to match...

As I said, it's my opinion. As far as the grocery getter comment. It's the same thing I say about the Lancer and other cars like that, when you look at the base model, it's a grocery getter, and add ten grand to anything, and I can make it fast, stop, and handle well, numbers are only that, numbers. Not that I'm a big fan of it, but compare the RSX-R to the STi, and other than straightline accaleration, it's a poor competitor. And if you want to go by that scale, you can also say that the Neon SRT-4 isn't a grocery getter, cause it also out accelerates, out brakes, and out slaloms an ITR....you dont want to hear my opinion on the SRT-4!!!

Any way, Later,
Aj

 

Yeah.. I'll agree about fit and finish for sure.. There's not much comparison in that department. I've always owned hondas anyways. I did test drove the regular WRX a while ago and the shifter felt like crap.. I'll have to wait though for the Sti test. I still think it's a cool car that has a lot going for it. I don't mind the 4 doors either. As for rallying, did you ever see that guy who did the Pikes Peak hill climb in a Type R?? haha! That was a few years ago.. I think he did pretty well actually!!

 

Actually, he also road races a civic hatch with a swap. I had a long conversation with him when he was down here at Sebring. Kool guy, and actually a lot younger than I though he would be. He acutally got disqualified cause he didn't tech his car in time, but he was a great driver for the couple 25 minute sessions he was out for...

Any way, I dont disagree about the Scooby being a cool car, but in relative terms to an R, I wouldn't switch personally.

Later,
Aj