STi for everyday use???

[Philip Procter]

OK, I've read the reviews and the tests, everyone of them says thatthe
STi is a street legal race car. That sounds really good, but:

How bad is it for everyday use on the street?

In direct comparison with the 2005 WRX, the 2005 STi is definitely
firmer, but it doesn't seem punishing. The steering does not seem
hyper-nervous quick nor is it noisy.

What do people who own one and use it daily think?

Why do the mags say that it is 'not really practical as an everyday
car'? They laud the Mitsu evo, then say the STi is a bit easier to
live with and then conclude that I'd be better off with a WRX.

Hell, if I follow that logic, I'd be happiest with a 1972 Cadillac
Coupe DeVille!

What's good or bad about the STi for daily use in the snow belt?

Thanks,

Philip

 

[Malcolm Clark]

Phil
I've owned one for nearly two years now. It's my only car and I use it for
apx 18,000 miles per annum.

Yes it may be a bit hard, but in my opinion, it's totally practical as an
every day car. I have a family, and they dont't complain (well not too
much).

I live in the UK, so don't have experience of your 'snow belt' but I am sure
that the back roads/lanes where I live are in worse condition than the roads
in the USA - some English roads are like they come from the third world.

The STi is the only car that I have ever owned in thirty years of driving
where having owned the car for over a year, I don't wish I was driving
something else - I just can't see anything that I would wish to change it
for.

Malcolm Clark

 

[BlueSTi]

OK, I've read the reviews and the tests, everyone of them says thatthe
STi is a street legal race car. That sounds really good, but:

How bad is it for everyday use on the street?

In direct comparison with the 2005 WRX, the 2005 STi is definitely
firmer, but it doesn't seem punishing. The steering does not seem
hyper-nervous quick nor is it noisy.

What do people who own one and use it daily think?

Why do the mags say that it is 'not really practical as an everyday
car'? They laud the Mitsu evo, then say the STi is a bit easier to
live with and then conclude that I'd be better off with a WRX.

Hell, if I follow that logic, I'd be happiest with a 1972 Cadillac
Coupe DeVille!

What's good or bad about the STi for daily use in the snow belt?

Thanks,

Philip

The STi a fine daily driver. You do give up a few creature comforts.
If I had any complaints it would be that the interior is a little
noisy. After a little while you get used to the stiffer ride. It's
no Cadillac, that's for sure! But, it doesn't handle and excellerate
like a Cadillac either. In my case the STi is WAY over kill for my
daily needs. On a daily basis I never come close to tapping it full
potential. Just knowing all the power is there if you want to use it
is a great feeling. I think it's more of an ego thing than anything
else.
Nice thing about the STi as a daily driver is you get a lot of HP for
the gas mileage. Stay out of the Turbo and you can easily get 24 MPG.
Another nice thing about the STi is that no one even attempts to race
you. You just get a smile and a wave and a sort of "Wow" look from
folks. And the ricers just drive on by. The STi is a show-off car.
It always gets attention. One look at the big 'ol spoiler on the back
says it all.

I live in very deep snow country and the AWD system is great. Just
remember with 300 hp under the hood, it doesn't take much to get the
wheels spinning and you end up going around in circles. The first
thing you want to do is replace the factory tires if you plan on
driving in the snow. The stock tires are worthless in the snow.
Great for racing, very bad for snow.

The STi and the Std WRX are not even the same car in my opinion. They
are nothing a like. I've driven both and STi is a true sports car.
For the money it was a no-brainer, the STi is a much better deal.

Now with all this said, I would have to say a old Geo metro would meet
my daily driving needs and get me better gas mileage to boot! I could
have bought a Geo on the interest I will pay on the STi. But, driving
isn't always about what's practical. Nobody "needs" a sports car, but
it sure is fun to own one!

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[John]

"And the ricers just drive on by"

What's wrong with this statement?

 

[CompUser]

"And the ricers just drive on by"

What's wrong with this statement?

Nothing at all...actually, it suggests the ricers
in his area have a modicum of intelligence. 8^)

 

[Rick Courtright]

"And the ricers just drive on by"

What's wrong with this statement?

Probably nothing? Reminds me of an acquaintence who used to take his
Ferrari out on weekends and drive it 65 mph in the right lane on SoCal
freeways. All the ricers passed him, politely. When you're obviously the
big dog... well, 'nuff said!

Rick

 

[Patrick Fisher]

OK, I've read the reviews and the tests, everyone of them says thatthe
STi is a street legal race car. That sounds really good, but:

How bad is it for everyday use on the street?

I've logged 10k miles since I got mine in Feb, and it's been a fine daily
driver. Depending on what you're used to or expecting, it's either a nice
relief or it can be jarring and noisy. It's a far more practical daily
driver than most sporty cars. I'm glad I finally have a car with 4 doors
and a real back seat. Makes things much more pleasant

 

[2 Stroke]

Nothing wrong with it at all. In my slightly modified WRX wagon, MOST
of the ricers drive by, but some want to race, or seem to. It's
better when ALL the ricers drive on by. Yet another reason to bug SOA
for an STi wagon.

 

[2 Stroke]

Oh, yeah, it means they're going faster. Hmmmmmm....

 

[Henry Paul]

That was my thought..... Ricers driving by means, YOU LOSE! Bwahahahahahaha!

 

[Matt Arvidson]

OK, I've read the reviews and the tests, everyone of them says thatthe

I've logged 10k miles since I got mine in Feb, and it's been a fine daily
driver. Depending on what you're used to or expecting, it's either a nice
relief or it can be jarring and noisy. It's a far more practical daily
driver than most sporty cars. I'm glad I finally have a car with 4 doors
and a real back seat. Makes things much more pleasant

That's the thing isn't it: it is an ordinary saloon. It just happens to
have a pack of wolves under the bonnet. My version 3 '96 STI has served all
driving puposes well these last three years and I wouldn't give it up for
anything ... except the expanding family. I may be forced to sell it soon
as we seem to have to carry inordinate amounts of stuff with us on trips
away, and it is bursting at the seams. Still can outstrip just about
anything on the hills though!

STI is not bad at all for everyday street use. Buy one!

Matt

 

[BlueSTi]

That was my thought..... Ricers driving by means, YOU LOSE! Bwahahahahahaha!

The only thing Ricers see if they want to race my STi is the tail
lights! Not many of the fart-cannon crowd want to take on a STi. The
STi is the car the pimple-headed, knob jockey dreams about. But, his
Burger King budget can never buy one. So, they put on a big coffee
can exhaust, throw in a 200 lb. sound system and annoy everyone in
society. Oh, yea and you can't forget the chopped springs, and all
the racing, "performance" stickers on the windows. The stickers must
add at least a couple HP. I don't understand why they try and pretend
that have any thing close to a Performance Sports car.

I am looking forward to the day a ricer can run me down. I would get
out and shake his hand! It takes one heck of a car to outperform and
out handle a STi.


BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[Guest]

The only thing Ricers see if they want to race my STi is the tail
lights! Not many of the fart-cannon crowd want to take on a STi. The
STi is the car the pimple-headed, knob jockey dreams about. But, his
Burger King budget can never buy one. So, they put on a big coffee
can exhaust, throw in a 200 lb. sound system and annoy everyone in
society. Oh, yea and you can't forget the chopped springs, and all
the racing, "performance" stickers on the windows. The stickers must
add at least a couple HP. I don't understand why they try and pretend
that have any thing close to a Performance Sports car.

It's called "penis envy". And I'll bet they brag about that size too!

I am looking forward to the day a ricer can run me down. I would get
out and shake his hand! It takes one heck of a car to outperform and
out handle a STi.

I had a Honda _try_ to beat me from a light to pass on the 2-1 lane street.
I just pressed a little harder and it sounded like he was turning 7 grand in
low. I finallly turned off the AC and pulled ahead. Pimple heads is right! I drive a stock Baja! Wish it was a turbo Baja.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

Username munged by FixNews

 

[NitroTrike]

Ive been driving a "worked" 2002 wrx approx. 150-200 miles per day since new.
At 60k, i went nuts with turbo, injectors, ecutek reflash etc. Prob close to
380hp. As far as a "daily driver" your only gripe may be getting the speeding
tickets...

 

[Guest]

Ive been driving a "worked" 2002 wrx approx. 150-200 miles per day since new.
At 60k, i went nuts with turbo, injectors, ecutek reflash etc. Prob close to
380hp. As far as a "daily driver" your only gripe may be getting the speeding
tickets...

Does anyone know if the STi has short skirted pistons or not? With all this hupe about it, I almost doubt it. No none has mentioned piston slap noise when cold.
Don
Username munged by FixNews

 

[WRXtreme]

Ok, I am a subaru fanatic from the get go, but would someone please clarify
what you guys are calling ricers? The reason I ask is because in the town
where I live the guy w/ the STi is one of the slower cars that show up at
the track (1/4 mile). These "ricers" are running everything from 530 WHP
DSM's to Evo's to RX7's to 500 WHP Civics to 800+ WHP Supras. Just because
the car is owned by a young kid does not make it a ricer, and if it does,
then we have some ricers running low 11's in DSM's on a regular basis w/ a
couple of them knocking on the 10 second door, there is a 9.71 second supra
that is street legal that you may call a ricer because of the loud exhaust.
Seriously, of the ricer crowd in my community, the slow car that everyone
picks on is the STi...myself included, and I have an 02 WRX (highly modded,
but less overall cost than an STi, mind you). I hate to burst everyones
bubble, but the STi doesn't perform as well as you might think. But its
still a great car.

It's called "penis envy". And I'll bet they brag about that size too!

Outhandle? The Evo wins there, for less money. Outperform? give me a 1g
DSM and about $5000 or give me an Evo and the difference in price between
Evo and STi.

I had a Honda _try_ to beat me from a light to pass on the 2-1 lane street.
I just pressed a little harder and it sounded like he was turning 7 grand in
low. I finallly turned off the AC and pulled ahead. Pimple heads is right!

I drive a stock Baja! Wish it was a turbo Baja.

Username munged by FixNews

Hmm, I never thought I would be talking bad about subarus, but the STi
really let me down when I saw it perform.

 

[Patrick Fisher]

Ok, I am a subaru fanatic from the get go, but would someone please
clarify

what you guys are calling ricers?

The same thing everyone else is referring to. Civics with huge wings for
maximum downforce over the rear wheels and stickers everywhere.

Apparently you live in some bizarro world where the only people who modify
their cars have taste and common sense. For the rest of us, there are 10
stupid stickered "V-TECH" Hondas (no joke, it actually says V-TECH, like the
phone company) for every fast DSM.

Hmm, I never thought I would be talking bad about subarus, but the STi
really let me down when I saw it perform.

Who was driving it? And what the hell were you expecting from a 30k
production car? Afterburners?

 

[Henry Paul]

No joke. They aren't giving the STI a fair shake. You line those cars up
stock and the STI will smoke any of them, unless of course you have a
grandma driving it.

 

[BlueSTi]

Ok, I am a subaru fanatic from the get go, but would someone please clarify
what you guys are calling ricers? The reason I ask is because in the town
where I live the guy w/ the STi is one of the slower cars that show up at
the track (1/4 mile). These "ricers" are running everything from 530 WHP
DSM's to Evo's to RX7's to 500 WHP Civics to 800+ WHP Supras. Just because
the car is owned by a young kid does not make it a ricer, and if it does,
then we have some ricers running low 11's in DSM's on a regular basis w/ a
couple of them knocking on the 10 second door, there is a 9.71 second supra
that is street legal that you may call a ricer because of the loud exhaust.
Seriously, of the ricer crowd in my community, the slow car that everyone
picks on is the STi...myself included, and I have an 02 WRX (highly modded,
but less overall cost than an STi, mind you). I hate to burst everyones
bubble, but the STi doesn't perform as well as you might think. But its
still a great car.

I used to own a DSM/Talon for years and I can tell you the "guy" and I
mean guy singular that is running 530 HP is not driving the car on the
street. I know what it takes to get that kind of performance out of a
DSM. Lots and lots of money, race gas and lots an lots of boost! You
can make a brick go fast if you put enough money and time into it!
The problem you run into is once you have a car at that level it is
generally neither streetable or dependable.

Outhandle? The Evo wins there, for less money. Outperform? give me a 1g
DSM and about $5000 or give me an Evo and the difference in price between
Evo and STi.

Since I've been down this road I can tell you what it takes to make a
DSM even comparable to the STi. And you will end up replacing
practically every component on the car. You will need: new calipers,
rotors, wheels and tires, completely new suspension, bigger turbo,
bigger injectors, bigger exhaust, boost gauge, boost controller, FMIC,
clutch, pressure plate and I could go on and on. And this doesn't
even include a 6-speed close ratio transmission.

I have to agree that the EVO does handle slightly better than the STi.
But, slightly. But, the EVO pays for this advantage in a big way when
you are rolling down the interstate. The EVO is just jittery and the
suspension would give me kidney damage. It is just plain harsh. The
STi seemed to strike the balance between performance and streetablity.
I could have bought the WRX, EVO, or the STi and the STi was the best
fit for me. Actually, the WRX would have been fine too. I just liked
the STi 's performance better.

Hmm, I never thought I would be talking bad about subarus, but the STi
really let me down when I saw it perform.

The STi will let you down if all you are looking for is a 1/4 mile
car. It's fast for a bone stock car. But, that is not what the STi
is all about. It's the balance between power, handling,
streetability and dependability. There is a good reason that almost
every car and driver rated the STi as the Sports car of the year.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

 

[FNO]

The STi will let you down if all you are looking for is a 1/4 mile
car. It's fast for a bone stock car. But, that is not what the STi
is all about. It's the balance between power, handling,
streetability and dependability. There is a good reason that almost
every car and driver rated the STi as the Sports car of the year.

BlueSTi
"Scary-Fast"

I also own an STi and it never lets me down. It is a rally-inspired car (in
fact, almost rally-ready) which means it isn't a 1/4 mile car; even though
very few stock cars can smoke it on a 1/4 mile. However, on the twisties,
few cars will even come close to comparing with it. On dirt, or in snow,
with a decent set of tires, nothing even comes close (no, not even the EVO;
it does not perform as well in snow). Like all rally cars, the STi is a
balance between handling, power, braking, and agility on less-than-ideal
roads. Moreover, its like that right off the showroom floor. No
disappointment for me at all