Why would you buy the STI?

[CALL_911]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-reviews/car-comparison-tests/2015-subaru-wrx-vs-sti

This new motor in the WRX is great, does the STI make any sense anymore?

[MrH]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-reviews/car-comparison-tests/2015-subaru-wrx-vs-sti

This new motor in the WRX is great, does the STI make any sense anymore?

We talked about that exact article in the wrx thread. IMO, no, it's not worth it at all. The FA family is much more capable. The wrx is just a la ecu tune away from eating sti's. You don't have the fancy center diff, but that's about it.

Once they get the new FA into the sti and up to 350+ hp, the sti will be relevant again. Until then, it's just a trophy for the hardcore subaru fanboys.

[CALL_911]

In the last generation, the WRX's 5-speed was weak. People were reporting fucked synchros by like 50k miles. That was probably the biggest deterrent from me having gotten one over the GTI. Truthfully, I'd have gotten the STI over the old WRX for that reason alone. Now, though, I can't think of a reason to buy the STI aside from your fanboy reasoning. Had this thing been out in 2010, I'd have been all over it. Hell, I'd love to replace my car with one....

[MrH]

In the last generation, the WRX's 5-speed was weak. People were reporting fucked synchros by like 50k miles. That was probably the biggest deterrent from me having gotten one over the GTI. Truthfully, I'd have gotten the STI over the old WRX for that reason alone. Now, though, I can't think of a reason to buy the STI aside from your fanboy reasoning. Had this thing been out in 2010, I'd have been all over it. Hell, I'd love to replace my car with one....

I'm far from being a big subaru fan boy, but if I had to go to only one vehicle for whatever reason, it's hard to not go with the new wrx. Golf R that's coming out would be tempting, but that'll be another $7k more.

[Rich]

http://youtu.be/4qz7P9fy9cM

[565]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-reviews/car-comparison-tests/2015-subaru-wrx-vs-sti

This new motor in the WRX is great, does the STI make any sense anymore?

Actually the STI now makes more sense than it ever did before.

I don't get the raving about the FA turbo motor in the WRX, no one seems to forget that the new WRX is now slower than it EVER has been since 2008, while the new STI is now faster based on the new batches of tests.

There is nearly a 3.5 mph trap speed gap between the 2 cars in the road and track article, and a sizable ET difference.

And even more difference in other magazine tests.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1403_2015_subaru_wrx_sti_first_test/

A 5mph trap speed difference between the two cars.  To put that in perspective that's like the difference in trap speed between a BMW 335i and 328i.  Or the difference between a Camaro ZL1 and SS.

C&D got a good time out of the WRX (they always get fast times anyway), but has yet to test the STI.

Compare this to the old WRX which ran pretty much identical times to the STI counterpart in ET and trap speed, wherever you looked.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/112_0810_2009_subaru_impreza_wrx_test/suspension_changes.html

In addition, I'd be more weary of this new FA motor.  I came close to pulling the trigger on a BRZ because I really liked the car, and in the winter of 2012, the local dealers were moving out Limited models at the high 25K mark and Premiums at the mid to high 24K mark.  I didn't pull the trigger last minute because of all the issues I saw on FT86club about all the endless CEL issues, cricket noise issues. And their reliability is something like 108% below average in Consumer reports.

Add to that the new STI is lot sharper than before.  Faster than before.  More hardcore than before.  The new WRX is slower than before, heavier than before, now comes with electric steering which is good, but not as good as the supposedly brillant hydraulic system in the STI, and comes with an unproven engine known to have issues even in NA form.  Yes it now has less turbo lag.  Great, but it doesn't make up for all the other issues.

I saw absolutely no reason whatsoever to get the old STI over the old WRX except for a 6 speed gearbox, but the new STI is a cut above the WRX in terms of pure hardcore driving. Its definitely not for everyone and that's the point. Subaru has done a great job of differentiating the STI from the WRX.   And really wasn't that the entire point of the these rally inspired AWD rockets?  Hardcore AWD sedans designed to thrill and excite more than coddle.

[68_427]

People underestimate the dccd, brakes, it is a different transmission between the too, different steering I believe, and a whole bunch else.

If I had the means I would no doubt go for the STi over the WRX.  The EJ sounds amazing with elh while the fa just doesn't.

[MrH]

Not sure what you mean by endless reliability issues.  The cricket noise seems to be a noise only issue. I haven't heard of any malfunctions related to it.  CEL's seem pretty rare too

The FA is a much better design.  Direct injection is the big game changer and the EJ was plagued with head gasket issues.  I'll take the FA.

[2o6]

I'm far from being a big subaru fan boy, but if I had to go to only one vehicle for whatever reason, it's hard to not go with the new wrx. Golf R that's coming out would be tempting, but that'll be another $7k more.

I couldn't live with the ugly

[68_427]

http://youtu.be/QJhpFb0Km4E

[AutobahnSHO]

toss the wing and I'd rock one in a heartbeat.

Hatch would be better though

[12,000 RPM]

They need an FA25 for both the FRBRGTZ86 and the WRX/STi.

[Raza]

They need an FA25 for both the FRBRGTZ86 and the WRX/STi.

Hey, you're back!

[12,000 RPM]

Hey, you're back!

When did I leave

[68_427]

These potato camera pics make it look really good.

[Raza]

When did I leave

Didn't you not post for the last couple months?

[12,000 RPM]

Didn't you not post for the last couple months?

I dont know what youre talking about

[hotrodalex]

The gap between these posts.

http://www.carspin.net/index.php?topic=30123.msg1977355#msg1977355

http://www.carspin.net/index.php?topic=30348.msg1999009#msg1999009

[12,000 RPM]

A couple of weeks isn't that long. I didn't see anything worth responding to. I am staying out of General Talk though

[Raza]

A couple of weeks isn't that long.

Can't you just accept that I missed you? You missed so much. I'm a minister now.

[hotrodalex]

You should wear one of these shirts around to make it more official.

[Laconian]

You should wear one of these shirts around to make it more official.

Wrong religion.

[12,000 RPM]

Can't you just accept that I missed you? You missed so much. I'm a minister now.

Lol. Did I really though? What's this I'm hearing about law school?

[NomisR]

Isn't it still 2.0 vs 2.5L though?  There's no replacement for displacement, the STi still has higher potential though. 

[68_427]

If you plan on modding the 2.0l is a much better platform.  It's much more robust.

[12,000 RPM]

If you plan on modding the 2.0l is a much better platform.  It's much more robust.

I dont know about that. 2.0L was built to cost and for efficiency. 2.5L is battle tested. Still though, they should make a 2.5L version of the 2.0L. Or put DI in the new 2.5 and make that the performance base motor for the BRZ and WRX.

[MrH]

Battle tested and proved not to be a very reliable base.

BRZs are taking tons more boost easily. Don't have the head gasket issue, direct injection, and stronger internals.

[Raza]

Lol. Did I really though? What's this I'm hearing about law school?

Yes. In three years I will be the Good Reverend Raza, ESQ.

[Raza]

Battle tested and proved not to be a very reliable base.

BRZs are taking tons more boost easily. Don't have the head gasket issue, direct injection, and stronger internals.

I thought headgaskets were an issue with the old 2.0?

[CALL_911]

This thread comes full circle. So the consensus is that FA>EJ (unsurprisingly), but the STI also has its trick diff, a better gearbox, and most importantly, a hydraulic steering rack. Also, it has Brembos. Mmmmm