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?
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.
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"
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!
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 :)
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.
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!
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"
It's called "penis envy". And I'll bet they brag about that size too!
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.
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
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.
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 drive a stock Baja! Wish it was a turbo Baja.
Hmm, I never thought I would be talking bad about subarus, but the STi really let me down when I saw it perform.
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.
Who was driving it? And what the hell were you expecting from a 30k production car? Afterburners?
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. :)
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.
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.
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
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