Well my dad had a little party this weekend for some of his old co-workers. One of his buddies’s showed up late and we started chatting. I asked him if he still owned that old eagle talon of his. His reply was “you will never guess what I drive now!” So I trek out to the driveway and the first thing I see is a sparkling blue WRX STi. I’m like no way (thinking why my dad had to get a TL for his mid-life crisis.) He hands me the keys and tells me to have some fun. Woo-Hoo! First thing I notice is the interior, very plain not all that roomy, it didn’t help that it was a mess. So I fire it up and slowly pull out of the neighborhood, and I can’t believe how notchy the transmission is. So at this point I am not impressed at all. But then it happens, the open road. Bammm I floor it and bring it to redline, shift into second, back to redline same thing in third before I know it I am doing 160KM on a windy back road. Holy crap I cannot believe the power this thing has and the handling. I take it for a decent spin and when I get back I proclaim “that was better than sex” to my wife’s horror!
I have never ever driven a car like that in my entire life, I finally get all the hoopla over this vehicle and I will surely be looking to add one to the garage. Mark if you are reading this thanks for the keys!
Now how does it compare to the TSX? Apples and oranges but you guys already know that. If I could do it over again would I have purchased my TSX? Yes for sure. Why? Because I’m sure I would look like an ass driving l60KM an hour with a baby seat in the back. LOL!

 

While it's fun for a while, in day to day driving some of your first impressions, like the cheap interior, lack of room, tranny notchiness,etc. will become more important. You made the right choice with the current TSX - now if a 250HP SHAWD equiped TSX comes out then there might be more a choice issue.

 

sounds to me it's like having sex with say...JLo, yeah you f**k your head off, fireworks going off in all directions.....but would you wanna marry a bimbo like that ???
I don't understand why people are so obsessed with hp & speed etc...do we really need 300HP in n. america ?
I mean countries like Germany it's a diff story...no speed limit, excellent hway road.
Subaru is running ads like crazy these days

 

I would have to agree.....although there is lots of power in the STI, the fun factor wears off really quickly and the cheap materials really begin to annoy you. Believe me, my friend wishes he had my TSX everyday that he sits in traffic in his WRX!

 

STi is a wonderful piece of machinery. I'd love to have one for a secondary fun car but that's not in the budget right now.

 

Yup if I ever bought one it would be as a secondary car for sure. Funny thing is the owner's wife was bitching that the "thrill" wears off quite quickly especially as a passenger.

 

STi is a great toy, but I would imagine a tough daily driver vehicle. Auto-x, track, and ice racing would be a blast in the Subie, but a commute would be rough! It is basically a fantastic motor and drivetraing with a (minimal) body wrapped around it.
I still love the WRB color.

/bill

 

Redlined both 1st and 2nd?

If redlining the TSX is somewhat exciting, I wonder how fun it'll be with the STi.

 

Well, I've had mine for almost a year now and love it even more now. I'd be interested to hear how many of you that are making comments have even driven in an STI - if you are a true car enthusiastic then you'd love it. Interior is poor compared to the TSX, but whatever - that's not what the car is for. Wife drives the TSX which is great so far.

BTW - my beater is a CRX so the STI only sees the streets about once or twice a week Booyah

 

Exactly. If I were to buy one it would be for my pure driving enjoyment not to haul my daughter to daycare in. Bad enough I had to change my shorts after the test drive !

 

Too bad the STi doesn't come in an optional body. That hood scoop and rear wing are hideous. Stealth people, give me some stealth

Soze, who was 98% sure of WRX ownership before he saw a TSX

 

I think you have it figured out. As a second car, it'd be a blast to own. Stuck in traffic in Center City, not so fun.


iamhomin - on the new avatar

 

2005 STi has a improved interior.

 

So, if it is such a great car, why does it only get driven once or twice a week? A true car enthusiast would drive it every day.

/bill

 

Thats the thing, a lot of people here are not true car enthusiasts. I *used* to be one, i used to road race my R and I still autox my Evo once in a while. I just have better things to do now and modding/racing the car comes after improving the house and other activities.

 

Not True.

 

The Sti and Evo are awesome thrills... until you have to actually go anywhere with them. As for a weekend car, I think I'd rather have a smooth S2000 than a brutish 300HP Turbo'd Econobox.

 

Boxster S me, please

 

I was actually gonna get a 04 WRX before I got my TSX but the interior of the WRX reminds me of my dad's corolla
But when I test drove the WRX. DAMMMNNNNN was it quick and I can't imagine what the STi could do.
CRAZY!!!

 

Although you can always put the Vortech or Comptech supercharger kit on for an additional 100 HP...340HP S2000. From what I hear the only major problem is getting the power down and watching out for the VTEC kick.

 

Man, we sure have some elitists in here . .

"So, if it is such a great car, why does it only get driven once or twice a week? A true car enthusiast would drive it every day."

You just can't accept that it's a great car, can you? I don't drive it every day because of the gas mileage and I get a break on insurance due to low mileage, not because I'm not a true enthusiast or dislike the car. Apparently your definition of a great car is something comfortable, so obviously it differs from mine.

Lol .. some people

 

Hee. Hee. I have an inkling that you're going to see a forced induction offering from Honda/Acura in the not too distant future.

Sure, in untamed form (e.g. STi) they can be brutish, but there are lot's of neat tricks that can be done with the wastegate to offer smooth power delivery, especially if you forgo some boost in exchange for smoothness. With just 6psi of boost (the STi is probably pushing 15 psi), the TSX engine would exceed 250 hp.

 

I have a WRX and I love to drive it more than my wife's TSX (traded for a C230 kompressor)

 

yuck

 

Are you nuts?

Porsche--there is no substitute

 

Actually it has nothing to do with elitism, it was meant as a joke, (hence the ).

 

Well, then I retract my cynicism. TSX, M3, STI .. whatever. Great cars are great cars for auto enthusiasts. The car is the best thing ever invented

 

tubo charge ur tsx, there's an answer

 

High power + FWD = No thanks.

 

There are many advantages to both cars and it also really depends on where you live as well.

STI: AWD, perfectly balanced engine, light body design, 300hp, turbo

TSX: 200hp i-vtec, luxury, roomy, awesome ride

On the downside, I have heard the STI to be a bit more rough on the ride and TSX having the comptech s/c option soon. I am researching these 2 cars more extensively along with the TL (I post on a-tl for all the bluetooth phones cause I'm a gadgethead ) I will continue to do my research cause like many people have said (and some coming from previous WRX owners), that the fun wears off pretty quick.

 

boxster s is not a porsche :P

 

It's available at your local Subaru dealer right now...it's called the Legacy GT.

 

wouldnt it be nice if Enterprise rental or Budget rental have the WRX available for rent?