Sarlacc

Went looking today, been dying to drive one.

Exterior - I know everyone has their own opinion on this one. Mine, I really like. Very muscular and mean looking. I've even grown to like the wing on it. Fit and finish looks very solid and the BBS 17"s looks nice as well.

Interior - I dont know if the STi has different interior completely then WRX (cause i only drove an 04 wrx) but its very nice, very well laid out and the 05s come with a stereo standard.

Acceleration - The fleet manager went on the drive with me and he used to be a professional road course racer. He let that car RIP and man is it a blast. Then he let me drive and told me to tear into it. WOW, this thing pulls like mad, took me a second to get used to changing gears and the clutch with all the power. He had be take teh car over huge dips and shitty pavement at 35-40. The suspension set up in this is amazing. where most cars would bottom out, this car kept going. the regular wrx would have bottomed out. Corners, this thing sticks!!! and with the adjustable drivers differential (lets you adjust the AWD to front and rear) you have a lot options in the way you want to perform the car (autoXing, bad weather, hills, etc.) The drive is tight and firm with heavier clutch and short throw shifter. getting back in my car the tranny felt silkier and easier to shift. but shit, its performance oriented and id get used to it.

In the end, this is one hot car and I couldnt even think about getting a normal wrx after driving this beast.

Too bad they arent willing to go below msrp, as a matter of fact they were acting like they were doing me a favor by knocking off the 6000 markup! they had 5-6 on the lot!

But they werent assholes to deal with either, so it was not a bad experience sitting there letting them crunch numbers for me.

Sarlacc

Oh and before you guys some in flaming me for ripping on a new car, this was a demo model that had already been broken in, which was the only reason they let me drive it.

TL_Type_S

I think it's a fabulous car for the money -- it's just about whether you need a car for speed & performance, or cush and luxury ... b/c $30,000 can be spent in either direction. I'd prefer the STi if I had the cush & luxury in the garage as well.

Sarlacc

I want to get in autoXing, so i want the STi. Money says otherwise at the moment

Sarlacc

oh yeah, silly edit feature , more or less no turbo lag and a shift light in the center of speedometer which i actually found useful cause you go so fucking fast. The manager said the light was adjustable but i didnt have the chance to test it or not. And it has an intercooler spray button off to the left.

Python2121

tiz a beast, id love to test drive one

but ya know us 17 year olds and test drives of sports cars

Sarlacc

Yeah, this could a be very dangerous car to wrong driver. Its has so much raw power and takes some getting used to. I had to tell the guy I only drive stick after two minutes behind the wheel cause it took me minute to get used to the clutch.

The car is hardest to get from 1st to 2nd in a smooth fashion cause it just wants to pull like hell.

98CLChick

If I was gonna buy a Suburu, I would get an 05 Legacy sedan.

TypeSKid

id have an evo over it anyday. The MR thats gonna be here next year will ROCK the STIs world.

Sarlacc

Been in both, only driven the STi, riden in the EVO. Both are awesome cars. BUT after being in the Subie, its just more refined, more interior space and quality materials inside. less cheap feeling.

BUT i do think i like the seats in the EVO better, tighter bolstering.

STi still gets my vote.

infiniteq

I love the STi's, I wouldn't mind getting one myself one of these days. Question though: what does the intercooler spray do? I'm not familiar at all w/ turbo setups....

Sarlacc

I believe sprays a mist of cold into the intercooler to force more cold air induction into the engine. supposedly good a for a little boost when racing.

pimpscls

they look like a blast to drive, man would i kill to take that autoXing

dallison

thats one reason not to buy a demo

4thGSi

The 05 has some little changes from the interior and exterior.. IMO, I like my 04 STi interior better..

Int: New control buttons for the HVAC, two cup holders, leather boot for the e-brake, new steering wheel..

Ext: Black out headlight housing, rear fender side bolster, and the rims are a lil bit wider, with STi engraved on the inner lip of the BBS.. The new ones are 17X8 (235/45) and the old ones are 17X7.5(225/45)

Engine: Same thing

Suspension: Same thing

Btw, the water sprayer let you cool the charged air coming from the turbo, because with spirited driving the IC tends to heat soaked(common prob with turbo engine) causing to decreased performance.. Now, with the IC sprayer you can cool it down and gives you a lil oomph.. I always used Distilled water vs the Tap water.. The tap water tends to build minerals in the linings of the IC sprayer, and it might for the Top mount intercooler too..

SebringS2k

actually, the wheels and tire sizes are the same, 225/45 but is 8 inches, don't forget the standard stereo and the new Crystal Grey color

Sarlacc

So does the old interior have the cupholder that is in the dash above the radio like the wrx? cause i hate that, really liked the two in the console.

Beltfed

Couple things I don't like about the new interior. First is the extended blue trim on the doors, granted its better than plastic but its just too much blue imho. Next is the steering wheel, the 04 wheel simply looks better and more expensive.

Other than that the center console looks ok.

4thGSi

I agree with you, can you Imagine the constant arm rest you put that thing in, better have your stain cleaner.. I like our old steering wheel better, but I have to give them Suby engineer a props with the black housing headlight... I like it.

Here are some couple of pics that I got from NASIOC..


No more silver trimming on the vents and look so more plasticy than before..

Black housing... Hmmm, I likes..

4thGSi

Ok, the guy who took that pics owned an 04 STi with JDM body kits..

Left is the 04 and the 05 is on the right, with plastic cover on the hood.

04 STi with JDM kit

4thGSi

Btw, incase you're wondering what's the new color look like.. Here it is..

Nashua_Night_Hawk

so the 05 are out!!!.... What about the new 05 EVO with 6-speed and 300 HP!

4thGSi

Are you talking about the EVO MR? It's not really 300hp, more like 280'sh with lightweight parts, Bilstein dampers, Aluminum roof, and etc .. I think they are coming out this fall.. Actually, over the Evolutionm.net there is a sighting of EVO MR at Ann Arbor Michigan(Mitsu Test facility), it's more of a test car for Mitsu.. I have to dig the link and I'll post it here..

AkuraCLS

i wanna drive one!

4thGSi

Nash, here is the link of the sighting.. Many EVO owners didn't beleive it at first, but the pics prove them wrong.. If you noticed the fins on the roof is not there, it think that's only available in Japan or Euro.. It has the ACD(gravel, tarman, and snow switch), bilstein strut and shocks, BBS rims, 6spd, and etc.. Scroll for more pics..

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=80853

Nashua_Night_Hawk

Okay thanks to the link!

Now, 3 cars are on my radar:
1) MazdaSpeed Rx-8
2) 05 Mitsu EVO MR
3) the new 05 TL-S with AWD and 300HP!