StealthFox

the new sti is also uglier in every way than the evo too. and, the evo is still the driver's pick.

dragula53

Thank you for your constructive input regarding a review that says the STI is more fun to drive and faster... and their pick as better.

err, so I think in this case, the STI is the driver's pick-- unless my reading comprehension sucks.

Steiner

It sure is. That's the best time I've seen for any stock USDM STi ever. Thing is people have been cracking into the 12's fairly regularly with the stock Evo IX. I think the best so far is a 12.7 in an '06 RS on 93 octane.

StealthFox

motor trend is a great magazine, i subscribe to it and pay them 20 dollars a year to read what their editors have to say, but you can't base your opinions and beliefs soley of those from newsstand magazines and internet forums. the best place to do that is in the real world, and in the real world, the EVO is the better track better balanced car and the STi is the more streetable more daily driveable better riding car. what drives "better" overall and whats more "fun" to drive is TOTALLY subjective, i know that because i think the evo is funner to drive and many others do as well while some people like the editors from car and driver think the STi is. either way the cars are so close in performance, it really doesn't matter, the performance specs stock for stock are so simular that its not worth basing a purchase off of.

dragula53

I bought the STI because I liked it after driving it (The wing is actually growing on me, I may have to have a mental health exam). And the whole point of me posting this in the first place is that I found it interesting because almost every other review I have seen has been exactly the opposite.

They also mentioned that after breakin the STI was peppier. they may be experiencing the "rx-8 is faster after breakin" syndrome though.

No matter to me. The car is beastly, and meets my needs just fine.

StealthFox

haha the wing is growing on you, the wings are a necessity, its part of the rally inspired body panels

Ike

Also, the Motortrend times are usually corrected.

dragula53

Perusing old threads, and this amused me a little. I'll be getting an S2000 or Elise next month.

Leaning towards the S2000 at the moment, because I have no idea where to go if I start having problems with the lotus. Factory warranty does no good if I have to drive 300 miles to have it repaired.

Ajax

Only question I have is why, this time, are you trading? Tired of the STI?

dragula53

Yeah, just looking for a new toy.

I had a grand total of 0 problems with the car this year.

Subaru makes a great car.

I actually really miss the rx-8 as well. But I don't feel like dealing with the issues.

Time for something similar in spirit, fun and convertible.

delhi

The STi is an efficient machine to dispatch speed and curves quickly. Because of its Playstation-like point & shoot prowess, the driver ultimately loses the driving reward of a classic FR sports car like the S2000 or RX8 or 350z. I can see why you are bored of it so fast. I was bored of mine too. In fact I was actually smiling while driving a 1990 Miata poking all of 118hp! LOL!!!

dragula53

I wouldn't go that far.

I just like change.

Wankel1

Dragula hopefully Subaru will stand behind their product like Mazda does, Had a Subaru once and never again, Parts are expensive and you dont get that much value, It's faster but speed is like sex, It gets you going but what about when the car is just sitting in your Garage. Congrats and good luck.

dragula53

I think you are confused :P

I had an RX-8 for 1 year, then the STI for 1.5 years, now I am trading it in for something else.

If I had to rate the "stand by their product" value of both cars, Subaru wins. Hands down. Mazda is crappy about their horsepower ratings, the mileage, and reliability of the RX-8. I still like the car, but I don't think mazda treated RX-8 owners properly--ever.

1.5 Years of ownership and the STI has only had oil changes. I can't even remember how many recalls, reflashes, miscellaneous repairs that the RX-8 needed.

I installed a stereo into the subaru.. The clips holding the center console were unreal. I was afraid I was going to break something... not because anything was breakable, but because they were so insanely great.

Everything in the subaru lacks the refined "look" that the RX-8 had... but you need a sledgehammer to break anything.

I hope Honda is closer to Subaru than Mazda. Appearances only get you so far. But the S2000 is a sharp looking car with an incredible interior and all kinds of niftiness.

Rx8urZ

well just about a week ago I drove an 03 s2000 and let me tell in one word how i felt about it "OK". sorry thats it it hust didnt cut it for me. i was expecting greatness but instead i encounterd a car that drove really good but not great. Plus the engine noise is really loud when you hit vtec. plus when you are on your way to redline the engine doesnt feel the same as the rotary in the rx8. seems like it struggles. and the rx8 in my opinion handles better and gives better feedback, plus the 8 felt faster. maybe it because i drove the 2.0L s2000 instead of the newer 2.2L? just my 0.02cents.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

S2000's are very solid. Just too small for me.

delhi

I lost all interest with the Impreza line after the introduction of the bugeye. My last Impreza was a 2.5RS coupe with a JDM STi engine conversion. It was devilish fast and still looked good.

dragula53

True

True

False

False.

False.

False. The 2.2 litre has a little bit more torque, a lower redline, and lower gearing, same horsepower.

I understand defending your car. Really.

I am looking at the S2000 because a 2-seater convertible nimble little beast sounds fun for now. Not because I care if it is faster or better. It is because I want something similar to an rx-8, except without a rotary engine (and maybe without the second-class citizen treatment that mazda gave, and hopefully with less minor-design problems). Being convertible and a 2-seater roadster are just added bonuses.

Design1stCode2nd

I hope you get these things used cause that is some serious depreciation your sucking up. Of course if that is your fun budget then by all means enjoy.

You may also want to look at a BMW 135 but that may be too long for you to wait. could always been your car after the S2000.

dragula53

I've not been upside-down on a loan yet. And I've bought them all new.

I was thinking about used s2000, and just paying it off, but new isn't out of the realm of possibility.

And I do like BMWs as well, but an M5 is way out of my price range.

I'm not certain anything shy of a M3/M5 would make me happy

delhi

If you like the turbocharged feel of your STi, why not look into an MSM Miata? They are quite tuneable.

dragula53

I think the miata is a pretty decent car, but I am not sure if I like Mazda (the company). My RX-8 experience left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Also, a miata lacks something in the way of masculinity that the S2000 and Lotus do not.

124Spider

Dragula, if you liked the RX-8, but didn't like the RX-8's relatively high overhead, and if you like two-seat roadsters, it doesn't get any better than the S2000. I enjoy our RX-8 every time I drive it, but I just love my S2000 (and I'm 6'2" tall). With 42,000 miles on my S2000, of which perhaps 5,000 have been track miles, and it includes several hundred autocross runs (all stock except for a stiffer front sway bar), I have yet to have any problem with the car. I change fluids religiously, and it has been wonderful.

Our RX-8 also has been reliable, if you ignore the flooding issue. But I don't particularly like the 14mpg it gets (my S2000 gets 24mpg in my commute; 31mpg on the highway). And the RX-8 just doesn't get my blood flowing the way the S2000 does--but I'm an elemental roadster guy.

But the S2000 is not for everyone. Its ride is stiff; it's noisy; and it certainly isn't roomy (my son fit ten Miata wheels/tires, plus a Miata exhaust, in his RX-8; try that in an S2000!).

dragula53

Yeah, the STI was a much harsher and noisier ride than the RX-8. Subaru might as well have omitted the rear seats as well, the 4 inches of clearance between front seat and back seat made me the last choice for lunch outings involving more than 2 people.

Harsh and noisy are a product of performance and of being a convertible. Neither of which bother me.

I did some more research and realized that a lotus is ridiculously impractical. My insurance company won't insure lotuses at all, nor will allstate. Too many hoops to jump through (and 300 mile drive to pick it up).

I haven't actually taken an S2000 for a test drive yet, so I'll see. I have sat in them on the showroom and salivated over how everything feels right.

I can't think of something else that I would like at the moment, other than a corvette maybe.. but corvette's are a little bit more than I'd like to spend as well.

We shall see.

VikingDJ

Oh yes, I'm in that RX8 to S2000 category. I loved my RX8, but I suffered reliability issues, and quickly realized that as a pure fun weekend car, the S2000 is far superior. I also owned an 04 STI for 2.5 years (traded it in for Mazdaspeed 6), because I needed to have at least one car be quiet and comfortable for commuting to work.

I also looked into a Lotus Elise, but like you, the nearest dealership is like 90 miles away for me, and the cost to own was just too great. I love my S2000, and I can actually see myself for the first time not doing my typical car swapping I've been doing over the last 4 years. I had an 01 S2000 for 9 months when financially I wasn't in a position to buy a new one, and didn't lose much on trading it in, and I love my 06 even more. You cannot go wrong with an S2000.