We didn't win the Road and Track Readers Choice Award, I just got my magazine...that dang Subie STI did

 

I guess there must be more STi drivers sitting around on their various forums than there are RX-8 drivers on our forum.

 

yeah, its not like there out driving their cars like us
they would rather be on the PC than in their STI

j/k

 

A lot to be said for the STi. I think it's a bit similar to the 3rd Gen RX-7 - fast but daily living with it a bitch might be. You get great performance - but I chose the RX-8 for the style performance refinement and mostly for the rotary smoothness and (IMHO) legendary racing and daily-driver reliability. I'd never knock someone for getting the STi. BTW - I just got the new R&T April issue yesterday, and the STi won the reader's choice award over the 8 and a few other worthy competitors as well.
Affects me : zero.

 

I didn't know Yoda drove an RX-8! :p

 

Similar to the FD??? I don't get that one at all, the STi is rather reliable and makes for a good daily driver that can be driven all year around. The RX-8 has legendary racing ability and the STi doesn't, that statement boggles the mind even more than your first comments...

 

I repsect all turbo awd subies....but that doesn't mean I have to like them.....hahahah

Great cars..very capable, but I can't dig AWD.

 

LOL. Good stuff...

 

No, his comment was "rotary smoothness and (IMHO) legendary racing and daily-driver reliability" - the engine not the car. :p

I don't begrudge the STi the win - it's certinly a hell of a lot of bang for the buck - but I have to wonder how reliably any online survey represents the genuine readership of the sponsoring magazine these days. Do they really believe that the number of votes gleaned online reflects the choice of their readership rather than which brand has the widest network of online fans?

How many of the votes (for any of the finalists) does anyone truly believe were from actual readers vs folks who simply followed a "hey, go vote for our car" link on a forum or bulletin board?

 

Ike... yes the STI is more practical than the FD, offering all-weather performance as well as 4 doors.

But the penalty for "living with it" comes in the form of a harsh ride -- and to a much lesser extent, garish styling.

For some people, that's not a difficult trade-off to make.

For me, well, selling the harsh ride and styling to my wife is darn near impossible.

 

My FD is reliable enough for the two years I had it until it got stolen 3 months ago.
About 11k miles total, 3 open track sessions, countless autox events, and a few drag strip runs. Never got me stranded, never broke down.
Anyway, the RX-8 doesn't have legendary racing record the RX-7 does. As well as the STI with its WRC Imprezas, various STI versions, etc.
What's funny is that I voted for the RX-8 back in Nov and now I had an STI after the 7 got stolen, and still the STI won the vote.

 

I'd have to agree with Ike here...niether car has been out long enough to prove which one is more reliabe, and I don't see how the RX-8 has more "legendary racing" than the Sti unless you don't consider WRC racing.

 

No kidding, that is the most ignorant comment of the month!

 

actually, the sti's suspension, though uprated and stiffer, is designed for good suspension travel...much like the wrx.

i wouldn't say it's that stiff.

the rx8 would definitely be more nimble.
but the sti's handling overall is probably better and more capable.
it is far more practical: 4 dr., 5 seater, big trunk, awd, etc.

that said, i prefer the rx8's styling better.

 

You really didn't expect the RX-8 to win now did ya? I mean performance numbers are always a big part, along with cost. Look at the bigger picture, the Porsche lost to the STI as well. The RX-8 was in great company, there were no Toyota, Acura or Hondas there, so bravo to Mazda and the other three that were chosen as well.

 

It is a reader's choice award... not much different than a popularity contest... it is meaningless. I'd say more readers owned WRXs than the other cars.

All of the finalists were winners, five of the most awesome cars of the year. (I think the GT3 should have won...... :P)

 

Jay Leno had good nothing but good things to say about the 8. Coming from a "car guy" like him, that's good praise.

He also loved the STI.

The only one of the finalists I couldn't grasp was the 5-series. I don't care how good it is, it's not in the same class as the rest of the cars. It's a luxury sports sedan... the only 1 in that test.

Seemed out of place.

And Chris Bangle is a cracksmoker.

 

nah, all of them are good ones, do we have doubt about that? :D so, it depends on owner's choice... appearently this poll is directed to majority. sounds like performance and numbers are they major concern to them, instead of the overall package.

btw, does the STI has passengers air bag equipped?

 

The STi doesn't handle quite as well as the EVO8 though it's very close, the reason for that is the suspension travel and stiffness (or lack there of). It's really not all that harsh (not as harsh as the EVO8 nor a Z), and the nearly R compound tires that come with it make it more harsh than it would be if someone were to put some other high performance tires on it.

 

They are celebrating.

:D

 

Ike, everyone out there have got your banana.

 

Just a little video to bid farewell to a wonderful winter and my snowtires. Give some props on the killer soundtrack yo!

http://ps.usa.net/~dgiadone/vids/stisnow.wmv

 

My 'nanas hump so there's no comparison! :p

 

Thanks for making me laugh this morning.

--kC

 

Oh yes we did win. I win everytime I start her up.
Al