[jhonnybgood]

I don´t understand why the sti was a second slower than the evo x in their lap timing. There is another article EVO X vs STI - Tsukuba Lap Times - Autoblog
where the new sti is half a second quicker than the evo X tested by japanese drivers. Is motortrend full of crap? Is the 2.5 sti tested by motortrend that much slower around the track than the 2.0L car in tsukuba. The time difference is huge. I hope motortrend is wrong otherwise the 2.0L is a lot faster than the 2.5l around a circuit. What do you guys think.

[Borti]

2.0L might have a more aggressive suspension setup. I think that is what makes the difference. It could also be a bit lighter. In all honesty, the two variables I mentioned are only a small fragment of the plethora of reasons why one car edges out another. It would maybe make more sense if they did a five lap average or something. Even then, if they are different drivers and etc...

[Shadowfax]

u also have to remember that there are a lot of politics in magazines especially motortrend. You have a sponsor and an audience to please.

[DrPhyzx]

Originally Posted by Borti

2.0L might have a more aggressive suspension setup. I think that is what makes the difference. It could also be a bit lighter. In all honesty, the two variables I mentioned are only a small fragment of the plethora of reasons why one car edges out another. It would maybe make more sense if they did a five lap average or something. Even then, if they are different drivers and etc...

It's been written many places that the USDM suspension is identical to the JDM suspension. However, the tires are different (which could be a big deal) and I think the expertise of the driver makes a big difference. There is a clear impression that the gizmos in the X help erase the advantage of better driving, while the STI rewards those who are more skilled with relatively more speed.

[snorky]

different tracks, different drivers, different cars. Even 2 usdm stis all else equal could have a similar difference in lap times. There's too many variables to take any car comparison with 2 cars that are so similar seriously. It's the same thing as a mustang vs camaro of yore. They're so similar, which one you'd rather drive and wrench on is based almost purely on aesthetics and hearsay.

[waktasz]

The 2.0 has real tires.

[snorky]

what tires do they get? re070s still? damn all you softies out there who complained about them being too stiff and loud!!

[waktasz]

The JDM model gets re050s I believe, or re070s if you get the options 17" BBS. We get the Dunlop SP600 which haven't gotten great reviews.

[trustz]

And don't forget the JDM EVOX is faster than USDM EVOX !!

[Digitalfiend]

The SP600s are brand new for the STI, so no one has had a chance to review them except for people that have driven STIs, if that's what you mean.

The JDM car is likely a LOT faster than the 2.5L because it has better top end, it's lighter, has a MUCH higher redline (8K vs 6.7K), and has stickier tires. This all equates to better acceleration and, in the case of being lighter, better handling.

Also I find it hard to take a MotorTrend review serious when you see all the Evo ads surrounding the article.

[Rootus]

I'd like to see a test where they take both cars, give them each a good alignment, test them around the track, then swap tires, and test them again. Or just put them on identical tires to begin with.

[Rootus]

It's hard to keep reading when you get comments like...

"the Evo's 122 horsepower per liter easily bests the STI's 102 horsepower per liter"

The throws their credibility right out the window.

[CFar]

Originally Posted by Rootus

It's hard to keep reading when you get comments like...

"the Evo's 122 horsepower per liter easily bests the STI's 102 horsepower per liter"

The throws their credibility right out the window.

Nuff said.

I like the idea of swapping the tires (each set new) as opposed to getting a tire that may favor one car or the other. Maybe we can convince some of the EVO guys to do it.

[jhonnybgood]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

The SP600s are brand new for the STI, so no one has had a chance to review them except for people that have driven STIs, if that's what you mean.

The JDM car is likely a LOT faster than the 2.5L because it has better top end, it's lighter, has a MUCH higher redline (8K vs 6.7K), and has stickier tires. This all equates to better acceleration and, in the case of being lighter, better handling.

Also I find it hard to take a MotorTrend review serious when you see all the Evo ads surrounding the article.

Reading this I might prefer a 2.0L? Any reason for a 2.5L? I know it has a broader torque but it does not represent an advantage from what you are saying. Is it lighter because of the engine size or does the jdm have lighter materials besides maybe the recaro´s which appear to weigh the same due to air bags? I agree on the motortrend review. I would love a comparison between usdm vs jdm sti, has it been done previously?

[Rootus]

Originally Posted by jhonnybgood

Reading this I might prefer a 2.0L? Any reason for a 2.5L? I know it has a broader torque but it does not represent an advantage from what you are saying. Is it lighter because of the engine size

I'd always prefer the engine with more displacement, because it's going to have more potential. It may not rev as high, but I don't see that as a disadvantage -- it doesn't need to rev as high to make the power.

or does the jdm have lighter materials besides maybe the recaro´s which appear to weigh the same due to air bags?

The Recaros probably don't save weight. I'd bet the biggest weight difference between the JDM and USDM STI is because of extra safety equipment required in the US.