[DylanPS]

I'll stand corrected because you guys own them and I don't. I still don't see why anyone would buy them for the track though.

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by DylanPS

I'll stand corrected because you guys own them and I don't. I still don't see why anyone would buy them for the track though.

It's because they are cheap to track (relatively), easy to mod, reliable and then can be driven to work the next day. There aren't many cars out there that can excel at the track with a few modifications, make excellent daily drivers, and cost under $40K. That's why these cars are so appealing. Yes, there are much better dedicated cars out there. If I wanted a pure track car with very occasional street use, I'd much rather an Ariel Atom for $50K-60K or a kit car.

[GilMikalian]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

It's because they are cheap to track (relatively), easy to mod, reliable and then can be driven to work the next day. There aren't many cars out there that can excel at the track with a few modifications, make excellent daily drivers, and cost under $40K. That's why these cars are so appealing. Yes, there are much better dedicated cars out there. If I wanted a pure track car with very occasional street use, I'd much rather an Ariel Atom for $50K-60K or a kit car.

WAY off topic but...some dude around my work (Century City) sports an Ariel Atom. They are VERY cool in person, bigger than I thought. If I'm ever in the position to have a track toy, that will be my toy of choice. Okay, back to C&D bashing and people with earlier model year STIs trying to convince us that their ride is better because [fill in blank here]. I for one plan on picking up my new DGM STI w/BBS once the dealer trade happens.

[eze13sti]

i dont know how or who was saying that the earlier year model sti's were better.

[Wrxified]

WTF is wrong with the new STI? What a crappy day. I got both my Road & Track and Car and Driver in the mail today. Literally by the time I got half way through the Road & Track head-to-head on the Evolution vs. STI my jaw was hanging half way to the ground.

So then I'm sitting there kind of shocked. I read it again and thought for sure it just had to be one of those situations where you simply have 2 drivers with similar views, and on that day they just weren't feeling the Subie.

So about an hour later I pick up my Car and Driver. Based on the CTS-V Caddie on the cover I hadn't realized that they had a head-to-head comparison on the R32, STI and EVO. I find the article only to read that the STI again comes in last place. Geez, it's one thing to get spanked over and over again in every test that the enthusiasts mags write comparing the STI to the Evolution but to add the R32 to the mix and still have the STI take the back seat is insane. I've read better comments on the new Chevy Malibu then these guys are are handing over to the STI.

Motor Trend
"And then there's this devastating blow: The Evo is simply faster around the track. Road test editor Scott Mortara's fastest lap in the Evo stops the hands at 57.6 seconds. The STI finishes exactly one second behind."

Road & Track
"So here's the problem with the new STI: It's lighter (by 195 lb.) than the Evo and has slightly more horsepower, yet it's far more work to drive around a racetrack — and, you're going slower than the Evo, no matter how hard you drive it."

Car and Driver
"The STI is supremely capable, but we wish it were more inspiring away from the drag strip. It's technically impressive, but the lack of driver involvement makes this Subaru a blunt tool."

That last quote has me in a daze. I love my 05 STI. I can't imagine even if the 08 STI feels at all like the 05 how it could possibly get such bad reviews. Has the Evolution improved that much, the STI not improved enough or a combo of the two?

Well I guess we have the Edmunds STI vs. Mustang review going for us.

[reflexxi]

What's the percentage of people that DON'T take their car to a track?

I'll still take the STi...

[06SpecC]

These magazines articles are retarted, most of them have conflicting ideas and MOST of the drivers lack the "driver mod" which makes the cars seem slower than they are. Don't mind these stupid magazine reviews. No matter what the Evo IX outperformed the Evo X in almost everything and it seems both the new STi and evo are more "grown up" and less raw compared to their older counterparts.

[AMTEXX]

Once again, we aren't the customers that Subaru was striving to keep. They are hoping for 50 year olds on a mid life crisis, that want a car, similar to a Camry/Kia/Mazda hatchback for their dog, kids, etc, etc. Not for the track anymore. Let's all just get over it already.

[Wrxified]

Yah I hear what you guys are saying. The only thing I'm surprised at is that in the past what we always read were articles that described the EVO having a "slight" edge around the track but in the end every mag had the test drivers almost unanimously say "but I'd still take the Subaru".

We always heard how "raw" and on edge the EVO seemed. Now it sounds like it's become more reformed and yet still faster. I do my share of track days myself and I think there are a good deal others that do as as well.

[Digitalfiend]

Please do a search before posting. These two articles have been covered over and over again. If you have something to add, please add it to the appropriate existing thread(s).

Edit:

Instead of closing this new thread, I've merged it with the existing one.

[Digitalfiend]

...and for the record:

Originally Posted by AMTEXX

Once again, we aren't the customers that Subaru was striving to keep. They are hoping for 50 year olds on a mid life crisis, that want a car, similar to a Camry/Kia/Mazda hatchback for their dog, kids, etc, etc. Not for the track anymore. Let's all just get over it already.

Get over yourself. I'm as much a hardcore STi-enthusiast as you seem to think you are, I'm not 50, nor having a mid-life crisis, and my new '08 will see more track time than my '05 did. I bet your car hasn't even set foot on a roadcourse.

[Wrxified]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

Please do a search before posting. These two articles have been covered over and over again. If you have something to add, please add it to the appropriate existing thread(s).

Edit:

Instead of closing this new thread, I've merged it with the existing one.

Thanks. I only found the R&T and MT one. Missed this.

[supermarkus]

So complain about lack of driver involvement when you're comparing the car to one with even more electronic nannies that help keep you on the race line? I bet you anything, if the STI had a yaw control system, people would ***** about, "...the car does all the driving for you..."

[Mi_Black_Pearl]

what?! we lost to a VW?? damn, i hope thats just with the 08's tho

[supermarkus]

Originally Posted by Mi_Black_Pearl

what?! we lost to a VW?? damn, i hope thats just with the 08's tho

Did you read the article? Where it really fell behind on the VW was interior and price and I think 1 other performance category like 20-60 acceleration. Note that car and driver initially reported a 0.93g on the skidpad with the 08 and now it's 0.89?