'07 vs. '08

Smiley · 03-31-2008, 02:27 PM

Hi. Just joined the forum and am pumped about becoming an STi owner. I hope this isn't a repeat thread. I did a search but didn't come up with anything.

I'm seriously looking at the '08, but I can get an '07 for considerably less (not surprising). I test drove an '06 a couple of years ago, and reviews suggest the '08 is a gentler ride. Also, the functional advantages of the hatchback are a serious consideration for me.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on a comparison between the two cars. My wife is also trying to talk me into the Evo X - she prefers the look. But, I'm a Subaru guy so I think I'll be able to resist the pressure.

Thanks in advance.

Rexspeedworthy · 03-31-2008, 02:54 PM

Got kids? Plannin on it anytime soon? if so Get the 08. The '08 is a better daily driver with the longer wheelbase. Way more usable than the Evo or STi sedans. Although I've only driven and 05 STi once, it was more harsh as I remember than the 08.
Subaru's are safer too. Better reliability than the Evo. The bells and whistles seem to be aplenty too. One I could do without though is the hill assist, as it's at times, too intrusive.

fourseasonsandles · 03-31-2008, 03:01 PM

I would say drive both and decide from there. Looks are subjective, so we cant help you with that part. I am sure you would be happy with either. Also make sure to pick up a Cobb Access Port and tune to Stage 1 right away, so you wont have to deal with Subarus crappy factory tune!

Post pics when you decide!

GilMikalian · 03-31-2008, 03:04 PM

I would drive all three ('08, '07 & Evo) and see which one you like. This will give you the subjective piece of the puzzle once you go through the objective like interior cargo room, safety, and reliability, as stated by Rexspeedworthy.

I can tell you for me, only the '08 stood out as a hyper-performing car with daily driver qualities, in addition to the ability to haul my family. BUT, if I was in the market for the three you're looking at, I would strongly consider the '07 next to the '08 before I considered an Evo, if for nothing else than reputation of reliability and safety.

For me, the marginal advantage in track feel of the Evo would be a non-factor since it is unlikely that I'll track my car.

Rootus · 03-31-2008, 03:49 PM

Keep in mind that in either case you get crappy KYB struts, so if you keep the car any length of time you will get to choose replacement struts. I'm using Bilsteins on my '06, and the ride is very good, much less obnoxious than with the KYB's.

IMO noise is the more important factor. The '04-07 STI is raw, and loud. By using 25 lbs of RAAMmat I've got mine so it no longer makes my eardrums bleed on the highway. I've heard the '08 is considerably quieter.

Quote:

My wife is also trying to talk me into the Evo X - she prefers the look. But, I'm a Subaru guy so I think I'll be able to resist the pressure.

No doubt about it, the Evo looks better. That's not hard to do in '08, unfortunately. If you find yourself getting at all tempted, do yourself a favor and read the posts on EvolutionM.net's X board. You have to be willing to put up with a lot of problems to own an Evo, unfortunately. Hit-or-miss transmsission quality, crappy clutches, hard starting, surging, stalling, etc. Maybe next year they'll be better, though historically Mitsu has always had a few problems that nag the Evo which have never been resolved. Subaru has better quality control.

PCW · 03-31-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiley

Hi. Just joined the forum and am pumped about becoming an STi owner. I hope this isn't a repeat thread. I did a search but didn't come up with anything.

I'm seriously looking at the '08, but I can get an '07 for considerably less (not surprising). I test drove an '06 a couple of years ago, and reviews suggest the '08 is a gentler ride. Also, the functional advantages of the hatchback are a serious consideration for me.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on a comparison between the two cars. My wife is also trying to talk me into the Evo X - she prefers the look. But, I'm a Subaru guy so I think I'll be able to resist the pressure.

Thanks in advance.

I had an 06 STI and though it was a fun car to drive on short trips, It was brutal on long hauls, and traded in in. I have never driven the 07 so can't really comment on that. I love my 08, I would be very cautious buying any used STI or EVO especially if it is moded. I looked at the new EVO X and to be honest, really didn't care for the looks, lack of truck space, interior and the overall build quality. I really like hatchbacks and the STI with its redesign and improvements could be the perfect car for me. I have gotten much more compliments on the 08 STI than I ever had with the 06. IMO, the EVO X still has that boy racer look, which I really never liked about the 06 I had. This is not flaming on any 06 STI owners, just my opinion which you asked for.

PCW

ShinobiDGM · 03-31-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiley

Hi. Just joined the forum and am pumped about becoming an STi owner. I hope this isn't a repeat thread. I did a search but didn't come up with anything.

I'm seriously looking at the '08, but I can get an '07 for considerably less (not surprising). I test drove an '06 a couple of years ago, and reviews suggest the '08 is a gentler ride. Also, the functional advantages of the hatchback are a serious consideration for me.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on a comparison between the two cars. My wife is also trying to talk me into the Evo X - she prefers the look. But, I'm a Subaru guy so I think I'll be able to resist the pressure.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice... All 3 are GREAT cars to own. I'd own all 3 if I had the money ^.^

Like everyone else has already said, test-drive all 3 and see for yourself. The 07 STi and EVO X will get people looking at your car more so than the 08 STi will though. However, being an 08 owner, I'm admittedly a little biased, so I hope you don't mind me asking you please also weigh in the advantages the new hatchback also has over the older STi: Things like dual AVCS, Better handling (Double A-arm rear susp. + lower pmoi), more power, tunability (potential to change between 3 different fuel maps on the fly using SI drive), stock headlights with black inner housings, more refined build quality, and off course the practicality and stealthiness of a hatchback.

tb202 · 03-31-2008, 05:35 PM

I have a 2007 SWP STI and I love it. I just reached the 3k mile marker and have not had any problems whatsoever. Soon I will be purchasing a Cobb AP, Invidia V2 downpipe, and an Invidia G200 for a nice stage 2 set up. I would of course recommend the '07 from my experiences. All 3 are great choices though, but I'm loyal to the 2007 aggressive body style

**Digitalfiend** · 03-31-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rootus

IMO noise is the more important factor. The '04-07 STI is raw, and loud. By using 25 lbs of RAAMmat I've got mine so it no longer makes my eardrums bleed on the highway. I've heard the '08 is considerably quieter.

Now that I've got my car I finally figured out what the difference is. You can still hear the engine and turbo (most noticeable) but the lack of wind and tire noise makes the car seem MUCH quieter. We know the framed windows have something to do with the wind and, possibly, tire noise, but the Dunlops seem to be much quieter than the RE070s.

The cabin noise in my '05 could really wear on you on long trips. You get used to it but after driving 800km you arrive at your destination feeling like you just came back from a rock concert. This new car is definitely much better that way.

midnit · 03-31-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexspeedworthy

One I could do without though is the hill assist, as it's at times, too intrusive.

There's a way to turn this off... I haven't looked into it yet in the manual, but I remember a thread with someone asking why there was a light on his dash showing the car on a hill with an X over it... He didn't realize he had disabled the Hill Assist.

**Digitalfiend** · 03-31-2008, 08:12 PM

The hill assist has to go. I found it really "sticky" and made for some rough starts in first. I barely roll back and, if the hill is really steep, I just use the parking brake method. I don't like something screwing up my normally smooth starts. Maybe it is something I'll adjust too (i.e. minimizing the effect by using less brake pedal pressure at a stop, etc.)

If the hill holder symbol has an X on it, that could also mean the system has failed. It would be great if we could disable it. There are a lot of things that can be enabled/disabled by a Subaru dealership, according to the manual (seat belt warning, defogger continuous mode, etc.)

Giant · 03-31-2008, 08:24 PM

Since you live in Canada get the 07...up there the sides of the 08 will get sandblasted...I hope Subaru is gonna do something about that.

CFar · 04-01-2008, 03:26 AM

I've owned an 06 and now an 08. The 08 is the better all around car. I wouldn't necessarily say the 06 was raw or uncomfortable at all, its just less...upscale? It feels more like an old Civic with better performance. The 08 is more comfortable but dynamically feels very similar to the 06, with the added interior quality thrown in. Something you can truly live with every day without issue and then romp hard when you want to.

My only issue with the hill assist is that it is inconsistent. Convenient enough; now I need to get my wife to learn stick.

JWA · 04-01-2008, 06:53 AM

I had an '07 before my current '08. I use the STI primarily to race in the SCCA RallyCross National Challenge series, but as I run in the Stock class I drive the car to the events and back. For me, it came down to the fact that I think that the '08 is going to be at least equally as fast on the dirt, but that it is MUCH more comfortable getting to the races. The interior is a lot nicer, and the stiffer chassis allowed them to go with a more compliant suspension, and the hatchback is more convenient - but the clincher to me was that they finally got rid of the "bobblehead" that drove me so crazy in the '07. They also fixed the hesitation/bogging issue that '07s have if you don't reflash the ECU.

So far my '08 is breaking in very strong, and I'm quite happy with it and am glad that I made the move.

midnit · 04-01-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFar

My only issue with the hill assist is that it is inconsistent. Convenient enough; now I need to get my wife to learn stick.

What's inconsistent about it?

03-31-2008, 02:27 PM	#1
Smiley Amateur STI Driver Car: '08 WRB STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Calgary Posts: 17 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	'07 vs. '08 Hi. Just joined the forum and am pumped about becoming an STi owner. I hope this isn't a repeat thread. I did a search but didn't come up with anything. I'm seriously looking at the '08, but I can get an '07 for considerably less (not surprising). I test drove an '06 a couple of years ago, and reviews suggest the '08 is a gentler ride. Also, the functional advantages of the hatchback are a serious consideration for me. I'd appreciate any thoughts you have on a comparison between the two cars. My wife is also trying to talk me into the Evo X - she prefers the look. But, I'm a Subaru guy so I think I'll be able to resist the pressure. Thanks in advance. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-31-2008, 02:54 PM	#2
Rexspeedworthy Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 08 STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Independence, KY (Cinti) Posts: 66 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: '07 vs. '08 Got kids? Plannin on it anytime soon? if so Get the 08. The '08 is a better daily driver with the longer wheelbase. Way more usable than the Evo or STi sedans. Although I've only driven and 05 STi once, it was more harsh as I remember than the 08. Subaru's are safer too. Better reliability than the Evo. The bells and whistles seem to be aplenty too. One I could do without though is the hill assist, as it's at times, too intrusive.

03-31-2008, 03:01 PM	#3
fourseasonsandles Silver Member Car: 06 CGM Wingless Fav Mod: The Newest One! Location: Ra cha cha NY Posts: 3,082 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: '07 vs. '08 I would say drive both and decide from there. Looks are subjective, so we cant help you with that part. I am sure you would be happy with either. Also make sure to pick up a Cobb Access Port and tune to Stage 1 right away, so you wont have to deal with Subarus crappy factory tune! Post pics when you decide!

03-31-2008, 03:04 PM	#4
GilMikalian Silver Member Car: '08 DGM STI w/BBS Fav Mod: Britax Roundabout Location: L.A. Posts: 1,015 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: '07 vs. '08 I would drive all three ('08, '07 & Evo) and see which one you like. This will give you the subjective piece of the puzzle once you go through the objective like interior cargo room, safety, and reliability, as stated by Rexspeedworthy. I can tell you for me, only the '08 stood out as a hyper-performing car with daily driver qualities, in addition to the ability to haul my family. BUT, if I was in the market for the three you're looking at, I would strongly consider the '07 next to the '08 before I considered an Evo, if for nothing else than reputation of reliability and safety. For me, the marginal advantage in track feel of the Evo would be a non-factor since it is unlikely that I'll track my car.

03-31-2008, 05:35 PM	#8
tb202 Amateur STI Driver Car: SWP 07 WRX STI Fav Mod: Seatbelt Ding Disabled Location: NY Posts: 26 Join Date: Nov 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: '07 vs. '08 I have a 2007 SWP STI and I love it. I just reached the 3k mile marker and have not had any problems whatsoever. Soon I will be purchasing a Cobb AP, Invidia V2 downpipe, and an Invidia G200 for a nice stage 2 set up. I would of course recommend the '07 from my experiences. All 3 are great choices though, but I'm loyal to the 2007 aggressive body style

03-31-2008, 08:12 PM	#11
Digitalfiend Super Moderator Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: My wife :) Location: Brooklin, Ontario Posts: 5,356 Join Date: Oct 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: '07 vs. '08 The hill assist has to go. I found it really "sticky" and made for some rough starts in first. I barely roll back and, if the hill is really steep, I just use the parking brake method. I don't like something screwing up my normally smooth starts. Maybe it is something I'll adjust too (i.e. minimizing the effect by using less brake pedal pressure at a stop, etc.) If the hill holder symbol has an X on it, that could also mean the system has failed. It would be great if we could disable it. There are a lot of things that can be enabled/disabled by a Subaru dealership, according to the manual (seat belt warning, defogger continuous mode, etc.)

03-31-2008, 08:24 PM	#12
Giant Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 08 WRX STi Fav Mod: Mud Flaps/CAI,DP,Pro Tune Location: Eastern Sierra,Ca Posts: 103 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: '07 vs. '08 Since you live in Canada get the 07...up there the sides of the 08 will get sandblasted...I hope Subaru is gonna do something about that.

04-01-2008, 03:26 AM	#13
CFar Grassroots STI Racer Location: NOVA Posts: 535 Join Date: Jun 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: '07 vs. '08 I've owned an 06 and now an 08. The 08 is the better all around car. I wouldn't necessarily say the 06 was raw or uncomfortable at all, its just less...upscale? It feels more like an old Civic with better performance. The 08 is more comfortable but dynamically feels very similar to the 06, with the added interior quality thrown in. Something you can truly live with every day without issue and then romp hard when you want to. My only issue with the hill assist is that it is inconsistent. Convenient enough; now I need to get my wife to learn stick.

04-01-2008, 06:53 AM	#14
JWA STI Driver Posts: 290 Join Date: Mar 2007 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: '07 vs. '08 I had an '07 before my current '08. I use the STI primarily to race in the SCCA RallyCross National Challenge series, but as I run in the Stock class I drive the car to the events and back. For me, it came down to the fact that I think that the '08 is going to be at least equally as fast on the dirt, but that it is MUCH more comfortable getting to the races. The interior is a lot nicer, and the stiffer chassis allowed them to go with a more compliant suspension, and the hatchback is more convenient - but the clincher to me was that they finally got rid of the "bobblehead" that drove me so crazy in the '07. They also fixed the hesitation/bogging issue that '07s have if you don't reflash the ECU. So far my '08 is breaking in very strong, and I'm quite happy with it and am glad that I made the move.