sti ride quality.. thinking about buying one please help

Mrb · 05-31-2004, 02:37 PM

I am 23, married with a 10 week old baby. I have a smooth, quite, and boring Audi a6 2.7t that has crapped on me since I bought it. I truly want the speed of the sti but I am worried about the ride quality and the interior noise. I am not some old fart and I had a lowered 01 vette that was definatly not quite or smoth. I want to know how they compare to a normal sedan or even to my vet. Is it too sporty for a family?

Tazio · 05-31-2004, 02:46 PM

I don't think the ride quality is bad if the road is smooth -- it will jiggle you over undulations and rough roads, though. A lot of my friends have actually complimented me on the smooth ride. Maybe I'm just not driving hard enough!

Interior is pretty noisy for a unmodded car, though.

y2ks2k · 05-31-2004, 04:09 PM

I drive my 2 keeds around, 2 and 4. when I went from my Tl Type S to the Sti, it felt pretty rought but within 500 miles I got so use to it that I really only notice it on REAL bad roads.

beaSTIcar · 05-31-2004, 04:53 PM

I just got my STi last saturday and i have been driving my godson around in it a couple times... i think it rides fine and the inside is quiet enough that it doesnt irratate him. He is 3 months old by the way. as long as you keep it at around 3000 on your shift the turbo doesnt kick as hard. So i think it is able to be used as a "family" car as long as you have self control :wink:

allwheelsdriven · 05-31-2004, 05:19 PM

in seattle we have some really bad ie not smooth freeways and i would describe the road noise as a dull roar at 60-70mph.

snead_c · 05-31-2004, 05:24 PM

Ride seems hard but that's the price of the set up. My previous WRX rode quiter and softer...and slower but life is relative. I like the handling and will trade some "comfort" for it.

whiteSTi626 · 05-31-2004, 06:05 PM

sorry here i know for a fact that you will be displeased with the ride quality compared to the sti. im not trying to convince you not to get the sti but honestly the a6 is pretty comfortable and the sti is well not quite. if you are looking for performance and comfort try m3 or something along those lines, sti is made for speed and agility while ingnoring comfort and noise reduction. the panals inside the car is junk like and noise goes through like nothing, but im not complaining, i love the sti and i hope i will have it for ever. if i had enough money i would like to get another sti and just have it sit in the garage for ever.

STI_Jaguar · 05-31-2004, 07:07 PM

Let's be honest here, the ride will be harsh. Especially if you had previously owned an Audi.

I am the only passenger in the car so I am absolutely loving it right now and this was the ride quality that I wanted. But if you hit uneven surfaces, you will definitely feel it.

Another thing is the quality. My old car was the Volkswagen Jetta and the Jetta's quality was sooo Much better than the Sti's (and this is really entry level German stuff). Even after 55 thousand miles, the Jetta's quality was better than a brand new Sti. I would never have imagined this.

The Jetta's door closing, trunk closing is light years ahead of the Sti's. I came to appreciate the Jetta right after I got the Sti.

But I wouldn't trade it back in a million years.

If I had a second car, it would definitely be an Audi A4 or an Infinity.

Rev · 05-31-2004, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrb

I am 23, married with a 10 week old baby. I have a smooth, quite, and boring Audi a6 2.7t that has crapped on me since I bought it. I truly want the speed of the sti but I am worried about the ride quality and the interior noise. I am not some old fart and I had a lowered 01 vette that was definatly not quite or smoth. I want to know how they compare to a normal sedan or even to my vet. Is it too sporty for a family?

The STi is pretty harsh. You will definitely notice the difference coming from an A6.

If ride comfort if a top priority for you, I don't think the STi is a good choice to be fairly honest.

ttheisen93 · 06-01-2004, 06:51 AM

I would call it a somewhat stiff ride, but definitely not harsh. My 350Z was harsh, giving my wife a headache, and making me feel like my fillings were coming out of my teeth every time we rode in it on snow-belt roads. The STI takes the same roads much more smoothly. Its a little rough, but nothing that causes any actual physical pain.

lstepnio · 06-01-2004, 07:22 AM

My wife basicly refuses to ride in the STi and she had no problems ever driving in my Stage II '02 WRX. We currently have a baby on the way and we have determine that the baby would only ride in the STi in a emergency situation where our other vehicle wasn't available.

Shaitiger · 06-01-2004, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STi_Thunder

The STi is pretty harsh. You will definitely notice the difference coming from an A6.

If ride comfort if a top priority for you, I don't think the STi is a good choice to be fairly honest.

I'm going to have to agree with you. The STi ride is harsh indeed. Someone can definitely get used to it but if you are coming from an A6, you are definitely going to feel the difference.

Mach_1 · 06-01-2004, 12:59 PM

its a rough ride....tires should help alittle....i like the stiff race car likre ride..but my girl wants smoother

srf · 06-01-2004, 02:17 PM

The tires make the car feel a lot stiffer than it is, just buy the STI. If it's too stiff, get some plusher tires.

jbap222 · 06-01-2004, 03:42 PM

i actually just recieved a compliment about how smooth the ride was on my sti. I find it to be alot better than my last car which was a 2002 gt vert.

05-31-2004, 02:37 PM	#1
Mrb Lurker Posts: 2 IWSTI Addict since: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I am 23, married with a 10 week old baby. I have a smooth, quite, and boring Audi a6 2.7t that has crapped on me since I bought it. I truly want the speed of the sti but I am worried about the ride quality and the interior noise. I am not some old fart and I had a lowered 01 vette that was definatly not quite or smoth. I want to know how they compare to a normal sedan or even to my vet. Is it too sporty for a family? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

05-31-2004, 04:53 PM	#4
beaSTIcar Lurker Posts: 3 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Noise Question I just got my STi last saturday and i have been driving my godson around in it a couple times... i think it rides fine and the inside is quiet enough that it doesnt irratate him. He is 3 months old by the way. as long as you keep it at around 3000 on your shift the turbo doesnt kick as hard. So i think it is able to be used as a "family" car as long as you have self control :wink:

05-31-2004, 07:07 PM	#8
STI_Jaguar STI Driver Location: Bellevue Washington Posts: 212 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	My 05 STI close to 1,000k Miles :D Let's be honest here, the ride will be harsh. Especially if you had previously owned an Audi. I am the only passenger in the car so I am absolutely loving it right now and this was the ride quality that I wanted. But if you hit uneven surfaces, you will definitely feel it. Another thing is the quality. My old car was the Volkswagen Jetta and the Jetta's quality was sooo Much better than the Sti's (and this is really entry level German stuff). Even after 55 thousand miles, the Jetta's quality was better than a brand new Sti. I would never have imagined this. The Jetta's door closing, trunk closing is light years ahead of the Sti's. I came to appreciate the Jetta right after I got the Sti. But I wouldn't trade it back in a million years. If I had a second car, it would definitely be an Audi A4 or an Infinity.

06-01-2004, 03:42 PM	#15
jbap222 Lurker Posts: 6 IWSTI Addict since: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	i actually just recieved a compliment about how smooth the ride was on my sti. I find it to be alot better than my last car which was a 2002 gt vert. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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05-31-2004, 02:46 PM	#2
Tazio Junior STI Driver Location: New York City Posts: 159 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I don't think the ride quality is bad if the road is smooth -- it will jiggle you over undulations and rough roads, though. A lot of my friends have actually complimented me on the smooth ride. Maybe I'm just not driving hard enough! Interior is pretty noisy for a unmodded car, though.

05-31-2004, 04:09 PM	#3
y2ks2k Senior STI Driver Posts: 390 IWSTI Addict since: Jun 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	I drive my 2 keeds around, 2 and 4. when I went from my Tl Type S to the Sti, it felt pretty rought but within 500 miles I got so use to it that I really only notice it on REAL bad roads.

05-31-2004, 05:19 PM	#5
allwheelsdriven Spec C Club Car: 04 WRB STi Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,231 IWSTI Addict since: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	in seattle we have some really bad ie not smooth freeways and i would describe the road noise as a dull roar at 60-70mph.

05-31-2004, 05:24 PM	#6
snead_c Junior STI Driver Posts: 177 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Ride seems hard but that's the price of the set up. My previous WRX rode quiter and softer...and slower but life is relative. I like the handling and will trade some "comfort" for it.

05-31-2004, 06:05 PM	#7
whiteSTi626 STI Driver Car: white 04 sti Posts: 200 IWSTI Addict since: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	sorry here i know for a fact that you will be displeased with the ride quality compared to the sti. im not trying to convince you not to get the sti but honestly the a6 is pretty comfortable and the sti is well not quite. if you are looking for performance and comfort try m3 or something along those lines, sti is made for speed and agility while ingnoring comfort and noise reduction. the panals inside the car is junk like and noise goes through like nothing, but im not complaining, i love the sti and i hope i will have it for ever. if i had enough money i would like to get another sti and just have it sit in the garage for ever.

06-01-2004, 06:51 AM	#10
ttheisen93 Junior STI Driver Posts: 125 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	I would call it a somewhat stiff ride, but definitely not harsh. My 350Z was harsh, giving my wife a headache, and making me feel like my fillings were coming out of my teeth every time we rode in it on snow-belt roads. The STI takes the same roads much more smoothly. Its a little rough, but nothing that causes any actual physical pain.

06-01-2004, 07:22 AM	#11
lstepnio Junior STI Driver Posts: 142 IWSTI Addict since: Sep 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	My wife basicly refuses to ride in the STi and she had no problems ever driving in my Stage II '02 WRX. We currently have a baby on the way and we have determine that the baby would only ride in the STi in a emergency situation where our other vehicle wasn't available.

06-01-2004, 12:59 PM	#13
Mach_1 Amateur STI Driver Posts: 33 IWSTI Addict since: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	its a rough ride....tires should help alittle....i like the stiff race car likre ride..but my girl wants smoother

06-01-2004, 02:17 PM	#14
srf STI Driver Car: 04 STi Fav Mod: Driving Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 289 IWSTI Addict since: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	The tires make the car feel a lot stiffer than it is, just buy the STI. If it's too stiff, get some plusher tires.