Sadly, I'm with you. It took me a while to warm up to the looks, but working on that and really liking the wagon option.. I HATE the hill assist (I have an 08 so can't turn it off), the tpms, the windshield, and SI/traction controls.! I bought an sti to drive-not for some sally that can't. That's options for the wrx, sti's should be a driver's car, not a learners/training car....
For those who have owned both the GD and GR STI, which do you prefer?
So the big question, for those of you who have owned both the GD and GR STI, which do you prefer and why?
For me, even before I bought my GR, it took me a long time to warm up the look, and I only really warmed up enough to buy the car, I was never much of a fan. First drive impressions were pretty awful, the handling seemed worse the ever, steering was numb, road noise was awful, and this silly SI drive thing... I wasn't very fond of the car. So in an attempt to make the most of it, one went KW V3, RCE sways, new wheels/tires, and Stage 1 etc. - See pic below, cause everyone hates threads without pics
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Did the upgrades help? Sure, but the road noise was still terrible, and I just couldn't get used to how ugly I thought the car was, so I sold it. During ownership of that car I felt as though I was constantly comparing my GR to my old 2004 STI, so much nostalgia, I felt like the GD was better in every way (With the exception of the lack of a wagon STI option). I preferred the looks of the GD, the interior (I find the GR panels scratch up so easily as they are some bizarre soft touch material), and the handling.
Being logical I have to ask myself if my sentiments for the GD were genuine, was I simply forgetting all the things I didn't like about that car back when I drove it every day? And then I pop some Xanax and it doesn't even matter...
I am currently looking for a nice little winter car that the GF can daily, and really tempted to go back to a 04-07 WRX or STI, also considering a Legacy GT but have zero experience with the car. Right now it seems that going back to a GD STI would just be so easy for me...
So I'm curious to see what others have to say about the GD vs. GR as a daily, please ignore the incentive of a hatch, I never really need to put anything large in the car as I also have a truck!
And just to keep things going, a couple more pics, my recently sold ITR, and my E46 M3!
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For me, even before I bought my GR, it took me a long time to warm up the look, and I only really warmed up enough to buy the car, I was never much of a fan. First drive impressions were pretty awful, the handling seemed worse the ever, steering was numb, road noise was awful, and this silly SI drive thing... I wasn't very fond of the car. So in an attempt to make the most of it, one went KW V3, RCE sways, new wheels/tires, and Stage 1 etc. - See pic below, cause everyone hates threads without pics
Did the upgrades help? Sure, but the road noise was still terrible, and I just couldn't get used to how ugly I thought the car was, so I sold it. During ownership of that car I felt as though I was constantly comparing my GR to my old 2004 STI, so much nostalgia, I felt like the GD was better in every way (With the exception of the lack of a wagon STI option). I preferred the looks of the GD, the interior (I find the GR panels scratch up so easily as they are some bizarre soft touch material), and the handling.
Being logical I have to ask myself if my sentiments for the GD were genuine, was I simply forgetting all the things I didn't like about that car back when I drove it every day? And then I pop some Xanax and it doesn't even matter...
I am currently looking for a nice little winter car that the GF can daily, and really tempted to go back to a 04-07 WRX or STI, also considering a Legacy GT but have zero experience with the car. Right now it seems that going back to a GD STI would just be so easy for me...
So I'm curious to see what others have to say about the GD vs. GR as a daily, please ignore the incentive of a hatch, I never really need to put anything large in the car as I also have a truck!
And just to keep things going, a couple more pics, my recently sold ITR, and my E46 M3!
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Never owned a GD STi, but I have a bunch of friends that own one.
The only thing I would say is that everyone says the GR is quieter and has a better interior than the GDs. While I like the GD blue seats, I do think the GR interior is nicer.
As far as all the automated stuff in the car...VDC/TCS I think is a good thing to have as long as you can turn it off. Most, if not all, cars have this feature now including high end sports cars. The SI-Drive is about the most annoying thing in the car because it wont stay in S#, and the hill start assist would be okay if it came with the car turned off and you had to turn it on instead of the other way around with a dummy light on your cluster pissing you off to no end.
The only thing I would say is that everyone says the GR is quieter and has a better interior than the GDs. While I like the GD blue seats, I do think the GR interior is nicer.
As far as all the automated stuff in the car...VDC/TCS I think is a good thing to have as long as you can turn it off. Most, if not all, cars have this feature now including high end sports cars. The SI-Drive is about the most annoying thing in the car because it wont stay in S#, and the hill start assist would be okay if it came with the car turned off and you had to turn it on instead of the other way around with a dummy light on your cluster pissing you off to no end
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Preach it brotha i freaking hate that dumb hill assist light when you turn off that feature, i hate having any lights on in my cluster that arent being useful for anything. i wish i could turn off the Auto one also if i could! lol
Never owned a GD STi, but I have a bunch of friends that own one.
The only thing I would say is that everyone says the GR is quieter and has a better interior than the GDs. While I like the GD blue seats, I do think the GR interior is nicer.
As far as all the automated stuff in the car...VDC/TCS I think is a good thing to have as long as you can turn it off. Most, if not all, cars have this feature now including high end sports cars. The SI-Drive is about the most annoying thing in the car because it wont stay in S#, and the hill start assist would be okay if it came with the car turned off and you had to turn it on instead of the other way around with a dummy light on your cluster pissing you off to no end
The hill assist this really threw me until I got used to it. I'd sit there and rev the car trying to hold it with the clutch so I could back out of my driveway without hitting my wife's car. Then I would give up and it would release and I'd roll forward. I still don't trust it but I don't mind it now. To answer your question, I test drove a GR and it was not comfortable for me. The cab was too small and the seats too tight, a few years later I'm happy in my 2013 Of course that's out of the ordinary because I'm taller and bigger than most people so it's all preference at that point. Same reason that swayed me from the Evo X to the STi.
Of course that's out of the ordinary because I'm taller and bigger than most people so it's all preference at that point. Same reason that swayed me from the Evo X to the STi.
I haven't owned both, but I have a few friends with GR wrx and STi and I have driven them quite a bit. I have come to the conclusion that the GR is like a $100 bill and the GD is like $100 in $1 bills. The GR is cleaner and easier to live with and it can do all the same fun things. On the other hand there is something about the GD that just feels raw and ferocious, begging you to be reckless. Me, I like what I get into with $1 bills
This seems like a good analogy. I had an '11 WRX, traded it in for an '06 STi. Haven't looked back yet, but I only got to drive her 3 months before I got deployed. Now to wait another 8 months to drive my Bianca again.I haven't owned both, but I have a few friends with GR wrx and STi and I have driven them quite a bit. I have come to the conclusion that the GR is like a $100 bill and the GD is like $100 in $1 bills. The GR is cleaner and easier to live with and it can do all the same fun things. On the other hand there is something about the GD that just feels raw and ferocious, begging you to be reckless. Me, I like what I get into with $1 bills
All I get into with $1 bills is troubleI haven't owned both, but I have a few friends with GR wrx and STi and I have driven them quite a bit. I have come to the conclusion that the GR is like a $100 bill and the GD is like $100 in $1 bills. The GR is cleaner and easier to live with and it can do all the same fun things. On the other hand there is something about the GD that just feels raw and ferocious, begging you to be reckless. Me, I like what I get into with $1 bills
Wife: What are all these for?
Me:
Id say go buy yourself a golf R. Its quieter, still rambunctious and makes a better daily driver. THen get yourself an old 2.5rs, do the STi conversion on it, hard mount the shit out of everything and get stupid in it
OP,
Personally I like the look of the GR hatch. Ever since I first saw one I couldn't wait to get one. If you didn't like the way the car looks or drives what caused you to buy one in the first place? What cars do you like? I think you should get one of those instead and enjoy driving your car
Personally I like the look of the GR hatch. Ever since I first saw one I couldn't wait to get one. If you didn't like the way the car looks or drives what caused you to buy one in the first place? What cars do you like? I think you should get one of those instead and enjoy driving your car
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