The US SPEC 2004 Sti is fantastic..easily much "better" (better defined as performance and not luxury and subjective issues) than Evo VIII or any car south of a 911 Turbo...you decide:
1)300hp/300lbft..2.5L high tech motor with lots more low end torque than Evo
2) Super Sport ABS currently only available on some exotic cars..this dramatically reduces understeer---more speed into and out of corners
3) 3 diffs including a driver controlled central diff--that allows you to send 65% of torque to the rear...how cool is that?!
4) Re070s--you have to see them they look soooo sticky...plus a lower sized tire 225 on 7.5s give you better steering control

the torque laden engine, SSABS, Diffs and RE070s imply rapid acceleration (4.5s?), >0.90g, fantastic handling, etc...when all is said and done i think it will hang with a 911 Turbo around a track (without a long straight of course!)

throw in aggressive looks, HID lights, classy interior...all this for $32k....life is good!

 

I think that the specs are pretty sweet for the STI

as far as driving impressions, who knows.

does anyone know how much the 2.5L engine weighs? Especially in relation to the 2.0L? I am thinking that it may be a bit nose heavy...which leads to heavy understeer on that AWD chassis. In addition, the extra torque of the 2.5l may lead to understeer when powering out of a corner....that sucks, hopefully it won't happen to be the case.

The car is probably going to be a very fast track car, but I would put my money on a corvette or M3 on a road course...switch to autocross, and it is probably all different.

 

Don't forget about the DCCD. It will allow the driver to "tune" the handling of the car for understeer, oversteer, neutral handling. This should easily help it out against a vette or an Mcoupe on a road course. Just my .02 cents .

Matt

 

Excellent point, I forgot about that

that is sooo cool

 

You can't assume that because it's bigger it will weigh more than the 2.0 L. The bigger part (displacement) is empty space. Bore an engine and you lose weight but gain displacement. Worse case scenario with it's larger turbo and intercooler I'd guss Max 100lbs heavier than the 2.0 L (Just a guess as I said it could be the same weight).

 

yes, i didn't assume that just because it is larger...however it will have forged Vs. Cast parts which can be heaveir, plus the moving parts (pistons, camshaft) will be beefier. Plus the auxilaries to the engine (turbo, downpipe, etc) will be larger and probably beefier.

Plus the STI transmission is heavier.

this is the reason for the assumption, I was asking not telling.

Steve M

 

understeer will not be an issue:
1) 3 diffs
2) SSABS
3) lots of lighter vs WRX materials should make it not as porky as it would appear (forged components inside engine; forged BBS wheels; alumimium suspension parts; lighter rear window)
4) RE070s/camber set to reduce understeer

subaru says repeatedly that the goal is to minimize understeer

rest easy..this will be one hell of a ride!

 

As hyped up as I am to get my STI - I have been really ILL over this waiting - i havnt slept a good night sleep this week

Lets face reality - the porsche turbo woudl tear a stock STI apart on any race track - you just cant not fairly compare the two of them - - the Porsche costs liek 4 times the price

On the other hand - there is prob not much else other than the ferrari 360 poresche turbo and a few other exotics that could beat the STI

$$ for $$ the STI is prob the best performing car in the world

With about $20,000 in mods the STI would kick the porsche's *** - I know i beat one in a drag race at last years Import nationals - - - BUT a heavily modded posrche can easily make 600 - 700 wheel hp