why not get a wrx and put $6000 into it instead?

 

Because the STI isn't all about the power.
I want the 6 speed and the STI toys you can't add aftermarket. And to know its a REAL STI.

 

y not ride a bike?

 

Reliablity, Warrenty... I can't tell you the exact $ amount, but it would cost a lot more than $6k to get a car that performs the same as an STi. Bigger brakes, Bigger motor, 6 Speed trans, mechanical rear diff, better suspension... the list goes on. There is alot different between the regular WRX and the STi, and it really starts to add up.

 

resale... plus everything above

 

If I had to explain it, you wouldn't understand....

Think of the world as a giant pissing contest: you'll make a much bigger splash when you wax a SVT Cobra, take the groceries out of the trunk, then re-adjust the temporary license hanging in the window.

There is just something to be said for getting whooped by a car that just rolled off the dealer lot:
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

 

Spend 6k on your WRX, then your tuner leaves town to go out West or out of business.......What to do then......I figured it out too. You need about double that 6k to come close to the STi and have it be semi reliable (using reliable in tuner language not factory warrenty reliable, huge difference)......

MaxGrip

 

Why buy a hamburger when you can have a steak?

 

i have every intention on doing the same sort of thing because i want the creature comforts like a radio, etc. for someone who isn't looking for a ***** to the wall rally car straight of the show room floor buying a WRX and moding it a little to get close to the STI isn't such a bad idea. now granted it will never perform like a STI but still it's not a bad idea.

 

Why not get a WRX STi and then put $6K worth of mod. on it? That sounds better to me

 

what else would you do to it. i mean its already got a lot of horse power. i mean don't get me wrong i am a power junkie as much as the next guy but if your gonna drive it on the street then there is a point where there is just too much power.

 

I know what you mean. I am a power junkie too. Personally I think for a 3250 lbs car, 500 HP is just right. I have friends that have cars that are 600 HP, 700 HP and 1000 HP, 600 HP and up just plain scary, really no need for that much power for a street car as you said. But 500 is a lot of fun. Be able to take out Viper, Z06, 996 TT is pretty fun sometime.

My current toy car have 430 HP that weight 3460 lbs with a 6-speed manual and 4WD. It is quite fun, but definitely not enough power.

You might think I am just a little kid and is full of it, but I can't really proof it, so................

 

oh i believe you, i have a 1969 Camaro that i built that is running right around 500hp to the ground (before NOS) and its fun on the street, but it is by no means an everyday driver. For my WRX I want something that is reliable, easy on gas, and more importantly easy on the parts. This will be my frist venture into AWD and i just figured that anything over 450 +/- hp to the ground would be to muke to drive everyday. Am i wrong? any input would be helpful

 

Hi BigSteve,

Since you wants some input, here they are. I hope you don't find any of these offensive, I am just telling what I know. Your background is in big V8 American muscle car, which is a world of difference compare to a little turbocharged rice rocket. I think the reason your Camaro is not easy to live with everyday is because it is so loud (high compression, big exhaust) and idle rough (big lumpy cams). A high power rice engine is bascially a low compression little motor with a turbo on it running very high boost, so it is very quiet and livable compare to your V8.

Driving difference is huge too:

Your V8 have huge amount of power down low, it just get up and go when you step on it. The rice stuff have no power down low, but as the turbo spool, it pulls really hard at high rpm. Simply put, the STi will actually be slower then your Camaro, but it would feels faster due to the non linear power surge of the boosted engine. Another thing is traction, I am sure your Camaro smoke the tires everytime you step on it, with a 4WD car, the tires never spin on dry pavement, unless you launch the car at redline (stuff breaks when you do this). So no power is wasted on a 4WD car. Also a tiny 4WD Japanese car would handle very good with good brakes.

All in all, the STi would be REALLY fun to drive, but my guess is the STi motor would only easily put out 350~375 HP to the wheel without effecting its reliability too much. But that amount of power could give your Camaro a challenge off the line because it has a lot more traction.

I know all these because one of my friend is all into Mustang, he has a Mustang with 850 HP at the wheel. I drove it and it is nothing but wheel spin in every gear. My other friend have a 4WD Skyline GTR with 505 HP at the wheel, and it feels much faster then the Mustang because it doesn't have any wheel spin, as soon as the turbo spool up, all 505 HP is transmitted to the ground. It is a very satisfying pull.

To answer your question, a high power 4WD rice rocket is very easy to live up. It would be reliable because it is Japanese. It would be easy on the part unless you launch the car at high rpm. It would be easy on gas if you don't floor it everywhere, as I said, before the turbo spool, it is just a low compression little motor.

Please don't think I am putting down American muscle in any way, people like different kind of cars for different reason, there are no right or wrong, they are all just personal preferences.