2005 sti owners... how well does the car handle?!
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2005 sti owners... how well does the car handle?!
how good does the 2005 sti handle? do some owners really experience severe understeer in corners? is the handling smooth? is the steering wheel response quick?
i am deciding on buying either a 2005 sti or a 2005 evo mr and would like to know how well the sti handles. i hear that understeer is the biggest problem with the sti's sterring and handling. i want a car that handles extremely well and that is why i am considering the evo mr. but pls offer me your $.02. thanx.
i am deciding on buying either a 2005 sti or a 2005 evo mr and would like to know how well the sti handles. i hear that understeer is the biggest problem with the sti's sterring and handling. i want a car that handles extremely well and that is why i am considering the evo mr. but pls offer me your $.02. thanx.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 84
I have a bone stock 05' STi. I have not driven the 04' so I can’t give you any comparison. However I can tell you that I love the way the car handles. I have not had a chance to take the car to the track but I have done plenty of ahh... "Spirited" driving. As far as under/over steer goes I have not seen horrific understeer. Infact I was initially shocked at the amount of oversteer the car has. Also I have been playing with my tire pressure recently and I am amazed how drastically it changes the driving characteristics of the car. Its defiantly AWD, meaning it doesn’t snap around like my 5.0 but it doesn’t "push" like a Honda.
I dont really know what to tell you to give you a clear idea how the car handles. Where are you located? I would be happy to take you for a ride.
-Mike
I dont really know what to tell you to give you a clear idea how the car handles. Where are you located? I would be happy to take you for a ride.
-Mike
I just bought 05 sti... to me it's good.. I've seen the interior of the evo and i just puked... STI is miles ahead compared to evo. plus it handles just as well for most of the drivers.. and understeer woe's can be fixed..
2500 over msrp is just too much for a mistu.
2500 over msrp is just too much for a mistu.
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Originally Posted by vio_o3
do u know how to reduce the understeer? i was initially thinking about getting a "tarmac" or jdm spec c suspension if i get the sti.
how can i make the steering ratio 13.0:1?
how can i make the steering ratio 13.0:1?
My FWD has a bigger front sway than a rear and it pushes like crazy. By going up 3mm on the rear sway, the car become much more neutral.
The relationship of size between the front sway and rear sway are what changes (on most cars) oversteer vs understeer tendencies.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 25
From: SoCal 818
I've driven my STi numerous times on different canyons, to be honest I love the way it handles! I have yet to encounter any understeer, maybe im not driving fast enough
. I have driven my friends 04 EVO a bit, and it feels like your driving a go kart, the steering is impressively quick!
. I have driven my friends 04 EVO a bit, and it feels like your driving a go kart, the steering is impressively quick!
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 643
From: At work
Car Info: Real Slow
understeer is not a "big" problem in the sti as with the wrx. any awd will understeer at the limit. the evo mr's limit is just higher. if you know how to drive, you'll learn how to combat understeer. but if handling is your only concern then maybe the evo is a better choice. there are many other factors to consider than just handling when purchasing a vehicle. good luck with your future car!
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I had an '02 WRX Wagon stock suspension. It wouldn't oversteer unless there was snow on the ground. I always hit cones on the front corners at the autox. I also have a '86 Merkur XR4Ti kinda like a Cosworth Escort with 300rwhp (koni red adjustables and lowering springs). It has gobs of oversteer and miniscule traction in 1st gear. These two cars were on the extreme spectrums of handling for autox.
The '05 STi pretty much scared the daylights out of me the first few times I had taken it out for spirited drives. It handles very well. I like how it's setup and wouldn't change a thing right now. It will push in 1st and 2nd but proper driving can limit this. 3rd and up has very controllable oversteer in the dry. 1st and 2nd will oversteer on wet surfaces and can get you into trouble if you're stupid.
I pulled a 180 in 1st and drifted all of 2nd gear after taking it through the car wash last week. I drive by the marks on the road just about every day.
I would guess the MR handles better but how much track time is it going to see?
You should consider other things like braking and power under the curve. The power band on the stock STi is great and the braking is better than an MR from what I read.
The '05 STi pretty much scared the daylights out of me the first few times I had taken it out for spirited drives. It handles very well. I like how it's setup and wouldn't change a thing right now. It will push in 1st and 2nd but proper driving can limit this. 3rd and up has very controllable oversteer in the dry. 1st and 2nd will oversteer on wet surfaces and can get you into trouble if you're stupid.
I pulled a 180 in 1st and drifted all of 2nd gear after taking it through the car wash last week. I drive by the marks on the road just about every day.
I would guess the MR handles better but how much track time is it going to see?
You should consider other things like braking and power under the curve. The power band on the stock STi is great and the braking is better than an MR from what I read.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 191
From: Pompano Beach, FL
Car Info: Purchasing Soon! (Collecting Down Payment)
Originally Posted by nic3krnnamja83
u know you could just go test drive them.... and get your own impression.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28
From: G.R. Michigan
Car Info: '01 Imp Wagon Silver, 17" silver OZ P7's
Like someone said before, all AWD cars tend towards understeer, it's the nature of the beasts. But you can change it easily. Tire pressure would be my first sugestion, then an alignment and or a stiffer rear bar. My wagon used to plow like no other, I put on a larger stiffer bar, reduced my rear camber, took out all the toe front and rear, and depending on conditions and what I'm doing I adjust the rest with tire pessure. But I can make my wagon as tail happy a rear drive, or almost totally neutal.
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Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
I have an '05 STi and found the stock suspension fine.
My daily drive includes 12 miles of canyon fun & the stock gear worked just fine; yes, it would push through the corners at times, but that was usually due to "operator error."
I recently added a Perrin adjustable rear swaybar (on soft setting) & noticed a tad more neutral/oversteer handling.
Today, I just swapped out the struts & springs with TEIN Flex set up.
Can't report how it rides now, but give me a few days.
My daily drive includes 12 miles of canyon fun & the stock gear worked just fine; yes, it would push through the corners at times, but that was usually due to "operator error."
I recently added a Perrin adjustable rear swaybar (on soft setting) & noticed a tad more neutral/oversteer handling.
Today, I just swapped out the struts & springs with TEIN Flex set up.
Can't report how it rides now, but give me a few days.
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