11-26-2011, 12:51 AM | #1 |
The Backbone!
Drives: '11 VR 2SS/RS M6, 01 Jeep TJ modded Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 358
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11' STi
Anyone out there own one of these? My wife and I are getting very close to ordering one for her. She wants a zippy car to drive, but with living in Alaska, AWD for her is important. Unfortunately, none of the dealerships will let us test drive one until we get approved to buy it. We've test drove a WRX non STi and it was nice, but from what I hear the STi is a completely different beast. We are specifically looking at the 5-door. What are peoples thoughts on them?
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12-10-2011, 03:28 AM | #2 |
The Backbone!
Drives: '11 VR 2SS/RS M6, 01 Jeep TJ modded Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 358
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Bump...no one?
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12-10-2011, 03:29 AM | #3 |
All blackkk
Drives: 2010 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 871
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why do people put the ' after the number? I always think they mean 11 foot sti, not 2011 sti.
__________________
Drivin it like I stole it.
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12-10-2011, 05:33 AM | #4 |
Drives: 2005 STi corn fed Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,997
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Well first you yell, "surprise!"
Anyway, the sti's are very fun cars. For a daily driver in a wintery place you can't get much better in the snow and you can track the car right out of the box. It's not for the feint of heart though. You row gears like a machine because they're so short and there are some clunking and gear noises because of front and rear limited slip diffs and a center diff. Come check out iwsti.com, we've got a good community over there for the most part. NASIOC is full of idiots and scammers. Just know if you ever start modding you will never stop. Boost and awd is too much fun. |
12-10-2011, 06:23 AM | #5 |
Drives: 2011 LS Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 89
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Support the home team buy domestic brand car instead .
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12-10-2011, 10:06 AM | #6 |
Drives: 2SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: AK
Posts: 2,299
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The WRXs and STIs are very practical cars that go fast, good ergonomics, actual usable power (who cares if I can go 175 in my SS?) an acceleration at lower speeds, decent cargo carrying capability. Rear seats are smallish, but much bigger than a camaro's obviously. I had a WRX previously. These cars are fairly easy to work on and mod and there is a huge amount of support out there for them.
The WRX and STI have gotten closer over the years (after the 2008 wrx disaster), which is a good thing for the WRX. The STI is a "different" animal in that it's nearly track-ready in terms of suspension setup, brakes, wheels and tires, transmission, etc. It has a lot more potential for modding due to the forged engine/cylinders. The WRX posts nearly equal 0-60 times because it doesn't have to shift as many times getting to 60mph, but the STI with it's 6-speed is by far the better machine on the track. The WRX was widened, stiffened up and the power was increased recently, and with a minimum of $$$ you can make it "as fast" accelerating as an STI, but you don't have the brakes, suspension components and setup, and many other parts that make it an STI. Unless you are going to track, a WRX is 80-90% of an STI in terms of how you're going to use it practically, plus the fact that it doesn't take a lot of $$ to make the WRX as fast as the stock STI. If you want to eventually mod beyond that with a bigger turbo and other stuff, or have the baddest road-sticking car out there, get the STI. That will be better in the end and you won't have to dump as much $$$ into the suspension/brakes to support engine mods. I'm going to buck the trend though and say that they aren't all that in the snow when set up for performance. The AWD is outstanding, but if you put real performance tires on it, it ain't all that great anymore. What you can do is get winter or all-season tires and THEN it's outstanding with AWD, but don't expect all that much on snow with performance, the tires make too much of a difference IME, although you often see some pretty cool tire/wheel combos with STIs. One guy around here races and has a gravel-tire/wheel setup. I had a modified WRX before and I would not hesitate to go back to Subaru due to the reliability. I sold it at 135K with the mods I did and the engine was going strong, the only thing that ever failed on me was the "boost control solenoid", possibly due to my mods, but it was a $100 part to replace and didn't cause the car strand me or anything, just reduced power. Given how reliable it was with the mods, I know they build solid cars. I got the 2SS to get something different for the most part. I don't need to carry kids or rear passengers, so that's not really an issue. New STIs go for a little too much as well and the slightly used ones go for more than they should (I sold my WRX above KBB). I think that Subaru often needs to embrace new technology and develop it to a higher extent like the bigger japanese auto makers do, like direct injection and 6-7spd transmissions, the japanese market gets cool features like twin-scroll turbos and completely forged engines, which also kind of stinks. |
12-10-2011, 10:22 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: AK
Posts: 2,299
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If only the domestics made practical fun awd sports cars at a reasonable weight. How was subaru able to make an AWD car 500lbs lighter than my Camaro? (hint, aluminum body panels was a big part of it). ZR1s and GT500s are neat, but pretty poor as far being practical is concerned. The "practical" segment is where Subaru puts their money. This would be like GM or Ford going all-out for the cobalt/cruze/fusion-awd-segment...but they don't really, or they don't bring those types of cars over to the US at the very least.
In any case, if you always buy american, how's that ever going to push them to be competative? If they don't have to fight for your business, there's no kicker to force them to keep innovating and improving. |
12-10-2011, 10:33 AM | #8 |
The Backbone!
Drives: '11 VR 2SS/RS M6, 01 Jeep TJ modded Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 358
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Thanks for the info, James. My wife rolls around in a Forrester right now and she loves the AWD since we drive in the snow 7 months out of the year up here in Alaska. She's driven one before, I think the previous version w/e years that covered, and she loved it. She's got the "go fast bug" again ever since I let her drive my SS, so I'd like to get her something, like you said, practical and fast. Thanks again!
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12-10-2011, 10:50 AM | #9 |
Drives: bug Join Date: May 2009
Location: nv
Posts: 1,319
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I would lean more towards the WRX for the wife then the STI. They are exactly identical when it come to acceleration with the edge actually going to the WRX due to less shifting because it uses a regular 5 speed vs a close ratio 6 speed.
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12-10-2011, 11:26 AM | #10 | |
Drives: 2SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: AK
Posts: 2,299
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Quote:
I would also lean towards the WRX though, unless the track or simply having the "most badass" road-gripping car is important, but the ride sacrifices, mileage and premium price may not be worth it. After owning the WRX wagon, I'd definitely go for the STI hatch, again, much more practical than the sedan. I think the STI hatch at least looks like a "cool hatch" while the STI sedan looks like: "what is this supposed to be?". |
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12-10-2011, 10:24 PM | #11 |
Drives: bug Join Date: May 2009
Location: nv
Posts: 1,319
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^ Makes sense but then why do they both trap 102mph stock?
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12-10-2011, 11:40 PM | #12 |
Drives: 2005 STi corn fed Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,997
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The tire thing is true, but that's true with any car you buy. Put some summer-only performance tires like the RE070 on a 5,000lb SUV and it will still suck in the snow. You have to either move to all seasons or have a set of winter tires. I have blizzaks and it's actually a challenge to lose traction in most situations. It handles the snowcaine better than our LR2 or our GLK and they all get blizzaks in the winter. You're right though about keeping in mind tires are always the limiting factor. The stock tires are absolutely terrifying in the snow.
Last edited by 8cd03gro; 12-10-2011 at 11:51 PM. |
12-11-2011, 08:34 AM | #13 |
Drives: 2SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: AK
Posts: 2,299
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It seems like the 2011 sti only (not 2010 or 2009, what about 2012?) somehow got "detuned" slightly, despite getting improvements in other areas. Although I haven't seen a trap time that fast with any wrx (just searched), they are of course reporting that the wrx 0-60 is with the 6000rpm clutch-drop, and 4.8 0-60 for the sti is impressive given the extra shift imo. I'm glad i didn't have to make the choice, haha, I was half considering an sti, but the new wrx IS impressive, but then again I'd own the same car again...
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12-11-2011, 08:45 AM | #14 | |
Official Lounge BAMF
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Quote:
that was the biggest thing I noticed, I've driven both the STI and WRX 5 door. The ride is a lot more firm on the STI but it does have a bit more power...... but for the money, you could do an intake and exhaust and have nearly the same power, if not more.... and still have the better ride quality of the WRX. |
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