Subaru WRX STi vs... Porsche?
Sunday June 12, 2005
I've had the 2005 Subaru WRX STi (check out Tropical Bob's test drive of the '04 here) for less than 24 hours and already I've had the driver of a new Porsche 911 (clearly suffering from a mid-life crisis) try to get me to race on the freeway. I declined, but I did treat him to a quick preview of the STi's potential when I zipped around a slow-moving pickup. (You don't accelerate the STi; you launch it.) All of which begs the question: Which is better, the soul and suave of the Porsche, or the Subaru's mindless pursuit of power through superior technology? The Subaru's well-balanced all-wheel-drive layout is clearly superior to the Porsche's pendulum-like arrangement with it's engine hung out behind the rear wheels. And while a Porsche is a Porsche, it's also twice the price of an STi. Currently, Japanese sport-luxury sedans like the Infiniti G35 are rapidly overtaking German competitors like the new BMW 3-series. Could the German supercars be the next to fall? The STi has me wondering. -- Aaron Gold
Comments
You are an idiot. We will see how many of the mass maketed ricers are around after ten years.
You know, you can always tell the american car owners with statements like that. You have nothing to go on but pure hatred of the cars that are kicking the ass of the american vehicles these days. I would take my stock STI up against any car you can pick up off the lot at any of the big three. Hell, I’ll even let you throw in a Porsche 911 GT3 so I can at least have some competition. And let me remind you, I did say my STOCK STI. Anybody can mod a car and make it more powerfull, but even the STOCK STI will outperform moded cars. And did you say that the STI was mass marketed?? Funny, because I’ve only seen one ad for the STI in the past two years. Yes, mass marketed indeed. At least I think you meant marketed, because you spelt it wrong (maketed???) And about your comment on how many of these “ricers” will be around after 10 years…. most likely quite a few more then their american counterparts. Japanese vehicles outlast american vehicles by quite a bit. Even the head of Chrysler said that they have years to go until they will be able to match the reliability of the Japanese auto makers. Just accept the fact that the Japanese cars are more reliable due to the engineering (ask anybody who works at a tool and die or mold shop how often the Japanese engineers are in the factories checking over everything compared to their American colleagues), and that more and more people every year are buying Japanese vehicles. All those people can’t be wrong can they? Oh, wait…. this is you we’re talking about. We’re just all dumb ass rice lovers who buy crap cars. Yes… that’s it. Oh and by the way Mr. deffender of the American car, you should sell your shares in GM while you can still get a few cents for them.
Well said Barry!
Point and squirt with the STi! And have enough money left over to go on a trip!
yup , lets just say , we want to find the better buy (best performance / power / etc) just the overall best buy for the $$ , so you buy a porsche 911 , and then you turn around and buy a STi for half the price , and put the remaining $$ you would have spent on the porsche into performance mods , and you really dont even have a race , you have a handsdown shutout and a really upset porsche owner
You guys are idiots. Comparing a Subaru to a 911.
No one here is an idiot. Everyone has their own opinion. Both the STI and 911 are amazing cars.
As far as the “10 year” comment, I’d rather have an STI than 911 due to the maintenance prices on the Porsche.
Hey Guys what about BMW M3 you guys never said anything Well can take both of mentioned cars above any time any which way!!!
really, you should re-check you data and i think you’ll find the sti gets to 60 faster than the M3, and for less than half the price.
Not everyone can afford or wants to drive a 911 and that is exactly why I love mine. Not only is it one of the best designed cars ever it also stands out in the crowd
Sorry, but an STI is faster than an M3 - and should get a bit better road times too. And why don’t you look at the price difference between an STI and a M3… With the extra $10-30k the Subaru owner could have quite a modfest. Also look at the reliability differences between Subaru and BMW. And handling? Having driven both, the Soob should stay ahead of the M3 no problem on a windy rd. And aren’t BMWs secretary cars? Beyond steping on the gas pedal, I’m not convinced many secretaries/real-estate agents that drive BMWs even know how to really push their cars.
Regardless, this article was kind of pointless, didn’t seem to go anywhere…
Plus, part of owning a more expensive car is the status of having that type of money to afford such a car. Performance seems to come 3rd or 4th after compensation issues and the whole chick-magnet thing…
And “ricers” are something else entirely. Econocars like Hondas turned into hoopties would be considered ricers. Just curious, what’s “ricer” about the STI? (and don’t say the fin - that is about rallycross not economods) What is “rice” about Subaru? Any links or evidence or anything? Or is it the logic that anything built in Japan is “rice”.
I work with all type of cars, and my STI with the tasteful mods i have made have out performed Ferrari 360’s, 911’s, and one very very upset Z06 owner. The Sti is almost at a pinnacle point for the (budget oriented) super car wanna be crazy. My 03 Cobra i just recently sold would give a stag 1 sti a run for the $ but the Sti would have it off the launch, and the rest would be history. if you don’t think these cars are all that there cracked up to be look at streetfire.net and see for yourself. and now with the GT35R turbo kit i just got i will spank most to any car you put me up against.
To the first post… Sir you show your mental capacity with a ridiculous back woods statement such as that.
Amercian Vs Japanese cars is also ridiculous these days. This is 2007, not 1950.. Today’s automakers are global coprorations, waving the red, white, and blue for a car make is nothing less than ignorant.
ok ok you guys, i have a 94 m3 which is modded a bit and is very quick, only just today i wasted a new wrx and he was not a happy man, considering he had 2.5 turbo to my n/a 3.0. i love my car and i prefer it over any other car , and that is the bottom line , but you guys are going on about jap vs yank cars , i have been street racing and working on sports cars for about 15 years and i can definetly say that yank cars havent a hope in hell of competing with jap and euro. even just on a style basis the american cars are just so ugly, but in saying that so are the evo and sti !!! but hey as long as your all happy who gives a shit !!!!
I dunno anyone who would rather have a subaru instead of a porsche. Are you out of your mind. I can’t imagine someone if money was not an option and both cars were places in front of him/her would go ahead an chose an sti over any porsche. Go ahead and say that guy has a midlife crises or whatever, but he can smoke you anyday, and proved it since u couldn’t even man up to take him on. The sti is a nice car dude, but don’t even dare compare it to a porsche. It’s like comparing a double whooper to a filet mignon.
You are dumb if you think Porsche is American…..its German!!! idoit…
I prefer the Subaru WRX Sti because it’s cheaper than a Porsche and Sti’s have a better performance. Subaru are for normal people and Porsches are for rich folks who can afford anything. STi’s rule and Japanese cars will take over. Screw American cars.
The Porsche is the best car to go out in the Wangan Line in Japan if you ask me. But really it’s a pain in the ass to take care of. Subaru’s can go over the power of a 911 and still perform better with money left over. Majority of the cars you see out in the U.S roads today are Japanese cars because of many factors that no other company can match up with.
all I have to say is WOW. I am currently driving a 05 wrx wagon with the 2.0 turbo. Running stage 3 upgrades and suspension mods. The car is a lot of fun and yes it would out run most of what you find on the street today BUT the reason why I drive it is price and the OVERALL ability of the car. It does everything well and because of that it was a smart purchase for a daily driver. The power package delivers great fun, reliability and a touch of comfort. However, if you are looking for all of those things in more of a luxury package (and you have the money to spend) the germans make the fit and finish worth it.
The japanese cars are the best bang for the buck by far. But if I had to tour cross country the porsche would be the vehicle of choice (or an S4/M3 etc) by far. But I don’t. So rain, snow or shine I jump in the suby and go.
If you want to compare 0-60 times you might as well include the american cars. There is no substitute for cubic inch. But drag racing numbers aren’t for everyone. some of us like to turn…
Every car has it’s high and low points. For that my current project is a 912 with a 2.5 stage 3 suby motor. Porsche + subaru in the same package. The germans make a better driving car and the japanese are good at making usable power.
If you want the best of both worlds you have to build it. Regardless of age, price or manufacturer. Good luck in your battle for the title of “what’s best.” In my mind you won’t find it straight from the factory.
So i just got an STi today-crystal grey metallic. I only got to drive it a little bit because i am still learning stick. Someone just please reassure me that driving it will get easier with practice..im scared of rush hour and backing up and s###. so i need some help! thanks!
why dont you guys put a jetta out on the line with the subaru i mean some dud said you cant make a jetta into a diesel but i proved it wrong my jetta is a deisel
if we r talkin about japanese cars why are we excluding skyline r 32 GTR. 911 turbo is fast, 911 turbo S is even faster, STI is fast but if u put a 911 turbo NOT modified(stock) against stock STI, 911 will demolish it, lets not talk about 911 S turbo, whichis even faster. why is skyline R32 GTR around 15 years old now and still in good shape, cos americans made it, dont think so, cos japs did. why was R32 GTR banned from the racing track couple of years back, beacause it killed all the v8 s thanks to all wheel drive and enormous power and brillian suspension. there is no point comparin porche 911 turbo with stock subaru STI, its like comparing ford mustang GT with ford festiva lol, only brakes on 911 turbo S cost around $20 000 dollars. i personally drive an R34GTR skyline with mild mods and i put out 317 kws in the engINe and i beat 911 turbo and STIs dont even bother racin me , even when the car was stock, however i lost a race against 911 turbo S cos its just freakin quicker lol .
well said dude, but the 911 is still bettr
I hardly think you have 2 comparable cars here. The 911 has so many variations over the 40 odd years of 911 that comparing the entire range to a single specific model of imprezza. I have to say tho some of your satements are a little bold: stock sti vs gt3?? plz pick up a magazine and Check the performance figures!!
Oops…should read my message before posting
96% of these “ricers” made in the past 10 years are still on the road based on R.L. Polk & CO. vehicle registration statistics. I don’t know the stats for porsche but it’s probably far less even taking into cinsideration how much more people tend to baby their porsches.
interesting debate.
here in the uk sti,s are everywhere and theres a fair few 911,s but most sti,s are driven by the younger people.old imprezza sti,s can be bought for $6000 and as long as the kids can afford the insurance then these are the cars to have.
i have no doubt that cars like imprezza and skylines are fantastic cars ( me i love the r34 skyline)but lets face it, these are playstation cars. electronically controlled everything.put a crap driver in an imprezza sti and the car will make them better.
the 911 though is a different breed of car, its a thoroughbred.a supercar of the old and new school combined.
what makes the 911 better than lambo,s and ferrari,s is that you can use a 911 everyday and reliability is as good as anything.also you need to be a good driver to drive a 911 good, moreso on the early model.
that best car in the world in my eyes the 911. nah,
that has to go to the ac cobra.
classic british car with a big american v8 in it.
drive it bad and it will kill you.
like what most people said.. you really can’t compare the STi to a Porche. Even yet a stock STi against a Porche. Yes, a stock STi is a very quick car but it has huge understeer with pretty bad turbo lag too. Even if you mod a STi with the money you save buying it to out perform a 911, the Porche is still in a way different class than a Subaru. Thats like comparing a 1000hp Supra or R34 against an Enzo.
And about the “ricer” comment..
Do you even know what ricer means?
It’s define as :A person who makes unecessary modifications to their (most often a import car) to make it faster and has no performance out come.
The STi is not a ricer, even though it has a huge spoiler .. it actually serves a purpose.
i love my 06 sti,i was gettin it or an evo, and as a matter of fact both would smoke, well not smoke, but beat a 911, and i was messing with a c6 vette on the highway (911’s and vettes have similar numbers) abd ya he was about equal wit me in speede, but i smoked him because where i was zipping in between uhauls and minivans, he was stuck in the slow lane bheind a grandma in a 1986 oldsmoblie i win
STi > all other cars
Do you mean how long american cars will be in a ten years you dumb ass redneck. I bet you like watching cars go around in circles also known as craps car ohh I mean Nascar which still uses outdated carburetors. Come on now soon all american car companies are going down hill. I rather ride a moped then buy an American car.
I cant believe some guys comparing 911 to Subaru STi! One should compare apple with apple! I own a 911 996 GT3, in my country, young guys in their 20’s always pick up a race with me in the streets. I know i can beat them any time, but rarely pick up a race for fear of being chased by another car… the highway patrol!
I feel very equipped to comment here. I currently own a modified 6 speed Vette and a Porsche 928. I bought an STi 3 weeks ago. I didn’t think it would happen, but the Vette and Porsche are going up for sale. I already modded the STi (to about 350 HP at this point) and the clincher for me was dusting a 2007 Shelby GT500 that was trying with all he had.
I was so impressed, I bought the wife an Outback XT 2 weeks later. Modifications will most likely occur there also. The only downside was the shock of learning insurance was 2.5 times more than for the Vette. It doesn’t change the fact that the STi keys are the first ones I grab these days.
evo ix kixks all ur dumb asses man !!!
As to the reliability of a Porsche: I have a 1998 911 that I’ve owned since new. I’ve changed the oil, brake fluid, and tires. Owned two other Porsches before that. Had to put an alternator on my first one. I recently sold my Toyota Camry because it needed a new front rack, and more work @ 90k. As far as any stock budget car keeping up with a Porsche: 1998 Porsche Turbo S: 0 - 60 in 3.9 seconds and quater mile in low 11’s. That’s stock, boys and those are my own times at the track. Subs are nice cars for the money, but in my opinion, they’re sort of ugly. Of course, Porsches are not for everyone either. As far as the guy who owns a Porsche 928, let me know how you feel after driving a real Porsche - that being a 911 Turbo or GT3. Subs are great racers for kids, but more mature men will opt for the 911 and because of that maturity, are less prone to race them on the street. If anyone takes their Sub to the track, I’d be curious to know what kind of numbers you are posting. Subs do handle well, but not nearly as well as a Porsche. As far as a Vette goes, I do have respect for the ZO6. Most people who like to knock Porsches, BMWs, and ZO6s have never owned one - and in many cases, have never even driven one. Don’t preach about what you don’t really know about - and if you haven’t owned a Porsche 911, then trust me, you don’t really have any authority to comment on one because the articles you read in Motor Trend don’t even come close to giving you the real experience of racing dow a twisty road at 140mph with that air cooled engine screaming at you from behind. By the way, Porsches top out at almost 200mph w/no mods. What’s that Sub top out at? Subs are nice cars boys, but stay in your league. But if you really think you can hang, take your Sub to the track and see how you run with some of the big boys.
I’ve owned Porsche 911s, 944-Turbos, among other models for over 12 years now. I’ve used them as daily drivers and have driven them on the track (road course).
Two years ago I became Porsche-less and am now a Subaru owner. I began with a WRX and recently acquired an 04 STI.
Would I still prefer to own a Porsche 993 or 996 over my STI? Absolutely!
Sometimes in life, however, we have to make compromises. Don’t get me wrong, the STI is a fabulous car as was my WRX. I went up against my friend’s 996 in my WRX my last track event and was actually faster than he was. My WRX had some upgrades but we’re only talking about springs, sway-bars, and exhaust mods. We both had same compound tires.
We switched vehicles for a session and I was immediately reminded of that 911 heritage. It’s hard to describe but it just feels so much at home on the track.
So why did I get the STI? I can haul my two kids around who no longer fit in the back seat of a 911 and the price of the car fits within my current budget. Oh yeah, the most important one of all, I can also take it to the track and be competitive.
Bottom line, they’re both great cars. Would I ever own American? Not on your life!
i have lightley moded 05 STi (with HKS stuffs). I live really close by the Saleen head quarter, and i love beat those cobras on the signals. I launch it. the clutch is amazing, after so much abuse after abuse, drifting, and jumping the car on a hills, still durable. i changed my clutch at 56k miles. now i have greddy’s stageI clutch, cool~
oh about the porche, it’s just too expensive. of course GT2 is realy fast, and other cars.. hmmm don’t even mention it, they are little slower than my STi, but fast.
EVO IV, hmmm evo would go head to head against STi, but my co-worker’s evo didn’t last very long. clutch was changed at 35k miles, and breaks worn out faster, tires needed changed vs. STi tires lasted 50k, and breaks, almost twice more.
STi is cheaper,but better quality than ti’s looks, look ugly at first, but if you stare at it for a while and drive around it, you’ll fall in love with it. not to mention three of your other friends can ride alone with you with trunk full of food and tents, and etc… my STi will still beat many porches, vetts, m3, you name it… but i don’t think GTR.
My dream car GTR…
I’m only 32 and a avid tuner car guy myself, so don’t go thinking it’s another rich prick with more money than brains. I work my ass off to get what I’ve got and have had. I love cars, it’s my passion; and as I’ve grown up my tastes and requirements have matured.
I’ve owned an STi and a Evo VIII MR and am now the happy owner of a Porsche Turbo.
First off, the Sti was a rattle trap. Fun car none the less, built to be quick and light at the cost of refinement. And was quicker than the last gen M3, (tested that one) But it was in the shop more than 4 times for little things, like the whole dash cluster dying, and the window seals leaked like a pasta strainer, the suspension squeaked like a 1960’s Ford pickup and the exhaust sounded like it had ping pong balls vibrating around in it (of which Subaru informed me wasn’t hurting anything). But all in all a fun quick car. Horrible paint.
The Evo… that was my baby. That car rocked! Phenomenal handling; made the Sti feel like a Suburban in the twisties. And oddly enough, a rock solid car, no squeaks or rattles even after 30,000+ hard driven miles. Even rock solid at top speed; I had that car pegged as fast as she would go (162 mph)for probably 10 miles and it was as stable as can be, even changing lanes and going through interstate type sweeping corners (live in Nevada, lots of places to open her up once you get away from the cities) But still, lacked that refinement that the Euro cars have. Although, given the choice right now between a Evo and a M3, I’d take the Evo.
Sure… you can throw money at an Evo and at the STi and you can make some pretty fast cars. But it’s a give and take affair. There is no fairy tale super tune that’s going to make your car have 500+ reliable horsepower for cheap. It’s going to cost money and time to do it correcly and even then it’s a pain in the butt, you’re always messing with it and adjusting it, and tweaking it, trying to get the speed and the smoothness. It’s just not possible. You’re always tinkering with them. Sure you can add bigger turbos but now you have great end game but lag issues and your car sucks in low speed corners and you have to run $6.00 a gallon fuel to keep it from detonating. And like I said, you don’t get something for nothing… there’s a compromise, fast and quick at the sake of longevity, smoothness, and resale. Not many people want to buy an already modified car; trust me on that one. My poor neighbor has blown 2 motors that I know of in his STi.
So after toying around with the rally rockets I sold them and stepped up to a Porsche Turbo with the X50 package. Sorry guys, but no stock Sti or Evo is going to hang. The thing revs so fast that when you first start driving it you can’t shift gears fast enough to keep it off the rev limiter. It’s amazing! And refined. And it has a motor based off of the GT1 race car, a motor that was developed to make over 600 horsepower, so 450 hp stock is a walk in the park; and you’re one chip away from 500+ HP which is still a walk in the park. I wanted my cake (performance) and I wanted to eat it too (refinement)and I wanted something with some resale value, and a car that would still be cool many years down the road. I still look at a 1979 Porsche 930 and think it’s a cool car, can you say the same about any other car that’s made today.
Granted not everybody can afford a Porsche, just like I can’t afford a Gallardo or a Ferrari, and there are guys out there that can’t afford STI’s or Evo’s and they’re driving highly modified and fast SRT 4’s. Why don’t you guys drive SRT-4’s? If you want the best performance for the buck… those guys claim exactly what you guys say. ” With the money I save from not buying an STi or an Evo I can mod my SRT to be just as fast or faster” Probably true.. but is it a better car? Probably not… was my modified evo faster than some Porsche’s and Ferrari’s? Yes it was… was it a better car? Probably not… it had to work pretty hard to get to the level they were stock, and they had miles more refinement.
I’m with jb952 on this one, I had a 2001 911 Carrera 4 for 3.5 years and now own a 2004 STI I picked up used for $21k (32k miles). The 911 cost me almost $100k new with luxury and sales tax! I got the STI for the same reasons, kids and not being able to haul them around in the 911, and not really being able to afford it any more.
The 911 was a slightly superior car in every way, but at way, way more $$$. Overall I love my STI, but I loved my Porsche and miss it every day. I don’t think I’ll ever miss the STI nearly as much whenever it’s no longer mine, but right now I plan on keeping it for a long time because it does so many things so well. As a family man, there’s really no substitute. I almost got a used M5 but that was $5k more for a car with twice as many miles.
Message to Number(35 bro you 911 from 0-60 in 3.9 is impressive my STI does it at 3.5 shifting at 5000 rpms i do it in 3.2 when i shift at 6500 rpms and as far as going to the track and hanging with the big boys i go to the RMR Rocky Mountain Race Way, LOL i got kicked because no one was winning yes this means 911, vettes, chargers, mustangs, hell even ferrari’s were gettin there asses reamed.
LOL…some of you are dillusional. STi stock going 0-60 in 3.2….hahaha. Perhaps extremely modified. Never realized the STi could kill nearly everything out there! WOW!
Anyways back to the real world. I have friends that own the STi and as stated above rattles and squeeks. Comparing it to Porsche performance perhaps. Comparing it to Porsche overall…hell no! I currently own a 997S and nothing but Love! No funny noises, little maintenance (not sure what one poster was saying bout high maintenance?!? Oil change every 15K).
A car is far more than just HP and 0-60. By the way I never lost to a STi to my once stock 997S. Currently has a EVO SC and Ceramic Brakes…pure joy…
I have seen this arguement over and over again. A porsche and an sti are not in the same market or class. The only true test would to own both and then determine which is better, and even then they just aren’t in the same class, you can’t really compare the two equally.
is it me or do you guys just have way too much money haha
I own a 2007 sti bone stock.Ive driven my dads zr1 my moms 914 boxer my brother in laws 68 ss and my pals’ stingray.NOTHING CAN CORNER LIKE MY STI.Absolutely nothing! now add rain conditions to that…eat my wake!
yeah, different animals. and I’d love to see a porsche at high speeds driving a mixed terrain race through mud, jumps, etc.
STi’s are rice, I own a 2005 STi. If it’s jap, it’s rice. Theres your proof retard.
no i’m not done…
“Message to Number(35 bro you 911 from 0-60 in 3.9 is impressive my STI does it at 3.5 shifting at 5000 rpms i do it in 3.2 when i shift at 6500 rpms and as far as going to the track and hanging with the big boys i go to the RMR Rocky Mountain Race Way, LOL i got kicked because no one was winning yes this means 911, vettes, chargers, mustangs, hell even ferrari’s were gettin there asses reamed.”
wtf… driving a porsche takes way more skill then driving a sti . Think what do you think could possibly make more power? a porsche engine or an sti engine? A ******* porsche engine you ***** . It’s just that ricers have all the ***** mods to buy. The porsche owners don’t care about buying tons of upgrades. Their car is already nice. BTW i’m the driver of a 2005 stage 2+ STi. (future racer of a 911)
you all are lunatics.
someday cars and you will not exist.
but in the mean time… SCREW YOU HATERS! STI could and would whoop all of you! porche’s are too expensive and break easily and BMW well … is BMW. hahaha
viva la STI!!!!
Depends on driver, money, and location. STI/EVO are Impressive on corners and MTs and Technical incounters.. BMW is good too if theres no snow, gravel,sleet or any of those following technical conditions.. I am in the north east in the MT area’s and thats the best vehicle for the situation. STI wouldnt probly be nice in heated areas of cali or virginia due to the speed look of the spoiler cops would know you by first name.BMW is good. in those areas as long as its not black with black tint and a black person such as I in it…when trying to avoid the cops that play there music and show there club lights.. but a nice and classy car for maybe a buisness and mature look in grey.Porche well its a good car but the only thing suitable for room is the suv.. and well i’m a person that looks for an all around car.. its like buying a 350z or a G35.. G35 due to room an needed companion space for extra ladys….. my 3 pennys
youre all idiots
american cars will kil both them
Interesting… I have had my porsche for over 28 years. Maintaining has been dirt cheap. I can sell it today for almost as much as I paid for it in 1980. Many more things to consider when purchasing a fine car other than 0-60. Anyone wanting a Subaru simply cant afford a Porsche or does not understand the ‘value’ of a fine auto. In any event I am sure the STi would make one fine eye-sore in 28 years. Each to his own and I know for a fact people dont buy Sti’s because of their cheaper price - they buy because its the best they can afford.
Sorry guys….My father has two Porsche Carrera 2 models and I have an ‘05 STI. I outrun them both hands down. He will admit to it as well. They are 90’s model Porsches, but still…… The STI and the EVO are the real deals.
By the way 930, I can afford many 930 Turbos. They make less per year of the STI. 3500 to be exact. I was given the chance to buy one of my old man’s Porsches ($60,000+ vehicle) and I immediately bought the STI. Sorry buddy, if I want cush, I buy a Lexus. If I want to race, I get the STI. Oh yeah, there is nothing nice about the old 911/930 Turbo models. My STI is much nicer inside. We had Turbo when I was growing up. Ran nice…….when it would run at all!!!!
since this is a pretty heaty topic. how about:
2003 bmw m3 vs 2006 subaru wrx sti?
both stock
4 wheel drive turbo cars are fast but too safe to be any fun. good when you’re above 100mph on a rally road; otherwise ugly and boring.
Probably why you see so many Subaru’s wining big international races and so many truly knowledgeable people driving them? Not!!!!!!!! As for advanced technology? You obviously talk down things you cant afford to justify your decisions. Sad life.
Actually Rice Burner is slang for any Asian motorcycle(Japanese, Chinese, Korean), later became known as any Asian Vehicle, Americans making jokes about asian vehicles. Of course now most American cars are made over seas as well. At least the parts are. The word Ricer is a short name for RICE BURNER. Which is the new slang of the old, but has seemed to take on a new meaning that makes no sense to the old meaning. You’re talking about 2 different generations of the word. Older people will say that all Asian vehicles are RICE BURNERS. Younger folks consider RICERS anything that doesn’t have a high performance, that they have to mod to try to get any extra HP out of, and doesn’t help. Usually adding noisy exhaust, cosmetic upgrades that make it look interesting and fast, but adds no performance to it. Old school meaning of RICE BURNER was that it didn’t matter if the car was powerful or not. Any Asian vehicle is coined the phrase RICE BURNER, not any imported vehicle. Why would you call a european import a Rice burner? You don’t see any Rice Paddy fields in Europe do you? The word has de-volved to RICER which means any imported car. Which technically the new generation of the name is for morons. Personally RICER and RICE BURNER are the same thing in my book, and that is any asian imported car, but I’m old school. Lexus, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, Honda’s whether high performance cars or 4 cylinder jobs that have no HP at all.. are all RICE BURNERS. These kids now adays have obviously changed the meaning and the word and are more protective of their “PERFORMANCE ASIAN CARS” that their not RICE BURNERS. STi however is a nice rally car, and so is the porsche. However some people don’t think that the porsche is a rally car, and it’s only for a daily driver. But it’s won alot of rally’s. Good luck with your definition of RICER and RICE BURNER.
I have a 1999 Subaru RS coupe with a full 05 STi swap + 10k worth of suspension/engine mods. Even with all this work I’ve spent much less than what 1/2 a 911 turbo would cost. With street tires I go from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and pull over 1.1g in an open parking lot on a cool day. I have trailed several 911 turbos through twisties here in NorCal listening to their tires complain through the turns without even hearing a chirp from mine.
The cool thing is most Porsche owners will pull off the road and let me pass once they realize they are clearly slower. I cannot say the same for other subaru/mitsubishi/nissan/audi/bmw/gm/ford… Gentlemen drive high end Porsche and I like to think of myself as a gentleman. Perhaps I will buy a Porsche later for this reason.
I did much of the swap work myself and save a few stupid things, the engineering work (both electrical and mechanical) is truly amazing. Not just for the money, but in general… The tech can save your butt when you enter a corner too hot or when you stick all but one of your wheels in the snow. 1 wheel has grip = you will go! The Porsche cannot offer these things; however, my subaru doesn’t look nearly as clean as any Porsche (inside or out). Right now I enjoy the afterthought interior and the truly unrefined look, but this may not be the case in 5-10 years.
So in summary, you CAN compare these two vehicles but you cannot say one is better than the other at everything; it simply isn’t true.
In my opinion, a slightly modded STi (for a little more power and to correct the intentional understeer to save teenies’s lives) is well within the racing class of any Porsche. Just look at the wrx sti spec C lap times around the Nurburgring. Note I say “racing class” not “class” by itself. The thing about Porsche is, even if you win every race against one, he still out classes you
. Except Boxter. The idea of a compromised/econo-box Porsche saddens the deepest parts of my heart.
One last comment: If you do manage to get a Porsche driver into your tricked out subaru/mistu, he’ll complain about the handling, the rattles, the turbo lag… on and on but he will Not complain about his lap time
all cars have their flaws but its evident that imports are taking over american cars. However, no car is perfect. Subarus usually go downhill after 100 k and the suspension sucks. European cars are expensive to maintain but if maintained right they should last just as long as any jap car. it all comes down to your own personal preference.
I have built engine, built STi… 05…
I’m selling it to get 996 carrera 4 s…
in my family we have carrera gt, turbos, gt3, etc…
I like porsche more.
Porsche Wins.