BG Auto: Lancer Evolution vs WRX STi

[Militant]

I work for a very large tire retailer/wholesaler and while Blizzak's are well worth the money spent for that extra security in the snow/slush, there really is no true replacement for having AWD. The blizzaks help more with traction and maintaining control while stopping, if the front wheels are slipping and keep digging them selves in further, no tire, unless studded, is going to get you out.

[*Shinzon*]

I work for a very large tire retailer/wholesaler and while Blizzak's are well worth the money spent for that extra security in the snow/slush, there really is no true replacement for having AWD. The blizzaks help more with traction and maintaining control while stopping, if the front wheels are slipping and keep digging them selves in further, no tire, unless studded, is going to get you out.

Yeah that was kinda my point, well said.

[Militant]

blah accidental double

[Amastacia]

I work for a very large tire retailer/wholesaler and while Blizzak's are well worth the money spent for that extra security in the snow/slush, there really is no true replacement for having AWD. The blizzaks help more with traction and maintaining control while stopping, if the front wheels are slipping and keep digging them selves in further, no tire, unless studded, is going to get you out.

Totally true, but AWD only does anything while your foot is on the accelerator. The rest of the time, there is effectively no difference between RWD, FWD, and AWD with the same track and the same tires. Snows are the single most important thing to have because they'll help you go, stop, and turn better in the snow and ice. AWD will help you go better. AWD + snows is, of course, optimal, lol.

A good traction control program narrows the gap between AWD and not-AWD, but certainly doesn't eliminate it. A good traction control program and a limited slip diff helps more, but again, doesn't eliminate it.

I'm just not sure, given how much I work from home, and how much of my winter driving is on the highways, that the additional cost for a WRX is worth it, and giving up the features I would use would be either.

But I love WRXs and I'm a big proponent of AWD. Just not when the economic model is a bust.

[jmc]

Just wanted to say, I've had blizzaks for 2 seasons now on my Subaru.

Absolutely love them....no problems at all, when I needed to drive into work during nasty storms

[Zigma]

I've had an EVO X for about a year+ now and I love it. I got it brand new. In my honest opinion, unless you care about fuel economy or going 200mph+, a 6th gear should not worry you much. These two cars drink gas like there is no tomorrow. I have driven STI's both the current generation and previous one and besides the nice grunt of the boxer engine, I prefer the X.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sBTjdKaSdM

[Heavencloud]

I'll vouch for Subaru's AWD and reliablilty. I bought a '07 base Impreza two years ago, and I've had no problems whatsoever. I even ran summer tires this winter and it did great in the snow. If you end up going the Subaru route, post pics once you get it!

[Plow]

For 99.99999% of people, the only thing 4wd does is get you stuck a little farther from home.

[Heavencloud]

For 99.99999% of people, the only thing 4wd does is get you stuck a little farther from home.

AWD =/= 4wd though. And that's a bit of an exaggeration, I'd say that's true for some people that are inexperienced drivers though.

Pic kinda related it's me this winter at 6am getting ready. Summer tires and never slipped, and I live on hills.

http://i53.tinypic.com/2vmj22a.jpg

[Haruk]

I actually just picked up an '06 STi about a month ago... running stage 2 with some built internals and the car is an absolute blast to drive, nothing like how you just get thrown in your seat going into boost.
vs the evo is also very opinionated... they both have their pros and cons, I love both cars but absolutely love the subie even more!
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9849/img0260rw.jpg<3

[Plow]

AWD =/= 4wd though. And that's a bit of an exaggeration, I'd say that's true for some people that are inexperienced drivers though.

I literally facepalmed at the first part of that.

And of course it's an exaggeration, that was kind of the point.

It's still pointless for most people.

[Amastacia]

So, I'm lovin' the new MS3. Much better stock-for-stock than any WRX I've driven (short of an STI, anyway).

Turbo spools much faster, so it's much easier to go fast in the real world.

Did get some hairy TC intervention during a downpour when I got on it a little too hard (twitchy throttle compared to a lolCivic), which would've been much less of an issue with AWD.

But. Holy crap @ all the cool crap I got for the price of a base WRX, that are either just plain not available (HIDs that can swivel as you turn, for example) or require a much more expensive WRX to get. I'm diggin' this thing so much. Full disclosure: S-Plan pricing saved me about $2k on my MS3.

[Haruk]

Speed3's are definitely awesome cars! +1
Not something I'd want around here year round though, only reason I went with an STi was because I wanted the turbo AWD to be a perfect car to use year round, and I know if I just got a WRX I'd only want an STi right after...