Subaru WRX vs WRX STi?, Looking for technical differences Options

[Illyont]

Hello all!

This post is mainly a request from the guy(s) who own an Impreza WRX, but anyone who feel they are _absolutely sure_ can answer

I'm unsure about the differences of the two cars (WRX and WRX STi). Also, what differences came from year 2000-2005 models? Because some say the 2001 STi have 280 bhp, while other say 220 bhp.. And the new 05 STi is 245 bhp, to my knowledge.

This might be different in Europe/Asia/USA though.. Post what car your information comes from please.


According to autority sources the GT-Four is _not_ street legal in Norway, even though a few people have them. My best bet at getting a new Celi is then to get a "regular" SS-III (beams, 197 bhp front wheel drive). I want 4WD for my next car, so that kinda leaves the Celi unavailable :/

I have hear alot of bad about the quality of Mitsubishi Evo, so that car is also out of the question. Then you have the older Eclipse with 4x4 and turbo, but those are starting to get kinda old.

It all boils down to the Impreza, and then I atleast want the regular 125 bhp 2.0 litre car. But I would love the WRX (hence my wondering.. What are the differences between the regular WRX and the MUCH more expensive STi).

If I do get the regular WRX (if different or not), could I still use all of the STi mods available? Or are the two cars so different that they use another exhaust system, electronics, suspension setup or whatever?

Reviews state that both cars are pretty fast, but that is seen from a regular daily driver kinda view, and that's not the same as to say it is a fast car I had an ST though, so whatever will probably seem fast. The bad thing about the Impreza is fuel consumption.. They use ALOT of fuel, to my knowledge. Nothing is perfect (unless maybe the GT-Four)

[darksecret]

The US Imprezza RS, WRX, and STi use the same 2.5 Litre motor, where the rest of the world gets the 2.0 Litre rated with a higher output and it has a lot less stress.

This post has been edited by darksecret: Jul 29, 2005 - 10:22 AM

[dahoman9]

STI is the Subaru modifiers.
like how Ralliart is to Mitsubishi and TRD is to Toyota

STI takes the car and modify it

[Rjb23]

Isn't the WRX FWD and the STI is AWD both turbo'd.

[OrbitalGT95]

Isn't the WRX FWD and the STI is AWD both turbo'd.
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i think almost every subaru is awd...the the wrx is deff awd..every model

[Kadett]

Ah man dont get a Subaru, There so common, at least here they are.

[Consynx]

wrx = 2.0L i believe
STi = 2.5L in the US, they couldn't pass some US regulations w/ the JDM 2.0L
wrx = 227hp
sti = 300hp
in 02 the wrx came to america, i think it took a yr for the STi to come out??
The headlights changed the year the sti came out i belive, so...03?
and they updated the interior due to customer complaints in....05?

The WRX has a tiny turbo that makes your car seem all-motor(spools instantly)
the STi turbo doesn't get a full spool till later(i saw 5k, but that was the STi on a 2.0L)

btw, i'm not sure how the STi is sold, but i remember they released AFTER the evo and wanted to beat it, so the evo ran a 13.6, and sti ran a 13.5, but they did not have a stereo and other things to weigh it down.
i don't know if they sale a base-model sti that has less weight.

[Illyont]

Isn't the WRX FWD and the STI is AWD both turbo'd.
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All Subarus are 4WD

[97sccelica]

the STI comes with a much stronger 6spd tranny, stronger axels, bigger brakes, stronger rear diff, driver controlled center differential, bigger and stronger 2.5l engine which has AVCS, the turbo is a little bigger, the intercooler is a little bigger, intercooler sprayer, better suspension, different seats, and a better gauge cluster with a factory shift light

STI's and WRX's do not have lag with their factory turbos.

02-03 were the bug eye WRX's

04 had the new headlights as well as the STI model

05 STI is very different from a 04 STI, the entire suspension was updated, wheel hubs and wheels are different

interior was made nicer for 05

[Illyont]

the STI comes with a much stronger 6spd tranny, stronger axels, bigger brakes, stronger rear diff, driver controlled center differential, bigger and stronger 2.5l engine which has AVCS, the turbo is a little bigger, the intercooler is a little bigger, intercooler sprayer, better suspension, different seats, and a better gauge cluster with a factory shift light

STI's and WRX's do not have lag with their factory turbos.

02-03 were the bug eye WRX's

04 had the new headlights as well as the STI model

05 STI is very different from a 04 STI, the entire suspension was updated, wheel hubs and wheels are different

interior was made nicer for 05
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Well, I know for sure that the STi does NOT have a driver controlled center differential in Europe... Not until 05 atleast. The JDM STi does have this feature.

I also think that the Europe STi have the 5 speed tranny, like the regular WRX. US and/or JDM might be different.

STi come with bucket seats, the WRX does not. Like you say.

Both STi and WRX come with a 2.0 litre engine. The 2.5 thingy is for US only, as far as I know. JDM is 2.0 litre only, like Europe.

[Consynx]

oh, he's in Norway

my post is useless

[lagos]

while we are on the topic....

what does a stock STI put down on a dyno? i think i remember seeing one dyno vid where it only did about 220hp at the wheels.... could that be true? i think an evo is about 260 at the wheels... so how can they claim the sti is a faster car?

what about the clutch/tranny on the sti . how much power is it known to hold before problems start? i keep hearing that the evo tranny starts to have issues when u get to around 400hp at the wheels.

the sti runs about 15psi stock. how much can u safely turn up the boost?

This post has been edited by lagos: Jul 29, 2005 - 12:23 PM

[Consynx]

sti should only be faster in a straight line
the evo is more of a road car while the STi held onto the rally-aspect more.

but iunno about powertrain loss for it.

[darksecret]

The STi is a little quicker in a straight line and the Evo has better times on the track and dirt, now when you start talking JDM or Euro it's another story there is the Spec C and FQ300 and since the Spec C is basically a stripped STi it outdoes the FQ300 in every catagory, personally if I had the choice and $50,000 USD (both cars are around that price, sad that you pay an extra $20,000 for some tuning and less options on the C) I would choose the FQ300 since I enjoy my stereo and A/C and there are other ways to fill the couple of seconds gap with the Spec C.

[97sccelica]

while we are on the topic....

what does a stock STI put down on a dyno? i think i remember seeing one dyno vid where it only did about 220hp at the wheels.... could that be true? i think an evo is about 260 at the wheels... so how can they claim the sti is a faster car?

what about the clutch/tranny on the sti . how much power is it known to hold before problems start? i keep hearing that the evo tranny starts to have issues when u get to around 400hp at the wheels.

the sti runs about 15psi stock. how much can u safely turn up the boost?
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stock STI's dyno anywhere from 225whp to 240whp

evos dyno a little less than STI's, they are rated 278hp compaired to the STI's 300hp

i havent heard of anyone breaking an STI tranny. from the factory it is rated to 550ft lbs of torque, but it can easily handle more than that. how long any AWD tranny lasts depends purely on the driver.

people have made 500whp on a stock STI engine, clutch, and tranny. it can take a lot of abuse, if the tuning is good, otherwise, the cast pistons give out.

its not at all good to simply raise the boost on a WRX or STI with out the ability to tune for it.

[Consynx]

in other countries there's the FQ400/430(one of those or both)
and it's over 400+hp
amazing car...~$80,000 i believe
but in AMERICA, were are supposed to get a VERY limited WRX
the WRX STi ESX
it's like the FQ400 evo for the STATES.
very few are going to be made, and they estimated a low price, but i'm guessing the demand will shoot it up to 60k+

[97sccelica]

in other countries there's the FQ400/430(one of those or both)
and it's over 400+hp
amazing car...~$80,000 i believe
but in AMERICA, were are supposed to get a VERY limited WRX
the WRX STi ESX
it's like the FQ400 evo for the STATES.
very few are going to be made, and they estimated a low price, but i'm guessing the demand will shoot it up to 60k+
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yea, i got a ride in the afshar signature series STI prototype

cool car.

[lagos]

97sccelica, ive seen stcok evo dyno sheets at over 260. i think mitsu has less drive train loss then subaru, or subaru is pulling the 300hp out of its ass for marketing reasons.

anyone have a video or something of the 2 cars racing in their stock form? from the vids ive see so far, the mitsu is always faster, but i never know if they are stock or modified in the vids ive seen.

[97sccelica]

97sccelica, ive seen stcok evo dyno sheets at over 260. i think mitsu has less drive train loss then subaru, or subaru is pulling the 300hp out of its ass for marketing reasons. 

anyone have a video or something of the 2 cars racing in their stock form? from the vids ive see so far, the mitsu is always faster, but i never know if they are stock or modified in the vids ive seen.
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that might have been a factory freak or a high reading dyno. what dyno was it on? i've seen a WRX with up pipe and cobb stage 1 reflash put 246 at the wheels. nearly all stockers put out 170whp and an up pipe doesnt add too much peak hp, and a stage 1 reflash adds about 30hp

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_...ishi_evos_dyno/

motortrend dynoed three evos there, putting down 228(evo), 227(MR), and 235(RS) whp peak out of three runs for each car, the lower power runs put out about 8 less whp for each car. i went to that same shop to dyno tune my WRX. i specifically asked the owner of the shop what STI's put down on his dyno and he said around 235-240whp

the only videos i manage to find of stock EVO's are ones that invlove SRT4's, and from a roll, the SRT4 is quicker than both cars

This post has been edited by 97sccelica: Jul 30, 2005 - 3:41 PM

[darksecret]

Maybe an SRT-4 with a turbo upgrade.
C&D did a head to head and the Evo is a better track car, but the STi is faster in the quarter.