Quote:
Originally Posted by ricerocket
Personally I'd be willing to trade off the extra 7-10mpg for the extra power and awd. I mean in essence it really just is a 4 door, factory turbocharged and awd FR-S/BRZ and for around the same money give or take. As much as I loved the exterior design of the 2011-2014 WRX hatches, the fit and finish of the interior was just the worst. The entire interior was basically all plastic sans the seats and the stock stereo royally sucked. The new one looks to be a very big step up from the outgoing model though even if there won't be a hatch model available.
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Having come FROM an STI, let me tell you that the 7-10 MPG loss really hurts. Unless you live in an area where you'll need AWD in the winter, it may not be worth it.
For a long time, I thought the STI was my dream machine. I was happy with my WRX but I wanted more, and the STI had more, so I figured the STI was therefore what I wanted.
After having gotten the STI, it was indeed more than the WRX and quite a bit of fun. But the costs really really hurt. And then I test drove a BRZ.
I'm asked if I miss the power of the STI. My response is always "Eh, just a little sometimes." The BRZ, however, is so much fun to just drive whether my foot is in it or not (more fun with my foot in it, though) compared to the STI that I don't miss the power all that much, b/c what I get in return is so much better. Because in essence what the STI and WRX will
never be is a BRZ/FR-S with turbo AWD. The RWD is critical to the entire feel of the twins. Add in power-robbing AWD and the weight imbalance that comes (gotta have the transmission over the front axle to allow for the trans-axle being driven, and therefore the engine is now out in front of and over the front axle) from AWD, in addition to the big difference AWD brings to the handling game and you have nothing like an FT-86 twin. The only thing they may share in common is a similar power plant, and that's it.
And I'm saving a LOT of money on gas and insurance that can go into putting the power I lost into the BRZ.
Not saying the STI isn't worth it. It may be, but consider that some of us came from STIs and are very very happy with the switch to the twins.