Quote:
Originally Posted by nikitopo
I would prefer personally the Showa set, but it was too much to import in Germany. The Showa makes sense to be cheaper in Japan as it doesn't have any import fees comparing to the Bilstein's. For us here it is the other way around  . I also think that in total the first tS car with the GT package was more expensive, the second tS car cheaper and the sti sport now even more cheaper. No? |
Yes I think they probably spent the most effort and money on the first iteration.
I agree the Showa set is probably more OG in terms of feel but this is just a guess.
I actually waited for the Bilstein set cuz I thought that would be more traditional in terms of STI equipment, and that I really wanted to try monotube shocks. These are custom valved for STI and actually not as harsh as Bilstein B8 Sport Shocks that are aftermaket for many other cars I've rode in before.
I think the 2nd iteration didn't have the rear CF wing but did have the Recaro Sportster CS with additional sound deadening and chassis stiffening as standard, whereas the first car needed the GT Package to have the Recaros and the rear CF wing, and only the rear subframe was stiffened.
The STI Sport being a standard model has already incorporated a lot of the improvements done on previous tS models into the factory production line and no longer requires to be upgraded separately by the STI workshop afterwards. Hence it doesn't need to be priced higher than the previously two custom built cars, and finally cost effective enough to bring a version over to North America.