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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Advice needed Evo 9 or WRX Sti?


rob wild

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I've already had a good search through the internet and on the EVO and Subaru forum's but as I know many of you have owned one or even both of these cars and I was looking for an unbiased opinion :) The Budget is 12k so would be looking at and EVO 9, 300/320 model. As far as the Subaru is concerned I like the idea of the PPP or Spec C versions but just wondered about the different engines i.e 2 or 2.5 litre.

 

I'm interested in reliability, cost of parts as well as general what's it like to drive :)

 

Any advice welcome :)

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I think it's going to be more what you like the feel off. If it was me it would be Evo every time. I took a test drive in a 03 impreza just to see how it compared to our Evo 7 & found the Subaru softer shocks & seats but the evo holds you very well & i find the Evo rather nice to drive. Power wise Evo all day long, now saying that the Subaru was stock (not even an uprated exhaust) & our Evo has 320bhp. Handling again Evo wins but on the road it would be hard to beat either. Fuel wise don't expect much more than 350km to a tank, the 9 does have a little bigger tank than the 7 but nothing to sing about & don't think there is much between the Evo & Subaru in fuel terms. Service wise i think the Subaru has longer service intervals, not sure what they are but the Evo needs an oil change every 4500 miles. Can't think of much more really, oh yeah AYC don't worry about what you read on the net. There is a clutch pack which the oil needs changing about once a year or every 10,000miles which is only gear oil. The pump part is Dexron 3 but only needs done every 45000miles but will need bled out so a specialist is your best bet for this.

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Evo every day of the week. If you can, try and stretch the budget to the 340/360 model as that really is the pick of the bunch. They can easily be tuned to 400hp without the lag and all the other crap of the actual 400 version.

 

Just to make you aware, I dislike Evo's. I had one and I honestly don't rate them. They are great for point and shoot driving but absolutely numb as far as driving experience goes. I would always take an evo over a subaru though.

 

Each to their own, but the Subarpoo will be cheaper and there is a reason for that.

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I owned an 03 Scooby for a little while, worst car I've ever owned. Shocking build quality, felt really cheap and nasty and it didn't feel particularly quick. I wasn't at all impressed with the handling either. Very overrated car in my opinion.... I wouldn't get another car in that category, but if I had to pick between the two, the Evo would be a clear choice.

 

The only nice thing about the Subaru's is that they make a nice burbling noise.

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Definitely Evo!

 

Just to make you aware, I dislike Evo's. I had one and I honestly don't rate them. They are great for point and shoot driving but absolutely numb as far as driving experience goes. I would always take an evo over a subaru though.

 

I half agree with you but... To really enjoy my Evo I need blast down a single track road at night in the wet. Awesome and definitely not numb in my opinion. Driving up and down the M40 yes an Evo is boring and you might as well get a diesel BMW. Completely different from the Supra where driving up and down the M40 can feel like more of an occassion. Horses for courses really.

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Definitely Evo!

 

 

 

I half agree with you but... To really enjoy my Evo I need blast down a single track road at night in the wet. Awesome and definitely not numb in my opinion. Driving up and down the M40 yes an Evo is boring and you might as well get a diesel BMW. Completely different from the Supra where driving up and down the M40 can feel like more of an occassion. Horses for courses really.

 

This is what bored me. After 6 months of owning the car I could drive like a loon with my eyes closed while catching 40 winks. The active yaw control and all the other controlling computer gadgetry etc does the driving for you. You can get up to silly speeds in them and corner ridiculously hard while being ham fisted on the steering and lead footed on the throttle. There is very little driver input in the way the car reacts, it's all down to the gubbins between you and the road.

 

I went from an Evo to an MR2 and almost killed myself 1 week in. I had to learn to drive properly, wheras any kid who's played saga rally in the arcade can drive an evo fast.

 

Definitely different horses for different courses though. I'll never have another car like that.

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Well having owned a supra and gone back to Subaru ownership, I do like my impreza. I have a 2002 STi Prodrive, that is running 380bhp with loads of braking, handling mods, striped interior, rollcage, etc. Choosing between the EVO and Scoob is entirely down to personal choice (which you prefer to drive, future plans, etc). I have always preferred the Scoob, to me the EVO is ugly (9 was good, then it went to s***!), interior is shocking and I never liked the extreme servicing costs. Personally I prefer the scoob to the supra, I like the predictability of it, the supra had a mind of its own and tended to be quite nasty at times when you least expected it. Personally I prefer the 2l engines, but never spent that much time with the 2.5l. The spec C is a stunning car!!

 

In all honesty, I dont see the comments about bad build quality (in relatively standard form they go for ages... mine is now at 72K miles and still going strong) and shocking interiors in the impreza. I find the interior better than the EVO and the supra, I actually really did not like the supras interior...

 

The downside to impreza ownership - it has cost a small fortune to get to 380bhp (from 265) - turbo, fmic, fuel injectors, fuel pump, exhaust, induction, remap, etc. Now compared to the Supra (and my GTR) you can get a whole lot more performance out of the car for a lot less. Depreciation... they depreciate like a stone.... not good at all, the current times are not helping at all and neither is the fuel price.

 

As much as I like them, I am very tempted to sell my Scoob and get something silly like a caterham or atom to go with the GTR...... still trying to make up my mind...

 

If you are nearby, I am happy to take you out - not standard but gives you an idea of a modded one.

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Evo every day of the week. If you can, try and stretch the budget to the 340/360 model as that really is the pick of the bunch. They can easily be tuned to 400hp without the lag and all the other crap of the actual 400 version.

 

Just to make you aware, I dislike Evo's. I had one and I honestly don't rate them. They are great for point and shoot driving but absolutely numb as far as driving experience goes. I would always take an evo over a subaru though.

 

Each to their own, but the Subarpoo will be cheaper and there is a reason for that.

 

I agree if leaving it standard but if your going to mod one i would buy a stock GSR & mod it to 400/400. You will do this & have change from what you would have spent on a fq360.

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I agree if leaving it standard but if your going to mod one i would buy a stock GSR & mod it to 400/400. You will do this & have change from what you would have spent on a fq360.

 

That would be pushing the gsr though. The fq360 has the same upgrades as the 400 bar the turbo and a few other bits and bobs. The 360 pushes 400 with absolute ease and reliability. Also hold its money better than a modded to hell gsr :)

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That would be pushing the gsr though. The fq360 has the same upgrades as the 400 bar the turbo and a few other bits and bobs. The 360 pushes 400 with absolute ease and reliability. Also hold its money better than a modded to hell gsr :)

 

Agreed a stock fq360 will hold its money but when they are modded they are all the same. The gsr has the same internals as the fq360, the only difference is bolt on parts & a remap. Also there was never a fq400 in a 9 only the 8 & 10. The highest spec 9 was the fq360, basically 400/400 to an evo is like BPU to a Supra.

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Agreed a stock fq360 will hold its money but when they are modded they are all the same. The gsr has the same internals as the fq360, the only difference is bolt on parts & a remap. Also there was never a fq400 in a 9 only the 8 & 10. The highest spec 9 was the fq360, basically 400/400 to an evo is like BPU to a Supra.

 

I read there was massive internal differences. I left the scene ages ago though so I'll bow to your knowledge.

 

I didn't think the tubby on the gsr would flow 400 either.

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I read there was massive internal differences. I left the scene ages ago though so I'll bow to your knowledge.

 

I didn't think the tubby on the gsr would flow 400 either.

 

No mate AFAIK it was only the fq400 internals which were forged. Yeah there are alot of evos running 400bhp on stock turbo, the 9 has the better turbo than all its predecessors so it's quite a common upgrade. Anyway one thing i think we can agree on is an Evo will never be a Supra ;)

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Thanks for all the advice guys :) I think I'm swaying towards the EVO 8/9. I will hopefully be running this along side a R35 GTR in the not to distance future so it doesn't need to be bonkers fast but they do seem to be tunable to 400bhp before people have engine problems and the like! However I think I'm going to test drive both and see what I think :)

 

Plus I don't mind it being safe under WOT as Mrs Wild will be driving it and I don't want it to be 'Supra' like tbh i.e. big power RWD

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Good choice on main cars :)

 

Is one of these cars going to be an everyday car? I am looking at getting a caterham or atom to replace the impreza as it's a completely different drive and feel to the gtr.

 

As said earlier, I have spent a fair bit trying to get 400 out of my impreza, but a little under. Turbo change and remap will get there. Engine is good for about 450, but depends on car and history.

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Good choice on main cars :)

 

Is one of these cars going to be an everyday car? I am looking at getting a caterham or atom to replace the impreza as it's a completely different drive and feel to the gtr.

 

As said earlier, I have spent a fair bit trying to get 400 out of my impreza, but a little under. Turbo change and remap will get there. Engine is good for about 450, but depends on car and history.

 

How is your GTR mate bet you're loving it!?! :) The plan is to get the Evo/Scobby and run that as the everyday car then run the GTR as my weekend / fun car :)

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