Evolution-mr Vs. Wrx Sti '04-'05

I am looking into getting a new car and I can't decide between an EVO or an STI. They are about the same performance wise...I think. I've never seen a race b/t them. What do you guys think? Which one is better? Which one will be easier to tune and have more aftermarket parts available?

I've been bashing the Evo a lot lately, but I've re-thought my position lately and here's what I have to say.

The Evo MR is a little more expensive than the STi, but it also performs a bit better, and there's a bit more aftermarket out there for it. The STi, on the other hand, is a little safer (side airbags), more refined (quieter, smoother ride), and more luxurious (cruise control, six-disc CD changer). I must admit that, in this department, I'm a little more partial to the Evo. Not that the STi can't perform, but the Evo is a bit more aggressive, and that's what I like.

The subjective part is looks, or rather, just overall appeal. Personally, I think the STi is a better looking car (though the Evo has been growing on me a lot lately), and I think it has a better overall community. Subaru has always been a smaller, niche brand, with a loyal, devoted following, whereas the Evo is more like the "new hot thing", thanks to 2 Fast 2 Furious and favorable media reviews.

So, overall, I'll go with the STi. At the end of the day, it just appeals to me more.

the only thing i like more about the evo is the looks. the sti is a much better car imo other than the bland looks. not to mention i dont trust mitsubishi reliability or warranty.

I definitly like the Evo's looks better on the '06 models. I do not like the '06 STI'l style at all. The '04-'05 style is bad ass though. What does the new MR have that the EVO VIII didn't? Is the MR better in performance than the EVO VIII?

the only thing i don't like about subies is the look........the sti has a little better straight line performance and the evo's a little bit better on the track........but mainly it's just a drivers race

Evo:
Pros- better handling, takes better to modifications
Cons- transmission's reliability, everything else's reliability, interior quality, ride quality, looks (even if you like how it looks, it is still a cop magnet), fake Mitsubishi warranty

STi:
Pros- More power stock, generally more reliable then the Evo, a few more stock features make it a slightly better daily driver, less likely to become a money pit.
Cons- Doesn't handle as well as Evo (while still better then most other cars in price range), won't get the same numbers with modifications that the Evos will, looks, still barely passable as a daily driver.

This is becoming a pretty common rivalry and I really think it comes down to exactly what you want in a car. If performance is your only concern and you are not concerned with comfort, reliability, service, and general drivability, the Evo is your car. It is a very good performer in both acceleration and handling and will be tough to beat in that price range. That said, it is a miserable car to live with. They are not reliable vehicles to start with, and become less so as you start modifying. To compound upon this reliability issue, Mitsubishi is known to yank your warranty the second they get the idea that you have either raced or modified it. This is a car that is begging to be played around with, but the financial difficulties that could come with that just arn't worth it to most. If you are driving this car day-to-day, you will grow tired of the cheap interior and harsh ride. The STi is just an easier car to live with as a sole means of transportation. The Evo is a great vehicle if you can afford the repairs and don't rely upon it.

If you are indeed looking for a daily driver I highly suggest looking elsewhere. There are pleanty of sporty cars out there that make far better daily drivers. If you are really into Japanese Imports, I would look into the 350z, S2000, Mazdaspeed 6, and G35 Sedan and Coupe. If you are impartial, I would really look into a Pontiac GTO. They arn't selling well so dealers are letting them go pretty far below what they are worth. You won't find another 400hp sportscar until you reach the Corvette. Yea, they are boring looking, but the LS2 engine is worth it to many. Finally, what about an earlier used C5 Z06? You should be able to find one in the low $30,000 range these days.

Reliability is a pretty big part, I hate dealing with stupid bullshit things that drain my bank account.

Which of these cars are most tunable and reliable? Comfort isn't that big of a deal. My 240sx isn't that comfortable and I can deal with that.
I want a fast ass car, but I would also like a little luxury.

What makes the EVO such a financial difficulty? What are the problems with it? Besides the transmission, I would plan to put a new clutch kit in it fairly quickly. Would that fix the transmission problems?

Its not just the clutch. I've also heard of linkages going bad pretty quickly as well. Mitsubishi as a whole is pretty low on any reliability rankings.

The problem isn't just the reliability, but what Mitsubishi does with their warranties. There are numerous stories out there about people going into the dealers with engine or transmission problems and the dealers just tell you that you drove the car too hard or you raced it, thus voiding the warranty. There are many people who don't have reliability issues, but I just don't think that it is worth the risk given the reputation they have gained.

That said, dollar for dollar, you should be able to get more out of a Evo then a STi in pure performance terms. If you are only really interested in drag racing, I'd put my money towards a Mustang GT + mods or a GTO 6.0.

I seen this one show of Top Gear where they put a EVO FQ400 or 4000...not sure which...I know it's a performance model of it though. But they was seeing how well it could compete with a Lambo Gallardo. It actually kept up and out handled the Gallardo. Which costs how much more? I personally would take the Evo any day. Mainly due to the fact of how fast they can go. How many cars out they are required to have fins on the back windshield to keep it grounded to the road? I also like the fact that the new Evo looks closer to the older Evos. Like the Evo 4's and 5's. Which were very good rally cars.

I seen this one show of Top Gear where they put a EVO FQ400 or 4000...not sure which...I know it's a performance model of it though. But they was seeing how well it could compete with a Lambo Gallardo. It actually kept up and out handled the Gallardo. Which costs how much more? I personally would take the Evo any day. Mainly due to the fact of how fast they can go. How many cars out they are required to have fins on the back windshield to keep it grounded to the road? I also like the fact that the new Evo looks closer to the older Evos. Like the Evo 4's and 5's. Which were very good rally cars.

The FQ400 is a really limited edition Evo only sold in Britain. Like I said, if performance is the only thing that matters, go ahead and get an Evo, but it is terrible at everything else. There is a reason you get that much performance for that little. The fins (I think they called them Vortex Generators or something) are only a sign that the car isn't very aerodynamically sound to start with.

Well I wouldn't get a Mustang if my life depended on it. That would just make me part of the 'I have a mustang.....I am better than you' crowd. And I am just not too big on American cars. I don't know much about them, but I will look into it.

sti... it amazes me how many people wanna get stis...do u kno why they wanna get it? cos its so damn good... popularity of the car is a good way to choose between two cars... unless u wanna be different