Castrol

What utter drivel...

Bubba po

Well it's not an ordinary new age, is it?

sammyh

iTrader: (1)

Good point but I would have still taken my standard new age sti over my classic

hedgehog

Hardly a constructive contribution :-)

However, exactly what elements of the handling of your new age STi do you prefer over your classic car? Maybe if we can establish that then we can see why views do, to some degree, differ on this matter and also why most who believe their new age to have reasonable handling have also taken the trouble to make modifications to the suspension etc.

I have been interested to note that the person who started this thread lives in Northern Ireland (where I do some proportion of my driving) and would, therefore, be driving on similar roads to myself at times. On smooth A roads my STi is just a little vague at the front end leaving you unsure but on the small, often single track, roads where I would tend to drive for fun I still maintain that it is an awful handling car that verges on dangerous. On such roads the classic car was a fun rocket ship and I know several places that it was 20mph faster than my current STi just because it was controlable and you knew where the limits were and that you could catch it. There is no question that the STi has enhanced levels of grip and performance over the classic car but it just doesn't have the handling to allow you to exploit them with any confidence on the public roads. In turn this means that it quite simply isn't much fun and, in many real world situations, it is no faster than a standard MY99.

Virtual Light

Reading all of this is a bit concerning. I'm currently thinking of getting back into a scooby after 4 years away....

I imported an STi 5 Type-R limited edition back in 1999 and had this for 3 years. It was a fantastic car.

Since then I've owned a few cars but have never found one I a). enjoyed as much, b) was as easy to live with or c) as reliable.

To give you an idea where I'm coming from after the scoob I've owned:

2002 (02) Honda S2000
2002 (02) Audi S3
2000 (W) Ford Racing Puma
2004 (04) Porsche Boxster (current)

And hand on heart none have offered the complete package I am after...

I am off this afternoon to test drive a 2005 STi (non-PPP). I was thinking of either going for a 2004 or 2005 STi. (spent enough on cars to NOT want to splash out on the new 2006 at the moment).

What I am after from the scoob is a car that I can drive the 30 miles to work and back every day (mostly motorway), can trundle through traffic, but when i get onto a bit of quiet twisty and I'm in the right mood, can fly through the bends the way I used to in the Type-R. None of the cars above can do this. They can all meet some of the criteria but not all.

Maybe I'm getting old, but I know that my old car was all these things, so when I read on here about the flaws in the new age STis it is putting a dampner on my enthusiasm.

I agree with a lot of the views on here, and appreciate that it is an extreme car, but as others have mentioned the classic STi was a "Master" and not just a "Jack" of all trades... I am hoping someone of like minded views can let me know what they honestly think of the 2004 and 2005 STi..... (e.g. Has the 10mm wider track and longer wheel based made a difference to the ride of the 2005 model hence making it easier to live with than the 2003/4 ??)

Many thanks for your views guys, as the element of doubt is creeping in at the moment...

Scott

hedgehog

Scott - Note that my views apply only to my 03 STi as I haven't driven an 04 or 05 one and they may be significantly different. I must confess to thinking that the suspension tweaks are papering over cracks in what is a fundamentally flawed chassis but there is no reason why that shouldn't turn the STi into a good, fun car.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

The only way to know is go for a drive mate!! Let us know how you get on!

NS04

flynnstudio

good advice - Don't think anyone would buy a scooby if they came on here first...never seen so many discontented people in one place claiming to be enthusiasts..

( sorry!!There are a LOT of great exceptions to that statement but on the whole I never seen so much 'buyers remorse' on a car forum)

btw - I love my scooby and am very glad I got it - I had a 911 previously and I am pleased to say the new scoob is making me very happy.

- it seems to be a great surprise to many that buying and running a near supercar performance motor costs more money than, say, a 1.4l diesel Focus!! but as you've already had a boxster you'll know this already - and I doubt it's going to cost anymore to run than that!

Personally, I hope you love it to bits and it brings a bloody great big smile to your face but if you don't drive one you'll never know!!!

davedipster

Scott,
Give an 03sti a try, they are a great handling car, very fast and prices are reasonable.

Dipster

Virtual Light

Thanks guys, definately going to do this.

Am booking a couple of test drives with the dealer tomorrow. The dealer I'm off to has got the 2003/4 and the 2005 models so will test both back to back.

Also going to re-run the dealers route again afterwards in my boxster to give me a good comparison.

I'll let you know how the drives go next week.

Thanks for your comments.

Scott

grass-hopper

i have a 05 sti which i love but i do miss my classic import

but dont think i would go back

would like both though that would be nice!!!!

eric Scofield

I've had a '00 classic, '02 Bug and now an '03 STI and gotta say, since getting the STI in December, although it is a significantly 'different' drive it brings a grin factor of 10 pretty much every time I drive it ...

Only down-sides are the suspension (if you run over a gnat's wing it knocks your teeth out) and the strange unidentified knocks that emmulate from somewhere behind you occassionally ... Other than that

UKScoobGS

I have got a 2004 WRX and i feel that this car is a good compromise between a normal car and a metal car.

Mine is standard with the addition of prodrive springs if feels great much the same as my old 1998 UK turbo.

Trade your sti in for a wrx if you are looking for the same feeling as your old car, the 5 speed box is also easier to live with.

G.

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

No doudt the silver '99' classic wagon (with pink badges) that sat 6" off my rear bumper though his classic was faster that my lardy newage.. until he was dropped like a stone (even let him have a run). Funny how he gave up so quickly..

Like everything (esp. on SN) it's all very subjective to the individual..!

dazdavies

iTrader: (22)

The answer here is a simple one and ( let me zip the flame suit up) will come for some criticism but I currently have a circa 360 bhp classic which I have spent alot of time effort and money developing. However whilst I will never sell this car my next factory purchase will be an EVO FQ 340. I have a mate that has one and out of the box its a very comparable car to mine and its completely standard.

Find a decent one of these and you will have exactly what you need. Spend £2k on a Motec M800 for it and your laughing.

So try one of these and see what you think.

(flame suit at the ready)

Daz

Otto-Mate

Just as an update to my original post which started this thread, I sold my car today.

Although in the end I started to hate the MY03 STi, I will always look back on the 3 years I had with with my MY99 Classic with very fond memories.

Hopefully my next car will suit me better.

Thanks

M.

pslewis

Not many people are able to live with the STi .... an accquired taste maybe??

Everyone can live with the cooking model and thats what makes it GREAT value!!

Pete

N*UFO

[quote=

Although in the end I started to hate the MY03 STi, I will always look back on the 3 years I had with with my MY99 Classic with very fond memories.

Hopefully my next car will suit me better.

Thanks

M.[/quote
The loss is your's lol........Someone has bought a first class car off you! I say no more