C**P Autocar Review of STi8
28 January 2003, 10:58 PM
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Just read the review of the STi8 in this weeks Autocar. Although they love the STi8 and describe it as good value the article is full of errors. They claim the following improvements over the STi7:
inverted struts
steering is 2.6 turns lock to lock
now has limited slip diff at front
Well, as most of us know the STi7 has all of the above.
Autocar used to be a respected magazine which got it facts correct, but not not anymore it would seem. Sometimes I wonder why I keep buying the magazine!
There is also a full roadtest of the MY03 WRX Wagon which they seem give 8 stars to, but ultimately prefer the Focus RS (no surprise there then).
This followed by a review of used Imprezas. Evidently you can get a My98 22B with 22k miles for £23k!
Alan
inverted struts
steering is 2.6 turns lock to lock
now has limited slip diff at front
Well, as most of us know the STi7 has all of the above.
Autocar used to be a respected magazine which got it facts correct, but not not anymore it would seem. Sometimes I wonder why I keep buying the magazine!
There is also a full roadtest of the MY03 WRX Wagon which they seem give 8 stars to, but ultimately prefer the Focus RS (no surprise there then).
This followed by a review of used Imprezas. Evidently you can get a My98 22B with 22k miles for £23k!
Alan
28 January 2003, 11:21 PM
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lemmy,
I am not sure but the STi7UK, IIRC
Has a Torque Diff at front and not a limited slip.
I have been led to believe the STi7 Rack is not a quick Rack
but a STD one with reduced lock due to fouling wheels (larger turning circle)
Tony
I am not sure but the STi7UK, IIRC
Has a Torque Diff at front and not a limited slip.
I have been led to believe the STi7 Rack is not a quick Rack
but a STD one with reduced lock due to fouling wheels (larger turning circle)Tony
29 January 2003, 12:03 AM
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I've sent a mail to Autocar about the very same thing!
Sorry to be an anorak but I think Lemmy is correct about all the above. Both the subaru website, the previous autocar STI test all say the steering is 2.6 turns lock to lock and 11m (from memory!) turning circle.
So basically this dramatic improvement is down to the smaller steering wheel. At least that will save some of the STI7 owners a fortune in depreciation - just by a new steering wheel!
I strongly suspect the review hadn't even driven the previous version at all, and as for the STI not selling - cr*p.
But at the end of the day it was a positive review!
Rich B
Sorry to be an anorak but I think Lemmy is correct about all the above. Both the subaru website, the previous autocar STI test all say the steering is 2.6 turns lock to lock and 11m (from memory!) turning circle.
So basically this dramatic improvement is down to the smaller steering wheel. At least that will save some of the STI7 owners a fortune in depreciation - just by a new steering wheel!
I strongly suspect the review hadn't even driven the previous version at all, and as for the STI not selling - cr*p.
But at the end of the day it was a positive review!
Rich B
29 January 2003, 03:00 PM
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Tony
You may be correct, although I am sure that my Sti7 brochure calls it a LSD. The main point I was trying to make is that the STi7 and STi8 are the same in that respect.
Rich
I was also going to email Autocar! It makes you wonder about their reviews of other cars and whether you can believe anything they write. Like you say their comment on STi7 sales is b*ll**ks since the STi7 Type UK sold out in about 6 months.
Alan
You may be correct, although I am sure that my Sti7 brochure calls it a LSD. The main point I was trying to make is that the STi7 and STi8 are the same in that respect.
Rich
I was also going to email Autocar! It makes you wonder about their reviews of other cars and whether you can believe anything they write. Like you say their comment on STi7 sales is b*ll**ks since the STi7 Type UK sold out in about 6 months.
Alan
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30 January 2003, 12:42 AM
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Lemmy & Matt,
The Terminology LSD is losely given Torque diff's (there was indeed a long thread about them) Maybe a very close English to Japenese to English translation
but maybe used in the same vain as a Hoover is a Vacuum cleaner.
The Suretrac diff's(Front and Back STi7) are Torque Diff's and IMHO not LSD's (Limited Slip Differencial's) the Diff cannot slip, the Diff comprises off all gears,gears cannot slip. LSD's normally have friction plates(which slip) inside them which is the Baisis of LSD's . Pressure plates are adjusted to give the correct break/slip required for tarmac or forestry.
I would love to know if the steering racks are different on the STI7 to STi8.
If One turn on a 12" S/Wheel will move the wheels 50 degrees, one turn on a 4" S/Wheel still only move the wheels 50 degrees. The only difference is when The smaller diameter S/wheel is used, your hands and move smaller distances to achieve the same results.
Tony
Ps maybe the Subaru site is wrong not Autocar
Ps sorry but I am an Old guy and maybe they've change since the good old days of Atlas and English axles Flame suit ready 
[Edited by T5NYW - 1/30/2003 1:10:07 AM]
The Terminology LSD is losely given Torque diff's (there was indeed a long thread about them) Maybe a very close English to Japenese to English translation
but maybe used in the same vain as a Hoover is a Vacuum cleaner.The Suretrac diff's(Front and Back STi7) are Torque Diff's and IMHO not LSD's (Limited Slip Differencial's) the Diff cannot slip, the Diff comprises off all gears,gears cannot slip. LSD's normally have friction plates(which slip) inside them which is the Baisis of LSD's . Pressure plates are adjusted to give the correct break/slip required for tarmac or forestry.
I would love to know if the steering racks are different on the STI7 to STi8.
If One turn on a 12" S/Wheel will move the wheels 50 degrees, one turn on a 4" S/Wheel still only move the wheels 50 degrees. The only difference is when The smaller diameter S/wheel is used, your hands and move smaller distances to achieve the same results.
Tony
Ps maybe the Subaru site is wrong not Autocar
Ps sorry but I am an Old guy and maybe they've change since the good old days of Atlas and English axles
Flame suit ready [Edited by T5NYW - 1/30/2003 1:10:07 AM]
31 January 2003, 09:34 AM
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Tony,
Sorry but the Suretrac diffs do allow slip and you are right that they are not plated diffs but a completely different design.
There was an excellent thread on drivetrain not so long ago with a link to an aussie site which has a technical spec document (I have a copy here) which describes how the Suretrac works. It also describes it as the "Surectrac LSD".
Matt
Sorry but the Suretrac diffs do allow slip and you are right that they are not plated diffs but a completely different design.
There was an excellent thread on drivetrain not so long ago with a link to an aussie site which has a technical spec document (I have a copy here) which describes how the Suretrac works. It also describes it as the "Surectrac LSD".
Matt
01 February 2003, 09:54 AM
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Well, in Japan at least the rack is new, not a different gear ratio though. It is a more "robust" unit offering less flex/waffle.
IMHO, most of the feel difference comes from the new steering wheel, but the sturdier rack (and underpinnings for the suspension) can be felt on the track. The shift lever has also been stiffened on the JDMs, wonder if that made over too.
Not a huge difference, but a nice tweak.
IMHO, most of the feel difference comes from the new steering wheel, but the sturdier rack (and underpinnings for the suspension) can be felt on the track. The shift lever has also been stiffened on the JDMs, wonder if that made over too.
Not a huge difference, but a nice tweak.
01 February 2003, 10:19 AM
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AJbase,
IIRC the STi8JDM has loads more new stuff, Engine/DCCD compared to the STi8UK/EU. We must be using up all the left over bits from the STi7. Our STi9Uk will be more like your STi8 IMHO Please note not rubbishing our STi8UK just comparing.
Tony
IIRC the STi8JDM has loads more new stuff, Engine/DCCD
compared to the STi8UK/EU. We must be using up all the left over bits from the STi7. Our STi9Uk will be more like your STi8 IMHO Please note not rubbishing our STi8UK just comparing. Tony
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