driving differences between 03/04/05 sti please
19 February 2005, 10:06 AM
#1
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driving differences between 03/04/05 sti please
test drove an 05 sti yesterday and apart from being totally blown away by the car, also realised it's a bit out of my price bracket if i go for a change from my classic.
autotrader has got a fair few 03 and 04 sti up for sale and i was wondering if anyone could tell me the main differences between the years?
the 05 has the dccd and a wider track and from what i've read this has made a massive diference over the 2 previous year models, is there much difference between 03 and 04 models?
is the 05 that much better that if i was to buy an 03 for approx 18k, is the 05 really 8k better?
main wow factor for me was the lack of understeer, is this mainly down to the front diff change and the dccd? and basically do the 03/04 models understeer more?
opinions on ride, interior etc would also be much appreciated.
ta
autotrader has got a fair few 03 and 04 sti up for sale and i was wondering if anyone could tell me the main differences between the years?
the 05 has the dccd and a wider track and from what i've read this has made a massive diference over the 2 previous year models, is there much difference between 03 and 04 models?
is the 05 that much better that if i was to buy an 03 for approx 18k, is the 05 really 8k better?
main wow factor for me was the lack of understeer, is this mainly down to the front diff change and the dccd? and basically do the 03/04 models understeer more?
opinions on ride, interior etc would also be much appreciated.
ta
19 February 2005, 11:27 AM
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The 05 has a revised suspension including wider tracks and different tyres.
Haven't driven on 05 but have an 04. In the track I imagine it will make a difference, on the road - maybe? work 8k - no. The 04 has plenty of front of grip at legal and non legal speeds. You won't be able to go any quicker round a bend in an 05 unless you want to move from your driving from safe to unsafe
Haven't driven on 05 but have an 04. In the track I imagine it will make a difference, on the road - maybe? work 8k - no. The 04 has plenty of front of grip at legal and non legal speeds. You won't be able to go any quicker round a bend in an 05 unless you want to move from your driving from safe to unsafe
19 February 2005, 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by bluepolarbear
The 05 has a revised suspension including wider tracks and different tyres.
Haven't driven on 05 but have an 04. In the track I imagine it will make a difference, on the road - maybe? work 8k - no. The 04 has plenty of front of grip at legal and non legal speeds. You won't be able to go any quicker round a bend in an 05 unless you want to move from your driving from safe to unsafe
Haven't driven on 05 but have an 04. In the track I imagine it will make a difference, on the road - maybe? work 8k - no. The 04 has plenty of front of grip at legal and non legal speeds. You won't be able to go any quicker round a bend in an 05 unless you want to move from your driving from safe to unsafe
maybe subaru have built the 05 with more of a bias toward a track/fast road car rather then the middle of the road scooby that i'm used to.
guess a drive in an 04 and 03 is the only way to see if there is a difference between them based on my driving style.
think i remember reading about the ride quality being better in 05, how does yours seem?
19 February 2005, 02:36 PM
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Had the 04 for 5 months now. The only time its stepped out of shape was at the back on a high speed 90 degree corner. The front hasn't let go once yet.
Had a MY99 and MY01 prior to the STI the biggest difference for me is the front LSD. Just where the WRX would understeer on the STI the LSD kicks in - still getting used to it. As for ride I don't have any problems with it. Its firm but not back breaking so. Its noisy at speed but just crack the radio up.
Had a MY99 and MY01 prior to the STI the biggest difference for me is the front LSD. Just where the WRX would understeer on the STI the LSD kicks in - still getting used to it. As for ride I don't have any problems with it. Its firm but not back breaking so. Its noisy at speed but just crack the radio up.
19 February 2005, 03:00 PM
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I have a MY04 STI and got the geomtry set to Prodrive settings and get no understeer at all now , although the harsh ride is doing my head in 
19 February 2005, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by bluepolarbear
You won't be able to go any quicker round a bend in an 05 unless you want to move from your driving from safe to unsafe
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19 February 2005, 04:23 PM
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As regards to understeer I would suggest that a handling pack (which are available from various tuning companies now), including suspension and geo. alignment etc etc, will undoutadley improve the 03/04 dramatically.
Ok.... it wont give you yaw control etc, but it will certainly sort out any understeer problems and improve the turn-in.
Regards,
Shaun.
Ok.... it wont give you yaw control etc, but it will certainly sort out any understeer problems and improve the turn-in.
Regards,
Shaun.
19 February 2005, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Pigfrog
kbsub. Where did you get the prodrive set up done? Cheers.
gave them the Prodrive settings and they did the rest , about £80.00 i think
19 February 2005, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobydooooo
well unless he's driven one how can he make that assumption !!
19 February 2005, 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by bluepolarbear
He doesn't have to. The 04 is capable of going around 99.9% of corners on public roads at the max safe speed. Regardless of how much better or quicker the 05 is (and the difference will be measured in single MPH) to do so would be unsafe.
19 February 2005, 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobydooooo
how can you judge what unsafe is ?? it's totally different for each model of car , is it not ??
Clearly any given car will corner at a different speed before it loses control. But once that speed exceeds the safe speed for the corner it becomes acadamic unless you want to cut corners - excuse the pun.
On the road acceleration is more important that cornering speed
19 February 2005, 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by bluepolarbear
No the safe speed has nothing to do with the car and everything to do with how much you can see and what the surrounding road furniture is.
Clearly any given car will corner at a different speed before it loses control. But once that speed exceeds the safe speed for the corner it becomes acadamic unless you want to cut corners - excuse the pun.
On the road acceleration is more important that cornering speed
Clearly any given car will corner at a different speed before it loses control. But once that speed exceeds the safe speed for the corner it becomes acadamic unless you want to cut corners - excuse the pun.
On the road acceleration is more important that cornering speed
19 February 2005, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobydooooo
ok then , in your world most corners where i live shouldn't be taken at more than 40 mph , ie n.wales
19 February 2005, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by bluepolarbear
not my world the real world. If you are traveling faster than the distance you can see to be safe then you are chanchin your luck. To travel at speeds which will reveal the difference between an 05 and an 04 then your luck will run out sooner rather than later.
19 February 2005, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobydooooo
thats the chance you take , look 99.9% of corners are blind otherwise they would be called straights , there is no point in having a great handling car unless you want to take corners at high speed , don't tell me you are one of these guys who hammers it down a straight to hit the brakes at every corner ??
Don't tell me your one of those guys who like to wedge the car under the rear of the tractor which was parked up round the corner?
19 February 2005, 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by bluepolarbear
not my world the real world. If you are traveling faster than the distance you can see to be safe then you are chanchin your luck. To travel at speeds which will reveal the difference between an 05 and an 04 then your luck will run out sooner rather than later.
19 February 2005, 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by bluepolarbear
No the safe speed has nothing to do with the car...
19 February 2005, 08:48 PM
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The honest truth of the matter is that 99% of people probably wouldnt notice the difference, except whinge about the RE070's 
Any one of the 3 will be a good car to get, but personally id go for a JDM car with the quick rack steering AND the A-DCCD, a MY03 verson of this car can be picked up for under 20k now and is a considerably nicer car to own, though service intervals are similar to those of a classic with the A-DCCD needing a gearbox oil change every 15k.
Tony
Any one of the 3 will be a good car to get, but personally id go for a JDM car with the quick rack steering AND the A-DCCD, a MY03 verson of this car can be picked up for under 20k now and is a considerably nicer car to own, though service intervals are similar to those of a classic with the A-DCCD needing a gearbox oil change every 15k.
Tony
19 February 2005, 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by kbsub
had it done here http://www.northeasterntyres.com/
gave them the Prodrive settings and they did the rest , about £80.00 i think
gave them the Prodrive settings and they did the rest , about £80.00 i think
19 February 2005, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by neilsti
where did you get the settings from can you put them up on here,also did it make it understeer a lot less, did a track day at elvington today and was fed up with the understeer, couldn't unstick the back end either unless flicking it opposite way first,i live close to north eastern tyres any info would be b good
. Set the geometry to:
i. Front Camber -1°15’ (-1.25°)
ii. Front Toe Total 0°00’ (0.00°)
iii.Rear Toe 0°06’ (0.1°) per wheel toe in [0°12’ (0.2°) total toe in]
19 February 2005, 09:33 PM
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Originally Posted by kbsub
Prodrive settings =
. Set the geometry to:
i. Front Camber -1°15’ (-1.25°)
ii. Front Toe Total 0°00’ (0.00°)
iii.Rear Toe 0°06’ (0.1°) per wheel toe in [0°12’ (0.2°) total toe in]
. Set the geometry to:
i. Front Camber -1°15’ (-1.25°)
ii. Front Toe Total 0°00’ (0.00°)
iii.Rear Toe 0°06’ (0.1°) per wheel toe in [0°12’ (0.2°) total toe in]
hope it means more to them than me!
did it improve your car?
19 February 2005, 09:41 PM
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Originally Posted by neilsti
thanks
hope it means more to them than me!
did it improve your car?
hope it means more to them than me!
did it improve your car?
, car feels quite neutral now , a touch of oversteer when pushing hard maybe , but i dont do track days or race around everywhere , I had it done to preserve tyre wear more than anything , worth doing though