Here's a comparison idea..

Since you guys took over Subiesport, an idea for a comparison for all your new members:

Anyhow, anyone who hangs around the subaru community always has to hear "oh this year is the fastest wrx/sti" for one reason or another. Of course, all we are able to do is compare magazine stats, which is no good. This overlaps now with the newer wrx's being not too far back from the STi in terms of speed too..

So the idea: Get 7 cars, all stock (you guys probably have a few already, lol): - Impreza 2.5RS (pre-wrx) - 2.0L WRX - 2.5L WRX with the "old" turbo (pre-2009) - 2.5L WRX with the bigger turbo/"boring" body (09-10) - 2.5L WRX with the new body (11+) - first US body style STi (pre-2008) - current STi (post-2008)

put them all on the same tires (this would really only take 3 or 4 full sets, since some can be used on multiple cars).

do some track laps, autocross laps, whatever.

see which one is really the fastest, no matter what Car&Driver or whoever says in their LIghtning Lap or stats pages or whatever.

WIN with the new readers!

I like this a lot. It would be a great read.

Yeah, I got to thinking about it with the CRX - CR-Z comparison, that some of the coolest comparison tests that I've ever read were between newer and older versions of the same car. In this case, you have cars that were good performers from the beginning and that have several specific year cutoffs where specific upgrades were made (first n/a --> turbo --> more displacement --> bigger turbo) bringing them closer together to boot.

Plus, I think GRM has done similar comparos for the M3 (or other 3-series) and a few other cars, which were cool. But nobody doubted that the M3 got MUCH faster over the different body/engine changes. Can the same be said about the WRX and STi, against each other and themselves?

Also there are a good number of WRX's and STi's out there, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a handful of them that are in stock (or near-stock) condition.

Forget the 2.5RS, it would get stomped, but yeah, this could be a great read. The list I would like to see compared:

• 02-05 WRX (2.0L, 5MT)
• 04-05 STi (2.0L, 6MT)
• 06-07 WRX (2.5L, 5MT)
• 06-07 STi (2.5L, 6MT)
• 08 WRX / 09 2.5GT (2.5L, 5MT, "down on power")
• 09-10 WRX (2.5L, 5MT, narrow-body)
• 11 WRX (2.5L, 5MT, wide-body)
• 09-11 STi (2.5L, 6MT, wagon wide-body)

Javelin wrote: Forget the 2.5RS, it would get stomped, but yeah, this could be a great read. The list I would like to see compared: * 02-05 WRX (2.0L, 5MT) * 04-05 STi (2.0L, 6MT) * 06-07 WRX (2.5L, 5MT) * 06-07 STi (2.5L, 6MT) * 08 WRX / 09 2.5GT (2.5L, 5MT, "down on power") * 09-10 WRX (2.5L, 5MT, narrow-body) * 11 WRX (2.5L, 5MT, wide-body) * 09-11 STi (2.5L, 6MT, wagon wide-body)

I think the GC 2.5RS could probably hold its own in an autocross segment, definitely not in a track comparo... In any case, it's the spiritual predecessor to the WRX so would be worth while to have in there. Plus it's still the best looking impreza ever made.

FWIW, 04-05 STIs had the 2.5 also. I miss mine...

I do have the 03 WRX, but the logistics of finding clean, stock examples of all these cars would be tricky. I love the idea, though.

Do you think it would be better to use fewer cars all stock, or hit all the varieties with reasonably modified examples?

I say keep the old school 2,5RS its the best looking.

Tom Heath wrote: FWIW, 04-05 STIs had the 2.5 also. I miss mine... I do have the 03 WRX, but the logistics of finding clean, stock examples of all these cars would be tricky. I love the idea, though. Do you think it would be better to use fewer cars all stock, or hit all the varieties with reasonably modified examples?

I would say to post up a "casting call" on NASIOC, since you guys already have a section there. There are surely people on there who have stock or very-near-stock examples in such a big community. It would be pretty easy to find stock newer-model cars.

And yeah, the 04-05 was a 2.5, which is why I combined with the 06-07 as "essentially the same" :)

OK, combine the 04-05 and 06-07 STi's then since they are all 2.5. And while I agree that the 2.5RS is the best looking, it should be in a non-turbo comparison.

As for modded ones, just say no. WAY too many variables there. It shouldn't be that hard to find (mechanically) stock versions of all of these.

I've got a near stock GC 2.5RS you could use. It would still fit in all stock categories for competition except for the fact that the previous owner swapped on wheels from an '02-'05 WRX so my rims are a half inch narrower than stock. It is my DD, but I'm reasonably close to South Bend. So, if the comparo is done at Tire Rack mine is yours to use.

I think this is a great idea, and will definitely please the former Subiesport readers! I'd stick to the turbo cars, and I would definitely post something over on NASIOC looking for bone-stock examples so it gives the article (and the readers) a nice baseline before people throw all sorts of mods on their cars.

Again, great idea!

Having both a gc 2.5rs and a 2.0l wrx, I must say that at an autocross, they can be quite close. The low end on the 2.0 leaves a little to be desired. Also on the rallyx course I'd take my 2.5rs over my 2.0 wrx any day of the week. Open track, 2.0 wrx would be my choice(of the two). While I'll concede that the 2.5rs isn't the fastest of the bunch, it's not that far off, and honestly it can be more enjoyable to drive.

SVX?

Just leave any six cylinder Mustangs out of the comparo, unless the Subie boys want to go home with tears in their eyes.

forzav12 wrote: Just leave any six cylinder Mustangs out of the comparo, unless the Subie boys want to go home with tears in their eyes.

we're getting 8-10" of snow on Tuesday. I'll be heading to the ski slopes. My neighbor will be sitting at home shoveling, with his Mustang GT in the garage..

/disucssion ;)

Hey, why not do this WHOLE comparison IN THE SNOW!!!!

Now THAT would make for a kick-ass article!

I like this idea, and keep the old 2.5 in there, too. This reminds me of the M3 comparison article. With GRM flavor, it's not all about what car is faster, but also about the different character of each car.

irish44j wrote: Hey, why not do this WHOLE comparison IN THE SNOW!!!!

Invite an 88 E30 325iX and an 89 911 C4 to add some diversity.