Anyone own a stock 04-07 STI or 03-06 EVO with the CTR? Any similarities ?

[1970B302]

Anybody here own a 04-07 sti/ 03-06 evo that is STOCK and nice as well as a FL5 (or fk8) and can point out any key similarities / disadvantages/ advantages they feel from a driving perspective? Really miss the way it felt to drive those cars DD. The steering was so much more raw and communicative, and aside from the Shelby GT350 and Porsche GT series cars not many have that same rawness from my experience.

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[Fanatic]

'06 Evo IX MR SE: I no longer have. It was modified with full exhaust, tune, ebc, and drop in air filter. It was definitely more raw and visceral. Honda feels better built compared to Mitsubishi though.

I learned so much from that Evo. I had a lot of fun with it.

Sorry, this is the best input I have from personal experience.

 

[Clark_Kent]

I had a 2006 STi I purchased new back in 2005. I no longer have that car. That was so long ago it would be difficult for me to make a meaningful comparison to the FL5's steering feel. I realize you're looking for someone who owns one currently in stock trim AND owns a stock FL5 (or FK8). That very well may be a unicorn scenario nearly 20 years later. What I can say is this: it's challenging to compare the hydraulic steering of a car from nearly two decades ago to a 2023 model with electric steering. The electric steering at its best may attempt to mimic the raw, connected feeling, but it's not a 1:1 facsimile. There are also too many interrelated components that are so different between the cars that ultimately effect steering feel. You've been through a ton of cars like many of us here so I'm certain you get that.

 

[ABPDE5]

I think you'll probably find that, if you're looking for raw / visceral steering feel (as many of us are), no EPS system is going to match the feedback you'd get from a good hydraulic setup.

Having said that, I think the FL5 / DE5 offer some of the best EPS you'll find, period. It's the best I've personally driven (better than 98x P-cars, imo, but I haven't had a chance to try 99x, and the general consensus is they offer better).

I'd urge you to try and get a test drive in either car. You might have better luck finding a DE5 to test. It's entirely possible EPS isn't going to cut it for you and you're better off searching for a hydraulic setup if steering is everything for you. My personal findings, though, were that the FL5 / DE5 EPS was "good enough" / as good as I was going to get, and that the combination of chassis, suspension, etc. w. the EPS implementation made them a better option than the used hydraulic racks on my watch list (which paled in comparison on the chassis, shifter, etc. fronts).

Best of luck to you in finding what you're looking for!

 

[Ultimateone]

I've had all those cars and more and have owned an FK8 and an FL5 on the way

 

[rBobby]

I had a GD and GR Sti that were near stock, just a stage 1 tune and more front negative camber. The GR sti was my car right before the FL5. They are light years apart for DD work due to rawness vs. refinement. The FL5 is effortless to drive daily vs. the Sti takes so much more attention and effort. However, both are great driving experiences and put a smile on my face.

So yes, the Old Sti's are raw and felt mechanical, but that is something I would rather have on occasion than ever day now 20 years after my GD sti. The Gr sti was a nostalgia purchase and it was fun, but I'm happy in the FL5.

Steering nostalgia example I had with the GR Sti. The GD/GR Sti hydraulic steering had great feel and load up in a turn. However, the steering ratio was crap and you had to really shuffle your handles in quick transitions. Still fun, but much more work which gets old every day for me. The FL5 steering has less feel, but feels like a race car in comparison to the old Sti. Maybe a 2015+ Sti is a good in between some modernization with some of the old rawness.

 

[Jester04]

I had a GD and GR Sti that were near stock, just a stage 1 tune and more front negative camber. The GR sti was my car right before the FL5. They are light years apart for DD work due to rawness vs. refinement. The FL5 is effortless to drive daily vs. the Sti takes so much more attention and effort. However, both are great driving experiences and put a smile on my face.

So yes, the Old Sti's are raw and felt mechanical, but that is something I would rather have on occasion than ever day now 20 years after my GD sti. The Gr sti was a nostalgia purchase and it was fun, but I'm happy in the FL5.

Steering nostalgia example I had with the GR Sti. The GD/GR Sti hydraulic steering had great feel and load up in a turn. However, the steering ratio was crap and you had to really shuffle your handles in quick transitions. Still fun, but much more work which gets old every day for me. The FL5 steering has less feel, but feels like a race car in comparison to the old Sti. Maybe a 2015+ Sti is a good in between some modernization with some of the old rawness.

Yes the 2015+ rack was a big improvement. If I could sum it up. It was the most solid feeling STI I had what killed it was its size and weight. It handled great but my conclusion was I need this rigidity and steering rack with the longer gears on a GD chassis.

 

[CTRifecta]

I used to drive an 04 WRX, then drove many 06-07 STi, and rode in a buddies evo 9 R quite a bit .

The FL5 is 10000% overall a better car than all of them, especially for sporty DD duties. Sure, for an all out track car, nothing beats an Evo. While both the Evo and STi engines had more character and sounded better, in stock form the CTR is way more efficient and has a broader powerband.

Not to mention the tin can, shit box interiors all of those cars had , not even trying to knock them as I used to be a big fan.

Btw I never thought the Subarus had good steering feel..

If you are searching for that old school feel, highly suggest a GR Corolla instead. It's got lots of character and reminds me a lot of the prior STi , both good and bad.

Other great visceral affordable car options are the GR86 and ND2 miata. Especially the first gen 86, apparently it has amazing steering feel.

 

[Jester04]

I used to drive an 04 WRX, then drove many 06-07 STi, and rode in a buddies evo 9 R quite a bit .

The FL5 is 10000% overall a better car than all of them, especially for sporty DD duties. Sure, for an all out track car, nothing beats an Evo. While both the Evo and STi engines had more character and sounded better, in stock form the CTR is way more efficient and has a broader powerband.

Not to mention the tin can, shit box interiors all of those cars had , not even trying to knock them as I used to be a big fan.

Btw I never thought the Subarus had good steering feel..

If you are searching for that old school feel, highly suggest a GR Corolla instead. It's got lots of character and reminds me a lot of the prior STi , both good and bad.

Another great visceral affordable car options are the GR86 and ND2 miata.

It would be cool to see a really well setup CTR. I think it would give a lot of cars a run for their money. So far I’m happy with the performance at the track.

 

[Robert.C]

The new cars will be better by pretty much every objective criteria. The old cars (depending on your preferences, of course) will be better by pretty much every subjective criteria. Not an owner myself but my buddy owned an ‘07 STi new and it was as raw and visceral as they come — easily comparable to my current cars (AP1 and DC2R).

 

[1970B302]

'06 Evo IX MR SE: I no longer have. It was modified with full exhaust, tune, ebc, and drop in air filter. It was definitely more raw and visceral. Honda feels better built compared to Mitsubishi though.

I learned so much from that Evo. I had a lot of fun with it.

Sorry, this is the best input I have from personal experience.

If someone offered you a bone stock evo 9 SE with original paint, low miles, for your CTR (assuming the CTR was not your only car and you had a daily ) would you take it over the Honda?

 

[1970B302]

Yes the 2015+ rack was a big improvement. If I could sum it up. It was the most solid feeling STI I had what killed it was its size and weight. It handled great but my conclusion was I need this rigidity and steering rack with the longer gears on a GD chassis.

I had a 2016 STI I got new in 2015 , I kept it for a DD for 4.5 years because the deal I got was incredible . From my experience all I could think about was how much more I like the GD car in stock configuration. I really didn’t have much to nitpick about the GD while the VA I had a list of complaints….i preferred the old cars steering too

 

[1970B302]

I used to drive an 04 WRX, then drove many 06-07 STi, and rode in a buddies evo 9 R quite a bit .

The FL5 is 10000% overall a better car than all of them, especially for sporty DD duties. Sure, for an all out track car, nothing beats an Evo. While both the Evo and STi engines had more character and sounded better, in stock form the CTR is way more efficient and has a broader powerband.

Not to mention the tin can, shit box interiors all of those cars had , not even trying to knock them as I used to be a big fan.

Btw I never thought the Subarus had good steering feel..

If you are searching for that old school feel, highly suggest a GR Corolla instead. It's got lots of character and reminds me a lot of the prior STi , both good and bad.

Other great visceral affordable car options are the GR86 and ND2 miata. Especially the first gen 86, apparently it has amazing steering feel.

have been tempted to try a GR86 as a DD. I always said if a modern 240SX equivalent was made I’d buy one.

 

[optronix]

My Integra Type S hit me with a lot of nostalgia the first couple drives I had in it, in a good way. I never owned an old STI/Evo, but have driven some on occasion and did own a 2015 STI. A little bit of turbo lag, smaller dimensions than some of the other modern cars I've gotten used to, and the chassis feeling light on its feet. The steering in the DE5 is probably better in all honesty. Definitely far easier to drive fast.

The thing I've come to learn about these comparisons with old cars- if you want to replicate those old car sensations, you're going to have to buy an old car. That's just all there is to it.

 

[Fanatic]

If someone offered you a bone stock evo 9 SE with original paint, low miles, for your CTR (assuming the CTR was not your only car and you had a daily ) would you take it over the Honda?

The Evo would be pre-owned with a previous owner on record whereas I'm the original and first owner of my CTR. Also, CTR is a more well-rounded vehicle. We are talking about a 2006 vs 2023 vehicle, so I would have to politely turn down the offer.

I don't miss the Evo as much because there are modern day car opportunities which tend to keep me content.

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