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

[Jester04]

So my bro owned a 2005 STI since new. That car blew me away with it's combination of power, on rails handling, and slot car like feel.

I've also owned a 2013 as the original owner. In stock form that thing was too soft; lots of body roll, not enough rebound dampening (chassis wouldn't settle down after large bumps), and the steering lacked feel on track. Well I blew it's EJ on track and went to a 2015 STI, which was much stiffer suspension and chassis wise. It felt sorted and composed, with better steering feedback. On track it was 2 seconds clear of the 2013 on the same tires on a 4.0 mile track. Well I blew that EJ as well, both were stock ?

I went to the dark side and bought a 2015 EVO X GSR. It and the VA STI were in a similar level, but the Evo was more of a hoot because it has even more communicative steering, a lightning fast steering rack, and that hoonigan active yaw rear diff. Compared to the FL5 the EVO has a significantly taller roofline and now feels tippy AF (high center of gravity). The EVO X also feels like a rental car by comparison lol. Over the winter I bought 3k worth of coilovers and chassis bracing in an attempt to replicate more of the FL5 sophistication.

My FL5 has the DE5 ADS computer and that is about perfect for me. It feels the most focused and sorted of all the cars I've owned. It's my personal opinion this car hunkers down and stays composed the harder you push it. I love how ar higher speed you definitely feel the aero gluing the car to the road for high speed stability and grip. Feels like an absolute world beater. The steering feels well weighted and I prefer it's ratio and overall feel over the EVO.

fwiw, I also have a '23 BRZ that I've done 20 or so track days with. What an amazingly fun little car. It ironically gives me a similar feeling to that slot car like feel of the '05 STI, but with an even lower center of gravity, and retains that Subaru AWD feeling of massive stability. If go on an epic Northwoods drive the BRZ is the car I gravitate towards. Same for the FL5 though.

Very similar experience to mine! I had good luck with my EJ’s never had an issue with them.

I had:
2004 350Z
2006 STI
2013 Focus ST
2014 BRZ
2015 STI
2017 M2

Took them all to the track and they were good, same experience with the subaru’s noticed them softer than my other cars. The Focus while fun I was disappointed with it.

The M2 was excellent but pretty numb steering and was a handful coming out of corners with how quick the torque came on.

The Type R feels so well sorted that at the track it really impressed me.

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[EJHonda]

Too soon to tell for me: I owned an '03 Evo 8 (sold in '22) that over the 18 years I had it basically morphed into a fully caged and technically not-street legal time attack car with license plates. I picked up my CTR in October '23 and stored it for the winter with only having put 171 miles on it. I hope to get to the track come April and see how the CTR stacks up in stock form. I had so much seat time in my Evo that I could really read it on the track. When I had a brief 13 month fling with a '21 BMW M2 Comp, I found that it was not as trustworthy as my Evo was as it was much more difficult to read what my inputs were doing. Hoping the learning curve might be a little less steep with the CTR, but we'll see. I really appreciated the analog feel of the Evo and am hoping I can get comfortable with the digital nature of the CTR. I've already seen people referencing "the pedal dance" in terms of nanny disablement, which I had none of on the Evo. This old dog isn't a fan of learning new tricks.

 

[1970B302]

Too soon to tell for me: I owned an '03 Evo 8 (sold in '22) that over the 18 years I had it basically morphed into a fully caged and technically not-street legal time attack car with license plates. I picked up my CTR in October '23 and stored it for the winter with only having put 171 miles on it. I hope to get to the track come April and see how the CTR stacks up in stock form. I had so much seat time in my Evo that I could really read it on the track. When I had a brief 13 month fling with a '21 BMW M2 Comp, I found that it was not as trustworthy as my Evo was as it was much more difficult to read what my inputs were doing. Hoping the learning curve might be a little less steep with the CTR, but we'll see. I really appreciated the analog feel of the Evo and am hoping I can get comfortable with the digital nature of the CTR. I've already seen people referencing "the pedal dance" in terms of nanny disablement, which I had none of on the Evo. This old dog isn't a fan of learning new tricks.

if someone had a 05 sti and 06 evo stashed away stock in a collection with close to delivery mileage on it at this point I’d go buy those and just keep DD my Corolla GR because I’m so sick of the electronic shit. I had my first annoyance , in the snow, in my GRC when realizing that when you turn off traction control it isn’t actually all the way off and there’s a few more steps. What ever happened to the old grip and rip mentality. Get in and go lol

 

[Clark_Kent]

if someone had a 05 sti and 06 evo stashed away stock in a collection with close to delivery mileage on it at this point I’d go buy those and just keep DD my Corolla GR because I’m so sick of the electronic shit. I had my first annoyance , in the snow, in my GRC when realizing that when you turn off traction control it isn’t actually all the way off and there’s a few more steps. What ever happened to the old grip and rip mentality. Get in and go lol

If you're patient and vigilant, a pristine example will most definitely pop up. Doubtful you will like the price though. If you're serious perhaps reach out to South Coast Mitsubishi. They were notorious for stashing brand new Evos only to sell them many years later for a pretty penny.

 

[1970B302]

If you're patient and vigilant, a pristine example will most definitely pop up. Doubtful you will like the price though. If you're serious perhaps reach out to South Coast Mitsubishi. They were notorious for stashing brand new Evos only to sell them many years later for a pretty penny.

I called them a few years ago and they said they’re all gone. Who knows if it’s true or not. If I knew someone local I could send them on a spy mission in person to figure it out. I’m sure they get calls from strokers asking about them all the time. I’m willing to budget over 6 figures for both cars

 

[SHIFTT_IX_MR]

That’s what I was looking to hear. I always wanted to buy one but they were always snotted local to me. Now if I could just find a Time Machine!
Does your IX MR have the zero lift kit?

is your CTR a fk8 or fl? Also if you could only have one which are you keeping and WHY? Thanks

Yes, it has the zero lift kit. i believe that was standard for MR models. I had the FK8 and have an FL5.

FULL DISCLOSURE: my comparison is between my evo and my former FK8. I bought my FL5 a couple days before rotator cuff surgery, so i have exactly 32 miles on it; but given the few miles i have put on the FL5 in that time the frame seems quite abit stiffer than the FK8. I also have the cusco braces (all of them) on my evo. it made the evo's chassis stiffen up and felt comparable to my FK8. So i am assuming the FL5 is actually stiffer now stock, than my evo with the cusco braces.

My EVO is still more comfortable to drive at high speeds than my previous FK8, but that may be due to the Fortune Auto 510 coilovers i run on the EVO.


If i had to pick i'd pick the evo only because it's easy to work on and has virtually no electronic nannies or other creature features, like power seats, or cruise control. My Evo has never been down - except for blown clutches (normal), and a failed bell housing (clutch fork snapped) on my 6 speed (which is why i switched to a Shepard Racing 5 speed, with T case, and rear diff).
548WHP on E85 running 28psi on a stock frame turbo, and on stock block, FBOs, with the original head gasket.
Now it's in the process of getting a Buschur 2.3rpm engine put in - all brand new block and everything- while i return the perfectly fine original (numbers matching) long block back to stock as a conversation piece in my home. I miss the days of "metal" red valve covers. these plastic ones are so cheap looking.

 

[SHIFTT_IX_MR]

The fl5 stock tuning feels very German (bmw) like. Very little bad habits

I agree. It's a baby benz or bimmer in disguise.

 

[EvoX_ChampR14121]

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.

Not an exact comparison but i think im in the ballpark.
Cars ive recently owned within the last 5 years:
-97 Integra with JDM B18C swap
-05 RSX type S
-08 Evo X
-19 WRX (traded for type r)
-Now 23 Type R (FL5)

The only car ive kept is my Evo X. I started modding it in 2011 so cant compare stock-for-stock, but from what i can remember in stock form, the type R is more refined, quiet engine sound, much less cabin noise, far stiffer ride. The seats i will say are on par with each other (but i do love the evo Recaro seat) as far as comfort, but i have noticed the type r bottom bolster comes up higher so when i shift my leg presses down on seat as where in the evo i can clutch in without my leg pressing on the seat. The Evo is very responsive, feels very raw compared to the type r. I do feel at higher speeds the evo felt super smooth and connected more so than the FL5, and you can smash the pedal without having any wheel hop issues (my biggest dislike with the FL5).

The Evo is my current DD, Stock block and head, FBO, bigger turbo on E85 (450 awhp). And the difference is drastic at this point. The Evo rips, but feels so heavy trying to slow it down for turns compared to the R. If you are on the fence on picking one or the other, i would say you wont go wrong with either choice its just a personal preference at that point. There is a reason why out of all my cars, the evo is the only one ive kept (Owned since 2010) and the FL5 will stay with me as well. Glad to be able to have both.

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