by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 11/30/2017 at 12:15
by "Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
Published 11/30/2017 at 12:15
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STARS: 6
An unlikely comparison you might say? Absolutely nothing in common you might also say? Well while you are right, I enjoy comparing cars that really have nothing in common except for a key factor; FUN. Both cars excel at fun for different reasons and so that is why I think they can be put head to head. I have just completed week 2 of ownership with the STi and have had the Miata for 3 years as of now. So my opinion may not be fully developed just yet but consider this my initial thoughts.
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Some notable technical differences are: RWD vs AWD, 142hp/125lbft vs 300hp/300lbft, $24k MSRP vs $33k MSRP, 2400lbs vs 3400 lbs, and obviously 2 seat roadster vs 5 seat sedan. Now the other important factor is purchase price used, I picked up the Miata for $5k with 125k miles on it and the STi for $13.5k with 136k miles on it. The Miata currently sits just over 200k, has been modified a bit versus the STi that is totally stock (other than the spoiler delete). I can say right off the bat that stock vs stock, the STi is INFINITELY more fun and better in every way. Like its nearly not even a comparison. People seem to like stock miatas but no way would I ever compare that to anything!
Now while I have not put that many miles on the STi yet, I have definitely been driving it spiritedly enough to determine how much I enjoy the car. This past weekend I got around to putting new tires on the car and spent three days of commuting the car in a very spirited manner. Mostly via Mullholland Highway, Encinal Canyon, and Decker Road. These roads I have also driven in the same manner in both directions in the Miata. I say both directions because its a distinct difference going uphill most of the way (heading home) versus downhill (in the morning).
Going uphill, its a laughable comparison. The Miata is powered by a boat anchor and the Subaru is a rocketship. Surprisingly though, it can still be just as fun in both even then! The Miata with the loud exhaust, open top, racing seat and harness, and tendency to kick the rear end out playfully in tight turns if I gas it makes the car feel/sound more like a race car. It honestly grips less than the Subaru and is obscenely slower but the way it body rolls around the turns and makes you experience every ounce of grip it does have is just magic. However, the Subaru like I said blasts up the mountain and seems to have infinite grip around every turn. It will get a little bit pushy at the limit but it seems to be very gradual and communicative about this. Any time I can get on the gas though, it is just INFINITE GIGGLES. Every time, the fun pedal just makes the car teleport to wherever I point it. This does not get old although it certainly burns WAYYYY more gas in doing so.
Downhill/mostly level though is another story. While of course the STi is still way faster, I dont immediately notice it nor do I miss the speed while in the Miata. The STi will still corner better and maintain a higher rate of speed. Plus I can mostly leave the car in 4th/5th gear around most of the less tight turns whereas the Miata is in 3rd. But anyways, the Miata comes back to shine here during any of the lower speed turns, which there are many on these roads. This is where even with less grip, I can get around the turns MUCH closer to the limit so I end up realistically not going much slower. I have to maintain momentum more but I am more used to the car so its not that challenging to do so. I havent timed the difference between the cars since it is street driving but I would think it would come out relatively equal going downhill.
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Fun driving aside, is it really possible to compare the two cars? No not really. The Subaru has regular car seats and the Miata has a knockoff Bride bucket. The Subaru is on normal suspension that doesnt want to murder my insides and the Miata is on coilovers. The Subaru has an actual trunk, a back seat, and a cabin that can be closed from the outside world, and the Miata is well, a Miata! So really its clear to me that while both cars are fun, the Miata is of course not a very practical car and that Subaru can be both fun and practical.
But at the same time, the Miata can easily achieve 30mpg and I would be hard pressed to get more than 20mpg in the STi. Sure I could probably learn to stay out of boost in the STi and achieve mid 20s on the highway but in the Miata, you can drive it like you stole it and still get 28mpg. And I have learned how to maximize the cargo space in/on a Miata to make it work for any variety of needs. Plus the STi is certainly going to be more expensive/difficult to maintain when things go wrong on it eventually. But if I keep it stock, I should not have too many problems (famous last words).
Overall, I thoroughly enjoy both cars so far and am looking forward to eventually trying the STi at an autocross as well as driving it in some snow with snow tires. That will get me a fuller picture on how the cars compare and likely make me appreciate both cars even more. It really is a good combo to own both of these since they dynamically oppose each other while still giving me plenty of the same fun.
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/30/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 1
That’s a good stable of 2 cars! I enjoyed the comparison
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
11/30/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 1
That Subaru understeer tho.
The best part of Subaru AWD is how early you can romp on the go pedal in a corner.
"GolfR Guy" (golfrguy)
11/30/2017 at 14:40, STARS: 1
Nice review! I need to take the Golf R to ACH or the snake soon. Let me know if you head up there any time soon, I’d join in!
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/30/2017 at 17:38, STARS: 1
I literally drive through the snake every day to and from work lol. So yeah I am very familiar with that area =). I just went up to the ACH this past weekend in the Miata, will need to try there in the Subaru next. Especially since I NEED tires for the miata now that I found out the inner edges are gone. Means I drove it too many highway miles!
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/30/2017 at 17:41, STARS: 0
Well yeah I havent gotten into that yet lol. That is probably why I experience the understeer, just driving it like I would my Miata. The Miata will understeer also but it depends on the turn and how warm the tires are. I guess I havent REALLY pushed the limits on the Subaru but I need to get in an autocross and a bit more driving it in general before I would do that.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/30/2017 at 17:43, STARS: 0
I’m happier I ended up with the STi instead of the couple of Saabarus and WRXs I was looking at. This I feel is more special and gives me more reason to drive it over the Miata. And I am especially glad I found an ‘06 instead of an earlier one since these (although the ‘07 even more so) seem to be the best.
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
11/30/2017 at 20:04, STARS: 1
The engines/transaxles/transmissions in Subarus (and Audis and a lot of other AWD cars) hangs out way in front of the front axle.
vs Miata:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=33600&dateline=1328588543
where weight is distributed equal/behind front axle.
Some Subaru bros will run much thicker rear sway bars to counter it but it increases chances of snap oversteer and there’s only so much you can do to fight the physics of the engine hanging out in front of the front axle. A bit like 911 and hanging the engine out behind the rear axle.
Also, Kinja formatted this weird, sorry.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
11/30/2017 at 21:54, STARS: 0
Makes complete sense, I hadn’t thought about that. But yeah that’s part of the “magic” in why a Miata is just plain fun to drive around. And so predictable. If I was going to track the STi, I would play with sway bars and stuff but I really think it’s perfect stock for street driving. It kind of needs an exhaust though just because it’s sad that my Miata is so much louder.
"thejustache" (thejustache)
12/01/2017 at 09:14, STARS: 0
Yeah I think you made the right choice. I might have about 300hp out of my XT on stage 2, but I don’t have the 6 speed or the trick center diff and the rest of the stuff that elevates the STi from “cool car” to “race car tech on the street”