Snowfight: WRX STI vs. Evo GSR

MotorTrend · 03-06-2009, 11:58 AM

We've compared Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions and Subaru WRX STIs every whichway for what seems decades. (Did Evo I coincide with Super Bowl I, or does it just seem that long?) Evo versus STI stories were once so common in this magazine that tech director Frank Markus proposed a cover blurb, "Absolutely No Evos or STIs in This Issue!"

Now he's scorekeeper for Motor Trend's first Ice Bowl (click for story), a matchup of the Mitsubishi Evolution X and Subaru WRX STI at Continental Corporation's own frozen tundra, its winter proving grounds near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Evo X and WRX STI fight for grip first on their stock summer tires, and then on identical winter tires.

Watch the video here.

Quote:

So Evo wins, right? Not so fast-the fun way isn't necessarily quickest. Handling course turns are tighter and closer together than on the figure eight, and the Mitsu's 214 extra pounds become a serious liability. With the Subie in intelligent mode, stability control off, center diff set to manual, in lock minus one click, the STI feels slower as it's being slid with armfuls of opposite lock around the road course. What's really happening is that the STI is using up less of the track, wasting less inertia. Auto mode allows a bit more tail flicking than manual full lock, but manual on lock minus one is most efficient here. And so the final score is Mitsubishi Evo, 1:06.8 around the handling course, Subaru STI, 1:05.4. The STI takes the Ice Bowl by a quarterback sneak.

1st Place: Subaru WRX STI
With better balance and lighter weight, the STI beats the Evo on snow in every measure except the figure eight. And in this color, the radical styling isn't so bad.

2nd Place: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
The Ice Drift King! Evo is more fun on ice than its rival, and its heavily bolstered Recaros really hold you in place. It's just not the best bet for a Finnish pro-am rally.

Read the full story here.

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Pakin · 03-06-2009, 12:03 PM

Yay45

stevey323 · 03-06-2009, 12:06 PM

coolness

generalganja · 03-06-2009, 12:08 PM

Very nice! Go subie!

EdsWRX · 03-06-2009, 12:09 PM

very cool writeup

0wrx6 · 03-06-2009, 12:15 PM

awesome! nice job

Jubert69 · 03-06-2009, 12:17 PM

i like that graph, thats sick

DrewDeezy · 03-06-2009, 12:18 PM

we won!!!!

Annapolis Subaru · 03-06-2009, 12:19 PM

Nice!!!

jay_barton · 03-06-2009, 12:20 PM

Yeehaa Suby, i'll have my evo X seats in by the end of the month all i have to do is make it to this course!

mechanizeddeath · 03-06-2009, 12:22 PM

Go Subie Go!

fastfreddy · 03-06-2009, 12:31 PM

The e-brake requires a clutch depress?

What?

Is this new on the 08's, or are they just mistaken?

Perhaps they were running it on full lock, to which I am wondering why - It ain't the fastest, and it handles like ass on full lock on snow/ice, and i am still not sure why that would require the clutch to be pressed.

AnthonyC.01 · 03-06-2009, 12:37 PM

STI FTW

snowshoe scooby · 03-06-2009, 12:41 PM

Awesome article and yea the track graphic is sick, I really like the side by side comparison

jg wentworth · 03-06-2009, 01:00 PM

30 Helens Agree

tsySTi · 03-06-2009, 01:30 PM

Cool. (no pun intended)

Subie probably would have done better with another 40lbs lost with lighter wheels!

veightkiller · 03-06-2009, 01:32 PM

this track is wicked looks like fun

scoobyviking · 03-06-2009, 03:39 PM

we have to make due with finding a big open parking lot here in philly. +1 for an awesome winter driving spot.

kokopuffs405 · 03-06-2009, 03:52 PM

i love my suby

im2ninja4u · 03-06-2009, 04:19 PM

+1 for suby!

subielife · 03-06-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsySTi

Cool. (no pun intended)

Subie probably would have done better with another 40lbs lost with lighter wheels!

they used the BBS rims with snows for the testing

jasonspeed · 03-06-2009, 05:25 PM

I came into a Subie from a Mitsu (Talon TSi). I'm hooked on Subaru's now, but Mitsubishi is still a good car that I wouldn't mind having. The biggest draw to Subaru was it's legendary durability. I was under the hood of my Talon at least once per oil change doing something.

Funny thing about that awesome graph is the notation of the EVO's understeer. I thought this was a Subaru issue.

codesoccer · 03-06-2009, 07:11 PM

stupid video...who wants a loose car?

Pjensen234 · 03-06-2009, 07:33 PM

+1 for suby and +1 for michigan!!!

Junior04 · 03-06-2009, 09:14 PM

+1 For SUBIE!!!

03-06-2009, 12:20 PM	#10
jay_barton Scooby Newbie Member#: 157394 Join Date: Aug 2007 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Westmoreland County Vehicle: 2011 STI SWP 400 WHP 400 Torq	Yeehaa Suby, i'll have my evo X seats in by the end of the month all i have to do is make it to this course! Last edited by jay_barton; 03-06-2009 at 12:24 PM. Reason: spelling

03-06-2009, 12:31 PM	#12
fastfreddy Scooby Specialist Member#: 66148 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Somerville Vehicle: 05 STI	The e-brake requires a clutch depress? What? Is this new on the 08's, or are they just mistaken? Perhaps they were running it on full lock, to which I am wondering why - It ain't the fastest, and it handles like ass on full lock on snow/ice, and i am still not sure why that would require the clutch to be pressed. Last edited by fastfreddy; 03-06-2009 at 12:38 PM.

03-06-2009, 03:39 PM	#18
scoobyviking Scooby Newbie Member#: 192241 Join Date: Oct 2008 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Colorado Vehicle: 2013 STi Plasma Blue Pearl	jealous we have to make due with finding a big open parking lot here in philly. +1 for an awesome winter driving spot.

03-06-2009, 05:25 PM	#22
jasonspeed Scooby Specialist Member#: 187971 Join Date: Aug 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: NEWisconsin Vehicle: 03 Grocery Getter subyshop.com	I came into a Subie from a Mitsu (Talon TSi). I'm hooked on Subaru's now, but Mitsubishi is still a good car that I wouldn't mind having. The biggest draw to Subaru was it's legendary durability. I was under the hood of my Talon at least once per oil change doing something. Funny thing about that awesome graph is the notation of the EVO's understeer. I thought this was a Subaru issue. Last edited by jasonspeed; 03-06-2009 at 05:26 PM. Reason: Graph

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03-06-2009, 12:03 PM	#2
Pakin Scooby Specialist Member#: 17315 Join Date: Apr 2002 Chapter/Region: International Location: Date Line Denies F-22s Vehicle: MY95 Impreza 207C MY05 Forester 257X	Yay45

03-06-2009, 12:06 PM	#3
stevey323 Scooby Specialist Member#: 130230 Join Date: Oct 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: L.A./CSUF Vehicle: 2002 WRX-totaled =[ 2011 G37-S	coolness

03-06-2009, 12:08 PM	#4
generalganja * Banned * Member#: 54826 Join Date: Feb 2004 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Torrance Vehicle: 2006 WFC #420 SGM, Church tuned	Very nice! Go subie!

03-06-2009, 12:09 PM	#5
EdsWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 13881 Join Date: Jan 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Pittsburgh/Detroit Vehicle: 08 Spec B	very cool writeup

03-06-2009, 12:15 PM	#6
0wrx6 Scooby Newbie Member#: 116127 Join Date: May 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Fairfax Vehicle: '13 STI DGM '07 SV650s	awesome! nice job

03-06-2009, 12:17 PM	#7
Jubert69 Scooby Specialist Member#: 167739 Join Date: Dec 2007 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: CT Vehicle: 15 Forester NA dat gas mileage	i like that graph, thats sick

03-06-2009, 12:18 PM	#8
DrewDeezy Scooby Specialist Member#: 160279 Join Date: Sep 2007 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Richland, WA Vehicle: 2004 STi Crawford Performance	we won!!!!

03-06-2009, 12:19 PM	#9
Annapolis Subaru Former Vendor Member#: 107051 Join Date: Feb 2006 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Annapolis, MD	Nice!!!

03-06-2009, 12:22 PM	#11
mechanizeddeath Scooby Specialist Member#: 203335 Join Date: Feb 2009 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Grand Rapids, MI Vehicle: 2012 Ford Focus Fleet Silver	Go Subie Go!

03-06-2009, 12:37 PM	#13
AnthonyC.01 Scooby Newbie Member#: 93706 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Oceanside, CA Vehicle: '15 WRX CWP rip 05 STi OBP	STI FTW

03-06-2009, 12:41 PM	#14
snowshoe scooby Scooby Specialist Member#: 182007 Join Date: Jun 2008 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Colorado Vehicle: 2004 WRX Sport Wagon Aspen White	Awesome article and yea the track graphic is sick, I really like the side by side comparison

03-06-2009, 01:00 PM	#15
jg wentworth Scooby Newbie Member#: 202144 Join Date: Feb 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 2016 GTI (PP/LP)	30 Helens Agree

03-06-2009, 01:30 PM	#16
tsySTi Scooby Newbie Member#: 197294 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle WA Vehicle: 2008 STi Aspen White	Cool. (no pun intended) Subie probably would have done better with another 40lbs lost with lighter wheels!

03-06-2009, 01:32 PM	#17
veightkiller Scooby Guru Member#: 78967 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: vancouver B.C Vehicle: 2011 335i Black	this track is wicked looks like fun

03-06-2009, 03:52 PM	#19
kokopuffs405 Scooby Specialist Member#: 201772 Join Date: Feb 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: UMBC / UMD / Potomac, MD Vehicle: 2008 OH RLY Alpine White	i love my suby

03-06-2009, 04:19 PM	#20
im2ninja4u Scooby Specialist Member#: 183389 Join Date: Jun 2008 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Timing out Nasioc	+1 for suby!

03-06-2009, 07:11 PM	#23
codesoccer Scooby Specialist Member#: 179573 Join Date: May 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: South Florida Vehicle: 2002 MBP Bugeye Flip Flop Tuned on corn	stupid video...who wants a loose car?

03-06-2009, 07:33 PM	#24
Pjensen234 Scooby Newbie Member#: 198808 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Moms House Vehicle: 2003 WRX Wagon Sedona Red	+1 for suby and +1 for michigan!!!

03-06-2009, 09:14 PM	#25
Junior04 Scooby Newbie Member#: 135122 Join Date: Dec 2006 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Fayetteville,NC Vehicle: 99 RSTi Primer/WRB	+1 For SUBIE!!!

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