My Sti Vs My Former Mazdaspeed 6

arctic_blue83 · Postby **arctic_blue83** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

Well, it's been almost a month since I traded my Speed6 in on my new STI, so I figured I would give a review of how they stack up against each other. Here's how I break it down-

Acceleration- The STI is a monster. No joke, the car is fast, I think Jake (Spatty) is the only person I've given a ride in on this forum, but the car just pulls and pulls and then pulls some more. Even with all the mods that were on my Speed6, my STI still feels faster, which I've given a total of 5 people rides in both, all of them agreed the STI feels faster.

Powerband/drivability- While the STI has tons of power, it's also a bit laggier around town. The STI requires more revs to build boost, overall accelerating around town is probably easier in the MS6 just because the turbo spooled so soon. This may sound crazy, but honestly the Speed6 is probably it bit easier to drive smoothly.... don't get me wrong, the STI is WAYYY easier to drive fast, but the MS6 can pull away from a light smoother.

Handling- The STI has traction like nothing I've ever owned before. Body roll is almost non-existent. Traction is insane. On-ramps are now taken at insane speeds lol. Honestly I loved the Speed6, but in the handling department, it's no comparison, the STI has more grip, less body roll, more resistence to understeer, more communicative steering feedback... all around, it's a beast. It's hard to resist taking corners at highly illegal speeds lol.

Ride- This is a tough one... the MS6 is smoother, and more comfortable. It's more relaxing to drive on the freeway, and I'm sure 90% of your passengers would rather ride in the MS6 for long periods of time. Although going over bumps the STI is far more composed. Over rough/uneven pavement, the STI's chassis doesn't get upset, it just grips and goes where you point it, without a complaint. Two very different types of ride, I prefer the STI's ride, but my GF (Charli) prefers the MS6 lol.

Interior features- MS6 probably wins this hands down. The stereo in the STI sucks. Bad. It's seriously weak, and lacks refinement. Honestly the thing I miss most about the MS6 is the Bose stereo, looking back, it was a damn good stereo from the factory. I also miss the driver mounted audio controls... even the controls on the dash are hard to reach from the seated position in the STI. The climate control also seemed to work better/more efficiently in the MS6. The STI's seats are more comfortable/supportive though. The only really cool features the STI comes with are the DCCD (making the car act like a RWD car rocks!!) and the intercooler sprayer helps in traffic.

Braking- On the street, during normal driving, the MS6 has better pedal feel and initial bite. For driving on the street, the MS6's brakes are nothing short of amazing IMO. Although, under repeated heavy stopping, the STI has more resistence to fade. So for the Street, the MS6 wins, for the Track/Mountains the STI wins.

Looks- They're subjective. I may be a bit of a ricer, but I prefer the STI. The wing is actually growing on me, and actually makes backing up/close lane changing easier for me, due to the fact I can see right where the back of the car is lol. Don't get me wrong, the MS6 is very classy looking, and my GF likes the way the MS6 looked better, but I just like more aggressive looking cars lol.

Gas Mileage- About equal. They both suck lol. My 350Z got much better mileage than both of them lol.

Interior/trunk space- Both of them have large usable trunks IMO, about equal in that department. Interior room goes to the Speed6. It's not as noticable if there's just 1 or 2 people in the car, but once you put someone in the backseat, it instantly becomes more noticable, and uncomfortable in the STI lol.

Build Quality- I think they both have good build quality. Both have better build quality than my 350Z did IMO. Don't get me wrong, my Z looked cool inside, but felt cheap after spending some time in it. The MS6 does look to have nicer/higher grade materials though, with the one exception of the alcantara (suede type material) used in the STI's seats, I love that stuff. Equal build quality, nicer materials in the MS6.

Transmission/Shifting- It's a tough one.... the MS6 has great shifter feel, very smooth, but I also love the tough feeling, high position feel of the STI. They're both equally great gearboxes, by far the best 2 trannys I've ever owned, LEAGUES better than the one in my old Z, or any other car I've owned besides these 2. I'll call it a draw, but for different reasons.

NVH- The STI is loud. In stock form, if you tap the roof, you'll hear the tinging of aluminium lol. There's not much sound deadening in the STI, with both in stock form, you hear more motor noise, road noise & a lot more tire noise with the STI. It doesn't bother me in the least, but I could see it bothering some people. In comparison the MS6 is very quiet.

Overall- I prefer the STI, but then again, I am more of a performance junky, so it just makes sense for me. I'll probably never touch the brakes or suspension on this car, they're perfect as they are for my wants/needs. As a matter of fact, power wise the car is already fast.... the only things I can even remotely see myself doing powerwise is maybe a TBE & tune. I had a long list of stuff I wanted to do to my Speed6, and almost everything I wanted to improve is already improved on my STI, so it just made more sense to buy the STI. Don't get me wrong, this car surely has it's flaws, and is definitely not for everyone. I could probably see about 80% of the population would rather have the MS6 as a daily driver, it's more practical/nicer, whereas the STI is like a street legal rally car lol. Just felt like sharing my views/opinions [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Mr.jake · Postby **Mr.jake** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

Sweet good to know. And yes the car is stupid, stupid fast compard to the your speed6 that was already stupid fast. The car pulls and never ever felt like it want to let up. The traction blew me away when we were in the parking lot and you did even do anything really but I cold feel how the car just grips and powers through everything. It was a loud ride I did notice that. It didnt bother me either but like Brandon said I could see how a lot of people wouldnt like it.

MazdaGurl · Postby **MazdaGurl** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

Wow! That's an amazing comparison! I was comparing my 3s to the Altima when I got it, and of course....the 3s wins, LOL! I'm not biased or anything...

MS3_Mafia · Postby **MS3_Mafia** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

Cool informative review!

arctic_blue83 · Postby **arctic_blue83** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Spatty @ Oct 11 2007, 02:13 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4717]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Sweet good to know. And yes the car is stupid, stupid fast compard to the your speed6 that was already stupid fast. The car pulls and never ever felt like it want to let up. The traction blew me away when we were in the parking lot and you did even do anything really but I cold feel how the car just grips and powers through everything. It was a loud ride I did notice that. It didnt bother me either but like Brandon said I could see how a lot of people wouldnt like it.[/b]

Yeah, when you come down to pick up your new wheels, I'll take you for another test drive... I know 4 consecutive hairpins not too far from here, that when I took them at about 9/10ths.... well let's just say when I got through them my palms were sweaty, my heart rate was through the roof and I couldn't take the huge smile off my face lol. I'll show you what she's got in the twisties [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

Ask my cousin Jon what he thought about the last short test drive I brought him on lol. All I know is that the next time I talked to him, he was talking about getting an STI [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

arctic_blue83 · Postby **arctic_blue83** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MazdaGurl @ Oct 11 2007, 02:20 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4722]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Wow! That's an amazing comparison! I was comparing my 3s to the Altima when I got it, and of course....the 3s wins, LOL! I'm not biased or anything...[/b]

Thanks, I tried to keep it as unbiased as I could, and give a fair review to both [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Mr.jake · Postby **Mr.jake** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arctic_blue83 @ Oct 11 2007, 02:43 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4730]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Yeah, when you come down to pick up your new wheels, I'll take you for another test drive... I know 4 consecutive hairpins not too far from here, that when I took them at about 9/10ths.... well let's just say when I got through them my palms were sweaty, my heart rate was through the roof and I couldn't take the huge smile off my face lol. I'll show you what she's got in the twisties [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

Ask my cousin Jon what he thought about the last short test drive I brought him on lol. All I know is that the next time I talked to him, he was talking about getting an STI [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img][/b]

Yea, he does that in any car that he rides in that is fast. [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] Of course yours is super fast. Off topic real quick Chris is moving out at the end of the month.

tsx_guy · Postby **tsx_guy** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

nice write up....

arctic_blue83 · Postby **arctic_blue83** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Spatty @ Oct 11 2007, 02:49 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4732]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Yea, he does that in any car that he rides in that is fast. [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] Of course yours is super fast. Off topic real quick Chris is moving out at the end of the month.[/b]

Where is he going?

Yeah, Jon is kind of impressionable, although he never showed any interest in getting a Speed6.... as a matter of fact, one weekend me & Jon test drove a Speed6, an '07 WRX, an '06 Civic Si, a Mustang GT, 2 RX-8's (one modded, one stock, weird, the stock one was faster) and a 400bhp GTO.... this may sound weird, but Jon actually didn't like the Mustang or GTO at all, or the Civic Si (but for different reasons, it was slow lol). We both agreed the GTO was fast, but handled like shit. I couldn't believe, Jon actually preferred the RX-8, simply because it handled better, and I think his 2nd choice was the WRX. He said he thought the Speed6 was quick, but felt too big for his taste. As a matter of fact, Josh (FreeZing Cx7) took us for test drives in both the RX-8's and the Mustang GT (<<<<I would NEVER buy one, talk about "boaty" IMO). Me and Josh had to remind Jon not take take corners in the Mustang like he did in the RX-8's, for fear of death lol.

Colombia28 · Postby **Colombia28** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

Terrific comparison Brandon! Oh and Thanks very much for letting me start that bad ass STi up last night! I was in heaven!

arctic_blue83 · Postby **arctic_blue83** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Colombia28 @ Oct 11 2007, 03:09 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4749]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Terrific comparison Brandon! Oh and Thanks very much for letting me start that bad ass STi up last night! I was in heaven![/b]

Not a problem man! It's funny to think, the night before I bought my STI, I was test driving an '06 EVO MR... I remember calling Lee late that night, and talking back and forth about both of them. I was a Subaru guy for years though, the EVO is a badass car, but I couldn't fall in love with it. Both of them drive VERY VERY different from one another.... if they were both challenging someone to a fight it would go like this:

EVO- "I challenge you to a duel. I shall meet you in town square at 4:30pm, be prepared for battle"

STI- "YOU! OUTSIDE! NOW!"

The EVO is more like a finely tuned surgical tool, whereas the STI is just raw, unadulterated speed. On a road course, with equal amateur driver's, I could see the EVO pulling slightly faster times, as it's so intuitive, and the car's electronic helpers practically drive the car for you lol. The EVO could almost make Ray Charles look like a rock star on a road course lol, whereas the STI requires more focus, and relies on the chassis, grip & driver more than electronics.

I kind of got off topic, but I guess it's my thread, so that's ok lol. In 2006, Subaru made a lot of changes to the STI, to include new rear suspension components and changing the Front:Rear power distribution default to 41:59 (still really RWD bias). The result is that it understeers WAAAYYYY less than the 04-05's, as a matter of fact, it has a good bit of lift-throttle oversteer on the right corners/sweepers lol. I actually preferred the way the 04-05's looked (I used to own an 04 WRX), but really like the way the 06-07's drove/handled better.

Mr.jake · Postby **Mr.jake** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (arctic_blue83 @ Oct 11 2007, 02:56 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4739]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Where is he going?

Yeah, Jon is kind of impressionable, although he never showed any interest in getting a Speed6.... as a matter of fact, one weekend me & Jon test drove a Speed6, an '07 WRX, an '06 Civic Si, a Mustang GT, 2 RX-8's (one modded, one stock, weird, the stock one was faster) and a 400bhp GTO.... this may sound weird, but Jon actually didn't like the Mustang or GTO at all, or the Civic Si (but for different reasons, it was slow lol). We both agreed the GTO was fast, but handled like shit. I couldn't believe, Jon actually preferred the RX-8, simply because it handled better, and I think his 2nd choice was the WRX. He said he thought the Speed6 was quick, but felt too big for his taste. As a matter of fact, Josh (FreeZing Cx7) took us for test drives in both the RX-8's and the Mustang GT (<<<<I would NEVER buy one, talk about "boaty" IMO). Me and Josh had to remind Jon not take take corners in the Mustang like he did in the RX-8's, for fear of death lol.[/b]

Hes going to move in with Rena. [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] She just bought a house [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] its going to get destroyed by him [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] then she wont want to live with him either [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] the count down begins [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

arctic_blue83 · Postby **arctic_blue83** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Spatty @ Oct 11 2007, 03:34 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4761]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Hes going to move in with Rena. [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] She just bought a house [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] its going to get destroyed by him [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] then she wont want to live with him either [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] the count down begins [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img][/b]

Bwuhahahahahaha!! Now that's funny [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Huzer21 · Postby **Huzer21** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

Definitely vehicles in different classes, so it's good to see you do a comparo of the two.

tsx_guy · Postby **tsx_guy** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:14

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Colombia28 @ Oct 11 2007, 03:09 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=4749]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Terrific comparison Brandon! Oh and Thanks very much for letting me start that bad ass STi up last night! I was in heaven![/b]

you are a fluffer for subie [img]http://coloradomazdaclub.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

My Sti Vs My Former Mazdaspeed 6

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