warot
Track Technician
Definitely. I think the Legacy has been one of my favorite Japanese cars for years. The station wagon version is even cooler.
Automobile Mag (April 2008): Evo vs Sti vs 335xi
- Thread starter warot
- Start date
Definitely. I think the Legacy has been one of my favorite Japanese cars for years. The station wagon version is even cooler.
martinbo
Staff member
The answer is this Sunny...
Actually, any longitudinally oriented engine / transmission application will result in the engine sitting ahead of the near axle. Even in a Subaru, the full engine sits ahead of the front wheels, hence Subaru's persistence with the Boxer engine layout which is notably shorter over its longitudinal axis. It also has the benefit of a lower centre of gravity which goes some way to alleviating press-on understeer - especially when powering out of a corner - by virtue of less body roll resulting from the lower CofG. Same story for Porsche AWD - just put the engine in the back as you know...
Mitsu's EVO uses a FWD-based all-wheel drive system where the engine, gearbox and front differential are all transversly mounted over (and ever so slightly in front) the front axle. If you switched off all the electronic wizadry in the EVO then it too would inherently understeer just like the STI. Subarus are designed to inherently understeer. It sounds strange but for those familiar with the "power yourself out of trouble" technique this is all part of the alluring STI driving experience.
I hope to be driving the new car [you know where warot] tomorrow!
As for my trusty steed the Legacy, well, it's me and her around the Dynamic Handling track tomorrow too!
Zafiro
Supreme Roadmaster
martinbo
Staff member
Zafiro
Supreme Roadmaster
Daft BMW driver.
Seriosly though, "hotlinking not allowed - please use an embed code" thats why I see a picture of a Corvette
martinbo
Staff member
OH! My bad!
I see a Mitsu tranny! Go figure... I'll try and fix.
~~~~
Is it better now?
CorpusCallosum
Oversteer Expert
Yep all good. Thanks Martin. The pictures really illustrate how the Subbies engine layout is much more compact compared to the EVO.
warot
Track Technician
Ahh that's fantastic. I'm sure that little bugger will be real quick. Out of curiosity, since it's a hatchback now, is the wheelbase shorter than the old model? We'd love to hear the improvements over the last car.
I sure miss Gerotech. That's the first and only time I've ever been to a track. You gotta get your hands on a 135 and an M3 Martin.
Poverty
Oversteer Expert
They have a weight distribution of 60:40 so its worse than current audi's and all the new audi's do not suffer from chronic oversteer
warot
Track Technician
They have a weight distribution of 60:40 so its worse than current audi's and all the new audi's do not suffer from chronic oversteer
chronic oversteer > chronic understeer
martinbo
Staff member
Grrr - the car was there! On static display for customers to ogle over. Sadly no test-drives allowed - not even for instructors. The car was subtly whisked away before we could get our grubby mits on it! [Cheesed off smiley goes here].
The new STI's wheelbase is longer than the outgoing model and the rear suspension is much more supple. Early indications are - from those I've spoken to - that cornerning grip is up and rear end stability is better as a result of the new double wishbone suspension. Apparently, the car really does have spectacularly high levels grip and traction.
I've driven the 335i in anger but sadly no M3 or 135i. I'm just not getting the time these days! Can't you put me in touch with a contact warot?
