I've owned 4 Subaru's and I was of they very first to own the redesigned 2003 "Blobeye" Type UK STI. I had it for 4 years and then picked up a 2006 JDM Hawkeye STI
I loved my scoobies but day to day I prefer driving my ED30.
I do miss the power I had and the sure-footedness, it never ran out of grip. I had only changed the exhaust, panel filter and remap and she made 350bhp/365torque.
When I put the power down, all of it transfered to the road without any wheel spin.
That is the one thing i miss in my ED30 and why I am looking to getting a Golf R.
But I dont think I would go back.
The servicing wasn't any more expensive than my ED's and the parts were generally cheaper than what is on offer to VAG, the running costs in terms of fuel was a killer.
220 miles out of an 11gallon tank on a run and a lot less for day to day driving.
My friend had an evo 8 and it was a was a different animal. Just as fast and maybe more grippy but mainly because the car did alot for you.
There has always been a huge rivalry between the 2 cars and it generally comes down to a bad driver could go alot faster in an Evo.
But I am happy I made the switch and other than 4 wheel drive, that is all I really miss.
The main killer was the pricing of the car. When I got my 2003 STI I paid 24K for it, the same car now is 34k and isn't really that differently spec'd. Its slower if anything and has the weaker 2.5L engine. Unlike the 2001-2005 and the JDM 2L engine. You also get the 2.5L in the UK Hawkeye and that engine was chocolate!
Aw happy memories