Need help deciding between 2019 STI and 2019 Civic Type R

I had a 2015 STI Hyper Blue edition and I loved it. Fantastic steering and wonderful gearbox (once it had a short shifter). I had it flashed and it was a really fun car.

I replaced my STI with a 2018 White Type R. I have since replaced the 2018 with a 2019 Type R. Both Rs had a PRL intercooler, KOYO radiator, downpipe, front pipe, motor mount and full Acuity shift kit, Hondata code. I have had the 2nd gear issue with both Type Rs.

The heated seats I miss. The steering was slightly better in the STI and I preferred the transmission - no grinding and more solid feeling.

The STI launch was better until Hondata’s traction control came out. Everything else in my opinion is superior in the Type R. It’s also worth noting that the STI steering rack failed at 37k miles which was super frustrating (and is a known failure point)

WYDOPN said:

I had a 2015 STI Hyper Blue edition and I loved it. Fantastic steering and wonderful gearbox (once it had a short shifter). I had it flashed and it was a really fun car.

I replaced my STI with a 2018 White Type R. I have since replaced the 2018 with a 2019 Type R. Both Rs had a PRL intercooler, KOYO radiator, downpipe, front pipe, motor mount and full Acuity shift kit, Hondata code. I have had the 2nd gear issue with both Type Rs.

The heated seats I miss. The steering was slightly better in the STI and I preferred the transmission - no grinding and more solid feeling.

The STI launch was better until Hondata’s traction control came out. Everything else in my opinion is superior in the Type R. It’s also worth noting that the STI steering rack failed at 37k miles which was super frustrating (and is a known failure point)

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Interesting perspective - I heard that the transmission on the STI was really notchy and crappy?

WYDOPN said:

I had a 2015 STI Hyper Blue edition and I loved it. Fantastic steering and wonderful gearbox (once it had a short shifter). I had it flashed and it was a really fun car.

I replaced my STI with a 2018 White Type R. I have since replaced the 2018 with a 2019 Type R. Both Rs had a PRL intercooler, KOYO radiator, downpipe, front pipe, motor mount and full Acuity shift kit, Hondata code. I have had the 2nd gear issue with both Type Rs.

The heated seats I miss. The steering was slightly better in the STI and I preferred the transmission - no grinding and more solid feeling.

The STI launch was better until Hondata’s traction control came out. Everything else in my opinion is superior in the Type R. It’s also worth noting that the STI steering rack failed at 37k miles which was super frustrating (and is a known failure point)

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solved my second gear issue by disabling rev match.

Now it's a 3-4 issue, but it's way less problematic (in frequency and in severity) than the 1-2 issue.

Let me know where your series.gray goes. I'm interested...

Zeffy94 said:

Interesting perspective - I heard that the transmission on the STI was really notchy and crappy?

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Needed some bushings to fix it.

b534202 said:

I have a 2002 WRX with just a tune and exhaust, so it makes less power than what the CTR makes. I would still say the WRX feels faster than the CTR. But of course then again I have my WRX for 19 years, I know how to drive it while the CTR is still new to me.

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It's because the older subis have a lighter chassis and TBH subis or not even that fast I'll spank one all day in my 10th gen SI so especially the older ones.i haven't came across a built one with a bigger turbo but the new WRX I have raced with FBO and custom dyno tune I kept up with it from a 20 roll was on his back fender but from a 60 roll I will spank it and it was tunded to 300wheel horsepower

I have looked at an STi many, many, many times over the years and something always stops me from pulling the trigger. I usually start with an insurance quote to snap me into reality, because WRX/STi are always more expensive in my world. If I can clear that hurdle, fuel economy stops me next. If I can clear that hurdle, the interior is pretty bland in the Subaru and they do seem to have a rattle almost every time. The STi also seems like it has been around forever in the current configuration and I like that my Type-R is a lot more rare.

All that said, they are cool cars, but if it is literally a choice between an STi and Type-R, I'd go with the Type-R every time. That might change when they bring out a new STi, but at the moment, that's where I am at.

I would like to add my perspective to the mix. I came directly from a 2016 STI Limited to the Type R and have had a few months to reflect on the differences. In summary, the Type R is the better overall car, yet if you were to ask me to choose which one I like more I would be unable to do so.

The STI as many have mentioned here is 'old'. And to many, that is a detriment. It suffers from laughably poor gas mileage, is rough around town, and has a powerband that is anything but linear. And yet, it retains a feeling that is missing from most modern cars. It provides a very connected driving experience, and intangibly it feels like a very special machine. I think a lot of this boils down to the 'hardcore' feeling you get from it, from the classic Subaru Boxer rumble, to the super mechanical manual transmission and clutch, and the hydraulic steering setup. On a back road, if I had to choose between these two cars, I'd probably still have to pick the STI for the overall visceral feeling it provides in such a setting, and although around a track and on paper the Type R is the better performer it can't quite match that raw emotional feeling.

That being said, why did I move to the Type R? First, I had owned the STI for 4 years and decided it would be fun to try something different. That, coupled with the ridiculous resale value I was able to get out of the STI, made it a low risk move for me. Also, I commute into downtown Seattle everyday. The STI, while absolutely at home on a backroad, beats you up in a busy urban environment or on long freeway drives. And this is where the Type R excels. It can be an extremely comfortable and low effort driving experience in any situation, yet can turn into an incredible machine in its own right on that same backroad. The Type R seats are miles better, and although Honda cheaped out on some obvious things (no heated mirrors is ridiculous IMO), the overall fit and finish of the car is arguably better. And, that hatch. If Subaru reintroduced the STI hatch I'd be back in a heartbeat, but as it is the sedan version just cannot match the practicality. I am getting 5 MPG better overall in the Type R, which is absolutely welcome. And on long road trips, the Type R doesn't leave me feeling fatigued the way the STI would.

What do I miss most? Probably the sound. After that, it's the transmission and steering feel. Both are perfectly fine in the Type R, yet there was a certain connected and meaty feeling the STI gave you that isn't quite there. Also, the Subaru community is pretty neat. Getting to wave to other WRX and STI drivers is pretty fun. But the Type R gets far more attention, looks, and questions, and is unquestionably a much rarer car so that is fun in its own right. The Type R is definitely the quicker vehicle. It cannot launch off the line the way an STI does, but once you get up and going it can accelerate in a way the STI never could (and mine was stage 1'ed). This comes down to the much more modern engine, and the Type R being basically 300 lbs lighter. This is also noticeable in its handling performance.

I live in Seattle, an environment where you might say AWD is the obvious choice and losing this would be a detriment to me. And yet, in day to day driving I never miss it. I will fit snow tires on the Type R and have no doubt it will get me around competently in the little snow we do get here. If I were going up into the mountains on a regular basis would I choose it over the STI and its AWD? No, definitely not - Subaru makes one of the best AWD systems in the business and will absolutely win that battle, but for my uses the Type R being FWD is not an issue whatsoever.

End of the day, I really love the Type R. It feels like a special machine, and I am grateful to get to experience owning one. At the same time, I think fondly back to the experience of owning the STI and always take notice of them driving down the road. In a perfect world, I'd love to own both of these cars. They are both incredible machines and we are lucky as enthusiasts that they exist. In my book, neither is 'better' than the other. Getting away from the paper specs, to me what makes a car special is the emotional experience is gives you, and how much you look forward to getting in and driving every day. The Type R is a much more well rounded car for everyday use, yet can still give you an incredible feeling when you get to have some fun. The STI is a more raw, visceral experience at that limit, yet has trouble adjusting to normal driving situations. Which car is better for you, is up to you, and your situation. If you can drive both, definitely do so.

Based on having driven a fair share of WRX, STI's, owning an SI, and having had seat time in a Type R,
I am leaning towards the Type R for you as a daily driver.

PicanteGamer said:

Also, the Subaru community is pretty neat. Getting to wave to other WRX and STI drivers is pretty fun

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Funny you mention this...I can't tell you how many times a Suba-bro has waved at me thinking I was driving an STi or something because from a distance, you see that wing coming and assume it is a Subaru haha

I live in a pretty bad winter spot, and the Type-R is awesome on snow tires...you will have no issues with that

lawl said:

You wanted to buy a car from your son and he traded it in anyway?? Had that happen to me once by a friend. Made me so mad, but it was a Mini Cooper and I now understand it was probably for the best

Leads me to the conclusion that
1) he hated the car so much that he had to protect you from it
2) he has never fully forgiven you for something you've done to him in the past

I'd go with #1 as a former turbo subaru owner.

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Nope neither. It was a tax deal. We only pay tax for the new car on the difference between the trade in and the new car. Not on total price of the new car. Significant difference when trading in a late model car. I was pissed until I bought the Type R!

Get the sti.

Surprised?

But seriously.... you're asking on a CTR forum. LOL.

The advantage of the STI is that you can have access to all the hp in all the conditions (especially if you live in an area with snow)

But my advice would be to wait one more year to see what subaru will do with their sti and wrx. It’s about time they come up with improved engine (mainly on the STI)

As a few others have stated I would be patient and wait because the new STI refresh is next year and they may be retiring that EJ dinosaur and having a beefed up version of the FA that comes in the current WRX. Who knows what else will change with the refresh but time goes by fast just wait it out before you make a decision and then regret not waiting shit maybe even the type r will get a refresh and be even better by then.

I know that it's very subjective but I really can't stand the engine/exhaust note of Subaru 4 cylinders (boxer?). And the STi just amplifies it to intolerable levels (IMO, of course). Like nails on a chalkboard.