It's a fun car, but NOTHING like a 911, or even my old M3. There is a huge difference between a real sports car and a hopped up hatchback. The STi handles merely OK. But, living in NJ, it's very practical as an all weather car, and it packs a punch in a straight line.
My car was dynoed at EFI in CT, at 297HP and 368ft-lb of torque to the wheels. Mods are an Invidia downpipe, MadDad full exhaust, EFI Stage II Open Source Tune, Whiteline 22mm adjustable ant-roll bars (front and rear), Kartboy front and rear end links, and Polyeurethane bushings.
The M3 was less powerful, but much more fun to drive, since between rear wheel drive and excellent dynamics, it communicated and handled much better. But, the STi hauls a bike trailer to the track, goes through any snow when I swap rims in the winter, and will haul my camping gear and anything else i need.
I actually like Porsche 911's myself actually. Specifically the 911 Turbo "S" model with twin turbos and all the newest gadgets the car has.
I've never ridden in a 911, but I'm willing to bet there's no substitute! :biggrin:
Unfortunately, for me its too expensive. That's why I mentioned the WRX STi because its more practical for me. If I had the dough I wouldn't mind owning one.
@DigDog. Finally to answer your question on why I want to ride a motorcycle specifically a sport bike:
1.)
Sportbikes look cool. . This is an important selling point to me for a motorcycle. Once upon a time I majored in Industrial Design and wanted to get into car design. But that dream faded when reality hit:
competitive job market, not enough jobs, long hours of work without sleep for days, VERY under paid. But I did develop a somewhat a "better taste" of what good design looks like. Italian sportbikes like Ducatis and MV F3 and F4 are sleek and appealing to look at. Even the Honda CBR 600RR with the tail pipe underneath is simple, yet also appealing to look at.
2.)
Because inline-4 engines sound awesome! I ALWAYS enjoy listening to a rider on the street with one of those inline-4 japanese 600cc sportbikes ride fast. I guess you can tell the engine performance of cars and bikes based on the sound.
Here's a vid of Michael Dunlop in isle of man tt on a Honda 600cc bike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWZG1nhgwgg
Its interesting and reminds me of an F1 car....
3.)
Because sportbikes are fast and fun. Maybe I played too much racing videogames as a kid and enjoyed riding as a passenger for some quick accelerating cars in the past, but I would definitely say the looks of sportbikes are really cool, but the riding experience and brutal acceleration of sportbikes is probably a fun thing to experience. But I agree on the posts that mention there are lots of road factors like other drivers tailgating, wind factor (riding at high speed with lots of wind tossed your way MUST be difficult), rocks and other debris to consider and avoid when riding, etc.
4.)
Because they're more affordable than sports/super cars
And also the fact trying to develop through R&D a decent sportbike cost lots of $$$ and time and proper prototype research, I"m willing to bet the sportibkes like the ones I'm interested in are well thought out and everything including the engine reliability, performance, gas consumption, styling, etc... are taken into consideration making for a fun experience.
I've hit a few points on why I like specifically sport bikes in particular. To some degree if there was say a Honda CBR 600cc inline-4 engine on a bike with an upright position like those sport naked types or any other upright position bike I would consider that as well. As long as the power and engine sound of the inline-4 is there that would be okay as well I would say.