Uh, who said anything about the EVO? I like the EVO VI best of the line, for style and performance possbilities. The VIII is just not as appealing to me. That being said, I'd take an EVO over this Mazda, assuming it were to come out.

I would suggest that a little research is in order. The STi's 6-speed has become legendary among Subaru fans worldwide because of its remarkable strength. It is hardened, double shot peened, the works. The case was totally redesigned to eliminate flexing under heavy load and all the gears were beefed up. Plus the clutch is super tough as well, so the driveline is awesome. The one big strike for the EVO in my mind is that it's already running big boost to make its power (19.5psi from the factory is big). That causes some complications when you want to start turning up the whick. Also, it didn't beat the STi in every magazine's tests, just a majority of them. Primary amongst its advantages was its quicker steering rack, which made the car seem more agile and "pointy", according to the mag writers. Many also commented that the EVO felt cheap in overall fit and fitment, compared to the STi. Neither car was without its criticism.

I prefer the STi, especially over something created by the Ford Motor Company or one of its subsidiaries (nothing personal Ford fans, so please stay calm ). It's a matter of personal preference, nothing more.

Can't we all just get along?