Honestly you can't go wrong with either car. Great bang for the buck. Both cars WILL be very reliable IF you take care of it. I have an Evo, but it was a toss up since I loved and drove both cars before making my decision. In the end there were several factors that pushed me to the Evo. Looks, big power for cheaper, way better "feel" while driving(to me anyway). Also, I really preferred the 5 speed gearbox(non MR) as opposed to a 6 speed only in the STI. You feel like you are rowing a boat with such short gear ratios. Like everyone said above, it all depeends on what you want out of it. Remember that both cars are built for performance and sacrifice some amenities to focus on giving you the most bang for the buck in performance. There are other cars with better fit and finish, but that doesn't matter to me as much.