E36 M3 vs. WRX STI
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 65
From: CT
Car Info: 2004 Subaru WRX STi World Rally Blue with Silver BBS wheels WICKED!!
If you grew up in the ghetto, mon, the Evo would seem like a luxury. However, if you have driven more refined vehicles over the years, the Evo quickly looks like cheap, econo trash. The looks alone say "Ricer". Thus far, not 1 person has called my STi a "Ricer" ride and I was prepared to hear this abuse a whole lot. I have heard the EVO called Rice routinely.
Seriously though, both are great cars, stock for stock, it comes down to driver skill at the track, as a street machine the STi is a much more well rounded ride.
Seriously though, both are great cars, stock for stock, it comes down to driver skill at the track, as a street machine the STi is a much more well rounded ride.
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Noy yet...
If interested....
So I am ready to get a STI.. I go to the dealer check out the STI (every inch of it) ...and when I am finally ready I ask about the price..they are ok with MSRP, but wouldn't go down a dime.... so I ask about trading in my 99 M3....my 99 M3 is fully loaded with everything and has very low miles, in perfect condition....to keep it short, he offers me $23k for my car and tells me that I have to pay $12k on top of my trade to get the STI (out the door price)... well folks as much as I have come to like the STI but I felt insulted...and no way is the STI $12k more worth than my current 99 M3.... well, gotta sell the car privat first...what a shame, trading in really $ucks....now I have to wait a little longer....
Siyah
So I am ready to get a STI.. I go to the dealer check out the STI (every inch of it) ...and when I am finally ready I ask about the price..they are ok with MSRP, but wouldn't go down a dime.... so I ask about trading in my 99 M3....my 99 M3 is fully loaded with everything and has very low miles, in perfect condition....to keep it short, he offers me $23k for my car and tells me that I have to pay $12k on top of my trade to get the STI (out the door price)... well folks as much as I have come to like the STI but I felt insulted...and no way is the STI $12k more worth than my current 99 M3.... well, gotta sell the car privat first...what a shame, trading in really $ucks....now I have to wait a little longer....
Siyah
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That's what dealers are all about. It took 5 weeks but I managed to get several thousand more than the trade in offer on my WRX. I decided to commit to the STI first, buy it, have both cars for over a month. Other than the extra insurance it worked out fine for me. I was able to clean up the WRX and keep it clean for buyers to look at while I drove the STI. Really it was a good selling point to have the STI sitting there. Anybody coming to look at the WRX understood why I was selling it instead of trying to overanalyze it and figure out if I was screwing them. So I had a big car payment since I put next to nothing down. If I wanted to now I could put the WRX cash into the loan, refinance with my credit union at the same "new car" rate of 3.9% and lower the payment. Instead I like the high payment ($765/mo/4yrs) and the idea of being paid off in less than 20 months (if I use the WRX cash to pay it down instead of pumping up the STI - hehe).
Oh and on the EVO thing, I drove one before getting the STI and I would have bought it were it not for the fact I will drive this car every day. Granted the EVO feels cheaper on the plastic side, but it's seats are better, it has a radio and would have cost me $4k less. The real problem for me is in Los Angeles they don't maintain the roads at all and driving the EVO everyday would have just been too tiring just like the Rx7 turbo I used to own was. Hit a pothole, hear the car scream OUCH, feel it in your body, another rattle comes up in the dash and you get the idea. The only way the EVO won't shake itself apart around here is if you lighten the springs and revalve the suspension to soften it up. Then there goes the EVO advantage of handling.
I passed on the 03 M3 for cost and I don't regret it.
Good luck
Oh and on the EVO thing, I drove one before getting the STI and I would have bought it were it not for the fact I will drive this car every day. Granted the EVO feels cheaper on the plastic side, but it's seats are better, it has a radio and would have cost me $4k less. The real problem for me is in Los Angeles they don't maintain the roads at all and driving the EVO everyday would have just been too tiring just like the Rx7 turbo I used to own was. Hit a pothole, hear the car scream OUCH, feel it in your body, another rattle comes up in the dash and you get the idea. The only way the EVO won't shake itself apart around here is if you lighten the springs and revalve the suspension to soften it up. Then there goes the EVO advantage of handling.
I passed on the 03 M3 for cost and I don't regret it.
Good luck
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Just my opinon...i have driven a E36 and E46 and here is what i would tell you. The Subaru is more fun. Launching the car off the line is alot more fun than you could imagine, and the other nice thing is the torque, i love how it is down at 4k rpm, you mash the gas at 3k and you fly, but at 2k in a high gear there really isnt power, and as for handeling i like the M3 better, i like racing with RWD over AWD, even though AWD is more forgiving i perfer RWD, plus in my opinon i dont like the weight of the stearing on the STI, it is to light for my tastes, but that is opinion.
...sooner or later i will get the STI
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There's really no point in STi or EVO bashing. The are like two brothers who grew up together. One can't exist without the other. I own both, love the STi and have a great time in the EVO. They are both excellent cars in their own regards and I admire the legacies of both vehicles. Although quality-wise, the STi is definitely ahead. I've got only 1600k on my EVO and there is already serious tranny issues. They are thinking about rehauling the entire thing or putting in a new one!!! =(
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From: Bay Area
Car Info: 06' White GDF 18x10 Wrong Fitment Crew #001
i know a guy who has been driving a new C32 with 500hp and bought a STi. first thing he told me is the car felt like its lack of power below 3000rpm, which is b4 the turbo kicks in. but he loves the acceleration after that. and u'd probably be amazed by the handling even tho STi is not exactly the best handling car.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 113
Car Info: Blue STi +Red del Sol VTEC
I a kid in my area had an evo went through 3 trannys then traded it in for a STi. It was really funny to see the evo sitting on the suby lot. My friend works at the dealership and they worked a deal with a mitsu dealer cause nobody would look at it they just went right to the STi.
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E46 EVO STI
I think the EVO is overrated, I recently dogged a new M3 all day on the track with my STI. On the turns the M3 was unable to keep up and on the long straights it pulled away slightly out of second and into third maybe 20 ft and then dead even until it gets out braked into the next turn by the STI. This is a bone stock STI. I have yet to see an EVO out there but I seriously doubt it can match that. Not to mention it anhialated the track 350Z.
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The evo is second rate. The only reason that it won car of the year was that they do not pick the same make twice until x years.
The EVO was tied with the RX-8. A flip of the coin and wala. Car of the year. Just like the selected president. HAHAHAHA
Blue
The EVO was tied with the RX-8. A flip of the coin and wala. Car of the year. Just like the selected president. HAHAHAHA
Blue
evo and sti are each awesome cars.
But like a fine wine or cognac people will gravitate to each for their own reasons. In a race it is truely a drivers race between the two cars. I for one love the sti.
But like a fine wine or cognac people will gravitate to each for their own reasons. In a race it is truely a drivers race between the two cars. I for one love the sti.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 99
From: Montgomery County, PA
Car Info: 2004 Silver/Silver STi, '99 Ducati 900ss, Yamaha Blaster
I own an STi and driving it is a freakin joy every day.
I have driven a few 2002 M3's. One with SMG and one manual.
As far as power is concerned there is not that great of a difference between the cars. It is the other things that would make the average person choose the M3 over the STi BUT would make the true serious car guy choose the STi over the M3.
The M3 just looks and feels very heavy. Heavy can also translate into solid handling and sturdy. With the M3's fun button on and traction assist off it can be just a fun rude car as can the STi at the drop of a hat. The M3 is a Luxury sports car and it excels at both. Cushy and fast. The STi is a sports car....little luxury.
It really depends what you are looking for in a car.
In my eyes the M3 wins (except for winter driving) because when you want *** stomping power it is there. When you want a quiet comfortable ride it is there. You still feel every bump due to the low profile tires and tight suspension but it doesn't thump the cabin or the passengers as much.
absolutely cannot go wrong with either choice.
I actually had an M3 on order...Then I got married....there went the M3 fund...Then came the STi.
I have driven a few 2002 M3's. One with SMG and one manual.
As far as power is concerned there is not that great of a difference between the cars. It is the other things that would make the average person choose the M3 over the STi BUT would make the true serious car guy choose the STi over the M3.
The M3 just looks and feels very heavy. Heavy can also translate into solid handling and sturdy. With the M3's fun button on and traction assist off it can be just a fun rude car as can the STi at the drop of a hat. The M3 is a Luxury sports car and it excels at both. Cushy and fast. The STi is a sports car....little luxury.
It really depends what you are looking for in a car.
In my eyes the M3 wins (except for winter driving) because when you want *** stomping power it is there. When you want a quiet comfortable ride it is there. You still feel every bump due to the low profile tires and tight suspension but it doesn't thump the cabin or the passengers as much.
absolutely cannot go wrong with either choice.
I actually had an M3 on order...Then I got married....there went the M3 fund...Then came the STi.