This is a perfectly legit question for this forum!

Go test drive a G35 right now! And then when you test drive the STi, you will IMMEDIATELY know which car you prefer. They are going to be THAT different.
My personal take:
If you are NOT going to take your car to a track (road course) or autocross it AT LEAST a few times a year, you might be better of getting the G35.

I doubt you will really appreciate the advantages of the STI, if you drive exclusively on the street.

As a sidenote, if you're inclined toward the STI, you OWE it to yourself to look hard and deep at the EVO. The EVO is the only car capable of competing with the STi on a multitude of levels.

 

So are you buying your STi as a track use only vehicle?

I think most of us will be using whatever we get (STi or G35 or EVO) as daily drivers. You know, trips to Blockbuster, commutng to work, travelling with customers/clients to locations, taking our kids to Sunday school, picking up Mom on Saturday to go see a movie. Normal, average 'Joe Public' stuff.

I personally used to auto-x and am looking to get back in to the sport. But at the same time I'm not going to buy a brand new car to be dedicted predominantly to track use. There are plenty of used & cheap Miata's floating around for that purpose.

BTW, the G35 Coupe and Sedan is reported to perform quite well on the track (though its no STi). The two are like knives, just one is slightly less sharp than the other.

I'm currently awaiting the local dealer stock to replenish as I'm in line to put butt time in an EVO ASAP (I have a friend who sells them). I strongly doubt these folks are going to drop 30 large though without having tried all other possible options first.

Thanks for the advisory and your personal take.

- Janq

 

Where did I say (or imply) that the STi should be track ONLY?

I will be using my STi (or EVO) for all my daily activities just like you will. In ADDITION, I will also be using it for regular track days and AutoX.

So i'll repeat what I said...
The advantages of the STi or EVO will be a LOT CLEARER in a track setting than in a street setting. The G35 will have a softer ride, quiter cabin, more space, more luxury, BUT it wont even come CLOSE to the rally-replicas on a track/autox setting.

Speaking in terms of knives...
The STI and the EVO are like razor sharp scapel, whereas the G35 is like an ordinary steak knife. Sure, it's not a butter knife, but it's not a scapel either. Sure, a G53 may be pretty sharp compared to a Lexus ES300, but we're talking here about the STi and EVO. It's all relative. These two types of animals are a breed apart! If you are concerned about what people think of you based on the car you drive, THEN the G35 is your probably your ticket.

And yes, I have driven a G35 coupe. My driving impression is that the Lexus IS300 and the 330i are a lot more involving and fun to drive than the G35. Forget the numbers and statistics for a minute, and thing of subjective handling criteria. The car is geared toward safety. Safe, understeering handling. Some journalists who dont like to or don't have the ability to push the car like safe behavior. A few years ago, C&D picked the outgoing S4 over the outgoing M3, citing how the S4 handled safely and predictably.

In my mind the G35 (like the old S4) is competent, good-looking and suave, but ultimately...boring.

 

97itr153,

Cool your jets...throttle down.
No reason to get so excited.

I was only curious and asking a question in regard to you tracking the car.

Yes, I 100% agree the two are setup to handle differently.
Thats obvious and a no brainer.
The STi will scoot with much more authority than the G35.
Great, but I'm not knocking the STi for what it is....a precise mission oriented tool.

As for knives the STi is like an Ananova "sugar scalpel" while the G35 is a 'Henckel.'

I know as both are clients of mine.

- Janq

 

Ok jang i took three DEEEPPPP breaths. felling better now. ok good.

 

Great thread..
I am yet to drive either, but G35 icoupe s a great car..
C&D suxxx.. they rated RS6 over m5 and S4 (0-60 in 5.6) over M3 in their May 2003 issue.. Audi is def. pouring advertising dollars there....
JanQ - is on the money with each post..
G35 - luxury, a little slower, gets women, cute car, softer ride, luxury, NAV..
STi - pure sport, but no finesse and u aint picking females with it either..

 

OMG, when I got the latest C&D I nearly went 97itr153!

I'm a big BMW & M5 fan but Audi's RS6 is no slouch either.
Obviously.

I could'nt believe they harshed the M5 so badly though.
Yeah, ok the RS6 is bad...but everybody knows the M5 is 'SuperBad'. Then the M3 loses out to the S4?!?

BMW must have missed a few C&D payments.

That's okay though.
Them boys at BMW don't play.

The next gen M5 is going to set everything right again...

- Janq

 

can u say:
5.5 v10 good for 500 hp... Stock, no blowers of any kind...
Rumors @ www.autospies.com is that it will be ONLY $2000 more expensive than outgoing M5, which will no longer to produced starting this year....
If u have $72k lying around, this will be BEST sedan in the world, bar none..

 

Janq, sorry if you already posted this but have you test drove the G35? You make for a convincing arguement and I will get my *** to a dealership to test one out. I also plan on testing an Audi A4 (for the wife) and a cheap Volkswagen Jetta.. just to see for myself how inferior they will be to the STi. (many of my misinformed and uneducated "peers" think the jetta is the best thing since sliced bread) but I can't argue until I've actually driven one.

Now, didn't you say at one point you were going back to work as a subaru employee? If so, a little politically incorrect to be pulling up to the office in a G35, no?

Also, a G35 with AWD and a supercharger kit (dealer option or aftermarket?) would REALLY make me reconsider an STI... if the seats move back as swiftly as you say. How's trunk space? More than 11.0 cubic feet? How's the back seat? More than the Sti? I really have to get out and test drive one SOON because I have a deposit down for an STi and I will have to make up my mind very soon.

To be quite honest, I'm not getting cold feet but I am going to miss my Mustang GT. ITs in perfect shape and I love that feel of raw power, but I like the drive of the WRX better. I keep wondering how 300HP will be when I can't even fully light up my V8 225 HP GT! Then again maybe I'll forget all about it with my new car. My stang is only 5 years old, (this is where I second guess myself and look for reassurance from strangers on internet forums) a good time to trade up while there is still some equity left, wouldn't you agree?

 

if they don't blow up like the E 46 M 3 engines
:P

plus.. its still an ugly 5......

Chris Bangle has lost it... he need to be taken out the back yard of Stuttgart and shot in the head

 

V10 will NEVER blow, that is why they goin up in displacement, new 5 is someone ugly, but M5 with kit will be much nicer...
There are fake ones on bimmer.org
Next M3/4 is v8... good for 400 hp.... Maybe awd...

 

Bimmer is getting jealous..

that Audi V 8 is huritng them..


i am more into their remaking of the old school M 3s..

classic......


i seriously doubt that they gonna still name it M 5

M 6 is a better fit.. but that new 6 is even uglier..... อน^_^อน

 

I'll take m3 engine over Audi v8 any day...

 

Nope. I was originally planning to wait until May/June when the STi hits and try them both at the same time. I'd only done the due dilligence on paper up to now. After seeing the G35 C 'in the flesh' at the NY show and hanging out with the Infinity gals watching other folks reactions, as well as my buddys, I'm now going to visit my local dealer ASAP. With any luck, this weekend.
Nope. I like pulling strings, calling shots and being my own boss way too much. Besides I have been working for myself too long now and am 'set in my ways'. Also I swore to myself that I would never work for anyone else again.
That rear seat entry thing I described earlier is cool. I can't recall seeing it on any other offerings (?).
The trunk space is 8 ci according to the website but its not like thats tiny or unusable. Golf clubs will fit in it no problem plus the back seats flip forward for easy access to the boot.
Back seat space in comparison to the Impreza seemed to me to be just about the same in the width and knee space.
Keep in mind the G35 is based on the same platform as the Sedan and has its wheelbase. It has a pair of big heavy doors in lieu of four small light ones.
The only issue is the rear head room is abrupt due to the rear slope of the backlight. Not so bad that its unusable but you wouldn't want to ride back there for more than an hour. Kids and small people will have no problem.
Currently I have a deposit down with a local Subie dealer and am #7 on a relatively short list with a fall/winter delivery expectation. I'm also in line at Van Bortel but I'm not holding my breath on that.
I know for sure I will be pulling the trigger on some toy this year.
Originally it was going to be a Ducatti after my M5 dreams folded but my wife begged me not to do it. Something about being a new dad, my love for speed and being responsible. Argh! So it was STi here I come. I don't really need a car as I have use of two at the moment. The STi/G35 is purely a 'guilty pleasure' to appease my lust for speed & power.
The power in the STi will be an entirely different 'feeling' than the output from your 'Stang. The apportioning of torque through a tuned AWD system will make it seem as though you are using less throttle than you actually are. Like a big fart in a small room. You know something happened though you just can't put your finger on it. But damn if you won't be getting out there fast as hell! For a more literal example, stop in at your local Mitsu dealer and test drive an EVO.

As for trade up and equity, I have never been one to look at vehicles as anything but an expense item. When I personally purchase a vehicle I tend to keep them for long periods of time to minimize my expense to cost ratio.
I kept my '93 Legacy that I ultimately sold to my company a few years back and to this day use it as a daily driver. She's 10
and has 180K+ on the clock, lights up on the first twist, and rolls through or over anything in its way. Its blue book is probably only a grand or so. But it doesn't matter...I love that car. It ain't going nowhere. All my other cars through the years have been privately sold or donated with high miles. I love to drive and accumulate miles in groups of 20 & 30.
If you still have market value left in your 'Stang look at how she's aging and whether there's still fire in the relationship. If not, then maybe its time to kill the tab, part ways, adn call it a night. But if she's still the life of the party, then maybe it's cheaper to keep her. Everyone's deal is different...

BTW I'm planning to test all three variants; 5 spd Manumatic, 6 Spd w/Track upgrade and the 5 spd Manumatic w/Track upgrade.
Although my primary interest is in a manual, one can never be too dilligent about their research.

As soon as I get my foot in some G35 a$$ I'll let you know.

- Janq