-=Rowdy=-

Where'd you get that number from? I figured with the est. 6.2 being a negative estimate, it would be more around the RX8s time.

crossbow

As per the other mazdaspeed 6 threads in this forum.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showt...hp?t=123615525

That 60 sec time is roughly equivilant to a mitsu evolution 8 mr.

Digital_Damage

function string WhatCarShouldIGet(){
if((G35 + Turbo) > (STI) && (G35 + Turbo) >(EVO)){
return 'Get a G35!';
}else{
return 'Get some other played out POS';
}
}


>? WhatCarShouldIGet();

Get a G35!


In my opinion an EVO or STI screams "My daddy just got me a new car." I personaly would get one with more substance.

G35 gets my vote....

Sephiroth

Handling can easily be fixed on the STi with some pinks and few other things. IWSTI.com is the place for STI owners, lots of information.

Also, turboing a G35/350Z would be extrememly expensive if you want to do it right. $10k at the minimum has to be set aside to buy all the parts and install. You will have to save some more as backup should your motor blow. The STI motor is already built for F/I, has F/I, and with little money can be made much faster than G35 TT/ST or 350Z TT/ST. Evo is the best car for modding...very cheap and enormous power potential.

mpt_yellowRX8

Get the WRX and do the following enhancements so's you don't have to feel so bad when you look at it in the garage. If you saw the Tuner Transformation STI you will know what I mean. Get a front mount intercooler and get rid of the original hood, or just modify the hood, and replace with a non-scooped hood. Get rid of the wing in the back, either get a new rear deck or just fix holes and repaint, and then debadge. Not nearly as aggressive looking as a stock STI but still just as fast. Then start working on the turbo.

Or get a Mustang Cobra and change the pulleys on the sc, upgrade the ecu, and slap on a new exhaust. Cheap upgrades that give back a lot of power. If you wanted to you could change other engine components, but that would start chewing up your cash quickly.

The EVO has a lot of tuner parts but as far as I could see you are pretty much stuck with the look from the showroom floor.

-=Rowdy=-

I can't see that 0-60 time being close to an MR. The MR is 4.6 I believe unless I misunderstood you.

Klone

You should check out Cobb Tuning's forum www.wrxforum.com, they have done some preliminary tests on the 06 wrx and it looks very impressive. For that price you cannot go wrong, the STI has all of the other goodies (brakes, suspension, transmission, etc...), but if you want to keep some money in your wallet, buty the WRX TR and get Cobb stage 2 power and you will be happy.

Backup7

The Saab 9-2x Aero sounds perfect for you.

therm8

I'd hate to pay that much for a luxurized wrx though, your looking at $29k for just the premium pkg. And if you don't get the premium pkg you might as well buy the Subaru.

Now if you're going to spend the $ on a Saab, go for the 9-3 Aero. The only issue I have with it is that it's fwd. But that turbo 2.8L V6 has alot more potential than its stock 250hp/258tq (8.5psi vs. the 2.0T at 12psi, both 9.5:1 compression). It only weighs in at 3200-3300lbs. And it's a hot looking sedan.

But I don't think the 9-3 meets his performance wants completely.

VelociRedBeast

LOL, Where's Ike? I wanna see what he says..

Cattywampus

Compression is too high. The g35 engines are really maxed out on performance unless you change everything. My friend put a twin turbo kit in it and just that and only dynoed an extra 63 rwhp.

Ike

Rowdy, goodluck with your decision. I will tell you one thing, after you drive and especially own the car you'll suddenly find yourself thinking it looks great. You'll also be shocked at how many compliments you get and how many people will ask you about the car.

-=Rowdy=-

I think Im turning over to the darkside.

RX8rider

I know that the Z06 is probably out of your price range but I saw one last night and that thing is sick! An absolutely beautiful piece of work. And the performance to match anything out there on the road and more!

sti_eric

Don't test drive an STi unless you plan on buying!
Turbo = crack. One time is all it takes to become hopelessly addicted

Astral

Buy the STI and swap out the lunchbox handle wing... count that as extra cost of purchase.

The WRX feels super-substandard compared to the STI, SO do not listen to the advice of people telling you to soup up a WRX. The STI has so many different parts upgraded/improved, not just the engine... suspension is better, the whole drivetrain improved (different limited slip diff, upgraded clutch, etc), 6-speed tranny, many many more things, many engine-related things. Getting the STI power out of the WRX engine you will still suffer the turbo lag and you will get all that power way up in the rev range, whereas in the STI it comes on nice and early.

I've driven both the STI and the WRX, and I would not buy the WRX. It has a removed soft steering feel, the brakes are kinda sloppy and non-linear. The STI steering is much crisper feeling, a totally different animal, lots of feedback. The brakes on the STI bite quick, a lot less sloppy, and (while I like my RX-8 brake pedal feel better) give you very good stopping confidence.

So while you can call bullshit on my "WRX vs STI tech opinion" (kinda hearsay anyway), the driving feel difference between the WRX and the STI is huge and that's based off my own experience. My roommate (w/ the STI) says that buying a WRX and upgarding it with the money you saved from the STI is "really really realy dumb."

Plus you get the driver-controlled diff, which is fun. Finally, you get reliability and warranty, that you don't get with a souped-up WRX.

Now I'm not saying that the WRX is a bad car, not at all! It definitely is an awesome car for the money. However, if you are looking at dumping the cash at the EVO or the STI level, then get the STI. It really does fit your definition of fast and great handling (stiff-*** suspension).

As far as EVO vs the STI... I like the EVO look better, but the EVO interior just kills it. The gauges are tiny and hard to read. Looks like an econobox inside. The STI interior, on the other hand, has big-*** clear gauges, kinda like the RX-8, and to me that is more important, since you'll be spending more time inside the car rather than the outside.

therm8

Nah you can sell that to some fool

Astral

if you do the swap, then you may get some money for it even, but I would keep the original trunk, if you want to ever resell the car... the same fool won't want to pay the same money for an STI without the trademark wing.

Ike

The gap between the STi and the new WRX is not a very big gap. STi power can be achived very cheaply with the same characteristics of the STi engine. The brakes on the WRX are better and are actually older STi brakes. The steering rack is also faster and the wheels are larger and nicer compared to the previous MY WRX.

So if you're just looking for a good modding platform and don't care much about having the best brakes, suspension, and gadgets, the WRX is probably the better choice. I would not have said that a year ago...

crossbow

Rowdy,

Going by edmunds scores, its 0-60 is 5.3 seconds, the same as the MPS 6. The 4.3 0-60 is the Evo FQ320 (or was it 350?) which we don't get in the states. Btw the 9-2x aero went for about 19.4k with E-plan pricing when Saab was doing that whole employee pricing deal.

Ike

Yet another reason to never trust Edmunds. All of the Evos available in the US are quite capable of reaching 60 in the mid 4s. 5.3 is just a touch faster than what a pre MY06 WRX would do, and most likely slower than the current WRX. The MS6 is NOT in Evo nor STI territory in any performance category. But I bet the interior is pretty

ECHO1

i just got back from the seattle IAS with a buddy of mine who owns an sti, and i have to say that the sti is a beast! he's got a bunch of mods: up/down pipe, sways, springs, hi-flow cat, evo exhaust, and that thing drives and sounds sick! i can definately see where you're coming from, rowdy. he keeps offering to let me drive, but i'd probably end up in the same position you're in, lusting after a FI rally machine.

Mikelikes2drive

mid life crisis?

grow and buy a camry!!! muahahaha its good to be young

-=Rowdy=-

Actually Mike, I don't think I'll ever have a mid-life crisis. I have the perfect wife and family and feel as young as I did at 21. I have always been "safe" in buying vehicles. Yeah, the "perfect" and yet boring car would probably be a G35. I'm tired of going the conventional route. When I was looking for a vehicle for the wife before I bought her the '05 Durango, I saw in the Mitsu showroom a new STi. Although it was white, it was a site to behold. Yes, I don't care for the spoiler and some other small issues but it looks SO much better in person.

When driving the 8, I absolutely love it for everything it provides. But I am always hungry for something more out of it. If the 8 had the performance of the STi-I would be the biggest fanboy of it.

globi

What differs the STi engine from the WRX? (eg. pistons, rods, crankshaft, cams, valves, compression ratio, valve timing, turbo? Or in other words assuming you'd put on a larger intercooler on the WRX, how safely could one reach 300HP on a WRX?)