350Z vs STi

[Imyourzero]

So last week I just scored a new job as Network Systems Administrator where I work and I'm already getting new car fever. I probably won't buy anything until after this winter, but I can't imagine being able to wait much longer than that.

I know both of them have their pros and cons, but I've been into domestics/muscle cars for the past few years and I want to know if there are any issues I need to know about with either of these cars. I heard about the tire feathering issue of the Z, so I'd want to be sure that I didn't buy one with that problem. I read that Nissan has been buying new tires for the owners of problem vehicles, but that's just a band-aid...not a fix.

I know the Z will be less practical since it only has 2 seats and is RWD. The STi of course has more room, 4 seats, and AWD, but IMO it's not nearly as sexy as the Z. I could get over that if I was making ~400 WHP, though. Which leads me to my next question: what is the realistic potential of the STi as far as making safe/reliable power? I've heard that you can make very decent power with a boost controller and a tune, but there has to be more to it than that. How much power can the STi make while still keeping daily drivability and reliability? I love going fast but I do not want to compromise the reliability of the car.

So...can any owners of either of these cars give me any advice that might be helpful? I plan to do a decent amount of research over the winter so that I can make an informed decision, but it's always nice to hear of first-hand experiences. (My other vehicle of choice is the IS300, but right now it's at the bottom of the list.)

Thanks!

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

350Z, I'm not a fan of AWD and the STi just doesn't impress me. Since you're looking at the 350Z make sure to check out the G35 Coupe.

 

[Viper GTS]

Horrible financial move (Woohoo, new job so I'll buy a new car!) but I'd take the STi any day.

How about you save $10+ grand and buy a WRX TR?

Viper GTS

 

[Fenixgoon]

plus the STi, while having awesome performance, reeks of ricer to me

 

[Scouzer]

WRX definitely gets scouzer's vote

 

[OS]

if this is your only car, the 350Z has a tiny trunk. Also some people complained about bad manual trannies on earlier models.

If you like the STI you should consider the EVO also.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
plus the STi, while having awesome performance, reeks of ricer to me

True.

Ditching the wing is mandatory for any self respecting adult.

Trade rear decks with some teenager driving a car his mommy and daddy bought him.

Viper GTS

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Horrible financial move (Woohoo, new job so I'll buy a new car!) but I'd take the STi any day.

How about you save $10+ grand and buy a WRX TR?

Viper GTS

If you're going to come in and not be helpful, at least explain why it would be a horrible financial move. My current car is paid off, but not very practical at all, and I would have bought a new car in the next few months whether I got this job or not. What would you suggest I do instead?

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Imyourzero

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Horrible financial move (Woohoo, new job so I'll buy a new car!) but I'd take the STi any day.

How about you save $10+ grand and buy a WRX TR?

Viper GTS

If you're going to come in and not be helpful, at least explain why it would be a horrible financial move. My current car is paid off, but not very practical at all, and I would have bought a new car in the next few months whether I got this job or not. What would you suggest I do instead?

all new cars are heavily depreciating assets, even i know this and i know nothing about finances

 

[PHiuR]

AMG FTW

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Imyourzero

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Horrible financial move (Woohoo, new job so I'll buy a new car!) but I'd take the STi any day.

How about you save $10+ grand and buy a WRX TR?

Viper GTS

If you're going to come in and not be helpful, at least explain why it would be a horrible financial move. My current car is paid off, but not very practical at all, and I would have bought a new car in the next few months whether I got this job or not. What would you suggest I do instead?

He'll say something about depreciating asset, get a beater, put rest in the bank, blah blah. You gotta pay to play.

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: OS
if this is your only car, the 350Z has a tiny trunk. Also some people complained about bad manual trannies on earlier models.

If you like the STI you should consider the EVO also.

Negative. I've read the comparisons and although I somewhat prefer the styling of the Mitsu, I'm not a fan of their reliability or the fact that their sales have been somewhat...disappointing. At the end of the day I think the STi would be the better choice for me.

 

[Vic]

The STi is significantly superior to the 350Z. So much so I'm not even sure where to begin. For starters, the STi seats 4 comfortably and has such novelties as a glovebox. For another, you can drive it more than 6 months out of the year. As to safe reliable power, you can pretty easily 400whp out of STi safely and reliably, and still keep it as a daily driver. To do so, I would recommend a TBE, larger turbo, FMIC, and ECU reflash or piggyback plus dyno tune. Still, I would argue that it's harder to get 400whp out of a 350Z than out of an STi.

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon

Originally posted by: Imyourzero

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Horrible financial move (Woohoo, new job so I'll buy a new car!) but I'd take the STi any day.

How about you save $10+ grand and buy a WRX TR?

Viper GTS

If you're going to come in and not be helpful, at least explain why it would be a horrible financial move. My current car is paid off, but not very practical at all, and I would have bought a new car in the next few months whether I got this job or not. What would you suggest I do instead?

all new cars are heavily depreciating assets, even i know this and i know nothing about finances

I'm not going to buy a brand new car. I plan to buy a used 04-05 model with 3-10k miles that's been well taken care of. For the record, I think buying a brand new car is extremely stupid. I'll let the first owner take that hit, thankya very much.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Vic
The STi is significantly superior to the 350Z. So much so I'm not even sure where to begin. For starters, the STi seats 4 comfortably and has such novelties as a glovebox. For another, you can drive it more than 6 months out of the year. As to safe reliable power, you can pretty easily 400whp out of STi safely and reliably, and still keep it as a daily driver. To do so, I would recommend a TBE, larger turbo, FMIC, and ECU reflash or piggyback plus dyno tune. Still, I would argue that it's harder to get 400whp out of a 350Z than out of an STi.

They make bolt on SC/turbo kits for VQ cars, ~5Gs, a little below 400 WHP.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
plus the STi, while having awesome performance, reeks of ricer to me

And the 350Z is not? :roll:

I think a lot people have lost context on exactly what "ricer" is. Hint: if it actually goes fast, looks tasteful, and any questionable exterior modifications are actually there for performance (and not just for looks), then it ain't rice.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Imyourzero

Originally posted by: OS
if this is your only car, the 350Z has a tiny trunk. Also some people complained about bad manual trannies on earlier models.

If you like the STI you should consider the EVO also.

Negative. I've read the comparisons and although I somewhat prefer the styling of the Mitsu, I'm not a fan of their reliability or the fact that their sales have been somewhat...disappointing. At the end of the day I think the STi would be the better choice for me.

The EVO is not one of the unreliable cars, only expensive on consumables (tires, pads/rotors, clutch). The drivetrain is over 15 years proven. You will probably get a better deal on an EVO than STI, especially if you consider financing.

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: Vic
The STi is significantly superior to the 350Z. So much so I'm not even sure where to begin. For starters, the STi seats 4 comfortably and has such novelties as a glovebox. For another, you can drive it more than 6 months out of the year. As to safe reliable power, you can pretty easily 400whp out of STi safely and reliably, and still keep it as a daily driver. To do so, I would recommend a TBE, larger turbo, FMIC, and ECU reflash or piggyback plus dyno tune. Still, I would argue that it's harder to get 400whp out of a 350Z than out of an STi.

Holy hell, an informative and helpful reply. Thank you. We need more of these.

 

[spidey07]

For style I like the 350z.

Would have bought one if I could fit (6'3)

-edit- also they both drive significantly different. So I'd suggest you actually go and drive them and make up your own mind instead of an internet forum.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: Vic
The STi is significantly superior to the 350Z. So much so I'm not even sure where to begin. For starters, the STi seats 4 comfortably and has such novelties as a glovebox. For another, you can drive it more than 6 months out of the year. As to safe reliable power, you can pretty easily 400whp out of STi safely and reliably, and still keep it as a daily driver. To do so, I would recommend a TBE, larger turbo, FMIC, and ECU reflash or piggyback plus dyno tune. Still, I would argue that it's harder to get 400whp out of a 350Z than out of an STi.

They make bolt on SC/turbo kits for VQ cars, ~5Gs, a little below 400 WHP.

I don't doubt that. My point was that you're gonna to spending just as much if not more money, and pushing reliability just as far if not further to its limit, to get 400whp out of a 350Z as to get it out of an STi.
I am answering the OP's original question.

 

[DivideBYZero]

The STi is more practical, but may have an image you can't or won't handle.

The 2.5 is safe for 400 easy, but you'll normally need a new IC, prefereably an FMIC for that and more, to 450+

Saying that, in all reality uprating the fuel pump, injectors, a remap and decatting it will also be involved, so it's not just like flicking a switch. Just get experts to do it for you. In the UK we have a long standing Subaru Tuning market and if you want it done right, you go to people who have been doing it for some time.

 

[Imyourzero]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
plus the STi, while having awesome performance, reeks of ricer to me

And the 350Z is not? :roll:

I think a lot people have lost context on exactly what "ricer" is. Hint: if it actually goes fast, looks tasteful, and any questionable exterior modifications are actually there for performance (and not just for looks), then it ain't rice.

Agree. I'm not a fan of the huge rear wing on the STi/EVO, and would probably remove it, but neither one of these cars screams "rice" to me. They do, however, whisper something along the lines of "boy racer." I think the styling of the Z and IS300 has a lot more class, but I'm not buying the car strictly based on looks. I drive a 370hp Mustang every day, so I need it to have a little bit of get-up-and-go also.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: Vic
The STi is significantly superior to the 350Z. So much so I'm not even sure where to begin. For starters, the STi seats 4 comfortably and has such novelties as a glovebox. For another, you can drive it more than 6 months out of the year. As to safe reliable power, you can pretty easily 400whp out of STi safely and reliably, and still keep it as a daily driver. To do so, I would recommend a TBE, larger turbo, FMIC, and ECU reflash or piggyback plus dyno tune. Still, I would argue that it's harder to get 400whp out of a 350Z than out of an STi.

They make bolt on SC/turbo kits for VQ cars, ~5Gs, a little below 400 WHP.

I don't doubt that. My point was that you're gonna to spending just as much if not more money, and pushing reliability just as far if not further to its limit, to get 400whp out of a 350Z as to get it out of an STi.
I am answering the OP's original question.

IMO only marginally so, since all that stuff you listed isn't cheap. And not necessarily less reliable, i know someone with a bolt on SC VQ, everything else stock down to clutch. Daily beaten, ~30K miles and dead reliable.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: Vic
The STi is significantly superior to the 350Z. So much so I'm not even sure where to begin. For starters, the STi seats 4 comfortably and has such novelties as a glovebox. For another, you can drive it more than 6 months out of the year. As to safe reliable power, you can pretty easily 400whp out of STi safely and reliably, and still keep it as a daily driver. To do so, I would recommend a TBE, larger turbo, FMIC, and ECU reflash or piggyback plus dyno tune. Still, I would argue that it's harder to get 400whp out of a 350Z than out of an STi.

They make bolt on SC/turbo kits for VQ cars, ~5Gs, a little below 400 WHP.

I don't doubt that. My point was that you're gonna to spending just as much if not more money, and pushing reliability just as far if not further to its limit, to get 400whp out of a 350Z as to get it out of an STi.
I am answering the OP's original question.

IMO only marginally so, since all that stuff you listed isn't cheap. And not necessarily less reliable, i know someone with a bolt on SC VQ, everything else stock down to clutch. Daily beaten, ~30K miles and dead reliable.

FMIC, turbo and a remap not reliable? How? Leave a hose off the turbine? Not tighten a hose on the cooler hoses?

It's very tried and tested in the Subaru world, the car comes with forced induction, the 350z does not. End of discussion.

 

[Vic]

Heh. I like the WRX/STi image. It's not rice, more like modern muscle car. I can tell the difference from long experience. Rice annoys other drivers. When you go to pass, they speed up and otherwise d!ck with you. OTOH, a modded WRX/STi scares other drivers. A little boxer snarl and quick hiss of turbo spool, and they get the hell out of the way and leave you alone.