This is an interesting comparison between American muscle, Japanese near luxury, and a Japanese rally icon. Despite these differences, these cars share a few things in common, they all have 300HP (or near), usuable back seats, and are affordable for the common man. Which of these cars do you think is the best of this comparison? Which would you own?

2005 Ford Mustang GT
4.6L
8-Cylinder
300HP@6000RPM
315TQ@4500RPM
5-Speed Manual
RWD
3510Lbs
$25,000

vs.

2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe
3.5L
6-Cylinder
298HP@6400RPM
260TQ@4800RPM
6-Speed Manual
RWD
3470Lbs
$33,000

vs.

2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2.5L
Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
300HP@6000RPM
300TQ@4000RPM
6-Speed manual
AWD
3300Lbs
$33,000

STi if I could afford it.

The Infiniti is the most classy, best looking and most pimpish out of those cars, and it still is pretty fast. I would go with that one.

I thought the Mustang had a very sharp design, but when i see it in person, its too bland in my opinion, im not saying its ugly or anything, pretty cool...i just had higher expectations.

The STI is pretty ugly, i know its a great performer, but that does not take the ugly part away.

Dont want an ugly chick that performs well in bed.

I'd go with the G35 if I had to buy a car today. Since my next purchase (after the next house is found) is going to be a truck - the G35 is going to have to wait a few more years.

I picked the Mustang GT bias aside, or not...;) But, in truth the G35 might win this one if the torque was there as I appreciate a luxurious car.

However, as good looking as the Infiniti is I think the pony looks even better. And, the added luxury does not make up for the lack of V-8 grunt for me.

I don't get the WRX thing at all, but I have mentioned why before and wont go into that again.

IMHO, the G35 does exemplify why Ford needs to do a revived luxo-pony-car Cougar off of the new Mustang though. Good mix-and-match comparo

id take the G35 over the other 2 because it is a great all around car.

mustang is clearly the best bang for the buck out these days...

STI is a great car and great tuning capabilities and performance is there...but that whole 4 door super sedan doesnt tickle my fancy.

Right now...it'd be the G35 Coupe for me...I cant decide between white or black...but I like white since it can "hide" water marks from rain better than the black ones can...

STi would only be good if I knew it would never give me any problems....ehhh

i chose the sti, but if i can have the g35 with the sedan body, then id go with the g35. i think the sedan looks better, and four doors are more practical.

i'd go with the G35. the VQ35's a beast.

2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2.5L
Turbocharged 4-Cylinder
300HP@6000RPM
300TQ@4000RPM
6-Speed manual
AWD
3300Lbs
$33,000

I'm not going to get into a reliabilty argument but seems to me the conditions are right for problems down the road.
Also it's $8,000 more, like the G35, than the Mustang.

My vote here goes to the Mustang.

8k more...but the interior looks better in the G35 Coupe...so does the outside...you got a great suspension...and class...oh and Brembo's w/the manual are standard

Definitely the 05 Mustang. Cannot argue with that body design.

If looks could kill the 05 Stang would be classified as a weapon of mass destruction. :evillol:

you guys gotta remember that a STi is extremely underrated. how is a G35 coupe going to put down 240whp on a RWD rated at 280 crank hp. ( 04 version ), and the 05 STi puts down 260whp on all 4 wheels, and is rated at 300 crank hp? the 04's put down 256whp on all 4 wheels.

i'm willing to bet that the STi is has the highest true hp rating out of the 3.

also i've seen the 05 mustang in person, and its such a boring looking car, its like ford didn't even have to try to design that body, i mean the ford GT they got away with, but the stang was just too much of a retro thing. i hate ford's trend of making new cars, the T-bird was retro, the stang is retro, the GT is retro, the new shelby cobra is retro. helllloo~~~ is anyone seeing this? those lazy bastards at ford ran out of idea's so they're just reusing old classic ideas over again, and label them as new, also again, i saw the 05 stang in person, and it looks alot uglier in person then in photos.

I'd take a G35. Though I believe it is rather ugly, they look pretty decent in black on a set of 19 Inch deep-dished Shadow-chrome rims. It's got all the luxury I need, with an awesome engine with plenty of low end torque. The V chassis is also far superior to the equivalent RWD R-chassis that it replaced (The old RWD R32-R34 Skyline's drove disturbingly like a 1960's Rover when stock).

The Mustang? Certainly looks good and the handling is a significant improvement over the last model from what I've heard, but it seems to lack the relaxed finesse of the G35, while most likely being just as fast.
I'm also going to be skeptical about the quality of the Mustang as I've only ever had one good Ford out of four and that was a Mondeo ST24, the last (Brand new) Mustang Cobra I looked at had a peeling door trim, the passenger airbag cover had come loose and the plastic looked like it'd just spent a summer in Alice Springs.


STi? In a word no, there are so many more road-going rally cars I'd have before lowering my self to an Evo or STi, such as an Escort RS Cosworth or Lancia Delta Integrale, even a Celica GT4! If you are going to suffer the non-existant comfort and iffy reliabilty of a road going track car, at least do it with some style and character.

I'd have a hard time choosing between the G35 and the Mustang if my pocketbook didn't have to make the decision for me.

I've grown to like the new Mustang, especially in some of its "tuner" versions (especially the next Roush and the Mustang Racing Technology "Interceptor" package) and its combination of a big roarty V8 and well sorted chassis make for a very nice package.

However, the G35 has been pretty to my eyes since day one and is a wonder in fast sweepers, plus its definitely a car I'd like for long trips.

The Subaru, well, I just get the feeling that I'd have a blast with the WRX STi for one week before day in, day out driving became more of a chore than a pleasure.

i'd take the G35

Where I find the Dodge SRT-4 at it's 20,000-ish price tag a bang for the buck value. I look at the STI as a hopped up 4-door econo-box that will never warrant it's $30,000 and that is all it will ever be. This is the feeling the STI gives off to me way beyond it's cheasy looks. But in the way it feels when sitting in it and how it drives.

When I'm looking at dropping mid $20,000+on a car I want something that can kick some ass and be a nice touring car. This is something that the G35 and the 05 Mustang GT can accomplish. After this I find no area where one car is killing the other.This is barring looks cause the G35 styling is not for me but it is a nice car to drive and ride in.

So between the 05 Mustang GT and G35 I choose the G35 if I wanted more of the touring side or the Mustang if I wanted more of the ass-kicker side+$5.000 saved to kick more ass.

Unbias I would take the Mustang.:) I not a big fan of the G35 it looks nice and rides nice but I just don't realy like it. I do like the Sti but the price is so much higher.

Mustang. From what I can tell the other 2 have power eating drivetrains. All three are great cars don't get me wrong.

What the heck, have the Ford fans taken over this site? Just kiddin' I love good debate now and then. Sorry but I give the Mustang GT props on it's improvement over the previous generation, I think a lot of you guys are making it out to be more than it is. Let's rate these cars, this is my opinion-

Performance-
Of the three, the STi is clearly the best performance car of the three, and anybody who says different is clearly delusional. The Mustang GT I would rate 2nd, barely edging out the G35 Coupe. I respect the improvements of the Mustang GT, but the competition is stiff, and the G35 Coupe is no slouch.

Interior-
Again I place the Mustang GT in second place. The G35 interior is very nice in my opinion. I still believe Audi and BMW have it beat, but compared to the GT and STi, the interior of the G35 is still a step above. Everyone keeps talking about the improvements in the GT and forget to mention that the STi interior is also improved for 2005 this includes a sound system made standard. I rate the STi a very close third to the Mustang GT.

Price-
I give this to the Mustang easily. The other two cars both cost around $8,000 more than the Mustang GT. The Mustang GT is a great performance bargain.

Styling-
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and to me the STi really does not look that bad. Still I cannot rate it better looking than either the G35 or GT. Still I'd take the sculpted muscular look of the G35 Coupe over the retro looking GT. I'm not saying the GT is a bad looking car, infact I think it is very nice looking, I just prefer the G35.

Value-
Only time will tell. Both the G35 and STi have so far held up very well in the market. Positive reviews for both cars have been the norm, and re-sale value for previous years still flutter at around $30,000. The GT I believe will also hold steady, it is truly a bargain.

Performance-
STi (3)
GT (2)
G35 (1)

Interior-
G35 (3)
GT (2)
STi (1)

Price-
GT (3)
STi (2)
G35 (2)

Styling-
G35 (3)
GT (2)
STi (1)

Value-
GT (3)
G35 (3)
STi (3)

GT 12 Points
G35 12 Points
STi 10 Points

SO I have it as a tie between the G35 and GT. Wow I surprised my self with my ratings. Perhaps I'm the one underestimating the Mustang GT.

all bias aside (ya right) id take the stang, as for not looking good in person thats truly opinionated cause ive made more than my fair share of trips to the dealer and they look better in person (although the 6 cylinders do look a little bland they looked bland in pictures to) and as far as power ill bet the stang has the highest true horse power, ive seen dyno sheets where it had around 280 at the wheels (seen about three al withen 2-3 hp of eachother) and thats about 325 at the crank. the sti is the best all around performer but very uncomfortable and ugly (thats my opinion so dont go gettin all bitchy). the g35 (btw, why not the 350z?) looks great and performs great but i think the stang has it beat. doesnt handle quite as well but more than makes up for it in brute power. and as far as interior quality, do you people actually research the plastics to see which costs more money just so you can say its better quality? i dont see how the mustangs interior quality is any less than the g35, they both look great and looks are all that matter when your talking about interior (with the exception of the comfort level of the seats) so tha being said theyre all nice by i wouldnt "waste" the extra cash buyin the g35 or sti.

best overall i have to go with the G35 - in this group, best combination of looks, performance, luxury and quality (things i personally look for in cars)

mustang - has the style and performance, just not the luxury. though don't consider that a bad thing for a mustang.

sti - has the performance, awd traction and sedan practicality but its styling, poor ride qualities and cheap econobox interior make it score last in this comparo IMO.

I would pick the 05 Mustang, then the STi, and The G35.

actually the 05 STi has the exact same interior as a Saab 9-2X. so its actually a luxurious interior compared to the 04's.

The STi's interior is not bad at all; the materials, while not luxury materials, are quite good, and it has all the basic power options and a six-disc CD changer with a very nice stereo. People just assume that because it's based off of an economy car, it must have the same basic interior. Not true.

I'd go STi all the way. I hate any Ford cars, so that is out automatically. The only thing which I think Ford is good at building is at trucks and SUV's.

The Infiniti G35 doesn't really appeal to me either, because they are so popular up here in Toronto.

However, the STi....is a beast. I'll bet with minor modifications that it'll smoke any ferrari on the road. And its a 4 cyl, but Subaru claims that its 0-60mph is 4.6 seconds, faster than a Aston Martin DB9 or even a Porsche 911. IMO, the only other Japanese supercar than can beat this is the Nissan SKyline R34.

Well, the Evo is generally faster than the STi, especially the US-spec STi, but they can both beat an R34 in the right conditions.

The STi's interior is not bad at all; the materials, while not luxury materials, are quite good, and it has all the basic power options and a six-disc CD changer with a very nice stereo. People just assume that because it's based off of an economy car, it must have the same basic interior. Not true.
The STi Inerior is brilliant when compared to a 1984 Fiat Uno. However compared to a G35? Nowhere near being in the same league and a let down, considering the rest of the car costs the same as a Legacy 3.0 and far more than cars such as the Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf GTi 2.0T FSI that can at least provide plastics that actually feel solid and assembly that merits any form of praise. Let's not even get onto the ride quality.....

Well, the Evo is generally faster than the STi, especially the US-spec STi, but they can both beat an R34 in the right conditions.

I keep hearing this but in MT mag. they got the EVO MR vs. WRX STi the acceleration times were the same from 0 to 60 and 70 Mph and the STi was actully faster below 0-70. The quarter mile was the same also, but the Evo was faster from 0-80 and up. On the track though the Evo beat the STi by one second a lap. And a dyno at the wheels they were within 6hp of one another and 1 ft. lbs. trq. With the STi having more steddy torque curve. So I guess in a strait line they are about the same but on the track it's another story.

the japanese spec EVO VIII GSR and the j-spec WRX STi spec C will run 12.6's on average.

I was talking about track performance, not quarter mile performance, and in that regard, the Evo is the clear winner most of the time.

And the STi's interior is not bad at all. The plastics are fine and the build quality is rock solid. No, it can't compared to a Volkswagen or an Infiniti, those are damn luxury cars. And Honda interiors have always had a slightly more upscale feel to them. It's not a luxurious interior, but it's functional and put together soundly, so please stop hating on it everybody.

fellas,please dont' turn this into ANOTHER Sti vs Evo discussion. there's enough threads to cover that comparo. let's get back to the subject here.

id say G35 if i had tobuy today, if it was 07 it would be the stang(COBRA) as far assome of the frist post of the mustang being ugly thats to each his own, and as for ford being lazy?? No they are just making the mustang and GT look as they should.. I mean if you saw a G35 body called the mustang it would be sad, it would be agenst all that the name ever was so to me the retro look was a BIG PLUS.. But thats me

oh yea and i never buy first year models..... too many bugs so yea another prob with the 05 stang:(

STi would rock all of them... sorry to say but the mustang would get smoked like a blunt in the 60s!

STi would rock all of them... sorry to say but the mustang would get smoked like a blunt in the 60s!

:lol: :rofl: :lol:

Well the no-torque G35 and the goofy looks of the STi have me voting for the V8 Mustang.

No-torque G35? It makes 270 ft-lb...how the hell is that no-torque?

^270 ft-lb of torque is not bad for a car, but considering the '05 Mustang GT makes that much at the wheels I'm sure you can feel the difference.:22yikes:

No-torque G35? It makes 270 ft-lb...how the hell is that no-torque?


Ah, ive been spoiled by my truck which makes a pretty good 340 fl-lb. And compared to the mustang and STI it does not make as much. Oh and from the first post the g35 has "260TQ@4800RPM". Not 270.

Well, it's confusing depending on what year/body style/transmission. For 2005, all auto tranny cars make 280 HP and 270 TRQ, and all manual tranny cars make 298 HP and 260 TRQ. In 2003/2004, all coupes made 280 HP and 270 TRQ, and all sedans made 260 HP and 260 TRQ. So you are right, for the purposes of this comparison, the car has 260 TRQ. But still, that's not high-strung at all, especially when compared to such a V6 as the one in the Acura TL.