BMW M3 vs. STi

[harji]

who is better/would win, and why.

[Andydg]

I'll go with the Sti because I love AWD.

[Andee_G]

m3; looks cooler, better interior.
It's a BMW, nuff said

[kman10587]

I'll take the STi, it performs better and looks much better (IMO).

[del]

Originally Posted by kman10587

I'll take the STi, it performs better and looks much better (IMO).

sorry, jus a personal opinion on looks. i'll take the M3 over sti anyday of the week.

[Neutrino]

First of all lets get some detals which models of either car?

i think andee has a lil bit of a biased for BMW...but that's OK. i think i would take an M3 over the STI also...i mean the M3's are just sick...everything is nice.

[DinanM3_S2]

Win in what? 1/4 mile? C&D got 13.1-13.4 seconds in the M3, and SC.net has the WRX STi at about 13.3. In 0-60 the WRX STi gets 4.7 while the M3 gets 4.5 or so. So the acceleration times are about the same, with a slight advantage to the M3. (I know these times will be argued...) On a track, Im also going to go with the M. This car was born for the track, as good as the STi is, the M3 outclasses it. I've heard of understeer problems with the STi that I just dont get from the M3. IMO these are the only fields in which these 2 cars are competitive. With the BMW, you also get the much better interior of a Luxury car, versus the kinda tacky, nowhere near as comfortable interior from the STi. Styling is very subjective, but I the BMW's.

[ProjectPhantom]

M3
3.2L I-6 333 HP
262lb-ft @ 4900 rpm
3,415 lbs.
0-60 in 4.8 sec
1/4 Mile (?)

WRX Sti
2.5L H-4 300 HP
300 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
3,263 lbs
0-60 in 4.6 sec
1/4 Mile [email protected]

i'd say m3... its just so damn good lookin...

[TatII]

a M3 laps aroudn the same as a RX-8 and a 350Z track model and S2000. which is quit a few seconds behind a STi. so in all out speed wise, the STi is faster in a road course.

[Neutrino]

Ok let me get in here some official times:

All done around Bedford Autodrome by EVO magazine (all of course are UK spec)

M3 CSL 1.19.95
STI spec C 1.20.30
STI ppp Spec 1.25.15
M3 1.26.85

[Jimster]

Good times Nuetrino, but those all sound like the Prodrive variants of the STi, which I beleive are a fair bit superior to the standard one. I think on the track, the US one would perform far better than the JDM/UKDM model, due to the 500-odd CC's of capacity.

So I'd say a straight line race comes down to the driver, a race in the wet would be won by the STi and a Road Course is somethin this jury is undecided on.

As an all-round car however, I'd much prefer the M3, it's far better looking (Subtle flared fenders), 19 Inch wheels (About the only difference aside from the mirrors, 4 tips and tiny spoiler), while the WRX STi is hideous (IMHO).

The BMW has the better interior as well, Subaru interiors have never impressed me.


just my $0.02

[kman10587]

I don't even know what the M3 CSL or STi Spec C are, but here in America, the STi is pretty much superior to the M3 in performance at the drag strip and at the track, unless you're going at speeds well over 100 mph. Again, looks are very subjective, but I think the STi looks much better than the M3. Performance cars aren't supposed to be luxurious and refined...they're supposed to look rough, aggressive, and intimidating. The STi plays the part much better than the M3, it costs significantly less, and it has the performance to back it up.

[crayzayjay]

Originally Posted by Jimster

As an all-round car however, I'd much prefer the M3, it's far better looking (Subtle flared fenders), 19 Inch wheels (About the only difference aside from the mirrors, 4 tips and tiny spoiler), while the WRX STi is hideous (IMHO).

The BMW has the better interior as well, Subaru interiors have never impressed me.

I agree with all of that. There's "rough and aggressive", and there's plain ugly. Seeing as i'm not a Kev i won't be driving a Subaru. My preference for RWD makes the decision even easier for me. M3 all the way.

[Jay!]

I'd jump at the chance to see a M3 CSL vs. a 22B (best car STi ever built) on a road course. Would be marvelous to watch...