cover99

Always going to be a bit of a weird question.. Owned an STI 9 wide track many years ago (Andy forrest map), went to a mk2 rs (Did not like it much...) and currently driving an E92 M3 (2012). Its been along time since I have driven the Subaru but always had a tug on the heart strings to go back to a V9 blob STI as I do not like the look of the hatch or the new saloon. As a long time has passed I wondered if I would now find the Scooby slow in comparison.

Anyway if anyone has made the step back in time or has went from an M3 back to the Subaru fold please let me know what you thought, good or bad decision.

Thanks again for any advice. Cheers

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

Type R into a Dakar edition dct m3 eventually into a modified wide track, obviously a much cheaper car but if I had a choice and money wasn't an issue it would be the m3, just a much better car, but then having it sitting there doing about 4K a year I couldn't justify

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

Power delivery is completely different, both cars are similar power but the m3 just feels quicker, the dct helps also

Peedee

iTrader: (4)

I am considering an E92 M3 at the mo, always liked the look of them. They seem to vary drastically in price for some reason though?

OP, what was it about the MK2 RS you didn't like? This is also on my list.

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

There is so much variation, pre lci/lci/competition pack/edition cars/le500, dct /manual

Whatever you go for id be getting the newest I could afford and with a warranty, cheapest are the 2008 manuals

bighead

iTrader: (1)

I have a E90 M3 , but I find that my P1 is faster , but it is running 500 bhp though

oh just to add my 2p worth.... M3 is so easy to drive it get boring at times , where's the P1 is much more engaging to drive and has bags more character !

cover99

Chris - M3 is quick in fact you are usually going much faster than you realise in a short space of time, DCT is very slick and V8 with exhaust mod is probably the best sounding car, even over the Impreza with a Meercat system and Focus 5 pot with a Milltek system.

Peedee - The Focus RS is a difficult one to answer, I traded in my widetrack with only 20k miles. It was running ECUTEK with 350/350 and was immaculate. The focus which I had from new certainly ticked the boxes for appearance but felt really slow and heavy as standard and even at Revo stage 2 it felt slower than the Subaru, it spent most of its time in the garage pampered and the front grill had to be powdercoated twice as it was rusting. I felt when I as underneath it doing any maintenance it was all a bit lightweight compared to the Subaru and boy did it like to rust underneath, only yearly application of waxoil kept this at bay. However there are many other people who love the Focus so this is only my opinion when compared to my old Scooby.

Bighead - I also find the M3 can be very sedate and very comfortable however it does have quite a jeckle and hyde character and commands a bit more respect than any other car I have owned. I guess this contrast in personality can be a good thing.

I would only plan the STI to be back at around 350/350 and I find this stage of tune difficult to assess compared to the M3... Its been along time since I had the car which I must say I have always regretted selling but not sure if I would regret going from the M3 back to one, but it is very tempting.

Thanks for the replies.

arthur.d

as a cruiser the m3 is hard to beat-however a ncely modded sti with decent prog springs,bigger power 400 ish bhp,quiet exhaust,nice sd map [smoother] is a good open road car,with fantastic cornering potential and a match for the m3 in the mid range and top end[which is where the m3 normally walks away from the standard sti]
sti is a more involving car to drive,and when its wet there is no contest
you can replace/forge the bottom end on an sti with some diy for the price of a decent service on the bimmer too....

big_rob_sydney

Just to try and give you a different view, I had a Lexus LS430 parked next to my lightly modded 22B (around 340bhp).

If I wanted a comfortable drive, I took the LS, if I wanted a blat, I took the subaru.

What kind of driving do you intend on doing most of? Because at the end of the day, you could modify either of them, to be able to do almost whatever you wanted, budget permitting.

Also, do you really care what other people think? I dont, but then I'm a selfish *****. I dont really give a rats *** if people think a subaru has an image problem (as seems to be quoted almost verbatim by, surprisingly, superficial people; go figure).

And finally, is the primary focus of the car what it can actually do dynamically? Because a subaru is a pretty well rounded performance car (badge snobs can just sit quietly in a corner, thanks), and with a few mods from a reputable tuner, is a very satisfying car to drive across a broad range of disciplines.

I personally find most cars like the M3/5 (and Lexus LS for that matter; bloody Japanese tank) to be quite heavy, and this just compromises their dynamic ability.

But that's only my opinion, and you know what people say about opinions.

Not a Diesel!!!

I know its not a M3 but I drive a 2010 plate 330i and my wife a Widetrack.


The 330i is easy to drive & comfortable and great fun revving the engine with a very slick manual gearbox but its an all-rounder. I would happily jump in it & drive 500 miles.


But the Widetrack is far more exciting in terms of power delivery, noise. You feel like you are concentrating much harder on driving.


You also know when your are going fast ( as does everyone else)

Not a Diesel!!!

Another consideration is the age & depreciation thing.


Most Widetracks are flat on £ if not creeping up.


The E90 M3 is most certainly still going down until people realise there are no more V8's any more.

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

Can't argue with depreciation, as for the widetrack being a more exciting drive I beg to differ, the v8 with the 8.2k rev limit and aftermarket or oem mod pipes like I ended up with after getting rid of my miltek exhaust is in a different league.

It's two cars, I had the m button set on s6, traction off and normal setting on the dampers, made for a very entertaining drive.
Then on normal it was s2, dampers on soft and MDM on.

The widetrack I have now is 435bhp, my type r before was 410/410. The Type R is the one I'd choose again over the two imprezas. Seating in the newage cars is too high for my liking

cover99

Guys thanks again for your opinions, I appreciate everyone's will be different just good to get a feel for peoples thoughts, car I have in mind is at top end cost wise for a blob eye therefore I know it wont be going up in value but I would agree it will probably loose less than the M3.

What is it like getting spares for the widetrack blobeye now? does Subaru still stock all parts?, I did notice it looks like all the prodrive accessories would appear to a no longer be available? Thanks again.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I would say the M3 is more of a drivers car, in that you do actually need to be able to drive to go really quickly in one, where as with the newage subaru any old ham fisted mug can go quite quickly in one and still make it round the corner at the end of the straight bit, I'd be more inclined to compare the Type R to the M3 from a driving it really quickly perspective, just difficult to live with as a daily.

Ultimately it depends what sort of driving your doing predominately, I think you'd regret the swap to be honest, I don't think the newages are that engaging to drive and it's quite easy to reach the limits of what it's capable of without too much drama, rear wheel drive or bias is always going to equal more fun and more of a challenge, regardless of power.

plenty

iTrader: (13)

More of an issue with widetrack cars. The non-widetrack blob and bugs have a lower driving position closer to that of a classic.

south_scoob

Still feels too high but then it is a saloon not some low slung coupe.

I see new m3s every day. I see a fellow Impreza driver about once a month.

Haven't been in neither car so cant make a choice

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

I've had both widetrack and older blobs now and I can see no difference between the two

Tidgy

you cant say that!!!!

even if it is true lol, to 99% of us mear mortals it makes sod all difference. personally prefer the widetrack cos it has the hawk interior though.

cover99

Guys final question, What is the approximate major service costs on a widetrack if doing engine oil, filters, sparkplugs and rear diff oil/belts via a main Subaru dealer?.

Also are any spares becoming difficult to get hold of? Many Thanks

south_scoob

We were discussing driving position

chrispy200+

iTrader: (2)

Use a specialist rather than main dealer so cant help there but parts are not an issue, unless you count passenger airbag ignitors