STi vs E46 M3

[RayfieldsWRX]

Still, I would buy the 5 door in a heartbeat if they brought this to the US!

For some reason I like my BMWs as sedans and my Audis as 5-door cars. Go figure.

[SamXp]

Guy down the street from me has a 5 door Audi that is HOT!

[teflon_jones]

I'm actually 6' and the 135i is a perfect fit.

That's interesting, at 6'4 I couldn't even get my legs into the car. Are you really 6' or 6' in heels?

[SamXp]

That's interesting, at 6'4 I couldn't even get my legs into the car. Are you really 6' or 6' in heels?

Ok, I lied. I'm 5' 11 3/4" in bare feet as of my last physical a few months ago.
Serious.

Front legroom:
WRX: 43.5
135i: 41.4
335i: 41.5

Front headroom:
WRX: 40.3
135i: 37.9
335i: 38.5

Couldn't even get your legs in the car??

[Daddy_Digital]

straight line..get the bmw

reall driving thru curves..the sti

[RayfieldsWRX]

I <3 being 5'8". I fit in anything. Or something like that.

[SamXp]

straight line..get the bmw

reall driving thru curves..the sti

Have you ever driven a BMW??

[RayfieldsWRX]

Have you ever driven a BMW??

It's some kind of motorcycle built in Germania, right?

[Sasquatch]

I thought it was Bavaria.

[SeattleJeremy]

This is a great conversation, and I was thinking about this comparison yesterday.

SamXp, can you elaborate on the maintenance costs, besides than the tires?

[SamXp]

Cliffs:
Oil is Castrol TWS 10w60 that cost me $21/quart (takes just over 6qts per change)
Valves need adjusting every 30k miles. Cost ~$500
Repair and replacement of anything unique to the M3 rather than common to the 3 series is very expensive. Had the alternator go out twice. Once at 40k miles and again at 80k miles. The high heat and rpm kills these things even with a cooling duct directed at it and it being unique to the high rpm M cars. Battery went at the same time so total cost was $1270 for both, with labor.
Conversely, parts common with the regular e46 are surprisingly cheap. Tailight bulb carrier housing was only $30.


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[teflon_jones]

Ok, I lied. I'm 5' 11 3/4" in bare feet as of my last physical a few months ago.
Serious.

Couldn't even get your legs in the car??

Yeah, I couldn't swing my legs into the car because the attachment point for the doors i.e. quarterpanel (sort of) came too far back as compared to the seat and I couldn't get my legs past the threshold. And I don't have really long legs. I'm 6'4 with a 34" inseam.

Have you ever driven a BMW??

+1 Yeah saying a WRX is better than a BMW in the curves is just..... well let's just say I don't think this person knows what they're talking about.

Cliffs:
Oil is Castrol TWS 10w60 that cost me $21/quart (takes just over 6qts per change)
Valves need adjusting every 30k miles. Cost ~$500
Repair and replacement of anything unique to the M3 rather than common to the 3 series is very expensive. Had the alternator go out twice. Once at 40k miles and again at 80k miles. The high heat and rpm kills these things even with a cooling duct directed at it and it being unique to the high rpm M cars. Battery went at the same time so total cost was $1270 for both, with labor.
Conversely, parts common with the regular e46 are surprisingly cheap. Tailight bulb carrier housing was only $30.

Huh? $21 per quart for oil? Does it come with gold flakes in it?

[GarrettKoonsman]

I'll agree that the M3 is a better car in most aspects apart from the STI being able to go in any weather pretty much no matter what and on roads most M3's will never see. But i will also say that there is just something about a Subaru no matter what Subaru it is. Its impossible to explain until you own one but its an intangible that is what keeps all of us posting on forums about them. M3's are fantastic cars but have a crowd that is much different and a feeling that is also different. If i had to choose one to drive for a week then go back to normal life i would take the M3 in a heartbeat. But if i had to choose one to drive in normal life and look at in my garage every night....STI

[indytruckboy]

2 totally different cars. Wtf? Buy a new boss 302.

[k2dapo]

either way....let us know when you make a decision