Comparison: BMW 135i vs Subaru WRX STI

[BMWeber]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

No rolling? Isn't that why god invented aluminum baseball bats? :biggrin:

I'm a big fan of white PVC

[FleaDog]

[quote=krassanova;18041]The AWD is a big difference between the two cars, and this fact alone might make the 1er impractical to many potential buyers that live in snow country that want a car they can love to drive all year long.quote]

krass-
I agree, the RWD is the biggest thing I'm worried about... An sti with even sh*tty all-seasons is an animal in the snow. My buddy's 3 series struggles in the white stuff when its bad with nokians.

[adc]

Originally Posted by FleaDog

I agree, the RWD is the biggest thing I'm worried about... An sti with even sh*tty all-seasons is an animal in the snow. My buddy's 3 series struggles in the white stuff when its bad with nokians.

Are you talking about traction? I've had Conti snows on 17" steelies and was just fine in the white stuff, traction wise. I've found that turning and stopping is far more of a problem in the snow, and there AWD will not help you much.

Other than that, the 1 series, 3 series and STI are too low to the ground to make really good snow machines. (I've beached my 98 A4 right in front of the house in foot-deep fresh snow).

[sugeray]

I agree with GAL. It would be like comparing apples with oranjes.

[FleaDog]

Originally Posted by adc

Are you talking about traction? I've had Conti snows on 17" steelies and was just fine in the white stuff, traction wise. I've found that turning and stopping is far more of a problem in the snow, and there AWD will not help you much.

Other than that, the 1 series, 3 series and STI are too low to the ground to make really good snow machines. (I've beached my 98 A4 right in front of the house in foot-deep fresh snow).

Adc-

Yes, traction.

If you do good in the snow, that is promising.

You can put the STI's center diff in lock mode (the 3 diffs are locked together) so the car doesnt transfer power on its own, and the torque split b/w front/rear is locked. Ive been out in at least a foot of snow, on unplowed roads, sleet, icy stuff and the traction is pretty darn good. Could also flash the boost map to wastegate pressure to be sure to avoid spikes/loosing traction. Never got stuck... and AWD donuts and drifts are fun, just dont blow the power steering pump.

I've Been out goofing around on those days and my neighbors are staring out their windows at me like WTF that thing is ferocious... ha.

My buddy's 330 doesnt fare so well. He puts cinderblocks, huge bags of cat litter and salt in his trunk for weight, and just in case to use if he gets stuck. He hasnt fortunately.

If the traction control in the 1 series is similar to the ESP in vw/audi (I had an R32 before the STI) it should helps keep thing under control in the snow. But the R32 had 4 motion; equally as good to the STI in the snow.

I'll have to try to catch a ride/drive from my buddy or another fellow bimmer owner in the snow.

Another thing i've been wondering about is the durability of the 135i tranny.

[adc]

Originally Posted by FleaDog

Another thing i've been wondering about is the durability of the 135i tranny.

It's the same tranny as in the 335i and 550i. Gut feeling is that it's very stout, made just right to take all that torque.

(550i has some 360BHP, so it's probably ok up to 400BHP - after that, who knows).

[321]

Originally Posted by FleaDog

Another thing i've been wondering about is the durability of the 135i tranny.

Also.. 1 and the same as the M5/6

Originally Posted by NewhouseEnt

Blah..Blah..Blah..

Have you ever driven a Subaru?
I shouldn't have to tell you this but... Don't judge a book by its cover.

[IrvRobinson2]

well, the new STI looks better than the previous one, so for those that we're turned off by its look, things might be looking different now

[ChrisK]

[quote=IvtecEM;17727]I like the subie STI, i think its a great car but it's a A$$Hole magnet, "EVERY BODY WANTS TO RACE U" and for the money your buying just performance.

Just wait for the 135i to hit the streets. Everyone with four wheels will want a piece of it.

[ChrisK]

Stereotypes are the mind killer! Think about the stereotypes associated with "us" BMW drivers.

[ducati]

C'mon mods, be a little less hack-and-slash with your post deleting. You're losing some good info in the posts you hack up.

Irv; the new STI is looking a little more mainstream than the past--I expect a RA version forthcoming. This should be the "M" of STI's.

Snows: A friend of mine bought my old Lexus IS300 (RWD) and ended up moving to Boston. He claims it's better on Blizzak's than his wife's 4x4 Explorer on All-Season's. He's driven through 3 Boston winters with no incident, and the guy commutes about 2.5 hours a day. I wouldn't be afraid of running a 135 in the snow, especially on some skinnier snow meats.

[spudw]

Originally Posted by ducati

C'mon mods, be a little less hack-and-slash with your post deleting. You're losing some good info in the posts you hack up.

Better to lose a little info than let bigots hang around on this site. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion on any car, but expressing it with that kind of venom and bigotry is unacceptable.

[theslik1]

Originally Posted by spudwest

Better to lose a little info than let bigots hang around on this site. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion on any car, but expressing it with that kind of venom and bigotry is unacceptable.

That's why I'm not worked up over the deletion of my post (which quoted said venom). I really shouldn't have engaged the guy. My apologies. :smile:

[ducati]

Originally Posted by spudwest

Better to lose a little info than let bigots hang around on this site. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion on any car, but expressing it with that kind of venom and bigotry is unacceptable.

That I agree with. I mod a much larger site and it's common to have idiots like that. IP banning them is really the only avenue, unfortunately. And sometimes cleaning up in their wake is important if it's too hateful.

But you can mod posts to make someone an "unperson" without losing valuable input.

When I mod I don't just vaporize posts without a trace, either. I think it's important to leave a little explanation like "post deleted and author banned because xyz is a douchebag."

Just a few things that I think would make this site a little better.

[FleaDog]

2008 STI prices released at LA auto show:

Starts at $34,995, with two more levels of pricing available:

- with BBS Package: $36,995

- with BBS + Navigation Package: $38,795.

+ $645 delivery/destination

[IrvRobinson2]

Originally Posted by FleaDog

2008 STI prices released at LA auto show:

Starts at $34,995, with two more levels of pricing available:

- with BBS Package: $36,995

- with BBS + Navigation Package: $38,795.

+ $645 delivery/destination

hmm, so they priced it very close to the 135i. This will be interesting

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by IrvRobinson

hmm, so they priced it very close to the 135i. This will be interesting

So I have read people saying the new Sti is more subtle. Are we talking about the same car, because the Sti at the LA auto show screamed boy-racer still, even more so since its a hatch.

-Clear ricer tail lights
-wide/flared body kit
-scoops
-huge wing
-huge diffuser
-huge coffee can exhaust.
-gold wheels

There is nothing subtle about the Sti.

[ichiban]

as to the above comment. People refer to the new STi as more subtle and mature is more due to the up in quality of the interior. While the exterior does not have "coffee can exhaust" (the one you saw was probably the WRC car) or that big of a wing (WRC car again). the wide body panels are a definite plus and adds to the muscular look of the car, not necessarily boy racer. The gold wheels can be swapped for silver, the scoop has always been there and these are a lot more subtle than the 04-07 STi's. The rear tails can be tinted, and i dont see a problem with the diffuser. People seem to take one look at the car and not give it another chance. Personally, im gonna have to drive both the 135i and the sti before i decide. Since, buying a car should be how the car drives first, and looks second.

And as for the STi not being able to handle in snow:

this is all i have to show.

[MastaMind]

Originally Posted by ichiban

as to the above comment. People refer to the new STi as more subtle and mature is more due to the up in quality of the interior. While the exterior does not have "coffee can exhaust" (the one you saw was probably the WRC car) or that big of a wing (WRC car again). the wide body panels are a definite plus and adds to the muscular look of the car, not necessarily boy racer. The gold wheels can be swapped for silver, the scoop has always been there and these are a lot more subtle than the 04-07 STi's. The rear tails can be tinted, and i dont see a problem with the diffuser. People seem to take one look at the car and not give it another chance. Personally, im gonna have to drive both the 135i and the sti before i decide. Since, buying a car should be how the car drives first, and looks second.

And as for the STi not being able to handle in snow:

this is all i have to show.

Agree 100%

Sure, the tails suck, but that'll be an easy fix. Also, the "scoops" and "wide/flared body kit" are functional, so they're not there for decoration.

I'll be driving both as well. Besides, are we not all enthusiasts? :drinking:

[Crowley]

I think people are refering to the STIs driving manor as well .. I think they have refined it more to give a better overall ride ..

Crowley

[Madjack]

Compared to previos STi's, the '08 is definitely more subdues. My '04 had a bread box for a hood scoop and a book shelf for a wing. So far, from the reviews I have seen, the new STi is going to be a force. I am looking forward to test driving both.

[321]

Originally Posted by ichiban

And as for the STi not being able to handle in snow:

this is all i have to show.

I was throughly unimpressed by this video... I also thought it was rather stupid w/ anti-lagg running all the time, not to mention the traffic.
I see this dude ending up like this..