R32 Gt-R Vs. New Wrx Sti

[Aussie_Delivered_R32_GTR]

Hi Guys,

After thinking long and hard about consolidating things in general, I thought a WRX STI might make a nice alternative to a couple of cars I am thinking of letting go.

Anyway, as there are only a couple of STI dealers in Sydney I ended up at one a few hours ago.

Looked at the specs and got excited at the thought of owning one.

I went to the Chatswood dealership and must admit the service and courteousness was excellent.

No pressure, brochures given to me without having to ask, coffee, soft drink fell over them selves to be nice.

Cutting to the chase..... I asked them that I would like a test drive, what would it take?

Answer...... Do you have a licence sir? Yes.... That's all you need. A quick photocopy of my licence and a liability contract signed and they handed me the keys.

He asked if 30 minutes was enough to know if I was interested?

I said "probably"....... Off I went solo.

I allowed the car to warm up for the first 6-7 minutes but once I saw the operating temperature normal, my spirited driving increased.

As an owner of 2 R32 GT-R's (1 x ADM and 1 x JDM) both 100% stock as a rock with original radios and exhaust systems etc etc I thought this was going to be an interesting comparison.

There is simply one word that describes my experience.

Extreamely......UNDERWELMED!!!!!!!!!

A real disappointment.

Whilst on paper you have the STI at 221kw and weighing 1525kg and 206kw but we know it's closer to 230kw with boost restrictor removed and 1495kg for the JDM GT-R. There is no comparison.

The STI felt as though it weighed 1800 kgs. It had no real WOW factor once the boost came in. Sure it's quick and if the fasted car you have ever driven is a Camry then you would be impressed but as someone fortunate to have driven some really nice quick cars it's a 6/10 for me.

At $70,000 or thereabouts, I'd have buyers remorse after 2 days and watch the depreciation tare up $100 notes in front of my eyes every day.

I guess the one thing that keeps coning to mind is remembering that the ADM GT-R's were $113,000.00 22 years ago and they were that price for a reason. They are, by even todays standards brilliant motor vehicles........ Godzilla still reigns.. Long live the King.

Bob.

[vorse]

new sti doesn't hold a candle to the older sti even the brz boxer makes better power then the new sti motor once you bolt a turbo on it

[Sinista32]

Thanks for your review. It's good to know

[djvoodoo]

New STI is also Susan Boyle ugly.... Looks like a KIA.. Designer should be shot

[usmair]

wait for the next gen

looks pretty good and will use the new BRZ motor with boost!

[GTR-N1]

Hiya Bob,

You asked me some similar Qs at the Mac Pass meetup at Casula as to why one would consider a car of contrast rather than buy another RB.

If you can make the next cruise (rather than have a prior commitment as you did then), you're welcome to ask me to bring the 8MR and then swap driver's seats for a bit.

Top Gear comparison tells a bit of the story - but not all, as you'd know...

Regards

[dyl33]

New STI is also Susan Boyle ugly.... Looks like a KIA.. Designer should be shot

GC8 WRX shape is the best imo, followed by the MY03/05 shape

Not sure if it's just me but I reckon that most new-ish cars all look the same. KIA's,Hyundia,Holden,bmw etc. have very similar lines.

Edited October 27, 2013 by dyl33

[GTR-N1]

Posts #4 & 7

It seems that the old adage is alive and well when it states...

"People spend half their energy sourcing a car's looks - and the other 50% trying to justify buying it"

lol

[BakemonoRicer]

In newer cars..... you just don't get 'that feeling'.

The chassis design is governed by modern safety rules, there are numerous electrical features that are unnecessary for a 'drivers car', and they feel really muted. In my opinion they will never match the 90's cars.

The 90's Japanese supercars (such as Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra TT, Honda NSX etc) were over-engineered to respond well to tuning and they almost feel as though they are alive, they just have a lot more character.

[the spruce moose]

Looks aside, how did you find the response and low down torque of the sti compared to your bnr32?

[dyl33]

Posts #4 & 7

It seems that the old adage is alive and well when it states...

"People spend half their energy sourcing a car's looks - and the other 50% trying to justify buying it"

lol

lol yeah, But a fine appearance is a poor substitute for inward worth.

[niZmO_Man]

I've only ever driven an 05 STi (mate's old car). Pretty snappy but is a big nugget off boost. Would have thought the extra half a litre of engine capacity would improve things. Very interesting review.

[Plattsy]

98 sti was the tits. i know i had one.

[BoyWhoCriedWolf]

Having owned and driven a few subies I can tell you that the later model gear is extremely asthmatic. I had a GTB manual wagon, it was a slug in standard form, after an AVO interwarmer, AVO dump and cat, HKS catback and a HKS panel filter I managed to extract some beans from it.

Stock standard they are gawd awful. No surprise that the old GTR feels different.

Nice review Bob, good read.

[GTR-N1]

Everyone's saying what I should have said, "Great Review Bob" - I meant to say that.

[Aussie_Delivered_R32_GTR]

Looks aside, how did you find the response and low down torque of the sti compared to your bnr32?

My 32's are both stock so there isn't much difference there...... Where there is a big difference is when the boost comes in.

A 6 cylinder twin turbo vs. a 4 cylinder single turbo is the difference. The GT-R just feels a lot tougher.

Bob.

[Aussie_Delivered_R32_GTR]

My daughter owned this WRX for 9 months until we sold it to buy a MX-5.

I loved it and pleaded with her not to sell it but it was like talking to a brick wall.

Fortunately the MX-5 is a great car too and probably a bit more suited to a 21 year old.

If I didn't already have a fleet of cars I would have tried to find a way of keeping it but that simply wasn't possible.

The new car didn't feel much faster ( or that much better) than hers but was $60,000 more!

Cheers and thanks for the favourable comments about the review. It motivates me to keep finding interesting things to discuss.

Bob.

[the spruce moose]

My 32's are both stock so there isn't much difference there...... Where there is a big difference is when the boost comes in.

A 6 cylinder twin turbo vs. a 4 cylinder single turbo is the difference. The GT-R just feels a lot tougher.

Bob.

Bob I knew your cars were 100% factory so it's a good comparison.

Good to know the Gtr can match the sti down low, as all i ever hear is how a gtr (stock or lightly modified) cant match the 'torquey' response of a 2.5L Sti.

Edited October 28, 2013 by the spruce moose

[BoyWhoCriedWolf]

You need to remember that the Subie gearing is shorter in the lower gears too. My GTB had the Sti computer in it also. Forgot to add.

[The Baron]

The R32- GTR is in my humble opinion one of the true 'apex technology' cars - the true highlight of its generation.....there was nothing more.....

The current Subi isn't at that level yet. If anything the R35 GTR approaches what I would expect from an 'apex' car using todays technology.

You feel that difference.......

Cheers

The Baron