Subaru WRX/STI or BMW 320 or Camry 3.5Q

**IMm29** · April 27th, 2007 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by monmendoza

I was the same boat a month ago. I was looking at a BMW320i and an STI. I asked around and found out that the STi is more prestigious than a 320i. A lot of my friends have dreamt about it and even my son's favorite is an Sti in the PS2 game Grand Tourismo. Eventually I bought an STi. wala pang 1 week sa akin. I will post initial report by next week. When I first got it, I was surprised na matagtag siya. When I arrive home, I waited until the tires got cooled and check the tire pressure, it was 45+psi for all 4 tires ! I reduced it to 32psi (recommended by manufacturer) and di na siya masyadong matagtag. The acceleration is really exhilarating. When you floor the gas pedal, you will feel your head sticking to the headrest. I am from Antipolo and I had the chance to test it when I overtook a 7 truck convoy going up to antipolo. It happened so fast, I was amazed. I never had an opportunity to drive a car that was that fast. A BMW 320i on the other hand, I had an opportunity to race it with my manual RAV4. The BMW had to play catch up all the way from Balintawak to Mabalacat. Considering its price, I was expecting better performance from a beemer. BTW I ask about the first 1,600 kms check up and multi image said it is P3000+ . The next check up is 10,000 kms and they said it will be P4000+. Mas mahal pa ang presyo sa Toyota noong pinagawa ko iyong first 1000 ng fortuner.

Perhaps the 320i wasn't flogging his ride as much? Anyhow, it's a matic, vs your manual RAV4, so there's an advantage for you there. But yeah, we do expect a lot from the BMW for its sticker price.

If you're going for the raw power, the STI is it in this comparo. I'd think twice about it if you were planning to make it a daily driver tho, unless puro Skyway or NLEX ka lang araw araw.

**drey** · April 27th, 2007 08:07 PM

Why not get a Subaru Outback or a Legacy? It has all the things you need.

POWER
PERFORMANCE
HANDLING
SAFETY
PRESTIGE

The Legacy looks more expensive and elegant that the 3 Series and more of a sleeper too!

Why not Camry? Because the Camry is just everywhere. Everyone can drive it because its always the best selling one. A practical car it might be? But can you boast it as much as you can if you own a 3 Series or a Legacy or an Outback.

Guys, lets not forget, Subaru is under Toyota. Its reliable and not boring like Toyota's. It means that a Legacy or Outback is able to last until you give it to your great grandson if your family intend to keep it.

Camry? 277hp? Pure worthless... Cant you see its an FF? Its worthless every corner... But with the Subaru, it can bring you to 1G! Plus its Boxer engine is so special and its nice to hear sound and experience the rawness. What can you find in a Subaru except a high maintenance tag? Time will come, Forester will be flooding the streets and the Philippines will know about the Subaru badge and its fame. So expect maintenance price will drop soon!

Interior quality is way better in a Subaru than the Camry or maybe the 3 Series. Plus its ***y, it gives you image. Camry can only tell you that you drive a good looking car and a cheapo maintenance. But in a Subaru, you can boast to the world that you know everything about cars and I am a real driver.

**Jun aka Pekto** · April 28th, 2007 08:51 AM

One thing we have neglected to factor in is what's the status of the intended driver. Is he single? Is he married? Does he have a family members/friends to consider? Is this the first/one and only car or is there is another daily driver?

If the driver's a single guy or has another daily driver, go for the STi. My friend has a $32k 2005 STi which now has 450hp (and an additional $25k sunken in).

Yet, going to work daily, he still drives an old Ford Escort GT (his Fil-Am wife drives an SUV) because the ride on the STi is too rough for his tastes and we have wonderful roads here in AZ. For him, the STi is now mainly for Friday night cruising or charging up the mountains nearby. Once the rush wears off, you really start looking for something much more comfortable.

The STi is a performance car, pure and simple. But, it's a single guy's car. Here, the STi is considered a "boy racer" car. That's not bad in itself if performance is your thing. I would certainly like one. But, not if it's my only car. Prestige? If you want to run with the "sossy" crowd, an STi's not it unless Daddy's paying for it in which case Daddy's driving a Bimmer or something more expensive which is much more "sossy".

I'd consider a different Subaru like a Forester or Legacy turbo wagon which are both more practical than an STi. Even in (northern) Japan, I've never seen many WRX/STi's with anyone else on board except the driver. Most Subarus I've seen with more than one person on board are either Legacys which are much more common than Camrys or the relatively few Foresters.

The Camry may not seem fast because as one guy said earlier, it is quite refined. The driver has to look in the back mirror to see the other cars falling behind. It's no STi in handling or acceleration. But, I'd say it can run with or smoke 70-80% of the cars out there. The fact that many are out there means you're less likely to attract a cop's attention. I'd also like people to show me where in Manila can the vaunted handling of the STi be used besides the race track or a drag strip.

Strange logic here. People want fast cars which I take to mean they'll use to speed or drag race with. Yet, they want to stand out...... If I was going to speed or drag race, I'd want to blend in so the cops will have a harder time finding me.

Another of my 2 cents....

As for "prestige".... There are people who crave it. Nothing wrong with that, either. If people want to strut around and be seen like a "peacock"

that's their perogative. But, that usually means having a car that's refined to the max regardless if there are better performing cars. A Bimmer is prestige enough. No need to explain why it's slower than some cars, at least from what most owners in our neighborhood have said.

**jay2** · April 28th, 2007 03:01 PM

Kung single hands down subaru sti. Kung family man with 2 kids get an outback, Kung more than 2 kids with yaya get WRX/STI and a starex, sa kanila starex sayo subaru

**Blackraven** · April 28th, 2007 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by drey

Why not get a Subaru Outback or a Legacy? It has all the things you need.

I agree.

I'd choose those over any Imprezza in a heartbeat.

EDIT:
I did see one Subaru Legacy Outback sa Rockwell (3.0 yung makina niya) last month. Ang ganda talaga siya tingnan. Way better than the current Accord obviously

**wren** · April 29th, 2007 02:34 AM

raw performance over practicality, creature comfort and prestige...i'd take the WRX STI. kung available lang yung Forester STI, that'd be my abvious choice.

**monmendoza** · May 1st, 2007 01:15 PM

Hello LEB,
I posted a thread "First Drive: Subaru Imprezze WRX STi" in the Car Talk Forum. It might help you decide. Good luck on your purchase. The advice given you by a lot of tsikoteers have been wise and sensible. Ultimately you will have to decide.