Ozzie

The new STI won't be quite that quick... One figure quoted is 0-62 in 5.2 and 0-400 in 13.3

CottonWoodz

I can get a Chevy Astrovan for $500. That entitles me to a LT-4 swap, a Vortec Supercharger, and 150 shot of NAWs..

Ozzie

Maybe that would be relevant in the Chevy Astrovan vs Z thread (hey, that doesn't exist, what do you know...)
Stop using inane, meaningless arguments when you run out of legitimate things to say. Stop having such a narrow minded view of other cars.

NissaNZ

Seriously though, he does have a point. I mean I can take a Sentra and juice it up enough to beat a Z but does that mean anything? NO!!!! If you wanna compare two cars compare them stock vs. stock or Mod vs. Mod. Now cost can be a factor in modding but just because one car is cheaper to mod doesn't mean it's better. Reliability is another important factor in modding. I can tell you that the VQ in the Z can take a hell of a lot more beating than the 4cyl in the WRX.

Now you can flame me if you want but I'm not trying to rag on the WRX, I've driven one before and it's great for what it is but it's not a steal at $25K as most would like you to think.

Ozzie

Flame? No flame...
I think (and others have agreed) that in this particular context, as the question was not asked stock for stock, modding is a factor because in a real world situation, many wrxs will be modded and these are the ones u will be racing. The question, as I understood it, was whether if u line up with one on the street u will win or not, and thats the context in which it was answered. In a hypothetical stock for stock equation, I agree, the Z will win. Against an STI... that im not so sure of.
It isnt that great a bargain in the US, I agree with u there. Here, a WRX is 45 on road whilst the lowest level Z will be 65 on road, so it is significantly cheaper. The STI is about 58 on road. At least on aussie roads, its bang for the buck factor is pretty much unbeaten. But as always, that said and done, i have a z on order...

roberto350z

mod for mod? Ok, when the greddy turbos come out, then well see the WRX a loser once again.


ps Im gonna side with cottonwoodz with this one!

Ozzie

Jeez.. we are talking real life here, not fairy-land hypotheticals...
turbos for the z are still not a practical option and when (if) they come out, the cost is gonna be sky high. The supercharger seems to be a more viable and practical option. Anyway, WHEN these mods come out, then maybe I will agree with the mod-for-mod line of thought, but until then, it just doesnt hold any water

phreezee

You can't really compare the "stock" STi to a Stock 350Z!

"stock" is a relative term here, the WRX is STOCK.... the STi is a tuned WRX! (engine swap, differentials, etc)

If they ever sell a "Nismo 350Z," then you can compare it to an STi.

That being said, the STi would beat a stock 350Z anyday.

joe li

I assume "stock" means as manufactured by the company and delivered unaltered via dealerships, with all warranties, etc. The 2004 STi is certainly a stock car (when these bad boys get modded, they will certainly be fast).

If factory tuned means it is not stock car, what would be a stock 350Z? Certainly not the track model. Or a 2003 Mustang Cobra or Corvette Z-06? Can you not compare them as stock vehicles?

The only reason I brought up the STi is that they will be more similar in price to the 350Z than the 2.0L WRX.

Ozzie

Good points - the STI is a stock car until you start playing with it yourself. And yes, it will beat a 350z and yes it will be more comparable in price.

CottonWoodz

Since when are we taking about a STi? And yes a Sti is going to beat a 350Z in a race. 300Hp, 300Tq, and AWD I would hope so.
But a Stock WRX and a stock 350Z, The 350Z will come out on top. The WRX is 2.8 seconds SLOWER 0-100 MPH, and only beating the 350Z to 40 MPH

Year 2003 2002
Make Nissan Subaru
Model 350Z Impreza
Trim Track WRX Sedan
Transmission 6-speed Manual 5-speed Manual
350Z WRX
Theoretical Top Speed 156 mph 143 mph
Limited Top Speed
350Z WRX
0-30 mph 2.01 s 1.49 s
0-40 mph 3.18 s 3.06 s
0-50 mph 4.23 s 4.23 s
0-60 mph 5.38 s 5.55 s
0-70 mph 7.33 s 8.00 s
0-80 mph 9.01 s 9.98 s
0-90 mph 11.49 s 12.55 s
0-100 mph 13.94 s 16.71 s
0-110 mph 16.97 s 20.73 s
0-120 mph 21.47 s 26.19 s
0-130 mph 26.56 s 38.80 s
0-140 mph 34.31 s 66.07 s
0-150 mph 53.08 s
350Z WRX
30-50, 2nd gear 2.08 s 2.27 s
350Z WRX
100 ft 3.02 s @ 38.59 mph 2.65 s @ 37.09 mph
500 ft 7.75 s @ 72.66 mph 7.60 s @ 67.84 mph
660 ft (1/8 mile) 9.17 s @ 80.86 mph 9.12 s @ 75.8 mph
1320 ft (1/4 mile) 14.17 s @ 101.37 mph 14.34 s @ 93.79 mph
2640 ft (1/2 mile) 22.15 s @ 121.51 mph 22.94 s @ 114.64 mph
5280 ft (1 mile) 35.69 s @ 141.26 mph 37.54 s @ 129.13 mph
7920 ft (1.5 mile) 48.13 s @ 147.92 mph 51.07 s @ 136.19 mph

jaime98

The subaru will get you from a dead stop from a roll is more of an advantage at least to me it is. On the highway dont even bother to waste your gas on one.

jigga

That is IF you are sure that it is stock. From a roll at high speeds, they are not all that quick. But even while retaining the stock turbo, they can go toe to toe with the 350Z from a roll on race on the highway... I am still on the stock turbo, but am not stock, and S2000's go down on a highway race. With the oem turbo that JDM WRX's get, the WRX goes toe to toe with new model M3's in roll on races also..

But back to the point at hand. If you are a 350Z driver, and you want to beat a WRX, your chances are much better if you start from a roll. Let us not kid ourselves here. The 0-60 time on both cars are so close that the winner will be decided on who has a better reaction time (keep in mind tha human have a reaction time of 0.2 seconds), or whichever car has more traction off the line (8 times out of 10, it will be the AWD car if launched properly). Although we have numbers of the 350z beating the WRX to 60mph, you must remember that it was done under OPTIMAL conditions, and both cars were not run at the same time. Also, in the real world, traction IS a huge issue i.e dust on the road, minoer imperfections, etc. (You don't really think that stock C5 corvettes can whip out those sub 5 second runs to 60 on the street just whenever they want do you???). With AWD, traction isn't as much a problem, as the drivetrain finds it wherever it can.

Oh...the quickest posted time for the WRX to 60 is 5.4 seconds. This was in a televised test on the former SpeedVision by Motorweek Television. Now as said before, this was under optimal conditions, but then, an AWD car will come closer to it's quoted 0-60 time whatever it may be...be it 3.5s or 5.5 seconds much more consistently than a rwd car or fwd car will out on the streets.


Conclusion: If you want to beat a stock WRX convincingly, race from a roll over 90mph as this is when the WRX shifts into 4th gear which is overdriven (when with the stock turbo in place).... Both cars are just too close when raced from a stop.

If by chance the WRX has mods equivalent to turbo XS stage 2, (turboback, mbc, unichip/utec) you will not be doing any 'walking' of 'killing' from a roll. The wrx will own from a stop, and both cars will be dead even from a roll even with the WRX's long 4th gear.

Daytona Blue Z in Bo

1 advantage the Z will always have over the WRX
is that its a Subaru. If somebody asks you what you drive and you say a Subaru, people tend to think you drive one of those old boxy station wagons that smoke

jigga

okay buddy, whatever you say... Don't forget you still drive a Nissan.....

If we were having this type of a pissing contest in an Acura or Infiniti forum, I would GLADLY agree with you, but last time I checked...... The 350Z is still a Nissan, and the WRX is till a Subaru.

We need to agree that any performance car enthusiast will not see what relevence the name has on the performance of the car...

I know that a lot of women do, but I am not so sure if they think that the Nissan name in general holds significantly more cachet than the Subaru name... I mean I am sure you guys will disagree with me here, but I see both names on the same level as other brands such as Toyota and Honda wrt cachet. Most of these brands have divisions to cater to those who want to drive cars that come across as a status symbol.... ie> Infinti, Lexus, Acura....


Take care!

350Z33

I'm glad that Subaru fixed the fugly headlights on the WRX, now it doesn't look like a neon anymore.

Ozzie

Boxy station wagon? Volvo?
Anyway, I agree, in terms of brand, Nissan sits at the same level as Toyota and Subaru. Mazda and Honda have a very slight edge in prestige. The 350z is better looking and a better buy than most lexus/bmw/merc etc but owners have no claim to the "my brand is better than your brand" argument (unless... its a Hyundai... sorry)

Daytona Blue Z in Bo

No... Subaru...

Boomer

The hotter the turbo gets, the lower the performance, unless you have a much larger intercooler. With the stock components, each run will be slower as the engine heats up more and more. Cooler air is always needed for a turbo to perform at its best.