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Maybe Peleg can jump in as he just sold his STi. I had a 02 WRX (non-STI) and it was a lot of fun. However, it was a bit rough around the edges. It had a lot of rattles, the stereo wasn't very good and I had clutch judder problems with mine. I'd definitely take a long test drive and make sure you will be happy with it. They definitely aren't luxury cars.

Good luck,

Jeff
08 Smoky Granite Mica IS F

OP:

I had a 2004 STi, which was the first USDM STi, it was also the lightest in terms of curb weight (3260 lbs). Those cars are a lot of fun in terms of grip and power. The AWD is awesome, especially in wet conditions.

Power wise, the new models got more reliable turbochargers (the old ones had a faulty designed wastegate, which used to crack), the 300 horsepower factory stuff is just the beginning, with an ECU, downpipe, fuel pump and tune you'd be just about 400 bhp on a car that weighs about 3350 lbs.

The transmission is great and can handle a lot of torque.

The STi (2008 and on) did change quite a bit from what I had. The interior got better, the ride a tad more supple. I will say the factory seats suck balls, I upgraded mine with a pair of RECARO's from an 03 Evo, so if you're serious about cornering, consider this one of the best mods.

Compared to a Lexus ISF, the STi might be equal or less as far as rear seat room. The interior as whole will not be as spacious, the materials will not be as good, might have more rattles here and there.

Engine wise, you get half the displacement and half the cylinders, however the gas milage will be about the same as an ISF. Reason for that is the engine is turbocharged and those snails like to suck in a lot of air and demand alot of fuel from the ECU. Ofcourse that car only takes premium fuel.
On the freeway in 6th gear, 80 MPH you'll be doing about 3500 RPM's. The engine does not sound or behave like a typical 4 cylinder, the turbo kicks in very very quickly and the engine has a sweet torque curve down low. Like I said, with a Stage 2 pro tuned package (About $2000 at the most), you'd have enough power to play with a car like the ISF down low, and walk away from IS 350's, bmw, mustangs etc.

The brakes are great, Brembo 4 piston up front, 2 piston in the rear. I upgraded the lines and fluid.

On the inside, DEFI gauges for boost and oil pressure and a NAV system add up a lot to this car.

Best thing to do is go drive one, and then jump on www.iwsti.com, I have a lot of friends there who will be happy to give you their opinions.

 

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The 335i 4 door is a good choice, probably better than the STi in terms of luxury. Not sure how reliable they are.

Upgrade wise, with a Dinan ECU and exhaust, the car is transformed from a 300 bhp/300 torque into a 390 bhp and 420 lb-ft, and that's before you custom tuned it. I feel that car will blow the new M3 in a straight line because of the torque. (turbos create lots and lots of torque) Rumors have it BMW is going in the turbo direction with the next gen M3 and M5.

There's not much space left in the engine compartment, so the turbocharges in the 335i can't be swapped out for larger ones, but at least you get a factory twin turbo, with Dinan stuff that won't void the warranty.

You can also go with a 335x which has AWD.

 

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The new Evo X is another choice, but like you said the styling is subjective. (The older Evo 9 was even more "wild" than the 10 in terms of looks, and also had the 4G63 iron cast block, 2.0L turbo engine that takes 20 lbs of boost from the factory!!!)

Power mods are the same like with the Subaru: ECU, downpipe, fuel pump and a tune and you're at 400 horsepower and just about the same amount of torque, the car becomes a rocketship.

Their transmissions are iffy though and the dealer support isn't that great either, so that car would be last on my list.

They are however, some of the best handling cars in the world out of the box, the factory recaro seats blow away almost any other seat, including the ones in a Porsche GT3 that I sat in and felt like a joke.

 

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I heard the performance chips for the 3 series will destroy the longevity of the vehicle, if so, complete garbage.

They did have an issue with overheating when they first came out, I believe a more capable engine oil cooler resolved it.

Safely increasing the boost, fuel, timing etc. (which what the ECU does) should not destroy the life of the engine as long as you do the maintenance on time and not abuse the crap out of the car. (like starting it up in the morning and red lining it before the oil pressure builds up)

If the OP intends to look into a modded 335i, best thing to do is jump on the BMW forums and ask those guys, they will tell you stright up.

When it comes to Subaru, many guys went over 100K miles with a Stage 2 STi and had no issues.

 

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Thanks to everyone on the feedback, it is greatly appreciated!! I have decided to wait until I find the right deal on an E92 M3 manual. Let the hunting begin!

Best of luck!
FBTO

This reminds me of folks who were STi owners, sold and got into the Lancer Evo. (AKA "went to the dark side") Heck, there are even ones who did that and later came back and bought a second STi.

There's nothing wrong with it of course, I think it's pretty cool trying other cars.

My best friend is looking forward to his E92 as well.

Please share your experiences, it's always fun to read.

 

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I will say the new M3 looks beautiful, especially the bulging hood, I really dig that.

 

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The STi was fun, it was light, handled really well and I was able to squeeze another 70 hp and almost 100 lbs-ft out of the engine and the stock turbo without much modifications, that's the power of turbocharging.

On the other hand, I turned 30 and my body started telling me it wants to drive something comfortable. That and there's always a chance getting stopped by the Police for no reason, and it happened to many STi owners.

The Supra is another great car, I just don't want to shell 40K on a car that has no warranty, and the parts are very expensive, but the styling is timeless and so is the car.

 

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I can get an M3 to drive if I want, but after considering the cars, I still think the F is the best option out there. And an LSD on the 2010 will help my track times. The features and quality on the F kills anything I can get from the M3.

So you're back? Nice!

Wait a little bit, the 2010's will go down in price. I'm shooting to get one in 2012 or there abouts.