Which one would you choose to buy if both were the same price? The M3 has about 60k miles and owner has done all maintenance to the car. It's stock and comes with all service records and needs nothing. The Sti has light mods with 70k miles, stage 2, extremely clean and always garaged but no service records. Which one would you purchase if you had the cash and why? I feel like since I'm asking on a Honda forum then I would get better opinions and answers. I'm probably going to leave a deposit sometime this week on 1 of the vehicles but just haven't decided which one yet. So which would you choose?

 

Depends on where you live. I was in the same situation except with a 330ci and a wrx, I went with the wrx because I lived in Chicago and having awd all year round was really nice, plus you've got 4 doors, turbo, nice interior, widebody and the most amazing sounding exhaust, gotta love that rumble :p

 

Face value I'd take the M3 hands down, and I always fall back on that old american rule there's no replacement for displacement. I drove an '06 sti that was stock and wasn't too impressed but it was fun, and it has a lot of modding potential. If you get the M3 at the end of the day you still have a bmw. That being said you need to consider your first satement carefully. The cost of ownership of a bmw, I would have to assume, is more than a subaru. In the long term it is very possible that you may up paying a lot more for it.

 

^^^this

 

If you have money for maintenance go with the M3. Plus I bet it gets better MPG's and it doesn't look like a boy racer.

 

Yeah The M3 is a more "grown-up" car, but will also cost alot more to maintain. You have to remember that the parts and such are priced based on the new retail of the car, and the BMW is more than double that of the STI. Also fluid changes and such cost more. Expect the M3 to need 6-8 quarts of Redline at every oil change, to 4-5 Qts of your choice synthetic for the STI.

 

These are fairly diametrically opposed cars. Interesting that someone would cross-shop them.

 

M3 if you want to impress people, STi if you want a all around fun car and can get over the boyracer image.

 

M3 all day. If I see another STI/EVO around here I'll throw up. ha

 

My friend had a 2005 M3 that was almost at 100K miles. The dealer quoted him $6000 to replace the clutch on the SMG transmission and $4000 for brakes (he had the competition package). He said "F no" and traded in the car (only got $13K given the miles) for a new 370Z Nismo. After that experience, I'll think twice about getting a high mileage bimmer LOL.

 

M3 all the way, if you can afford it.

 

The M3 is an amazing car and so is an STi. Pricewise, I would think the STi would be worth more than the M3 so if they're the same price, you might be getting a better deal on the STi. Unless the M3 is overpriced haha.

 

ynopoll? sti

 

M3 would be dope, but do research and know what your getting into. If it's a early year, make sure the rod bearing recall has been done otherwise your gonna be very sad when the motor lets go. Subframe mounting spots can and do tear out of the body, the harder the car is driven the sooner this happens. VANOS can become an issue as the miles get up there and a new oem vanos unit is $2500ish tho dr.vanos offers remans for $1200, hell theres a cam gear hub that can break and it's a $900 part...for some small gear!!

 

m3, german > japan

 

ynopoll?

 

^ Pretty much nailed it.