[ManInABox]

My buddy has a MS3 and it is a awesome car. I rode with him at a autox, and that thing handles great! Not nearly as much understeer as i would have thought with a FWD. I also like his interior better than my 07. Better stereo, seats, carpet everything. The MS3 also has more leg room in the back to seat 4 comfortably. But none of that matters to me, still would not give up my sti for anything else other than a Evo MR.

[Digitalfiend]

As I said in the other thread, here is why I would always buy an '08 STI over an '08 MS3 for my daily-driver and weekend "track car":

+ Better safety; I would gladly put a wager on the Subaru being able to take a more forceful impact with less chance of injury to occupants.

+ AWD; I'm sure the MS3 with snows is perfectly fine in the winter but if you want a virtually unstoppable car with great control in the winter (and fun when you want it), the STI's AWD system is awesome. I haven't had my '08 in the snow yet but if it is anything like my '05, I'll be grinning ear to ear.

+ More tuning potential. I don't think I've seen any MS3s making 350-370+ wtq on the stock components with just a downpipe and tune.

+ Wider wheels and tires stock.

+ The 6spd in the STI has been proven to hold lots of torque (500+wtq) and seems to be quite reliable.

+ You have the ability to stuff some fat rubber under the STI's wheel arches.

+ Better track performance. The MS3 is definitely no slouch, but I think you can only go so far on a FWD big-torque platform. The MS3 does have a limited slip diff though, so at least it should be able to put some of that power down out of the corners.

If you are just looking for a commuter car, the MS3 is a great choice. If you want something with a little more character, better winter performance, and track/autox potential, then the STI is the way to go.

By the way, I was told by my sales manager that Subaru Canada will be offering a base STI trim, similar to the US model, for 2009. So, if you can wait that long, that might be another option to save some money. If you can't wait, you should be able to get between $2000 to $3000 off your STI purchase.

[RPI-STi]

Originally Posted by upncummr

Just curious - were you using snow tires in your attempts to get around in the snow? Was the problem related to the open diff on the regular Mazda3?

I've been considering a MS3 as a daily driver/winter beater. But obviously if it's too severely restricted by snow, it wouldn't make sense.


Gary

The MS3 does absolutely fine in the snow provided you are using snow tires. When I had mine I drove an entire winter in Vermont, Quebec, NH, and Maine with Dunlop Wintersport M3s on RX-8 rims and they performed admirably. Now, you talk about getting stuck or having many inches (excess of 5 or 6) on the road, then I completely agree with you. I did try driving up a logging road (not paved) with about 5 inches of standing snow on it in my MS3. Was stuck ricky tick.

[jph]

i went from my '04 sti to an '08 mx-5
sti was modded just about everywehre.
the mx-5 got new shocks, springs brace and sways.

holy moly! that little mx-5 would run circles around a modified sti, in the handling department. it's not so fast in a straight line.

now i'm back in an '08 sti. and yes, i looked briefly at the MS3, and even though they got nice reviews, and Cobb is doing lots of things for it. in the end, i got the sti, because if i did not, i'm sure that after a few months with the MS3, i'd end up regretting not getting the sti.

not sure why i posted this, since i'm not really supplying any actual info heh.
i guess that i felt like sharing my little story


J.

[RPI-STi]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

As I said in the other thread, here is why I would always buy an '08 STI over an '08 MS3 for my daily-driver and weekend "track car":

+ Better safety; I would gladly put a wager on the Subaru being able to take a more forceful impact with less chance of injury to occupants.

I agreed with every point of yours besides this one. Check this out

Brake failure - totalled my MS3 - Mazda Forums

Watch the youtube video. This guy walked away with a few scratches from this. And before the flams start, it wasn't really a brake failure, the guy just forgot to check his pad life before going to the track (which was reeeaaaalllly dumb)

[waktasz]

Originally Posted by upncummr

Just curious - were you using snow tires in your attempts to get around in the snow? Was the problem related to the open diff on the regular Mazda3?

I've been considering a MS3 as a daily driver/winter beater. But obviously if it's too severely restricted by snow, it wouldn't make sense.


Gary

No, the stock Eagle RSA all season tires. An inch of snow twice a year does not warrant buying dedicated snow tires, but in that car, any white stuff on the ground was a nightmare.

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by RPI-STi

I agreed with every point of yours besides this one. Check this out

Brake failure - totalled my MS3 - Mazda Forums

Watch the youtube video. This guy walked away with a few scratches from this. And before the flams start, it wasn't really a brake failure, the guy just forgot to check his pad life before going to the track (which was reeeaaaalllly dumb)

I'm not sure that is a really good comparison. While it is definitely nice that he walked away, he also hit the tire wall at what looks to be an angle. I don't know many cars or concrete barriers that are as spongy. I'm not saying a Subaru would brush that off or something, but I have a feeling it is stronger. I don't ever plan to do a comparison though.

All I know is I've seen some crazy accident pictures here of people getting T-boned by pickups and other cars at high rates of speed and the resulting damage doesn't reflect the severity of the crash.

[RPI-STi]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

I'm not sure that is a really good comparison. While it is definitely nice that he walked away, he also hit the tire wall at what looks to be an angle. I don't know many cars or concrete barriers that are as spongy. I'm not saying a Subaru would brush that off or something, but I have a feeling it is stronger. I don't ever plan to do a comparison though.

All I know is I've seen some crazy accident pictures here of people getting T-boned by pickups and other cars at high rates of speed and the resulting damage doesn't reflect the severity of the crash.

oh hey, I'm by no means saying Subaru's are anything but stellar in the safety department. Just that the MS3 is close to or on par. BTW he also rolled the car 2 or 3 times after hitting that tire barrier @ around 105mph.

And please, PLEASE don't do a personal comparison. I don't want to hear about digitalfiend on the IR.

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by RPI-STi

oh hey, I'm by no means saying Subaru's are anything but stellar in the safety department. Just that the MS3 is close to or on par. BTW he also rolled the car 2 or 3 times after hitting that tire barrier @ around 105mph.

And please, PLEASE don't do a personal comparison. I don't want to hear about digitalfiend on the IR.

Agreed.

[upncummr]

Insurance Institute Highway Safety Test Results:

2008 Impreza - IIHS-HLDI: Subaru Impreza

Note that the Impreza's results are with front/rear head curtain airbags and seat-mounted torso airbags.

2008 Mazda 3 - IIHS-HLDI: Mazda 3

Note that the Mazda's results are without side airbags.

Passenger compartment intrusion distances - IIHS crashworthiness details

2005 Mazda 3 - 5.5 centimeters
2006 STi - 5.5 centimeters
2008 STi - 8.5 centimeters

Overall Small Car Crashworthiness Ratings - IIHS-HLDI: Small cars - Current Models

Gary

[solovus]

One thing I love about the STI/WRX...AWD are the launches in the rain yum.

[GilMikalian]

Originally Posted by upncummr

Insurance Institute Highway Safety Test Results:

2008 Impreza - IIHS-HLDI: Subaru Impreza

Note that the Impreza's results are with front/rear head curtain airbags and seat-mounted torso airbags.

2008 Mazda 3 - IIHS-HLDI: Mazda 3

Note that the Mazda's results are without side airbags.

Passenger compartment intrusion distances - IIHS crashworthiness details



2005 Mazda 3 - 5.5 centimeters
2006 STi - 5.5 centimeters
2008 STi - 8.5 centimeters

Overall Small Car Crashworthiness Ratings - IIHS-HLDI: Small cars - Current Models

Gary

So the smaller the negative number (i.e. -8.5), the better since...
"*Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline."

So that means that the B-pillar in the Impreza stopped 8.5 centimeters from the seat centerline and the Mazda 3's stopped 5.5 centimeters from the centerline.

As for driver injury, the Impreza rates significantly higher than the Mazda 3 on almost all measure, except for left knee lateral movement. The lack of side airbags really hurt (no pun intended) the Mazda 3 for head protection.

Overall, the data supports Digitalf(trying hard not put in the "r")iend's initial hunch.

And on this page the Impreza comes in at top while the Mazda 3 (again, w/out side airbags) comes in #11 out of 17.

[upncummr]

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

So the smaller the negative number (i.e. -8.5), the better since...
"*Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline."

So that means that the B-pillar in the Impreza stopped 8.5 centimeters from the seat centerline and the Mazda 3's stopped 5.5 centimeters from the centerline.

As for driver injury, the Impreza rates significantly higher than the Mazda 3 on almost all measure, except for left knee lateral movement. The lack of side airbags really hurt (no pun intended) the Mazda 3 for head protection.

Overall, the data supports Digitalf(trying hard not put in the "r")iend's initial hunch.

That's exactly the opposite of how I interpreted the data.

To me the measurement for the Mazda3 means the B pillar had been pushed 5.5 centimeters closer to the centerline of the driver's seat.

In contrast, the 2008 STi had its B pillar pushed 8.5 centimeters closer to the centerline of the driver's seat.

I'm not sure which interpretation is correct. (NOTE - After re-reading the informaton on the IIHS web site, it appears that GilMikalian is correct. The smaller the negative number, the less intrusion upon the centerline of the driver's seat.)

Gary

[twigg107]

Originally Posted by RPI-STi

oh hey, I'm by no means saying Subaru's are anything but stellar in the safety department. Just that the MS3 is close to or on par. BTW he also rolled the car 2 or 3 times after hitting that tire barrier @ around 105mph.

And please, PLEASE don't do a personal comparison. I don't want to hear about digitalfiend on the IR.

pfff.... 2 or 3 times is nothing.... here is kedricks car on the same track at subiefest doing 10+ rolls.....

Driving Sports: Flashback: WRX Crashing at 125mph+

[jaydow11]

Originally Posted by Stedenko

A few of us kind of hijacked another thread with this topic so here's a new thread.

It turns out that I'm not the only one that is cross-shopping the STI with the MS3. It's not because the MS3 is necessarily comparable, but up here in Canada it's around $15K cheaper to get the MS3.

So if anyone has any thoughts, here's the place. I couldn't find much on this topic because the MS3 is usually compared to the WRX. I'm about to buy one or the other, and I'm leaning hard towards the STI.

Stedanko.

At the time of my 06 purchase, there wasn't the MS3 so my decision was pretty simple to go with the STI.

Even now, I don't know, but I'm pretty sure I would stick with my AWD! Living in Kelowna, BC, Canada, we don't get a ton of snow, but enough to know that I need winter tires for a good 2-3 months!

The STI is a tank in the snow and if I ever get something else, I know I'm always going to compare it to the STI.

Yes, in Canada the STI is so over priced it's retarded, but that's why I bought in the US!

Also at the time I purchased it, I figured I would try and sell it in a couple years and maybe even make a couple bucks if not get my money back... but with everyone and their dog importing US cars into Canada now, I'm not so sure about that... oh well!

Cheers,

Jay