Masterdebate: Cars. M5, 350Z, 370Z, or STI?

MX500 · Post by **MX500** » November 23rd, 2011, 3:45 pm

My price cap is about 25,000. Im looking for a newer car, it needs to average atleast 18mpg, run a 13.4 or better 1/4 mile, have a manual transmission, and be reliable. Id like a 2005 or 2007 STI, but for the same price I can get a low mileage 370Z. In the lower price bracket I could get a 350Z (but they arent as visually appealling.) Id like an M5, but the parts expense would be the worst of the bunch.

I drive very fast all the time. I need a high performance yet reliable vehicle. My Z is both, but with 490,000 on the chassis the car is getting ready for retirement.

Which car would you choose for a daily driver with a 35 mile commute? I'm open to other rear wheel drive options, possibly a C5 corvette or G35. Please don't suggest that I buy a Honda or other "commuter." If it won't run low 13s or better, I'm not interested. I am trying to buy I car to keep for 5+ years so I am not looking to compromise. A sedan would be nice, but not necessary.

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 23rd, 2011, 5:26 pm

a brand new 5.0 mustang is under 30

it'll run 12s and beat an m3 on a road coarse. And a bolt on supercharger kit will get you over 620 RWHP

between the sti and the z, I would pick the Z. Its a more grown up car, the chicks will like it more, 2wd is more fun and being natually aspirated it will last longer.

Gmbond · Post by **Gmbond** » November 23rd, 2011, 6:10 pm

Ive gotta agree with Danny, a brand new 5.0 would be good if you are willing to go domestic.

I am a fan of the subaru however, them seem to take a hell of a beating and hold up to it.

MX500 · Post by **MX500** » November 24th, 2011, 2:43 pm

Good suggestion but the new mustang is too heavy and bulky looking. Okay, those are half excuses. I like the precision handling capabilities of all the Nissans Ive owned and the 'stangs are a bit out of my pricerange. I like import reliability.

I might consider a GTO but I dont know how they handle.

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 24th, 2011, 2:45 pm

Im liking the 2005 C6 we got a few months back, only cost me 21k with 30,000 miles.

MX500 · Post by **MX500** » November 24th, 2011, 2:51 pm

How is the head room and leg room in the C6? I hear the C5 is a bit more spacious (and cheaper).

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 24th, 2011, 5:00 pm

Im 5'11" and its fine. Mines a convertable too so a little less headroom with the top up.

http://www.youtube.com/user/500bigbore · November 24th, 2011, 6:10 pm

I hate to say it by I'd be in on a new challenger, a friend has a supercharged one

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 24th, 2011, 6:25 pm

Challenger/300/charger handle and stop worse than the vette and it aint all that good.....

MX500 · Post by **MX500** » November 24th, 2011, 8:47 pm

I wish I could afford the challenger! They probably wont last though... The 350Z was designed for the engine to last 200,000 miles. My 240Z got ~410,000 miles on the og engine.

Im leaning towards the Nissans for mileage and reliability, but the Corvette or GTO would be nice for the extra straight line acceleration. I looked into it and the GTO gets rather poor gas mileage, the corvette might be a better commuter. Plus Id like hatch space for subs or my dog.

350z-fast, cheap, reliable 22/26 mpg (30 freeway witnessed first hand)
G35-same pros as above plus cargo/passenger space (similar mpg to Z)
GTO-fast, reliable, lots of space, probably one of the safer options. Cons-14/19 mpg
Corvette-fastest, sex appeal, good high speed braking power, decent mileage. Cons- looking like my dad bought my car, parts expense, insurance cost.
STI-fast, reliable, GREAT crash safety. Cons-price, awd (I drift), insurance cost.

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 24th, 2011, 9:42 pm

I had a G35 for almost 4 years, it was a great car never had ANY problems with it. Was an 05 300 horse 6 speed 4 door, handled great, decent pickup and would do over 150.

Gmbond · Post by **Gmbond** » November 25th, 2011, 3:18 am

I've been hearing stories about the G35 with the Brembo brake package, dealer pricing on pads and rotors installed is around $2000 front and anothe $2000 rear....

I'm sure you could buy the parts online, or Brembo direct, rather thanfrom Nissan, but Damn!!

Not that its anywhere near the same class of car, but the Hyundai Genesis coupe shows how far that company has come in a good way. Also has a full Brembo package available. (I'm NOT saying to even consider this, lol)

http://www.youtube.com/user/500bigbore · November 25th, 2011, 5:06 am

well I won't take a vette over 260kph, rear end starts getting lite, the camaro / stang and challenger are all good for 300. on Canadian roads anyways

challenger is best for cornering at big speed, camaro pushes and mustang feels washy. corvette is made for a midget, damms sterring wheel hits my legs, feels like something you'd drive across town, the camaro/ challenger could be drove from here to cali without an effort.

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 25th, 2011, 8:04 am

Most ive done in the vette so far is 160 mph and it was solid as a rock.

The handling is weird tho, it turns in super fast almost twitchy but if there are any kinds of bumps mid corner it just floats the front end and understeers like crazy. I could throw the infinity around a lot easier.

http://www.youtube.com/user/500bigbore · November 25th, 2011, 8:10 am

pussy, hahaha. that is 260kph
I passed my brother on a gravel road going that fast in a truck

trust me that vette gets loose

http://www.youtube.com/user/500bigbore · November 25th, 2011, 8:12 am

maybee its because my roads are 1/2 the temp

100hp honda · Post by **100hp honda** » November 25th, 2011, 9:08 am

new subaru would be cool. used ones get beat, revved to the moon, layed rubber 100 times, jumped over curbs. if you got the coin dont mess with someones used junk

MX500 · Post by **MX500** » November 25th, 2011, 2:42 pm

Brit, you need more negative camber. With proper alignment a car wont oversteer or understeer until you make it happen with gas or brakes. It should slide neutrally. You probably dont have enough toe in also.

Just because its "within specification" doesnt make it a proper alignment. Look at crown vics for example; they come toed out and with crazy positive camber so they drive like shit and understeer l.

Ive done 155 in my Z but it feel light and twitchy. Its too sketchy to maintain that speed, not to mention I would die almost guranteed.

How was the gas mileage in the G35?

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 25th, 2011, 7:00 pm

The infinity was great I hammered it and the wifey drove it nice,prolly 27 or so average

NightBiker07 · Post by **NightBiker07** » November 27th, 2011, 10:06 am

AWD cars can be a BLAST!

Something tells me a 2WD wont slide around like this

Post by **AlisoBob** » November 27th, 2011, 10:41 am

I rented a Challenger in Ohio... fuckin solid car. Needs bigger mirrors though.

GREAT "headroom"!!!

dannygraves · Post by **dannygraves** » November 27th, 2011, 4:05 pm

my old stealth TT was built for high speed, it was smooth like driving miss daisy at 160MPH. I maxed out the speedo (180) on the 215 here in vegas and it felt solid. I would not recommend one though, the thing leaked like the valdez even after a full rebuild. I had the engine out of mine like 4 times in the year that I had it.
I also determined at that point that Im kind of over AWD cars, they just aren't as much fun

unless its raining, I used to have all sorts of fun in my stealth in the rain.
The GTO is a heavy pig and from what I understand the handling isn't that great, but they can be picked up pretty cheap, just make sure to get an '05 or '06 to get the ls2, '04 was an ls1.
A friend at work got a 2 door g35 and that car is just sexy looking, reliable as hell, great mileage and he spanked my other coworkers mini S in the twisties... that was an interesting drive to lunch...

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 27th, 2011, 4:11 pm

I beat a coworkers 6.0 6spd GTO in 4 drag races one day in my G35, after I beat him the first time he was so pissed he wanted to run again and again, granted he wasnt the best driver and I had launching and shifting the infinity down to an art.

britincali · Post by **britincali** » November 27th, 2011, 4:13 pm

Oh and I got the vette up to a little over 170 last night and it was solid

Post by **AlisoBob** » November 27th, 2011, 4:35 pm

BannedCR500Riders.com

Masterdebate: Cars. M5, 350Z, 370Z, or STI?

Masterdebate: Cars. M5, 350Z, 370Z, or STI?