I was wondering if there is anyone who lives in the Bay Area (Burlingame) can give me a ride in their STi. I went to the dealer (Carlsen) and they wouldn't give rides or test drives. It is difficult to purchase a car without getting a feel of the car first.

I currently drive a Mercedes C43 AMG. Wondering if anyone has any experience with both of these cars and can give some comparison. I'm afraid that I will miss the luxury of the C43 and the V8 motor. Will anyone make this trade?

Please let me know.

Thanks,
Baron

If you're into luxury...don't get the STi! No stereo, floormats, cushy german ride, huge V8 torque...etc.

Sounds like you're of the G35C persuasion. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm sure someone will give you a ride though.

Baron,

The STi can't compare to the C43 in terms of luxury. I have a SLK320 also and I would jump into it a few times a week just to listen to the radio and CD! Also, the ride quality is much worse in the STi.

But if you want a ride then go to the Union City KK meet this Tuesday night. I should be there around 8 PM. I can give you a ride if you like. I have a white/silver STi with a WRX wing. PM me if your going.

Will

Or you can just show up to our San Bruno Starbucks or Tapioca Tea Eggettes meets, where we have two regulars with STis show up. We have a meet tonight for SB^2, and the Eggettes meets are Wednesdays. We're just up the road, so it's better than going all the way to UCKK. Besides, the guys that have the STis are very cool, and will give rides. Check on Mondays for the MSB meet thread, or Wednesdays for the Tapioca Tea meet thread, or just PM me.

shadowcat

IMO, it's pretty amazing they won't give you a test drive especially when you roll in the dealership with your C43!

Baron, I'm one of the regs at SB^2 that drives an STi. One of my friends in Burlingame drives a C43, and i can tell you that when he rode in my car on 280, he said

"*** this car is so much stiffer than my C43, it must handle pretty well huh?"

then i took him to hwy 9:

"uh...aren't you going in a little hot??....!!!....damn"

ride comparisons are pretty radical between the two. The Sti and its agressively bolstered seats (compared to C43) and a lack of that plush leather means that the seat is pretty stiff compared to the C43. If you were barely able to tolerate the stiffness in the C43, you won't like driving the STi everyday to work.

The noise levels are also pretty different. I rode in his car with the radio off and as expected out of an MB, its fairly quiet, the STi on the other hand, will let you map all the bumps on the road just by feel and sound

Power diffrences are basically the differences between the drivetrains and the width of the drive tires. The C43 doesn't feel like it has as much push off the line as the STi because its rwd, but once it gets up to speed, the STi has a bit of drag from the spoiler and the awd drivetrain.

One last important difference, you'll be shifting quite a bit in the STi, while its fun for most enthusists, if you'll be driving around in SF to goto work, its gonna be a real pain in the butt.

C43 is an excellent all-around sport sedan, the STi is a hardcore jolt-you-to-death sports sedan, if you can tolerate all the raw noises and the large amounts of tactile feedback, the STi will reward you with a piss in your pants ride from start to finish.

Guys,

Thanks a lot for the info. I might be able to make it to a meet this week. I'll PM one of you.

Seraph: Thanks for the comparo between the two cars. Are you implying that once off the line, at freeway speeds (100MPH+), the C43 has better acceleration?

Thanks,
Baron

Carlsen didn't have any demo cars, and they said they wanted to keep the mileage low. Besides my dad and I showed up in his Ferrari 360 and we still didn't get a test drive. What I got was the shortest test drive ever (around 1 block) in a regular WRX just to get feel. I imagine that the regular WRX is not even close to the STi.

Hey Baron, I've seen you!

I was at Carlsen picking up my white STi when you and your dad were there. You asked me about the STi and its power/ride. My friends and I were admiring your dads 360 while I was waiting for my paper work to be done. Nice color!

PM me if you're interested in a ride.

I just did a 20 mile test drive in an STI at Courtesy Motors in Chico CA. Iwas not going to buy a car and they knew it. I just bougt a WRX wagon 8 months ago!

They have three sti's on the lot and will sell for MSRP, call Alan Ramos and he will hook you up today !!!!!

You think there would be another dealer in the area that would let you try it out.

Did you try any others?

Hey, I am ready to consider buying your C43. PM me if you are interested.

Good luck and thanks.