STI or 135i: Which Would You Choose?

In response to Drews comment, both cars net a good gain from turbo back exhaust and engine managment.

Aftermarket parts are much cheaper for an STI. Downpipes for a 135i will cost you around 700-800 dollars for compared to 300-400 for an STI (non-ebay).
Pretty much any aftermarket part for a 135i your looking on average to spend twice as much (look at the prices for ECU flashes from Dinan compared to Cobb/ECU Flash? or even free for your Subaru with OpenECU).

The STI comes with a slightly shorter warranty than the BMW and does not include free routine service, but BMW parts DO cost more outside of warranty.

The biggest difference is the personality of the car, if you own either and are under 24 people will think mommy and daddy bought you the car or your going to be financing it for the next 36 months with one hell of a monthly payment. The 135i is more respectable as a BMW though. Both of the cars are possibly the ugliest offering from each company for this year.

Yea! Can’t compare it, no way…

ok ok i get the beemer part but think abouth the power to weight ratio on the sti WOW. i own a sti now and its plenty fast with a couple of bolt on parts. with the light sti body and same but improved power plant it is going to be one hella fast sti on the street.

This is like comparing a fully loaded economical car to a luxury vehical. Yeah there are some similarities but that’s where it ends. No one buy cars nowadays just because of horsepower. We buy cars base of status appeal and good looks and then speed is considered. We can aquire speed through tuning and tweeking. I would view someone owning the STi as nerdy and diffrent and not in good way. While on the other hand I view the person owning a 135i as young, sucessfull and fun. Think about that before you spend the $35,000 on that dreafull “honey i fed steroid to the focus svt (STi)”. My choice would be the 135i but I would much rather purchase a 3 series coupe or a G37 and then tune and tweek it to my liking. The insurance would be less and the car have better status appeal.

BMW: for under 1k you can pack an additional 80hp to the 135i engine with software alone.

BMW: for under 1k you can pack an additional 80hp to the 135i engine with software alone.

BMW: for under 1k you can pack an additional 80hp to the 135i engine with software alone.

Subaru Focus, Vs. The BMW Tiburon.

….uhhh…….gotta go with the….Bimmer….not really a good comparsion…maybe this bimmer or a acura TL? still go for the bimmer thou.

the sti looks like a ford focus svt..i would def take the bimmer..european stlying at its finest..

Looks = BMW
Performance = Subaru (AWD)
but RWD would be a fun “toy”

I would go with the Subaru. I like hatchbacks and I like awd.

if i was goin for looks, i’d take the bmw. the subaru gets uglier every new generation….

If this was a choice between a late model STi and the BMW, it would be a tough decision. But the ‘08 subie is just too ugly. The BMW however, is sexy.

well id take the bmw just cause ima bmw person but i think the one series is ugly and id rahter have the 335i
oh and those who say sti has the same amount of hp with one turbo then the bimmer with two yoru stupid the bmw uses two smaller turbos to minmimize turbo lag instead of having just one big turbo

AM i the only one who thinks both these cars look ugly?? I’d rather have an EVO over these any day!

There’s no way I could fit my bass in the BMW, so I would have to take the STi. Plus, going to school in the mountains and dealing with Pittsburgh roads makes the AWD appealing. I would gladly take the past generation, though.

Are you serious? Subaru’s more reliable than BMWs? what the hell are you on? Not to mention part cost, all parts on the BMW are covered for the first 50,000 miles. BMW all the way

I’d take the STI! awd and I think there more reliable than bmw’s. I know parts are alot cheaper for them! Plus single turbo vs twin turbo, come on bmw! But I’ll still hold out for a new G8 or Camaro!

subaru of course. the intense amount of research/engineering that goes into those cars is phenomenal, so youre always getting more than you paid for w/ a subbie. european cars are over-engineered and result in too many recalls, plus way too expensive to fix (has been my experience anyway)

I would go with the BMW the new Subaru STI is not as attractive as previuos years but the design is good nevertheless… The BMW for sure just a little lighter and u got a monster…

O and i was talking about the will that posted on Nov. 28 not the will that posted Now. 29.

O and i was talking about the will that posted on Nov. 28 not the will that posted Now. 29.

I guess Will Doesnt know how to read and was to busy trying to be smart saying “hmm has nobody realized that this is a comparison of the BASE 1 series and the BASE STI? The BASE 1 series isnt gonna be the 306hp motor, but rather a 2.5 or 2.8… soo if you have a brain and you want speed, not to be looked at like a rich asshole the STI is an easy choice.” If he had read it says base 135 this indicates that it isnt a 2.5 or a 2.8 but that it is the twin turbo 306hp engine. Also as a current BMW owner i would pick the 135 a little less hp than the prior years M3 for a lot less.

Looks like a Hyundai and a ford. I wouldnt take either one.

I’d probably go with bimmer I like the shape I figure since it a six cylinder it will have more torch. Also it alot prettier car. I think subara took a step down in styling. I think last years subie looked alot better. Dont get me wrong i know people dont buy subies for looks .

the sti frame has a rally proven racing character the 1 series hasnt __both cars look equally muscular but the shape difference remains___ill take the sti___people say that the sti looks ugly but only if u have a good design sence u will find its positive look.

A basic version of the 1 series with no extra options, and I’d have to lighten it even a bit more.

Can’t say since I’ve driven neither. In any case, this is a silly comparison, the two cars are not even in the same class. Comparing two cars simply because they have the same HP and sell for a similar price is downright dumb. The 1 series is small and cramped. The mere fact that it weighs 3440lbs is ridiculous. The subaru is larger, 4 doors, big trunk, has AWD and is lighter, its much more practical, its meant for a totally different consumer group. A better comparison would be the Audi TT vs the 1 series.

That Sti is a disgrace, looks like a toyota matrix YUK!!! I’ll take the Bimmer, b/c 300 hp in a small car like that will be sooo much fun!!

For sure the Bimmer

I have to go with the 1 Series Bimmer. This motor has already proven itself in the 3 series. Ive seen mildly tuned 3s putting down better times than the V8 M3. Even without the twins this motor is bad. I love the idea of a smaller Bimmer with the same power as the next class up.

BIMMER!!!

Will, i’d rather look like a rich asshole and drive a BMW with a 2.8 in it, than look like an idiot who dropped 35 grand on a hatchback.

hmm has nobody realized that this is a comparison of the BASE 1 series and the BASE STI? The BASE 1 series isnt gonna be the 306hp motor, but rather a 2.5 or 2.8… soo if you have a brain and you want speed, not to be looked at like a rich asshole the STI is an easy choice.

I love the STI, but I’m gonna bet they’re close to the same speed, so I’d go with the BMW… Plus I’m a German car freak…

As much as the 135i beats the STI in terms of cosmetics, I’d still stick with the STI just because I’m a Japanese Import fan. Not to say I’m not a European car fan either, but I wouldn’t pick some other non-japanese import car due to appearance alone.

a hatch version would have been better but anything is better than that ugly STI.

I’d rather keep my Spirit R/T, but if I had to choose, I’d go with the Subee.

I would go with the BMW because it’s sleeker, better made, better features and better looking. But subaru has some pretty good cars. I like Baja, more then the STI but I am more of a BMW guy.

the beemer. i just like bmw. besides, the sti is getting uglier each year.

Definetly BMW. Not just because I dislike Subaru but I’d rather not have 1 of 50 WRX’s already at my school ..

I’d go with the BMW but that just because I’m a BMW kind of guy. The Subaru is nice but I wouldn’t want one and it looks like a Mazda no disrespect to the Subaru owner’s.

The Bimmer of course, the STI is nothing compared to a BMW.

neither.

I’d go with the BMW for sure that subara just looks like a mazda, the older wrx sti is way nicer they killed the name with that model.

SUBARU!

the sti. there will be hardly any aftermarket parts for that bimmer and the sti has more room.

BMW. The STi looks like a Mazda.

I think the problem with this match up is that you’re looking at the equivalent of the best house in the bad neighborhood or the worst house in the good neighborhood – any realtor will tell you to go with the worst house, or the BMW in this case. I like the ruggedness of the Subie and I could use the AWD prowess, but I’d buy, at best, a WRX (but more likely something even lower on the totem pole) and save the money for something else. If I was going to throw down that much scratch, I’d grab the Bimmer.

i go for class, BMW 135i, which is gonna rip ass with that 335 engine

i go for class, BMW 135i, which is gonna rip ass with that 335 engine

I’ve had enough experience with Subies to say they’re not extremely well-built. Plus, that WRX is butt ugly. I’d go with the BMW

I like the sube but i will take the bmw becuase every one has a sti i like being diffrent when it comes to cars and im not feeling the four door hatch bbut there both good cars and the horspower is preety good

I’d take the 335 BMW. Faster and looks better.

guys who praise bmw, first own one for some time, drive it hard mostly – and u’ll get tired of paying for repairs. i’ve been thru that before with my 325i. on other hand, my wrx was almost perfect in 3 years of abuse. sti for me is no brainer

Cute the little Beemer, Looks like it could be a Beast!! For the price gotta go with BMW. Guess I could get each of them for the price of a GT-R…..CRAZY!!!

I would go with any wrx sti over the bmw just as long as its not the 08 sti, because the new sti is a disgrace. Every model before 08 is perfect.

OOh, tough one…the Bimmer is sweet, but the STi has 300 hp…I’ll take an STi please! and make it black

Beamer

So subaru has a real rally heritage, are you saying BMW doesnt.

Subie, all the way!!!!
I really like the new redesigned Subaru and it looks even better in it’s WRC Rally form.

Neither. I want the Evo X.

The 135 is hideous.

I would go with the STI despite the looks (I really do not mind it).

If you want a solid high performance car with AWD and with real rally heritage, but you also need a daily driver with passenger space and cargo space, then you should look at the STI. The only thing worrying me as a Canadian buyer is that it looks like we will only be getting the fully loaded version with Nav, leather, etc., and it could tip the scales at CDN$50K! Of course, the 135i will easily exceed this mark with Premium package, Sport package, etc.

Bimmer.

I’ve always wanted a little land shark.

The BMW. I really dont like hatchbacks.

Both nice cars, but I’d pick the BMW. The coupe is much more appealing to me than a 4 door hatchback. And it’s a BMW!

Not even a choice, BMW all the way, no disrespect to subaru lovers, but that thing is no way as attractive as that twin turbo Bimmer.
Im sorry but you cant compare a subaru with a BMW, thats like saying would you rather have a mercedes or a mazda. But seriously Its clear who won this Go Bimmer keep building better cars than everyone else. Keep subaru in the dirt where they belong i guess.