09 370z w/ sport package vs. Modded 05 Sti

[AmbitiousCK]

Hey guys, at the end of this month i will be purchasing a 09 370z with the sport package. I am coming from a bolt on 05 STi with a full suspension and was wondering how the change will be. Obviously it will be different coming from a boosted, awd sedan to a n/a V6 two seater, but as far as acceleration, interior, and overall driving dynamics what should i expect?

Im just looking for some advice or opinions from anyone who cares to share, or maybe from some one who has made a similar switch, thanks guys!

[Red__Zed]

Pretty much everything will feel different. How much power were you laying with the STI?

[AmbitiousCK]

Originally Posted by Red__Zed

Pretty much everything will feel different. How much power were you laying with the STI?

hmmm not sure if thats a bad thing or a good thing lol


around 325awhp and 340awtq


Im not expecting the 370 to be as fast as the sti, but i never for a sec think that it would be "slow". Also i know not to expect the gains from bolt ons for the 370 seeing as they max out around 300rwhp (correct me if im wrong) with bolt ons. TT would def be a step for me in the not so distant future.

[IS2000]

I have both a 370Z and an 03' EVO with 370awhp and 340 awtq. Coming from a modded AWD turbo car you'll miss the midrange torque as the Z requires more rpm to extract power. Once above 5K rpm the car pulls nicely and would be able to hang with a 300+awhp EVO/STi at highway speed.
The interior is a much nicer place to be, though the overall visibility is not as good as in a 4 door sedan. The Z has a good road feel and a quick steering rack (not as sharp as an EVO but probably quicker than a STi steering.)
The Z is a fun car to drive, although the only few things you'll miss will be the turbo torque, the modability, the awd traction, and the practicality of a sedan.

[jaedub]

Originally Posted by IS2000

I have both a 370Z and an 03' EVO with 370awhp and 340 awtq. Coming from a modded AWD turbo car you'll miss the midrange torque as the Z requires more rpm to extract power. Once above 5K rpm the car pulls nicely and would be able to hang with a 300+awhp EVO/STi at highway speed.
The interior is a much nicer place to be, though the overall visibility is not as good as in a 4 door sedan. The Z has a good road feel and a quick steering rack (not as sharp as an EVO but probably quicker than a STi steering.)
The Z is a fun car to drive, although the only few things you'll miss will be the turbo torque, the modability, the awd traction, and the practicality of a sedan.

pretty much sums up everything. You'll love the sports car steering coming from a STi

[90 ST]

Originally Posted by AmbitiousCK

hmmm not sure if thats a bad thing or a good thing lol


around 325awhp and 340awtq


Im not expecting the 370 to be as fast as the sti, but i never for a sec think that it would be "slow". Also i know not to expect the gains from bolt ons for the 370 seeing as they max out around 300rwhp (correct me if im wrong) with bolt ons. TT would def be a step for me in the not so distant future.

A CBE will get you to about 300, another 15-18 for a CAI, tune another 7-10. There are more than a few guys with 325-340 with just a tune and a few bolt ons. Then you have to remember the weight savings over the STi.

[KillerBee370]

Originally Posted by 90 ST

A CBE will get you to about 300, another 15-18 for a CAI, tune another 7-10. There are more than a few guys with 325-340 with just a tune and a few bolt ons. Then you have to remember the weight savings over the STi.

Lol what? I've got pretty much everything but FI and I'm putting down 315 rwhp. Show me these people please.

Also how much does an STI weigh? I came from an 06 stage 1 Evo and I don't know that my Z currently at 3500 lbs with me in the car is neccissarily a huge weight savings.

Edit: unless of course you are getting numbers from a dynapak type of dyno with absolutely no load whatsoever. I think I hit like 340 or something on one of those but that's not a streetable number.

[GZ3]

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

Lol what? I've got pretty much everything but FI and I'm putting down 315 rwhp. Show me these people please.

Also how much does an STI weigh? I came from an 06 stage 1 Evo and I don't know that my Z currently at 3500 lbs with me in the car is neccissarily a huge weight savings.

Edit: unless of course you are getting numbers from a dynapak type of dyno with absolutely no load whatsoever. I think I hit like 340 or something on one of those but that's not a streetable number.

315rwhp with a **FULL** bolt on Z?!! what is your mod list!? I made 307rwhp with JUST dropins testpipes and Y on a dynojet Sae corrected....and there are plenty of people in 320-340 range on here

[Nitrouz]

you will NOT miss the STi interior. I test drove the new STi before I bought my Z 4 months ago. It was horrid!

[wdkwang]

i've driven 2 turbo cars before that belong to my friends, one of them being an sti. i definitely feel a bigger mid rpm punch with the turbo compared to the n/a z. i feel like my z is slow anytime i drive a boosted car lol.
turbo... need one of those eventually

[LunaZ]

I can't speak specifically for the Subaru, but I came from a Mazdaspeed3 and I can definitely say that I miss boost. Driving turbo cars is just fun.
I don't miss trying to get all that power down through the front wheels, though! I also don't miss having a car that screamed boy-racer or Fast & Furious.

With the Z, the interior is much nicer and feels like a sports car rather than a fast econobox. The power goes to the correct axle. The lines of the car are classic and sexy and in its stock form, represent an adult sports car. That works great for me.

Of course, there are a lot of ways that you can personalize your Z to make your own statement.
The conclusion? They're really two completely different kinds of cars you're talking about. Very hard to make anything that isn't an apples to oranges comparison.
I miss certain things about my Mazdaspeed3, but I wouldn't go back.

[cfweber]

sounds like you haven't driven a Z yet

you want to do that first

sounds like the Z is slower than your current ride

I want faster

remember pics if it happens

[BLM]

I had a 375 whp WRX with complete track set-up and I don't miss it at all. The size of the turbo on the 2L didnt hit full spool until 4500 rpm but man was it a beast from 4500 to 7500. It was a ton of fun but I like my Z better. I will eventually graduate to a GT-R, which has the best of all worlds. AMS Alpha 9 GT-R ran 9.9 @ 141 on pump gas.

[b1adesofcha0s]

Originally Posted by BLM

I had a 375 whp WRX with complete track set-up and I don't miss it at all. The size of the turbo on the 2L didnt hit full spool until 4500 rpm but man was it a beast from 4500 to 7500. It was a ton of fun but I like my Z better. I will eventually graduate to a GT-R, which has the best of all worlds. AMS Alpha 9 GT-R ran 9.9 @ 141 on pump gas.

Dude AMS is working on an Alpha 11/12 (I forget which one) package for the GT-R. That thing was putting down so much power, it was getting wheelspin on the dyno

[puckshaw]

I made the exact same switch as OP and I have no regrets. I had my STi for about 4 years and was ready for something different. Still loved the car but wanted a real sports car. I much prefer the interior, exterior, and driving position of the Z. The STi power plant is what I really miss about the STi. As you noted, you'll have to work much harder to extract power out of the Z. FI is really the only way to go in my opinion.

I'd say the fun factor is completely different between the cars but still a wash. Each one is a blast to drive but with completely different feels. I use to track my STi and was always blown away with the caliber of cars I could run down, although it wasn't always smooth sailing. I've yet to track the Z so can't comment on how it compares.

In summary, I say go for it as long as you can live with the NA power delivery and limitations or are willing to shell out the cash for FI.