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Pontiac GTO v. Subaru STi

471 messages,  Last post on May 06, 2008 at 8:58 AM

You are in the Pontiac GTO Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac GTO, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Coupe

Messages Page 2 of 48

#10 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [sputterguy] by benderofbows

May 27, 2005 (12:14 pm)

Replying to: sputterguy (May 27, 2005 11:39 am)
Article is HERE
 
I mainly used the quotes from the article to point out that the Edmunds editors consider the oft-cited, highly vaunted, much lauded fully independent rear suspension of the GTO to actually be inadequate! Of course overall weight and slow steering were also factors, but they made the point several times that the suspension setup is lacking. Very interesting, considering all the posts about the Mustangs' solid rear, which appears to actually help the Mustang to handle better.
 
"I couldn't find the article, but it doesn't matter. It was a ridiculous comparison."
 
Go actually read the article before you call it a ridiculous comparison. Another quote:
 
"Although drastically different in their design and execution, the 2005 Pontiac GTO and the 2005 Subaru WRX STi both employ this time-tested formula. Think about it. Subaru took its lowly Impreza, added a turbocharged engine, a stiffer suspension and a little extra bodywork and, suddenly, every male under the age of 25 is trading in his girlfriend for one. Sounds like a modern-day GTO to us.
 
The new GTO takes a more traditional route. Like its legendary ancestors, it's a coupe with classic muscle car credentials like a big V8, rear-wheel drive and a long hood/short deck design. Although it's built in Australia, it's so American it makes Tommy Franks look like a Communist.
 
Sure, conventional wisdom says if you like one, you wouldn't even consider the other, but we think otherwise."

#11 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [benderofbows] by sputterguy

May 27, 2005 (3:59 pm)

Replying to: benderofbows (May 27, 2005 12:14 pm)
I read the article. I don't think it had anything bad to say about the IRS, only the usual litany of a soft ride and slow steering. Edmunds did not have to run it against the STi to come up with that.
 
I still say it's ridiculous. Your quote confirms it, "drastically different in their design and execution". Another line from the article calls them polar opposites. And that's right. The STi is the last thing on earth I would want to drive. Why hook up two totally different cars. I think the guy who wrote this was actually thinking about the RoadRunner. Yes, I had one of those, it was my second car. No padding, no insulation, bench seats and the cheesiest interior I'd seen up to that time. Oh and you think the GTO has a shifter problem. How about the three foot stick in the RR. Of course it did have Hurst linkage which was cool. The old GTOs were a little more upscale than that. And it makes a stripped Mustang sound like luxury car next to the STi. Yuk. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth...

#12 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [sputterguy] by benderofbows

May 28, 2005 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: sputterguy (May 27, 2005 3:59 pm)
"I read the article. I don't think it had anything bad to say about the IRS"
 
The article didn't say anything bad about the IRS? I thought it had plenty to say about the GTOs suspension. I quote again:
 
"[Soft] suspension... makes for a livable daily driver, but dilutes some of its muscle car character...
 
Wobbly suspension...
 
...more engine than the suspension can keep up with...
 
Handling in Short Supply...
 
push harder and its limitations aren't hard to find...
 
excessive body roll...
 
Slalom testing confirmed the GTO's clumsiness as it rumbled through the cones at a leisurely 60 mph... a Toyota Camry Solara can do it at 60.9 mph...
 
Dial out the body roll... and this Pontiac could hold its own. As it is now, it's a great motor in need of a better supporting cast."
 
I just point this out again because, judging by all of those comments, the solid rear in the Mustang works better than the IRS in the GTO (no such handling comments from Mustang reviewers), so... end of discussion as to why the Mustang has a solid rear!

#13 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [benderofbows] by sensai

May 28, 2005 (2:30 pm)

Replying to: benderofbows (May 28, 2005 1:57 pm)
Well then explain why no other reviews have said such nonsense about the suspension. Explain why the GTO pulled a better number than the Mustang in R&T's figure 8 test. Explain how a similar car called a Monaro was compared to a M5 and said to have similar handling, but all of a sudden it cannot outhandle a Toyota Solara now that it has a Pontiac badge on it? I cannot wait until June 12th when they put these cars on a real race track and we get to watch the Mustang get spanked.

#14 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [benderofbows] by sputterguy

May 28, 2005 (6:01 pm)

Replying to: benderofbows (May 28, 2005 1:57 pm)
Here we go again. You were mighty selective about the quotes you chose. I realize now you were just refering to the suspension but it came off sounding much worse. Let me select some quotes about the car that won.
 
"bucket seats aren't big on comfort but new higher friction cloth trim..." Oh yeah, that's what I want, uncomfortable seats with higher friction cloth trim, whatever that is.
 
"The seating position isn't perfect".
 
"shifter ...annoying tendency to float while in gear". Don't know what that means.
 
"...nasty low end drag" and "...understeer emerges".
 
"ride quality positively punishing". Oh yeah, that's what I want for my $33K, a punishing ride.
 
"raspy blat, blat, blat..." refering to the exhaust.
 
"not everyone agreed on its appeal".
 
This is the car that the GTO lost another one to. Give me a break. Moving on...
 
"Compared to the frantic delivery of the Subaru, the Pontiac V8 feels like a Lexus".
 
The overall assessment: One of the best V8's ever made, comfortable enough to drive every day, interior design looks worthy of the price tag.
 
And finally, "If a 2005 Pontiac GTO pulls up next to you at a local stop light, we suggest paying it some respect". I guess that doesn't mean you guys though.
 
So the GTO is a powerful, refined automobile, with a soft comfortable ride. Oh the shame of it.

#15 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [benderofbows] by graphicguy

May 29, 2005 (9:58 am)

Replying to: benderofbows (May 28, 2005 1:57 pm)
bend....when I was test driving the GTOs, handling was my biggest complaint. Driving the Mustang on the same day as the GTO and the handling differences become apparent.
 
I don't know what GM was shooting for with the GTO. Maybe the suspension was dialed in more for what the Australians prefer? Still, you can't argue the GTO's engine overall "goodness". Same can be said for the Mustang's 4.6L motor, though.

#17 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [sensai] by 442man

May 31, 2005 (6:22 am)

Replying to: sensai (May 28, 2005 2:30 pm)
I would never compare or cross shop a front drive mundane Solara to a GTO or Mustang. Best the Solara does is low to mid 7's with optional V6, with the std 4 banger its 8 to 9 seconds. Not much performance for me anyway. Remember a top of line Solara is $30k+.
 
Monaro (GTO) compared very similar to the M5 in Austrailia and competes with it. But you are right, all of a sudden since we get it with a Pontiac badge some people bash it, interesting. My GTO handles just as well or better then my Old BMW 5 series did, go figure? GTO was a lot more reliable then BMW too in my experiences.
 
June 12th should be interesting. I have respect for both cars, Mustang-GTO etc. STI I have respect for, but I would never pay that much $$ for what is essentially an economy car Impreza.

#18 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [benderofbows] by 442man

May 31, 2005 (6:34 am)

Replying to: benderofbows (May 27, 2005 12:14 pm)
I would never cross-shop the STI against the GTO or vice versa. Strange comparo in a way. They are two different cars. Sorry but I would never pay $30k+ for what is essentially a Impreza economy car. Don't care how much 300+ hp it makes. All the kids, 25 and younger seem to be buying them and modding them. Nasty sound to me whenever I hear one. The big fart can exhaust which sounds like a lawn mower on steroids, but I guess the newer kids like that sound. I don't. My opinion. Not to mention the GTO is much more refined of a car, ride-sound etc. Ever ride in a WRX? Feels like there are no shocks. To each their own.

#19 of 471 Re: GTO vs STi [sputterguy] by benderofbows

May 31, 2005 (6:41 am)

Replying to: sputterguy (May 28, 2005 6:01 pm)
Sputter; yes as I stated, I just used the quotes as relevant to the "IRS vs. Solid" suspension discussion. Sure you can pull negative quotes about the Subaru as well, of course each and every car made has downsides, e.g. price, room, etc. I was only "selective" in my quotes about the GTO as related to handling. Some posters here continue to harp on the fact that the GTO has it and the Mustang does not, and speak like it (the GTOs' IRS) is somehow superior. Every article I've read about the GTO which was written post-2005 Mustang gives the nod to the Mustang in handling overall.
 
I have mentioned before but will again, I have tremendous respect for the GTO, especially "if [you] pull up next to one at a stoplight..." because that is what it does best evidently.

Messages Page 2 of 48

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