Trading a Z for STi bc of excessive elevation??

bvl

The reason people assume FI is better is that boost targets are absolute with respect to pressure...so yes, you will still have the same 'power'.

However the power curve is going to be shifted. If the STi boost target
is say 180 KPA (about 10lbs) at sea level and it attains that at say 2500 RPM under load...in Denver you may not hit that until 3500 RPM, which to me is what Jordo was getting at here.

I would not just toss out the Z due to altitude...its still got power, its still fun to drive and don't forget CO is second only to CA in terms of cat piss content in the fuel they sell...which makes tuning to the edge a PITA and you must pull out timing add fuel and overall just hate the fuel there.

- b

UNKNOWN_370

Tough choice. BMW 1M used or 135i??? Dinan lsd and stage1 tune. Ur good foreeeever holmes!!

Tazicon

Take you car out to Colorado for a cruise. I go there a few times a year in my z. Yes it takes a big hit on power but is still a blast to drive in the mountains there. I would lean towards the STi just because of the AWD. While I lived in Broomfield I parked my Jag during the winter and drove one of my Jeeps. That magchloride they put on the roads there kills cars. Yes even if you wash them right away. It seems like you consider the STi a bit of a beater so it should work out as an all year round vehicle.

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jgibbons

I live in colorado.

Driving your Z in the snow is not for the faint of heart. I've dropped a healthy chunk of money into a winter tire package and it's still not exactly practical. i've never driven my car at sea level so i can't speak to the HP loss.

i haven't modified the stance at all and i still end up scraping as a lot of the roads around here are really poorly joined together with all the hills. i live in colorado springs and commute 40 minutes to castle rock everyday and i still have tons of power on the interstate.

i love my z though. would not mind something AWD for the winter though.

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supunna_picta

The power loss experienced in Denver is irrelevant compared to the practicality of an AWD car for winter. I would not be a fan of having to drive my z year round. I am lucky enough to have a WRX and a Z but if I could only choose one it would be the WRX because of the amount of snow travel I do. If you have an alternate transport for snowy days be it the train, a bus, skis or telecommuting then the Z would be fine but if you like traveling in winter then you need a better snow car than the z. Even a cheap Fwd with excellent snow tires would work.

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2011 Touring/Sport/6mt | winter: 2009 WRX

Red__Zed

STI still won't fix the fact that you'll lose your front bumper to the melt-off dip in every driveway here.

The power loss is noticeable, but not the end of the world. The AWD in the Subaru is nice, but the challenge in Denver is generally ground clearance. Main roads get cleared pretty quickly, and everything sublimates so you don't get as much ice. The times where the roads aren't clear, the STI won't get you much farther than the Z.

The Subaru also has terrible paint, which caused me to fear driving it in the winter. The fact that they don't salt the roads in Denver is helpful for wear, but I'd still recommend a beater.


On the whole, the wrx/sti is a great car, but I'd not recommend it unless it is a car you want due to its standalone virtues.

jgibbons

I have Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5's studded on the rear and blizzak lm25's on the front. I can get through most snow storms, I haven't been stuck yet. clearance is the biggest concern. even coming out of gas stations you'll scrape, or turning onto certain roads.

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RoshDawg

Haha thanks man! The DCT on the Evo would slip (I think that was the problem) very often in first/second gear and it felt like you seriously hit a tree or something. Very, very violent and abrupt. 2nd to 1st gear shifts were also terrible. The mechanical stress and tolerances that DCT can handle is SO low, it can't even handle its stock power let alone modding it at all. Mitsubishi wasn't doing anything about it so I wanted it gone before anything serious came up.

I do need to go for a drive, that's for sure. Damn I hate chemicals on the roads. I did put a skid plate on the STi awhile back, and can always spray protective stuff over the suspension.

Damn I did not know about all the crappy roads..

I do enjoy snowboarding a lot, but I agree I should be more worried about AWD vs RWD with the snow, although I would not mind a dedicated snow tire setup on the Z.

Holy damn I'm imagining these roads to be the equivalent of off roading!
The STi does have better clearance than the Z, plus my Z has the Stillen splitter which I would hate to take off, looks naked without it.

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| EVO X MR | '11 WRX STI | 370Z SPRT | 911 (991) C2S |

RoshDawg

You guys brought up many good points.

I really should care more about the AWD vs RWD with the winters than the power loss. Not to mention ground clearance, which is apparently a huge deal in CO.

I'm starting to think I will end up having to switch to the STi, which I'm not that happy about. I don't want a second beater car, I would rather drive a performance car that can handle being beat up like the STi. But I do still have the 911 which is at sea level and no snow, so I can get my fix still.

One more thing that I'm dreading on is the mods on the car as well as the mods I have yet to put on sitting in my garage! I guess I'll put some stuff on the marketplace when I've made up my mind for sure.

Thanks again for all the brainstorming guys. Now back to work!

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| EVO X MR | '11 WRX STI | 370Z SPRT | 911 (991) C2S |