Tomorrow I'm going to start the paperwork on either a 2005 GTO or a 2005 WRX STi, and I'm having trouble deciding. I was hoping you folks could give me your insight. I'm getting manual transmission.

From my point of view, the cars are very similar, here are some pros and cons:

GTO Pros:
More horsepower
Better highway gas mileage
Better appearance (I prefer 2 doors and don't care for the absurd spoiler on the WRX)

GTO Cons:
Heavier -- and feels heavier when you drive it
WRX feels faster off the line because of the turbocharger
Worse city gas mileage
Less trunk space

And let me ask another question -- the GTO I test drove made this annoying "ding" noise when you passed 70mph. Is that something that's easy to turn off? Why you'd put that in a car that's designed to go fast, I do not know...

The DING is an Over Speed Indicator. The GTO has a fairly fanncy CPU and has a few features that do different thigs like that....but just a indicator that can be turned off.

As for which car to get.....

UM.. you are on a GTO board.... <_<

Originally posted by TheJizzer@Aug 15 2005, 07:33 PM
The DING is an Over Speed Indicator. The GTO has a fairly fanncy CPU and has a few features that do different thigs like that....but just a indicator that can be turned off.

As for which car to get.....

UM.. you are on a GTO board.... <_<
Turned off how? Like, is it something I can just DO, or do I have to bring in to a shop to have a chip hacked?

And yeah, I'm expecting people to tell me why the GTO is better. Trust me, I'm asking some WRX owners the same question. I just want to hear about the car from folks who actually drive one.

No it can be turned off by yourself, and readjusted to whatever MPH you want it to be at.

The GTO is a more upscale car than the STI, they are about as fast in a 1/4 but the Sti uses AWD to its advantage, and it also has shorter rally inspired gears, which hurt it in the top end (if you compare trap speeds, the GTO is a good 6-7MPH ahead). Meaning that the STi would stick with it (GTOs are proven 12.9 machines) but the GTO would start to pull away in the top end.

The GTO is an easier car to drive around town, and doesn't have two extra doors and a sedan rood line.

The exterior is subjective, but the GTO with the hoodscoops will get many a gawk, and gaw from people, and there is always the optional packages from GM to change how it looks if you want a more agressive apearance.

The Sti is a great car, but with a turbo boxer 4 and AWD, it seems its more things to go wrong versus a standard 6.0 V8 and RWD.

Originally posted by Nocturn@Aug 15 2005, 07:57 PM


The GTO is an easier car to drive around town

Not sure what you mean by this. How is it easier?

The Sti is a great car, but with a turbo boxer 4 and AWD, it seems its more things to go wrong versus a standard 6.0 V8 and RWD.

Mmmm, good point. I've also had a coworker point out that the WRX engine is MUCH smaller and harder to work on.

Torque, or the lack thereof, make it harder to drive around. Until the boost kicks in you're in nothing more than a ~150 hp 4 cyl. The same applies for when the boost runs out, one reason why it looses to the GTO so badly on the high end.

No it can be turned off by yourself, and readjusted to whatever MPH you want it to be at.

Just a funny sidenote on this.

You can adjust the overspeed indicator up or down in 5 mph increments. When I first set mine, it was at 70, shortly thereafter 80, then 85. Then I bumped it up to 100 for a while. Now it's sitting at 125. Anyone see a pattern? :D

GTO's power will do that to you. ;)

You'll be able to get more power out of the LS2 in the long run for less money than the turbo-4. Build quality is superior on the GTO also. As the Subie is buzzing and rattling away after spending thousands on mods the GTO will remain just as comfortable and smooth.

What type of driving do you intend for your vehicle?

cspariah... I was in a similar situation. I was considering either the GTO or the STI. I am a very big rally car fan, which was one of the reasons I was drawn to the STI. But I am also a fan of the seemingly unlimited torque that American V-8's can make especially just poking around town.

I eventually chose the GTO, for what boiled down to the simple fact, that here is a car that I could drive comfortably every day. The 6.0 V-8 generates so much torque that I only use 1st 3rd and 5th gears around town. The car is insulated rather well for a performance car, so that you can drive on rough roads and still be able to hear yourself think over road noise. The GTO is more refined than the STI primarily due to the fact that the STI is based on the Impreza.

Here is what I feel is the bottom line between the two cars. The GTO is more of a Grand Touring car (think of it a new BMW 6 series for a third the price.. sorry fellow GTO guys I know how you hate being compared to BMW) it's comfortable, reasonably quiet, blazingly fast and handles very well. The STI is a street legal rally car. It's light and the AWD will pull it around turns like the tires are glued to the pavement. The turbo engine will provide tons of power if you twist it hard enough. But it's going to beat you up every day for that extra little bit of handling. If your 17 it might not matter, but for me at 37 it does.

Please know that both cars are unbelievably fast, they will kill you quicker than you ever imagined, if you take them for granted. Both can be modified for about the same money. Both will cost you about the same to own.

Truth be told, if I had the cash I would have one of each. You'll have a blast with either.
:D

To elaborate on my comment, the GTO is easier to drive because while it has aggressive gearing, it is nowhere near as aggresive as the STis, the STi will have you shifting alot more to keep the car in its powerband, while the gto can lazily go throw a gear, skip one if you want and still be going with the traffic, where in a Sti would have you shifting more and keeping the engine in its powerband more often, meaning higher revs.

Have you sat in both? Just compare the interiors and tell me what you'd rather have. The nicely well thought out GTO interior wrapped in leather, or a turbo gauge that wires are wrapped in corregated plastic you can get at the local hardware store.

Similar acceleration and gas mileage. GTO has no turbo lag and larger power band. You said what you thought of the STi exterior. I considered both tooo and even though I live in Denver went with the GTO.

Originally posted by Scyry@Aug 16 2005, 12:21 AM
Have you sat in both? Just compare the interiors and tell me what you'd rather have. The nicely well thought out GTO interior wrapped in leather, or a turbo gauge that wires are wrapped in corregated plastic you can get at the local hardware store.

Similar acceleration and gas mileage. GTO has no turbo lag and larger power band. You said what you thought of the STi exterior. I considered both tooo and even though I live in Denver went with the GTO.
I agree.. the interior in the GTO is almost impossible to beat for the price B)

The overspeed indicator can be set as high as 130 or turned off completely, easily.

The manual tells how to do it.

GTO also seats two in the rear...I know the sti has seats back there, but how comforatable do you really think they are? The GTO's are just as comfortable for your back seat passengers (when you have them) as the front are.

Simply stated I traded in my 03WRX for my 05GTO. They to do compare quite well looks like everyone here covered all the comparing so I'll say

What I like much more about the GTO:
A lot more room and much more comfortable to drive.
Holds the road just as well in the twisties :)
Driving in the rain is much! better in the heaver goat.
AC works better if you like that.
Insurance is less :D
I kind of like spinning the tires once in a great while can't do that with all wheel drive. The LS2 creates most wonderful music even stock.
I get more "Hey Cool Car" in the GOAT then I ever did in the WRX.
O and I went through the stock clutch in 1 year trying to keep up with normally aspirated "muscle" cars.

What I miss a little in the WRX:
The all wheel drive was a nice thing and it fit better into a parking space.

In my opinion getting the GTO was a nice UpGrade.

Traded in my 03 WRX for a Goat also.

Originally posted by forestdweller@Aug 15 2005, 09:43 PM
Torque, or the lack thereof, make it harder to drive around. Until the boost kicks in you're in nothing more than a ~150 hp 4 cyl. The same applies for when the boost runs out, one reason why it looses to the GTO so badly on the high end.
I agree that the GTO will win at high speeds, but the STi has decent torque off the line. I test drove one a few months ago, and liked it, except for the before mentioned short gearing, and lack of grunt above 85~90. Also, you can't adjust the front lower seat hight. I've never driven a WRX though, but my son has an '02 2.5 RS. It MUST be wound out to perform.

Id have to say GTO. It will perform just as well and is much more plush and "liveable". I bet an 05 GTO would be better than an STI in the quarter mile to.