MockbaBenz

I was driving down the road at about 10pm. There was no traffic and then I see these xenon lights catching up quickly from behind. Ahead was a stop light and to the right pulls up a Subaru STI. I figured heck why not check the power in my baby. I look at him and he's ready, I hear his enginge reving high. We both jump on it, He goes ahead 1/2 car and then the second I switch into 2nd I jump on him by 1/2, after switching into third he pulled on me and by 120mph he had a 1 1/2 cars on me. I was very happy with the performance of my car, we went seperate ways and gave each other a thumbs up.

lig

Are you sure this was an STi? Perhaps it was a WRX with a big wing because if this truly was an STi then the guy wasn't even trying.

STi has more hp, more torque, less weight and a manual transmission.

AndrewAZ

I would not doubt it. My guess is the STI driver like most of them could not drive right. Going from driving the M3 to the E350 I can tell you the E350 motor is really really underrated and if I was not in optimal gear in the M3 during a race I would probably end up losing a short say 30-100mph run. You have to remember the E350 has a massive amounts of peak torque for a long period of time like every other benz. The E350 basically makes the peak torque of what the STI does but it makes it from like 2,800rpm-5,000+.

Dont be going off car and driver numbers that say a 5 second 0-60 for the STI most drivers can not pull that off so you are looking at a 5-6 second 0-60 in reality and the E350 is underrated at 6.5 0-60 and is an auto so it will be able to constantly do that.

lig

Nahhh... I'm not really into magazine racing. On paper it is no contest. It is true that anything can happen on the street but still... this is quite a mismatch.

The scooby has more power, more torque and it weighs 400 pounds less!

I agree that there are plenty of guys who can't drive - but we're talking about a straight line run here - not lap times on a road course. The STi could have completely had a lousy launch and still should wax the E350.

The M3 and STi are completely different. M3 is a high revving N/A inline 6. STi stock is underrated too. They are plenty strong all over. This is the 2.5l (North America only) stock at the wheels. This thing has 200lb/ft at the wheels from 2700 rpm and makes 300+ @ 4000.

Alan Smithee

FYI, the 1/4 mile times from R&T are 14.7 @ 96mph for the 2007 E320 Sport, and 13.6 @ 100mph for the STi. While it takes a good launch and expertly-quick shifts to get that those times from the Subaru, it also takes a brake-torque launch to get those numbers from the MB.

kevinle

hehe funny, e350 can hang with STI

AndrewAZ

Just look at the trap speeds, somewhat close. What it shows is the STI with its 4wd off the line has a big advantage but after slows down after that, but again the E350 has an auto. I still know several people who mess up while driving a manual heck even I do it.

I look at some E350 magazine numbers 0-50 in 4.6 seconds 0-60 in 6.3. Which seems odd that the car loses so much time going from 50-60 mph. I have yet to floor the E350 since it only has 600 miles on it but I hope it does not shift at 50 mph.

Cavadini

I come from the subaru world for the past few years. I had a WRX with a JDM STi V8 Turbo/USDM STi 6-speed manual tranny swap with all the supporting mods and I went 12.62@111mph.

Driving my friends bone stock 05 STi I went 12.98@103 w/ a 1.72 60'

I love my E350 and it's fun to drive but to say the E350 should be dead even or even beat an STi I think is completely false. STi's are very potent cars from the factory and that close ratio 6 speed keeps you in the powerband all the time.

lig

^^^^^ That is all I was trying to say. The STi is no joke - even stock. IMO it's fugly which is why I would not own one but you have to respect them because they are one of the best cars for the buck you can buy - period.

No way an E350 should even be close unless the driver of the STi confuses the accelerator for the brake or short shifts @ 3000 rpm.

Cavadini

Most definately. I have video of me when I first did the turbo swap(VF34 with STi injectors, walbro fuel pump, engine management etc) when I was running 12.9's still. I missed third gear, put it back in gear and still ran a 13.7@101, which is still one second faster than an E350.

MockbaBenz

I know my cars and I saw it say sti as he pulled on me. This was the 2006 version. When I came in for the race, I was expecting to get blown away. Well that didn't happen, I stood in quite well. It may be possible that he was bad at shifting, but I must say my car feels faster then my old w140 s500, and when I took the s500 to the track I ran a 14.62.

Mr.Gearhead

You say it was a STi... we car guys are very perceptive to other cars and it probably was a STi... not doubting this. Also not doubting that you came close in this match up... however

What I highly doubt is the SUBI trying to muscle it down... Even with a very bad driver... this car will unfortunately best our E350 each time. I will say the MB 6cyl it potent for what it is... but that STi will rip the paint off our cars at anytime. It is not like it is an even match up... but fun nevertheless. Now go out and beat on some Lexus and BMWs....

Thanks for sharing!

eLTURCOamg

sorry for offtopic, but mr gearhead what happend your e55?

khaug

Gearhead is right!

I'm a performance driving instructor (for 20 years), and Subi STis simply humble my Porsche Carrera 3.2!. Folks, these are FAST cars which will blow away an E550 on a road course. Never mind that the brakes go away, the underpinnings look like they're made of Reynolds Wrap and the interiors look like a Ford Pinto!! This is your quintessential Nickle Rocket!

I've finally resorted to ordering a Porsche 997 GT3 (415 BHP @ 7800 rpm, 193 mph) to 'defend the honor of the marque' and salve my ego (well, there's a little more to it than just that!). More later when I've encountered the STis on the track with my new car. It supposedly arrives within the next two weeks!

More anon!

Cavadini

c'mon now...the interiors look like a...a....camry at least. Here is my old subie's interior

MockbaBenz

All I'm saying is, the e350 is quick for what it is. The e550 actually would rip the pants off the sti from a roll.

Cavadini

rip the pants off? Hardly. The best factory trap speed I've seen from an E550 is 104-106 which is solid. STi's generally trap between 103-105mph stock. I agree it'd be a decent race from a roll but to say it'd rip the pants off i would say is false, unless the guy driving the STi left it in sixth.