986 S vs. WRX Sti
 

Note* I do not approve any type of street racing. Furthermore the Boxster S is not designed to be a drag racing car*


F@&K that....A WRX wanted to play, so I was like, "Alright, but I'll smoke you" on the drive into work on the freeway this morning.

Dropped it into 5th and off we were. I got into 4200 RPM's and I knew my UberVTEC kicked in, so I was good. Then I noticed he was now only 6 car lengths behind, :eek: but gaining, slowly but creeping up! WTF....this was no stock WRX!


I shut it down in the 120's and he pulled up next to me and I noticed he debadged the STi and took off the wing. Pretty cool that I could keep pace with something at least 70HP more than me.

WRX Sti: 320HP (inlcudes intake and exhaust)
986 S: 250HP

to the ground:

WRX Sti: 234HP (4wd loss)
986 S: 210-219??


Are my HP a little off, or good guestimates?

KRZ

Everyone always throws up the BS flag on me but I swear on the life of my first born that I kept up with an '04 Supercharged Saleen Mustang in a 60-120mph run. By the end my car was still on his rear bumper when he shut it down for a bend. This is in a non-S 2.7 Boxster. They might not be the fastest at the strip but once they are moving, they're fast at high speeds.

BTW: Clear straight freeway, no cars ahead (drive safely). ;)

And yet, there you were on the freeway, in the morning, reaching 120 MPH? What in the world gives you the right to risk everyone's life simply because a "WRX wanted to play"?
No, it's really not cool. Seriously.....

Relax, it's casual Friday, and I did put my disclaimer. Don't get your panties in a bunch.
:matchup:

This is a board to share experiences and information. I do understand Grand Master Bruce Lee does not condone street racing. Therefore I do not condone street racing. But then again Porsche doesn't like street racing, however my speedo goes to 165???


KRZ

don't know about that 1/4 mile racing
but The STI is no joke in the turns. Chews up the 996 911, 993 and BoxsterS in my Autocross class and spitz them out in little bite size morsels. A modded exhaust on that car is LOUD and MEAN. Engine is bullet proof (unlike the mitsu EVO's).

Great car and price, too bad its got boy racer looks.

If you were to race in the proper enviro of course haha

0-60 he'd jump a little, but after 60 you should pull on him and keep on going by him.

Also if you were in 5th at 120 you were in the wrong gear. 4th goes into the 120's. 3rd will take you to 102-103.


My car is dead even with a 355......that has 385 crank bhp so I can keep up with a car that has 135 more crank bhp. S2000, S4, m3(e36) can pull away from them all. 91 corvette with 300bhp bout even same with 350z 287bhp. Every car is different, but I'm very very impressed with the 250hp Boxster S.

That is hilarious! In our autocross group a boxster S whips everyone. 3 different driver in the same car all set fast time one being fastet of the day. This is with 10-15 sub's in the group. This isn't my car either just some guys I've watched.

Here is a link to the results...... this was a few years ago but still. Scroll all the way down to the bottom fist in SS class.
http://www.highlandssportscarclub.com/old_site/00belechere.htm

Subaru HP
 

The power on a modded WRX (2.0L) or STi (2.5L)could be widely varied depending on what has been done to the car. My 2.0L WRX engine is modified with turboback exhaust, UTEC chip, bigger top mount intercooler and a cold air intake. I make around 250hp to the wheels with the stock turbo on 93 octane pump gas. The 2.5L should do that or better than that with a exhaust and intake.

From a pure power perspective I give the Suby the edge. Handling I would give the Boxster the edge. I have quite a few handling modifications but my 987S's handling is in a different league.

I didn't see an WRX STi listed as competition in those results.

The STi is a beast, we had one at the last auto cross driven by an SCCA Solo National finalist and it was 3 seconds faster than the fastest Boxster S and 1.5 seconds faster than a fully prepped 944S on race tires driven by another national finalist.

That same STi driver took out the stock class 987S winner's car and pretty much matched it's winning time (still 3 seconds slower then the STi).

BTW, the STi was driven from the dealership to the track, it had less than 200 miles on it.

Now, when you figure in the PAX handicap a 986S ended up the class winner and was within .15 seconds (adjusted) of the STi.

If they weren't so butt ugly I might consider one...... Nah, just sooped up rice :D

Yeah and according to them it is a stock Boxster not an S.......they don't have enough room to list it all.

In my past AutoX (results have been taken down), I did beat a Mitsubishi EVO. The course was really tight, it even included a 180 turn. The EVO just couldn't boost the whole time, too much lag. Should the course been a little straighter then he could have made better times.

KRZ

Now that you put your own life and those on the road around you at risk, don't you feel quite proud of yourself.

So, lets move on from this topic voluntarily.

I suggest you start tracking your car and learn not to risk my life because you lack impulse control.

:troll:

1) I was a little excited this morning. Thank you for asking :cool:
2) Moving on, no more said just sharing an experience (Deep down we are all just Ricers with expensive cars).
3) I do participate in all of the available PCA Sanctioned AutoX events possible.

Here's the next one in our area that I have kindly posted:

http://986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5408

KRZ

Hi,

The WRX is a serious contender no doubt, but at it's heart, it is still a Sedan. It may go Fast, even Faster, but, IMHO, it lacks the type of visceral response you get from a proper Sports Car.

If all you want is Fast, then there is lots of competition, but that's excluding the Total Package which the Boxster, among others, offers.

So far as Auto-X results, there are so many variables such as course layout, track surface, ambient temperatures, tire/brake condition, and of course, the driver, that direct comparisons are difficult.

Also, Auto-X is much more of a individual test than a field competition despite compiling and comparing times. I don't Auto-X to beat the other guys, I Auto-X to improve my Times and Driving (read smoothness) on each run - the never-ending search for the Perfect Run. How it all shakes out in the end is of secondary importance. But that said, I expect that the Subi will hold it's own among the field with even a minimally competent driver, the Car itself can make up for a lot of sins.

For me, the question becomes: Which do I want to drive home at the end of the day? And in this, the Boxster wins hands down...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Jim..that is the very reason why I chose the Boxster over:

Neon SRT-4, 350z, G35 Coupe, S2K, and the Evo

Anyone can drive fast, but at the end of the day I love peaking into my garage and that Gold hood crest just shimmering.

:cheers:

"(Deep down we are all just Ricers with expensive cars"

One can only speak for oneself!

:D

Agreed. If people want to compare autocross results and scratch their heads look at the various 2004 season event results of our MB club. You wouldn't expect my C32 AMG (a 3700 lb. automatic sedan with an open differential) with a driver with three events experience at the time to beat some of the competition (including Boxsters, 911s, EVOs, STI) listed in the results.


http://www.gws-mbca.org/ax/autocross.html

Jim is right on. The folks looking for a brute power adrenaline rush are always going to see the Boxster as a girl's car. We know better because we've been around machinery awhile and we appreciate a "proper sports car".

If anyone out there has never taken their Porsche over the speed limit on a public road with clear sights, please turn in your man card and buy a Prius. ;)

NEON? You actually considered a hopped-up NEON? :barf:

Danger Will Robinson, Danger! :eek:

Agrees 100% but that's part of the reason they invented PAX.

Sorry Jim, I have to disagree with you on this one. When I take the car to timed track event I'm there to WIN, second place is the first loser.

Now, DE's, that's a different story since it's not a timed event (not supposed to be anyway) and there are no "Winners" and "Losers"

Agreed :cheers:

I have a friend with a STI with new exhaust and BOV. We have ran on many occasions all from a 10-20mph roll on flat strip of open stretch of deserted highway, I would always pull on his STI and 350Z (exhaust). Now I have been up against a 360 and he did beat me from 40-120 but I was still at his door. There have been a few Cobra Butstains (close) in there and one Diablo VT6.0 (not even close). All these “test” have all before the Supercharger. Now I am looking for BIG fish to fry. If you do this be careful know the area like your own home and be safe. We always sent a car in front to make sure it was clear of other cars and no cops. .

I've got a MY99 Impreza GT Turbo with prodrive tuning and decat/open exhaust. I think it puts about 265bhp at the engine.

I also got a MY01 BoxsterS, completely standard so 252bhp.

Impreza will smoke BoxsterS from a stand-still. Impreza will smoke BoxsterS in midrange without shifting. Turbo midrange punch above 2500/3000rpm is awesome, BoxsterS has to be above 5000rpm to make a match.

10-200 km/h (I don't like burning clutches on these cars) is for the Impreza, slighly (2 car length or so). However please note:
- that my wife drove the Impreza and I got the impression she could have shifted later and even got more out of it
- I was driving topless, especially about 120 or so the BoxsterS is significant faster with top up
- In the high speeds (180+ or so) I was gaining. Above 200km/h BoxsterS with top up is faster.

Futhermore:
- The WRX is heavier and slower then the GT Turbo model
- An STI standard already has 265bhp. If its tuned (which most of them are) is puts out above 300bhp easily.

Conclusion:
- I expect a WRX Sti to be an rather even match with the STI winning under 200km/h and the BoxsterS with top up above.
- I expect a proper tuned WRX Sti to smoke you, anywhere.


Mark.

Hi,

I understand what you're saying and lots of guys feel the same way. But, I tend to think there are other types of competition (Rallies, SCCA Club etc.) where I'm there to win, which do a better job of reducing or eliminating the variables and better match Driver against Driver. In Auto-X, the Handicaps and different Classes help, but many advantages, for some, still exist...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

hmmm...Both the STI's and the EVO's are VERY fast. You can beat cars costing in the six figures with them, no doubt. Unless it is on the right track both these cars will beat most anything out there.
The problem is this: lots of power, no durabilty. I have seen too many STI's spewing the tranny's guts all over the road, and too many Evo's eating thier own engines and AWD coupling for lunch to consider buying them. After all, you get what you pay for. a $30k car that with $10k of mods that can keep up with and in some cases beat $80k plus cars are bound to have issues. And if you can afford to throw away $40k+, then you can afford a car that is built to go fast.
I would put some exceptions out there: a properly built 350Z with the Chevy 400 Turbo tranny swap is a real contender

You gotta have the whole package and the Boxster is hard to beat. That Suby looks like an old Pinto that was left out in the heat, started to melt and then someone tried to push it's sides back together. Or does it look more like a pregnant rollerskate? If you have to name a car that ugly with that many letters whose going to remember it anyway. I ask you. How can you forget a Boxster? There is not one person that looks at my car and doesn't say. "I bet that thing scoots. How fast does the speedo go?" Now what do you think the comments on the Suby are?..."Does it get good mileage?...That sure is a different blue color...I saw one of them there wings on the back at PepBoys, is that were you got yours?... I'm in this Porsche only mood tonight, sorry guys. ;)

Uh, this is a sensitive topic so i don't want to say the wrong thing here, but we really didn't get enough information to slam this guy.

Believe me, I am the first one to get pissed off when some a-hole whips by me in traffic causing a danger to the rest of us.

But I am also one of the first guys to drop the hammer when there is no one else on the road. If there is no one else on the road to run into, I don't see what the problem is. He said it was early, and not knowing the part of the road they were on, maybe they weren't posing a danger to anyone but themselves...

120 seems excessive to me, but on a desert road all by my lonesome I hit 110 and felt it was quite sustainable with this equipment. I got up to 170 once in a Viper on the Autobahn in light traffic in the rain, but that is a different story.

A lot of you guys are snobs.. Those of us who are actual performance car enthusiasts know these cars are the real deal.

any thoughts on whether the serious understeer + AWD on an STi help more in AutoX (unfamiliar course) than they would on a well known track?

also, i agree w/ turtle. our last track day, someone bought an STi (tweaked out a bit). he was the only guy that passed me that day (we had C5's, a 930, Lancer Evo, etc.). those cars are VERY, VERY fast. interesting thing though was that by 11AM, the STi's and the Evo were broken. the Evo broke after < 30min on the track.

At an AutoX a few months ago, the EVO didn't do so well, in fact my STOCK 986 S had a better time by 1.25 seconds. The problem with the EVO (and most likely the STi) is on the track we were running, had some REALLY tight turns (180 degree turns) and it took way too long for the Turbo to spool up. Perhaps if the course was a "Faster" course then he probably would have beat me.

KRZ

Watch the agility stages in the Rallies - you will see them toss a car like nothing. If you have the skill, and want to buy the tires, nothing is faster through the tight and twisties than those two cars. It's on command under/oversteer, brutal acceleration combined with all the grip out of the corner the world has to offer. Then it falls down and goes boom. It'll get back up $10k later(good luck on that warranty when they pull your code history and you've been racing). For a little while anyways. Next thing you know, you've got the money in it that would buy the 911 you're trying so hard to beat.