Buying A Stag!

[Lucid-_-Stag]

Hi everyone, Been a while since looking at getting a stag but a baby came along and well finally back around to having a nice car haha.

Anyways i'm looking at buying a stag and am having trouble picking a model, i have a budget of around $23,000 and am trying to figure out what is best for the buck, I am looking mainly at getting an m35 but not sure which one, i Like the looks of the axis and that they are the "performance" of the 35's but for the price i am wondering would it be better to get a arx or 250trs and spend some money doing one up? The car is going to be used as a daily for a little while but will probably turn into a weekend/trips away car.

So yeah basically after what you would do with a $23000 budget to get a stag

[Punk72]

C34 Autech

[zoomzoom]

If youre spending 23 grand then the M35 would be the way to go for a daily practical car.

My money would be on the 3.5 litre N/A versions just to simplify maintenance. AWD if you can get it, naturally.....

[Lucid-_-Stag]

If youre spending 23 grand then the M35 would be the way to go for a daily practical car.

My money would be on the 3.5 litre N/A versions just to simplify maintenance. AWD if you can get it, naturally.....

Needs to be an auto for the misses, 3.5's are hard to find for that cash and well just hard to find lol, wanting to go through a dealer so get a warranty

[dimi108]

Even though the 3.5 N/A's aren't as fast as the 2.5 turbos (correct me if i'm wrong guys), but a 3.5 would be much easier on maintenance.

If you hate loud spooling, go the 3.5. But if you want power, 2.5 Turbo

I originally would have suggested the C34 260RS, but they are starting to look their age now.

[Jetwreck]

Even though the 3.5 N/A's aren't as fast as the 2.5 turbos (correct me if i'm wrong guys), but a 3.5 would be much easier on maintenance.

If you hate loud spooling, go the 3.5. But if you want power, 2.5 Turbo

I originally would have suggested the C34 260RS, but they are starting to look their age now.

+ 1 on all of that.

and if you want more power later just whack a turbo on it

[iamhe77]

+ 1 on all of that.

and if you want more power later just whack a turbo OR 2 on it

Fixed

The 2.5 turbo is quicker from a rolling start due to having much more torque and is cheaper to get more greater power out of.

The 3.5 is quicker from a standing start and has much, much more in the way of off-the-shelf mods available for it.

You can only get the 3.5 from Northshore Prestige. Not that is should be a problem as they are a fantastic dealership.

Edited October 17, 2010 by iamhe77

[zei20l]

All M35s are AWD even the late model ones.

If you can stretch the budget a few more thousand, that will get you into a late model M35 3.5L AWD auto. Give Northshore a call. No I dont work for them, they are the only sellers of the late model M35. Plus they sell immaculate cars.

[iamhe77]

All M35s are AWD even the late model ones.

I think you mean AUTO.

[Dunc]

I think you mean AUTO.

The 300RX and 350RX do indeed come to mind Im not sure if these are able to be imported or not; but either way

[zei20l]

no i mean AWD Cam. i mean only M35s that can be complianced for australia are auto and AWD

[zei20l]

And i believe only the 3.5L PM35s are allowed in. The rest dont have the required power to weight ratio for compliance

[iamhe77]

All M35s are AWD even the late model ones.

no i mean AWD Cam. i mean only M35s that can be complianced for australia are auto and AWD

Have you not checked out the PM35's that Northshore have in stock? All of the Axis models are RWD, the 350RX is AWD and obviously the ARX is AWD.

The 3.5L that was used for passing emissions was a RWD.

...or have I missed something in my semi-conscious state this morning?

Edited October 18, 2010 by iamhe77

[zei20l]

wow i stand corrected! cool, RWD 3.5L stagea

[PN-Mad]

SO much to reply to....

OK, as far as I know, I'm the only 3.5 on SAU atm. I have a PNM35, which means VQ35 AND AWD. A PM35 is the RWD version.

Yes, I did get my car from Northshore, and like many people, I would buy again from them. (like Ian I don't work for them, just a satisfied customer)

The 3.5 is much more city friendly- instant torque gets it off the line better, but the turbo is (ultimately) faster once it manages to spool up....

Although I haven't tried it out, my thoughts is that the performance gap (stock/stock) is not that much. Plus you get that awesome 3.5 warble sound! One of my friends said he thought it was a V8!!!

The 3.5 has a (much nicer ) interior, really just my opinion ( it is upgraded form the 1st series)

You can only get an auto, which isn't a problem, cause of the Mrs i guess.

As said previously, only the 350RX models meet SEVS.

The AXIS models are a mixed bag- they have a variety of gear on them, some with more options, some with less, they seem like a far more personalised car.

If your in Syd, or close by, get down to Northshore and check some out. My money would be on a PNM35. My Mrs is happy driving ours...

[andy65b]

wow i stand corrected! cool, RWD 3.5L stagea

I took a PM35 RWD (Axis S) for a grive the other week. Goes nicely BUT, I love my turbo. No substitute for the torque it makes when on boost around the 3000-4000 RPM.

Cheers

Andy

[PN-Mad]

All of the Axis models are RWD, the 350RX is AWD and obviously the ARX is AWD

...or have I missed something in my semi-conscious state this morning?

+1 for semi conscious

AXIS come in both AWD and RWD (RWD has been imported in far more numbers so far)

350RX come in both AWD and RWD

ARX are AWD.

The AWD system changed series one to series two, from a hydraulic system to an electromagnetic clutch system. I'm finding other differences as we go!!!

[iamhe77]

Context?

I was referring to the stock that Northshore have currently.

[PN-Mad]

Context?

I was referring to the stock that Northshore have currently.

Sorry, I see it now

They do have a white AWD AXIS there at the moment on the website.

Anyway, back to the point, with a budget of 23k, I guess it depends on the type of person you are. If you can leave it stock and not want to do things to it, a PM35/PNM35 would be great.

If you want to tinker,not afraid to be different and know that you'll want to change things/modify etc, a 250RX/RS would be the go. If you want one with everything that opens and shuts - burger with the lot- its an AR-X.

[Spong]

+1 for semi conscious

The AWD system changed series one to series two, from a hydraulic system to an electromagnetic clutch system. I'm finding other differences as we go!!!

That may explain why my 2006 S2 M35 250RX FOUR doesn't have a fluid reservoir behind the storage locker in the boot of the drivers side. I wondered where it might be now. With an electromagnetic clutch, I guess that makes it redundant?