Any reason to not buy a WRX?

[svensko]

I am going to be in the car market in early August because quite frankly my 240 is not worth the trouble or effort at the moment. For reference it is a stock 95 with a KA24DE.

I am looking to replace it with an 03 or 04 WRX. I prefer the looks of the 04 but would settle with an 03 for the right price. Either way, is there anything about these cars that one should know about? Any major issues that would keep you for buying one?

I'm open to more suggestions as long as they are four-door, and preferably turbo.

Thanks!

[HyperTek]

Reason to get one.. CAR SPOTLIGHT>>10.5J BUGEYE - Speedhunters (http://speedhunters.com/archive/2008/07/16/car-spotlight-gt-gt-10-5j-bugeye.aspx)

you never see any fixed up like this. =D

[svensko]

Reason to get one.. CAR SPOTLIGHT>>10.5J BUGEYE - Speedhunters (http://speedhunters.com/archive/2008/07/16/car-spotlight-gt-gt-10-5j-bugeye.aspx)

you never see any fixed up like this. =D

Wow, first bugeye I've actually really liked. :drool:

Unfortunately, this is going to be a DD through grad school and thus mods aren't on the menu. :(

[ESmorz]

Not unless you have something against quick, reliable cars that are fun to drive in any weather and on any terrain.

Lol.

[Kamburrito]

the impreza wagon.. is my dream car. only 7000 short. ill be there soon.

[svensko]

Not unless you have something against quick, reliable cars that are fun to drive in any weather and on any terrain.

Lol.

I'm also considered Honda sedans and SRT-4s.

If I get a Honda, it's going to be depressingly slow unless if it's swapped. If it's swapped I have to essentially trust the previous owner to have not cut corners, which is a no go.

I've heard the SRT-4s crash tests ratings are atrocious and I'd rather not die. :coolugh:

[ronmcdon]

Never owned a bug-eye WRX, but had 06 Pig-nose sti for about a yr and half.
Insurance is typically high.
gas mileage ain't the greatest (who the hell buys a car like this car for saving gas?!).
earlier model WRX's felt pretty laggy.
you might not fix up your car, but there's no guarantee prior owners didn't.

lease deals on newer models are also pretty tempting.

overall it's a solid choice.
If there's the option to do so, I'd try to see if I could get a more responsive turbo.
I know I'd be tempted to pick up a pignose model wrx 06-07 (came with the 2.5l), should some good deal present itself.

[svensko]

Never owned a bug-eye WRX, but had 06 Pig-nose sti for about a yr and half.
Insurance is typically high.
gas mileage ain't the greatest (who the hell buys a car like this car for saving gas?!).
earlier model WRX's felt pretty laggy.
you might not fix up your car, but there's no guarantee prior owners didn't.

lease deals on newer models are also pretty tempting.

overall it's a solid choice.
If there's the option to do so, I'd try to see if I could get a more responsive turbo.
I know I'd be tempted to pick up a pignose model wrx 06-07 (came with the 2.5l), should some good deal present itself.

Thanks for the information! I am currently 22 with a clean past so hopefully the insurance wouldn't be insane. I would be buying as stock of a WRX as I can find. I've heard it's very common to replace the stock turbo so I'm somewhat expecting that. While I'd love to consider a 2.5, I'm not willing to dish out the money for it.

[mr.booie]

my dad bought an '05 wrx brand new. now it has 80,000 miles. its had a few electrical problems with the alarm. there is now a gas leak somewhere in the engine bay, and the interior makes lots of annoying sounds.
upgrades are spt intake and catback, tein springs, perrin turbo inlet, rota tarmac 2's, and a boost gauge. i like the car. after driving with my KA then stepping into the wrx it makes the wrx seem like a super-car. overall... it handles great, no traction problems in the rain, its peppy, fun to drive, looks great, and gets alot of compliments. hope this helps.

whatever you do DON'T buy an SRT4. those shits blow up after 75,000 miles. and thier owners will boost the shit out of them.

[svensko]

my dad bought an '05 wrx brand new. now it has 80,000 miles. its had a few electrical problems with the alarm. there is now a gas leak somewhere in the engine bay, and the interior makes lots of annoying sounds.
upgrades are spt intake and catback, tein springs, perrin turbo inlet, rota tarmac 2's, and a boost gauge. i like the car. after driving with my KA then stepping into the wrx it makes the wrx seem like a super-car. overall... it handles great, no traction problems in the rain, its peppy, fun to drive, looks great, and gets alot of compliments. hope this helps.

whatever you do DON'T buy an SRT4. those shits blow up after 75,000 miles. and thier owners will boost the shit out of them.


Thanks for the info! Electrical problems at 80K is a bit scary. The rest I can deal with.

I know what you mean about feeling like a super-car. My girlfriend's old roommate's boyfriend owns a bugeye and when that thing goes into boost I can't help but go :bowdown:.

That's very true about the SRT-4 and another reason I'm trying to avoid them. I think the same can be said about STIs too, however. I was looking at the NASOIC forums and the number of STIs with blown engines/turbos was pretty astounding.

[RiversideS13]

I drove 2.2L one before, turbo lag sucks. 2.5L feel great.

what is your budget?

[ESmorz]

I was looking at the NASOIC forums and the number of STIs with blown engines/turbos was pretty astounding.

That's because a large portion of those nut gobblers upped the boost and abused the shit out of their motors without upgrading internals.

http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/pp144/Qix3/Forums/nbc_the_more_you_know.jpg

NBC cares.

[wh0aitznic0]

WRX's are cool. But I'd rather have an Evo. I'd rather it NOT take me an hour to change spark plugs.

[mr.booie]

WRX's are cool. But I'd rather have an Evo. I'd rather it NOT take me an hour to change spark plugs.

yea, but oil changes are much easier. lol.

[svensko]

I drove 2.2L one before, turbo lag sucks. 2.5L feel great.

what is your budget?

Preferably at or below 10K. There was a local 2005 for sale for 12.5K so I know the deals are out there.

[svensko]

WRX's are cool. But I'd rather have an Evo. I'd rather it NOT take me an hour to change spark plugs.

It'd be my preference if I could afford it. Compromises suck but tis life. I'm just happy to be probably getting something witha turbo finally. :bowrofl:

[wh0aitznic0]

It'd be my preference if I could afford it. Compromises suck but tis life. I'm just happy to be probably getting something witha turbo finally. :bowrofl:

Haha, if I could afford it, I'd have an S2000 or a 350z instead of an S13.

[dirtdiggler666]

funny you posted this i just got rid of my s14 and am thinking about getting a wrx. but i want a stock one and all the fucking ones you see have crappy pepboy rims and just crappy after market parts.

[norcal_black240]

My aunts wrx wagon kicks ass, I love driving that thing. Beats the hell out of my 04 civic DD.

[svensko]

funny you posted this i just got rid of my s14 and am thinking about getting a wrx. but i want a stock one and all the fucking ones you see have crappy pepboy rims and just crappy after market parts.

I hear ya. :naw:

Luckily I'll be keeping my S14 since the additional insurance is hardly anything. It is the car that's carted me and my fiancee through college and the sentimental value outweighs any money I'd get for it. :wan:

Plus I'm eventually going to turn it into a V8 track beast... eventually...

[ryguy]

I've been looking at buying a bugeye WRX too. I don't know if I would like AWD better than RWD though.

x2 on the SRT4s having bad trannies, my friend had to have his replaced at 65k.

[svensko]

I've been looking at buying a bugeye WRX too. I don't know if I would like AWD better than RWD though.

x2 on the SRT4s having bad trannies, my friend had to have his replaced at 65k.

I've never even driven an AWD car to the best of my knowledge. Since this will be for daily transport (with the S14 being for autocross and such), I figured it shouldn't make too much of a difference for me. :2f2f:

[tanks13]

Preferably at or below 10K. There was a local 2005 for sale for 12.5K so I know the deals are out there.



i dont know where your located at but i found this on cl
2002 Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX - 79000 MILES (http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/ctd/1192065986.html)

[svensko]

i dont know where your located at but i found this on cl
2002 Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX - 79000 MILES (http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/ctd/1192065986.html)

That's pretty much precisely what I'm looking for. Too bad it's on the other side of the country. :cry:

Clemson is in SC, btw. I will be in Raleigh, NC when car shopping though.

[playthe_part]

a friend of mine picked up a 05 wrx not long ago. pretty fun car, nothing wrong with it so far, but we live close to EQ Tuning which, I guess, does good work on Subaru's so he just takes it there. funny, the first day he got it he got pulled over, and the cop used to own a STi so he let us go. overall i recommend the car.

that said, i prefer the look of the evo more since it is less bubbly is guess, but i have heard that they have reliability issues, is that true or is it just a car that requires more care like a rx-7?

[svensko]

a friend of mine picked up a 05 wrx not long ago. pretty fun car, nothing wrong with it so far, but we live close to EQ Tuning which, I guess, does good work on Subaru's so my friend just takes it there. funny, the first day my friend got it he got pulled over, and the cop used to own a STi so he let us go. overall i recommend the car.

that said, i prefer the look of the evo more since it is less bubbly is guess, but i have heard that they have reliability issues, is that true or is it just a car that requires more care like a rx-7?

I've never heard original owners complain about the Evo. I'm sure that people that buy them used have issues from where previous owners have abused the piss out of them. I'd love an Evo but it's way out of my range.

Also, a commercial for a Mitsu dealer back home says "And we only have one EEE VEE OH left!" Cracks me up every time.

[ryguy]

is that true or is it just a car that requires more care like a rx-7?

It can't be as bad as apex seals.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/ryguy32789/1220062160747.gif

[ronmcdon]

I've never even driven an AWD car to the best of my knowledge. Since this will be for daily transport (with the S14 being for autocross and such), I figured it shouldn't make too much of a difference for me. :2f2f:

Totally different cars!
Unless you push and/or launch it hard, it's going to feel similar to a fwd,
But with a worse turning radius.
Making U-turns in a WRX is a pita.
It's almost like driving around in a full-size pickup truck. :P
Depending on setup, the WRX is likely to be less proficient at rotating.
(got spoilt learning to drive RWD cars w/ a miata)
then again you drive on the street, so it prob wouldn't matter.

in general, the WRX stock is a very confidence inspiring car.
it's really hard to screw up or spin out driving that thing hard.
wonderful car for experienced & inexperienced drivers alike.
It's difficult to go wrong with a GD8, even if it's a 2.5RS model.

I'd also suggest looking into the Saabaru.
Insurance would most definetly be cheaper, or so I'd intuitively guess.

[SHIFT_*grind*]

Have you considered Legacy GTs?

[adictd2b00st]

haven't read previous replies.......... but watch out for the transmission on those cars. other than that they are pretty reliable

*edit* also they are becoming the new dsm......... most of the early wrx's have been hacked up by kids who have no idea what they are doing, try to find a stock one!

[DALAZ_68]

i look at boxer motors and cringe... such a PITA to work on...if u treat it right like any other motor itll do fine...u said itll be a daily, well if u pick one up, just remember that, cuz if u forget and start mashing on it relentlessly...well...lol...

[svensko]

Have you considered Legacy GTs?

Hadn't considered that. I'll definitely look into those as they seem to be more attractive to the mature crowd.

[buku_points]

i owned a 05 wrx i loved it!!!! took it off roading played in the snow and did some traveling with it.Its a roomy car had lots of trunk space and was the best bang for my buck, on another note i noticed some of my evo buddies would cringe and puss out when ever id go off roading

[Bubbles]

.if u treat it right like any other motor itll do fine...


Yeah, but the people who owned it before could have ripped the shit out of it.

[svensko]

After some more thought and consideration, I may back off the WRX. I honestly doubt I will find one in even reasonable shape and I don't want to have to deal with issues from the previous owner.

It's very tempting to get a 96-00 Civic sedan as I am a huge fan of that body style, it probably wouldn't be abused (it's a D series anyways), and it'd be easier to find one in the color/trim I want. If I went this route then I'd have more money to use as spending cash once I started grad school and I'd be saving a good chunk of money traveling to visit my fiancee every few weeks (4 hour drive) and on insurance.

This would also free up funds to rebuild the 240's KA and turn it into a weekend/track car.

I know a Civic sedan is no WRX, but it's more sensible. What say you Zilvia? :wan:

[Bubbles]

Everything you said makes PERFECT sense.


D16's can run off water and syrup.

[Sarra]

General Consensus right now is, buy a WRX Wagon. Used Wagons are less likely to have been beat on, are generally in better condition, and are MUCH cheaper right now (KBB has my Wagon listed at like $6k wholesale, a 2002 Sedan at $11k).

Get an 03+ WRX, they got wider gears that are slightly less prone to breaking.

And Subaru's are the new DSM. Except I've never heard of a Subaru with crank walk...