Anyone here had experence with Subaru WRX? (No Ferrari content)

I used it as a daily driver and clocked up close to 100k km. Never missed a beat.

 

Ohh. Well then I guess my advice might not be that good since you will be only looking at cars with the STi motors.

Not just Oz cars in the Uk and Euroland as well. At the time they only sold the RX in N/A 2.5L in the USA but still had some of the bodykit of the WRX. In the UK they called it the Turbo 2000/GT. EVO mag(which was only issue 1 or 2 at the time) gave it 5stars and since it was impossible to get a test drive due to the 3mth wait I went by that and my mates MY98. haha. The only other car at the time which had just as much BFYB was the 200sx I had a few friends with them.


The JDM model always had more power. Even the early models had 175kw yet here in 93/94 they only had 150kw, then it went 155kw then 160kw for my model. I can't remember the tech specs of the top of my head but I have a few mags on the subject. Doesn't matter you don't have to worry about it

 

OK, I am getting a few different messages from my research so far, it appears that the STi receives a different motor to non STi, different turbo and closed deck block seem to be the major differences, I don't think the JDM non STi has an STi motor, I think it has a full tuned standard motor???.....IE the euro/UK/Aussie ones are detuned?

This is all fairly academic anyway as I have decided to shop on condition and the car I buy will be the tidiest example I can find, I do hope that turns out to be a STi but if not then I will still go ahead..

Prices are all over the page here also, I know the private market can be like that with used cars but the WRX seems to suffer from a bad case.

My quest continues....

 

Excellent news!!!

 

What are the prices? They can't be that much for a 10year old car...

Regular rexes are around 10k here the sti models just under 20k.


Ohh I did some googling. The motors were the same model but we had detuned motors due to the lower octane fuel. Actually I now recall the original STI V5 here had some issues with the 95 octane stuff.

 

Cheap!! Were talking between 8-12k here, STi's seem to be in the higher end of that bracket but only command a 1-2k premium over a similar non STi. Then there are the dreamers at 15-20k and the crazy low prices around 6k. In fact there is a MY98 STi for 6k but its at the bottom of the south island so I can't pop around for a looksee...

Bloody good value for money.

 

I have a MY00 WRX use it as a DD and it hasnt missed a beat. Insurance costs me $1000 pa for a 31yo. Car has been great on petrol, around 8l/100km when I drive country and about 10l/100km in town.

I use Shell VPower as I get around 540km a tank on any other fuel only get 460-480km.

Had the option years ago on buying 360c's dark blue MY99 model, wish I did in one way but had too many mods and insurance would have cost me big $$$

 

I started up the first WRX Club in Australia being the WRX of Victoria and was the founding president too and I am still a member 10 years on so I know a fair bit about them.

I had a limited edition hatch and a Liberty GT followed.

The outstanding vehicle is no doubt the STI especailly if modded with boost controller, STI suspension, exhaust and chip.
In the hands of a capable driver nothing gets near them....see Ken Block.

They are sensational fun and value for money but sadly in recent times Subaru have let the styling go backwards which has killed off the once enormous enthusiasm for the product.

 

Yes, and hello all; this is my first FERRARI CHAT post...

I owned a Crystal Gray metallic w/dealer added frost leather 2006 WRX as well as with dealer installed and " under warranty" COBB STAGE III upgrades. Was fun for a while until the gearbox/transaxle broke twice(on my way to important showings no less), $6K out of pocket, and Subaru would not cover it under warranty. So I'm a bit biased against WRXs for now. Traded it in with new 1st and 2nd gears, and maybe 3rd, I'll need to check, at ~15k miles. Never had issues with other gearboxes, never broke/stripped a gear before that in 20 years of driving manual shifts. I guess that's one of the reasons I've gone with the sentronic autos in both SAABs afterwards(2007 SAAB 9-3 2.0T SS 5speed sentronic, and my current 2008 SAAB AERO V6Turbo SS 6 speed sentronic with paddle shift).

See you at the 2009 D/FW TOY RUN if the weather is decent

Regards,
Richard

 

I've had several WRX's, my current car is a Version 6 STI ( 4 Door ). I like them better than a larger, heavier, uglier newer Subaru's
There are plenty of differences between a standard WRX and a version 6 STi, here's a summary from memory.

Closed deck block
Different cams & lifters
Bigger turbo
Bigger injectors
Forged pistons
HD Clutch
Different ECU

Stronger gearbox
Short throw shifter on gearbox
Stronger drive shafts
Lower diff ratios

Front & rear Strut brace
Inverted strut suspension ( lower unsprung weight)
Forged alloy lower control arms
STI lower compliance rubber bushes throughout suspension
Different springs
Different sway bars
Different engine and gearbox mounts

WRC style Rear wing
Non fold down rear seat ( because of rear strut brace)

Rear wiper
Alloy bonnet & boot lid -
Deleted front fog lights
Lower lip on front spoiler

4 piston calipers on front brakes
STI wheels with additional 5mm offset

Climate control
STi badges , leather steering wheel and gearshift

Japanese cars also get standard:
Intercooler water spray
DCDD gearbox control ( allows you to vary the torque split between front and rear to dial in different handling characteristics )

The story goes that the STi Version 5's sold in Oz were not tuned for the 95 RON petrol and hence suffered some engine failures. Subaru subsequently tuned the Version 6 cars for the "lower" grade of Australian premium fuel. Academic if you re-map ECU to suit whatever mods you have done.


Worthwhile mods are an exhaust, turbo and re-map of the ecu, which yields around 190-200 kw at the wheels ( up from 125 -130 stock ), and you are much better starting off with an STi as the base, because of the fundamentally stronger drivetrain.
Performance with the mods will be around 4.2 secs to 100kmh with a 13 second 1/4 mile. Top speed is about 230kmh once the JDM 180kmh speed limiter is removed.

In practical terms only few cars offer similar or more performance, and many of them cost orders of magnitude more, are not as practical to use and don't have 4wd. I've never had any significant problems with any of my Subaru's, but it can come down to driving style. If you intend to do 4 wheel burnouts by sidestepping the clutch at 6000 rpm then you'll certainly break something.
Only problem is that you quickly get used to such a level of performance, and it can pretty much spoil you for anything else.

M

 

could you give us a little more detail Michael ?

 

LOL, and I know how much you hate the things.
You've exercised remarkable restraint so far.

M

 

I have a IX.......

Drove her from Sydney - Perth return.

Its one of the best cars I have ever had......So much fun and the handling is out of this world to other cars i have had....I have plenty of fun around Alpine Rd, Thredbo....Good fun twisty roads to test your car.

I had a MY00, which was good, but not anywhere as good as the Evo....

 

it's just that I'm a lasagne man rather than rice, although after getting the starter motor out of the QV tonight I think I could learn to like rice.

Those bloody nuts behind the starter motor shield are a mongrel to get off, how people do this stuff without a hoist is beyond me.

Getting Marc Jones to pull the engine out early next year and do the tappet shims plus a new gasket kit ad clean, need to know it will make it to SA and back

You going to Sadelaide next year ?

We could give them grief again if they stuff up the trackday

 

Just piss it off and buy Millard's Challenge

 

Is it for sale?

 

I like all foods, so it;s not a "one or the other choice" I'll have one of each thanks !

There are plenty of things that are difficult to get at in a WRX, there is a lot of stuff crammned under the bonnet. But in general they are designed to be easily serviceable and best of all, hardly anything ever breaks.

We will be in Adelaide next year - already lined up the babysitters !

M

 

You want to buy a 355C ?

For the right price anything is for sale.

M

 

Now you have my attention!

Would you take part trade a red/tan 348 and 2 of my Mother's goats?

 

LOL. NO, not in the market for another car Mike. My next purchase will be another Ductai. Just waiting for 360C to sell his black 916/996. He's doing a bit of a garage sale at the moment so one lives in hope.

 

Sure, just not on a 355c

M

 

What's a Ductai ?

They must be pretty rare, cause I've never heard of them.

M

 

Ok I like you,

and you,

you must of been on that email technical list? I can't remember the site now..

and you, well always did with that username

 

I'd take the goats.

Not so sure about the 348!

 

his 'challenge' is anything on the top shelf