Anyone owned a WRX STI?

Do not buy an STI, EVO SRT-4 or cobalt SS used without good records and a mature owner.

These cars are driven hard and very costly to fix.

 

For the money it is hard to beat and like above, do not buy one used. Turbo's when driven hard KILL the engine badly. Buy it new. But, I myself would just but a Prius, save money and keep saving towards something like another F-Car or a bike. That's just me.

 

Cobalt, light, handles well and can be had used very cheaply. WRX, great all weather car that weighs over 3000 pounds, reliable. No experience with a EVO. I'm a little less learly of turbos than the above author. If the car looks good and has good maintainance records buy it.

 

Probably half of the worlds population have owned WRX's........ Not me though sorry. I have alot of friends that do own them(10 WRX's and 4 STI's) Very popular for cheap/bang for your buck type cars! Even the STI. Very strong too. Even when thrashed, they love taking beatings. The stock turbo's are average, so that will be the 1st thing you will want to replace. Fit a high flow turbo/bigger intercooler. Besides the occasional clutch abuse problems, I have only have had one mate with a major WRX problem. He smashed his gearbox to peices while doing a flat to the floor launch, while racing another friend. The main shaft broke and then smashed 1st,2nd and 4th gears/synchros. Everything was replaced in the box with race straight cut dog gear set that is apparently bulletproof. Around AU$7000. No issues as of yet. By all means, get one. Buy used for sure. Maybe they will be thrashed, but you will find 99% of used ones have already had an aftermarket turbo/intercooler fitted, as with the heavy duty clutch also. Ive never asked them about fuel economy though. But they are fun cars for the money.

 

Here is a link for the gearbox upgrade info that may interest WRX owners.

http://www.mrtrally.com.au/performance/barking_box.htm

 

The STi has a 6-speed box, not the 5spd of the "plain" WRX. The US model also has a 2.5 litre mill (to hit the nominal "300 HP" mark versus the EVO's 285/2L).

I looked at both, followed the forums for both, and it was pretty much a toss-up between them. (I went with an EVO for my "winter rat".) STi vs EVO comparo was that the STi had more straight line grunt, while the EVO had the edge in handling, even without the active diffs.

If you look at used STis, look for the ECU re-flash recall on the early ones: reduces detonations when the top-mounted intercooler gets heat-soaked in traffic. (The EVO's IC is front-mounted.)

There are even some reports that the STi's hood scoop collects birds.

Also, be aware that many STi owners have trashed their gearboxes. Young owners try to smoke the tires -- but these are AWD, with four sticky tires. Something's gotta give: on the EVO it's the lame clutch, on the STi, it's the box.

Scooby (and Mitsu) dealers have been waffling on the warranties -- put the car on the track even once, and you may be out of warranty. Put any aftermarket equipment on it, and again, ... Of course, if you buy used, you can probably kiss the warranty goodbye. Keep in mind that the STi is limited production, so many dealers won't have experience servicing them.

The interiors are pretty cheap. The STi has no sunroof option, and a stereo was an extra, so there's no telling what a used one might have. The gauges are pretty thin for a sports machine -- even the boost gauge was a dealer option.

Six months after the STi when on the market, a Scooby sales manager told me that over half the STis sold in CA had already been crashed. Not all these ricers are owned by the same kind of drivers as buy Ferraris.

But moreover, the stock tires are useless in the cold (< 40F) -- if the owner didn't believe the warning about needing separate winter tires, that accounts for some of the crashes. (A magazine reviewer managed to mung up an EVO when they encountered snow in the CA mountains.) People don't seem to think that CA gets cold weather -- but it does. The south might have the same issue -- check for damage history.

Also, these things stop as short as an Enzo: far shorter than the car behind you. At least half of the EVOs that have been in accidents have been hit in the back. I'd think STis have the same issue. Something to keep in mind in traffic.

You might want to look into racing harnesses -- the B-pillars are pretty far forward, so if you're tall, the pillar-mounted shoulder harness doesn't really fit right on either the STi or the EVO.

But I wouldn't think an STi (or an EVO either) would be a good choice for 50 miles of freeway cruising. There's no cruise control, the ride is very raw, the tires are noisy, and the seats are horrible. (At least on the EVO, it's a Recaro, so any aftermarket Recaro should fit on the same mount.)

With proper winter tires, these things can be a blast in snow. (I had a terrific 45 MPH run in my EVO during a MA blizzard, when everyone else had gotten off the roads a few hours earlier, and even the plows had given up.)

But when I drove the EVO from MA to DC (with the stock seat), I had to stop a few times to get feeling back into the backside.

Also, that big honkin' wing gets a lot of "official" attention: In six years, I've never even been pulled over in the Ferrari, but I've had cops trailing the EVO, and a couple of bogus stops. Each time, the cops looked really astounded when they saw the gray hair. (I'm beginning to think that cops figure the younger ricer set as unlikely to fight a ticket.) You may be a mature, responsible driver, but the car screams "street racer" to people who don't know WRC (which is probably about 99.9% of US cops).

I'm not sure an STi would be a good option for a daily freeway commute. Even in the South, I'd think that freeways get plowed in the snow, so it's not like the AWD is going to make the difference between getting there or staying home. (Everybody has four wheel brakes -- for what good it does on ice.) (In fact, with stock tires, you may have an issue when temps drop below 40F.)

But be very careful with used ones. Many of these things have been ridden hard and put away wet. And they're not the most solid machines I've ever encountered. I got 15 years and 98K miles out of my Celica AllTrac; I don't expect to get anywhere near that out of the EVO.

You might want to browse STi threads on the Scooby forum: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/

 

Buy a diesel. Jetta TDi.

 

No do not buy a VW diesel. They are fun but he's looking for fast car - not just the 0 - 20 sprint. I second the www.nasioc.com forums good stuff.

 

as far as the tire thing above

my NSX and the CS also have very sticky tires that arent very good below 40
Its not too bad, just dont push it at all when its cold, just take it easy and you'll be fine. Its more than worth it when its over 50

 

I had a 'regular' WRX and recommend you get something else if the primary purpose is commuting. I put nearly 15,000 miles on mine last summer with a ~45 mile-a-way DFW commute. By half way through that summer, I was stopping off at Cadillac and Lexus dealers to see what I could trade it for. And that was a regular 5spd, which has a much softer, compliant ride than the STi.

I ended up waiting to do one more New England winter with it before trading it this past May, having put 49,000 miles on it in under 3 years. I did a lot of highway driving; my main complaint was that after ~3-4 hours my legs begin to hurt from the seat and the manual grows tiresome in traffic commuting.

Reliability was superb. Nothing broke on mine in those 49,000 miles, just oil changes, tires and tuneups - no unplanned repairs at all! Actually, I correct myself, I blew out one of the rear speakers. Like DGS mentioned, it can blast through snowstorms, I drove on the highway through at least 5 blizzards in mine, several of which I was one of the only vehicles on the road for miles (even passing the snow plows!).

I recommend you spend far less than an STi and get yourself a civil freeway cruiser - used Caddies can be had for a song and I'm sure it's a good businessman's car in the South.

 

I have trouble buying into the STI/EVO thing when there are cars out there like the Audi B5 S4.

 

I've had a WRX for almost two years, I have 71k miles on it, and no problems. The car has been driven in weather as cold as -20deg F. to over 90 deg. F. On a roadtrip last summer I squeezed out nearly 34mpg by keeping off of the turbo. I know that there are more luxurious cars, but if you add up the cost/reliability/drive of a used WRX I don't think you can go wrong.

- Chris

 

Current STi owner here. I got the first one in Palm Beach County. Still LOVE the car. I'm a 42 y.o. dentist, so I'm not your typical "boy racer." Before the STi, I had a WRX, which I enjoyed. But, the STi is a whole other beast.

My STi is my daily driver. My commute is about 70 miles round trip, 4 - 5 days a week. Is it rough? I guess so. Is it loud? Sure... compared to a Bimmer or Audi. Is it luxurious? Nope. Is it comfortable? I think so. But, I'm not the kind of person who wants a car that feels like a living room. I want a car that feels like... a CAR! My fun car is a Lotus Elise... So, by comparison, the STi is quite the family-mobile! And, I DO have two child seats in the back of my STi. (We also have a Honda Odyssey - the ULTIMATE family mobile!)

I have found the STi to be very reliable. I've got 63,000 miles on it now. The only exception is a currently unsolved A/C problem... Unsolved because I haven't had the time to get it checked out. I have tracked it many times. It's a great track machine, IMO. The Lotus, even better... But, I like both of them. They're just different.

Gas mileage... The STi is not a gas-miser. I average about 19 - 20 mpg. Mind you, while I don't drive it like I stole it, I do enjoy "spirited" use. I don't do clutch-drop launches or drag race the car.

I agree with the others regarding buying it from a mature owner. I imagine they are few and far between. There aren't too many dentists driving STi's! LOL! My colleagues turn their noses up at my Subie. Ha! Let'em laugh at me. I know better!

Bang for the buck, there's nothing out there that can touch the STi, in my opinion. The Evo is a very similar car. But, based on how many I've seen towed away from track events, I suspect their reliability is not nearly the same. Not surprisingly, Mitsubishi doesn't have the same reputation for bullet-proof cars as does Subaru.

The STi is what it is. If you want a luxurious gas-sipper... it's not the car for you. If you want a practical car with performance that can compete with cars that cost 2 - 3x as much, it's great. If occasionally nailing the throttle on a clover-leaf onramp (when there's no traffic) and having the car stick like glue brings a smile to your face, then the STi is hard to beat.

Be aware that it DOES bring attention. I've never had a ticket, though. But, I get boy-racers in all the usual suspect cars (especially Mustangs) trying to goad me into a street race. (I decline, of course.) My orange Lotus Elise is even worse as far as attention goes!

I'm a big fan of Subaru and the STi. Just be careful for all the reasons mentioned by the other posters. Find a mature owner and get the car checked out.

Mike

 

I've had both and EVO and STI and both could easily handle daily driver duties. Changing out the tires makes a huge difference on the STI for better "regular" driving. I put P-Zero Nero's on mine. The STI is pretty small inside. I wouldn't buy either of these cars used because you'd probably be getting something that had modded and no telling whether it had been abused.

Check out an EVO if you get a chance. BMW may have a slogan that it is the "ultimate driving machine" but the EVO is really the greatest car ever made when it comes to the driving experience. Makes you feel like Superman because it's like all of a sudden you acquired twice as much driving talent.

 

2002-2003 Corvette Z06 sounds like it would be worthy of consideration. Get's upper 20's mpg, great performance, good reliability and very attractive prices.

 

It depends on your requirements for mileage. '02's are getting down into the upper 20's with 30-40k miles on them. A little patience and the right seller could put you where you want to be.

 

One of the more common comments about the EVO is that it's an easy machine to drive fast.

Depending on what your definition of "fast" is, of course.

Without anti-lag, heel/toe is virtually useless. The AWD takes a whole different driver's toolbox around turns (at least, for an old RWD geezer).

And speed shifting is right out. Remember Clarkson's comment about the FQ400's clutch being "hopeless"? (in the FQ vs Murci at the track episode.) Mitsu put a stupid hydraulic damper in the slave cylinder as launch prevention -- try to sidestep the clutch, and you need a new clutch (versus a new gearbox or transfer case). I suspect that one of the reasons you see EVOs dying at the track is that any attempt to rush a shift will burn your clutch. Even compared to the Ferrari's external gate, the EVO shifts like a snail on valium.

I can't speak for the STi's stock Bridgestones REs below 40F, although the S03s do go noticably "off" when cold. But the EVO's custom Yokos are a disaster in the cold. (While waiting for delivery of aftermarket rims that would fit over the huge brakes, I got caught in a slush storm (snow melting on contact). It was like ice racing.) But those made-for-the-EVO Yokos are one of the things that let you get away with sloppy lines, making the car easier to drive quickly in warm weather.

The EVO is much less "raw" -- both in ride and steering tramlining -- with the winter Nokian WRs on it, but the limits come well down, too.

While I know the reputation that Ford dealers have lately, I have to ask: What's a new 'Stang cost?
(If people mistake a Ferrari for a Mustang, does it work the other way, too? )

 

In my opinion, Ebay is a relatively worthless tool to look at Corvette sales to get an indicator of price. There are way too many sellers hoping for high prices and too many buyers looking for the deal of a lifetime. Sure there are plenty of sales, but I just don't feel it is a good indicator of price. There are some really good Z06 forums and better places to find Z's than Ebay in my opinion. I saw an '02 Z recently go for $25k with 40-50k miles. Guy was in a hurry to unload it, but deals like that do exist out there.

 

Have to laugh at Ry's posting- Vegas has definitely gotten you- used Caddies, haw, haw, haw. I'd have one if I lived there, but with the steer horn option, please.
ps- had a 'regular' wrx which we bought the first year they arrived in the US- terrific little car- could climb out of snowbanks under its own power, was a blast on twisty roads, and a helluva grocery getter. I agree that it is not terribly comfortable for long drives, but for a local get-a-round, has the old caddie beat, hands-down.

 

I very seriously considered an STi, and drove it a couple of times. Then the dealer got me to drive a Legacy GT. I've had my Legacy for almost a year now, and I'm very happy with it.

I got mine under $30k new, so finding a used '05 in the low $20k's should be pretty easy. I think retail book on my car is $21-23k right now.

Same block as the STi, different intercooler, turbo, and tranny (and some other stuff, as well), but very quick car, and very comfortable. I've done the commute and the long hauls in it with equal ease, and you can get one with leather and power seats for not much more that raises the comfort/luxury factor quite a bit.

The STi and WRX are more chuckable, but the LGT is no slouch. I just put H&R's on mine and the handling sharpened up just enough, but the ride didn't suffer at all. There are a ton of performance mods for it, just like on the STi and WRX, so go-fast is not an issue. Gas mileage is all about the right foot and self-control. My right foot is slightly heavy, and my self-control is lacking, so I get in the high-teens most of the time, but on highway trips, I can get it into the mid-high 20's if I behave a little.

Check out www.legacygt.com for more info and ideas. There are always a few for sale on there as well. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

 

You should be able to get a '99-'02 Z51 6-speed coupe for that money. If you have no need for a back seat (I do), that would be a great commuter car. You don't need a Z06 for daily driver use, regular coupe would be better for daily driver with more than enough power to get you into trouble.

Here's a really nice one not too far from you, asking $27K but might meet your price point. from corvetteforum.com:

http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c140/richlemieux/ForSale/?sc=3

I have no affiliation with this seller, just an example. Let me know if you want me to poke around some more.

 

Agreed, the Leggy is a great choice, much nicer inside than the Impreza, but with the same basic motor and drivetrain. They are nicely quick for everyday driving in stock form, and there is huge potential if modded. It looks much more mature and elegant, and will go unnoticed by police. I would guess the insurance would be better too.

The 2006 WRX has been upgraded to a 2.5 liter and got bigger brakes, it closed a lot of the gap to the STI and a modified Cob "stage 2" WRX is actually faster than an STI, so there are other options which might make more sense given that you are on a budget and this is going to be a commuter car.

As for buying used, it is no different than anything else. Some got hammer by idiots, while others were loved by enthusiasts. These cars were designed to be driven hard, just not abused, so find the right car!