Should I trade up to a STI?

I have a 2003 WRX and would like to trade up to a STI, but not sure if I want to take the hit of getting a terrible trade in value from the dealer. I have modified my WRX so far with a UTEC and midpipeback exhaust and have an uppipe, turboback, and cold air intake that I haven't installed yet. I would obviously have to remove these upgrades in order to trade the WRX in, but that wouldn't be a problem. Anyone have an idea of what I could get as a trade in value? An rally blue 2003 WRX with under 11,000 miles. Guess I also have to consider added insurance costs because the STI will have greater theft possibilities and because of the rated 300hp. Any advice is appreciated - Thanks.

Reply to
GMan
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Your current WRX is probably way more capable of a car than you are as a driver. Why not just keep it. If all you want is hospower, you can find some cheap american iron!

Reply to
Rob Munach

For $1400 (from your local dealer) US you can upgrade to an EJ257 shortblock while retaining your stock heads. Add in a TEIN (or similar) suspension for about $1500

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and then add an IHI VF34 turbo w/ Sti injectors for $1190
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and be well ahead of the STi in performance. If you want more, add APS Front Mount Intercooler, Perrin swaybars, Cusco strutbars, an underdrive pulley kit, GTSpec Headers and possibly a 20G turbo from Force Performance and you will be the envy of most STi owners as you blow by them at the light (or strip). My opinion is obviously not to upgrade, it's really not worth it in the long run IMHO.

Reply to
WRXtreme

That's probably a bit unfair. Really, you don't know how good of a driver he is. But, with reference to the question, I would say, it depends on what you want. Having driven the WRX and owning the STi for about six months, I can tell you they are very different cars. Only the appearance is similar.

The STi is way more powerful; because of its close-ratio six speed, it is not an easy car to drive at first. It will take off like it is kicked at about 2700 RPM. It has very sharp steering and different handling characteristics depending on whether you are on the gas or on the brake. It will understeer and drift if you are off the gas, and oversteer as soon as you hit power above 3000 RPM. It also has very tight steering; you had better be paying attention. The WRX is more forgiving and more sedate, but not lacking in power. It is more practical as a daily driver, has higher clearance so it can go more places, and its AWD system is better in bad weather unless you know what you are doing with the DCCD in the STi. Also, the Subaru recommends synthetic oil for the STi (MOTUL here in Canada), and here in Canada, it costs about $110.00/oil change every 6000 KM (3600 miles). There is no such thing as a cheap part for the STi. The tires are expensive (16" rims will NOT fit the car), and the brake parts are a horrendous price. It is also a pig on gas compared to the WRX, and it is very hard to lay off the hotpedal, so gas mileage is even worse.

So, if you know what you are doing with a very high performance car, you are wanting to scare the bejesus out of your passengers, and you have lots of twisties to take advantage of it, the STi is worth it. If not, I'd stick with the WRX. It'll do the job and it is way cheaper to operate and own.

Reply to
FNO

That is a less than helpful answer, you presumptuos(sp?) git...

Reply to
Kimball

(INstallation and Assembly NOT included!)

You'll only blow by the STi until you blow your transmission. And trust me, that won't be long...

Aside from the 6-sp tranny, WRXcreme is overlooking the R180 vs R160 rear diff, the front LSD, the DCCD system, quick(er) ratio steering rack... did I leave anything else out... oh maybe the improved STi seats are worth a penny or two.

That's thousand$ in stuff Subaru gives you for almost free in the STi! Not to mention the resale-ability of a heavily modded car is virtually nil.

IMHO, of course.

Reply to
Kimball

It appears that way at first glance... but look deeper. The point is, there are very few places where you can really take the STI to the limit... and few people have the skills to safely take it to the limit.

Reply to
Mark

Point taken, but so what? Are you inferring that if I don't have the skills to take a certain car to "the limit", then I shouldn't own it? It could be argued that none of us have the skills to take ANY car to the limit, since there will always be someone (e.g. Michael Schumacher) who can take the car to a higher limit, thus establishing a limit that you can't reach.

This line of reasoning is spurious at best. To the original poster, I say if the STI pushes your buttons, floats your boat, turns your crank, whatever... buy it! If it makes you feel, even for a moment, as if you'd

*like* to take it to its limits, buy it! If you want nothing more than to know that you're cruising Main Street with the baddest mutha of an AWD family sedan, buy it!

But before you try taking it to the limit, join a car club, take some driving courses, get some track days under your belt, and explore those limits safely on a track.

A comparison: I had a 1999 Ducati ST2 (85HP), and traded up to a 2002 Ducati ST4s (117HP, aluminum swingarm, lighter wheels, better Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension, etc.). It cost me a bucket of money, and I'm not a good enough rider to take either bike to its limits. Sure is fun, though!

...Ron (who is now pondering the WRX vs STI dilemma myself)

Reply to
Ron Ginter

whats a "git"? I remember hearing it in Monty Python skits?

Along those lines what is objectionable about being called "coffee nosed" I believe its from the "buying an argument" skit.

Back the car question. - our local Subaru dealer is very reticent on WRX trade ins that show any evidence of modification present or removed. So it would appear modifying pretty well negates resell potential.

Reply to
Ceph Lopod

Reply to
bstauf.spambgone

git [g?t] noun (British) (slang)

1 a contemptible person, often a fool 2 a bastard [ETYMOLOGY: 20th Century: from get (in the sense: to beget, hence a bastard, fool)]

"coffee" or "toffee", either way it's "brown-nosed"...

Reply to
Kimball

if you enjoy "wrenching" on your car, stick with the rex.

if you want to keep a factory warantee, etc, go with the sti.

if you like wagons (as i do), you don't even have to choose.

purchased part for part the sti is a very good deal.

jm2c ken

Reply to
Ken Gilbert

I want to take the hit of getting a terrible trade in value from the dealer . I have modified my WRX so far with a UTEC and midpipeback exhaust and have an uppipe, turboback, and cold air intake that I haven't installed yet. I would obviously have to remove these upgrades in order to trade the WRX in, but that wouldn't be a problem. Anyone have an idea of what I could get as a trade in value? An rally blue

2003 WRX with under 11,000 miles. Guess I also have to consider added insurance costs because the STI will have greater theft possibilities and because of the rated 300hp. Any advice is appreciated - Thanks.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I drove both the WRX and the STi before I made my purchase. They are totally different vehicles. Sounds like you have some money into your WRX. I would wait and pay it down or off and then buy a used STi. I wish I could have been happy with the WRX but my ego got the best of me.

Curtis

BlueSTi "Scary-Fast"

Reply to
BlueSTi

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