well the leggy is getting old and more and more things are starting to fall apart like windows, locks, rear view mirror, all little minor shit that just gets annoying.... so i've been toying with the idea of trading up.

I'm pretty much set on a WRX, i can't afford either the insurance nor the actual price of an STI after doing some minimal research.

so what model year do you guys feel are the best versions reliability being most important. I'm familiar with the little problems associated with my particular engine, but am rather clueless as far as the ej20 series is concerned.

is there anything obvious i should avoid, or that i should know to look for atleast?

has there been a major advance made between two model years or major upgrades that i need to know about?

thanks guys

 

i say 06 for performance but as for reliablity its only been out a year
that and new they are about the price of a used sti

 

There are plenty of used sti's out there, the key if finding out how the owner has treated the car. If he's out beating the piss out of it, your going to have issue's. I would also check with a local Subaru or the main office with the vin to see if the car has been red flagged. Just beacuse the car is Stock in NO way means it has not been modded before you had the privelage of looking at it.

Example, there is a 04 STi in the for sale section with 4k on it for peanuts. The insurance wont be that drastic from a WRX to an STi, and once you get the WRX you will wish you had the STi.

 

the trannys in the 02-03 wrx blows

 

For the price of an 06-07 wrx you can buy a used STI, if you are dead set on a WRX, go for an 05, they have a much better interior than the 04s and painted side skirts.

 

thanks guys, this helps alot

I'm definately looking for a used wrx, i am going to be running on a serious student budget and am only looking to spend at most about 12-15K for my new(er) car

+1 good lookin on the 02-03 tranny issues


and as much as i would love an sti, i don't think i can afford one, gas, insurance, speeding tickets, and the temptation to upgrade it even more

i figure if i limit myself to a wrx, i can always drop a new engine in as i've been planning to do with my legacy but will be much easier, at the cost of being nearly unique

anyway, thanks for the advise thusfar, anymore issues or advise, PLEASE tell me. thanks!



edit: maybe i'll be the first 05 wrx with the new turbo diesel engine!

 

The WRX-STi difference is next to nothing yearly, They both are AWD Turbo 4 door sedans. Swapping STi stuff in your WRX is not cheap and wont be better in the long run, I have seen 50k+ STi's for $20gs and your not going to find a 04-05 WRX in your price range unless its been abused. Your going to be pressed to find a good 02-03 in that price range. good luck

 

well i've been looking and i'm finding plenty of 04-05 wrx's for between 7-15K whereas the sti's are between 20-25K

I'd love to be able to afford an sti 813_05_sti, but unfortunately i just don't have the money for it

do you all recommend a certain mechanic around here that if i found one local, would be able to go over it with a fine tooth comb? i'm not lookin for a freebie, obviously i'd pay, i'm looking for quality so i don't get stuck with another lemon

i dunno, that was ebay, i guess the next step is to clean my car up and take it into Mastro and see what they are willing to give me as a trade, see if thats an option.

anyone's grandma selling her 0405 wrx with low miles for cheap?

 

damn.




I'm looking at legacy's now too. what to do what to do...

anybody on here have a 05-06 Legacy 2.5GT? What do you think of it?