Should I trade up to a STI?

[GMan]

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.

 

[Rob Munach]

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.

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!

 

[WRXtreme]

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!

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 (www.vividracing.com) and then add an IHI VF34 turbo w/ Sti
injectors for $1190 (www.extremepsi.com) 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.

 

[FNO]

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!

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.

 

[Kimball]

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!

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

 

[Kimball]

For $1400 (from your local dealer)

(INstallation and Assembly NOT included!)

ou can upgrade to an EJ257 shortblock
while retaining your stock heads. Add in a TEIN (or similar) suspension for
about $1500 (www.vividracing.com) and then add an IHI VF34 turbo w/ Sti
injectors for $1190 (www.extremepsi.com) 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.

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.

 

[Mark]

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.

 

[Ron Ginter]

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.

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! <g>

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

 

[Ceph Lopod]

git...

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.

 

[Guest]

Can't speak to being a git specifically but i think the m.p. skit was
"toffee-nosed" meaning brown-nose.

 

[Kimball]

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

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)]

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

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

 

[Ken Gilbert]

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.

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

 

[BlueSTi]

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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"