Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: superpug1 on September 17, 2005, 08:46:47 PM
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I am looking into possible saving up for an Impreza WRX, hopefully STi but it doesnt have to be. Does anyone know what years were best, and how to look for good ones? thanks in advance :)
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Whoop-de-do fer Subaru (http://www.commercialcloset.org/cgi-bin/iowa/?page=column&record=57)
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Best ones are 2006. 2.5 liter displacement, variable valve timing. Same motor as the STi other than intake/intercooler/turbo/exhaust/ECU. Tons of torque and massive tuning potential.
Other than that I'd say 2003 is the best year. I don't care for the restyled 2004-5 and 2006 models. 2002 is very similar to 2003, but those had a clutch judder problem. Most people got it fixed under warranty but if you happen upon a 2002 that didn't get the fix , and it's out of warranty, that would suck. 2003 had the revised clutch from the factory.
Main problems to look for are due to brain dead owners.
For the first two years there were a lot of idiots putting manual boost controllers on the car. This is identical to a WW2 WEP system. Ghetto rig to override the automatic boost control. And it can screw up the engine. So if the guy says it has an "MBC" tell him to go screw.
I'd be very skeptical of a car with any kind of engine tuning other than exhaust. Anything with an altered ECU is a risk. Who knows what maps the guy tried on the thing?
Check the gearbox too. A lot of tards have damaged or destroyed trannies at the strip. Run it through the gears up and down and listen for grinding. It's normal to get gear whine (the car has 3 differentials and almost no sound insulation) but it shouldn't grind except for a 2-1 downshift at speed. Most WRXs will need a double-declutch to go 2-1 on the move.
Also the seats have big bolsters and the fabric tends to wear from rubbing when you get in and out. So look closely at the seats. If it has aftermarket seat covers it might mean the seats are tore up.
Other than that, good times. Reliable car, plenty of power, great handling, decent mileage, and great ergonomics. And if you like to work on cars there are a zillion parts available because the thing dominates FIA Group N.
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thanks funked. Ill remmember that, this isnt for a few more years and hopefully they will drop alittle more in price. Im not really into tuning, but i would do a few things to it. I dont think i would need to shift from 2 to 1 on the move, im not planning of racing it (often). But it would be a neat trick. lol thanks tho