Purchase used Sti or WRX?

[z1ggy]

Have a N/A 07 right now. Could trade it in, according to KBB mine should go for around 12-13k if I sell it private. 04' STi goes for about 18k and 04' WRX for about 14k according to KBB. ( Sti and WRX searched for >20k miles on it).I don't care about the mileage on it really, as long as its in good shape..clean title , etc. Would it be best to get an STi and be all set with it, or save money initially with a WRX, but then put on after markets to bring it up to STi performance? Budget here would prob be around 6k give or take a few grand.

I am also willing to wait on this idea too, I'm not in any sort of rush if something better were to come around.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Used STI sounds like a bad idea, who knows how it was treated. You also need to think about insurance costs, even though it's a few years older than your current car the costs could be double.

 

[z1ggy]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Used STI sounds like a bad idea, who knows how it was treated. You also need to think about insurance costs, even though it's a few years older than your current car the costs could be double.

Obv. I would want a Carfax report...check the vechile inside and out. Wouldn't be buying from some sketch ball either. I might do something where I find a person who goes to auctions and gets cars used for good prices, and you pay them a certain fee, to basically do everything for you ( I think its like.. 300 to 500 bucks).

Must be used because I will only buy an 04/05 maybe and 06 if the price is right. I know I want a WRX or the STi, but I can't break the bank.

Insurance will obv be more, thats why I have to buy used.

 

[ayabe]

The biggest difference between the STI and the normal WRX is the tranny, the 6speed in the STI is seriously beefy, and you won't get a swap done for less than 6K. The 5 speed in the WRX is the weak link as far as adding more power.

All you need really is a downpipe and a reflash to get a WRX up to stock STI power levels, so about $1100 or so, perhaps a little less.

I would only be looking at bone stock used models, and I would lean towards and 06 or 07 if you can swing it as those were the best of the bunch for the last gen.

 

[z1ggy]

There is a chance I could manage an 06 or 07 with higher mileage on them. I would be doing this probably in 2010 since fall/winter is sooner than later. So by then I would expect an 06/07 that is used regularly to have in the 30k mile range if its driven a lot. That is going to run me still close to 20k..with mine being sold for prob 12k thats over my budget. I don't need the absolute best STi ever made, I just want to get the best car for what I can afford really.

Woudl it be best to buy AND sell privately, or just sell private and buy used from a dealer, even tho its highly unlikely theyd have anything older than an 08 sitting around the used lot.

 

[Demo24]

Don't get an 04 STI, it was kind of a trial STI and has a few more issues than later models. Get an 05 at the least. While a WRX is a good car it will never feel or be an STI. Sure you can swap shit out and get close, but why bother when you can start from that platform already? I have a WRX (wagon) and love it, but there's plenty of times I wish I had an STI.

You can get a 6spd swap for a lot cheaper than 6k, but you gotta know where to look and whom to go to. It's a real pain to bother with though and the costs do add up because you have to change more than just the transmission.

 

[caspur]

Wait, you are going to trade in an newer car with less miles for an older car? WTF are you stupid?

You just ate the depreciation on a 2 year old car...why didn't you get a new 2008 Sti when they were on sale with the 7k off? Brand new ones for 25k w/3 year warranty.

 

[kalrith]

Why not just mod your own car? You know how you've driven your car, whereas you could buy a WRX or STI that is "in good shape..clean title , etc." but was driven into the ground. For example, you wouldn't necessarily be able to detect the impact of dumping the clutch many times when you purchase it, but it will have a negative impact down the road.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
Don't get an 04 STI, it was kind of a trial STI and has a few more issues than later models. Get an 05 at the least. While a WRX is a good car it will never feel or be an STI. Sure you can swap shit out and get close, but why bother when you can start from that platform already? I have a WRX (wagon) and love it, but there's plenty of times I wish I had an STI.

You can get a 6spd swap for a lot cheaper than 6k, but you gotta know where to look and whom to go to. It's a real pain to bother with though and the costs do add up because you have to change more than just the transmission.

Still not sure about that unless he did all the labor himself. IIRC you need the center diff, the DCCD electronics, pretty much the entire rear end, the tranny itself, plus a few odds and ends.

Sure you might luck out with a salvage but it's not like they grow on trees.

 

[Safeway]

I'd be too scared that an STi was dogged from light to light.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Safeway
I'd be too scared that an STi was dogged from light to light.

WRX/STI the same. All these "cheap" performance cars are usually beat on. You don't buy one of these cars to granny it. I bought mine new cus I wanted one with no problems and wanted to be the only one to drive it so I know how it was treated.

 

[z1ggy]

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Safeway
I'd be too scared that an STi was dogged from light to light.

WRX/STI the same. All these "cheap" performance cars are usually beat on. You don't buy one of these cars to granny it. I bought mine new cus I wanted one with no problems and wanted to be the only one to drive it so I know how it was treated.

Well Im only going to be 22, what can you expect buy to buy something "cheap". 20grand aint exactly cheap to me. Maybe once I Get my PE lisence and get a salary increase I can buy something "not so cheap".

 

[daw123]

The good thing about the Scoobys and the Mitzis are that they are mechanically sound and they can take a beating provided they are well maintained. That's why you see so many around, which have been modded and are still alive. And geez, there are a hell of a lot of them around (in the UK at least), which are modded.

Personally I've had my 2005 WRX with PPP for the last two years. The only problems that I've had have been with the suspension and I drive it reasonably hard. I rarely red-line it though (which probably doesn't count for much) and I always make sure that the engine is up to temp before driving it aggressively.

If you are 22, you are going to get stuffed on your insurance premium; I was when I was 26. The only way you will pay a reasonable premium, and I use the term loosely, is if you get a standard WRX.

The WRX with PPP cost me £1200 ($1800) with £650 ($950) insurance premium to begin with. There was about a £2000 ($3000) purchase price difference at the time between the STI and WRX / PPP for the same age, condition and mileage. Obviously if you are going to mod the hell out fo this car then buy the STI, but the mods will generally be expensive and the insurance companies will rape you on the premiums (it cost me £600 / $900 for having the PPP fitted).

Personally, if you buy a Scooby get the blob eye or hawk eye. The bug eye is fugly and the latest model is a POS. If you are looking at the latest model get an Evo instead.

These are just my opinions though, and I'm sure others will chime in more with their own experiences.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: z1ggy

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Safeway
I'd be too scared that an STi was dogged from light to light.

WRX/STI the same. All these "cheap" performance cars are usually beat on. You don't buy one of these cars to granny it. I bought mine new cus I wanted one with no problems and wanted to be the only one to drive it so I know how it was treated.

Well Im only going to be 22, what can you expect buy to buy something "cheap". 20grand aint exactly cheap to me. Maybe once I Get my PE lisence and get a salary increase I can buy something "not so cheap".

Then get a regular car until you can afford a good one. You're young and the insurance is going to kill you as well on these cars. Can you afford that as well? Not everyone can have an awesome car young.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: z1ggy

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Safeway
I'd be too scared that an STi was dogged from light to light.

WRX/STI the same. All these "cheap" performance cars are usually beat on. You don't buy one of these cars to granny it. I bought mine new cus I wanted one with no problems and wanted to be the only one to drive it so I know how it was treated.

Well Im only going to be 22, what can you expect buy to buy something "cheap". 20grand aint exactly cheap to me. Maybe once I Get my PE lisence and get a salary increase I can buy something "not so cheap".

A 20-grand used Vette will be eons better than one of these in practical terms, unless you need AWD for rough winters in Canada/Montana/UpstateNY or what have you. A lot of Vettes are owned by midlife-crisis/empty-nester guys who baby them and so forth. Not the same picture with the turbo econobox crowd.

Not to mention, take the $20k used Vette and the $20k used STI/WRX/Evo, and flash forward 5 years, and then 10 years. The Vette will bottom out but hold solid value, eventually going up in value. The econobox turbo jobs will pretty much crater.

C5 + $5k-$7k in mods = obscene performance, daily driveable. Not sure if a 500+whp Vette is a good idea for a young person though.

 

[z1ggy]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: z1ggy

Originally posted by: zerocool84

Originally posted by: Safeway
I'd be too scared that an STi was dogged from light to light.

WRX/STI the same. All these "cheap" performance cars are usually beat on. You don't buy one of these cars to granny it. I bought mine new cus I wanted one with no problems and wanted to be the only one to drive it so I know how it was treated.

Well Im only going to be 22, what can you expect buy to buy something "cheap". 20grand aint exactly cheap to me. Maybe once I Get my PE lisence and get a salary increase I can buy something "not so cheap".

A 20-grand used Vette will be eons better than one of these in practical terms, unless you need AWD for rough winters in Canada/Montana/UpstateNY or what have you. A lot of Vettes are owned by midlife-crisis/empty-nester guys who baby them and so forth. Not the same picture with the turbo econobox crowd.

Not to mention, take the $20k used Vette and the $20k used STI/WRX/Evo, and flash forward 5 years, and then 10 years. The Vette will bottom out but hold solid value, eventually going up in value. The econobox turbo jobs will pretty much crater.

C5 + $5k-$7k in mods = obscene performance, daily driveable. Not sure if a 500+whp Vette is a good idea for a young person though.

Yes I do live in upstate NY actually...I had a FWD POS saturn that almost killed me one winter so I am basically 100% set on AWD unless I move to a place where it won't ever rain or snow for more than a month or something ( basically somewhere in the west or midwest, or a friggin desert).

And along the same lines..I cant have a Vette if it snows and stuff but then I would need another car too..its a good idea though for if I moved to a nice warm sunny place.

And as far as having a nice car and stuff at a young age...yeah I could wait like 3-4 years, but I need something nice. Im prob gunna end up in a shit apartment like I live in now and surrounded by shit. I want something nice w all the money I will have ( compared to what I have now). Maybe then I should just settle on a nice bike? Start w a 250 for one year..then graduate to a nice ninja 6r or a gsxr 600?

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: z1ggy
There is a chance I could manage an 06 or 07 with higher mileage on them. I would be doing this probably in 2010 since fall/winter is sooner than later. So by then I would expect an 06/07 that is used regularly to have in the 30k mile range if its driven a lot. That is going to run me still close to 20k..with mine being sold for prob 12k thats over my budget. I don't need the absolute best STi ever made, I just want to get the best car for what I can afford really.

Woudl it be best to buy AND sell privately, or just sell private and buy used from a dealer, even tho its highly unlikely theyd have anything older than an 08 sitting around the used lot.

You have to know which dealerships to check out lol:
http://www.southcoastmitsubish...hyperlinkargument=page

Too bad you're in NY. They might ship though...

And as for the "it might have been beat on" comments. BFD, the cars were made for it. I bought my Evo used two and half years ago with 23K on the clock. No issues.

As for insurance, I'm 25 and I pay about $1400/year for full coverage. That includes a second vehicle on the policy which is a slight discount. I think the most I paid was $1600/year.

 

[zerocool84]

CRXican you're insurance payments maybe be low but just cus yours are doesn't mean others will be. He's younger than you and lives in New York so I'm sure his payments would be higher. The op needs to see how much his insurance would be before he buys the car.

 

[daw123]

Originally posted by: zerocool84
CRXican you're insurance payments maybe be low but just cus yours are doesn't mean others will be. He's younger than you and lives in New York so I'm sure his payments would be higher. The op needs to see how much his insurance would be before he buys the car.

Good advice because it's going to be expensive.

 

[amdhunter]

New WRX sedan is super sexy...but I'd rather a used 06 STi. 🙂

 

[Virtual Conan]

I don't know anyone with a WRX or STI that doesn't beat the utter living crap out of their car. For that reason I would pass on buying a used model.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Bunch of wimps. People beat the ever living crap out of toyota corollas too but at least with the WRX and STI they are built to take it.

 

[RGUN]

Definitely go STI if you have any performance aspirations. Stick with 05+, they include many upgrades that will allow them to handle much more power. Most people I know with STi's are enthusiasts, since it really isnt a status car and cant easily be differentiated from its much lower priced siblings. Enthusiasts tend to stay on top of all maintenance and take VERY good care of their car. With good maintenance you could beat on the car all the time and it will last forever. I dont know how you guys have it in the US, but in Canada I can get an STI and a Corvette for the same price... I chose STI, and I love it. Worst worst case, you get a piece of crap and need to put in a new shortblock, which is $1800 from SOA.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Bunch of wimps. People beat the ever living crap out of toyota corollas too but at least with the WRX and STI they are built to take it.

Yeah, but someone dumping the clutch at 6k in a 130hp Corolla is a FAR cry from someone doing the same in a car with 250-500hp 🙂

 

[thedarkwolf]

Yeah the corolla has a much weaker clutch and transmission.