Also heard bad stuff about the newer MB products Z-man, but maybe some are the exception. I'm sure some MB sites are a better source. Never heard bad stories about Subies from a reliability standpoint, most of their owners seem very dedicated for this reason.

I bought a new '05 STI just before the '06's arrived for cheap money (26,700) with 1.9% financing. It was an impusle buy, but considering the price I figure I can't get too hurt.

This said, I've really come to enjoy the car. I've got 15K miles on it without a hiccup. Incredibly impressive in the snow with proper tires and goes like stink year round. I've autocrossed it , and have competed in a few rallies up north after taking the O'neil rally school and have had a blast.

I'm running it as a daily driver without issue, including quite a few long trips. I'm a big guy @ 6'4'' 250 lbs, and find the seats get annoying after 3-4 hours if you don't stop to get out and walk around. The suspension is firm, and the car will follow ruts in the highway if your lazy. Not a deal breaker for me, I'm used to driving the Porsche. The 6 speed is nice, but the gearing is a little off in my opinion. First to third shifting around town is pretty common for me. The STI is a good bit noiser than the regular WRX, but perfectly acceptable to me.

Aftermarket support is outrageous, but I've resisted the urge to change anything and probably won't. Having a car under warranty is nice.

Maintenance is a no brainer, and I've had virtually zero problems. The only trip back to the dealer was for a noisy rear strut (this is common) which was replaced immediatly without any questions asked. I consistently get 25 MPG on the highway at 80-85 MPH.

The only downside is the "image". To most this is a car for a 20 year old. I'm not 20. If I drive past the local highschool, I'm the most popular kid. When I park in the office garage, my colleagues look at me strange. Swapping trunks with a WRX is easy, and every 20 year old WRX owner is willing to do so at the drop of a hat. I'm too lazy, and have learned to love the tacky spoiler. As an aside, it makes a convenient plass to support 2x4's from Home depot. Ask me how I know

Overally, I really like the car.

Vin

Vin:
Thanks for your post. $27k for an STi is a very good price, IMHO.

onewhippedpuppy: don't believe all that you hear about reliability issues with Benz's. Granted, we have had our share of electrical issues of late, but many of them have been resolved. Also: the C-class has seen less of these issues than the E-class and S-class.

-Z.

lol :D

I bought my 05 STI on my 35th b-day Sep 04 and have been enjoying it ever since. Swapped trunks with a wing-less WRX, I got a Yakima rack for Mt.Biking Trips, very sleeper look to it. Did my first track day at ThunderHill this past weekend and the car literaly came alive and the rally beast it is. I was doing things that would have gotten me into serious trouble in my 911 it replaced. Only mods are a cat-back exhuast and added the Spec-C wing for track duty. Out the box they are incredible cars, you won't be sorry if you go with the STI. This is the very type of vehicle Porsche should have designed: lightwieght, performance oriented, drivers car at a reasonable price.

So what did you do? I have an 04 STI, which has been very good to me. It has 45k miles on it with several engine and suspension mods. It is an angry little sedan. It has seen many autocrosses and a fe track days. I got rid of the rear wing within 1 month of owning the car however.

Well my plans kinda fell thru. The company decided to cancel the entire project I was involved with and move everything back from Cali to Indiana. So I am on hold until I know what is going on. I kinda decided on a WRX wagon though. It will be a long time before I do anything now.....

Up until last summer my DD was an 83 Subie BRAT. That thing was unstoppable in the snow. I gave it to a buddy of mine who still drives it daily, when I bought the Ranger. When I gave it to him, it had 462,000 miles on it w/ 1 engine rebuild after I bought it in high school. Whatever Subie you get, if you get one I hope you enjoy it.
If you want a good subie message board (more geared to older models and the DIY guys) check out the Ultimate Subaru Message Board at http://www.USMB.net these guys have done crazy things including engine swaps, and an entire sub-culture devoted to Off-Road Subarus.

Micah

Shawn - why buy a cookie-cutter Subaru? This looks more your style. Should be able to stuff the pooch in the hatch. And it's cheap too!! Might be a little tricky smuggling it across the border, but .....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1991-LANCIA-DELTA-HF-INTEGRALE-16V_W0QQitemZ4653321141QQihZ002QQcategoryZ6292QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151453184.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151453211.jpg

Nothing is more expensive to maintain than a late eighties / early nineties ITALIAN car. The Integrale was a fantastic car back in the day, but..... $$$$$$$

That's why they make Hondas. :cool: