911 Support Group - Help! Having another WRX STI Crisis...

[Victor]

I took an '03 WRX STI for a test drive - well more like a 45 minute absolute THRASHING on Saturday. No particular reason other than curiosity and a faint temptation to get a different car.

HOLY COW! Timesheets do not do justice to just how much more capable these things are than an old 911 from an acceleration, braking and handling perspective. Sidestep the clutch with the engine on boost and KABOOM! 4 wheel hookup and instant Millennium Falcon effects. Tip it into a corner at any speed, point, click and (ignoring the torque steer) some of the finest corner carving you could hope for. Massive 4 spot Brembos stop the show to the point of ripping up bits of bitumen. Just unbelievable - I challenge anyone still in denial to take one for a spin. Plus, it has working AC, a boot, 4 doors, a back seat and is new. (The 911 has done 200,000K’s.)

The faint temptation to join the plastic-mass produced brigade is becoming more pronounced. In fact, if the build quality wasn’t reminiscent of an 80’s Toyota Corolla, the engine didn’t sound like an angry sewing machine, it didn’t look bloody ridiculous with those gold wheels, massive wing and pink trimmings, I probably would have taken it home. Praise the Lord for Japanese auto-design / taste.

Help, I love my ’88 Carrera too much and feel as if I have been cheating. Some words of support in my hour of need would be much appreciated.

[JackT]

Buy it, hide it and drive it only when your 911 does not fully satisfy you. What it doesn't know want hurt it.

[Victor]

Drew, I think the 911 found out I can't afford both of them. It would have to go to a new family.

*EDIT* Oh boy........... I promised myself I wouldn't cry!

[VincentVega]

I know what you mean. I really like my 911's but when I drive my Mini I get a big smile. Hopefully once it cools down here I will drive the 911's more and be happy again.

A friend has a wrx with a couple ad ons and it's very impressive. Subaru's seem to last and last, although like you said the interior isnt the greatest. I doubt they will still be truckin' in 15 yrs though. Porsche really spoiled us with thier older cars.

[Adam]

Victor,

They're a superbly capable machine... so's the STi.

To satisfy any of your build quality/durability doubts, try to get a ride/drive in an earlier STi with 75,000-100,000kms on it. You'll be pleasantly surprised, despite the cruder behaviour. The current STi is a very slick and well oiled model and to me, a very pleasant and fun car to drive.

[trj911]

It is a nice car. Autoweek did a long-trem test on it and here is what they had to say.
"Few drivers ever complain-ed about a stint behind the wheel of the WRX. But the WRX is a decked-out version of what is basically an inexpensive car. There is no getting around that and, after a year of seeing more than a dozen drivers behind the wheel, its true colors began to show through.
The Subaru missed just two days of service, with one of those days coming to replace a windshield that took a direct hit from a rock kicked up by a passing car. The other day was lost to diagnosing a pretty serious driveline lash that turned out to be a loose motor mount (repaired under warranty). Only routine maintenance, including a new set of tires at the 25,000-mile mark, forced the WRX to the dealership.

But its next owner is going to have to deal with a few potentially costly problems in the near future. The struts were pretty worn as were the brakes, and the clutch was beginning to slip. Second gear had become notchy and the shift linkage was in need of overhaul (a chance to install the short-throw shifter kit). And there were numerous squeaks and rattles throughout the cabin—further evidence of its year of yeomen duty."

Do a search on the AutoWeek site for WRX and you can read the entire article.

[NoLift911]

I did some homework on the STi when I first heard about it and promply put a deposit down back in January. Actually I had two deposits down to ensure I got one by this summer...one in VA and one in NC.

But I do not own an STi. Why? Well a few reasons none of which have to do with the STi. I still think it is a great car/ value.

When some extra coin rolls around the STi is still in my sights...

-Jeff
nolift911@hotmail.com

84 Carrera
00 BMW 323i
04 Overland
Sti (someday)

[RallyJon]

First, the U.S. model WRX is a very watered down version of the rest-of-world WRX, which is itself a very watered down version of the STI. Don't use anything you've read about a WRX to judge an STI.

Second, Australia still has the 2.0L engine, right? The U.S. version STI gets a 2.5L engine, making 300HP and 300lb-ft bone stock and fully warrenteed. So it should be even more Millenium Falconesque, even before you chip it for another 50 or so HP. Amazing.

If it wasn't so damn ugly and heavy, I'd consider trading my old-style turbo 2.5 Impreza for one.

[89911]

I saw a modified WRX on a recent small car shootout. With some minor mods, the thing cranked out.......450bhp!!! Technology marches on, but there is more to owning a car then horsepower and 0-60 times or we would all own Camero's!

[Superman]

Perhaps the STI is some kind of Super-WRX. We had a WRX at our last autocross and its performance was disappointing. Terribly loose in the corners. Soft suspension. Everyone went faster than that car. I imagine that, on rougher terrain the WRX would excel, but at AX, this thing was a pig. Again, the STI must be stiffer. This morning I saw a brand spanking new WRX with flares and a wing.

Hey, I'm not in denial. Just reporting the facts. Minicoopers do fairly well, but still are not faster than the P-competition at AX. 'Course who's gonna beat Eric Fry's built 914-6, or Leeds Gulick's ridiculous full race 4-cylinder 2.8L Frankenstein 914? I'll bet Jack has STIs for lunch. Vipers for dessert. So remember...All generalizations are false.

[Type911]

nothing wrong with AWD, 300 hp & COLD A/C...I would drive one in place of my 911 on snowy days or hot days.

I doubt many of these cars will be around in 20 years, and probably will not be talked about much on the internet

Like the ad says.... "Porsche, nothing even comes close !"

[nostatic]

Either the STi or Evo would not doubt spank an old 911 on many accounts. I can think of a few where they don't:

Looks
Looks
Looks
Build quality

I like the WRX wagon for what it is...a damn fun to drive WAGON. But I can never get past the fact that the STi and Evo look like 4-door econoboxes. I suppose they look that way because they essentially are an econnobox body pasted onto a high performance engine/drivetrain/suspension.

My 24 year old 911 doesn't rattle. How about a 2 year old STi?

[ttweed]

Looked at an Sti at the local dealer a few months ago. If you needed a 4-seater it would be a nice piece. Then I saw they wanted $10K over sticker for it. $41K? No way is it worth that price. You could get a really nice late model Porsche for that kind of money.

TT

[RallyJon]

You could get a really nice late model Porsche for that kind of money.

Not if you shop at dealers who mark their cars up $10k over list.

[Dantilla]

My sister has an '02 WRX.

I think I scared the dealer when we took it out for a test. I was dissapointed with the handling somewhat, but the biggest suprise was how unstable it is under hard braking from high speeds.

Still, lots of bang for the buck, and with a few aftermarket pieces, I'm sure it could be quite a capable little (if somewhat silly-looking) car.

My sister's happy.

[skinnerd]

At a recent Portland SCCA auto-x, a current National champion (who normally drives a Z06 Corvette) hopped in this guy's bone stock WRX STI with street tires for a couple of fun runs. End result... he ended up with one of the top 4 times out of well over 100 entrants. With a slightly tweeked suspension and auto-x compound tires, he would have been fastest. These cars are for real, no matter how heavy you think they are. They are ungodly fast. I think they'd be a great daily driver. Do they have the Porsche mystique, feel, etc... no way. Nothing beats that aircooled flat six!

ps That wing on the STI is "pukesville." I'd remove that in a heartbeat, upgrade the suspension/wheels/tires and pump up the engine to about 375-400hp. Could be pretty fun grocery getter.

[masraum]

Blah!! There are lots of cars out that do somethings or many things better than a 10, 15, or 20 year old 911, but the absolute performance is not why I have mine. My car performs admirably even today, not the top of the heap, but well enough. But the spirit, soul, feel, of it beats most of the other cars that offer the same or better performance. I spoke to a guy at a starbucks a few weeks ago with a 1970 Lotus 7 with a 200hp Toyota motor. I think that car would be like a distant cousin to ours in spirit and feel.

There are lots of different kinds of Porsche owners, none are necessarily bad and many start out as one type and grow into another type. Personally I also like stellar performance even if it's from another make, but most cars can't replace everything that a 911 is about.

[Superman]

Even a National Champion could not have gotten near TTD in the WRX that was at our last AX. Its suspension was so soft, it's 4WD feature was not relevant, if you know what I mean. It was visibly upset, even at speeds four and five seconds off the "S" class pace! It seems to me that the WRX you saw would have to be a model with stiffer suspension than the one we saw.

[Jgordon]

NOstatic -- funny thing about those rattles -- I thought I had one for months. Turned out I had two casette tapes in my glove box that were producing a rattle over bumps. Took them out and the car's tight as a drum.

Jared

[nostatic]

Super- The WRX and STi are differrent animals of a similar breed. The WRX is a peppy, fun econobox. The STi is close to the spec of the Subie rally car. On the STi pretty much everything is uprated and tweaked (227hp v. 300 hp, 5-speed v. 6-speed, better suspention, better awd/limited slip, etc).