Low mileage higher cost wrx or high mileage low cost fixer
I hate asking these questions but sometimes spit balling with people I figure out which is the best route.
So first off, a bit of info on my needs.
Purpose for wanting wrx: Would like something fun with potential but isn't too much of a gas guzzler (already owned those and it sucks filling at the pump). Would like to get 20 mpg city without being a granny but find the medium where I can have a long lasting grin when I want to. Something that my potential family can sit in.
So in my head I'm wondering if I should spend 12-14k and get a lower mileage wrx that hopefully won't need immediate maintenace or buy one in the 8-9k range and put some money into it. I know it all depends on how the last owner drove it but I don't trust anyone or all the craigslist adds that say "never raced" but then they have all the bolt on's in the world listed.
Now I used to be a huge horsepower freak and loved upgrading whatever I had at the time but I'm starting to get more responsible and extremely frugal. My main fear is the tranny grenading so I'm thinking it might be best to spend the extra (but not be able to mod) or possibly have to fork over what seems to be about 5 grand for a new one if I bought a cheaper wrx.
And yes if I were in the position I'd get an STI but I like the idea of averaging 25 mpg. However I know i'll want more power so my mileage might drop anyways.
Thanks for reading this long post and for any responses. Let me know if I've left out anything as I don't mind answering questions.
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There are cool cars here
They're going to need a tune
Their engine should hold 350 whp
i guess it depends on how long you plan on having the car for. These subarus have proven themselves to be reliable, even with high mileage and modified...(chime in wagonracer). However, the older a car is, the longer the owner had time to beat on it.
in the long run, you have to find a good car that is right for you and your needs, i personally wouldn't dump a ton of money into an older higher mileage car, but the wrx can keep you happy with minimal mods.
Most importantly, it is important to stay away from a car that has been modded, as it is likely to have been beaten on and often you will be buying someoneelse's headache.
Yea I would hope to hold onto the car for a few years and if things are going ok then I might retire it to just track duty, but that wouldn't be for at least 5-7 years. I've been looking at replacement parts such as differentials, sensors, tie rods, suspension, and other random components I would expect to change on a car creeping up on 100k miles or more. To be honest it's really not that inexpensive to maintain.
That's why I'm thinking it may be cheaper in the long run to get one with 30k miles less but cost 3-4k more. However on the other hand with a higher mileage wrx I'd replace worn parts as preventative maintenance with more performance oriented parts
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There are cool cars here
They're going to need a tune
Their engine should hold 350 whp
your gonna get addicted to whatever wrx you get and probably spend way more money than you ever intended too. With that in mind i would get the lowest mileage at all possible. Less time to be abused straight up. Even if you dont mod it your gonna want it to last as long as it can.
Hey dude, I think i might have just what your looking for, i have a highly modded 02 wrx that i have put alot of money into, its very sporty and in the sti range of hp, but still good on gas, unless you get into it all the time . It can be a perfect car for an everyday driver or track ready if you so deem. Im getting ready to gradute college, so my days of modding will soon be over. Looking to get something different. I would like to get around 12,500-13,00 for it. Basically what im saying is that i bought the car for 17,500 and dumped about 10,000 in total mods and tuning. But i dont want to get jewed at a dealer becuase they dont care about mods at all. Give me a call if your interested at all (910)514-9224. My name is Mike. I will give you a complete list of everything that ive done to it, and i have several pictures of the car. And yes its world rally blue ! the only color a subaru should ever be. So to summarize my car has 110,000 on the odometer but theres a brand new engine in there wiht 5 k miles on the engine. You will be getting a bargain with all the mods thats on it. To do the same amount of mods would cost you thousands, you mentioned that you would like something already modded yea? well this is it without breaking the bank.
I bet you the main, if not the only reason why the sti gets worse gas mileage is because of weight. The engine itself probably has little to nothing to do with the worse gas mileage. The drivetrain weights 100+ lbs more than the wrx, the brembo calipers and rotors are also much heavier. The rims and tires are wider and heavier (I'm not sure about the rims... but the tires are much heavier due to the stiff sidewalls). In total, I bet the sti rims+tires weigh almost 30 lbs more than the wrx, which is a lot for rotational mass. All of these little goodies add up. On top of that, there's the gearing... the shorter gears on the sti don't help. If you don't plan on replacing any of this stuff, then fine... but chances are, if you mod it, you will be adding weight to the car. Tuning helps a lot, though. I have heard of wrxs with upgraded turbos hitting 30+ mpg (mostly highway, though).
Weight was a big issue for me ive done alot of things to reduce the weight of the car, ie Seibon carbon fiber hood, carbon fiber hood scoop, lightweight pully kit, gutted trunk, lightweight enkei rims, like i said, too many mods that i would like to list and type out, ive done alot mostly engine work, if you are interested in the car, like i said give me a call and I will tell you item by item what ive done Im just trying to help the guy out hes looking for an 02 thats modded and ive got one im trying to get rid of and its in his budget. The car is ready to go with the mods to his likeing i bet from what he described what he wants to do wiht it.. even if he got a 02 bugeye for say 8-9 k hes gonna end up spending an easy 7-8 k in addition just getting it to where he likes it and it turns peoples heads, your looking at 15-16k. So your better off buying one thats already modded and save some dough that way. Whatever you dont like about the car you can take off and replace
I bet you the main, if not the only reason why the sti gets worse gas mileage is because of weight. The engine itself probably has little to nothing to do with the worse gas mileage. The drivetrain weights 100+ lbs more than the wrx, the brembo calipers and rotors are also much heavier. The rims and tires are wider and heavier (I'm not sure about the rims... but the tires are much heavier due to the stiff sidewalls). In total, I bet the sti rims+tires weigh almost 30 lbs more than the wrx, which is a lot for rotational mass. All of these little goodies add up. On top of that, there's the gearing... the shorter gears on the sti don't help. If you don't plan on replacing any of this stuff, then fine... but chances are, if you mod it, you will be adding weight to the car. Tuning helps a lot, though. I have heard of wrxs with upgraded turbos hitting 30+ mpg (mostly highway, though).
That's exactly what I was thinking. I like the idea of an STI but the weight turns me off. I know these AWD cars will add weight and parasitic loss but I can compromise. I've already had the high hp number cars and I want to build up an efficient as possible wrx. Efficient meaning light weight without gutting it and adding only functional mods to make more power but not taking away too much from efficiency. My interest in cars has changed quite a bit after living in a country where a gallon of gas cost about $12.00
Also on a side note all the wrx's I've found in my area that are in the $12-13k range have at least 80-90k miles and the ones for 9k have easily passed 100k miles. Maybe tomorrow I'll try to google a maintenance schedule on what is expected to be replaced unless someone here can throw in a link for me.
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There are cool cars here
They're going to need a tune
Their engine should hold 350 whp
yo dude give me a call if you want to im still up lol its 2 03 am i dont sleep much, ill talk ya through it about the wrx/s 910-514-9224
I'm not looking for something thats already modded. I'm not sure where you got that idea from, plus I'm in CA. I'm not ready to buy yet because I thought I was going to get this job I was interviewed for.
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There are cool cars here
They're going to need a tune
Their engine should hold 350 whp
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. It can be a perfect car for an everyday driver or track ready if you so deem. Im getting ready to gradute college, so my days of modding will soon be over. Looking to get something different. I would like to get around 12,500-13,00 for it. Basically what im saying is that i bought the car for 17,500 and dumped about 10,000 in total mods and tuning. But i dont want to get jewed at a dealer becuase they dont care about mods at all. Give me a call if your interested at all (910)514-9224. My name is Mike. I will give you a complete list of everything that ive done to it, and i have several pictures of the car. And yes its world rally blue ! the only color a subaru should ever be. So to summarize my car has 110,000 on the odometer but theres a brand new engine in there wiht 5 k miles on the engine. You will be getting a bargain with all the mods thats on it. To do the same amount of mods would cost you thousands, you mentioned that you would like something already modded yea? well this is it without breaking the bank.
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