My girlfriend is thinking of selling her 2002 mercedes and buying a wrx. we drove one at a car auction last week ( we run a dealership) WHat im asking is basically if the sti model is worth the extra $. I am not new to turbo cars but im also not an expert. She wants something she can modify withouth having any major issues (often). I figure simple things like a boost controller, intake, exhaust. etc. nothing spectacular as she doesn't need 500 whp. we can pretty much get any year/ model so im curious as to which year/model we should get. again is the sti worth the extra money? I greatly appreciate any input. I have been told the pre 05 models have tranny issues? THanks alot for any input.
You'll wish you got an STI if you don't. You'll spend more than the difference modding it up to STI standards anyway and still not have everything it does.
Also, make sure to search around here for the order of mods you are going to want to do. There are some basic mods that are done to most cars when doing mild tuning that are huge no no's for your new WRX or STI. (boost controller, CAI, etc,)
If you don't know how to drive, you will have tranny issues with ANY kind of car.... regardless............... And the STI interior is FUBAR..... but to each their own. When I bought my 07, the STI's were priced around 12K more. Anyone can mod a WRX to outperform a STI minus the tranny and goodies that go along w/it. Buying a STI is a status if you aren't going to "use it" to it's potential anyways.
A. How old is your GF? I dont think that she would appreciate having that wing gigantic wing on there if she is older than 25.
B. For the money you can do much of the same things with the WRX. It is ultimately your $$$ and it depends how you want to spend it. The basic differences are going to be the Tranny, Brakes, Wheels, and Engine/Turbo. Not to say that the WRX is lacking in the least.
She is 19, and she really kinda likes the wagon. I will have to search around for the nono mods you are talking about, i can get an 07 sti for ~15-17k at an auction and a same year wrx for around 10-13k. depending on miles, condition, etc. and i have around 17 to work with so thats what im trying to determine, spend the extra and just get an sti and call ti good or get a wrx and mod it a little bit.
ok i got bored searching, just enlighten me? lets say i wanna put 2-3 k into mods. where should i start? she doens't want the thing stupid fast she just wants something to play with.
Accessport and a nice exhaust system first, with the other 1700-ish I'd imagine you could very well piece together a new turbo setup. A VF34 or VF39 turbo, and STI topmount intercooler, a 255 fuel pump, and STI Pink injectors. Nice setup for around 3k.
You just answered your own question there. If she likes the wagon, get her the wagon. Then take the extra cash in hand and make it hers. Performance, visual, the whole thing. If you go with the WRX, throw some EM on it. That will be anywhere from 3-600 depending on what you get. Then to take care of breathing, throw a panel filter (it doesnt matter when this comes) on the car. DO NOT DO NOT put a CAI or a BOV on it. A good TBE should get you up to "stage 2." So depending on what you get "stage 2" can run you about $2000. Then the mods kinda start getting pricey and major, i.e. turbo swapping.
Get the STi . most if not all who got the wrx regrets not getting the STi from the start.
if she is really into power she can get the engine done up ,stroked up with jun2.2 and dump in a HKS 3037 kit or T51R kai kit and rev up to 9k rpm. haha
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Oh shit, she's 19??? Get her a bone stock 02 wrx.
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