Location: Member: Double Yellow Dirt Bags San Diego, CA
As a general rule of thumb, they are very reliable. My brother has had Subies for the last 35 years and has always had good luck with them. Most, if not all models have average or above reliability, according to Consumer reports.
You might also want to compare the Subie to the Mazdaspeed 3.
They are good, solid cars. But watch out for crazy insurance rates! I read that WRXs are hardest cars to insure because of the type of people that generally drive them. You will probably end up paying dearly, so check out those rates first. My best guess is you're better off with a Cobalt SS when you factor everything in. I used to have an '05 Cobalt SS and it was a great car with low insurance rates.
Location: Member: Double Yellow Dirt Bags San Diego, CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by C5 Frank
Thanks guys!! I will check out the Mazdaspeed 3... but I dont know if I can take that damn smiley face front!!!!
The smiley face seems to fade away when the car color is dark enough. If it were me, I'd be looking at a dark blue or black. Either way, you'll end up with one heck of a nice car!
They are good, solid cars. But watch out for crazy insurance rates! I read that WRXs are hardest cars to insure because of the type of people that generally drive them. You will probably end up paying dearly, so check out those rates first. My best guess is you're better off with a Cobalt SS when you factor everything in. I used to have an '05 Cobalt SS and it was a great car with low insurance rates.
Thanks for the advise!!! I was told the STI would be higher to insure then my Z06... but I will check on the WRX too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave68
The smiley face seems to fade away when the car color is dark enough. If it were me, I'd be looking at a dark blue or black. Either way, you'll end up with one heck of a nice car!
The car comes in four colors right now... bright blue, red, black and silver. No one has the silver yet.... I dont want to touch it in black.. I dont want red either... and the blue... well its just not for me.
I have an Stage II 05 STi protuned with 300 wtq & whp
Stage II just means full exhaust and a tune.
31K
Not my DD
So far so good, I have been to the course and the 1/4 track
I am not very hard on it
The only issue I had was "strut clunk." This came from the strut shaft sticking and then un-sticking. I solved this by buying coilovers. Many folks got them replaced by Suby at no charge. This however, just delayed the issue as they were replaced by OEM and the clunk returned. It sounds like a loose golf ball in your trunk.
Location: Member: Double Yellow Dirt Bags San Diego, CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by C5 Frank
Thanks for the advise!!! I was told the STI would be higher to insure then my Z06... but I will check on the WRX too.
The car comes in four colors right now... bright blue, red, black and silver. No one has the silver yet.... I dont want to touch it in black.. I dont want red either... and the blue... well its just not for me.
Another option would be to have the grill painted to match the body color. A coworker has a WRX in bright blue and I think that color is awesome - kinda like the C5 Electron Blue. But, hey, in the end it'll be your car so take your time. I'm thinking about a Mazdaspeed MX5 to replace my MX6 GT, one of these years. I may have to wait until my kids are out of college, however.
I have an 03 wrx that I use in the winter. It's been dependable with about 75000 miles. Premium gas, but I get about 25 mpg on the highway and 20+ around town. It's tinny and the paint is not great, but I think that is common in a lot of Japanese cars. The seats are confortable. It's a fun car and practical. I dumped a BMW 3 series that was a lot nicer, but no fun. Good luck.
I used to have an STI model 5 years ago, it was slightly modded to about 330/340hp with larger sport exhaust, direct intake, larger off valves...
It went like a rocket, specially on sharp bends if you had the guts to launch it in at speed, very good sprint, around same level of a 911, intoxicatingly good exhaust note.
Oh, and plenty of space for children in rear seats.
I have an 03 wrx that I use in the winter. It's been dependable with about 75000 miles. Premium gas, but I get about 25 mpg on the highway and 20+ around town. It's tinny and the paint is not great, but I think that is common in a lot of Japanese cars. The seats are confortable. It's a fun car and practical. I dumped a BMW 3 series that was a lot nicer, but no fun. Good luck.
Very few issues with my 2003 WRX wagon. In the past they have had issues with the idle air control valves (not uncommon with other brands either), and a few little issues that just required some "tweaking" (misadjusted cruise control cables, etc). The paint on Subaru's has been on of the big problems - the clear and color coat tend to get chipped off really easily. I don't know if they've resolved that, but I'd recommend a clear bra, just in case.
Insurance will be a killer - even on the base WRX. The rate for my WRX and C6 are within $75 a year of each other!
All in all a great car. The Mazdaspeed is supposed to be a lot of fun, but if AWD is a consideration, then there's not much competition.
The new WRX's have a very ugly exterior. I personally like my year the best. 2005 FTW!
I've had my subaru STi for 3 years now and the only problem I've had is wheel bearings going out and the struts clunking. The cars has been driving hard in the hill country and it's been modded and I've never had any issues with the motor or anything else. I'm at 57K miles so far.
Subaru did a great job with my 2005 Sti at least. I can't speak for other years.
Insurance update... The WRX is $2.00 less then my Z06 a year...lol
The Mazdaspeed3 was $174.00 less a year...
Drum roll please... the STI was $186.00 less a year..
How is it that the WRX is more expensive then the STI??? My agent said it was much higher on collision coverage.
Insurance update... The WRX is $2.00 less then my Z06 a year...lol
The Mazdaspeed3 was $174.00 less a year...
Drum roll please... the STI was $186.00 less a year..
How is it that the WRX is more expensive then the STI??? My agent said it was much higher on collision coverage.
Cause every high school newb with rich parents gets a WRX for graduation and then proceeds to crash it. I do not exaggerate. I had an 04' WRX and used to post quite a bit on NASIOC. Saw threads all the time about wrecked WRXs. The STI is a bit out of the price range of high school newbs with rich parents and also is basically a street legal rally car...a bit harder to convince ma and pa to buy one for them. It's the same reason Mustangs typically have higher insurance rates than Corvettes...one they are more often a daily driver, probably on avergae rack up more miles per year and because of their affordability alot of young drivers get ahold of them and crash them....hence the higher rates even though it is a cheaper car. For better or worse you get lumped into the whole demographic of the whatever model car you own.
Location: Member: Double Yellow Dirt Bags San Diego, CA
I tend to agree. The STI is much higher-priced, so fewer of the younger crowd gets their hands on them. The MS3 is every bit as good (if not better than the WRX, but isn't as popular with the same crowd that buys into the WRX.
If you look at all factors, it's really tough to beat the MS3, performance and dollarwise..
Corvette Store
Anyone with a Subaru?? How do they hold up?
Very few issues with my 2003 WRX wagon. In the past they have had issues with the idle air control valves (not uncommon with other brands either), and a few little issues that just required some "tweaking" (misadjusted cruise control cables, etc). The paint on Subaru's has been on of the big problems - the clear and color coat tend to get chipped off really easily. I don't know if they've resolved that, but I'd recommend a clear bra, just in case.
