DCAWD.com

Given my failed attempt and fixing up a beat up camaro I've decided the best decision is to pare my life down to one fast car. I also want to get more into things like autocross and generally tracking my car so the logical choice seems to be get the tougher STi to start with and leave it alone.

Now I'll probably be looking more to used cars as the $35K sticker price on a new one is a bit steep. What are the differences in the years? Is there a particular model I would want to get more than the others?

Wikipedia

I would go for an 07 or above. They have better gearing, the motor mounts are better than the 06's (which were known to break), the heads were redesigned for better flow and in the 08+ you get AVCS on intake and exhaust etc. etc.

I do like the look of the 06-07 the best (aside from the not-even-in-production-yet 2011 STi sedan). So the 07 is the one to go for. Now the trick seems to be finding one that hasn't been modded (ie molested).

Raven wrote:I do like the look of the 06-07 the best (aside from the not-even-in-production-yet 2011 STi sedan). So the 07 is the one to go for. Now the trick seems to be finding one that hasn't been modded (ie molested).

Keep in mind a modest list of mods isn't horrible either.

It might be worth your time to find something with low-miles, suspension, turboback exhaust and a reflash. They're more easily found the newer they are.

Personally, I <3 the new hatches. Had I known they were building them, I wouldn't have bought my Forester and would have waited to buy my STi.

But now I have both in one car and can't really complain.

Come to the next meet, we'll talk.

I paid $29k for my '08 STI just 18 mos ago. Wait until November and those deals will be back.

PGT wrote:I paid $29k for my '08 STI just 18 mos ago. Wait until November and those deals will be back.

I'm in no hurry. There's an 08 down the street for $27K, but seems awfully steep considering the mileage. Perhaps I can capitalize on the people swapping hatchs for sedans.

I really don't have anything productive to add to this conversation other than "Woo-Hoo!"

O yeah and when it comes to looks, I like the 2005 STI

So I test drove the 08 STi and I did not care for it. Why is the turbo so god damn enormous on that car?

strangely, i liked the old 2l sti the most (stock for stock).

-scheherazade

missvenezuela85 wrote: O yeah and when it comes to looks, I like the 2005 STI

by far the hottest sti. no doubt.

chicken n waffles wrote:

missvenezuela85 wrote: O yeah and when it comes to looks, I like the 2005 STI

by far the hottest sti. no doubt.

goddamn i miss that car.

Raven wrote:So I test drove the 08 STi and I did not care for it. Why is the turbo so god damn enormous on that car?

lol, it isn't that big at all...

Sabre wrote:lol, it isn't that big at all...

It lagged like a mofo, no boost til 4000. And for "300 hp" it seemed way down on power. Maybe that was because it was 90 and humid.

Raven wrote:

Sabre wrote:lol, it isn't that big at all...

It lagged like a mofo, no boost til 4000. And for "300 hp" it seemed way down on power. Maybe that was because it was 90 and humid.

How many miles on it? Makes me wonder what the previous owner did. ALWAYS get a leakdown and a compression test on any used turbo car you're looking at. I've seen stock turbo's spool at 2700RPM... Turbo's definitely don't like hot weather though

Sabre wrote:How many miles on it? Makes me wonder what the previous owner did. ALWAYS get a leakdown and a compression test on any used turbo car you're looking at. I've seen stock turbo's spool at 2700RPM... Turbo's definitely don't like hot weather though

41K. You have a good point, I think there's a good chance there was something very wrong with the car. It had no power off boost, like absolutely nothing.

Ya, I wouldn't judge the STI's performance based on that car...

Raven wrote: 41K. You have a good point, I think there's a good chance there was something very wrong with the car. It had no power off boost, like absolutely nothing.

That's crazy mileage for a 2 year old car.

Well at least you're off your idea of buying something slow and stodgy. You're too young for that kind of insane talk.

Raven wrote:

Sabre wrote:lol, it isn't that big at all...

It lagged like a mofo, no boost til 4000. And for "300 hp" it seemed way down on power. Maybe that was because it was 90 and humid.

mmm... my '10 WRX has some serious kick to it right away so that seems odd coming from a 2008 STI. Its a little slower in the heat but still...

O yeah and you gotta figure, what kind of service work did that person put in to that car? I mean 41k in 2ish years??? Did they even take care of their car at all???

It had a short shifter on it (which was just silly short by the way) so it maybe have been modded and then stockified for trade. Perhaps the rings were a bit crispy from overboosting.

Did you put it in Sport# mode??? Most people don't know to do that. BIG difference in the character of the car, not to mention boost pressure.

PGT wrote:Did you put it in Sport# mode??? Most people don't know to do that. BIG difference in the character of the car, not to mention boost pressure.

Interesting, cause I had it in Intelligent because I thought Sport-Sharp would be twitchy on regular roads. I had not idea it affected the boost pressure.

Raven wrote:

PGT wrote:Did you put it in Sport# mode??? Most people don't know to do that. BIG difference in the character of the car, not to mention boost pressure.

Interesting, cause I had it in Intelligent because I thought Sport-Sharp would be twitchy on regular roads. I had not idea it affected the boost pressure.

ZOMG!! no wonder!! "i" is the gas saver mode with lazy throttle. Set the dial to Sport# and the DCCD to "-" - its a different car

So I was wrong to assume that Intelligent would actually be so?

Raven wrote:So I was wrong to assume that Intelligent would actually be so?

you were wrong to assume that "intelligent" was faster than "sport sharp."