considering selling my cars and getting a WRX

[cdlong]

i currently have two cars, a '95 240 and a '98 outback. the outback is a great car and fills a niche (home depot runs, skiing/biking trips, going anywhere with more than one person). the 240 is obviously the fun car. i've got a growing pile of parts to install and i'm planning more serious changes, cage, weight reduction, turbo, but i want to keep it a street car. i've only autoX'd it so far but was planning on getting into HPDEs. i never did an intro thread because it's pretty basic but here it is anyway. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/360169

but i'm thinking of ditching both cars and getting an '09 WRX premium 5 door. they're ugly, but it's a subaru, they're not supposed to be attractive. it would fill both niches but i don't really have a need to go down to one car (i'm single and have a two car garage), but i can probably get one for a pretty good deal. this is obviously not a subaru board, but does anyone have comments?

[e1_griego]

I put my car up for sale at a stupid-high price (but I have lots of money into it).

Mrs drives an 01 legacy, and I would probably just end up paying debt off and buying a miata.

No one will pay my asking price though, I'm sure, so it's all theoretical. And I continue to add more and more parts...

[WilloW]

You're not alone in this. I've thought about ditching the S14 and getting a WRX many times, but the only thing that is preventing me from doing so is the sentimental reason. I wouldn't mind owning an 06+ WRX or STi at all, I would probably end up getting a Legacy GT once I'm done with school.

[cdlong]

i like the 240 a lot, but i'm not overly attached to it. i mostly don't want to give it up because of all the money i've dumped into it. so i'll dump more money into it. though throwing good money after bad doesn't seem like a good way to go.

[WilloW]

i like the 240 a lot, but i'm not overly attached to it. i mostly don't want to give it up because of all the money i've dumped into it. so i'll dump more money into it. though throwing good money after bad doesn't seem like a good way to go.
I had neglected that part in my previous reply. I figured that I could never get back what I dumped into it so might as well drive it to the ground :D.

[e1_griego]

I'd feel dirty driving a wrx.

No popped collars for me, kthxbai.

Plus I am pretty attached to my nissan hoopty.

[Bumnah]

I have a figure in my mind for my S13. No one in their right mind would buy it at that price.

She's here to stay for a while.

[Def]

I'm with the other guys, my S13 would be for sale at a price, but no one would pay anywhere close to that so it stays with me.

The thing with tracking a stock car is that it sounds all well and good, but before you know it you'll want to start upgrading things. First it's more camber and roll stiffness, then it's this, then it's that.

IMO, seats + rollbar + harnesses are absolutely awesome at the track, and you can't do that with a true "dual purpose" car. Plus it's always a possibility that you could trash your car at an HPDE and be left with no transportation on Monday. That would truly suck for me(not an option type suck), so 2 cars it is. I know I always used to be nervous as hell the night before a DE when I had only one car, and I can't imagine what I'd be like if I owed money on that car still and was tracking it. Talk about a double punch to the nutz if you wreck it.

That's my 2 cents. Sure, it's a PITA to have a "toy car" that you're always tinkering with, but you can always just let it sit for a week or two when you get tired of it, and you don't NEED it to get around.

[Cory]

I don't think a WRX is a good stock car to track. Suspension geometry sucks, oil starvation seems to be an issue, and the transmissions aren't very strong. These are all problems that I or other local WRX owners have experienced. One friend has actually replaced just about every component engine/drivetrain related with STi equivalents. Your tires will not stand up straight after you have tracked them a couple times.

If you insist on Subaru, I would definitely look into a 2005-2006 STi for a multipurpose track car. I still think you will be burning through tires if you drive the car hard or track it.

...

Two cars is absolutely awesome, and three is just euphoria for being able to drive my cars however I want and not worry about breaking. The only car I hold back in is the S2000, and that is only for hard shifting/launching.

[Bumnah]

Plus you can't do hill climb events in a stock car. I'm only a roll cage, safety equipment and talent away from a hill climb event.

[a_ahmed]

man cmooon my 240 with a stock ka is hanging and hassling wrxs on track.... wth are you thinking LOL

Just simple, have a family car + a toy car. That's what I do... and I guess everyone else lol.

Make pros and con decisions, sacrifice a bit on the family car hahahaha or vice versa.

Just don't get a wrx... its not a bad car, and supseodely they have insanely rigid/stiff chassis (good) its a nice car but cmon... and oh yeah they are heavy pigs. STRIPPED INTERIOR S13 FOREVEAAAAA

[Def]

No idea on the new ones, but the GC8(I think that's it) WRXs were at about 3050 lbs stock. That plus 227 HP stock with a rear swaybar to actually make it rotate a bit would probably keep up with a well prepped NA KA S13 around any track. The WRX just isn't that slow for a stockish car compared to the numbers.

[cdlong]

great advice guys, thanks. i guess i enjoy the tinkering more than anything else so maybe the s14 is a better track car.

Cory, are you talking about the '09s or earlier models? i'm pretty sold on the wagon/hatchback body style. i crammed an oven in the back of my outback, if i only had one car, i'd need to do crap like that also. i've also considered, though only briefly, a GD wrx wagon, a v70r, or v50r.

the GC8 was fairly light, 27ish so it would probably beat an unboosted 240. the new ones are only 3150 or so. with 265hp i'm not worried about power at all. i've been driving a car with no more than 170hp for about 7 years now.

[Cory]

Earlier models. And I wouldn't believe anything short of hard data to convince me that anything has changed for the better on a Subaru vehicle. I just can't buy that they actually spent money to improve the chassis AND made parts overly strong to deal with track abuse considering they pulled out of WRC due to economic problems. I would guess that many things are being cheaped out on. They have also permanently scarred my mind with the 07 and up engine issues.

The 2.5i doesn't look too bad though. NA Subarus seem to be pretty reliable.

[jmauld]

The 2.5i doesn't look too bad though. NA Subarus seem to be pretty reliable.

Every 2.5RS owner that I know has had to replace the head gaskets on their car. IMO, head gaskets should not be a routine maintenance item, especially on a stock engine.

[cdlong]

the same engine is in my outback, i know all about that. not sure of the condition of the headgasket though.

[e1_griego]

The Phase I DOHC 2.5 was notorious for blowing headgaskets.

The Phase II SOHC 2.5 is MUCH better about staying together. I guess some do develop an external leak, but they don't blow like the Phase Is do.

We bought an 01 Legacy GT 5spd for the mrs. to drive and, though it was behind on a lot of maintenance and dropped a clutch in the first 3 months (140k miles), it's been rock solid since (*knocks on wood*).

[jmauld]

but i'm thinking of ditching both cars and getting an '09 WRX premium 5 door. they're ugly, but it's a subaru, they're not supposed to be attractive. it would fill both niches but i don't really have a need to go down to one car (i'm single and have a two car garage), but i can probably get one for a pretty good deal. this is obviously not a subaru board, but does anyone have comments?


This is just a rule that I follow, but I NEVER put a car on track that I can't afford to walk away from. Also, if I'm making payment on a car, it won't be put on track until it's paid off.

Autocrossing is a different story, since the likelihood of permanent damage is greatly reduced.

[Cory]

Every 2.5RS owner that I know has had to replace the head gaskets on their car. IMO, head gaskets should not be a routine maintenance item, especially on a stock engine.

The only 2.5RS owner I know tracked the crap out of his car and only had to replace things he broke rallying, such as front bumpers.

[cdlong]

slight update, i got back and test drove a WRX. it's fun, but not enough to consider dropping both cars for it. the turbo seems to kick in a little late but hard. i guess i really prefer the liner NA powerband. on the way home i saw a V70R at a used dealership. took it for a ride, it's a really sweet car. it's a bit of a tank but fast and really solid. if it wasn't an auto, i might actually consider it. the volvo turbo seemed more even and powerful all the time.

for those that aren't familiar with the V70R, 300hp 2.5l turbo 5 cyl, AWD, six speed manual or auto, brembo (i think, they're marked with "R") 4 piston calipers at all 4 corners, adjustable shocks. i don't think i'm getting anything now, but if i have to go down to one car, i wouldn't mind rockin a volvo.

[2Fass240us]

I was leaning toward the V70R or V60R, but heard they are reliability nightmares from a friend who has an older 850 (IIRC) turbo wagon.

[cdlong]

i can't say that's a big suprise. a family wagon strained with that much extra power/equipment by a company not used to the performance market. what did you end up getting?

one of the dealerships had a used '08 STi, $30k, 20k miles. i didn't drive it but i sat in it. it's been said that the improvements to the '09 WRX made the STi almost moot ($8k for 40hp?) but better seats, widebody, 6 speed, etc. but the upgrades underneath might make it a better track car judging by what cory said.

[charles]

I've always done the 2 car show most of my life, I think it's the best route.

My 06' Z Roadster gets scheduled maintenance and gas, nothing more.

Tinker on and autoX my 240, tear it apart and don't feel like finishing it or an issue comes up, leave it sit.

I can still get to work the next day.

As already mentioned, if you do want to get a Suby to beat the crap out of, 05-06 Sti is the only option I'd consider.

[RBbugBITme]

i wouldn't mind rockin a volvo.

AMEN brotha! :cool:

I'm in love with my S60R! Looking forward to 350 awhp and my warranty with AWESOME Brembo 13"ers and 4 pots.

[cdlong]

any comments about 2fass240us' comment about reliability?

[RBbugBITme]

Not really as I've only had it since last Thursday but from what I've been reading they don't have a strong drivetrain like an Evo/STI if you're looking to increase power and do clutch drops. Other than that I haven't seen anything that is cause for alarm to me. It isn't a car I'd track but it is a real beauty around town though it really shines when canyon carving and doing highway pulls.