Cheers.

 

It's a more or less known fact that all the 2.5 engines have inherent issues including ring land and headgasket issues.

 

it is when its continually highlighted buy people who own older 2.0L cars and peeps who earn their crust selling spec C's All i said was i had not heard of any RB's to yet suffer this piston problem. Coulld be RB owners love there cars and dont skimp on cheap oil, regular changes and 99ron fuel

 

Believe me i don't earn my crust selling spec c's
The RB320 is a nice motor however it still has the 2.5 UK engine.
The same opinion comes from tuners who see these cars day in day out

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...-failures.html

RB320 owner for you

Anyway, from the RB320 forum (head gasket rather than pistons)

"Posted 13 April 2011 - 07:38 PM
Hi guys,
I don't post very often but defo check in everyday for snoop. I have some bad news on No 151. The head cylinder gasket has failed apparently, I was out on Sat for a drive in the sunshine, quite spirited but nothing exceptional, my water temp gauge started climbing from the usual mark, I pulled in straight away. On inspection no obvious leaks or hoses loose?. Let the car cool down for an hour and a half and was followed home the couple of miles by the RAC. The car was only serviced 4weeks ago so I knew all the fluid levels were spot on. Had the car checked at the house by Duncan at Hypertech on Monday, diagnosis, fooked gasket :sweatingbullets: , got a second opinion from Subaru main dealer, diagnosis, fooked gasket.

I am a bit perplexed as the car has wanted for nothing, best oils, serviced on the button every year etc, always heated up and cooled down, defi gauges let me know when oil temp is up to speed before using boost and the turbo timer keeps it running after driving to cool turbo. Main dealer was happy to take photos etc and send report to Subaru UK but I was advised that no out of warranty good will payment has ever been made.

To say I am gutted is an understatement, got a bill of circa £1600 pounds for new gasket, parts and labour. Only good thing is the new gasket parts and labour will have a 3year/60000 miles warranty guarantee."

 

We were talking ringland issues. Pointing out one RB head gasket failure does not prove your point. Im not saying some 2.5 engines have not suffered this, it seemes to be common with the 2008 -2010 hatch cars . Performance cars will allways have issues especially from smaller turbo charged engines. The emmissions laws layed out by our government doesn't help. These cars are run so lean juist to get then in the country that any changes that further lean the mixture will have an effect. How many cars that have failed have been modded in a way that would lean the mixture ? What are the changes in the emmissions rules from the older cars imported to the modern cars we have today like the 2.5 ? Have re-mapped car's on a conservitive map suffered the same issues ? Its easy to blindly point the finger on a forum without taking all the vairables into account.

 

Alot of it is down to emissions and cost........your right

 

A simple answer is that an rb320 will always be worth it to someone who wants one, but not everyone wants one,

 

Personally i'd choose depending on what you want to do with the car. Assuming you only want a Hawk Sti then:
If you want one to modify or have a lower budget - go UK Sti (early ones are cheaper to tax)
If you want one to keep clean and show off - get the RB320
If you want one to track - go Spec-C

 

Or if you want something in between go fir a jdm sti, that is what I did, superb daily driver and well worth considering