06wrx

iTrader: (2)

hi all,

i currently have a 2.5 wrx with 3'' exhaust system, k&n, STi tmic and mapped by duncan at race dynamix.

my thoughts are- i want a fast road / eventually track day car, i know lots of people have high powered wrx's 350's+ but the gear box and internals are then in question, where as the sti's are much stronger ???, ive just bought a vf43 to fit then map is another £850 inc turbo,then the uprated breaks £??? or do i sell up and buy STi.???

obviously i dont want to get the wrx upto 350 ish then blow the box or/and the engine.

also the Sti's are 2.0L so cheaper tax i think.

(it would be a newage STi 2002 upwards)

thanks

fiveskin

STI will be more insurance though remember.....

fiveskin

actually i'd personally think of it like this... why get an older car (which could end up with problems due to age) when you could just upgrade your own as bits age?

dunx

iTrader: (3)

I know two people who have killed their gearbox at around 360/390... engines are fine.

It depends on your aims, quick road car (WRX) or fully loaded weapon STI.

dunx

02 STI is around £235 this year... but the 2 litre engine lacks the torque of a 2.5, but makes up for it with an appetite for revs... I like it !

06wrx

iTrader: (2)

thats one of my plus sides to keeping the wrx.

06wrx

iTrader: (2)

i dont want the expence of a new gearbox, but on the other hand i do want the power so if i take the wrx to the gear box limits and settle for that i know a month later ill want more!!!

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

From your response above,I'd say you anticipate wanting more than the 350 you can safely get from your car.
If that's the case get an older STI.

fiveskin

Rather than the expence of an sti though, why not just go for the gear upgrade too? If I was going all out track I'd just upgrade all the way. The only reason I say that though is if you get an Sti you may have to start over from scratch again anyway remap exhausts etc.... Plus if it's older and already been running big power for a while, it may cost you in failed parts anyway. I'm a bit of a sceptic by nature though hehe

daz1968

iTrader: (13)

I was in a similar dilema, sold my wrx and got a my05 jdm sti, insurance not a lot more and plg road tax, much better car. But then my wrx was a 2.0, Took me ages to decide and had collected most the bits to mod my wrx, but then I thought no matter what I do eventually I will still want an sti, so decided to cut my losses and change, been 3 months now and still no regrets.

06wrx

iTrader: (2)

we sound very much alike pal

stef_2010

iTrader: (3)

STI

Theres only really one question to ask yourself:

When you see an STI drive past do you feel inadequate ?

fiveskin

But then you could say- when an rs4 drives by, do you feel inadequate?

dantastic

My personal view is if you want to modify or build a track/race car then you should always start by getting the best possible base car to start with, and that would have to be the STI its by far the better platform to start from.

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

On the other hand, if you're looking at building a track car, you'll end up changing most of the STI stuff anyway.

E.g. the things that work better on the road, might be inadequate for serious track work, e.g. I believe the STI brakes aren't all that good on track, and the suspension isn't up to it etc.

The good points are the gearbox and engine, but e.g. the box also weighs a lot more than a WRX box (30kg afaik).

The WRX's problems are of course the engine and box, but then again if you have a 2.5 STI (say), you still end up having to change the pistons, so it's engine out time etc.

I think what I'm trying to say is that, depending on how high you are aiming, there's not a whole lot in it.


I've got a 2003 WRX I've had since new, and it's slowly turning into a weekend / track day car only. I wouldn't personally change to an STI if I decided to take it further.

stef_2010

iTrader: (3)

Now thats just being silly, if its scoobys your into you wouldnt care if a lambo drove past aslong as you had the scooby you wanted

fiveskin

suppose you have a point there stef hehe.


as henrik said though, if youre going for a mental track machine you'd still end up changing out the differences anyway.
i mean suspension for example... you'd take it out and swap it on either of them anyway....


werent the subaru WRC cars WRX base not STI ?

dantastic

"werent the subaru WRC cars WRX base not STI" ?
As far as i know they were based on the JDM STI spec c.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

No, I feel superior...

At least I don't own an Audi...

LOL

dunx

P.S. Maybe you need to have a sensible target, easy fix is to buy a hawkeye six speed with DCCD and rear diff. and fit that. £3K fitted for mine.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Almost every single part is replaced, so no point.

dunx

fiveskin

yeah thats what i though? if youre that dedicated to a full track beast... you might as well get the cheapest of that particular chassis?

06wrx

iTrader: (2)

thanks for all the imput guys, im not looking for it to be a full on track car only ill only get once a month if that + mr mrs uses it for work,

think im guna fit the vf43 + remap and leave it at that for the power, i read somewhere by andy forrest that good breaks are worth 50 bhp on the track as you'll be able to break later, ive got my eye on some 8 pots should do the trick i reacon. then fingers crossed the box holds up or

cheers.

Henrik

iTrader: (5)

Boxes are quite cheap anyway

Mine's still going strong, touch wood, after four years at more than 350 ftlbs.

BlueBugEye

iTrader: (12)

I took my WRX to 370 with no real gearbox issues, I did throw a big end bearing though on the Autobahn. It's a balancing act, if you had a std WRX I'd say chop in in for an STi as you've already started the route stick with the WRX.

06wrx

iTrader: (2)

thanks for all the imput guys