WRX PPP or std 04 STI?
 

Right, 6 months since I sold the scoob and now I want back in. Miss the sound, the practicality of 4 doors and the B road pace. (had a MY99 PPP)

Bought a Civic Type R and while it's great in the dry, it loses so much traction in the wet it's unbelievable. That and given that the roads aren't all that flat where I live and the car tends to weave all over the place - well documented I know but worst thing about it is the steering.

I've thought about an STI 04 (without PPP) which I believe you can good deals on now but an also considering a WRX PPP.

Any views from current owners of both would be appreciated.

Cheers
Neil

The wrx+ppp is a better chioce on wet surfaces but will not match the straight line performance of the 04 sti . . .

I've just changed from an 03 STi PPP to an 05 WRX - PPP being added soon - and Im very impressed with the WRX. Obviously there is a significant power difference at the moment, but as I'm still running her in it's not something I'm bothered about.

The WRX is a lot more refined and comfortable than the STi in terms of everyday ride, and if you do high mileage its noticeable - thats part of the reason I changed, the other being running costs. The PPP should take the performance to that of the standard STi anyway so hopefully the best of both worlds.

If you want the all out instant hit, than an 03/04 STi PPP would be perfered over a 03-05 WRX PPP, but I would take a WRX PPP over a standard STi.

Yes, the ride quality is important, I do more than 20k pa. The running costs are also a factor which is why I would steer away from the STI PPP, although I don't know whether the diffference between them all is that significant.

I've read on here that adding ppp to a wrx adds a fair bit to your insurance, and a sti without the ppp would be a lot cheaper to insure.
Just a thought for you to consider.

STI = more focussed drivers car
WRX = softer but very potent

Pays your money and you takes your choice.

I did 50,000 miles in my 03 STi PPP in 18 months...I changed mainly to save money - better fuel economy, cheaper servicing, cheaper insurance, not having to take out an extended warranty etc, but I've been very impressed with the 05 WRX. It's performance on the motorway is still lively and cruising between 80-100 is a lot less stressful and more refined.

Until I get the PPP and first service out of the way, I won't be sure about B road performance, but I believe the pros will far outway the slight loss of real world performance.

Ive had both 04sti far better drivers car

If you really want to push the boat out (and you can get the insurance for it ;)) then go for a JDM STi, anything from an MY03 upwards, though an MY05 will be better ;)
You will find these to be a different beast to a uk car, and as your last scoob was 6 month intervals, that wont bother you either :D

Tony:D

PPP didn't add anything on to the insurance with LV, and I bought the 04 WRX SL for the additional comfort and lower cost. It's also a slightly subtler car the the Sti - less in your face. Maybe not quite as sorted for fast driving, but much more confortable over speed bumps.

STi for sure. At least if you decide you want more power in the future you have the chance to do it. Its also a more focused car from the start

if you get a wrx you will always feel you should have bought an sti
i found this the hard way 2 new cars in 2 years now we live on bread and water

a wrx ppp is quicker in a striaght line than a standard sti 04 as well

prodrive quote more torq and a 0-60 time of 4.8

plus its 3 or 4 k cheaper than a sti

gutmann is right if you want to go further with mods, sti is better

but then thats 3 to 4 k for a sti ,than another 1600 for ppp,then its quicker than a wrx ppp

decide how far you want to go

personnely , a wrx ppp for 21k is a good handleing sub 5 second car, actually 4.8 !
value for money

and if you get a sti, then IMHO go for spec c instead

Cheers for the replies.

Test driving both at the weekend. Does anyone know the cheapest price for a new 04 STI?

...that's just the gearbox - 6sp on STI vs 5sp on WRX.

yep agreed, apart from the wrx ppp produces more torq than a standard sti 04 as well, if the sti ran a 5 speed box, the wrx should still be quicker in a straight line to 60, or visa versu IMHO

just got an 04 STi and very happy we choose this one over the WRX we tried.

never got to try a WRX PPP though so we might have thought differently.....

cost wise we paid WRX new price for a almost new STi. been reading somewhere on here ? that some places are discounting an 04 STi to 22.5k ? seems a good deal if its true and you can find one ?

dont feel the STi is to harsh a ride etc for everyday driving, whereas the Evo we tried most certainly was ! having said that we did not buy

we preferred the look of the STi and the additional extras it had over the WRX. We may look to PPP it next year whens it more fully run in.....only just passed 3k this week !

oh and the WRX seats are cr4p, as compared to the STi and my old MY00.

I also came from a Civic Type-R and decided to go for the WRX with PPP. The 5-speed box makes it so much more driveable as an everyday car. It feels much quicker than the CTR was, although even with Prodrive springs, its not as firm a ride as the Civic.

I have the Prodrive springs and will also be fitting soild droplinks and ARB soon, as it doesn't feel as hard on corners as the CTR.

PS. Also tried the EvoVII with HKS suspension and it was waaaaaay too hard :D

Okay, here's why you're not right (excuse the long post):

1) WRX PPP = 348Nm torque = 257 lbs ft
2) STI UK std = 343Nm torque = 253 lbs ft

However, this is not what counts. What counts is torque at the wheels. Assuming equal tranmission losses for both cars (I don't actually know if this is the case), torque after gearing using the gearing ratios and final drive ratio is as follows:

1) WRX = 3.454/1.947/1.366/0.972/0.738, FD=3.9
2) STI UK = 3.636/2.375/1.761/1.346/0.971/0.756, FD=3.9

Therefore, lbs ft torque in each gear after gearing is as follows:

1) WRX = 1st 3462, 2nd 1951, 3rd 1369, 4th 974, 5th 740
2) STI = 1st 3587, 2nd 2343, 3rd 1737, 4th 1328, 5th 958, 6th 745

So...

Std STI has more torque available in each comparable gear than WRX PPP. In fact this much more in each gear:

1st: 4%, 2nd: 20%, 3rd: 27%, 4th: 36%, 5th: 30%, 6th: more than WRX 5th gear.

This will be refected in 30-70, 0-100 and 1/4mile times, and you can feel it. I'll grant you not a huge difference, but don't think that because the WRX PPP has a little more engine torque it's actually faster than a stock STI.

Sorry to be anal!

Cheers.

Completely agree with Wakeboarder here :) I've had my MY02 WRX for nearly 2 years now and while I can't fault the car i any way, after about 6 months of ownership all I was thinking about was an STi, and have been ever isnce!!

Aaaaand I'm off to test drive an STi this weekend :D

Andy

I went down the same line when looking to buy my scoob.

In the end I realised I would probably end-up upgrading things like brakes and suspension etc. to at least STi levels, and I preferred the look of the STi to the WRX with the high spoiler and wider wheels (?they look wider to me anyway?) and preferred the interior tweaks (i.e. STi logos and shift-light :D etc.)

Insurance was higher on WRX PPP than standard STi too!

Thats why I eventually went for the STi. Never looked back! :D

I am impressed ! i almost stand corrected !

If the debate is 0 -60 in a straight line , then subaru quotes...............
wrx ppp 0-60 in 4.8 where as the stock sti is 5 something

If you can answer that.,then i bow to your superior scoob knowledge and better spelling than me !

Although what you said looks does look accurate

I can answer it...its all about the gearbox again.

Max speed in 2nd: WRX PPP 65mph (5 gears), Sti 58mph (6 gears) (rough figures)

So the WRX PPP is faster 0 - 60, because there is only one gear change, while the Sti needs two. Sti is definitely faster, but WRX PPP is cheaper, less in-your-face and has a softer ride.

Sti

0-60 - 5.17seconds
0-100 - 13.69
1/4 - 13.99.

Now the WRX with PPP

0-60 - 4.8seconds
0-100 - 14.1
1/4 - 13.7

Doesn't the Sti have 2 limited slip diffs?

I also brought a standard wrx my03, and at the time of purchase was looking to upgrade to the ppp after 12 months (which was last month). Although having test drove the wrx ppp in both wet and dry conditions i didnt feel that the brakes and suspension were up to the increase. The car felt sloppy under heavy braking and there was too much body roll into the corners, it didnt inspire me with great confidence.

This then placed the question of also upgrading brakes and suspension. So in reality not an £1600 upgrade more like £3000. Has anyone else experience this too?

Many Thanks

Iain ross

Wow , that means i was right !!!!

only 356 posts against a superior 2,860 posts:Suspiciou

and the wrx is quicker over a quater mile !!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope. But then i got the springs too which sorts out the wobblies under braking and a whole lot more.

:)