STI Purchase Dilemma
09 February 2017, 08:10 PM
#1
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STI Purchase Dilemma
Now, some people will call me an old woman but hear me out.
I've been a Subaru fan and owner on and off since 2003.
My first was an STI 4 in white which got hooked. 2 years after the purchase, my Dad had a stroke and priorities changed so decided to sell it.
A year later, I bought an 99 UK turbo which again, I loved. But I had an itch to scratch. So, 6 months later, I sold it and bought a DC2 Integra Type R.
Although an awesome car, I soon realised that it was a car that could only be driven at 90%+ to fully enjoy it.
Sold it and bought an STI 3 which needed some body work sorting out.
After 80 out of the 90 mile trip home, the bigends went (I suspect the previous owner knew something was looming but I fell for it). So I ended up spending the best part of 5k sorting both the engine and bodywork. My fiancé and I were due to get married later that year, so I admitted defeat and sold it a couple of months later to recoup some money that was needed for the wedding.
Then we bought first place together and had our first child but I still yearned for another Impreza. However, it took me a while to convince myself that I would take the risk again. Ended up with an 05 WRX which although great for every day motoring, just didn't tick all the boxes. Plus it was silver! 🙄
Plus I had always loved the look and appeal of the BMW E92 Coupe.
So, after having the WRX for just over two years, I took the plunge and ended up with the best looking car I have ever owned.
But..... I have now changed jobs where I earn more money and get a comfy and economical company car.
I was thinking of flogging the BMW and just banking the cash. Then I saw another Impreza. An 04 STI in great condition for not a lot of money. Drove it today and I'm hooked again.
It will be a fun car for the weekend so I'm hoping I won't get bored of it.
So I'm in a quandary. Do I
1) Buy it and flog the BMW
2) Do nothing and just keep the BMW
3) Flog the BMW and bank the cash
In the end, the BMW will go for around £7k which covers the cost of the STI.
Decisions decisions!
I'm 34 and starting to think that I'm getting too old for this performance car lark.
(Then I slap myself and tell myself otherwise!)
I've been a Subaru fan and owner on and off since 2003.
My first was an STI 4 in white which got hooked. 2 years after the purchase, my Dad had a stroke and priorities changed so decided to sell it.
A year later, I bought an 99 UK turbo which again, I loved. But I had an itch to scratch. So, 6 months later, I sold it and bought a DC2 Integra Type R.
Although an awesome car, I soon realised that it was a car that could only be driven at 90%+ to fully enjoy it.
Sold it and bought an STI 3 which needed some body work sorting out.
After 80 out of the 90 mile trip home, the bigends went (I suspect the previous owner knew something was looming but I fell for it). So I ended up spending the best part of 5k sorting both the engine and bodywork. My fiancé and I were due to get married later that year, so I admitted defeat and sold it a couple of months later to recoup some money that was needed for the wedding.
Then we bought first place together and had our first child but I still yearned for another Impreza. However, it took me a while to convince myself that I would take the risk again. Ended up with an 05 WRX which although great for every day motoring, just didn't tick all the boxes. Plus it was silver! 🙄
Plus I had always loved the look and appeal of the BMW E92 Coupe.
So, after having the WRX for just over two years, I took the plunge and ended up with the best looking car I have ever owned.
But..... I have now changed jobs where I earn more money and get a comfy and economical company car.
I was thinking of flogging the BMW and just banking the cash. Then I saw another Impreza. An 04 STI in great condition for not a lot of money. Drove it today and I'm hooked again.
It will be a fun car for the weekend so I'm hoping I won't get bored of it.
So I'm in a quandary. Do I
1) Buy it and flog the BMW
2) Do nothing and just keep the BMW
3) Flog the BMW and bank the cash
In the end, the BMW will go for around £7k which covers the cost of the STI.
Decisions decisions!
I'm 34 and starting to think that I'm getting too old for this performance car lark.
(Then I slap myself and tell myself otherwise!)
09 February 2017, 09:07 PM
#3
I'm 40 we've got an e90 325d m sport as a family car and the sti widetrack comes out at weekends, if I could only have one I would not think twice and keep the bmw.
I had an e46 m3 previously which in my eyes did not have the image of the subaru or cry out middle life crisis but I'm beginning to like the out look of the sti and I really couldn't give a ****e what people think, it's a drivers car and a good one at that.
A bmw straight six diesel is one of the best all round cars on the planet and after re reading your post that you have a company car, then as long as as your company cars not boring sell the bm and get the sti
I had an e46 m3 previously which in my eyes did not have the image of the subaru or cry out middle life crisis but I'm beginning to like the out look of the sti and I really couldn't give a ****e what people think, it's a drivers car and a good one at that.
A bmw straight six diesel is one of the best all round cars on the planet and after re reading your post that you have a company car, then as long as as your company cars not boring sell the bm and get the sti
09 February 2017, 10:19 PM
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STI will be £6k. BMW will be around £7-£8k. But the STI also comes with a private reg which is valued between £400 and £675. Plus it has a genuine HKS dump valve, a Blitz Nurspec cat back and a decat downpipe. I think I will definitely change the exhaust for something quieter. It's 'ear bleeding' loud! 
09 February 2017, 10:22 PM
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Nice well people dont rate the dump valves but mines a genuine hks one and i also bought a genuine one but no running diferance i can see well buy the sti and bank the spare cash
09 February 2017, 10:23 PM
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I'm 44 and only my first subaru, I've owned all sorts of hot hatches over the years and before the Subaru to name a few of the best I'v owned an e36 m3 for 5 years , e46 m3 for 6months and a 330d sport for 4 years. As well as a v8 bmwx5 alongside them
The bmws were all fantastic cars but thers something addictive about subarus u don't seem to get from any other car.
Just buy the STI u will be glad u did it
The bmws were all fantastic cars but thers something addictive about subarus u don't seem to get from any other car.
Just buy the STI u will be glad u did it
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09 February 2017, 10:37 PM
#8
Lol... too old at 34... you're still a nipper 
I bought my first Subaru at 37 recently sold my WRX Wagon @ 50yrs old and still got my STI Type R.
Few things that are for sure mate... life is short, time flies by once you get to around your age, and you only live once... I've learned that it's best to do the things that make you happy while you're able to... or it will pass you by, plenty of time for old mans cars when you are actually an old man.
I bought my first Subaru at 37 recently sold my WRX Wagon @ 50yrs old and still got my STI Type R.Few things that are for sure mate... life is short, time flies by once you get to around your age, and you only live once... I've learned that it's best to do the things that make you happy while you're able to... or it will pass you by, plenty of time for old mans cars when you are actually an old man.
10 February 2017, 12:02 AM
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Cheers for the comments lads. I guess it was always going to be in favor of buying the STI.
HPI check done, all clear, temp cover sorted with Moley and deposit paid. Hopefully pick it up this weekend.
Will be a culture shocker from the armchair stealth machine that is the BMW. Only a 325i M Sport Auto, but it does cruise along nicely.
But hey, I only drive it once a week anyway, so I'll be able to blow the cobwebs out with the Impreza at the weekend.
HPI check done, all clear, temp cover sorted with Moley and deposit paid. Hopefully pick it up this weekend.
Will be a culture shocker from the armchair stealth machine that is the BMW. Only a 325i M Sport Auto, but it does cruise along nicely.
But hey, I only drive it once a week anyway, so I'll be able to blow the cobwebs out with the Impreza at the weekend.
Last edited by Gear Head; 10 February 2017 at 09:35 AM.
10 February 2017, 07:16 AM
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That's why I was so tempted. Just had new discs and pads all round and a full service including cambelt and water pump.
10 February 2017, 07:39 AM
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100k. So not mega low, but realistic for age. Has had front and rear bumpers resprayed to tidy it up and it's a good paint match.
10 February 2017, 07:44 AM
#15
If you're only going to be driving it once a week you'll not be clocking a great deal of milage on it so it's good for a few years hopefully.
Only question now is what mods you going to do with the spare cash left over from the BMW.
10 February 2017, 08:57 AM
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Well plans as said would be to flog the private plate, hks dumpvalve and apexi air intake. Both of the later will be replaced with standard items. Then I'll change the blitz cat back for a quieter system. So there will also be a few extra pennies generated from all that. May be a remap as it's on a standard one at the moment.
10 February 2017, 10:56 AM
#20
Well plans as said would be to flog the private plate, hks dumpvalve and apexi air intake. Both of the later will be replaced with standard items. Then I'll change the blitz cat back for a quieter system. So there will also be a few extra pennies generated from all that. May be a remap as it's on a standard one at the moment.
Map should release a few ponies and give it a bit of a health check... just make sure you use one of the top mappers, Pat, Bob or Martyn would be my top 3 these days... depending on which part of the world you're in.
And maybe a few handling mods to sharpen things up a bit.
10 February 2017, 09:59 PM
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Yup, and made good money on it. 😁
Bought it as it was cheap, near by and needed a 4 door car. But after a week of driving it every day with coil over suspension, I began to dread driving it.
Different situation now as it won't be my everyday car and this one only has tein lowering springs.
Bought it as it was cheap, near by and needed a 4 door car. But after a week of driving it every day with coil over suspension, I began to dread driving it.
Different situation now as it won't be my everyday car and this one only has tein lowering springs.
11 February 2017, 08:17 PM
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**** me! You forget how quick these things are. 😁
Will be changing the exhaust though. Full blitz system with decat downpipe and no resonators. Laughably loud. I gave up trying to listen to the radio on the way back. 😬
Will be changing the exhaust though. Full blitz system with decat downpipe and no resonators. Laughably loud. I gave up trying to listen to the radio on the way back. 😬
12 February 2017, 11:00 AM
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Yeah I know, I just want be able to take my family out in it for now. Got a bung ordered on eBay, then will look into changing the system when I've got chance after next weekend.
