Buckles

Hello people.

1st post so as new as it gets. I notice alot of people with the current shape 2008+ Impreza WRX & WRX STI's have a few issues with the engines? It seems like UK and USA cars am i right? I Am a UK expat living in Dubai and i have just bought a 2009 Impreza WRX STi 6sp manual with 16,000 Kilometers. It has a ECOtek remap, KN Induction kit, Full Blitz titanium exhaust and blitz dump valve and waste gate. Appox 350-360BHP. It was owned by a expat enthusiast. I have had a go in the car and dit not notice a lack of performance or any noises / vibrations. I went through the car with a pal and could not find any wrong with it (i used to be a car salman and have looked around many cars so had a fair idea what to look for).

The car is a European spec supplied by the Subaru dealer AL Khoory in Dubai as they dont bring GCC impreza WRX STI's to the country. The car has had the following services done by the dealer.

PDI,
1000 KMS
5000 KMS
10,000 KMS
15,000 MKS (Done yesterday) Spoke with servie advisor and he says everything AOK

PLease if some one can put my mind at rest that would be great.

The last thing i want is to be replacing the engine as no warranty on this car as they only give 1 year on the impreza wrx sti out in the middle east and its just over 1 year old.

Any feed back welcomed or advice. Tee car seemed ok to me and i would of thought by the posts i have read on the net that this would of happened by now? Something about forged pistons not being used in 08MY cars?

Thanks

Buckles

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Its had an ecutek remap, as long as its been done by a good mapper then you should have no problems it was the original 2008 map that had some serious issues (supposedly fixed but if the dealer didnt reflash the ecu....)

Find out who mapped it, I would say you had nothing to worry about unless you change any parts.

Tony

PS, nothing to do with forged pistons, its to do with the map leaning out at the top end of the rev range, the engine is good for around 380bhp on the standard pistons

scooby L

as soon as you mentioned ecutek and Blitz exhaust your warranty was void anyway pal.

No one's got enough data/history as yet regarding whether the ecutek re-map reduces the chance of ringland failure or not...

The biggest cause of ringland failure "seams" to be pre-detination related... many standard cars running 300bhp have shot their pistons... some PPP's 330s cars have also done it... both shared the same basic map until 2009 when a new flash was released to "fix" a possible fueling issue at red line.

If you're worried, knock £2k off the price and get some forged pistons fitted... then your 360-380bhp will be safer.. (also noisier)

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Forged pistons wont stop det but that map will if its done right

Out of interest, what Subaru's are suppied there?

Tony

scooby L

I know Tony, but it's already got an Ecutek map... so forging the pistons will give better protection if history shows the pistons are actually the root cause and a substandard design... cheaper than a re-build

The Zohan

Hi Tony, when i left in '07 you could get the GL 2.0l Impreza shape + The legacy 3.0L - no turbo scoobs sold via the dealership.

Some cars have to be 'middle-easterised' to go into such hot countries - bigger/double rads, bigger a/c, oil cooler, etc.


I spoke at length with the dealership about getting a scoob turbo but understood that they (turbos) do not like the heat at all with it being reguularly 35-50 degrees in summer and Dubais traffic is oftern stationary or one big long traffic jam on the Sheik Zaheed Road into and out of Dubai

Had a mate with an EVO FQ320 (i think) that was regularly popping a piston or blowing up.

Rice rockets really do not get on that well with the heat, thin air and dust.


TBH if this car is up for sale, just out of warranty - then that alone would be ringing alarm bells.

Be warned - As for speaking to the service advisor, this is literally worth nothing - likely a Philipino or Indian lad/lady conditioned to say 'Yes' to pretty much anything they are asked or fear o the sack, no job means time to go home to wherever you came from. Never take a 'yes' on face value unless you get a written report on the from the DP or such. I had so many friends buy cars which turned out to be rubbish POS's and the trouble they went through to get their money back. All business sponsored/part owned by locals, usually astute business men, related to the ruling family in some cases - would want to up against them?

If it was me i would look to a new warrantied Dodge Charger or Mustang which can be had new for around 16K UKP or a new warrantied RR Sport/Cayan for around 30K UKP

Buckles

Thanks Paul,

I think my time in Dubai since 2008 things have got better car dealership wise ( i used to work for Volvo Al Futtaim in sales) so i know the majority of dealers now. Unless you drive a honda/toyota/lexus or nissan every car de values big time and as for the WRX STi its a specialist car only apealling to a selected crowd so when i sell thats the part of the market i will aim for as they dont really know what a impreza is out here. Since working for Al futtaim and he has the dodge franchise i can tell you that this car looses half its value in the first 12 months and are plastic fantastic inside. As for the ford mustang not practical as i looked at one of these before my last car.

THe reason the car is for sale is that its the guy who owns th garage and he regualy sell impreza's, evos and other exotic machines. By all means look at the tackle this guy has in his showroom http://www.toplineuae.com/

I have bought the WRX STI now as my heart said yes i i dont think i could afford to run this beast in the UK so in the UAE i can so im a happy chap.

Fingures crossed i have bought a good one.

Thanks

Simon

The Zohan

Hi Simon,

I wish you the best of luck - regular oil/filter changes will always help in that harsh enviroment although avoid the the many drive through places.
Hows fuel prices these days? last time i filled up the landcruiser it was 70p a gal.

Just had a look on the website - they list a 2009 STI which has an unusual spec - they recon 6 cylinders 4 dr and 2wd. Maybe like a lot of ME companies - lots of BS about how good they are, backed up with ery little knowledge unless a 'Gulf spec' is 2wd and 6 cyls.
http://www.toplineuae.com/SubaruSTi.html


"Porsche Careera" - lol http://www.toplineuae.com/PorscheCareeraS.html
At the very least a worrying lack of attention to detail

Buckles

I collected the impreza last night and all is well and loved my drive home. Yeah you find car dealers and the internet do not go and their vehicle descriptiuons are shocking, Still full option this full option that inshallah!

Yeah will stick to the dealers for reg oil change service or i might get the car looked after here

http://www.tamautoengineering.com/index.php

very highly recommended for performance cars but we will see.

As for fuel paul i filled the scooby up last night and it cost 88 AED so in english money 15 pounds lol

Thanks for advice from all and will post some pictures of it over the weekend

Buckles

The Zohan

Inshalla it will be fine, very best of luck and i hope the locals do not run into it.

Look forward to the piccies matey