6VOLT

iTrader: (1)

Hi all,

I'm thinking of changing from my 01 wagon to a pre rape tax band hawk eye wrx.

I will have a budget of around 6.5 to 7k. And would want one with a few mods, or buy a bit cheaper as a stock car and spend the remainder on modding it myself .

If kept to the low 300bhp side of things are these engines ok or are they a bit of a time bomb. Ie. It's going to go.... Just when. Any pro's or cons to these models?

I know I can afford a nice blob eye sti for my budget but to be honest I don't really need the hardcore factor that this gives. Plus I like the idea of the slightly higher mpg of the wrx due to the gearing.

Any ideas or advice on where / how to spend the cash would be appreciated

Dan

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I'd go blob WRX if I were you, in fact that's exactly what I did, save yourself £3k for a few light mods and some fuel.

Also if you buy a hawk WRX I would take it straight in for a forged rebuild and save yourself the hassle and expense of having it done later, so realistically your looking at a nice hawk WRX costing you £9/10k by the time your confident it's not going to go **** up on you.

The thread at the top of the page tells you all you'll need to know about the 2.5L engine.

sit's back and waits for chopperman.

PrimeKos

iTrader: (1)

Personally I like the look of the hawkeye compared to the blob. End of the day it's your cash mate so get whatever you want. I would serioulsy consider the point ditchmyster is making as he is not bull****ting about the 2.5 being weak.. if you going to get one I would serioulsy consider paying a little more knowing it has had a forged build done on it and also by a reputable company.

I bought a GB270 Wagon and the 2.5 motor went within 2 month of owning it and only covered 50K miles. Do your homework and make sure you get one that has been regurlarly serviced and not been pulled through the nose if still on standard internals.

GLWTP

harrisard

iTrader: (6)

Get a blob wrx and with the spare wedge convert the front end to a hawk!!! Then your have the hawk looks your after without the chocolate 2.5!!

Harri

Picklemaroo

iTrader: (1)

I have recently been in your same predicament, bought hawkeye 37k miles and head gasket went in 6 days, gutted and ended up getting money back. Toyed for ages over getting another and putting money aside for forged rebuild or go for the 2005 blobeye sti, far more reliable. Yes i prefer the hawkeye front, but have just put deposit down on black 05 sti ppp, cheaper, lower tax and i wont be worrying all the time about the engine. Better peace of mind

g7prs

iTrader: (5)

Buy the blob sti as you will only end up modding the wrx anyway

marshall332bhp

It's what ad do

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

"Thinking of getting a 2.5 hawk with 6.5 to 7K budget"....

Think again fella is the best advice. As above, go blob and convert it if you want the looks or keep saving and get a JDM hawk.

Picklemaroo

iTrader: (1)

I really agree on this! Give some thought

6VOLT

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the replies guys, you have all said what I was kind of expecting....only problem is finding the hawkeye parts that don't cost a fortune...with regards to the sti's getting lower fuel economy is this due to the box or the final drive on the diff?

I know some will say ' if you are worried about mpg buy something else' I get that view but this will be my daily driver so will need something. Reasonable. Ie. If it was just the diff that affected this is it something that could be swapped?

marshall332bhp

I got about 200 mile for a tank on my 03 sti running 330hp so there not to bad on fuel tbh. Mixture of driving. The going rate for a full hawk front end seems to be about £1500 if you get one in colour you laughing.

6VOLT

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I'm getting about 300 out of mine, mixed driving it's an 01 with all the usual mods to get up to around the 280 mark.. 200 miles is just waaay to low lol.

harrisard

iTrader: (6)

I get 250miles plus to every tank and the 300 if don't hit boost for the whole tank in my02 Sti prodrive 305bhp!!!

Harri

domino46

If you want a hawkeye then just go and buy one and don't worry about all the hype about the 2.5 just make sure its been well looked after ,,,7k will get you a hawkeye sti ,I got mine for 7k with low miles and low tax band so they a out there,,,mines on 55k now at 380bhp and is fine so not all 2.5 are defo going to blow up you just have to make sure you know what your looking for when you buy it

harrisard

iTrader: (6)

[QUOTE=domino46;11163259],,7k will get you a hawkeye sti

I'd say 6.5-7k is blob Sti money not hawk!!!!!

Harri

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

My hawk STi has been running 377bhp 412lb/ft for sometime(looking through the reciepts) its on 55k miles at the moment on standard bottom end!!! Im prepared for the worst regarding my engine.

But I do love the look of the hawkeye + its the cheaper tax band being a 06 plate. Also I love the way the 2.5 drives, it suits my lazy driving style, Loads of low-end torque so I dont have to change down gears, just press the accelerator in high gears at low rpm and it seems to just spool up and be on boost straight away.

I was looking at the AMS 2.5 litre re-build kits from the USA, forged pistons, steel rods etc etc, think the kit comes to £750, just need to find out the price on delivery????

G4rfo

iTrader: (1)

is a JDM Hawk better than a uk hawk ?

6VOLT

iTrader: (1)

Now I'm being swayed to the dark side lol. What mpg do you get in your 2.5?

I used to have a 74 corvette stingray ( yes I know, mpg lol ) and I got quite a lot of stuff from the states. It usually works out that what is costs in dollars is what you will pay in sterling after import tax and delivery etc.

I would be happy with a modded wrx, it's just the idea of getting in the car and wondering if that's the drive where its going to crap itself lol. But on the other hand I am now on my second block in my 2.0 so I guess it's all swings and roundabouts.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Difference is night and day!!! And that comes from a UK Hawk owner!! But you pay the extra premium for a JDM model, and have a look on pistonheads and auto trader and see how many are for sale!!! I really wanted a JDM but gave up as the only one for sale at the time was £15k, I got my UK spec hawk for £10k.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

ive never checked, If i really knew the true mpg, it would be up for sale!!!

G4rfo

iTrader: (1)

so JDM would not need rebuild?

marshall332bhp

I drove it like a stole it 99% of the time. Tbh if I used a tank in a day it didn't bother me. I bought the car to drive, if it needed petrol I put it in. You must drive yours like a right old minge to get 300 haha

6VOLT

iTrader: (1)

Your right I do most of the time, I live out in the sticks and the roads are proper ****e....so I have to take it easy otherwise it would fall in half with my suspension set up.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Not unless you break it!!!!

But the engine is a lot stronger then the UK 2.5!! worth waiting for if you can wait, unfortunatly I cant wait for anything!!!!

Shaun

Whilst I'm not suggesting this is the way to go for all, I've had my JDM Hawkeye modified (from standard power) to it's current spec of 490bhp. Engine is original & unopened and it's been at 400bhp from at least September 2010, 440bhp since October 2011, 480bhp since October 2012 and 490bhp since May 2013.

Purrs like a kitten.

marshall332bhp

I hear ya mate.

G4rfo

iTrader: (1)

agh right cheers

domino46

[QUOTE=harrisard;11163265]As I said I brought mine for 7k with low miles and on a 55 plate so lower tax aswell ,,,I buy quite a few scoobs so know the market very well and its a buyers market

This is what 7k got me ,,, and was from a dealer not private

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

[QUOTE=domino46;11163673]
You know as well as I do that decent hawk sti's don't come along at 7K very often.

The amount of 2.5's that have had issues should be enough to put anyone off. Now im not saying they all have issues but many do, and after the cost of buying one not everyone can afford to fix the engine if it lets go.

moneys

iTrader: (5)

hawkeyes are superb, mine is an 06 sti and i gret 250+ to a tank and its running 350hp, i had my hg go but its all been upgraded now, thinking of selling though but wouldnt go as low as 7k, mine would be closer to 9k, they are brilliant cars though and the torque is superb, makes the car pull an pull