Hi all, browsed on here for a few years now and I am thinking of taking the plunge and getting myself a Scoob after owning 3 Evo's in the past and other various warm performance saloons.
I have been offered first dibs on a very good friend of mine's 07' Hawkeye STI UK Spec, Obsidian Black, quality exhaust and a nice mild remap circa 330-340 bhp. The car in question has just covered a genuine 14k and it is like brand new. I have read about the concerns re. 2.5 engine reliability against the older 2L and the bloody expensive tax on the later models but I am really tempted to go for it.
You experienced Scooby owners opinions would be much appreciated, mint low mileage known to me Hawk or a wide track late Blob off P/Heads etc???

Thanks Peeps...

 

out the box the arnt the strongest engine, but its hit and miss as far as if they go.

I've gone form a 2.0 classic to a 2.5 hawkeye and def prefer the engine in the hawk, but thats rebuilt with forged pistons etc and pushing over 400.

 

Personally I'd go for the 2.0l every time. It's only a matter of time before the 2.5 goes pop.

 

Factor in a forged build if you choose the 2.5
My MY07 a 2009 registered car failed at 12K.
After spending all the wife's cash , cutting my kids inheritance , she's running sweet & won't let me down
Go with your heart

 

I didn't get hung upon all the hype about the 2.5 and went for it,,found myself a nice low miles 55 plate (low tax) hawk that now running 380 and no sign of any problems just yet but I'm planning ahead just in case

 

My 07' Hawk blew 2 pistons and this was the result



Cost me over 3,500 to get it repaired but went all out with forged RCM pistons, Cowsorth gaskets the works and took advantage of the opportunity and did clutch, belts and other bits and bobs. luckily it was still under warranty so I did get a contribution from the dealer which helped! Do I regret it? Not at all - best money spent and thrilled with the results!

As jazzyjembreaze says, go with your heart

 

Get one with the head already upgraded. I've got one for sale now.

 

I don't no why the tax bothers people so much. It's only a couple hundred pound. These cars are far from cheap to run and maintain. I just don't understand why it bothers people. But I would go for a 2 litre unless its been rebuilt already as I wouldn't enjoy the car with the known issues. Ad always be worried it was gona go pop

 

£475 for the year but will agree with you. If you're fussing about £500 on road tax, well what about insurance, tyres, servicing etc. It's a big commitment owning one of these cars more of a committment if things go wrong.

 

But even the 2 litre is about 270ish hence my couple hundred pound comment.

 

Gotchya!

 

I own 3 scoobs so saving a couple of hundred quid does make a diffrence to me ,,,at least then I can put it toward wheel repairs due to the crap state of our roads

 

I recently bought a 07' hawkeye sti (37k miles) - head gasket went in 6 days, got full refund then went for the strongly advised 05 sti 2.0 ltr lump with prodrive pack, widetrack and hawk interior - prefer the drive actually - its a beast and I wont worry about the head gasket issue. may get a forged one day but that's big bucks and investment

 

There is a white one about to watch out for apparently, at a dealer with a imminent head problem.

 

That was the one I bought !

 

Thanks for the advice folks.

Decision time...

 

There's always a JDM Hawk (available from 55 up?).

If you want a test drive I'm in Abertillery, so could pop down.

 

Thank you for the offer matey, lovely looking car you have there, it would spoil me driving that...

 

Thanks

Although it's a bit more than a standard hawk you wouldn't be pushing it enough to get the wrong impression.

Not with my missus in the front anyway.........

I think that deep down we all think that 2.5 must be better than 2.
You'll test drive the 2.5. If you do the same with a 2 you may feel that it's a better alternative to a 2.5 that might develop problems.

As you can see from some replies here though, there's a lot of cautious 2.5 owners who wisely salt away a bit just in case, and if that's the way you're able to play it then fine.
A forged one will hold its value better. I presume that the first thing a prospective buyer asks is 'has it been forged?', unless of course the seller is able to (truthfully) put that in the ad, and hence justify the price being at the higher end of the market.

You did say the one you've got your eyes on is an 07 Obsidian Black.
It's not an RB320 I take it?

 

Thank you for the informative reply. No it was a totally standard UK Spec STI when my mate bought it a few years ago with just a couple of thousand miles recorded, as I said previous the car has now covered approx 14k very easy miles with a few mild mods, he treats his cars like his own children, never seen him rag any of his cars over the years hence the reason i'm contemplating his car...
On another note, how much would it cost approx to forge a 2.5L lump if one lets go?

 

Been quoted around 4k to forge a 2.5 , drive in drive out service

 

Been quoted circa £3.5k with uprated pistons

 

All depends on your choice of components
How far you want to take the build etc etc
Like anything in life , there's a
Low end -
High end
I suggest you talk through your requirements & future plans in order to obtain your desired engine build

Regards

 

Factor in a rebuild for 2.5. I did - forged engine on a 2.5 is so torquey. Here is mine

https://www.scoobynet.com/projects-4...d-rebuild.html

 

I'm pretty amazed at how "accepted" it is now to buy a 2.5 and the prospect of rebuilding it. It's not even as if the 2.5's that have not been forged are like £4k less than a forged one either.

The worlds gone mad.

 

Totally agree. I couldn't imagin spending what 8-9k on an sti to think I may have to spend another 4k potentially the next day!

 

I've got an 07 sti hawk it's done 84k no problems fssh

 

No probes you know of. Have you tried the cooling down test. And your one of the very lucky ones by the way

 

What's the cooling down test ?

 

You drive it hard on boost. Seen cupra jake doing donuts to test his. if engine temp takes ages to cool down that's a sign. Am sure that's it.