daz_vx220

Hi guys I'm currently trying to decide over a hatch sti 08/09 or audi s3 07/08.
I've had stacks of impreza's and never had any trouble, I've searched the forum and found loads of info on engine failures on the above year sti.

Are they all prone to it at some stage? Or just a bad batch?

Apologise for asking the same questions as I imagine has been asked 100 times.

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

Yeah its just a bad batch matey..........All of them

daz_vx220

I'd have one over the audi any day of the week but just can't justify spending 10k+ on a car that IS gonna blow up......

thenewgalaxy

The 2.5 engine should have been utterly brilliant, and if it were so then we'd all be raving about it. I personally have been bitten by a failed 2.5, but run a forged one with no issue.

The 340-R map appears to be trouble free.

Though there are parts of the engine that can be improved, from my layman's perspective I'm more and more of the opinion that the map is the main bit to blame. As someone pointed out earlier you have to ask why pistons two and four appear prone to the issue while others don't.

It is wrong to say that if it goes wrong, you should accept it and cough up three grand to fix it, but a forged rebuild and custom remap does appear to be the way forward to sort the problem.

From a Subaru enthusiast's point of view (but also as someone who runs a VAG hot hatch as a daily alongside an STi) I feel the STi hatch is a superior car to the S3 - a league of performance above it in a straight line at least - but I would recommend going for a newer 340-R mapped car, or an older car with a forged engine rebuild from a well respected specialist. You can always fire links up to cars you're looking at and we can help advise.

I would not blame you if you didn't want the hassle and went for the S3 but do be aware that Audi as a manufacturer have had problems with engines going bang recently (Auto Express Survey published recently) and lead the way with failures in this area.

daz_vx220

All the cars in my budget have 50-70k on the clock, surely if there was a weak link in the engine it would have already gone?! Or is it just as simple as a matter of time/how it's driven?

Are the nationwide warranty etc companies any good for piece of mind?

thenewgalaxy

Hmm, will probably get slated for saying this but I think it is very risky buying a high mileage high performance car. Bits wear out and these cars can become money pits very quickly - my opinion and I respect others who may disagree.

Bear in mind that if you buy even an excellent condition, low mileage performance car if can drop a large bill on you. I would make sure you have the ability, if not the funds to fix such a problem if it hits. S3s and STis are, aside the cabin and bodywork, highly engineered and highly strung machines that have high cost parts that do wear out.

A 70k car may have had no problems at all, or may have had three new engines. It's difficult to say whether or not the car will or will not cause a problem.

One thing I would say about warranties is that if someone does go wrong, the warranty will generally try to wriggle out of it, and furthermore will try and limit the cost of the claim. And by that I mean if an engine suffers a head gasket failure, just that will be replaced with no piston replacement or upgrade of any parts that may be stronger.

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

Get the s3, take it to stage two on the new apr software and you'll be hitting 380 bhp with just as much torque.

The interior is a hundred times better and you won't need to worry about it blowing up , they do get coked valves but they can be cleaned.

The 2.0tfsi engine is amazing to drive powe across the full rev band. And spool so quick.

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

Oh btw my hawk st I had 56k totally standard when the hg went. So there's no saying mileage cam be a factor.

If your budget is cars of that mileage I'm guessing your not saving 3-4k for a rebuild.

thenewgalaxy

For the OP, the 2.5 turbocharged engine has been used since late 2005 over here and a little sooner in the US. We first saw it in the Hawkeye cars, which in STi form can suffer HG issues and also piston failures, though WRX issues are known. It would appear that they are not as prone as the 2008-10 STi hatches. It's largely the same engine, which points towards the map.

As it happens my Hawk went at 40k.

I agree with Jake, get an S3 if you cannot afford a forged or mapped car, or don't like the possibility of an exploding engine.

salsa-king

I didn't think the audi interior is any better than my 330s. When I looked at it anyway.



buy a cars that's already been 'altered'
not sure what this has had done but if the TMIC has gone, i'd of thought other work as well... you could always ask them.... mileage is not bad either
http://www.sarahcoxcars.co.uk/used-c...01402131774302

thenewgalaxy

330s, Cosworth and Saloon with recaros have good interiors.

I was mocked for suggesting mine is a nicer place to be than my R32. But it is!

You've not had any problems with your hatch have you Phil?

thenewgalaxy

1.5r engine swap!

Looks a nice car that... at the least it will have been remapped and you would suspect a decent standard of work. I'll enquire.

salsa-king

No. Ive had no problems.

Famous last words lol

fpan

iTrader: (11)

Yes, every 5k miles.

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/in...p?topic=7040.0

And it seems VAG are as helpful as Subaru.

thenewgalaxy

Anyone know much about Tracktive Solutions?

salsa-king

Richard used to work for TSL. So work done there will be spot on. Its next door to Becky and Glen from Carnetix who also used to work at TSL as well.
All of them you'd let work on your pride and joy.

fpan

iTrader: (11)

I've been using Richard at Tracktive Solutions for most servicing and car work.
He is an ex-WRC mechanic, both him and Matt love their job and their attention to detail is second to none.
You can't go wrong with Tracktive.

thenewgalaxy

Seems a good car to me, would have that ahead of an S3 any day

salsa-king

someone on midlands scoobies has ran about it and has a test drive booked for 9:30 in the morning.

Alan Jeffery

Take it from me, the Audi has the potential for a damn sight more annoying faults than a Subaru.
All you need to do is buy the Hatch STi and allow enough to fix it properly. You'll have a great car.

salsa-king

Back of my mind I think allow £4k to fix my car if and I say if I have problems in the future gets me an even better engine. That would be cheaper than selling mine to buy something else that would have less power.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

its got a crap unreliable engine and it looks like a mazda 3 other than that its great.

fpan

iTrader: (11)

For those among us that need the practicality of a hatch door, it is a great choice.
Horses for courses.

daz_vx220

And still after all this I'm still considering one..... Must be crazy

thenewgalaxy

Nah, go for it matey. Just keep some cash or a credit card to one side.

Get the car and enjoy it, only a few go bang. Worst thing that can happen is that you'll have to make it faster, and then it'll never cause trouble again.

beardo47

If it helps I was just in a similar situation to you a few days ago. I had it in my heart I wanted an impreza sti, but reading about all the engine failures made me think long and hard about it. I decided in the end to go for a hawkeye sti as I love the look of it, I have put money aside for when it does need the engine sorting though.

I've had a few cars, last being a 350z and I can honestly say even though the imprezas have issues I have fallen in love with the car, it pulls hard, gearbox is great and it handles excellent (even on crappy tyres and PPP springs). I'de love a hatch at some point too, great cars and to me worth the niggles.

thenewgalaxy

Spot on it's the way most of the hatch owners think

salsa-king

what niggles with the hatch?

The Hawk STi has the same engine as the Hatch

beardo47

Exactly. Which is why it didn't bother me buying a hawk.

salsa-king

so why didn't you buy a hatch