i went from a M3 to a type r,,,


STI type R, does that count? lol

 

if you want a newer than 05 reg, I think the JDM models are still the cheaper tax, and a 2.0 STI engine with twin scroll turbo (more expensive to buy and no burble due to equal length headers)

the difference with drive with the 2.0/ 2.5.
The 2.5 has more mid range torque for lazy driving/ overtaking without dropping a cog

The 2.5 WRX is less prone to fail than the STI

If you buy a non forged 2.5, budget £3-£4k for a rebuild if/when it goes wrong.

If you buy a forged 2.5, have a health check done on a rolling road to make sure everything is ok. Some have paid for a rebuild and it has been left on a standard map, the forged pistons are different to the std ones and need mapping to ensure they are running safe mixture/power

 

Great info mate thanks.

Watch this space, all being well i'll be a proud owner pretty soon.

 

It'll be a big mistake going for a WRX over an STI, as you will always wish you bought the STI. Yes its more softer for an everyday car, but if you want that, go for an Audi S3, they are much better than a WRX out of the box.

While down at Hursts, try a JDM STI, 2.0 Twinscroll, probably the finest setup to come out of Subaru. It would be criminal to ignore it, although your budget might be stretched a little for one.

Theres lots of envy on here, STI envy by the WRX boys, and then JDM envy by the UK STI boys....try them all, you will convince yourself quite quickly of which to go for.

I ran a Type R Classic as an everyday driver, and its wonderful...just a little thirsty, but you aint buying a Subaru for the fuel economy. The Type R performance is BLISTERING.

 

Cheers for that mate, you're right in that it's worth trying every option out there, i'll do that.

Whilst i've got a decent budget for the purchase, i do have to keep running costs relatively conservative; it's a daily driver.

I find with the VAG group you get a lot less car for your money than what you get with the Jap stuff; i've been down the VAG road so i'll be avoiding the Audi, appreciate what you're saying though.

 

the VAG group you get MUCH more car for your money?? have you been inside an Impreza of say the same age as an S3? lol. What you dont get is the Japanese build quality.

It isnt so much about more car, its a better car that the bog standard Impreza. The WRX is the poverty spec to make it more 'suitable' to say, do your shopping in, but its not the car the Impreza was/is.

JDM STI, I would get around 35 mpg on a run, and it would pootle around town fairly decent as well...but you could drain the tank in half an hour with its red line scream (you have to hear it, its addictive), and you also get more car for your money, folding mirrors, DCCD and loads of other bits alongside the bombproof engine and twinscroll turbo.

Try them all back to back, it'll take you ten seconds to make your mind up once you have done that.

 

I haven't got STI envy or JDM envy.

That's something made up by STI and JDM owners so they try and justify the cost and make them feel better

It's like buying the best you can afford and showing off about it to hide the fact you have a tiny *****. Oh wait......

 

and that OP is an example of the brewing envy right there.

 

If I wanted an STI I'd buy one, if I wanted a 22B I could buy one today using my debit card

The WRX does everything I want it to do

 

STI/JDM envy I love the insinuation that if you buy a WRX it's because you couldn't afford an STI or those that buy a UK STI did so because they couldn't afford a JDM STI.

For me it's all about getting the right tool for the job. As a daily driver the WRX with a few quids worth of cheap easy mods wins hands down.

The STI does have stronger engine internals and a stronger gearbox, but even they can let go for a number of reasons and won't be saved by the fact that they are stronger, so it's a bit of a moot point unless you plan to go well north of 350bhp and launch the crap out of it on a regular basis.

Then there's the fact that like for like an STI is almost twice the price, which at the end of the day it's not worth paying the extra unless you do plan on taking advantage of the stronger parts or you like the badge on the back, in which case they sell them on ebay.

They are both over 10yrs old now so it's a roll of the dice as to which is going to be "best" and as I have said many times, I'd sooner have a nice WRX than a dog of an STI.

 

Who mentioned money? Oh right it was a WRX owner.

 

As usual, I tend to disagree with Trinity.

I'm sure some people have STI and JDM envy but the majority of people purchase the car that is right for them.

I have a 2005 STI UK - When I purchased it I was very new to the Subaru world so didn't know the difference between JDM and UK and quite frankly, I couldn't care less.

Do I want or need folding mirrors, rear wiper or DCCD, no.
Do I want or need the twin scroll turbo? No, if it was fitted to the car then bonus but my turbo is spot on for what I use it for.

Buy the car that will suit you and your budget.

With your budget, I'd personally wait for a mint STI

 

Many people don't WANT things until they realise what they really are.

You where new to the scene, you didnt know any better, so you bought a laggy UK poverty car.

So really, you may as well of a bought a Golf, because that probably would of been spot on for what you use it for to?

What I trying to advise the OP to do is try all of them, because anyone who actually drives the cars back to back will go JDM STI anyday, apart from the performance it is more of a car, so they dont fall into the 'new to scene dont know any better' scenario, like you did.

 

Telling people to purchase a Golf is stupid, I purchased a Subaru because I wanted a Subaru and it's perfect for what I want. It's similar to me telling you to purchase a diesel Golf because you'll get slightly better mileage.

I'll just leave this here.

 

Yep, but this WRX owner also has a JDM STI Type R in his garage.

And just like I said at the beginning of the tread, if you want raw, it has to be a classic and they don't get any rawer than mine.

 

I agree, I personally think the Type R is the best affordable Subaru ever made, its blistering.

Thats a JDM STI as well. Wins all round.

 

You young ones do miss the point.

Ok, so you can a small one bedroom terrace house. But for a little extra you can have a three bedroom detached house, with swimming pool overlooking the ocean.

So yes, the one bedroom house is perfect for what you 'want', but the ocean view house is just better and gives you so much more and more opportunities.

Now stop making a silly of yourself (again), and listen to the information. You didn't test all the cars, you never even been in a JDM, so you have no information to make a judgement based on experience, just your narrow minded view point of your poverty spec car

 

Your assumptions are the cutest, firstly how old do you think I am?
Secondly how do you know I haven't been in a JDM Subaru? A few guys around here have them and I've been in them, along with numerous other types, makes and models of Subaru's.

The only person being made to look silly is you, with you're constant badgering of JDM STI. Which I feel my picture portrays very well.

 

Your language, and pointless posts are akin to younger folk, hormones and all that, and if not, then your mental age is obviously of that. You are new to the scene, so you still feel like you are king, don't worry, it happens to you youngin's. I remember you saying on a previous thread you had never driven one.

At least Ditch has been around a while and has a fair amount of knowledge to base an opinion on.

Badgering? Not at all, advice to the OP to try them all, and not settle for a poverty spec car because MATT says so because in his year of ownership, it has led him to believe its the best one. Have you owned a JDM or a Type R? No. Have you owned any other Imprezas? No. Not much experience to base your real world judgement on?

Not sure I have ever said the JDM STI is the best car in the world, in fact its far from it, but it is definitely better than a UK poverty car.

Why settle for half a glass, when you can have a full glass. I like a full glass. Its that simple.

 

Again, assumptions. Which are incorrect.

I'm not going to turn this guys thread into a fight with you because my ownership of a Subaru to you is "new" and I own a UK spec car which suits my needs perfectly.

I refer to my original post, wait for a mint STI UK.

 

If I am incorrect, proof please, otherwise I am.

A S3 would probably suit your needs as well.

I refer to my earlier post before you 'started up', OP try all the versions, and you will make your decision quite quickly. Dont settle for poverty when you don't need to. You will see what I mean when you do.

 

Haha well that went south pretty quickly.

Cheers for the inputs, trying as many as i can is the one i think. Presuming running costs for the STI are quite a lot higher, and insuring the import adds to the cost again. I want the right car but i can't afford a huge jump in running costs sadly - at some stage i am going to need to compromise...

 

Over 11yrs since I took delivery of my first one brand new in March 04 only been without one for about 6 months in all that time, so yeah I do have a little knowledge and experience of the marque.

I prefered the WRX over the STI then and still do now as a daily driver and probably always will, even more so as they and I get older. I don't cane it on the roads so PPP @ 260bhp is plenty for me and I'm still undefeated, even in the Rover 25 1.4.

I chose the Type R for fun/ track days and sprints etc when I sold my road,track and off road bikes because I was running my own business and had a nipper on the way, so crotch rockets were out and me being the ditchmyster / lunatic / arsehole it was no longer an option.


P.S I also love the burble and couldn't live with the suspension on an STI or coilovers as a daily driver and the blue interior would definitely have to go.

 

It normally does with Matt.

Running costs of an STI arent much higher, and insurance for JDM's is normally the same, or less, if you use specialist brokers like Kieth Michaels.

An S3 would be a better car than a WRX, so if you want better running costs, nicer interior, and more performance, go for the S3.

 

I looked at S3's, similar age, milage and condition cost roughly £3k more than a WRX.

STI will cost more on fuel due to shorter ratios and greater weight, so expect to be visiting the petrol station about twice a month more, they also like wheel bearings and rear struts, brake pads and discs cost significantly more to replace too.

 

STI's are slow....

 

When new, yes because the S3 is more inline with the STI, but not so much these days.

All cars need spare parts, but in four years of ownership of my JDM it needed a front wheel bearing, thats it. Was the most economical car I have ever owned when you take into account it never broke, and it was driven like it was stolen everyday, and in speed bump heaven.

Its common for WRX owners to upgrade the brake to STI units anyway because of the laclustre performance of the WRX ones. So why pay twice? Do it once, do it right

JDM suspension is pretty much spot on as well. Firm, but not bone shaking.

 

The ".. it was driven like it was stolen everyday.." made me chuckle!
I drive mine quite the opposite and wouldn't dare abuse it. Is this normal?

 

Usually when Trinity tries to show his manly features as a keyboard warrior

 

Theres more proof of your age.

Experience and knowledge of ten years of ownership, not a year with a poverty car, that was all that was shown on this thread, but like many, you started again with your lack of knowledge and lack of experience, don't you ever get tired looking daft?