its a poo.5............very very likely.
as you are also aware of the issues you will never enjoy driving it as you will always be waiting for it too happen

 

Realistically you're more likely to suffer head gasket failure before ringland failure at that mileage, but there is always a chance.

The 2.5 is a great driving car so either buy one that's been forged or put £3.5k to one side and buy a standard one. If it doesn't blow up then result! But best to be prepared.

 

 

Matty broke all the blobs!

 

Problem is, they're not £3.5k less than the 2.0.

 

No, but forged they are better, the 2.5 is lovely on the road with the additional torque and they look better than the older blobs IMO.

I's still rather have a hawk over a blob.

 

2.5 is a far better road engine than the 2.0, when built right of course haha

 

Best advice I've seen on here about the 2.5, makes a refreshing change from the doomsayers or head in the clouds brigade.

 

I've got a standard spec WRX 2.5 as my daily. 75k on it now. No problems whatsoever in my ownership. Don't listen to all the doom and gloom about the 2.5. People are very quick to write them off, when in most cases, have probably never owned or driven an EJ255 or EJ257.

 

I've had 3, 2.5's that were stock, 2 failed or were on the way to fail (one HG one ringland i bought it with a rebuilt engine) and the other one i didn't have for very long but was fine for the time i had it (prob only 3k miles). Some will do 100k+ no issues, some will need 3 engines within 10k, its pure pot luck

 

They are if the engine is already broken.

But I agree, it's difficult to square the sum of a £5-6k Hawkeye WRX, that potentially will need £5k (realistically once you start replacing other parts whilst the engine is out and labour costs if you can't do a lot of the work yourself) invested in it and will ultimately still be a WRX with a 5-speed box but a 400+bhp capable engine. £10K + buys an awful lot of other car.

 

I sold my last Hawk 2.5 STI with 92k miles on the clock still on its original engine and head gaskets I only sold it as the miles were getting up a bit.
Saying that I've replaced head gaskets on 2.5's with under 40k miles on.
It is pot luck but I would still buy another...in fact I did with blown head gaskets! ( but I knew they were gone when I bought it!)

 

You reckless b4stard! Who sold you a car with blown head gaskets?????

 

Wouldn't like to say!!!

 

 

The general consensus is the 2.5 in WRX trim is a good engine. It does not like too much fettling of the power output, it then goes wrong.

The diesel 2.0 is a horror comic though.

 

not sure id agree with you there i know of plenty of wrx failures, including the one i bought. sti/wrx makes no difference unfortunately.

 

My 2.5 wrx has been fine, its at 74k now and so far no issues 🤞🏻 it does have full history and it is a ppp car ( as ive recently found the cert )

 

To be honest, the PPP ecu will not help prevent failure. Its just as likely to fail.

 

Servicing, quality parts and how it's treated are the main reasons for longevity on any Subaru.

 

Again i would disagree, seen some proper dogs that have done well millage wise and seen decent cars not, its pure pot luck. There are way too many failures for that to be the case.

I agree if you abuse a car it will fail, but the 2.5 just seems to randomly fail when it wants too, you may be lucky and it doesn't.

 

That was the feeling I have about the WRX 2.5 as well. Especially a standard car which hasn't been mapped.

Don't think I agree with you to be honest, I don't know a single person who has a standard none mapped WRX which has suffered engine failure. Head gaskets, yeah, maybe. But ringland failure? No.

STI's on the other hand are different kettle of fish.... my understanding is that the EJ255 and EJ257 blocks are the same (although I'm happy to be corrected?) but they have different pistons.

 

yes you do, me . my first hawk was 2006 wrx that suffered ring land failure before i bought it, car was standard with full service history at that time.

Plus i've seen many up at clinic in for rebuilds. Hawk's, to hatch's. But i do agree head gasket is more common than the ring land issue on sti and wrx in general, my Hawk sti had early signs of headgasket going when it was stripped for forging, but ringlands were fine.

 

There there the guy who's just posted a thread who has a 7k mike old forged engine that's already popped. So all that money has been spent, 10k worth of bills he has, and it went anyway.

 

Because it wasnt built properly by the sound of the thread. Thats an unrelated issue.

 

this,,,,

doesnt mater what spec a bad build is a bad build

 

Yes, but by a supposedly reputable builder. My point being is you can spend all that cash, wait ages for the build and it can still go pop. I'm sure the majority of the 2.5's are just fine day to day and for some spirited driving.

 

Struggling to see the point here you keep pressing.

A poorly built engine that fails has no bearing on the 2.5 documented issues and ongoing saga.

The end.

 

Having gone through the rebuild process on my previous 2.0 sti i can honestly say that ive not been put off buying another Subaru.
I spent over 10k on the above car, sold it, and now own a MY15 2.5 sti.

The pro's well exceed the con's in my opinion, couldn't be happier with my new car.
OK there is a lot more out there these days but i was on the way to work the other morning (5am) and this fella in a pretty new Astra VXR pulled beside me and said " i see you going to work most days and i have to say that's a bloody nice car "


My honest advice to anyone buying a 2.0 or 2.5 subaru would be to make sure you have the funds for a decent rebuild.
If you cant, you're probably looking at the wrong car.

Siv