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I have had a MY53 STI for a few years now and wondered if anyone could tell me a bit more about it?
I know that it is the odd blob STI that came just after the bugeye and just before the widetrack models came out but I like that as it's a good talking point.
What are the specs compared to other STI models though? What is the stock turbo? Was it forged from factory? What is the power split front/back? Is it known for oversteer/understeer?
I can never find much on my specific year so always just look at the bug STI to compare as I assume this is closer in spec than a widetrack.
Found the following which gives me a lot more information - still doesn't list specifics on turbo name/details but a lot of good info in there:
The 2004 Model Year Impreza WRX STi has the following features as standard.
Safety
• ABS WITH EBD
• COLLAPSIBLE WINDSCREEN WIPERS
• DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS ‡
• HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE FRONT SEAT BELTS WITH PRE-TENSIONERS & CLAMP
• HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP
• OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGE
• REAR DOOR CHILD PROOF LOCKS
• RING SHAPED REINFORCEMENT FRAME
• SIDE DOOR PROTECTION BEAMS
• STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BEAM
• 'SURETRAC' LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL †
• THREE REAR SEAT BELTS (3 POINT ELR x 2) LAP & DIAGONAL CENTRE, INCLUDING ISOFIX CHILD SEAT MOUNTINGS IN REAR
Security
• RAC TRACKSTAR SATELLITE SECURITY INC. 1 YEAR'S FREE SUBSCRIPTION
• REMOTE CENTRAL LOCKING WITH DEADLOCKS AND KEYLESS ENTRY
• SECURITY WINDOW ETCHING
• THATCHAM CATEGORY 1 REMOTE ALARM / IMMOBILISER
Exterior
• 17” GOLD COLOUR ALLOY WHEELS
• ALUMINIUM BONNET
• COLOUR CODED BUMPERS
• COLOUR CODED DOOR MIRRORS AND HANDLES
• COLOUR CODED SILL SPOILERS
• FRONT WASH WIPER (WITH VARIABLE INTERMITTENT)
• HEATED ELECTRIC DOOR MIRRORS
• HIGH RISE REAR SPOILER
• SPACE SAVER SPARE WHEEL AND TYRE
• STi BRANDED CHROME EXHAUST MUFFLER
• STi BRANDED TURBO INTERCOOLER
Audio Visual/Navigation
• SINGLE CD PLAYER WITH LW/AM/FM STEREO RADIO CASSETTE (RDS) (WITH 4 SPEAKERS & WINDOW AERIAL)
Comfort
• AIR CONDITIONING (SEMI-AUTOMATIC)
• HEIGHT AND TILT ADJUSTABLE DRIVER'S SEAT
• SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING
Interior
• ADJUSTABLE REV WARNING INDICATOR
• ALUMINIUM PEDALS
• BOOT-THROUGH REAR SEAT
• BUCKET SEATS WITH STi MOTIF
• CENTRE CONSOLE CUP HOLDER
• CENTRE VISOR
• CHROMED HANDBRAKE BUTTON
• ELECTRIC HEADLAMP LEVELLING
• ELECTRIC WINDOWS WITH TINTED GLASS
• FRONT CUP HOLDER
• INTERIOR BOOT RELEASE
• INTERIOR FUEL LID RELEASE
• LEATHER GEAR **** WITH RED STITCHING
• LEATHER HAND BRAKE LEVER WITH RED STITCHING
• MAP READING SPOTLIGHTS
• QUARTZ DIGITAL CLOCK
• REAR WINDOW DEMISTER
• STi BRANDED ALUMINIUM GEAR LEVER SURROUND
• SUEDE EFFECT INTERIOR
• TACHOMETER
• TILT ADJUSTABLE STi BRANDED LEATHER MOMO STEERING WHEEL WITH RED STITCHING
• TWIN TRIP METER
• WATER SPRAY FOR TURBO INTERCOOLER
† 'Suretrac' is a registered trade mark of Automotive Products UK. ‡ SRS: Supplemental Restraint System. Must be used in conjunction with seat belts.
2004 Model Year Impreza WRX STi specifications and technical data.
Type Horizontally opposed Subaru Boxer, 4 cylinder, DOHC/Bank
4 valves/cylinder, Turbo/Intercooler, V V T
Bore mm 92.0
Stroke mm 75.0
Compression 8.0±0.2
Engine Capacity cm3 1994
Net Power 265 PS@ 6000
Torque 343 Nm @ 4000
Fuel Consumption l/100 km (mpg)
Urban 15.5 (18.2)
Extra Urban 8.5 (33.2)
Combined 11.1 (25.4)
Engine
CO2 emissions g/km 265
Max. Vehicle Speed mph (km/h) 152 (244)
0-100 kph (0-62 mph) seconds 5.5
Speed per 1000 RPM (mph)
1 5.1
2 7.8
3 10.5
4 13.7
5 19.0
Performance
6 24.5
Type 6 Speed Manual
Gear Ratios
1 3.636
2 2.375
3 1.761
4 1.346
5 0.971
6 0.756
Reverse 3.545
Transmission
Final Drive 3.900
Length mm 4415
Width mm 1740
Height mm 1440
Front Overhang mm 940
Rear Overhang mm 950
Wheelbase mm 2525
Ground Clearance mm 155
Approach Angle (degrees) 16°
Departure Angle (degrees) 19°
Ramp Angle (degrees) 16°
Kerb Weight kg 1470
Payload kg 410
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) kg 1880
Trailer Weight Braked kg 1200
Trailer Weight Unbraked kg 500
Nose Weight kg 75
Gross Train Weight (GTW) kg (GTW = GVW + max trailer weight). 3080
Fuel tank capacity 60 Litres
Tyres 225/45 R 17
Wheels 17 x 7 1/2 JJ
Track front mm 1490
Track rear mm 1480
Dimensions
and Weights
Min. Turning Circle (m) diameter (Radius) Kerb to Kerb 11.0 (5.5)
Could you not do an applied model number search for your vehicle? The link below is from a legacy site but it says “Subaru” model search and not Legacy specific. May help.
Forgot to mention (you should find it if you do a search on here). There was a thread regarding which engines were forged and which were not. Also stated which blocks were CDB/SCDB/ODB. Also discusses why the “forged” were not forged as the average person would read it. I am doing all this from memory so please dig around. Last of the “forged” was the Bug STI. Changed when face lifted to Blob. Early Blob (if your car is an 03 as you suggest it is an early Blob) was SCDB, none forged, with cosmetic tweaks to get rid of ugly duckling persona that tanked. Please remember I’m doing this from memory so don’t take it as gospel! I’ve been wrong before (lost count) and will be wrong again!
thank you for the info, I think this must be the thread. So it is an early blob, must be the non forged which is good to know. Not sure what CDB etc means but assume this is Closed Deck Block?
yes it is a Type UK so VF35 it must be. Thank you!
Another question I can’t find a definitive answer to is the power split front/rear. I always thought it was a straight 50/50 in the AWD systems but came across a few threads that suggested it was weighted slightly more to the rear.
Alyn (Stockcar) knows far more than most. What he says is gospel! Correct “ Closed/Semi Closed/Open Deck Block. Condition aside gives you some idea of their construction and tuning potential (once upon a time, yours’s now getting on a bit). Posts can be a bit of a mine field on certain topics. I was doing a search for you when Alyn replied. It can be hard to figure out reliable sources of info. Will dig ref power split as I can’t remember and I think one of mine will be the same so would be good to refresh my memory!
Mine field entered, Mine strike, Mine field extracted! Can’t find a source I actually have faith in. I’d be interested in the facts also. Normally brochures like to mention these things but I don’t have more spare time to trawl the endless versions flying around. I actually thought the newage non DCCD were near 50/50 (think technically they were 49/51 that could be an urban myth). Then the DCCD gave the ability for you to manually select bias by a factor of X depending on model year/DCCD type. DCCD is not relevant to you or I though so not really looked into it with any gusto. Sorry can’t help more. Anything you find and trust post up!
I believe this this is USDM so not sure if it is the same but suggesting a 35/65 split here - wish the STI BBS were a thing here because they would be a perfect replacement for my wheels!
In 2004, the STI used the same 5×100 hub bolt pattern as the WRX, but in 2005, it changed to 5×114.3 and the STI’s BBS wheels were widened by half an inch. In 2006, the torque split of the all-wheel-drive system was also modified to send more power to the front. The original split was 35/65 but it changed to 41/59.
In 2007, the six-speed got slightly taller second-, third-, and fourth-gear ratios. Changes to the engine were very minor over the years, but they include tweaks to the wastegate actuator and ECU in 2007, and a later reflash fixed some hesitation issues.
Most of the changes were visual. In 2004, the STI wore clear headlamps and red taillights, but Subaru switched to a slightly darker smoked reflector for the headlamps in 2005. Big changes came in 2006, however, when Subaru ditched the “blobeye” design for the “hawkeye” design. Again the lights were tinted, but in 2007 Subaru went back to the clear lamps front and back.
In 2005, Subaru added small plastic body color flares to the rear wheel wells, and a year later the STI wore roof vane spoilers, which its designers cribbed from its rival, the Mitsubishi Evo. Later cars also got a small black diffuser under the rear bumper.
I believe this this is USDM so not sure if it is the same but suggesting a 35/65 split here - wish the STI BBS were a thing here because they would be a perfect replacement for my wheels!
In 2004, the STI used the same 5×100 hub bolt pattern as the WRX, but in 2005, it changed to 5×114.3 and the STI’s BBS wheels were widened by half an inch. In 2006, the torque split of the all-wheel-drive system was also modified to send more power to the front. The original split was 35/65 but it changed to 41/59.
In 2007, the six-speed got slightly taller second-, third-, and fourth-gear ratios. Changes to the engine were very minor over the years, but they include tweaks to the wastegate actuator and ECU in 2007, and a later reflash fixed some hesitation issues.
Most of the changes were visual. In 2004, the STI wore clear headlamps and red taillights, but Subaru switched to a slightly darker smoked reflector for the headlamps in 2005. Big changes came in 2006, however, when Subaru ditched the “blobeye” design for the “hawkeye” design. Again the lights were tinted, but in 2007 Subaru went back to the clear lamps front and back.
In 2005, Subaru added small plastic body color flares to the rear wheel wells, and a year later the STI wore roof vane spoilers, which its designers cribbed from its rival, the Mitsubishi Evo. Later cars also got a small black diffuser under the rear bumper.
Then in 2008 they rebadged a mazda 3 and people stopped buying inprezas
I had both at one point Bug Sti & Non-Widetrack Blob Sti
The whole forged from factory thing doesn't really mean anything as it's the rod bearings most likely to fail on the 2.0 sti. Nothing like a real aftermarket forged piston & they make the same power on the VF35 when mapped.
Great cars but the widetrack blobs are the ones to have out of the UK newage cars
wheels are starting to look tired, been looking at options but not much in the way of 5x100 that clear Brembos. At least not much that I like!
Just refurbed 1 set of my wheels with powder coat cost was £ 465 and £20 for tire change over
As not everyone likes gold , when mine are clean they look a little like these
This was the sample colour chosen but this photo is not my car
At the moment they don't look any different to the rest of the car
Just refurbed 1 set of my wheels with powder coat cost was £ 465 and £20 for tire change over
As not everyone likes gold , when mine are clean they look a little like these
This was the sample colour chosen but this photo is not my car
At the moment they don't look any different to the rest of the car
That's rather expensive; I've just had a set done by South West Alloys in Exeter, powder coated, then wet painted in my choice of colour, inc tyre change for £385. They were also larger wheels than yours.
23 June 2020 | 10:33 AM
2003 STI
