Would you purchase a used STI?

  • Thread starter Thread starter IMADreamer
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A used STi, eh? I depends. It'd have to have low miles, no modifications, and I'd track down the original owner and ask about thier driving style. You know just about every one of those cars has had the piss driven out of it.

EDIT: Yoda, only a few minor mods are required to make an new Mustang GT hang with STis and EVOs through the corners. Some anti-roll bars, new tires, possibly bigger and wider rims (with matching tires, of course) and you wouldn't believe the stick you could get. Best part is that you could get all these parts straight from Ford, and they'd all be covered with a warranty. Subaru doesn't do that, I don't believe.
 
@Master Yoda: It's not a matter of saving for a while. I have the money to buy any car under 35k right now. I have driven my last car for 10 years and have always put a little back every paycheck to save for a new fun car to drive. If I get a Z or a RX8 it will be new. I don't like the new look of the STIs so they are out. However I love the 04-05 models so that's why I am considering this 04.

As for an S2k I test drove one and kept banging my knee on the steering wheel. They aren't for me.

I wouldn't touch an Evo with a 10ft pole. They look good and are fast but the 4g63t is a real trouble maker of an engine. They are not at all reliable.

@Sage: I love the Mazda 3 but I want more sport. If the Mazdaspeed 3 was on showroom floors right now I would probably get one.
 
The Mazdaspeed will be about $25,000, won't it? My buddy got a 3i for ~15,000, and found a turbo kit, which is proven reliable, safe, and effective (~230 hp crank @7 psi), but he hasn't bought it yet. If you get the 5-door their are plenty of specific suspension parts to make it handle with the best of 'em.
I just sat and played in a Cobalt SS today, and DAMN!, if that driving position isn't just perfect! The stick shifted perfectly, and I never missed one (I always try it out before actually driving it). Hopefully next weekend when my dad goes to look at the new Impalas (I have no idea why) he'll get a test drive in an SS. Of course, that's just because I'm not old enough to get the drive, but once we get out of that parking lot, WOOHOO!!
 
keef
Yoda, only a few minor mods are required to make an new Mustang GT hang with STis and EVOs through the corners. Some anti-roll bars, new tires, possibly bigger and wider rims (with matching tires, of course) and you wouldn't believe the stick you could get. Best part is that you could get all these parts straight from Ford, and they'd all be covered with a warranty. Subaru doesn't do that, I don't believe.
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The STi doesn't need it..

What ever, i really don't care. I have have to wait another 6 months for my license...
I only say what i hear.
 
...And you wonder why everyone picks apart your statements Yoda? The problem is that you are blinded by your love for all things Japanese. If you would take the time to learn about everything, you would have known that the Mustang GT can be a real performer with very slight changes, and the GTO allready hangs with the STi to begin with. The plus side is that even with the modifications done by Ford Racing to the Mustang, total price would still be about the same as the STi, as I last checked it retails for about $30-32K brand new (although they are often marked up a few grand here).

Again, I would be pushing for the 350Z. Its built better than the RX-8, and being that it is brand-new, will probably end up being cheaper to own than the used STi. Obviously, IMADreamer has his sights set on three different models, so adding any others to the mix isnt worth it. Again, for $25K I would be looking at used Pontiac GTOs or used 330ci models, but, different strokes for different folks...
 
Well, if you can afford the insurance grab the 350Z or G35 coupe. The RX-8 isn't as reliable as what people think--and let's face it you either love or hate the GTO. And YSS is correct, the new Mustang GT with $2000 can seriously out perform an STi.
 
If I were mainly concerned with modification and all out performance there is no doubt I would be looking at a Mustang. Import tuning is great and can be a lot of fun but once you get up into that 400hp area you are sinking large sums of money for not much gain. With a big American V8 you are just getting warmed up at 400hp. However if I were looking to seriously do some tuning I would probably be thinking used Z06 and twin turbos. That's not what I am doing though.

I haven't made up my mind yet but it's looking less likely to be the used STi.
 
Anybody in here drive an RX-8? granted, it's a neat little car, BUT, it's not for a performance enthusiast. 9 grand is fun, but unless you do that, you're slower than a Miata. (mine stalled when I tried pulling out and it went below 2000rpm, and I've been driving stick as long as I been driving)
I'd go for either:
350Z
02 Trans-Am or Camaro
M3 - much shopping required
Yeah a Z06 would be cool too, if you find a good one for a good price
 
I drove my brother's RX-8 just once, but everything was fine. Infact, I thought it was a very easy car to drive. I thought it was deceivingly quick, but then again, my car is an Altima 2.5S.
 
Well I have two cousin, and one has a 2003 Nissan 350Z and the other had a 2004 Subaru Impreza STi. Both of them loves their car. I haven't heard them say anything negative about either car. I know for a fact, that both of them love their cars. The owner of the STi, absolutely care for his car. He doesn't drive it hard or thrash it around. Hopefully the STi, you are looking at, wasn't abused either.

Subaru have great warrantties and reliability. So buying a used STi with that low milage sounds like a deal. It's definately considerable.

The Nissan 350Z is great. I've ridden in it many times. Feels great. The only negative thing - he has ever told me - was that his brakes squeeks time to time. That's not a major issue - but it can be quite annoying. Being the son of a guy who had 4 Nissans - it seems all of it had brake problems. Including the Infiniti I30T i'm driving now.

Anyways - whatever you choose, hope you good luck. I don't like the Mazda RX8 that much, because not only is it week but i'm not that into the styling. I'd rather go for the Honda S2000. Have you considered that?
 
YSSMAN
? The problem is that you are blinded by your love for all things Japanese.
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And theres YOUR problem, you havn't read all my posts... No one other me has. I'm not blindind by only Japanese cars. I prefer them over American cars. But i love British and German cars.. I know i'm not a fan of American cars.. there to popular were i live. It's why i took a different path. To Imports..
Infact some of my favorte cars are Euro, I love BMW M3's, who doesn't? But Lotus is by far my favorite company outside of Nissan.

I respect the American cars that turn, but i don't call those Muscle cars. I call the classic Chargers, GTO's, and basically anything with SS on it's front grill.. a muscle car, thers more but i'm sick and tiard right now to name them all.

There fast in a straight line, but everyone I know that has had one. Said there slow around the corners. It's why you basically only see them at the QM. I know that there are a few dirft teams that have classic muscle cars, like i saw a picture of a older Comaro with all the Falken stickers, and paintjob on it.

But what attracts me away from Muscle cars, is there rasicst fans. I'm not saying there all are. But saying stuff like "Japanese Crap" and "any car from the Japanese is a piece of ****" and you can't denay it, i here it at my school also.

If you look at the coments at streetfire, after watching a Civic run 10s in a QM. Beating some American car, they always come up with escuses why it lost. "well it was tunned with 300hp" and stuff like that. Well lets see.. a front wheel drive car with 150 HP, tunned with some number of hoarse power, running at 22psi.. beating American car with a 5cl. and some highnumber of HP... Just because a economey car is tunned for some fun and beats a American car.. They call them a ricer, and a cheater.. Which it's neither.

That is why i hate talking to Muscle Car fans..





This is over.
 
Master_Yoda
And theres YOUR problem, you havn't read all my posts... No one other me has. I'm not blindind by only Japanese cars. I prefer them over American cars. But i love British and German cars.. I know i'm not a fan of American cars.. there to popular were i live. It's why i took a different path. To Imports..
Infact some of my favorte cars are Euro, I love BMW M3's, who doesn't? But Lotus is by far my favorite company outside of Nissan.

I respect the American cars that turn, but i don't call those Muscle cars. I call the classic Chargers, GTO's, and basically anything with SS on it's front grill.. a muscle car, thers more but i'm sick and tiard right now to name them all.

There fast in a straight line, but everyone I know that has had one. Said there slow around the corners. It's why you basically only see them at the QM. I know that there are a few dirft teams that have classic muscle cars, like i saw a picture of a older Comaro with all the Falken stickers, and paintjob on it.

But what attracts me away from Muscle cars, is there rasicst fans. I'm not saying there all are. But saying stuff like "Japanese Crap" and "any car from the Japanese is a piece of ****" and you can't denay it, i here it at my school also.

If you look at the coments at streetfire, after watching a Civic run 10s in a QM. Beating some American car, they always come up with escuses why it lost. "well it was tunned with 300hp" and stuff like that. Well lets see.. a front wheel drive car with 150 HP, tunned with some number of hoarse power, running at 22psi.. beating American car with a 5cl. and some highnumber of HP... Just because a economey car is tunned for some fun and beats a American car.. They call them a ricer, and a cheater.. Which it's neither.

That is why i hate talking to Muscle Car fans..

This is over.
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You just discribed the classic muscle car v import rivalry. If you think it is limited to just Muscle car guys running down imports your wrong. Import guys are just as bad, so maybe you should hate them too? Go out to a show or track sometime and talk to both sides, you will see two kinds of people. The hater fanboys and the car enthusiast. The hater fanboys will hate on Imports if they are a muscle guy or muscle cars if they are an import guy. Then you have the car enthusiast who will appreciate any car no matter what make or model. If you are a car enthusiast yourself you will shake off what the fanboy haters say as nonsense and just ignore them. if you are a fanboy yourself you will get offended and totatlly discredit the other side. Which are you doing right now? That's why you are being perceived by some as a Japanese fanboy.



Ok, back to cars. :)

I have driven an RX-8 but it was an auto. I was pleasently suprised by it and how quickly it got me to 60mph. The car is extremely nimble also. I am personally a big fan of the car.

Moral of the story is I don't know what car I am going with yet. I haven't ruled out anything but I think my search has been narrowed down. I have known for years now picking my next car would be one of the hardest choices of my life for two reasons, I am tight with my money and I am a car guy so picking the right one is a huge deal to me.

Thanks for the good discussion so far and keep it coming if you want. I am taking notes.
 
IMADreamer
You just discribed the classic muscle car v import rivalry. If you think it is limited to just Muscle car guys running down imports your wrong. Import guys are just as bad, so maybe you should hate them too? Go out to a show or track sometime and talk to both sides, you will see two kinds of people. The hater fanboys and the car enthusiast. The hater fanboys will hate on Imports if they are a muscle guy or muscle cars if they are an import guy. Then you have the car enthusiast who will appreciate any car no matter what make or model. If you are a car enthusiast yourself you will shake off what the fanboy haters say as nonsense and just ignore them. if you are a fanboy yourself you will get offended and totatlly discredit the other side. Which are you doing right now? That's why you are being perceived by some as a Japanese fanboy.



Ok, back to cars. :)

I have driven an RX-8 but it was an auto. I was pleasently suprised by it and how quickly it got me to 60mph. The car is extremely nimble also. I am personally a big fan of the car.

Moral of the story is I don't know what car I am going with yet. I haven't ruled out anything but I think my search has been narrowed down. I have known for years now picking my next car would be one of the hardest choices of my life for two reasons, I am tight with my money and I am a car guy so picking the right one is a huge deal to me.

Thanks for the good discussion so far and keep it coming if you want. I am taking notes.
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Am I right to assume that the RX-8 1.3L Automatic has 40 less HP than it's 6-speed counter model?

For low 20k miles, I'm seeing them go for around that $19-22k price range for '04-05 models.

I would like to test drive a RX-8 6-speed...and being a 4 passenger, you can take the whole family. :)

Good luck on your decision making...
 
I just wanted to post this up so you guys could get a sense of his mentality. I have been getting bombarded all day with PMs from this guy. After my response to him in this thread he PMed me telling me to keep it to PMs instead of in the thread. Why? So the whole world doesn't see his ignornace I guess. Honestly, I am doing this to be a dick because I don't like this kids attitude and I think he threatened me.

Master_Yoda
Hey dude, i don't care what you think of me. You can't criticise me, when you have never even met me. ANd if you ever said that in my face, you would of regret it.

Like i said..

Muscle cars, i don't like. But the modern GTO, Mustang, C6 Z06, i have respect for those. But other then that, the cars are waaaay to large.

You guys don't like what i said in the 1st place, don't even reply, you guys created the argument, i eneded it. I'm gonna block you if you reply me back about this subject. Cause i don't want it going on. Theres to many of you, and 1 of me. AND im sick.. so i can't exactly put up a good argument. I say what i say, you odn't like it, live with it. I have the right to say anything i want as long as it follows the AUP.

And i warn you, follow up with this message again, you will be blocked.

Cause you guys need to learn to stop counter attacking my statments, you need to live with it.
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Which was his response to this. Originally Posted by IMADreamer
You lost all and any respect I may have ever had for you. You are no better then any of the muscle car guys you critisize because you are an ignornat closed minded fool just like they are.


Which was my response to this:

Originally Posted by Master_Yoda
I'm offended by the rasist things they say. If you read a little clsoer you would of realised that. Next time PM do not continue it in the thread.

Originally Posted by IMADreamer
So because some muscle car guys are racist you don't like any of them? That's weak.

Master_Yoda
Um.. I never said that.. You really need to learn how to read..

Like i said, i'm offended by there rasists coments. Cause i have family that are half Japanese. And we have friends that were Japanese at WWII, and they were in the camps in WWII.

And the word "Japanese" is more powerful then many of you guys think.

I never said i don't like American cars because of the people make rasists coments.

I just don't like American cars.. To me there big ass ugly peices of junk. And you can't/won't change my mind. I like small quick cars. It's my style.. Japanese cars are underated where i live, and i like underated cars, in my eyes there better,
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My dad bought his STi used with 10k on it about a year and a half ago. It now has almost 80k. To this point, it has been a blast, and there have been no issues at all with it at all (knock on wood).

I'm not trying to make the decision for you, but this is what I'll say: I would go for it if I were you.
 
superfast
My dad bought his STi used with 10k on it about a year and a half ago. It now has almost 80k. To this point, it has been a blast, and there have been no issues at all with it at all (knock on wood).

I'm not trying to make the decision for you, but this is what I'll say: I would go for it if I were you.
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That's cool. I appreciate the input. How many miles does he have on the car now if you don't mind me asking?
 
Thanks for the postings on Yoda, IMA Dreamer... I've been having to deal with this kid for a while, as he is rather ignorant when it comes to anything that isnt Japanese. I don't mean to start things with him every time, but he usually says something that is so incredibly stupid that I just HAVE to say something...

-----

Back to the cars once again:

Have you given the RX-8 with the stick a go yet? I havent driven one myself, but I've fiddeled with one at the dealer a time or two. The thows seem to be quite short and rather accurate, which is a good way to let you use the transmission as a tool to use the rotary in the best manner. I talked with the salesman for a good half-hour about the car (he owns one), and his only complaint was the lack of torque. But you get used to it, and I think I could too.

...The only reason why I stay away from RX-7s and RX-8s is the problems that the cars have mechanically speaking, and the other problems that can be anything from electrical to small "nickle-and-dime" problems.
 
I'd say go for the RX-8 if I were you. It's unique (sense of exclusivity) and it's more practical than 350Z, seating 4, but still retaining the sports-car shape. And you can't deny the awesomeness of the Renesis rotary engine. People say that RX-8 has worse mileage but in reality I say mileage is going to be the same as 350Z or STi.
 
YSSMAN: I haven't driven a stick RX8 yet. I have heard that due to the lack of torque you have to do a lot of shifting in order to get around in it. That's ok with me for the most part. I do have some knee problems but if it were hurting too bad I would just take out my other car (auto). I can drive stick ok so I'm not worried about that either. I have to say that the auto I drove did scoot down the road rather well. While it certainly wasn't torquey, the acceleration was suprising. I think the 6 speed manual would be a blast to drive. I wouldn't mind testing out the new 6 speed auto too but I seriously doubt I would go that route at this point.

I was hoping to get to do some test driving this weekend (5 day weekend for me :) ) but I'm not sure I am going to make it now because I have had some things come up. :( So maybe a week from saturday I can go test an 8 and Z.
 

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