Newb-aru questions... STi vs WRX

[the Teuton]

THERE ARE NO MODERN SUBARU ENGINES WITH EXTREME HEAD GASKET FAILURES BECAUSE SUBARU SWITCHED FROM THE CHEAP-ASS 1-LAYER UNITS LIKE MY EJ18 HAS TO A 4-LAYER METAL GASKET THEY'VE BEEN USING CONSISTENTLY SINCE 2002.

[/ANGRY FACTOID]

[S204STi]

lol

[r0tor]

i'm starting to view my engine dieing a slow painful and gradual apex seal wearing death in a new, more positive, light

[S204STi]

i'm starting to view my engine dieing a slow painful and gradual apex seal wearing death in a new, more positive, light

Dude, there are thousands of WRXs on the road with many many miles.

[the Teuton]

i'm starting to view my engine dieing a slow painful and gradual apex seal wearing death in a new, more positive, light

NASIOC, NABISCO, NAZICOCK...WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT -- THEY'RE ALL A BUNCH OF OVERZEALOUS COCKSUCKERS.  DON'T TRUST THEM AND THEIR GAMES OF PLAYING TOO FAST TOO FURIOUS WITH AWD POCKET ROCKETS HOPPED UP ON ACID.  THEY ARE NOT NORMAL OWNERS.  THEY ARE ABUSIVE, TRASHY POSEURS, MOST OF THEM.

[/ANGRY TEUTON]

[GoCougs]

THERE ARE NO MODERN SUBARU ENGINES WITH EXTREME HEAD GASKET FAILURES BECAUSE SUBARU SWITCHED FROM THE CHEAP-ASS 1-LAYER UNITS LIKE MY EJ18 HAS TO A 4-LAYER METAL GASKET THEY'VE BEEN USING CONSISTENTLY SINCE 2002.

[/ANGRY FACTOID]

I know three 2005+ N/A Legacy/Outback owners that have done the head gasket/head replacement shuffle at about 100k...

Yes, anecdotes I know, but still, I remain unconvinced that Subaru has entirely fixed the issue.

[the Teuton]

I know three 2005+ N/A Legacy/Outback owners that have done the head gasket/head replacement shuffle at about 100k...

Yes, anecdotes I know, but still, I remain unconvinced that Subaru has entirely fixed the issue.

But Subaru covers all of them under warranty.  Fact.

[Soup DeVille]

NASIOC, NABISCO, NAZICOCK...WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT -- THEY'RE ALL A BUNCH OF OVERZEALOUS COCKSUCKERS.  DON'T TRUST THEM AND THEIR GAMES OF PLAYING TOO FAST TOO FURIOUS WITH AWD POCKET ROCKETS HOPPED UP ON ACID.  THEY ARE NOT NORMAL OWNERS.  THEY ARE ABUSIVE, TRASHY POSEURS, MOST OF THEM.

[/ANGRY TEUTON]

In general, most model or brand specific forums tend to be full of crap information.

[Cookie Monster]

And yet again, Teuton tries to defend his favorite brand...

[Soup DeVille]

I dunno, the only Boxer engined vehicles I've ever had were VWs, and they didn't bother with such frivolities as "head gaskets" or "timing chains."

[the Teuton]

And yet again, Teuton tries to defend his favorite brand...

Do you know anything about these cars?  I could go on all day mentioning the parts of them I don't like, but the cars really aren't that bad.

[GoCougs]

But Subaru covers all of them under warranty.  Fact.

Perhaps, but it points to an inherent problem you don't see in most other cars, and it's a real hassle to take a car in for an unexpected repair, too.

[Soup DeVille]

Perhaps, but it points to an inherent problem you don't see in most other cars, and it's a real hassle to take a car in for an unexpected repair, too.

Think of it this way: an engine that fails near the end of its warranty period is really a best case scenario.

[the Teuton]

It's a design flaw. My engine failed at 159k miles.  The EJ25D from 1998 went at about 100k miles.  But since the 2002 engine redesign/upgrades, the amount of problematic engines has gone down significantly.  Subaru kept the SOHC 1999-2001 engines under warranty up to 100,000 miles because of it.  They knew there was a problem, and they will do what needs to be done to fix it at a minimal cost to the owner.  Subaru doesn't make unreliable shit, and they stand behind their products.

R0tor, how long are you planning on keeping the car?

[GoCougs]

Think of it this way: an engine that fails near the end of its warranty period is really a best case scenario.

I'd prefer an engine that just goes at 150,000+ as chances are I've unloaded it by then...

[Cookie Monster]

It's a design flaw. My engine failed at 159k miles.  The EJ25D from 1998 went at about 100k miles.  But since the 2002 engine redesign/upgrades, the amount of problematic engines has gone down significantly.  Subaru kept the SOHC 1999-2001 engines under warranty up to 100,000 miles because of it.  They knew there was a problem, and they will do what needs to be done to fix it at a minimal cost to the owner.  Subaru doesn't make unreliable shit, and they stand behind their products.

R0tor, how long are you planning on keeping the car?

Engines failing at 160k miles = unreliable shit.

[the Teuton]

Engines failing at 160k miles = unreliable shit.

That's a lot of wear, to be honest.  The same could be said for Hondas and transmissions or BMWs going through power steering pumps.

[Cookie Monster]

That's a lot of wear, to be honest.  The same could be said for Hondas and transmissions or BMWs going through power steering pumps.

160k miles really isn't that much anymore.

[S204STi]

Engines failing at 160k miles = unreliable shit.

Tell me about a subaru that suffered catastrophic engine failure from a failed head gasket at 160k?  It's not a death sentence.

The nice thing about working on cars is that I know head gasket failures are not at all uncommon across a wide variety of makes.

[Tave]

I beat the snot out of the Aveo and it's still putt-putting along past warranty and creeping towards 50K. How bad are these WRX owners abusing their cars?

[the Teuton]

I beat the snot out of the Aveo and it's still putt-putting along past warranty and creeping towards 50K. How bad are these WRX owners abusing their cars?

Clutch dumps from 5,000 RPM, you know stuff like that.

I beat the snot out of my car, too, sometimes but I don't drive something with something in it nicknamed a "glass tranny" in it.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I beat the snot out of the Aveo and it's still putt-putting along past warranty and creeping towards 50K. How bad are these WRX owners abusing their cars?

this is how WRX drivers drive all the time
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=P0bFEX-1A54
and that's after they've cranked up the boost controller to 85 psi

[omicron]

The current Legacy is one of the best-looking mainstream sedans on the market right now.  It's a mix of conservative understated design with a low beltline and great proportions.

I agree. It's crisp, handsome, and free of silly, trendy add-ons and scribbles that the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Toyota are fawning over at the moment. The interior, too, is a nice place to spend some time as a driver - excellent vision, comfortable seats and a tidy dashboard. I wouldn't want to sit in the rear for any length of time, but that's an issue for my freeloading passengers and not me.

Seriously, someone find a better-looking family sedan right now.

[/troll]

[the Teuton]

You win, but we're taking out the ruler rather than the yard stick for this one.

[cozmik]

How about a slightly used BMW or Audi? I was all over the place for a year and a half trying to decide what to buy, and then the 06 330xi I drove settled things for me. You might even be able to find a certified 335i/xi at this point.

Anyways, on the topic of the WRXs, I'd probably say to go with the WRX. It seems to best match the features you're wanting, should still offer plenty of power, and costs considerably less. Have you driven either or both yet? If not you should, just sitting in the WRX ruled it out for me.

[S204STi]

Good point, the WRX is a step down from the RX-8 in terms of design, quality, and all that jazz.

[r0tor]

i really dont see the RX-8 interior being something luxury car like... sure its nice, but its not all that that great

[MX793]

i really dont see the RX-8 interior being something luxury car like... sure its nice, but its not all that that great

But it is a level above your average economy car, which is what you'll be getting with an Impreza (WRX or otherwise).

[cozmik]

But it is a level above your average economy car, which is what you'll be getting with an Impreza (WRX or otherwise).

The interior of the Impreza is really unimpressive. Both in terms of design, ergonomics, and material quality. It makes the RX-8 look like a luxury car.

[AutobahnSHO]

The current Legacy is one of the best-looking mainstream sedans on the market right now.  It's a mix of conservative understated design with a low beltline and great proportions.

Seriously, someone find a better-looking family sedan right now.

And the wagon is sex on wheels.





And looky what I found while drooling over pics-

Two of the cheapest new cars to insure:
https://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/122111/article.html