Hi guys, I’m looking to buy a Subaru Impreza WRX STI.
It has an EJ207 twin scroll turbo engine. And 90k kms on the clock. Everything stock and in perfect condition. I want to get an idea about the market of this car. And also, the reliability of the EJ207 motor compared to the other cars like Evo and Silvia in the same price range.
Any ideas fellas?
When you say it's "stock" - is it what was described by the owner or did you get it inspected. How many owners. Does it have full service history, and was it done by the local 7/11, or some guy the car owner "knows" or a reputable mechanic.
How many owners.
One careful owner….the others thrashed it.
That’s what owner said. And this is freshly imported.
Just make sure it's inspected by a Subaru specialist so they can tell for sure if it's been tuned/modified. By stock they could mean 'put back to stock'. Could've had full bolt-ons, Cobb tune done - now they've taken all the bolt ons off, sold them, put the stock parts back, flash ECU back to stock and say 'stock'.
I personally don't think anyone who drives that car would baby it for the near 20 years it's been around for. I'd only purchase the car if I'm fully aware and ready to accept I will have to spend $ and time to get it to a reliable state. I could be wrong.
But I mean, you're not buying it for a DD right?
I owned an 04 for two years that I sold at 210k kms. Original engine. The 207 is very reliable, just make sure to service it at a Subaru specialist (e.g. STechnic in WA, find similar in your state) every 6 months or 5000 kms. Don't modify it. Don't lug the engine or accelerate hard until the car is fully warmed up.
Love the blob-eye. Regular oil changes a must, plus top end cylinder clean.
A 19 year old 4 banger turbo that is known for thrashing - what could go wrong 😂
Edit: i do love them and have had one, but wouldn’t ever by an old one without a very very thorough inspection.
I could swear they did twin scroll only for JDM STI's, is the car imported?
I think you’re right on VF37’s were factory on JDM 04-05 sti’s
@Bid Sniper can you remember?
Yeah it was the Spec-C and S203/4 on were twin scroll. Think they were a VF36 turbo.
So makes its an import, so need to make sure papers are in order, if not cannot be registered.
Ps here I was on this site looking for Domino's pizza codes for 50% off lol
Kerp! ;-)
You need to go find some owners forums.
Subaru needs good regular maintenance.
Its almost 20yo. It has pretty low kms so may have been babied, but equally could have been thrashed every weekend. I know when i drove my classic V8 daily it used a lot less fuel on average than when it became a weekender.
It's like people have forgotten how to use the internet…
are you talking about blob eye STI? 90k sounds really low for that age. can you tell if it's well maintained from the service history? i recommend to get a subie specialist to do a full PPI. market is good for buyers at the moment.
TBH from my ownership experience, STI in stock form is a bit underwhelming. make sure it is what you want and plan to spend money on it. but bad mods could do damage.
It may be reliable but it's also a 19 year old car. Take the odometer reading with a grain of salt.
90k km? I'll be verifying the KMs via receipts on work done over the years.
The dashboard instrument cluster may have done 90k, but the engine/chassis significantly more.
Back when I had good knowledge of WRX’s the MY05STI was the strongest aus delivered package out of the factory. Had the bigger hubs (114.5cm vs 110) with DCCD not on previous aus delivered models and the engine was forged (semi forged in later models with the Ej25)
They’re now an 19 YO car. You’re buying the seller not the car. Make sure you get it looked over. They were a nice car back in the day now it depends on what you want it for. As a daily STis get annoying after a while. As a weekend car they are fun!
If you’re buying it as a weekend or toy car my money would go on an Evo
EDIt: just saw it was an import. Why did the guy import it when 05’s are pretty easy to get
Correct.
05 also has:
- BBS wheels standard
- Stronger 4,5,6 synchros
- Revised climate control
- Nicer steering wheel than bug and 04 blob
- Fender flares above rear wheel
Do you want this car to flip or keep?
I seen similar mileage S203 go for 40k. Covid would probably see over 6k. EJ207 are strong if taken care of. Not 4G63 strong but can take track work.
How much they asking? Honestly look at a VA STI, in my biased opinion, newer car, newer tech and 2.5L. I had a GD and have the VA, VA is way better overall.
It's probably worth getting a compression test.
Assuming that your mechanics inspection confirms that it is, what you have been told…
A fresh stock JDM import that has not been trashed or tampered with
100k service including timing belts is coming up
Original shocks are past end of life and may need to be replaced
Original rubber hoses in the engine bay will be degraded and should be replaced
Subaru Australia won't service or provide parts to your mechanic for a JDM import
But your mechanic should have no problem to source genuine Subaru parts anyway
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