Forester sti vs JDM 2002 wagon sti
Discussion
hi all
I am currently looking for a car to replace my UK 2002 WRX wagon which has a prodrive back box, filter and remap (about 265bhp)I love the car but it is suffering abit with years on the UK roads and would require quite a lot of work to get it back up to standard.
Had my heart set on a forester STI and can get a fresh import for about 8.5-9k. after doing quite abit of research and I am a little nervous of the 2.5 engine and reliability issues.
started looking at alternatives and found that there is a JDM version of the 2002 STI wagon which has the pretty much bomb proof 2.0 engine (rather than 2.5)and it might be easier to get parts for it as there are a lot of uk sti's and I imagine the parts just swap over? they also cost about 2k less than the forester which is all good!
can anybody offer opinions on both cars? seems like you get about the same power out of both with a remap (320ish?) how does handling/ ride compare? reliability etc? insurance and running costs?
many thanks
Paul
I am currently looking for a car to replace my UK 2002 WRX wagon which has a prodrive back box, filter and remap (about 265bhp)I love the car but it is suffering abit with years on the UK roads and would require quite a lot of work to get it back up to standard.
Had my heart set on a forester STI and can get a fresh import for about 8.5-9k. after doing quite abit of research and I am a little nervous of the 2.5 engine and reliability issues.
started looking at alternatives and found that there is a JDM version of the 2002 STI wagon which has the pretty much bomb proof 2.0 engine (rather than 2.5)and it might be easier to get parts for it as there are a lot of uk sti's and I imagine the parts just swap over? they also cost about 2k less than the forester which is all good!
can anybody offer opinions on both cars? seems like you get about the same power out of both with a remap (320ish?) how does handling/ ride compare? reliability etc? insurance and running costs?
many thanks
Paul
Yeah there are two on pistonheads from dealers fresh imports for 7k which look good. The 6 speed box appeals but looking I think the 01/02 wagon only comes with stardard brakes which is a bummer as sti saloons come with the brembos. I was thinking of swapping over my prod river back box from my current car before remap if I want for a wagon.
With a fresh import will undersealing keep it rust free or does it just delay the process once on UK shaky roads ?
With a fresh import will undersealing keep it rust free or does it just delay the process once on UK shaky roads ?
TEKNOPUG said:
Brembos are a straight swap, if you want them, lots of them will come already fitted. They don't all get HIDs either.
It will keep it rust free for a lot longer! They weren't rust proofed properly from the factory - ignoring the lack of underseal on the JDM cars. They rot from the inside of the rears arches, out. The inner wing has sealant applied and then was sprayed over. This sealant acts as a sponge and because they didn't paint, then seal, there is no rust protection on the metal and they rot. They are also affected where the fuel filler drain hole is and also rot along the tailgate, where the window seals at the bottom. If I was going to spend £7k+, I'd want one with as little potential rust as possible, that I could apply some preventative measures to.
I am assuming that a fresh import will be as rust free as I can get. I never did know if the whole imports have less rust protection was real or just one of those rumours! so that is something to bear in mind! I would get it properly undersealed and try to keep on top of it! It will keep it rust free for a lot longer! They weren't rust proofed properly from the factory - ignoring the lack of underseal on the JDM cars. They rot from the inside of the rears arches, out. The inner wing has sealant applied and then was sprayed over. This sealant acts as a sponge and because they didn't paint, then seal, there is no rust protection on the metal and they rot. They are also affected where the fuel filler drain hole is and also rot along the tailgate, where the window seals at the bottom. If I was going to spend £7k+, I'd want one with as little potential rust as possible, that I could apply some preventative measures to.
MDMA . said:
you not fancy a nice classic wagon? a JDM sti one? personally, I'd have one of those than a bugeye wagon. think they look so much nicer.
I have had a classic wagon in the past and loved it but I think the classics do need little more upkeep as they are older and as it will be a daily driver for my wife I want to keep it relatively new and reliable.I did have first refusal on my friends STI classic wagon. It's was fantastic but it was white with the two massive spoilers on the boot had BC coilovers and 18inch rims so was pretty brutal as a daily driver and I just think I could get the looks past my wife!
I like the V7 STI wagon as it is very understated (if a little boring) but I quite like a car to look subtle but go fast. My other car is a supercharged MX5 which looked pretty much sandard which is quite fun when you come up against people (mainly BMW's) who think it is a haridressers car!
if JDM cars are more prone to rust maybe I should look at a UK hawkeye wagon? but I don't really want to pay £550 a year tax! and there is the 2.5 engine again!
complicated!
vxr2010 said:
hi Paul , lol where do i start , once the 2.5 is built well with the right mods and a sensible tune between 310 to 330 bhp they are a very good punchy engine , yes 2 litre is a more reliable , both my fsti engines have gone even when i don't skimp on looking after them , my jdm sti wagon brakes with redstuff pads are fine but yes you can upgrade , performance wise the fsti is much easier to launch off the line than the wagon , the forster off the line using the same effort would be a fair bit quicker than the wagon , both cars have the same map and exhaust , the wagon makes it up at higher speed and more boost , but the fsti is far from slow , fsti spools much quicker , coilovers on a fsti yes a firmer ride but a much better handling car , revs on fsti are about 750 ish rpm lower once up to speed as jdm sti have a closer gear set up , in simple both cars are great fun , my wagon is spotless and has no rust it's looks newer than the 04 fsti , on a long run 30mpg plus is possible on the fsti i have had 35 mpg , what more do you need to know , both great fun cars , both fsti have cost me just money on sorting the engines out , the rebuild on my 04 was at 83k miles it's on about 145k now , the 05 fsti went at 75k miles but well worth rebuilding , i have had a lot of fun with the fsti so worth the rebuild
cheers for the info! very useful! I do really fancy a FSTI! I have always wanted one! and I like idea of lower revs whilst cruising and loads of torque! what exhaust have you got on the FSTI? any other mods? what coilovers? the engine issues do worry me! what exactly went wrong with yours? what kind of costs to rebuild? did you rebuild with forged pistons etc? sorry for all the questions! Cheers Paul vxr2010 said:
hi exhaust wise a centre section delete and an hks back box you get much better flow and noise , bc coilovers a 1 and a bit or so inch lowering and a remap , one car i did the rear arb to a thicker one but coilovers make the most difference , i've never had any piston issues but on rebuilds i've always gone for forged pistons updated crank bearings updated hg and arp head bolts , one car hg went then a year later crank bearings so in the long run just do a full rebuild as the crank bearings tend to go after hg fails with in a year of the hg fail so you end up paying twice , the other fsti hg fail but getting a full rebuild done at the mo and it should be done soon , cost wise around 4300£ ish as a new clutch was needed
cheers for the info! I might have to revisit my aims of getting a FSTI if there could be a 4k bill lurcking further down the line! Just don't have that kind of cash spare!
give me shout if you ever seell any of the cars! As you say best to get one with the work already done!
Cheers Paul
Thanks for the info guys. Flipping between the two but I think the FSTI is the one to go for as more space, better brakes and that longer 6th. Without the HG issue I would be buying one now but I think I need to have a think or save up some extra cash for the "just in case fund" missus is also very picky about colour so it could be a long search! Even started looking at bmw's but hopefully it won't come to that!!
Looks lovely but out of my price range unfortunately!
my local importer does have a FSTI coming in with 88k for £8500 with new belts/service undersealed etc which seems like a good deal but with all this info I think I need to save more cash for a "just in case fund!
another option would be a legacy spec b, either uk 3.0 or the JDM twin scroll but the wife has vetoed it as she doesn't want the car to be any longer than the current impreza! Maybe I can convince her if it has rear parking sensors?!
hmmm more options!
my local importer does have a FSTI coming in with 88k for £8500 with new belts/service undersealed etc which seems like a good deal but with all this info I think I need to save more cash for a "just in case fund!
another option would be a legacy spec b, either uk 3.0 or the JDM twin scroll but the wife has vetoed it as she doesn't want the car to be any longer than the current impreza! Maybe I can convince her if it has rear parking sensors?!
hmmm more options!
just an update I had pretty much given up the search for an STI and found a nice 2006 XTE at a really good price so I think I am going to go for that! Not as fast as an STI but nice heated leather and moonroof so should be good for the family
most probably going to put the pedders lowering kit on it and an uprated rear ARB, also probably a remap as it already has a bigger back box on it. I don't know if it is worth a remap without a sports cat though? also will I encounter more issues with head gaskets issues with more power?
that being said as I type this I just did one last check and saw this!
must be too good to be true right?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
most probably going to put the pedders lowering kit on it and an uprated rear ARB, also probably a remap as it already has a bigger back box on it. I don't know if it is worth a remap without a sports cat though? also will I encounter more issues with head gaskets issues with more power?
that being said as I type this I just did one last check and saw this!
must be too good to be true right?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
MDMA . said:
It's an STI lookalike. Just a kitted up XTE.
yeah I called the guy and all sounds abit dodgy! the V5 isn't in his name as he is a trader (but not a car trader?) so it still registered to the garage that imported it and his uncle had it for 4 years before him then him 1 year and there is no history as the garage did it all and there are no receipts! yeah think i'll give it a miss!
just out of interest how do you know it is no a proper sti? looks very convincing to the untrained eye!
I did think it was too cheap!
anyway I think I will get this XT and run it for abit and then mod that or upgrade to an sti in the future!
Cheers Paul
This is indeed the issue!
I did see one at 6k a while back and it had 150k on it. was tempted then I checked the coolant and it had oil in it!
Think I will try this XT and see how it goes. I am getting it a good enough price that I can always sell on and not make a big loss once I save my pennies (plus fixing fund) for a STI
Cheers Paul
I did see one at 6k a while back and it had 150k on it. was tempted then I checked the coolant and it had oil in it!
Think I will try this XT and see how it goes. I am getting it a good enough price that I can always sell on and not make a big loss once I save my pennies (plus fixing fund) for a STI
Cheers Paul
Gassing Station | Subaru | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff