Subaru impreza wrx sti hatchback

[Beddoes96]

Hi wondering if anyone could help me I'm thinking of buying a subaru impreza wrx sti 2.5l hatchback type UK, 73k miles for just shy of 10k the car looks really clean and drives okay but is there anything I should look out for before buying this car or any common problems that may occur

[Ankh87]

Check for oil leaks. Look to make sure it has been maintained. Owning a WRX is about preventive maintenance not reactive.
Check for suspension knocks and bangs, also shockers that could be leaking.

General stuff around the gearbox etc is to look for. These will have had a harsh life so find the best example you can,

[Beddoes96]

Thank you I'll go have another look at it today and make sure everything's been looked after, it has forged pistons and looks clean under the bonet and drives fine, but I've been told the engines are prone to going bang but not sure how true that is

[Ankh87]

It's true especially on the EJ20 the older models. Mine went and I couldn't afford to fix it. I know 5 other people who have had rebuilds done.

[Beddoes96]

I don't like the sound of that but Ive always wanted a wrx, with it having forged pistons will that not prevent the engine from going? It's a 2008 model

[Ankh87]

Head gasket is usually the main failure from the people I know. Personally if I got another WRX I'd have this changed so I know it's done.

Always keep oil in the car as it does need it and check your levels weekly.

Owning any car like this isn't going to be easy motoring. If you want that buy a Civic EP3/FN2 Type R. Even the equivalent Evo will need to be looked after

[stevekoz]

Ankh87 said:

It's true especially on the EJ20 the older models. Mine went and I couldn't afford to fix it. I know 5 other people who have had rebuilds done.

That isn't necessarily true, the more frequent issues found are in relation to EJ25 blocks and not the EJ20. The EJ20 is actually a better balanced engine than the ej25. The ej25 suffered with popped head gaskets and ringland failures. Some down to mapping, but not all. That said the EJ25 offers superior torque and is just a punchier engine. My tuner prefers them.

In terms of reliability, either block when modified become as unreliable as the other, that wholly depends on the tuner/builder of the engine and what modifications have been done. Some like to turn it straight up to 11 regardless and will run it at max bhp/torque all day everday regardless of how soon it may go pop. Others will run safer more measured power. Horses for courses.

In terms of work done to the car, check which builder did the work and what parts were used. Do your other checks around oil and water usage. Head studs and the gasket warping under load is one of the main issues iwth the ej25 so that should have been sorted when it was rebuilt - longer studs and better gaskets. As well as a subsequent map as the factory maps weren't the best and one of the contributing factors to the ej25 going pop.

Do the usual checks for the turbo. Smoke, hesitation, play in the shaft. Make sure that the gearbox is smooth and that the handling is on point. Id saw the hatch is probably the most wayward subaru - much less composed than previous models but it can be sorted with suspension work. ej20 cars Blob/bug and Ej25 hawk are much better handling cars in my opinion of having all four over the years.

A forged block will highlight piston slap as the forged pistons will have a larger gap when cold and as such should be pronounced until warm. So don't be alarmed if you hear that on cold start.

I wouldn't be scared of buying an ej25 - especially if it was forged and done by a reputable builder. It won't be any more unreliable and if its only running moderate mods/power then it shouldn't make it any less reliable than a stock car - infact you'd probably be a bit safer.

[anonymous-user]

Ankh87 said:

It's true especially on the EJ20 the older models.

This is incorrect, the 2.5 engine is much more prone to issues. If it has forged pistons then the engine has already likely had ringland or bottom end problems and been rebuilt.

If the engine has been built by a reputable company then it is likely to be even more reliable than the original factory build.

They are great cars but do require regular oil changes which is no major hardship.

[Nexus Icon]

I had an 08 plate sti for about 9 months and I probably got to use it for about 5 of those. It had 2 engine rebuilds in that time. Clearly I got a duff one that then had a duff rebuild done but, Christ, did I take a hiding with that car.

I had got it back, running sweet (for the second time) when the heater matrix gave up the ghost and I just got rid of it before I spiraled into depression.

[stevekoz]

Nexus Icon said:

I had an 08 plate sti for about 9 months and I probably got to use it for about 5 of those. It had 2 engine rebuilds in that time. Clearly I got a duff one that then had a duff rebuild done but, Christ, did I take a hiding with that car.

I had got it back, running sweet (for the second time) when the heater matrix gave up the ghost and I just got rid of it before I spiraled into depression.

Have to admit i've heard a lot of the nightmare "dud" stories about the hatchback as opposed to any other model. I have a soft spot for the style of the car and i think its unloved model and as such you can get a "lower priced" car but i'd be wary of making sure all the work is done by someone reputable and not all tuners have experience of both engines.

I wouldn't necessarily buy a car with an ej25 block that had been built by a tuner/builder that had lots of experience with the ej20 and not the ej25. I'd prefer to get an ej25 build from a tuner that has more experience doing the ej25. I mean thats no rule of thumb but there are definite differences and nuances between the two engines. So having more experience in the ej25 area is what i'd be looking for in any car having been built. Else sometimes you can see like the above quote from Nexus that you can end up with a car that's been rebuilt but done poorly.

[SiT]

Best to try and buy a JDM model if you can, none of the associated issues with the UK cars plus extra little bits of spec and a rarer sight on the roads.

Si

[stevekoz]

SiT said:

Best to try and buy a JDM model if you can, none of the associated issues with the UK cars plus extra little bits of spec and a rarer sight on the roads.

Si

This. Definitely. The jdm spec of the same car is rarer and they have the 2.0ltr more reliable block and are more powerful than the UK spec car. You pay a premium for jdm model but its certainly worth it.

[SWoll]

https://www.hurstcars.co.uk/used-cars?page=2

The blob/hawkeye JDM cars are also a lot more interesting than the hatchback IMHO. Subjective though of course.