Hatch WRX EJ25 vs STI EJ25

[omzb147]

I have been researching about buying a WRX hatch for a few days. I want to trade into one with about 40-60k miles and I don't wanna pay for an STI, a WRX is in my budget but I could wait another year and save the difference, no real rush. Now I have found many examples of WRX gearboxes taking a dump and EJ's blowing up. I want to know if there is a strength and reliability difference between the EJ's. I want to sell my standard civic and buy a WRX as a daily. I'll probably do the usual bolt on's like exhaust and intake, Cobb access port and BOV. I think id be happy around 300hp. With a setup like this would the car be reliable? If I beat on it (within reason ofc) would it handle it, or would paying for the STI be better for what I want. Lastly I want the option of building the engine and going for 400+hp eventually. Can all of this can be done within the WRX platform or would it be wiser to invest into the STI.

Also buying an S2000 to go supercharged as show car, so I might not go 400+ in the WRX.

[Falsey]

I believe standard process is to go with an import 2.0 rather than the domestic 2.5 if its a concern.

[ross-co]

i have a Hatch STi and its my favorite car is have ever owned and couldn't think what to replace it with, i think the 2.5 issue is not as big an issue as some would say, good quality oil and check levels very regularly, i don't give it WOT until above 3k and let the oil get up to temp before floggin it, not just the water temps, most of all buy the right car not a shed thats on its last legs and then add to the 2.5 all blow up.

I sold my hawk sti with a good chunk of miles on it, all of which in my ownership once warmed were not exatly gentle miles, it averaged 15MPG and was standard bar the usual exhaust fuel pump, map. Joys of not needing a car for commuting all the miles are fun.

[vxr2010]

If you are looking at 400 bhp then it’s expensive to get there , 330 is a good area and is a sensible level of power v reliability v economy etc , the sti box is better than the wrx taking power wise , yes not all 2.5 fail but have a consideration that it may do , as above the jdm 2 litre is a good move, shame the engineering and the reliability did not transfer from the 2 to the 2.5 , the plus with the 2.5 is a lot more torque , i had a 56 plate wrx wagon nice car quick never had an issue, i went to the 2.5 fsti much better car more fun to drive better mpg plus more power

[TEKNOPUG]

You have had 2 full rebuilds with the 2.5 though

[vxr2010]

Lol , three on total , first lesson i learnt go to a subaru specialist for a re build not just any garage , and always do a full rebuild with arp head bolts , if you don’t do a full rebuild the bottom end will die in the end, the newer forster i had about 4 to 5 months in full rebuild , the bottom end sounded fine but was on its way out at 85k miles , i will still buy an fsti again but just budget for a rebuild