Keep my JDM Hawkeye STI or move on? £30kish budget
Discussion
I’m after some PH wisdom as I’m genuinely torn.
I currently have a stock JDM Hawkeye WRX STI which I absolutely love. It has the raw, rally-bred feel, huge grip, character and sense of occasion that a lot of modern stuff lacks. It also gets loads of attention, thumbs up, comments, people noticing it, and I’d really want any replacement to still feel special in that way.
The problem is that it’s worth roughly £20k-ish, and I’m conscious that dailying it and adding miles is eating into its value, especially as part of the appeal is that it’s still stock and unmolested. I wish I could keep it as a second toy, but that’s probably not realistic.
It also needs money spending to make it how I’d want it. Realistically £4k–£5k on suspension/coilovers, alignment, tyres/brakes, mild power upgrades, remap, etc. would make it a better STI, but I doubt I’d see much of that back at resale.
Day to day, it can also be a bit of a pain. I miss the effortlessness of an auto in traffic, and I miss effortless power/torque. The STI is brilliant when I’m out on my own and using it properly, but a lot of my driving is commuting or normal road use.
I also really miss / want sound. The JDM STI doesn’t have the classic unequal-length Subaru burble, so even spending £1k+ on an exhaust probably still won’t give me the sort of noise I actually want. Part of me really wants a proper V8 soundtrack.
Budget would be around £30k, maybe slightly more for the right car. Current thoughts are:
F82 M4 Competition DCT
W204 C63 6.2
E92 M3
Giulia Quadrifoglio
Mustang GT 5.0
Gen 1 Audi R8 V8
F-Type V8
The M4 Comp is probably where I’m leaning, especially in a bold colour, but I know it lacks the sound I’m craving. The E92 M3 appeals almost purely because of the V8, but I’m not sure it’s the sensible move maintenance wise.
Previous cars include an M135i and Z4 3.0si. The M135i had the power but didn’t feel special enough in the chassis. The Z4 had nice turn-in but lacked power and felt jittery on B-roads. So if I change, I want something genuinely special, ideally as special as the STI, or at least much more special than my previous cars.
My Mrs should hopefully be driving soon and will have the family car, so less practical options could work. We’d likely use that for family trips and dog duties, although I do wonder whether something like an R8/F-Type would just become an expensive weekend/commuter toy.
Would you spend £4k - £5k improving the STI, knowing the money is probably sunk and it’ll still be an old-school manual daily without the sound/power I’m craving?
Or would you keep it stock, sell it while it’s desirable, and move into something more powerful, refined, special and maybe V8 sounding around £30k?
I currently have a stock JDM Hawkeye WRX STI which I absolutely love. It has the raw, rally-bred feel, huge grip, character and sense of occasion that a lot of modern stuff lacks. It also gets loads of attention, thumbs up, comments, people noticing it, and I’d really want any replacement to still feel special in that way.
The problem is that it’s worth roughly £20k-ish, and I’m conscious that dailying it and adding miles is eating into its value, especially as part of the appeal is that it’s still stock and unmolested. I wish I could keep it as a second toy, but that’s probably not realistic.
It also needs money spending to make it how I’d want it. Realistically £4k–£5k on suspension/coilovers, alignment, tyres/brakes, mild power upgrades, remap, etc. would make it a better STI, but I doubt I’d see much of that back at resale.
Day to day, it can also be a bit of a pain. I miss the effortlessness of an auto in traffic, and I miss effortless power/torque. The STI is brilliant when I’m out on my own and using it properly, but a lot of my driving is commuting or normal road use.
I also really miss / want sound. The JDM STI doesn’t have the classic unequal-length Subaru burble, so even spending £1k+ on an exhaust probably still won’t give me the sort of noise I actually want. Part of me really wants a proper V8 soundtrack.
Budget would be around £30k, maybe slightly more for the right car. Current thoughts are:
F82 M4 Competition DCT
W204 C63 6.2
E92 M3
Giulia Quadrifoglio
Mustang GT 5.0
Gen 1 Audi R8 V8
F-Type V8
The M4 Comp is probably where I’m leaning, especially in a bold colour, but I know it lacks the sound I’m craving. The E92 M3 appeals almost purely because of the V8, but I’m not sure it’s the sensible move maintenance wise.
Previous cars include an M135i and Z4 3.0si. The M135i had the power but didn’t feel special enough in the chassis. The Z4 had nice turn-in but lacked power and felt jittery on B-roads. So if I change, I want something genuinely special, ideally as special as the STI, or at least much more special than my previous cars.
My Mrs should hopefully be driving soon and will have the family car, so less practical options could work. We’d likely use that for family trips and dog duties, although I do wonder whether something like an R8/F-Type would just become an expensive weekend/commuter toy.
Would you spend £4k - £5k improving the STI, knowing the money is probably sunk and it’ll still be an old-school manual daily without the sound/power I’m craving?
Or would you keep it stock, sell it while it’s desirable, and move into something more powerful, refined, special and maybe V8 sounding around £30k?
Only you know the answer to this question. For me a car is not an investment item and if I loved a car and it provided me with pleasure, particularly if it was a car like your Subaru that provide a separate, older school vibe driving experience, I'd be keeping it if it still suits your use patterns. If you spend 5k on it as you have suggested its probably less than the depreciation on anything you'll buy for 30k....
Sounds like you don't LOVE it though. So, don't spend a penny on it, get it gone and continue your journey enjoying a wide variety of brilliant cars...left field but save yourself 10k and try a Kia Stinger 3.3!!
Sounds like you don't LOVE it though. So, don't spend a penny on it, get it gone and continue your journey enjoying a wide variety of brilliant cars...left field but save yourself 10k and try a Kia Stinger 3.3!!
I'd personally take an M2 Competition over either the M3 or M4 and is a great size for B-Roads.
The Giulia Quad is a special car and ticks a lot of boxes. Would probably be my choice from you list.
For V8 noise the F Type-R is hard to beat
I'd sell the STI now and let someone else enjoy it in stock form. Sounds like you've had your time with it and are ready to move on.
Left field option
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301032...
Get an X pipe fitted and you'll struggle to find a better sounding V8.
The Giulia Quad is a special car and ticks a lot of boxes. Would probably be my choice from you list.
For V8 noise the F Type-R is hard to beat
I'd sell the STI now and let someone else enjoy it in stock form. Sounds like you've had your time with it and are ready to move on.
Left field option
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301032...
Get an X pipe fitted and you'll struggle to find a better sounding V8.
Edited by SWoll on Tuesday 12th May 14:55
Brickmaster123 said:
Day to day, it can also be a bit of a pain. I miss the effortlessness of an auto in traffic, and I miss effortless power/torque. The STI is brilliant when I m out on my own and using it properly, but a lot of my driving is commuting or normal road use.
Would it work to run a cheapish EV alongside the WRX? It would seem to meet the need for an auto with effortless torque in daily commuting, and the lower fuel costs might make it easier to keep the Subaru alongside?When I read your post, it became quite clear that you no longer want to commute in your STI and you also really want a V8 engined car with V8 noise.
My suggestion is to get rid of the STI, and do these two things with your £30k
1. Get the cheapest highest mileage dual motor/performance Tesla Model 3 for your daily commute. Auto/effortless torque/relatively low running costs.
2. Use the remainder of your £30k budget for the V8 engined car that sounds the best when you test drive it
My suggestion is to get rid of the STI, and do these two things with your £30k
1. Get the cheapest highest mileage dual motor/performance Tesla Model 3 for your daily commute. Auto/effortless torque/relatively low running costs.
2. Use the remainder of your £30k budget for the V8 engined car that sounds the best when you test drive it
You guys are like vegans.
Asks question about swapping scoobie for a V8. Gets told to buy another car, this time an EV.
They taste just like real sausages. Would you like me to tell you more about veganism?
To OP, all of the cars you listed will be better for normal road use than the WRX.
I think I'd rather have an E92 than an M4 and there's quite a bit in the purchase price to offset maintenance costs. An R8 will cost quite a lot to maintain. I think if you want a V8 don't settle for a 6. Leftfield is the Jaguar XFR
Asks question about swapping scoobie for a V8. Gets told to buy another car, this time an EV.
They taste just like real sausages. Would you like me to tell you more about veganism?
To OP, all of the cars you listed will be better for normal road use than the WRX.
I think I'd rather have an E92 than an M4 and there's quite a bit in the purchase price to offset maintenance costs. An R8 will cost quite a lot to maintain. I think if you want a V8 don't settle for a 6. Leftfield is the Jaguar XFR
Ok, I had an STI for many years and it was my favourite car to drive for a long time. I currently have an M4 and a Mustang. The thing is that both feel very, very different than the STI in the following ways:
-the Mustang 6 spd is a completely different feel, the size is noticeable (compared to the STI). But the Mustang feels much more durable than the STI and is much more enjoyable in low speed, commuting driving and at wide open the sound and overall feel is better. As you can imagine, even modded, the Mustang is never going to take the B roads like an STI.
-the M4 is a cabriolet so the coupe might be different: though the M4 is faster than both the STI and Mustang it is a much more grown up and duller affair. It's a luxurious, brutally fast way to get around but the lack of a manual makes it less engaging than the STI and Mustang. The repair and maintenance is also much more expensive than the other two.
If I were in your position, I'd think I'd go for a Mustang and mod at will when you have the time and money to make it the way you want. Having said that, I'm going to trade the M4 in for a new M4 so it must be doing something right.
-the Mustang 6 spd is a completely different feel, the size is noticeable (compared to the STI). But the Mustang feels much more durable than the STI and is much more enjoyable in low speed, commuting driving and at wide open the sound and overall feel is better. As you can imagine, even modded, the Mustang is never going to take the B roads like an STI.
-the M4 is a cabriolet so the coupe might be different: though the M4 is faster than both the STI and Mustang it is a much more grown up and duller affair. It's a luxurious, brutally fast way to get around but the lack of a manual makes it less engaging than the STI and Mustang. The repair and maintenance is also much more expensive than the other two.
If I were in your position, I'd think I'd go for a Mustang and mod at will when you have the time and money to make it the way you want. Having said that, I'm going to trade the M4 in for a new M4 so it must be doing something right.
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