STi Wagon Ver4/Ver3

[Mr_White]

Hi gang.

Right, a friend of mine is buying one of the three, and as usual, I'm the helpful chap who helps everyone out with their car purchasing

However, I don't know these cars too indepth.

He's looking at Ver3(97)/Ver4(98) STi Wagons with 30-40k miles on them

Now, I believe the Ver3/4 STi's should use the EJ20K engine.

Reliability is the main concern, hence low mileage standard cars, I'm trying desperately to find out about the Ver3/4's reliability, but I can't find anything, the only things I've found is people talking about the bottom end going, is this a problem with the EJ20K?

Or is it just a case of them not being looked after properly, as the engine is usually fairly solid.

So any advice on anything major to look out for on the Ver3/4 when buying would be appreciated, since they're imports and you need to be armed with all the knowledge possible, since you haven't got much to fall back on if they go bang.

I'm assuming the MPG will be around 20-25 if you go easy?

Also, does anyone know if the Ver3/4 is running 280ps or 300ps?

The importers and a list posted on SIDC say 300ps, other sources say 280, so I'm not sure.

So any input on things to look out for, reliability, servicing intervals etc, will be greatly appreciated.

As I can't find out anything substantial about them, so I'm at the mercy of the internet

Cheers guys.

[Marf]

AFAIK they are pretty reliable so long as they are maintained well and kept standard. A friend of mine just bought a freshly imported standard Version 3 STi estate with 56k on the clock, all it needed doing when he got it was a couple of bushes.

Real world MPG is low 20's, maybe more if you can resist burying your foot, but expect this figure to plummet if you like being on boost.

I wouldnt get hung up on the 280/300 argument, as you've found different sources quote different figures, regardless my friends car is FAPPING quick, and pulls like a train in any gear up to the redline.

I'm sure an owner will be along to give some more advice.

[Mr_White]

Cheers for the input, it's all appreciated, especially from someone who owns or knows someone that owns one.

The MPG seems to be, like you said, around 22 if you're easy on it

I've found a guy who's had one on a rolling road that made 292bhp with a full de-cat exhaust, so it seems to be about 290ps at stock.

I'm thinking the fact I could only find bottom end problems through searching, is the fact that no one tends to rave about how reliable something is, only when something breaks

And the engine it's self is very reliable if looked after, so I wasn't sure if anything on the Ver3/4 STi caused it to fail, but it seems to be as reliable as the rest as long as it's looked after.

Do you know what servicing intervals he's using?

It seems to be an oil change every 3k then a bigger service every 10k.

[Marf]

All I know is he will be doing oil and filter every 3k, it'd be worth checking out when things like cambelt, fuel filter, g/box, rear diff oil etc need changing.

[Marf]

One other thing springs to mind, I'm sure I've read you shouldnt use an oiled air filter as these foul the MAF, causing fuelling problems which lead to your classic detonation and headgasket issues.

[GravelBen]

^^As said above, stay well away from oily air filters. Re power, they were officially 280ps in line with the good old 'honourable manufacturers agreement' but may well be poking a bit more if in good nick, and it doesn't take much to free up more again - filter, exhaust etc.

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 9th June 22:02

[Mr_White]

Ah yes, the old gentlemans agreement, that would explain the 280ps figures.

Yeah, I read that the oily filters will screw the MAF up.

All input and advice is greatly appreciated, keep it coming guys

[GravelBen]

Also something else pretty basic to remember - always use the best fuel you can in them, as imports they're generally tuned for Japan's 100RON fuel, so thrashing them on a tank of low-octane fuel can cause detonation and BANG. If you don't want to pay more for better fuel then you could get it remapped for lower octane, but someone who doesn't want to use good fuel probably wouldn't be buying an STi anyway.

[Mr_White]

Yeah no worries there, it'll be on v-power

[Mr_White]

Anyone kind enough to offer further advice?

I'm mainly trying to find out the servicing schedules for everything now, any input is greatly appreciated.

[DocJock]

97 uses a 'hot wire' MAF so is not a problem with oiled filters.
98 on are the ones which get wrecked.

[GravelBen]

Mr_White said:

I'm mainly trying to find out the servicing schedules for everything now, any input is greatly appreciated.

Cambelt at 100k Km (assuming its the same as my '97 egacy) isn't a cheap job.

[Mr_White]

Is yours a turbo?

I've seen 45k miles thrown around for the STi Ver3/4, but all the other subarus are 60k, so I want to make sure.

Cost isn't a worry, it's just knowing when everything needs doing, which is proving hard to find out for the STi V3/4.

So far I know it's oil and filter every 3k, cambelt is either 45k or 60k miles, but no idea about anything else

Cheers for the input

Edited by Mr_White on Tuesday 10th June 23:18

[GravelBen]

Nah mine is a 2.0NA. Up to sometime in the mid-90s all Subarus were recommended cambelt change at 80k Km (50k miles), some people stick to that on the newer cars as well just to play it safe - I don't know if STi are different but my mates '97 Legacy GT (twin turbo) was cambelt at 100k Km (60k miles) too.

Try asking on www.type-ra.co.uk or bbs.22b.com as well, there are some very knowledgeable folk over there and you may get a more definitive answer.

[Mr_White]

Thanks for the links, Ben.

I'll see if anyone over there knows, cheers.

All your advice and input is greatly appreciated, so keep it coming chaps