WRX: 2.0 or 2.5?

[downstairs]

Hello. I Am considering a WRX of 05ish MY, right about when the model changed and the engine went from 2.0 to 2.5

I can find similar mileages at similar price points with either 2.0 or 2.5 engines. Should I have any preference? Obv the bigger engine was in the newer model, which looks a bit different, but I Don't think I care about that.

What should I look out for? Knowing everything you know, which would you buy with everything else being equal?

Thanks.

[KarlMac]

2.0l engine is much more reliable and will be in the lower tax brackes.

The 2.5 does produce a noticable amount torque over the 2.0l.

Ringlands seem to be the issue with the 2.5, there is lots of information online about the failures and fixes.

[Ozmira]

with all the problems the 2.5s had (head gaskets, bad engines etc...) on a car thats 8-10 years old would they not have been fixed/repaired/solved by now. some of these cars have done 70 to 100 thousand miles and are on their second or third owners so other than higher tax why so some people still say to stay away from them and buy a 2lt thats older and has less spec than a newer one???

[adingley84]

Ozmira said:

with all the problems the 2.5s had (head gaskets, bad engines etc...) on a car thats 8-10 years old would they not have been fixed/repaired/solved by now. some of these cars have done 70 to 100 thousand miles and are on their second or third owners so other than higher tax why so some people still say to stay away from them and buy a 2lt thats older and has less spec than a newer one???

I run a Forester 2.5XT (same engine) and have 101k faultless miles on the clock.
1. As ever, ensure FSH as clean oil and filters will improve the life of ANY car.
2. I believe ringland only affected tuned 2.5's & Sti's.
3. Love the torque of my 2.5 and get the nice turbo kick at 3.5k rpm, building from 2.5k rpm

General advice would be to buy on condition and a stack of paperwork than setting your heart on 1 or other

[PomBstard]

adingley84 said:

I run a Forester 2.5XT (same engine) and have 101k faultless miles on the clock.
1. As ever, ensure FSH as clean oil and filters will improve the life of ANY car.
2. I believe ringland only affected tuned 2.5's & Sti's.
3. Love the torque of my 2.5 and get the nice turbo kick at 3.5k rpm, building from 2.5k rpm

General advice would be to buy on condition and a stack of paperwork than setting your heart on 1 or other

Yep, esp that last point. I looked at both engines when looking for the Lib - bought on condition/price ratio and have a 2.0T with 180,000kms on the clock. 2.5T definitely gruntier, with same 180kW/241bhp, but prices being asked as the time didn't justify the difference for me. Besides, something nice about a turbocharged family wagon with a 7500 rpm redline 18 months later, and approaching 200,000kms, all still going well - not even using a drop of oil between services.

Subarus with the 2.5T engine are like st in a field over here, and they seem to keep selling, so if there was a massive problem with the stock engine, the market would know.

[BenWRXSEi]

adingley84 said:

Ozmira said:

with all the problems the 2.5s had (head gaskets, bad engines etc...) on a car thats 8-10 years old would they not have been fixed/repaired/solved by now. some of these cars have done 70 to 100 thousand miles and are on their second or third owners so other than higher tax why so some people still say to stay away from them and buy a 2lt thats older and has less spec than a newer one???

I run a Forester 2.5XT (same engine) and have 101k faultless miles on the clock.
1. As ever, ensure FSH as clean oil and filters will improve the life of ANY car.
2. I believe ringland only affected tuned 2.5's & Sti's.
3. Love the torque of my 2.5 and get the nice turbo kick at 3.5k rpm, building from 2.5k rpm

General advice would be to buy on condition and a stack of paperwork than setting your heart on 1 or other

Agree with all of these points. I have a 2006 (pre tax-hike) 2.5 WRX with Prodrive pack, covered 8k miles in the last 4 months and it has been absolutely faultless. Not used a drop of oil before its first service a couple of weeks ago.

I previously had a 2.0 bugeye WRX and the additional mid-range torque of the 2.5 makes it a much more enjoyable drive. Although I imagine the extra from the PPP helps this

[Zaim]

BenWRXSEi said:

Agree with all of these points. I have a 2006 (pre tax-hike) 2.5 WRX with Prodrive pack, covered 8k miles in the last 4 months and it has been absolutely faultless. Not used a drop of oil before its first service a couple of weeks ago.

I previously had a 2.0 bugeye WRX and the additional mid-range torque of the 2.5 makes it a much more enjoyable drive. Although I imagine the extra from the PPP helps this

Agreed. Had both and the 2.0 is noticeably peaker and needs to be wound up. The 2.5 is progressive and feels more grown up because of it. Preferred the 2.5 as it felt ready to go at all times.

[Phila67]

I had exactly the same dilemma recently. After speaking to a few mechanic friends and long time subaru owners, I was advised to go for the 2.0. One of the main reasons was engine troubles, mainly a tendency for head gaskets to go in the 2.5

[JJ55]

The 2 litre engine is known to be more reliable. I've had no probs with mine on my Scoob (touch wood!). You also save a fair bit of cash on road tax.

[paulmoonraker]

The 2.0ltr is more reliable, however, in the majority of cases with the 2.5ltr it's the STi that suffers or cars that are mapped. The higher boost causes the heads to lift thus damaging the head gaskets. Ringlands are also an issue, but much less common compared to the heads.

If you plan on mapping then get the 2.0ltr. With some simple mods and a good map it will do around 280bhp.

[wack]

I've had my 09 2.5 WRX hatch for 2 years now, other than servicing I haven't spent a penny on it in 12000 miles, it's now on 54k

The only niggle with it is on really cold days the tick over is a bit lumpy until it warms up , it's fine as soon as the weather warms up, it's all completely standard apart from a K&N filter but the lumpiness was there long before I changed the air filter

I've never owned anything exotic but I can honestly say it's the best car I've ever owned, 2 years on and I still get in it to go nowhere in particular .

I haven't don't that since I was in my 20s over 30 years ago.

I like it that much if I suddeny came into money rather than changing it I'd upgrade everything and keep it

Edited by wack on Sunday 12th April 16:24

[Ved]

Had both, no issues with either over 40k in the 2.5 and 30k in the 2.0

I prefer the 2.5 as it's got extra torque so would make an easier daily driver. I doubt you'll have any issues with a WRX so drive both and see which you prefer.

[MaxA]

I just got a 2005 EJ20 WRX with the more reliable 2.0 - too many of the 2.5s that I'd seen for sale were already on their second engines

[tonyb1968]

The 2.5 has known "issues", it mainly affects the STI but you can get problems with the WRX, especially if you modify them.
If you have the option of an EJ20 over an EJ25 then the EJ20 is the better and more reliable engine, BUT the hawk does look better so if you can find a wrx that is standard (and they are not exactly fast in standard form) then its one to go for.

HG's and the bolts are an issue with engines running high boost, pistons are in particular, of a flawed design, you can and do quite often get cracking between cylnders on the 2.5's though most of the time it doesnt cause issues, and one major problem that is a cause of concern and has not been mentioned yet is the oil pick up pipe so regular servicing/oil changes are a must.

Also remember that this EJ25 engine won engine of the year, note that pretty much every engine that wins this acolade normally has some serious problems, that includes the new FA20 engine which also won.

[paulmoonraker]

tonyb1968 said:

...and one major problem that is a cause of concern and has not been mentioned yet is the oil pick up pipe so regular servicing/oil changes are a must.

Get a Killer B uprated oil pick up fitted. You can get them from the states. I have one.