Transmission or STI
 

OK, I need a little help. My STI tranny installed will cost me somewhere between 4500 and 6000 depending on what I can find for the swap. Lithia has a white used STI (I think it was Jason's? - I met him at one meet not sure if the name is correct).

First off how badly did Jason beat the car?.....Jason are you there (if I have your name incorrect, my apologies)

Second off, if they are within a thousand or two of the cost of my swap, should I go for it.

I'm also going to try the Auburn dealership as well.

Any thoughts?

Jason babied that car from what I remember.

Does it still have a invidia catless turboback and accessport?

Re: Transmission or STI
 

Isn't your car pretty much already as fast as an STi? You're stage 2, so you've got the power. You're suspension is upgraded, so you've got the handling. You've got StopTechs, so your braking should be just slightly better than the STi Brembos. If you do the 6-speed, then you've got the tranny too.

So basically, all you're gaining by going STi is a little more low-end torque, the DCCD, and the neat-o dash instruments. Is that worth the hassle of a new (to you) car? If the STi was an '05 with the new interior, then I'd probably say yes... but as it is, I'm really up in the air. How many of your mods will swap over to the STi? If most of it will, then you're probably okay.

I guess if I was in your situation, I'd have a very hard time making a decision as well. Tough call. :?

It has the exhaust but I'm not sure on the accessport.

Scott I hear you. You are correct on all my mods. They just got back to me and are still working on a cost. My guess is that it would cost me $8,000 for the trade. I would swap my suspension and guages & keep the stoptechs. I'm trying to get them to include that cost in the trade.

So this trade would cost me $2k to 4K more than changing my tranny out. But I would also need to pay taxes around $2K and I think the STI is more to insure than a wrx????? Art?

Jason did drive that car (could be seen as abuse by some) 8)

from all the talks I have had with him the car was great! No det/ping or any other problems

the STi has no radio, unless the dealer is going to add one
it does have the TBE but no AP anymore - which means you would need EM fast or not be bothered by the check engine light
this also means it will be sold "AS IS" with no warrnty

I'm sure on the last few night he drove the car hard and it might need tires soon, meaning it was never Auto-X or tracked but has seen a fair share of 100+ speeds

Just go for the STi and swap all of your mods that you can over. You not only get the 6spd but DCCD, a front LSD, and a bigger motor. Plus they look better IMHO.

Re: Transmission or STI
 

I think Jason's car may have some issues, he pulled the accessport out without checking to make sure everything went back together okay, but I imagine that is okay now on the stock ecu.

However, it is running a full cat-less TBE, which I wouldn't recommend doing without some form of engine management, and all though Jason said he never had issues, a setup like that is prone to boost creep.

Otherwise, I wouldn;t say he drove his car any harder than the rest of us sti nuts...

If the price is right..do it.

Lithia seems to be the only dealer that will deal over the phone so far. Auburn wants me to come in for the dreaded 2 hour session. Any other dealer suggestions.

Nate at S-squared has offered to swap whatever I need between the cars as well as remove other components that the dealer doesn't want. That may help offset some of the costs. Those items being:

STI injectors
VF-34
STI intercooler
Stoptech brakes (Nate has first dibs)
Vishnu Sig series exhaust.

The coilovers and guages I would swap into the STI.

But those damn leather heated seats that took me 10 hours to install! They would be a total loss.

Knowing the potential issues with the accessport removal, I would make warranty a contingency of the sale. Why I don't know, because I would certainly have the ecu reflashed as soon as Nate gets the STI software (3 weeks).

STIll undecided!

Who cares what they want? I say always deal over the phone. You can always try to sell your car privately and buy an STi privately. I'd put that Vishnu exhaust and VF34 on the STi too.

Well part of the deal is for the dealer to accept my car with it's current tranny problems. Unless I fix (which warranty will not cover), private sale would be difficult to say the least.

Well how much is the dealer giving you for your WRX?

If I take all my performance parts off - $18,000

They are still working on a price for my car. They are offering Jason's STI with 8,000 miles for $28,500.

$18k? Jesus. Do it.

My name is not Jesus!
:lol:

$18k's a pretty good offer, considering the tranny (that I'm sure Lithia will charge Subaru for under a BS warranty claim that we'd never get away with).

You could probably find someone locally that would trade you their stock WRX seats + $ for your leather ones so you don't have to take the hit on 'em so badly.

I might be willing to buy the STi I/C if the price was right (and if I can come up w/ some money... I'm brizoke right about now w/ the cost of the SVX, repairs, and brakes for the WRX).

I'll keep you updated with the stuff that I can sell if I decide to do this.

OMG!! What year is your car?

I had a "casual" chat with one of the sales tards there last week while I was waiting for my oil change. They were pushing me to upgrade to a new STi (little did they realize how much I actually want to do that) ... when I talked about the trade in the guy wasn't willing to commit to anything over 14k, so I laughed mockingly until he got embarassed and left me alone. (I am a people person).

I wonder what I could really get if they are prepared to offer you 18k. :twisted:

I think that you should go for the STi, especially if it is only going to be a couple of grand more than fixing your car. It might be a pain to swap everything over but you end up with a newer car that already has a bulletproof drivetrain and has a lot more potential.

Someone needs to loan Mike a place to crash for a weekend. I think the lack of sleep from the airplanes over his new apt. is making him crabby. :lol:

sales tards... i love it! :lol:

I wonder what I could really get if they are prepared to offer you 18k. :twisted:

Hold onto your car for a year and you will get the trade-in letter also. Right now the program is for 2002 and 2003 models. Mine was guarenteed a minimum trade of $17,500 as long as the mileage was less than 40K.

By the way mine is an 03.

I vote MikeK as best SECCS member ever!

With quotes like that, how can I be wrong? :lol:

I don't know... He was at the dealership getting an oil change.... I think he loses points on that front...

I do the same thing! They're my pit crew :lol:

and for only $500 I got the lifetime oil chage deal 8)

man are they going to want to re-think that one soon :lol:

I think it was $350 for oil changes for life every 3k miles. When I factored in how much it would cost me in replaced engines if I applied my procrastination to the job it seemed like a bargain :)

Ouch, they must have been running a "special" that day

OK so, STI?

or Tranny.

And wait, you need to change your oil????????/

Defeated advantages of Sti vs. your WRX:

Brakes: check.
Power: check.
Suspension: check.
gearbox:...uhhh....

Go with the 6MT in your WRX. I think you and sperry both would be just as fast as if you started over on an STi.

Of those, only the VF34 will transfer to the STi. I think the Stoptechs would, but that would be kinda silly. The injectors are the wrong type, and the Vishnu Signature downpipe doesn't clear the 6MT. Guess you gotta sell that anyway, or have Nate rotate or move the catalytic converter downstream for you.

Really!? What about the non-signature version that I have? If I get a 6MT, will I need a new exhaust?

The Aussie exhaust fits fine. The divorced wastegate tube on the Signature forces the cat too close to the 6MT to fit.

If I did this, I was only planning on transferring my suspension and the gauges. Everything else would be up for grabs.

However, last night I was thinking (rare occurence for me), and Lithia right now would need 10K on top of my car for Jason's white STI with the no cat invidia exhaust. While that doesn't seem to unreasonable, it occured to me that I would have to get it smogged here in Truckee. It certainly will not pass if the check engine light is on and/or they notice there are no cats. That would turn into a royal PIA. Also I would be paying taxes at 7.75% on the 28,500 purchase. That means an additional $2200. So considering we are now 12K apart, I am still strongly considering the tranny solution. I'm sure I could sell some of my performance parts for around 2,000 - 3,000, but considering the smog issue, I think I would need to find a stock STI or go for an 05.

Either way, I'm gonna spend a ton of cash in the next few weeks which completely sucks!. That does suck about the exhaust, but Nate thinks he would have a buyer ready to go to buy either the stage 1 or the full stage 2.

I can go in more then 4 times a year is the difference. every 3k which is like every month and a half you can find me at the dealer 8)

Ya but either way you will end up with a sweet car. :P

Ahh, that explains it, I think I can only go in 4 times a year.

in the end your the one that has to live with the chose you make, but I'm sure we can get a solution to the invidia exhaust :wink:

I didn't realize you had to pay tax on used vehicles. That sucks, the tranny is definately looking like a better option.

In fact, a new 05 is looking better than the used STi. New cars are about 31k + tax these days right, so for $2500 more you don't need to worry about whether it has been beaten or getting smog checks or anything else.

For some reason in my mind I thought you could do the trade for a couple of thousand more than fixing your tranny, but with those numbers I would say just fix your WRX.

BTW if you buy an STi privately, they seem to be going for around $26k ... I asume there is no tax with a private seller, but then you have the hassle of getting rid of your car somehow. I don't think a dealer would be so generous if you weren't about to buy a car off them.

p.s. "$200 for a track day? Wow that is cheap!" :twisted:

Mike, that's true, some of you guys, maybe you still have your stock sti exhaust. I would gladly pay a rental fee for the smog check.

You are all correct, while I'm whining about the cash, in the end it will be a cool car one way or the other.

Thanks for all the input and keep it coming. My offer from Subaru expires Nov.1., so I do have time to make the decision.

p.s. "$200 for a track day? Wow that is cheap!" :twisted:[/quote]

Thanks Mike. Yah, the $5,200 track day! on the low side or the $13,000 on the high side.

There is sales tax on private party sales. It is based of the vehicles original MSRP or based on a appraisal you get at the DMV.

I plan to one day have my own TBE and my stock down pipe and cats I will keep around for anyone to use for smog :D

Ouch!! We obviously need more slot machines around here then! :P

In CA it's based on what you pay for the car. That allows family members to sell cars for $1.

But yes, I would be paying California taxes on $28,500. Naybe I can get the dealer to sell the car for $23,000 and give me $12,500 for the trade-in?

This guy is selling his STi 6-speed:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634649

Thanks Art. Unfortunately I would need not only the 6 speed but the subframe as well. Parts alone - $6,000 + install.

I am watching an ebay full set-up dissassembled that is currently at $2550. I would guess an additional 2500 for install with a new clutch and flywheel.

Keep em comin'

To me. It goes back to the same "worth it's weight in gold in 10 or so years"
(Resale value).. Are the HID's, DCCD, Gauges worth getting a 2.5 STi??