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: