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cunning_alias

New member
Evening ladies and gents. here is my situation:

I have had my 02 Celica for about 5 years and I am looking for a change. Ideally I would just go for a 2010 Celica but they stopped making them in 2006 and there seems to be a drought of coupes around the years I am looking at (06-09).

After months of searching for something similar, I have yet to find something that is right. In that time my car fund has grown a bit and I am now into 2005-2007 WRX territory.

So to start off I am wondering if one would be completely wasted on me. I would be using it for my commute in Dublin and then be heading out of the county most weekends. How well do they behave when stuck in rush hour traffic? What I liked about the Celica was that it was comfortable to drive at low revs in traffic but there was always a bit of power there when I needed it.

Looking for people to share some experiences if possible. Cheers
 
The WRX/STI can be used daily. It's nice to sit in traffic. Clutch isn't heavy but fuel economy is out of the picture. I have a 2L RX that gets me around fine. Enough power to put my foot down and decent economy for around town.

There is some nice Blobs and Hawks on DD but you really need to watch out for bad apples. It's a minefield out there when buying a used Subaru. Don't be afraid of checking out a Legacy or a Foz.
 
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davelegacy™ said:
You are also into 2.5 ones.


And can be trouble.

What area is your budget in.
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I have a 2005 wrx. You'll find pics etc in ISDC cars up top of page. I do a 60km round trip to work. Part of it into the heart of limerick city. Its no different to any other car in traffic. Iv had 3 celicas over the years, have my 4th one now actually. Again its in ISDC cars up top ????.

I found when deciding what to buy that the wrx was perfect. Bit more comfortable than an Sti, better on fuel and cheaper too. Mine will do 30mpg all day. Once you pass 2006 your stepping up to 2.5ltr tax too, and as Dave mentioned, they can be trouble.

I'd be recommending a 05 or 06 blobeye wrx.... You should get a nice one for 6k to 7k....
 
450hp no problem and the beauty of it ..... Standard internals
 
Daily my 05 WRX for the last 4 years and it's a fantastic car been totally reliable never once let me down.

Highly recommend.

Got real character too.

Best advice is if your half way serious bout buying go drive a few and ull soon know if it for you or not.

Before buying mine I was undecided between a Ep3 Civic type r or a Impreza drove 2 Ep3s and a Good few Imprezas.

First drive in the Subaru and I was sold.

It had to be a WRX.

Best of Luck????

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
 
Cheers for all the quick replies.

That's nice info to have on the different models. I had been looking at the Hawkeye model as I had come to terms with a 2.5 but if they are a bit of a nightmare then I will probably pass. I would prefer the peace of mind with an older one if there are less potential problems.

My budget is about 5-7k at the moment.

I am looking for a wagon model so I will start looking around for the earlier years.

Im also a big fan of the outbacks but they seem to be incredibly rare.
 
To be fair the WRX model in the 2.5 doesn't seem to have reports of much trouble it's more the 2.5 Sti models.

In my opinion if you don't increase the boost on a 2.5 Wrx it should be fine.

And having drove some 2.5 there are really nice daily more Toqure low down.

I've linked the below car for you to consider if u r after a wagon.

WRX Sl model.

So Factory Leather and Sunroof.


Been a club car for years really well cared for (driven it personally really tight)

Currently owned by Wagon Dec our Club Chairman.

Abosoultly worth a call????

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/11295890

FYI like the Outbacks too but 2.5 tax and non turbo ????

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Ciaran WRX said:
To be fair the WRX model in the 2.5 doesn't seem to have reports of much trouble it's more the 2.5 Sti models.

In my opinion if you don't increase the boost on a 2.5 Wrx it should be fine.

And having drove some 2.5 there are really nice daily more Toqure low down.

I've linked the below car for you to consider if u r after a wagon.

WRX Sl model.

So Factory Leather and Sunroof.


Been a club car for years really well cared for (driven it personally really tight)

Currently owned by Wagon Dec our Club Chairman.

Abosoultly worth a call????

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/11295890

FYI like the Outbacks too but 2.5 tax and non turbo ????

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
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Totally totally do not agree.

False info. A forum member on here is looking for a engine as is on a 2.5 wrx.


Exact same issues as sti re ringland and head gasket issues
 
I'm aware of that person

No where did I say that a 2.5 WRX will definitely not have a issue.

We all take risks buying I did turned out ok so far.

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davelegacy™ said:
Sorry was part of if dont increase boost.

All will be ok.


And thats because yours is 2.0L
Click to expand...
Not to nit pick but said

"In my opinion if you don't increase the boost on a 2.5 Wrx it should be fine."


I know I've been ok partly coz it's a 2.0 but the point I was making was any second hand car purchase is a risk.





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is better to be looking for the last of the 2.0L engines. The go as far as 2006. Smaller tax less troubles.
 
Have a 2.5 STI Hawk for a few years now... and so far - touch wood - all still fine.
Mine has been mapped and running 1.4bar and is on standard internals.
At that level I do expect at some stage it will need work (headgaskets, uprated head studs and pistons), but so far it is grand.
Keep in mind I do not rag it, do not track it and have a bit of mechanical sympathy.

At standard boost levels I would say the car is fine... provided it is treated well and not abused and you do not run into a batch of dodgy fuel (as that would kill any turbo engine; just think about all the little turbo petrol engines dying with the $hit fuel that's available at some pumps).

A WRX is probably better than STI in 2.5 as Ciaran said and probably due to less boost, less stress etc.

Is a 2.0 stronger out of the box - yes it is.

Can a 2.5 be reliable if standard and treated well (good servicing and no ragging within an inch of its life) - yes it can.

A lot of scare mongering going on, but it is all relative... a standard car, with good servicing and normal road use isn't likely to just die on you.

Value for money?
2.0 WRX bit easier on juice maybe and a little lower in tax (300 per year difference so not a huge amount).
2.0 bit older now so probably bit cheaper to buy than a newer car; however this is off set by the fact a lot of people don't like the sound of 2.5 as it is "dear" in tax (what is 300 extra a year for a performance car?) and hence 2.5s can be got a good money. A nice '06-'07 2.5 Hawk WRX with good history will not cost more than a '04-'05 2.0 Blob WRX...

Personally I like the 2.5 torque and I have owned a classic STI v3, a blob WRX SL 2.0 and now the 2.5 STI hawk.
The 2.0 is a bit more free revving, but the 2.5 is comfy as always enough power no matter what gear or rpm.

So down to what the OP wants from his car...
 
Keadeen said:
Have a 2.5 STI Hawk for a few years now... and so far - touch wood - all still fine.
Mine has been mapped and running 1.4bar and is on standard internals.
At that level I do expect at some stage it will need work (headgaskets, uprated head studs and pistons), but so far it is grand.
Keep in mind I do not rag it, do not track it and have a bit of mechanical sympathy.

At standard boost levels I would say the car is fine... provided it is treated well and not abused and you do not run into a batch of dodgy fuel (as that would kill any turbo engine; just think about all the little turbo petrol engines dying with the $hit fuel that's available at some pumps).

A WRX is probably better than STI in 2.5 as Ciaran said and probably due to less boost, less stress etc.

Is a 2.0 stronger out of the box - yes it is.

Can a 2.5 be reliable if standard and treated well (good servicing and no ragging within an inch of its life) - yes it can.

A lot of scare mongering going on, but it is all relative... a standard car, with good servicing and normal road use isn't likely to just die on you.

Value for money?
2.0 WRX bit easier on juice maybe and a little lower in tax (300 per year difference so not a huge amount).
2.0 bit older now so probably bit cheaper to buy than a newer car; however this is off set by the fact a lot of people don't like the sound of 2.5 as it is "dear" in tax (what is 300 extra a year for a performance car?) and hence 2.5s can be got a good money. A nice '06-'07 2.5 Hawk WRX with good history will not cost more than a '04-'05 2.0 Blob WRX...

Personally I like the 2.5 torque and I have owned a classic STI v3, a blob WRX SL 2.0 and now the 2.5 STI hawk.
The 2.0 is a bit more free revving, but the 2.5 is comfy as always enough power no matter what gear or rpm.

So down to what the OP wants from his car...
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Great post, thanks for that.

From what I have gathered so far it would seem like a WRX Hawk Wagon that hasn't been ragged is what I should be looking for. I love my research so I will look into it more over the weekend.

My plan is to make the change in April as I will be getting the NCT on my Celica and should have enough saved to pick up anything in my price range. I just want to have a clear decision made for when that comes.
 
cunning_alias said:
Great post, thanks for that.

From what I have gathered so far it would seem like a WRX Hawk Wagon that hasn't been ragged is what I should be looking for. I love my research so I will look into it more over the weekend.

My plan is to make the change in April as I will be getting the NCT on my Celica and should have enough saved to pick up anything in my price range. I just want to have a clear decision made for when that comes.
Click to expand...

And put an extra 3k aside for engine work. It's a case of when, not if.
 
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