i have an 03 sedan with stage 2 mods and it's got 100k miles. i was wondering if this car would be worth to do more mods, or sell it and get the 06 sti later (after i graduate college, which will be roughly in 3-4 years). i love the bugeye look to death (might be the only reason why i`ll keep it), but i wouldnt mind the 06s either.. so would it be really worth it for me to go thru the trouble and do engine/tranny swap, tsx retrofit, sti interior bits, suspension stuff, -or- start saving up money NOW and wait until i gradute to get my06 sti that already has the 2.5 motor, DCCD, projectors, brembo brakes, etc.. so, which one will be better for me? 1. stage 2 03 bugeye+ legacy 6-speed, exedy stage 1 clutch, tsx retrofit, 17'' BBS CH, sti aluminum control arms, ALK, prodrive springs, tokico Ds, sti diffusers, sti shift knob, forester sti seats, jdm momo steering wheel, jdm grill, apr front lip and drive until the stock engine dies then replace with STI version 8 engine + twin scroll trubo ( I like engines that wont lag much, that`s why i love my set-up right now), or 2. MY06 sti? (no need for me to: retrofit, change tranny, buy aluminum control arm, ALK, prodrive springs, diffusers, rims, shift knob, steering wheel, grill, etc and NO need to spend money for professional installation + i can get the color i want whereas i`m stuck with midnight black if i stay with current car unless i`m gonna shell out more money for a paint job ) drawback of sti: sti insurance, and another loan to be paid off... if i go with #1, i`ll have THE car i want (and no payments to be made except the insurance, which is $200 a month for me), whereas if i go with #2 i`ll have something VERY close to what i want at a more price but no hassle (i wont have to worry about something failing because it has been modified...because it will be stock... FOR THE MOST PART <swaybars and downpipe WILL Be changed though> ) what do you guys think?
tough one man. If you go with #1 you'll be pretty unique. If you go with #2 you'll have more reliable power. I love my bugeye and dream of doing an sti swap but I think getting a real STI is more probable. Only bad thing is creating more debt and if I had the cash for a sti, I'd probably go for a supra or skyline.
i`d love to get the skyline but... 1. i couldnt EVER drive a RHD 2. we dont get 100 octane rated gas (well, not at EVERY gas station.. and i bitch about the price for the premium, so i might go insane if i have to pay for 100 octane) 3. fixing something on the skyline would be impossible for my budget 4. i dont want it stolen/keyed.
o yea btw, you will not blow up if go stage 2. i`ve been stage 2 since 80K miles, and i am now at 100K. the only thing that will wear out much faster are your brakes and the clutch. you actually IMPROVE in gas mileage and by removing a cat from the uppipe, you put your engine at a much lower risk.
lol I need to change my sig. i've been at stage 2 for about 1500 miles now. I like it but am ready for more but don't have the money for a tranny if it happens to go. Thanks
JMO, I'd go with the STI. I spent 6k on mods for my bugeye and it wasn't even close in any capacity to the STI in stock form. Granted, I didn't do the upgraded turbo/motor swap...but.. It seems the reliability rating would get worse the more you do. With my experience, you'd be better off starting with the better platform...
I graduated college in may. As soon as you start getting the paycheck, you will want a new car from what you own (example: my bugeye). Plus, in 3-4 years, cars will continue to get faster and cheaper. An 06 STi will be real affordable in 2012...
i think that sounds a lot more logical. as much as i love the bugeye, i wouldnt mind being in an sti hehe.
I've pretty much done #1, its cost me a lot of money over the years but my car is truly one of a kind now. Dont get the misconception that the ver8 twinscroll motor has no lag, it still does its just barely worse than a stock TD04 with a lot more power on tap. Its also remarkably smooth when boost does hit, or rather it doesnt hit it just comes on very smooth and predictably. If you're wanting the JDM motor you'd be better off with the shorter gear ratios of the normal 6spd, although I'd imagine with the longer Legacy gearing you'd probably be able to run 2nd up to 80-85mph which is fun in its own way. The thing that it boils down to is do you want a modified WRX, or an STI because they are not one and the same. Everything on the STi is upgraded from a WRX including much more chassis welds for an overall stiffer frame.
With what you want to do it will be easier with an STi, and if you need/want to sell it in the future you will get more for it; a highly modded bugeye isn't worth half of a used STi (according to the ads I've seen). For the money you would spend modding a bugeye, is it possible to get an STi and do a front end conversion? Bumper, fenders, hood, headlights and a paint job?
well, i dont mind the hawk eyes actually. plus it`s got projos from factory, so that is a plus. i realized that i want a white sti with gold rims, so i`d probably have to do a paint job on my current car to get what i really want, and by that time, i WILL have rusts and more parts breaking on me (i already have had a few bolts and parts of chassis rusting).
You know lag isn't that bad, there is no way I would go to all the trouble of getting a version 8 engine and not do a big turbo. It cost a lot of money to bring a wrx up to STI spec.
I'm doing #1 as we speak. I almost traded in for an 07 STi but my car means a lot to me. I've set world records with it and it has accomplished every goal I wanted when I bought it. It has a lot of sentimental value to me. Plus I get to stick with the WRX insurance rates and it'll paid off sooner than a new car.
I AGREE, and so does my wallet, but had I NOT gone through a tranny the change would not be that bad IMO. I would knowing what I know now not go with a 6spd (which I did not) I went with the RA gears which I will probably go for a PPG or a less expensive semi equvalent ( a couple are on the horizon). Mockinbird - I would ask what are your exact plans DD only w/street play? Track? AutoX? I personally love to go to the track but am thinking if I cannot do it the way I want...Drive like I do not care if I flip the car off the track, destroy brakes and the consumables that the track does. So at this point for me it is looking like 6-10 track days a year and AutoX. I should have my bugeye back from Batlground this week with hopefully 350awhp, not sure what stage it is as far as I am concerned it is maxed out for the 2.0, lemme know and I will take you for a ride and see what you think.
well, 350whp doesnt really mean anything to me other than wearing out parts faster. stage 2 tune is WAYY over my limit of driving anyways (in fact i am probably not using that power to full potential actually). i want to build more of a handling monster without the compromises on the street (i.e. i couldnt run crazy camber because of tire wear, braking distances, and i dont want to scrape wherever i go..actually, i wanna build a suspension that will be suitable for sprited driving, yet still be able to rocket thru railroads), and my daily driver will NOT be involved in ANY kind of motorsport; because i will end up buying a used miata or something equivalent that will be ALL OUT racing, but the reason why i`m keeping my rex is because it is soo confident on the road. I personally happen to think that wrx is a wrong car if you want to track race or auto-x (unless you got a badass GC); at least for my taste-I want rear wheel drive and much higher revving engine, along with a LIGHT chassis..(rx7 in mind), and perhaps something with a double-wishbone at the front. But, like i have said, the wrx is soo easy to drive in real-life situations with speed bumps. AWD is really helpful, and the turbo makes highway driving so much easier compared to n/a engines. the visibility on the wrx really helps me see what's coming up, and the brakes are just soo nice. it will be interesting to do appearance mods on my car, because technically, i have yet to do anything for looks; it's always been for performance. my future plans in order: Exedy stage 1 clutch+ lightweight flywheel new O2 sensor LOL tune from SS STi tranny/RA gearset or LGT 6-speed (still debating which one to get) tokico D-spec+ SPT progressive springs+ STi tophats+ camber bolts or RB320 suspension set ALK sport JDM V7 headlights retrofitted with FX35 bi-xenon tinted windows pioneer avic D2 or equivalent double-din headunit JDM V7 grill JDM V7 hood scoop sti rear, and side diffusers custom-made carbon fiber front lip pieces custom-made red fiberglass + carbon fiber tip spoiler (like sti limited, but a bit more aggressive.. after all, i am industrial design major) milano red paint job taillights smoke-out 17" volk GT-N gold (if they make them in 17"), or BBS CH (if it fits) with Bridgestone RE01R. JDM forester STI front seats + 05 black rear seats and custom black alcantera door cards JDM red hazzard switch JDM V7 steering wheel S204 shift knob and then when my current engine dies, replace it with EJ25T w/ twin scroll turbo (i think the V8 one)
Why you say we are lucky? I have quality stuff on my car that is well capable of making the power I make. Also I turn my boost up when I want....simple as installing a magic pill As long as you maintain the car and most importantly use good oil and change it if under heavy use, the 2.0L is a stout engine. Only reason mine is till alive and running strong is I told Siegel to make it last so he tuned it VERY conservatively.
Quick question: Does a bugeye front end fit on a MY06?? I've seen the 04-05 front end on a bug eye... If so... you can have it all.
Nothing to wear out IMO other than the stock tranny and even if treated properly will last you. Most of the other issues you would have already swapped out suspension and stuff. Anyways I am all bout the powah, keep wanting more and more, yet I try to do in stages...when I bought my car it was 182/182 did a ecutek flash and UP got 251/251, swapped to a VF39 injectors and pump got 287/282 added meth 306/314 now she is being tuned for 18G turbo got ???/???. If you do not plan to track the car just do the 1-4 RA gearset and keep stock 5th. I would not spend the chaching on the Spec B tranny probably not even the STI as 4G's for 1/2 that you can have the RA's with micropolish and cryotreatment and it should be good for 350wheel at a minimum 380ish max.