yo BAIC

i am way to lazy to seach and filter, so here is my deal/question;

i test drove a super clean 2006 wrx with the standard 2.5 liter motor. it felt INSANELY anemic in 2nd gear. like sloooooow.

is this motor that tunable? after driving an STi the day before, good lord the motor feels no better than a 2.0!! i know it is an unfair comparison, but are these 06 motors able to put out close to an STi? or is it throwing money out the window, and just get the damn STi?

anyway, i was super surprized by the lack of power. i am at 6k ft, but everything i drive up here looses power.....but dang...

josh

 

super clean? was it actually stock its whole life? maybe something is busted? what are you comparing it to? the ej255 has a significant torque difference to the 2.0 so kind of need a frame of reference.

head to osecuroms.org... look up the bullwinkle stage 2. just a simple tune and a downpipe yields some impressive torque figures. the turbo, however, runs out of steam at the top end.

 

Hmmmm... maybe the shorter gear ratios of the STi (plus more power) just made the 06 feel slower than it really was? I wouldn't really call an 06 slow.... maybe it had sub 91 octane in it??

In general if you want an STi and can afford the extra costs - go for it. I mean if you want it but don't get it, you will probably regret not buying it. Plus, you can get good deals on used STi's.... its just the insurance and maintenance costs that add up (fast!).

 

Keep in mind that the 06's came with some really crappy factory tunes, I mean, REALLY awful. (The STi did, not sure about the WRX).

My 06 WRX felt really great, it def wasn't a slouch and felt a lot nicer then the 2.0L motors. Perhaps something is wrong with that car? I remember 2nd gear feeling especially nice in my 06.


The 2.5 has a lot of potential with minimal mods.

 

Sounds like something is wrong with it to me.

What dealership?

6000 feet of elevation should do that much. It could pull a bit of timing. Is this an early shift... I mean are you putting your foot in it at 1800 rpm's or are we talking at 4-5k?

I've read a few issues with the 06's but the 2.5 liter wrx motor is a good motor and gets up plenty. Even out of the box. I test drove one and it surprised me how much better it felt even thought the HP was so similar to the 04/05.

 

the 06 WRX motor is basically the same as the 04-07 STI motor (possibly 08+). A few minor differences (.2 higher compression, smog pump, SMALLER TURBO). With a VF-39 turbo from an STi they pull just as hard.

 

it was the 07 sti that had the bad stock maps. it was because they had a new turbo/injectors than the 04/06. The only downside about the 06 is the plastic pitch mounts that will break.

 

it might be a combo

first gear felt pretty good. at one point i could feel the timing being pulled HEAVILY, and i might have heard some detonation (BAD). it was no where near as fun to drive as my old 2002 wrx wagon (highly modded) or as i said, my old sti. i did drive that black sti up here, andit was a monster still. hence my concern over the wrx's performance.

and dont get me wrong. i was not expecting sti performance. but i am not convinced it isnt the car. i have moved on from it already.....

and in terms of sti vs wrx....i have been mostly seeing 2004's in my price range. i am smitten with the 2.5 l turbo vs the 2.0 for obvioous reasons. there seem to be quite a few 2006 wrx/tr's hitting the market for a good deal. i was thinking a well moded wrx could get me into a lower milage car, have a svery similar motor, and get the eagle eye body style i love (but not set on).

josh

PS when i looked at the car fax, it has had 4 (!??!) owners in 46k mi! moving on...

 

wow 4 owners... nutty. That's too many. Scary.

I mean 2 or even 3 might make sense. Like a parent bought it. Gave it to the kid. The kids sells it a year later... etc.

4... wtf. That car has stay away written all over it. Good luck with the search.

 

Yeah, just move on... Throwing down a few G's for a car, you should at least get a car with a good motor in it

 

yep. i am finding carfax INVALUABLE!! just shocked at 3-4 year old cars with 4-8 owners.

i am being VERY patient at this point.

thanks for the info folks. this is why i spend my time here....

josh

 

With this economy cars like the wrx are gonna get passed around.

It's a car a lot of young folks want. A lot of people loosing jobs. So you have a lot of people getting loans then finding out they can't afford it. Have to trade in for cheaper cars or sell for a cheaper car.

But yeah that's a lot of people. I'm very happy mine is a one owner car. me.