I have an '02 with a VF-35 and like I said producing over 240 awhp with over 38k miles on it and the power mods from the previous owner. He also did all the mods basically when he bought the car so it's been 38k miles with 247 awhp. My transmission seems fine with no problems whatsoever. Since people are saying that he's taken care of the car pretty well I'd see no problem in how good the transmission condition should be.

In fact, if you buy #2 it's almost like you're exactly in the same position I was when I first got my car. I'm guessing if you're already thinking about an STi RA tranny you must have some $$ to be ready to spend. My advice is to slowly learn how to handle the power and then start slowly modding the suspension. I first did rear sway + endlink, auto-x for a while after that, and then when I had the money, bought me some Ground Controls and Konis. And with only this setup I just need to adjust my camber slightly and it'd be perfect for me.

 

yea, number 2 is sounding the best now, even though ive heard bad things, i do have a freind with almost 60k on his 02, no issues yet, as far as me getting the sti ra tranny stuff, i wouldntt exactly have much money behind me after i bought the car (enought for amintenace/gas/insurence) but not so much for big time mods like that. i have only had around 20min seat time ina wrx, it was un modded, but one quick question, how do these cars handle, by looking at them, it looks like they ahndle well, but i have heard else wise, i have heard they have body rool and stuff, BUT, i ahve also heard most can be fixed with new sway abrs/endlinks, (maybe stuffer springs?),

 

to get rid of the body roll, get a 20mm-22mm rear sway bar,rear end links, stiffer springs(eibach, prodrive, or STi pinks), and 17" wheels with good tires(e.g. no round shoulder tires like the Falken ST-115). For starters though since you might be a bit strapped for cash, just get a 20mm sway bar(02, and early 03 WRX have a 20mm rear sway bar), rear end links, and some 17" wheels. or if the wheels would be too much(going to cost $800 or more unless you find a set used) then get the 20mm bar, end links, and some stiffer springs.

 

Hah I'm the owner of # 3.
First off I want to know why everyone cares so much about suspension when they first start driving the car. It's like, do you honestly think that the limiting factor is the performance of the CAR or the performance of the DRIVER?

I would say be careful with the sway bars (or any mod that adjusts the handling characteristics) if this is your first performance car (I don't know if it is). Suspension is hard to tune and I always here people who crash their EVO/WRX/STI saying things like "my suspension was too stiff (read: stiffer rear sway bar, higher pressure in tires, stiffer springs) and I spun out... wasn't my fault of course it was the hardware's fault!". Well that was their fault for being Mr. Speed Racer and putting that super awesome suspension they have no use for. If you absolutely must do suspension, tires and the whiteline ALK to get rid of the floating over highway bumps.

I might even argue against the tires; higher grip tires can give one the illusion that he is a better driver than he is as they pursue ever higher cornering speeds. Then all of a sudden they exceed the S-03's awesome grip and panic.

I also wasn't aware that you were 17. In that case, don't buy my car, or number 2 for that matter. Buy #1, a stock wrx is plenty of good fun already!

Also something that Travis10 may or may not have said is that he only has 14k to spend, period. In that situation, in general people probably don't want to spend the whole 14k on just the car, unless it's stock and under warranty, etc.



Lastly, ZUMNWRX makes a really good point; never trust that a car is "stock". Although if the owner has replaced all heatshields inspection may be a bit harder (and obviously if heatshields are missing I highly doubt it has been stock...), but do have a mechanic thoroughly check it over regardless of what the seller tells you.

 

Almost everything you've said I agree upon though you come on a little harsh. Instead of coming in and saying how everyone emphasizes suspension too much, how about reading the whole thread instead of saying stuff like People like mcdrama are saying how he should first learn how to handle the car and then start modding it slowly. Especially since the car already has more than enough power to back up the stock suspension, to many people it would be smarter to put suspension mods instead of power or body mods.

Most cars that have suspension meant for more stability on the street aren't that hard to tune. Heck people just put an ALK, rear sway, lowering springs, and MAYBE an aftermarket shock. Not much you can tune with that except if you have an adjustable sway. Though, even if you want to try and "tune" your suspension a little bit it's not that hard with a little bit of research. I was able to figure out what kind of spring rates I wanted on my WRX since Ground Control offers custom spring rates for free in only a week or so. After I got my Ground Controls and Konis, just driving on them you can feel what needs to be tweaked. I admit it gives a bit more understeer than I would like, but I can live with it.

Being 17 should make no change on whether or not he should buy your car or any other car that has mods on it. I'm sure you've taken care of your WRX and want it to go to a good owner, but being bias on sales because of age is, imho, retarded. I've been completely AR about my car, and have taken good care of it, and I got my car when I was 16. In fact, I'm one of those AR guys who would park far away from any building so I wouldn't get any door dings.

 

STI-owns-EVO, what you said is totally agreeable, although people tend to get defensive about young age where other people weren't really explicitly calling them out on it. But that's totally legit being that there are sadly a lot of "teenage haters" out there.

yeah I didn't have much time to type that reply so whoops, o well. However I'm not being biased on anything. I'm not even seriously considering selling my car at this point, I've just been trying to help him out in my correspondence. I've known several (like, more than 10) people who bought "the wrong car" around 16-20 and their life was utter hell from it (dropped out of high school/college, lost girlfriend, ran into super debt, parents disowned them <-- heh I'm not kidding). I'm not saying this only happens to younger people I'm sure 40, 50 year old people make the same mistakes. I don't want to see another one of those.

Like that other thread about the "ricer" who crashed the rsx that's on here right now; I bet that "ricer" is a nice kid. But hey, made a mistake and pow! flame on...

 

Lest someone jump in here and unleash the fury, OBVIOUSLY i'm not implying that any here is on the level of the mad tite rsx drifter, cause he was kinda extremely dumb

 

thanks for all of the replies, yes..i am 17, pretty responsible, but what teenager doesnt say that? anyways, this would be my frst car that i bought myself, i would be comeing from a 93 minivan, so it would be a step up. but, when i did test drive a stock wrx, it hoenstly didn't feel that fast, i mean, once it hit 4k, it hauled, i dont think that buying a wrx pre modded, especially joes, which seems to be really clean would be to much of an issue, i would probably be so scared of crashing that i will be driving like a granny for some time, i made an enphisis on suspension because, since the begining, my first love of cars has come from the e36 m3, which is a monster in the twisites, but my search for one of those has turned up 1 car, so i expanded, and the next best thing is a wrx, but i have always liked them anyway, just never thought i would be able to afford one at this age, but i have heard that they ahve body roll and what not, so i guess i sort of comapre most things to the m3, (yes i do have some seat time with the m3), and thus, handling ability is something that is pretty important to me. i am sorry if this sunds like a 3 yearold worte it, but its 3am and i still have hw to finsih,