i am thinking about buying a 2004 wrx with 38000 miles on it. i hear the transmissions are junk on the 2002-03 wrx was this fixed on the 04-05? and are thier any other problems?

 

The 2004 and up gearboxes are pretty good. The only real flag about a used WRX is that it is a relatively inexpensive performance car, and as such can be owned by people who are... lax about proper maintenance, and have little mechanical empathy. So, just make sure you take a good hard objective look at the condition of the car before you buy.

 

The "junk" trans on my 02 is just fine at 80K with the original clutch.
They aren't really junk, but the AWD drivetrain does not tolerate ham-fisted driving very well especially when the car has been modded for more power. This is the main reason they have gained a poor reputation. When treated properly, with respect for what you can and can't do with them, they hold up ok.
There is not much difference between the transmissions from 02-05, other than a slight increase in the width of some of the gears after 03. Otherwise the internals did not change.

 

thank you very much for your help. and im sorry if i called your transmission junk, by saying that i meant that the gears couldnt hold up from abuse and were prone to problems. i plan to go cobb stage 2 when i buy it, would the transmission be ok with those power gains as long as i dont launch unproperly and or beat it?

 

Nobody can say for sure, to some degree it will depend on how the car was treated before you got it which is of course beyond your control. If it was driven and maintained properly and you continue to do the same, it should be ok but there can never be any guarantees.

 

I'll put it this way - I know of tons of people that have broken gears, driving normaly and driving hard. Be careful, and don't slam your tranny, but don't think your still safe :/.

 

My car is Cobb stage 2 and the oe clutch and trans are holding strong @ 97K. The car has been autoXed and tracked quite a few times with no issues.

IMO, most of the broken trannies out there have been abused. The WRX was not designed to drag race. There's a reason top fuel dragsters don't have AWD.

 

I put 55k on my 02 WRX with a Satge 2 setup making 234 whp and when I sold it a few months ago to buy an STi, it still had the factory clutch and was crisp and precise as the first day I woned it. It all depends on the way you drive it.

 

I wont lie. Ive dropped my clutch a few times, banged the rear diff to hell and smoked my clutch numerous times...

Its held up well, Im at ~50whp/wtq over stock. I did replace the clutch at 50K miles but that is because I abused it. The transmission is capable of lasting but too much abuse will kill it imo. There is also the random chance that any part will fall flat on its face and break, not just the tranny.

I think the 1st gear syncro is more of a worry than breaking a gear. My 1st gear is great but my friends 02 would grind from stop with the clutch pressed to the floor....in comparison I can shift into first ~ 20mph using double clutching and revmatching (yes I know you're not supposed to shift into 1st while moving )

 

anybody know about the 06 tranny? any better?

 

hm...yea...i just bought a 02 n a lot of times its difficult to get into 1st gear and reverse...other gears seem to be fine...

 

It all depends on the way you drive . If you race your car around and dont do all the reqired up keep for your subie then your car will be junk. Dont blame the trany blame the driver. lol