My mustang can be found here. http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=475659 (all mods are listed further down the thread) As all convertables should be, I've now retired the car to nice day driving only.

My daily driver civic is parked next to it in one picture. I really want to pick up a WRX in the next year or so. I just got out of college and work for an automotive supplier so I get VIP discount on Subarus. I guess I thought they were tougher than they evidently are. I do maintain my cars religiously though, so I hope I could get at least 150K out of a WRX.

 

let's not get crazy doug. the issue is not if you mod a WRX they explode. the issue is safely modding a WRX while still using it as your daily driver.

by the sound of your post you don't commute in your project cars so i wouldnt worry about it.

buy an STI, mod it to 500, keep driving your civic to work and live happily ever after.

 

I'm already certifiably car crazy, too late.

 

Well, keep in mind that you only hear about the few wrx/sti owners who do have problems. There are A LOT of people who don't. Overall the reliability is great. Obviously, with any car the reliability will go down as you mod, subarus are no exception.

The WRX's transmission is a weak link but there are lots of high horsepower cars still on the stock tranny doing fine. And there are a few who have broken 1/2 gear. IMHO, if you can drive and not put too much stress on the tranny theres absolutely nothing to worry about. The STi, well, I haven't really heard anything bad about it.

I don't think you really have anything to worry about. Just a voided warranty if your dealers an ***. Some dealers will not fix a window motor if you have an exhaust on your car. Some are cool with mods and even offer performance parts at their dealership.

edit: to get back on topic. someone posted in the general forum a long time ago. probably one of the first to hit 100,000 miles. all i remember is that he had stock struts and aftermarket springs, and his struts were still going strong.

 

Doug, if you can coax a '90s American car past 195k, you should have NO trouble with an '05 Subaru lasting past that, mods or no mods Congrats on that Mustang, it held up really well -- I thought the salt and sand they put on the roads in the winter in the Midwest (I'm from Cincinnati, originally, 90 miles north of Lexington) would have turned a Mustang into a Rustang long ago... Personally I would not buy a WRX or STI with the intention of modding it aggressively unless there was an AWD dyno and a knowledgable Subaru tuner manning it within 100 miles or so. It isn't anything like a Mustang, in the mod department; there are very few bolt-on engine mods you can do that do not require retuning of the car's ECU -- you feel less like a car mechanic and more like a computer hacker

 

I don't mind being a computer hacker, it's fun to me as long as the software is user friendly. We have an AWD dyno here in Louisville (I'm here on weekends) and I know two guys who have both owned WRXs, I'll talk to them more before I buy one.

As far as salt and sand on Mustangs, I don't think the 94+ cars have rust problems as far as I know. It's Hondas that rust, not Mustangs, ask me how I know. I actually bought my mustang in Cincinatti back when I lived in northern Kentucky about 8 years ago. Contrary to all the hater stereotypes out there, Mustangs are extremely reliable cars, especially in stock form. There are many Mustangs past the 200K mark, some under boost for quite a while. As for the other mid-90s Ford products, only the Ranger is probably as reliable.

Back on the subject of Scoobies, I guess I thought the WRX was more of a car that you could reliably turn the wick up on. I knew there were 2nd gear problems, but I thought there was alot more reliable power to be had. Then again, these cars are relatively new, so some of you guys will eventually get 100K moded miles with no problems. I think I looked at this thread as "Has anyone reached 100K miles without blowing something up." as opposed to "Has anyone driven 100K miles on their hopped up WRX yet without any major problems." I didn't realize yesterday that the cars are so new, not many of you guys have gotten that many miles yet. I'm back in the hunt for one now. Maybe I'll talk to the dealer this week, I kind of want a car by summer because the Civic's air conditioning is broke.

Take it easy..........Doug

 

Well you can get 50+ horsepower easily/reliably/safely/economically.

 

Very interesting dialogue, figured I'd add my 2 cents..

I am at 75K on my Scooby.. Had similar concerns as noted above.. Daily driver, about 110-130 miles a day.. for the last 35-40k she has been running a scooby sports stage two.. Nothing super aggresive as far as tuning.. and she is no trailer queen.. I do run about 4-5 days of road racing a year..

I too was turned off by the resale value of the bug eyes and wanted to buy an STI.. but mortage and family have there priorities..

After many and I mean many conversations with the wife we decided to just keep it, and when something gives, replace it with a better part.. i.e. engine and tranny..

But personally I don't think I will have to many problems.. Regular maintenance and care go a long way..

I am saving some money for some upgrades.. thinking new turbo, pump and injectors.. already have the ecutek.. probably won't go crazy: P&P TD-04 or VF -39 at the high end.. I think

The car is plenty quick at the track.. and supporting suspension mods go a long way to offset power.. not to mention good driving.. and thats an area i am focusing on..

Before I get side tracked.. at least with the SS stage 2, I can say that it has been reliable.. and at least my initial worries have disappeared.. but again, half the game is having a little luck on your side.. also taking care of the car.. I don't drag race, don't care too as I have read many horror stories about drive track shock..
For now I am eager to hit 100,000 by summer or fall and hopefully have done about 3 or 4 days of racing.. and if a little luck on my side upgraded turbo..
VR
Alex

 

110K with SR30, FMIC EXhaust, Turboxs ECU, Exhaust Basically Stage 4. Radiator and Transmisson had to be replaced. Have Fluiddyne radiator and STIRA 6SPM Tranny in now.
Motor is very strong but the 5sp in 02-03 are very weak. NO problem since replaced @68K

 

Mind if I ask how much that 6-speed transmission costs?

 

First of all you can't just replace the trans. alone. you need to replace the ring on the rear diff. to a 3.9 ratio or replace the whole thing. also you'll need the drive shaft. I got the trans. + drive shaft + a 02 rear end that had its ring changed to the 3.9 ratio and the backlash set correctly for $4800. It was from a guy who and three rally cars and was changing them out for the 04 sti 2.5L.

 

Ah yes, I read about this in another thread. I didn't realize it was you. Thanks! Sorry for another thread hi-jack.

 

No, this is my 2 ever post. Someone else has done this.

 

So, Doug, what do you think after reading all these posts?