Yes.. The Subaru 5 speed transmission is a "split case" design which will, in turn, flex under high power/torque conditions. Which can lead to very bad things such as blown gears and broken syncros as many members on this forum have personally found out. The STi 6 speed is built better and can withstand much more hp/tq.

 

Clarifying your goals with the car could help you make the decision too. Are you looking for a comfortable, quick, DD? Or something to mod into the ground?

I picked up an '02 last year. Bought a new axle back, header, up-pipe, Accessport, and rear sway bar. Pretty fun, decent mileage, quick little daily driver.

The STI will almost always be the faster car though. Starting with a better platform, making the same mods, will yield better results.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Why have Hamburgers when ya can have Steak Sti all the way but this depends on how much you want to spend ? if you buy a wrx and end up tuning it toget the same HP as an Sti then to me thats a Waste Of Time
But good luck with whatever you decide ( as long aas its a subaru lol !!!! )

 

honestly it depends on what your trying to achieve in your car... are you trying to get a car that is for looks with some speed, if so than go with the wrx and get full exhaust and a tune. If you want to go all out and have a built motor for more speed than go with the STi and build from that. I used to have a 06 TR and had my fun with it then I traded it in for a truck, had my fun with that and got a great deal on my current 07 STi. So it really just depends on what your trying to get out of your car...

 

If you have a choice, then get an STI. But it really depends on what you want out of your car I would say.

But if you're on budget constraints or you are satisfied with the amount of power that would be gain through cheaper mods. Then the WRX would suit you fine. But if you want more, you can afford it, then STI would be a better choice of course.

 

I traded in an '04 WRX (modded exhaust, trans, ECU) for an '11 STi. Some of it was just "that time", old car had 82k miles, starting to get repair costs, lots of dings and squeaks...

The STi is a hugely capable car. I can swing through turns efforlessly that would have put my poor old subie into a wall.

If all you're interested in is 1/4 mile time or 0-60, the difference might not be worth the money. If you like a rock-solid sports car, and you don't mind the tight suspension, the STi is simply awesome. I knew the limits of my old car, but it was tame enough that I had to really try pretty hard to get trouble. The STi will do zero to stupid in barely enough time to say "oh sh*t".

That said, think about affordability, too: I *love* the tires they put on my STi, but I am already thinking about having to budget about $100 a month towards just tires.