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#2675273 - 05/27/08 11:15 PM Subaru WRX (STi) experts
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
edit: STi in the works!

So my bro is looking at picking up an 02 WRX(or maybe 04ish).
Price wise is keeping him with the 2.0L.

He checked out a nice one today. great body, stock rims. HKS ss (routed into the intake) hks boost controller, bigger injectors. Running 15psi, Full 3"(turbo back). Uppipe, JDM STi tranny(5spd), STi top mount intercooler. Tein Suspension.Bully clutch(canadian company)Stock brakes.
Basically he said it was decently quick. Obviously handled better than his stock suspension 92.5 DSM, though he felt his dsm shifted nicer!(amazing I know, but weve done some mods to the shifter to make it nicer than stock) He also didnt like the high catch on the clutch and thought it was wierd. I dunno what its like on subarus but mine is pretty high. I just told him not to worry about that.

the 2.0L at 15psi had enough pull and wasnt too laggy in his opinion.
it has 60k Miles on it and he noticed oil leaking from the oil inlet line(into the turbo) aswell as noticable oil leaking from the intercooler outlet to the intake inlet.
I figured the higher psi (and likely abuse) has the turbo hurting a bit.

questions:
Is that normal for the turbos on wrx's?
what kind of psi are people running?
how does the stock computer handle bigger injectors(1 step up from stock) and higher psi?

oh ya he thought the brakes were shat. had to push the pedal quite a bit before he got any bite. Worn brakes? or is this normal for wrx's?

I figured they need to be changed.

Any other things to watch out for? Tips? Its much appreciated.


The STi tranny is a nice touch to the glass issue of the stock one and that 3" will sound sweet. Im hoping it works out though the turbo oiling issues are somewhat bothersome. Not a huge deal but who wants to spend that kind of coin on a new car and need to do a turbo swap at such low mileage?!

\:\)
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#2675506 - 05/28/08 12:56 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
max
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Why not a turbo Honda? I hear you don't even have to touch the engines or transmissions.
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#2676066 - 05/28/08 09:40 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
LuckyRVA Offline
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Registered: 08/30/02
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 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
So my bro is looking at picking up an 02 WRX(or maybe 04ish).
Price wise is keeping him with the 2.0L.

He checked out a nice one today. great body, stock rims. HKS ss (routed into the intake) hks boost controller, bigger injectors. Running 15psi, Full 3"(turbo back). Uppipe, JDM STi tranny(5spd), STi top mount intercooler. Tein Suspension.Bully clutch(canadian company)Stock brakes. You make no mention of any sort of engine management. Sounds sketchy...running 15psi with the stock turbo you don't need bigger injectors, a bigger intercooler, or a blow-off valve (or an STI transmission for that matter). Maybe the previous owner was running a bigger turbo and swapped before selling? 2.0's don't like running for long without EM.

Basically he said it was decently quick. Obviously handled better than his stock suspension 92.5 DSM, though he felt his dsm shifted nicer!(amazing I know, but weve done some mods to the shifter to make it nicer than stock) He also didnt like the high catch on the clutch and thought it was wierd. I dunno what its like on subarus but mine is pretty high. I just told him not to worry about that. My '04 catches high as well. It took me driving it for 1 day to get used to it

the 2.0L at 15psi had enough pull and wasnt too laggy in his opinion.
it has 60k Miles on it and he noticed oil leaking from the oil inlet line(into the turbo) aswell as noticable oil leaking from the intercooler outlet to the intake inlet.
I figured the higher psi (and likely abuse) has the turbo hurting a bit.

questions:
Is that normal for the turbos on wrx's? yes, but then again it depends on how much oil he saw
what kind of psi are people running? I'm running an Accessport Stage 2 with 15psi
how does the stock computer handle bigger injectors(1 step up from stock) and higher psi? That I don't know, I would never try it

oh ya he thought the brakes were shat. had to push the pedal quite a bit before he got any bite. Worn brakes? or is this normal for wrx's? Mine were ABSOLUTE SHIT until I upgraded to better pads...they were barely even worn down but had horrible feel. Running Hawk HP pads now with Brembo blanks and they feel 1000% better

I figured they need to be changed.

Any other things to watch out for? Tips? Its much appreciated.


The STi tranny is a nice touch to the glass issue of the stock one and that 3" will sound sweet. Im hoping it works out though the turbo oiling issues are somewhat bothersome. Not a huge deal but who wants to spend that kind of coin on a new car and need to do a turbo swap at such low mileage?!

\:\)
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#2676206 - 05/28/08 10:15 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: LuckyRVA]
jsmonet Offline
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Registered: 11/13/99
Posts: 150087
Loc: So. Cali
sounds like a decent car, but be prepared to get the turbo rebuilt or just go a little bigger.

brakes... :ugh:. pads make a world of difference. i was young and stupid and threw on the stoptech stg 2 kit and liked the difference (once i finally bled the system completely). it's probably long overdue for a fluid flush, so pads/rotors/fluid will make it feel like a brand new car.

that motor was notorious for throwing a misfire code once you get a bit north of 45k miles. just fyi.
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#2678724 - 05/28/08 10:37 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: jsmonet]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
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Loc: Canadistan
Good info thanks.
He said the owner never mentioned engine management(its a girl btw). supposedly she takes it easy on the car.

Apparently she got it stock off another owner who didnt have it long(couldnt afford it).
Im wondering if she ran a bigger turbo.
I figured the stock brakes were meh. Nothing you cant fix on most cars these days.

throwing a code? what kind of code? anyway to fix?

Thanks again
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#2679340 - 05/29/08 06:47 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
Slow_V6 Offline
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Registered: 03/03/02
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 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
Good info thanks.
He said the owner never mentioned engine management(its a girl btw). supposedly she takes it easy on the car.

Apparently she got it stock off another owner who didnt have it long(couldnt afford it).
Im wondering if she ran a bigger turbo.
I figured the stock brakes were meh. Nothing you cant fix on most cars these days.

throwing a code? what kind of code? anyway to fix?

Thanks again


If she took it easy, she would have had no reason to swap out the sti tranny.

Something doesn't sound right and ill bet the car was beaten to death.
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#2679834 - 05/29/08 10:30 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Slow_V6]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
it has shorter 1-3 though..aswell as being stronger.

if going easy why would you need it to be stronger? i dunno, cause the stock one is glass. doesnt hurt to have it.


I dunno, shes got some other dude coming to check it out from pretty far so im sure he will buy it. her price is too much imo and my bro offered less. she didnt want to take it, but said she will see about this other guy first.

I wouldve gone to see the car to but he lives 500km away from me + work in the way.
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#2679941 - 05/29/08 10:56 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
jsmonet Offline
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Registered: 11/13/99
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Loc: So. Cali
people had blown gears grannying around so I can see it.

i forget the exact code, but it came up as cylinder misfire--which was odd seeing how it was usually a cam position sensor
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#2681013 - 05/29/08 03:47 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
UglyValiant Offline
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Registered: 10/09/02
Posts: 6364
Loc: Milwaukee, WI
 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
02 WRX experts
Aw man...sucks. I'm a total 03 WRX god. 02 WRX's, not so much.
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#2681176 - 05/29/08 04:42 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: UglyValiant]
NOT spotch... Offline
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lol
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#2681656 - 05/29/08 07:34 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: NOT spotch...]
mz3 Offline
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Registered: 08/04/05
Posts: 597
Loc: Philly Native Now Texan
my friend has an 02, we put in a VF34, bigger injectors, meth, and got it tuned at a shop. it ended up dynoing at 265whp. its pretty quick. from a roll it kept up with my other friends 07 Sti with Cobb Stage 2. im not used to driving subarus but it was jerky.

Edited by mz3 (05/29/08 07:36 PM)

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#2684124 - 05/30/08 02:50 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: mz3]
KneeGrow Offline
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Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 10719
Loc: San Francisco, CA
I wouldn't buy a modded WRX. imo.
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#2684858 - 05/30/08 07:56 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: KneeGrow]
SlowKA Offline
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Registered: 05/28/04
Posts: 183
Loc: Pflugerville,Texas(Austin)
Probably the tranny was replaced since the 02 models had a lot of owners upset when their tranny went out.There were a few horror stories of 20K mile tranny going south in Austin and Subaru dealerships refusal to repair or replace them.

Not to say they were all bad,but IIRC,they were quite a few.


The fact that the previous owner didnt use any type of engine management is a red flag.


Edited by SlowKA (05/30/08 07:57 PM)
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#2685046 - 05/30/08 09:41 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: SlowKA]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
thanks for the heads up guys! Apparently the dude who came a long way backed out aswell. She called my bro back and he basically said no thanks.

Ive convinced him he might want to come up the extra little coin for an STi \:\)

Im checking out an 04 STi soon, and maybe an 04 wrx .

is mileage much worse on the STi? anything I should watch out for with those?

thanks


err what am I thinking? Im lying. I told him he needs to buy vtec asap or he will be disowned from the family!!
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#2685189 - 05/30/08 11:19 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
TakeItToPM Offline
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Registered: 08/27/03
Posts: 6776
Loc: Atlanta, GA
I bought a modded WRX and have been driving it for almost 4 years with not a single problem. Actually the clock stopped working lol. It's got 76K on it now and I'm looking to trade it in. I too was worried about the tranny but damn I beat on it daily. Some dude was racing me the other day on my way to work in a G35. He pulled up next to me and said he couldn't keep up with the AWD lolz.

Looking at AP2 S2K's now. \:\)
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#2689637 - 06/01/08 09:52 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: TakeItToPM]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
saw an STi today.Drove very nicely... working out the details to pick it up. Hes gonna enjoy it for sure!
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#2691916 - 06/02/08 02:35 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: UglyValiant]
allan r Offline
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Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 15724
Loc: the land of cheese
 Originally Posted By: UglyValiant
 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
02 WRX experts
Aw man...sucks. I'm a total 03 WRX god. 02 WRX's, not so much.


there's are some reasonable differences :P . 02's usually had more broken transmissions. it's been awhile since i did my research (before buying an 03) but 02's had a clutch shudder problem which was fixed mid-year i believe and i've heard from a few difference sources that the trans case was upgraded slightly for 03. at any rate i distinctly remember exhaustive forum searches showing that most blown trans posts came from owners with 2002 cars and I mde the decision that MY2003 was the way to go.

also 02's had a different sway rear sway bar and some had a small fuel leak in the engine bay, i think there's a TSB for it.

can't say anything else that hasn't been said except the following upgrades make all the world's difference to the driving feel of the car: brake pads, shifter bushing, steering rack bushings, tires. and as far as the turbo goes, honestly euphoric, they don't pull all that hard so the turbo might actually be ok, heh.
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#2693383 - 06/02/08 10:31 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: allan r]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
good info!
though it looks like its gonna be an 04 STi.

thoughts? I know they upgraded 05's quite a bit... suspension wise etc. 04 still a sweet ride though...or am I wrong?

basic mods? who to reflash with? cobb?
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#2693717 - 06/03/08 12:55 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
Z24 lol Offline
and Fuck you for the new name lol
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05 or 6's have better gearing.
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#2693763 - 06/03/08 01:22 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Z24 lol]
Impulsive Offline
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Registered: 11/28/99
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Oil Leaking on the IC outlet is typically normal. It's the usual turbo car PCV oil pooling - provided it's a smaller amount.
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#2693980 - 06/03/08 07:32 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
allan r Offline
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Registered: 04/20/01
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 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
good info!
though it looks like its gonna be an 04 STi.

thoughts? I know they upgraded 05's quite a bit... suspension wise etc. 04 still a sweet ride though...or am I wrong?

basic mods? who to reflash with? cobb?


If you mean STI's, don't quote me on this but IIRC 05 STi's got s front LSD where 04's had an open one, and there may have been a change in the type of rear LSD too? Also there may have been some suspension changes but I forget what exactly. Did they go to inverted front shocks maybe?
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#2694122 - 06/03/08 08:51 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: allan r]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
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Loc: Canadistan
ya 05 got a different type of lsd...

bigger suspension bits and a few other things.
however the 04 is still a pretty sweet ride....or am I wrong? should I look for an 05-06?(more $$$ though)

what about the oil pickup tube breaking? you sti guys know about that?
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#2694274 - 06/03/08 09:41 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
pumpkin escobar Offline
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Differences between '04-'05 STi's
http://www.subdriven.com/news/publish/Features/printer_340.shtml
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#2696651 - 06/03/08 08:57 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: pumpkin escobar]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
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Loc: Canadistan
great link thanks.

I think the 04 will be an amazing car. Sure the 05 might be better in some ways(dont care about the interior upgrades) but its more $$$.

hrmm wonder if the new diffs swap over easily ;\)
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#2696911 - 06/03/08 10:07 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
Slow_V6 Offline
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04s didn't have an immobilizer, so they are more prone to be stolen...
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#2696925 - 06/03/08 10:11 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Slow_V6]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
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this one has an aftermarket alarm/starter kill installed. \:\)
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#2696944 - 06/03/08 10:16 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
zc911 Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
this one has an aftermarket alarm/starter kill installed. \:\)




and it was a bitch to figure out even when we knew it was there lol
since a theif won;t know about it, good fuckin luck getting around that thing.
Towing will be about the only option

enjoy the car \:D
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#2697062 - 06/03/08 10:56 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: zc911]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
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Loc: Canadistan
good to hear \:D
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#2698130 - 06/04/08 10:49 AM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
jsmonet Offline
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Registered: 11/13/99
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Loc: So. Cali
about diff swaps: you probably won't want to swap the suretrac out and that just leaves the rear diff...which isn't all that bad itself \:\)

the 04's front diff is thought of as the more agressive setup. 05's helical unit was less agressive, but also a more comfortable setup all around.

the 04 sti will be a lot easier to work on, IMO. you have the same bolt pattern as the rest of the wrx's, same basic hub design (for coilovers/struts), etc. 05 was the first year for the 5x114.3 bolt pattern and the revised hubs/suspension geometry.

it'll be a fun car. just be sure to give it some decently wide rims/tires. stockers are only 7.5" wide. along with that you may want to replace the wheel bearings at all 4 corners. they tend to wear out and get noisy. they're cheap and the replacement is pretty simple SEE HERE:
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/how-install/115123-how-rear-wheel-bearing.html

<!--begin captain obvious-->running wide ass tires seems to wear wheel bearings out kinda quickly on sti's

if nothing else, get him a whiteline 27~29mm front sway and some kartboy endlinks. kartboy products are good stuff and the front sway/endlinks on a stock suspension feels *so* damn good. the car goes from a little understeer to very neutral/some oversteer on-throttle.

ok, i'll wind this up with this one last bit:

swap the trans/diff fluids when you get it. if you plan on driving the shit out of it, swap those fluids often (15~30k depending on how hard you are on it). I'm sure i'm preaching to the choir on that, but I can't say enough for how good fresh fluid feels on these cars.
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#2698717 - 06/04/08 01:31 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: jsmonet]
Euphoricuck Offline
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Registered: 11/05/03
Posts: 92703
Loc: Canadistan
GREAT info! I was hoping youd chime in \:\)

Fluids have already been changed. Car is ready to go. Just working on the details. Sounds like itll be fine. The little more rawness to it will be enjoyed thats for sure.

What are your thoughts on the oil pickup issue?


Already got a little list of mods thatll get done. lol
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#2699046 - 06/04/08 02:40 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Euphoricuck]
Moof Offline
Mounts the residents
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lol this thread is secretly helping me, too.

On the phone with the bank to find out about trading in my Wagon for an 04 STi.


YOU BETTER NOT BE TRYING TO BUY THE ONE I WANT!


Edit: Approved, bitches. Now to pay off the Imprezbian
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#2699404 - 06/04/08 04:01 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Moof]
jsmonet Offline
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Registered: 11/13/99
Posts: 150087
Loc: So. Cali
i don't think the oil pickup issue is going to be a really big deal.

something else you'll want to keep an eye on is a non-serious issue where the hot side of the vf39 (stock turbo) tends to get hairline cracks. you don't really suffer any leaks from it, though.
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#2699628 - 06/04/08 05:07 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Moof]
FCobra94 Offline
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Registered: 10/22/01
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 Originally Posted By: Moof
lol this thread is secretly helping me, too.

On the phone with the bank to find out about trading in my Wagon for an 04 STi.



This doesn't sound very Moof like...???
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#2699726 - 06/04/08 05:34 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: FCobra94]
Impulsive Offline
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Registered: 11/28/99
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Didn't Moof just buy a Cobalt SS?
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#2699751 - 06/04/08 05:40 PM Re: 02 WRX experts [Re: Impulsive]
Moof Offline
Mounts the residents
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Registered: 08/17/02
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 Originally Posted By: Impulsive
Didn't Moof just buy a Cobalt SS?



There were none left in the country to order. I found a few en route, but the dealerships pretty much told me to fuck myself & that they were keeping them.(aka selling for way over invoice)

After that, I hate GM. Such bad customer service. Seriously, one guy LAUGHED on the phone when I told him I'd like to have it shipped to my location to my dealership.
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