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Old 01-12-2007, 11:07 AM   #1
sweetrex
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Impreza WRX Should the I buy a car based on the transmission?

Okay, after less than a year with my '06 2.5i, Im selling it to get another WRX. The problem is, I kind of worry about the transmission. My last WRX was getting somewhat hard to shift between first and second when I traded it in at 75000 miles. That one was a 2002 model. Now I've heard that they did a little work on the five-speed for the 2004 and up model. Should I go for a 2004 instead of another 02-03?
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Old 01-12-2007, 11:12 AM   #2
LastResort
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None of the upgrades, until 06, addressed the synchros. Just gear width.
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Old 01-12-2007, 11:19 AM   #3
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try using a heavier shift knob
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Old 01-12-2007, 11:58 AM   #4
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not true the gears are stronger in the 04-05 model...
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Old 01-12-2007, 11:58 AM   #5
sweetrex
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Impreza WRX

Quote:
Originally Posted by 97obw View Post
try using a heavier shift knob
What would that help with?
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:00 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetrex View Post
Okay, after less than a year with my '06 2.5i, Im selling it to get another WRX. The problem is, I kind of worry about the transmission. My last WRX was getting somewhat hard to shift between first and second when I traded it in at 75000 miles. That one was a 2002 model. Now I've heard that they did a little work on the five-speed for the 2004 and up model. Should I go for a 2004 instead of another 02-03?
buy a 240
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:06 PM   #7
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A 240 what?

Does that have anything to do with a WRX transmission?

Last edited by sweetrex; 01-12-2007 at 12:13 PM.
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:10 PM   #8
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Change the transmission oil to something recomended by other WRX owners and keep what you have.
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:13 PM   #9
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My current car is a 2.5i, and no amount of oil in the transmission is going to make it perform like a WRX. Thats why I'm looking for a new WRX.
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:28 PM   #10
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The '04 does have stronger gears, but your grinding was very likely the synchros. If what lastresort says is true, then you may still have those issues with an '04. That being said, if your old WRX was your first manual tranny, you may be able to get more life out of a new one.

It really depends on power level and driving style. If you are good with a clutch now, and won't be going more than stage 2, an '02+ WRX with new synchros should be fine.

Edit:
A lot of the tranny issues that the early WRX had were due to bad driving and/or heavy modding. I don't think it was a bad tranny in and of itself, but the fact is most WRX owners like to mod, and most Subarus in general live a hard life...so Subaru has to make them really beefy to keep the loyal customers around. If subarus were driven like hondas, they'd prolly be the most reliable car on the road...but they get beat, and thus are in the top 3. If hondas were driven like subarus, they'd prolly drop down a lot.

Last edited by shemoves; 01-12-2007 at 12:36 PM.
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:30 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 105wrx View Post
not true the gears are stronger in the 04-05 model...
Yes, I know hence:
Quote:
Originally Posted by LastResort View Post
None of the upgrades, until 06, addressed the synchros. Just gear width.
Edit: Shemoves got if first.
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:52 PM   #12
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I thought the 05 tranny got dual cone synchros for 1st and 2nd gear?

Or maybe it was just first gear.
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Old 01-12-2007, 01:18 PM   #13
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try uncle scotty's cocktail
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Old 01-12-2007, 01:28 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BNastyer View Post
try uncle scotty's cocktail
Are you all not reading?

He WANTS to get RID of his 2.5i to get a WRX and is asking if 04 has a better transmission than a 02-03 ...

What you're doing is recommending scotty's cocktail to turn a 2.5i into a WRX.
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Old 01-12-2007, 01:42 PM   #15
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c'mon this is nasioc, no one actually reads the thread, this thread was handled very poorly for the most part. Seems like half the people didn't even read/understand the first post.......

My question is why did you end up going with a N/A Impreza in the first place? Didn't you test drive it? didn't you realize you would not be content with the power?

Was your first wrx used? Get yourself a brand new wrx and drive it like you love it, and your transmission will feel fine. But do not buy urself a used 04 because only god knows what how it has been driven, and it is a fact that these trannys (even the so called stronger ones) are still very easy to break. So if you can afford a new wrx tr or somthing go for it.
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Old 01-12-2007, 01:53 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powercurve View Post
Are you all not reading?

He WANTS to get RID of his 2.5i to get a WRX and is asking if 04 has a better transmission than a 02-03 ...

What you're doing is recommending scotty's cocktail to turn a 2.5i into a WRX.

His question was if the 04 tranny was improved at all from the 02-03's. Gear width may have changed, but syncros remained the same. His problems with shifting difficulties was most likely was due to the syncros, NOT the gears or their width, so it could happen in 02, 03, or 04 since the syncros are the same. Uncle Scotty's cocktail is a mix of tranny fluids that often helps the grinding and shifting difficulties people have with these transmissions. So his recommendation is a good one, if you get a used WRX and have shifting difficulties, try using the cocktail.
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Old 01-12-2007, 02:07 PM   #17
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I own an 06 with oficially 12k on it. Transmission and clutch are fine. Tires are gone though and the brakes have already been replaced. I was iffy about buying the 5 MT. But I'm surprised how strong it is. I drive hard; but I dont do redline clutch drops. My only mistake was shifting from 3rd back down to 2nd instead of 4th...twice. I literally felt like I was going to go through the windshield. I say buy it. SUBARU forever in my book.
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Old 01-12-2007, 02:48 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruDriver502 View Post
My only mistake was shifting from 3rd back down to 2nd instead of 4th...twice. I literally felt like I was going to go through the windshield. I say buy it. SUBARU forever in my book.
That's not bad on the transmission, that's bad on the motor.
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Old 01-12-2007, 03:31 PM   #19
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So I need to step up to an 05 WRX to get the better synchros?
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Old 01-12-2007, 03:39 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetrex View Post
So I need to step up to an 05 WRX to get the better synchros?
no you need an 06+
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Old 01-12-2007, 03:47 PM   #21
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Is it possible to put an STi transmission behind the WRX 2.0 liter? Would the mounting bolts line up?
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Old 01-12-2007, 03:50 PM   #22
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You're really going to have to start searching now. The answer is yes, it's been done. In fact, there are guides. But you don't get the auto DCCD action.
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Old 01-12-2007, 03:55 PM   #23
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Not to mention that the tranny swap ends up costing somewhere north of $3500 -- I think upgrading the gears is cheaper.

From some of the threads I've seen, even the '02 "weak" transmission is generally OK if the car is kept stock, it's when you start adding power mods that the thing starts to have issues.
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Old 01-13-2007, 12:38 AM   #24
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I think the best and cheapest solution is to learn how to properly double clutch and rev-match when the tranny's cold to help reduce any stress...which should be done on any manual tranny in my opinion. But more to the point, is holding out a little longer and saving up for an STI an option for you?
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Old 01-13-2007, 01:01 AM   #25
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I know I've read that even the 03 had a change over the 02 tranny making it better. You should do a search on it. I just turned 70k on my 03 and have no tranny issues what so ever, still on the stock clutch, and the car puts out 245 whp and 233wtq. I just don't do any clutch drops or drive it like a dumbass.
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