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Old 07-10-2018, 04:15 PM   #26
d3v0
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zandar View Post
I do find it difficult to resist the looks of a 2001 coupe or the venerable, 2002-3 bugeye.
Maybe use your grad school brain to resist the looks of old cars that arent reliable.

Get a stock 08-14 WRX or STi and call it a day. Isnt that hard a decision man!
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Old 07-10-2018, 04:20 PM   #27
Zandar
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I'm going to just drive a few and see what I like. Thanks all for the input!
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Old 07-10-2018, 04:24 PM   #28
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If you're able to spend money on any minor or major repairs needed, then go for whichever you feel will be the most FUN as well as aesthetically please you. Otherwise, buy something cheaper/more reliable, and buy the Subaru you dream of when you're out of school !
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Old 07-10-2018, 04:39 PM   #29
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I have a very hard time believing that a ~stage 3+ WRX from 2002-2007 would be outperformed by a 2015 base WRX.
well for one thing you are considering buying a "insert made up performance level number here" wrx that just happens also be 13 years old at best, or 17 at worst.
Bill Clinton had just barely finished sowing the seeds of the #MeToo movement when that first one was rolling off the line, although admittedly he didn't know it yet.

It's a "stage" whatever the guy selling it decides to say. He should re list it as stage 5 and bump up the price.

But yes, I would absolutely expect a 15 year newer bone stock vehicle to perform better than a modified to hell 15 year old one of the same model. I don't just mean how hard can you shred off the line and peg the tack either, I mean real world performance where you can drive hard and not overheat and not burn off half your oil AND have your car start on a cold morning.
There are many aspects of performance.
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Old 07-10-2018, 05:12 PM   #30
BHOD
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Indeed...

Not to mention that the stiffness of newer chassis and the ride quality are way better now.
You put more pony in them and you got better balanced car than these old bombs.

But I still agree 2001 Coupe, or better, 4 doors (more rigid and practical) is "simply irresistible"
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Old 07-10-2018, 05:57 PM   #31
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Im sorta of the different opion to the guys above about just getting a newer car.
I think you should get the first car. Looks like it would be less of an issue than the other one.
Yes you will have issues with it, but that is part of the experience.
And you have spare money to pay for things that go wrong.
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Old 07-11-2018, 06:16 AM   #32
rtv900
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^totally
hell, I have a vehicle almost 70 years old.
but I'm not a student either
just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but it's his money

I learned a lesson back in the day too getting all hyped up about an 'old' car that seemed really cool and I assumed the guy selling it was totally honest.
About 6 months later I found out the unibody had so much corrosion it was basically useless. I guarantee the guy who sold it to me damn well knew that too.
My foolishness.
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Old 07-11-2018, 10:44 AM   #33
Zandar
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For the record, yes I'm a student but I'm a returning student which means I'm older than you might be thinking. I have a paid off home and very healthy savings reserve that will last through the PhD and even being unemployed for several years after (which I don't anticipate) as well as some for retirement. So I appreciate all of the staunch advice about getting a good, reliable vehicle, but it simply doesn't apply here. I have another vehicle if the Subie I get goes wheels up, so even if the worst case mechanical issue happens and I somehow ran dry of money I'm still not going to be stuck.

That aside, I did drive a very nicely done, 400 awhp model last night. It was, contrary to the rumours, quite a bit more kick than stock. The 2004 STi has under 60k original miles and the block was completely built by a local tuning shop who seems well reviewed. Interior and undercarriage reflect the miles. But here's the thing: I think it was too much power for daily use.

So, slightly new question: I love the car I just saw, but like I said I think it's a bit much for daily use. If I were to have a shop give a tune that's a lot lower in power for daily driving (say ~300hp), would it act as another car with the same power? Like, say, a stage 2ish STi? Just asking if that's possible; it would be fun to have a map for daily grinding and one for being a silly hooligan.
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Old 07-11-2018, 11:20 AM   #34
mcursch88
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FWIW I bought a 2015 STi and I am in love with it. Plenty of power, gas mileage is 'ok', and its dead sexy.

But I came from a 2003 20th AE GTI that put down around 240hp, so virtually anything I got would have been a substantial upgrade. I looked at CLA AMG, Focus RS, Golf R.

It sounds like you can get pretty much whatever you want and not take a huge hit. Heck man, I hope you find what you're looking for!
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Old 07-11-2018, 12:00 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcursch88 View Post
FWIW I bought a 2015 STi and I am in love with it. Plenty of power, gas mileage is 'ok', and its dead sexy.

But I came from a 2003 20th AE GTI that put down around 240hp, so virtually anything I got would have been a substantial upgrade. I looked at CLA AMG, Focus RS, Golf R.

It sounds like you can get pretty much whatever you want and not take a huge hit. Heck man, I hope you find what you're looking for!
I would love to pick your brain on this issue as you've driven a couple of the newer vehicles I've considered. I've read that the new Golf R is miles ahead of the STi when it comes to refinement and poise, and that it's on par in numbers-based performance yet feel even better to drive than the STi. Having driven both, what are your impressions? You obviously landed on the STi which is a similar price point with the Golf R, so which factors lead you to that choice?

Dealers here are all sold out of the Golf R, so this may be academic. I drove a friend's GTi with all of the fixings and I have to say it was a really nice car (but I think I'd get bored with the power it has in short order).
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Old 07-11-2018, 12:41 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zandar View Post
For the record, yes I'm a student but I'm a returning student which means I'm older than you might be thinking. I have a paid off home and very healthy savings reserve that will last through the PhD and even being unemployed for several years after (which I don't anticipate) as well as some for retirement. So I appreciate all of the staunch advice about getting a good, reliable vehicle, but it simply doesn't apply here. I have another vehicle if the Subie I get goes wheels up, so even if the worst case mechanical issue happens and I somehow ran dry of money I'm still not going to be stuck.

That aside, I did drive a very nicely done, 400 awhp model last night. It was, contrary to the rumours, quite a bit more kick than stock. The 2004 STi has under 60k original miles and the block was completely built by a local tuning shop who seems well reviewed. Interior and undercarriage reflect the miles. But here's the thing: I think it was too much power for daily use.

So, slightly new question: I love the car I just saw, but like I said I think it's a bit much for daily use. If I were to have a shop give a tune that's a lot lower in power for daily driving (say ~300hp), would it act as another car with the same power? Like, say, a stage 2ish STi? Just asking if that's possible; it would be fun to have a map for daily grinding and one for being a silly hooligan.
Yes its possible to have different maps for your vehicle, a Cobb AP makes it easy to switch in between them on the fly.

One thing to also consider is that the benefit of starting stock and modifying it yourself is that you get time to get used to the bumps in power. Its the whole 'frog in a pot of boiling water' thing. When I was 17 my Ford Taurus with its v6 was fast. When I was 22 my Supra-Celica was fast. When I was 26 my 74 nova was fast, but if I had the 74 nova when I was 17, I would have killed myself. And if I had my current car at 22, I also would have killed myself. But now, my current car is fun, but no where near the limits of my skill. Saying all that, you're in a doctorate program so I appreciate your spare time will be non existent. I still maintain that the time difference between maintaining a used modified car will be comparable to modifying your own. I think the difference will be the progression to it all.
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Old 07-11-2018, 02:17 PM   #37
Jack
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Cars have been getting incrementally better, consistently for years. It's hard to see year to year, but after a few decades, it's quite obvious. 69 Camaro Z/28? Piece of s***. Odometer went only to 5 digits because no reasonable person would expect one to ever reach 100k miles. Sure, they look cool and there were races (Trans Am) that made them certainly seem cool. But panel gaps could be 1/8" off and be within specs. They rusted out pretty much to the point where there were holes in the body and holes in the frame within 5 years from new in the salt belt. The vast majority of them ended up in the junkyard before they ever hit 80k miles, even if they never saw an accident.

So you're not looking at a 69 Camaro. GC8/bugeye Subarus are old enough to be cool looking, more rare (because junkyard) and nostalgic. Heck, I sort of wish I kept my 01 2.5RS that I traded for an S4 with 31k miles on it (and wish even more that I kept my E30 M3 that I sold with 51k miles on it for $15k). But newer cars are simply better. Are some things worse? Sure. New cars are heavy. They have more mandated stuff. But they do more things like not creek and have power stock and handle decently....better than the old cars. Don't go all goo goo eyed thinking how cool some old cars look. My MGBs were very cool in their time. I'm sure they all are complete piles of rust today.
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Old 07-11-2018, 02:20 PM   #38
Zandar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wappit View Post
Yes its possible to have different maps for your vehicle, a Cobb AP makes it easy to switch in between them on the fly.

One thing to also consider is that the benefit of starting stock and modifying it yourself is that you get time to get used to the bumps in power. Its the whole 'frog in a pot of boiling water' thing. When I was 17 my Ford Taurus with its v6 was fast. When I was 22 my Supra-Celica was fast. When I was 26 my 74 nova was fast, but if I had the 74 nova when I was 17, I would have killed myself. And if I had my current car at 22, I also would have killed myself. But now, my current car is fun, but no where near the limits of my skill. Saying all that, you're in a doctorate program so I appreciate your spare time will be non existent. I still maintain that the time difference between maintaining a used modified car will be comparable to modifying your own. I think the difference will be the progression to it all.
That's something I entirely hadn't considered; the progression can be a lot of fun (though I've never done that beyond ~320hp). Thanks for the input; and it's well taken that degrees of upgrade can be different for different people at different times. I don't want to get in over my head.
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Old 07-11-2018, 04:48 PM   #39
mcursch88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zandar View Post
I would love to pick your brain on this issue as you've driven a couple of the newer vehicles I've considered. I've read that the new Golf R is miles ahead of the STi when it comes to refinement and poise, and that it's on par in numbers-based performance yet feel even better to drive than the STi. Having driven both, what are your impressions? You obviously landed on the STi which is a similar price point with the Golf R, so which factors lead you to that choice?

Dealers here are all sold out of the Golf R, so this may be academic. I drove a friend's GTi with all of the fixings and I have to say it was a really nice car (but I think I'd get bored with the power it has in short order).
I definitely liked the Golf R, it was punchy, lighter, and it was a Golf (considering I had a 20th AE that I sold with 267K). But then I listened to a video of it with an exhaust and my god, no way lol. It may seem pretentious, but I would rather drive something that I enjoy listening to.

The STi sounds better, its got a little more power, and it comes from a long lineage of rally dedicated cars. I figured.. "hey, they've been making the EJ motor for decades, that's got to mean its at its best." Boy was I wrong...

Had I known about the EJ motor beforehand, I will tell you that instead of an STi in my driveway there would be an S3 or an R. I am not saying I regret buying it, but I think other models offer much more peace of mind.
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Old 07-12-2018, 11:32 PM   #40
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FWIW, and as silly as it may sound, my vote is for buying whatever makes you smile the most (and whatever you think is least likely to make you curse in the future.) I'm no master mechanic or mod monster by any means, but I know a few things about how those work + school + dissertation things, when combined, act as a metaphorical atomic bomb being dropped on one's free time. I am all about maximizing the enjoyment of 'me' activities, and sometimes taking the back roads driving to/from work, or to/from school, is the highlight of a week day for me. So, as it sounds like you are completely fine with whatever the various implications are of any said specific platform, my vote is for whatever car pops and makes you happiest.
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Old 07-13-2018, 11:24 AM   #41
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While in school I'd definitely just go with something more reliable then in the future I'd probably go with A.
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Old 07-13-2018, 01:03 PM   #42
Zandar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by get_schwifty View Post
FWIW, and as silly as it may sound, my vote is for buying whatever makes you smile the most (and whatever you think is least likely to make you curse in the future.) I'm no master mechanic or mod monster by any means, but I know a few things about how those work + school + dissertation things, when combined, act as a metaphorical atomic bomb being dropped on one's free time. I am all about maximizing the enjoyment of 'me' activities, and sometimes taking the back roads driving to/from work, or to/from school, is the highlight of a week day for me. So, as it sounds like you are completely fine with whatever the various implications are of any said specific platform, my vote is for whatever car pops and makes you happiest.
You, sir, deserve a cookie. This describes my situation to a T.
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Old 07-13-2018, 09:28 PM   #43
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From personal experience if you're in school I'd get something a little more reliable til you're finished just in case any issues come up.
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