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View Poll Results: Build or bust?
Build the 04 **** yea! 37 61.67%
Get a newer, low mile Subaru 6 10.00%
oMG is that Ken Block?! He's dreamy! 17 28.33%
Voters: 60. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 07-08-2009, 01:13 PM   #1
Josh909
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Default Build it or get a new one?

Hello general! I typically lurk in the OT so many of you do not know me. I bought a 04 WRX for my DD a few years ago. I drive about 130+ miles a day and I had a boring, gas sipping civic for daily driving duties before the WRX. I grew to love my subaru but I've put roughly 70,000 miles on it in the past few years. She's starting to get tired out. She's pushing 115,000 miles but she's still in very good shape.

I don't buy new cars because I drive way to much. I own the car outright and have gotten used to not having a payment. I'm trying to decide on either rebuilding the car with a new STI drivetrain and a lightly built motor or buying a newer WRX. Right now the car is totally stock minus wheels and tint. I am looking at building a 300whp car so it shouldn't be to much of a built car that it is unreliable.

I can't decide for myself and my friends are pretty much split on the decision as well. Now I pose the question to you. Should I keep the 04 and rebuild it or should I buy something newer and leave it stock again? Oh and I'm not interested in any car other then a Subaru. My poll is coming...fast.
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Old 07-08-2009, 01:18 PM   #2
vividwrx13
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keep it build it
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Old 07-08-2009, 01:26 PM   #3
papp101
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Build it and replace any suspension/engine parts that are failing. You'll only spend a 1/3 of what you would on the other car, save on tax and know that your car will be good to 200k miles. Then when you're done with it, return it to stock, sell the parts and sell the car, take the money as a downpayment and rock on.
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Old 07-08-2009, 01:38 PM   #4
Josh909
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I'm thinking I'll be spending at least $10k on the rebuild. If I were to sell the 04 I'd maybe ge 10k also. That's 20k if I decide on a new subee or 10k for the rebuild. If I were to finance for a new car, I would get a better interest rate as it would be a secure loan. The rebuild would be an unsecured loan and I'd estimate my interest rate at 8-9%. I get used car loans at around 4-5%
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Old 07-08-2009, 02:26 PM   #5
behind7proxies
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build it man
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Old 07-08-2009, 02:32 PM   #6
AWDWRXLOVER
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mod it, dont build it.
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Old 07-08-2009, 02:44 PM   #7
behind8proxies
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build it man
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Old 07-08-2009, 02:51 PM   #8
Josh909
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Meh modding an engine with 115xxx miles doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather put a fresh motor and drivetrain in to keep it somewhat reliable.
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Old 07-08-2009, 02:55 PM   #9
801_STi
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building it will cost less, the 04 looks better. it will be faster. you're probably attatched to this car. why even think about a new one?? mod mod mod
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Old 07-08-2009, 03:02 PM   #10
imprezaL2345
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115xxx miles isnt bad. if its in good shape, just keep pushing.
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Old 07-08-2009, 03:03 PM   #11
BxrRmble
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Builddddd Ittttttt!!!!!!!
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Old 07-08-2009, 03:04 PM   #12
Jack
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At this mileage, you've probably just put in a ton of maintenance money. timing belt and water pump, diff and tranny fluids, probably at least one wheel bearing, brakes, maybe shocks. If so, just drive it for another year. If you've procrastinated and done none of this and it's all due, maybe trade the car for an 06 WRX. With the miles you put on, you might want to consider how fast stuff is going to continue to wear out. Keeping the car another year will keep you low on the depreciation curve anyways. One more year older and 150k miles isn't going to be horribly much less than it's worth now.

I do a bunch of miles myself and it does restrict what I do with my cars (mostly wheels/tires/brake upgrades) because at 3 years old, I'll be looking to replace it again.

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Old 07-08-2009, 03:05 PM   #13
Josh909
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I do like the 04-05 best. I'm also very attached to this car. This is the first car I've actually loved since my very first car, which was a 1968 mustang. I'm an avid off-roader and I've mostly owned prerunner desert trucks. Now my desert truck only sees desert duty.
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Old 07-08-2009, 03:17 PM   #14
SWP n Gold
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if you're only looking for 300whp, then i wouldn't build the motor. built motors are for higher power cars that are not necessarily driven everyday and if you drive 130 miles a day, how long with that built motor last? for 300whp, i would grab a used sti and go stage 2.
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Old 07-08-2009, 03:55 PM   #15
Josh909
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Ive done the timing belt and the fluids but not wheel bearings or axles. My struts are starting to clunk and I know one of my axle boots is worn. This car has giving me no problems what so ever. I know 300whp isn't very hard to get to but I think it's a bad idea to start modding at my milage. When I say built motor, I mean fresh pistons, rings, valves and springs, and some head work. I toyed with the idea of a stroker crank and some forged rods but that's a little more then I need for a DD. I'm not opposied to an newer STI but then I have to factor in the insurance. Right now I pay $180/mnt. For my truck, my wrx, and my babys TLs. She has the nice car and I have the toys. Sighhhhh I'm on the fence here! This has been on my mind for months.
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Old 07-08-2009, 04:12 PM   #16
mon-e-pit
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build it 04's def. look better than the new ones. Built not bought is the way to go if you can. Plus you will have the gratification that comes with owning something unique to what else is on the road.
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Old 07-08-2009, 04:19 PM   #17
WRX Shenanigans
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I'm gonna go against the grain and say buy a new one. I'd just get a used STI (well, honestly I'd get a used vette as thats what I'm hankering for now). Then do a simple stg 2 on the STI and basically have a faster car for the same money that will hold its value better in the future. You'll have the proper transmission, better brakes, and be more reliable.
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Old 07-08-2009, 04:39 PM   #18
Josh909
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My plan was to put a fresh STI drivetrain right down to the lugnuts. Everything except the shocks/struts.


Wow lots of people think Ken Block is dreamy!

Last edited by Josh909; 07-08-2009 at 04:48 PM.
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Old 07-08-2009, 04:45 PM   #19
Dave D.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh909 View Post
My plan was to put a fresh STI drivetrain right down to the lugnuts. Everything except the shocks/struts.
Sounds good. You should do the interior swap, too.
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Old 07-08-2009, 04:45 PM   #20
WRX Shenanigans
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh909 View Post
My plan was to put a fresh STI drivetrain right down to the lugnuts. Everything except the shocks/struts.
Cool, didn't realize that. But I doubt it can be done for $10,000.... If you want an STI, why not buy it for cheaper and have better resale value?
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Old 07-08-2009, 04:55 PM   #21
Kyle13
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Build it! What mods were you thinking of doing if you keep the car?
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Old 07-08-2009, 04:57 PM   #22
Kyle13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WRX Shenanigans View Post
I'm gonna go against the grain and say buy a new one. I'd just get a used STI (well, honestly I'd get a used vette as thats what I'm hankering for now). Then do a simple stg 2 on the STI and basically have a faster car for the same money that will hold its value better in the future. You'll have the proper transmission, better brakes, and be more reliable.
Actually, do this. (minus the stupid vette part ) I still think the 04's are sick though, so I'd go for an o4 STi
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Old 07-08-2009, 05:00 PM   #23
MD04WRX
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Buy a POS for a daily driver and build the WRX.
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Old 07-08-2009, 05:14 PM   #24
Josh909
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The WRX is my daily driver. I had a POS civic and I hated my life. The desert truck is my toy and it will be driven while the Rex is down. I know an engine builder and I'll be doing the rest of the swap myself. I don't know if I'll swap the sti interion but I'll more then likely replace the seats with sparcos. That's what I'm running in my truck. I'm not to concerned with resale if I decide to keep and build it. I do like the idea of an STI no doubt. Insurance, is it higher?
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Old 07-08-2009, 06:22 PM   #25
AWDWRXLOVER
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh909 View Post
My plan was to put a fresh STI drivetrain right down to the lugnuts. Everything except the shocks/struts.


Wow lots of people think Ken Block is dreamy!
well if you do 05+ up fukll swap you will need STi struts.
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